Fiction/Novels with Female Protagonists That Aren't About Love or Romance (661 books)

Short list, huh? I've started this list because there is shockingly little fiction out there geared towards women that doesn't center around a girl falling in love, most commonly with a dude. And it needs to be a thing.

Not that I have a problem with romance novels or fiction that is about/involves love or has romantic subplots, but I'm frankly bored with books about women chasing love. Love is great, but is it our raison d'etre? Of course not. Can we have experiences that don't involve the pursuit or the management of love/marriage? Can we exist without a soulmate by our side? Hell yes!

I mean really, the boys have Kerouac and Hemmingway and an overflowing cup of introspective life lessons, coming of age stories, bromance and platonic partnerships, and political intrigue. C'mon, our turn! I would really like to find more fiction that explores women as the complex and multi-faceted people we are. so, I present to you a list, however depressingly meagre, of work that doesn't make women feel like our existences are only validated by being someone's wife/girlfriend/mistress. Enjoy, and please add!

Update: Umm... I've noticed some ( or, a lot) of the books people have added to this list are Romantic Fiction; as in, romance - whether successful or not- is important enough to the plot of the book to be mentioned in the plot description of the novel. Specifically: The Dressmaker, the COVE!!!, Elizabeth Gilbert novels (The Signature of All Things), The Bride's Farewell, Becoming Clementine, A Ring of Endless Light, etc are all guilty of having romantic elements that are important to the plot. Perhaps my explanation was vague, so hopefully this clarifies what I hope this list will include..

New Criteria: if the novel has anything to do with romance it doesn't count. Even if the protagonist ends up single, or goes on a journey of self-discovery that involves forsaking poisonous relationships, or even if the romantic relationship is some kind of social metaphor, or the central plot is not completely about love but the novel spends a lot of time talking about love interests, it still involves someone's love life. To qualify for this list, the plot must not involve woman+romantic interest (s) unless the romance is so negligible it isn't even mentioned in the book description/can be completely removed from the novel in such a way that it in no way changes the essence of the story.

In short, this list is meant to be of novels that are completely AROMANTIC and have female protagonists.

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4.26 avg rating — 6,901,103 ratings score: 7,563, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 3,026,462 ratings score: 5,027, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 2,431,998 ratings score: 4,487, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Matilda by Roald Dahl 4.34 avg rating — 1,112,483 ratings score: 4,293, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 1,354,229 ratings score: 3,261, and 34 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.97 avg rating — 1,287,461 ratings score: 2,772, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Coraline by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 783,807 ratings score: 2,420, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman 4.07 avg rating — 360,369 ratings score: 2,303, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell 3.88 avg rating — 350,225 ratings score: 1,913, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith 4.30 avg rating — 513,538 ratings score: 1,826, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (Goodreads Author) 3.98 avg rating — 326,911 ratings score: 1,719, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 4.05 avg rating — 1,227,056 ratings score: 1,717, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll 4.06 avg rating — 610,199 ratings score: 1,512, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity #1) by Elizabeth Wein (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 128,530 ratings score: 1,501, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 387,865 ratings score: 1,459, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1) by Terry Pratchett 4.07 avg rating — 200,018 ratings score: 1,439, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett 4.23 avg rating — 324,840 ratings score: 1,404, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Little House in the Big Woods (Little House, #1) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.21 avg rating — 286,210 ratings score: 1,335, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Långstrump, #1) by Astrid Lindgren 4.15 avg rating — 209,529 ratings score: 1,333, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next, #1) by Jasper Fforde (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 137,370 ratings score: 1,318, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) by Philip Pullman 4.03 avg rating — 1,619,628 ratings score: 1,227, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel, #1) by Connie Willis 4.03 avg rating — 64,876 ratings score: 1,152, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 279,658 ratings score: 1,141, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg 4.16 avg rating — 219,402 ratings score: 1,140, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 6,897 ratings score: 1,097, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 710,069 ratings score: 1,082, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches, #2) by Terry Pratchett 4.16 avg rating — 131,543 ratings score: 1,074, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Girl with Ghost Eyes by M.H. Boroson 3.85 avg rating — 4,464 ratings score: 1,064, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Life After Life (Todd Family, #1) by Kate Atkinson 3.79 avg rating — 241,743 ratings score: 1,053, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30; Tiffany Aching, #1) by Terry Pratchett 4.30 avg rating — 120,831 ratings score: 995, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #1) by Laurie R. King (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 87,841 ratings score: 960, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	White Oleander by Janet Fitch (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 366,815 ratings score: 953, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, #1) by Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 51,800 ratings score: 931, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Kindred by Octavia E. Butler 4.31 avg rating — 272,404 ratings score: 911, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson 3.91 avg rating — 296,921 ratings score: 859, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #1) by Patricia C. Wrede (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 94,409 ratings score: 750, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver 3.82 avg rating — 102,278 ratings score: 746, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 4.17 avg rating — 1,298,831 ratings score: 735, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg 4.03 avg rating — 57,061 ratings score: 732, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Wise Child (Doran, #1) by Monica Furlong 4.22 avg rating — 10,071 ratings score: 731, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (Mrs. Pollifax, #1) by Dorothy Gilman 4.16 avg rating — 31,207 ratings score: 729, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Annihilation (Southern Reach, #1) by Jeff Vandermeer (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 304,860 ratings score: 724, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Hidden Staircase (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #2) by Carolyn Keene 3.96 avg rating — 45,136 ratings score: 719, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Hero and the Crown (Damar, #2) by Robin McKinley 4.21 avg rating — 55,088 ratings score: 717, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Binti (Binti, #1) by Nnedi Okorafor (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 80,670 ratings score: 700, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch, #1) by Ann Leckie (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 119,213 ratings score: 697, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Julie of the Wolves (Julie of the Wolves, #1) by Jean Craighead George 3.84 avg rating — 61,488 ratings score: 633, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg 4.28 avg rating — 327,119 ratings score: 630, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, #1) by Michael Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 167,505 ratings score: 629, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	How to Climb the Eiffel Tower by Elizabeth Hein (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 112 ratings score: 600, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	This I Know by Eldonna Edwards (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 4,489 ratings score: 588, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1) by Alan Bradley (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 178,941 ratings score: 572, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Dragonsong (Harper Hall, #1) by Anne McCaffrey 4.26 avg rating — 58,929 ratings score: 569, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery 3.81 avg rating — 200,354 ratings score: 566, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1) by L. Frank Baum really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 512,968 ratings score: 561, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Daughters of Eve by Lois Duncan 3.62 avg rating — 4,238 ratings score: 557, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Olive Kitteridge (Olive Kitteridge, #1) by Elizabeth Strout (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 268,886 ratings score: 556, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Running Out of Time (Out of Time #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix 3.99 avg rating — 28,685 ratings score: 556, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Mistress of the Art of Death (Mistress of the Art of Death, #1) by Ariana Franklin 3.93 avg rating — 40,941 ratings score: 552, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg 3.73 avg rating — 52,248 ratings score: 547, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Girl with All the Gifts (The Girl With All the Gifts, #1) by M.R. Carey (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 245,347 ratings score: 541, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1) by Toni Morrison 3.98 avg rating — 491,670 ratings score: 538, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, #1) by P.D. James 3.82 avg rating — 20,387 ratings score: 537, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson 3.81 avg rating — 396,274 ratings score: 533, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (Persepolis, #1) by Marjane Satrapi 4.27 avg rating — 231,020 ratings score: 518, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 622,087 ratings score: 514, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Kamikaze Girls by Novala Takemoto 4.23 avg rating — 1,772 ratings score: 482, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Fay by Larry Brown 3.99 avg rating — 3,158 ratings score: 477, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children, #1) by Jean M. Auel 4.10 avg rating — 283,082 ratings score: 472, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Track of the Cat (Anna Pigeon, #1) by Nevada Barr 3.84 avg rating — 22,771 ratings score: 471, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Year of the Flood (MaddAddam, #2) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 133,149 ratings score: 469, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett 3.73 avg rating — 60,537 ratings score: 462, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell 3.87 avg rating — 40,648 ratings score: 458, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann 3.86 avg rating — 77,669 ratings score: 458, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 93,302 ratings score: 457, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Kristy and the Snobs (The Baby-Sitters Club, #11) by Ann M. Martin 3.78 avg rating — 4,863 ratings score: 453, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder 3.97 avg rating — 282,856 ratings score: 448, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Awakening by Kate Chopin 3.69 avg rating — 227,748 ratings score: 446, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 632,573 ratings score: 446, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 632,335 ratings score: 443, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 235,161 ratings score: 443, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Artemisia by Alexandra Lapierre 3.93 avg rating — 5,731 ratings score: 435, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Little Women (Little Women, #1) by Louisa May Alcott 4.17 avg rating — 2,466,372 ratings score: 434, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Amelia Bedelia (Amelia Bedelia, #1) by Peggy Parish 4.19 avg rating — 92,401 ratings score: 402, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Take Me to Your Nerdy Leader (Bowden Anime Club #1) by Hailey Gonzales (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 140 ratings score: 400, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Mary, Bloody Mary (Young Royals, #1) by Carolyn Meyer (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 8,052 ratings score: 391, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson 3.81 avg rating — 58,747 ratings score: 385, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	National Velvet by Enid Bagnold 4.10 avg rating — 25,984 ratings score: 381, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Amy Falls Down (Amy Gallup, #2) by Jincy Willett 3.69 avg rating — 2,503 ratings score: 378, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson 3.73 avg rating — 93,210 ratings score: 372, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis 4.18 avg rating — 137,727 ratings score: 371, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 130,991 ratings score: 369, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark 3.69 avg rating — 61,206 ratings score: 368, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Three Parts Dead (Craft Sequence, #1) by Max Gladstone (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 15,478 ratings score: 367, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Antigone (Theban Plays, #3) by Sophocles 3.68 avg rating — 177,261 ratings score: 367, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 3,296,291 ratings score: 365, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 238,893 ratings score: 360, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 123,469 ratings score: 359, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Ancillary Sword (Imperial Radch #2) by Ann Leckie (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 60,591 ratings score: 357, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Mary Anne Saves the Day (The Baby-Sitters Club, #4) by Ann M. Martin 3.85 avg rating — 9,208 ratings score: 356, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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661 books · 350 voters · list created April 29th, 2014 by Kat Trina (votes) .

Tags: aromantic, awesome, empowering, female, female-protagonist, feminism, feminist, fiction, introspection, literature, not-chick-lit, platonic, unromantic, women, women-s-fiction

279 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (350)

Kat 617 books
26 friends

Marilee 1598 books
52 friends

Jennifer 3518 books
991 friends

Claire 5716 books
1048 friends

Nadosia Grey 281 books
10 friends

Susan 2239 books
75 friends

Saturday's 2255 books
67 friends

Ellinor 6719 books
624 friends

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Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-25 of 25 (25 new)

date

newest »

message 1: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Jul 19, 2014 04:36PM

A Girl of the Limberlost? The second half is all romance.

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message 2: by Richard (new)

Feb 18, 2015 01:24PM

Excellent list. Thanks so much. I would add Pulse from political and military fiction writer Robert Cook. In fact anything from the series is pretty awesome.
It features a great female protagonist called Dr. Caitlin. A physicist who won a MacArthur fellowship in her early 20s and is just a super intelligent and strong female character. Something that is all too rare in such a genre. Overall it is a brilliantly written book with excellent attention to detail and a really exciting, fast paced story.
http://robertcooknovels.com/

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message 3: by Kent (new)

Apr 24, 2015 12:18PM

I would add Who Fears Death.

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message 4: by [deleted user] (new)

Jul 30, 2015 01:38PM

The Yellow Wallpaper is on there twice.

I would add Black Girl/White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates. It's been awhile, but I don't think that it had any romance.

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message 5: by Joclyn (new)

Aug 28, 2015 09:55PM

Thanks so much for this list! I'm always looking for more books like this!

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message 6: by [deleted user] (new)

Dec 23, 2015 05:12PM

The female protagonist (i.e., the unnamed narrator) in Sarah Orne Jewett's The Country of the Pointed Firs would make this book qualify on this list, but I would be somewhat weary of actually including this book on this list because one of the most important subplots in it involves a woman named Joanna ("poor Joanna"), who ends up living the remainder of her life as a recluse on Shell-Heap Island because her fiance left her and married another woman. As Mrs. Fosdick states in the book, "All her hopes were built on marryin', an' havin' a real home and somebody to look to; she acted just like a bird when its nest is spoilt" (Chapter 13).

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message 7: by Maria (new)

Feb 09, 2016 06:56AM

Who is the creator of this list?

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message 8: by Stef (new)

Apr 20, 2016 04:30AM

Seems to me some of those books DO have romance. They may have powerful female protagonists that do things other than just fall in love but not all of the ones I see on this list are completely aromantic (just saying)

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message 9: by Katherine (new)

Jun 02, 2016 08:55PM

Removed for being explicitly mentioned in the list description as novels that do NOT qualify:

The Signature of All Things
The Cove
The Bride's Farewell
Becoming Clementine

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message 10: by Kelley (new)

Aug 19, 2016 09:01AM

I like "Mistborn: The Final Empire" (#84), but it includes a fairly significant romance plot so I'm not sure it belongs here.

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message 11: by Chelsea (new)

Apr 11, 2017 02:18PM

I just wanted to let you all know that you're using the word "aromantic" incorrectly. Aromantic is a romantic orientation that means someone experiences little or no romantic attraction to other people. It's an orientation not a choice. The way you're using aromantic to mean "a lack of romance plot" is incorrect and hurtful to aromantic people. This is the first list that pops up for "aromantic" and doesn't fit the orientation's criteria, so anyone looking for representation will be mislead. Please update your description.

For more info: http://wiki.asexuality.org/Aromantic

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message 12: by Donna (new)

Apr 23, 2017 04:05PM

Valley of the Dolls, page 2, is about romance as much as it's about addiction. One character chooses to die of breast cancer because her man adores her for her breasts, and without them, she feels she has no value. Do you want me to pull it down?

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message 13: by Sophie (new)

Jun 12, 2017 12:53PM

Magic America has a lot of romance in it mid-read. It shouldn't really be on this list

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message 14: by Evelyn (new)

Aug 25, 2017 09:33AM

All of my novels analyze some aspect of love stories, but they are not romances: THE PROVIDER (2012), THE WAY THEY SEE (2013),
CONCERNING GEORGIA STEKKER (2014), THE ROMANTIC IMPERATIVE ebook (2017), and coming in October AN INCIDENT IN THE FAMILY. Visit my website: EvelynMarshall.com

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message 15: by Donna (new)

Aug 25, 2017 04:27PM

Evelyn wrote: "All of my novels analyze some aspect of love stories, but they are not romances: THE PROVIDER (2012), THE WAY THEY SEE (2013),
CONCERNING GEORGIA STEKKER (2014), THE ROMANTIC IMPERATIVE ebook (2017..."
This is a clear and flagrant violation of Goodreads authors' policy. I have flagged your comment.
Good reads librarians are volunteers, and anytime a list that we are responsible for editing gets a comment, one of us is alerted to go to the thread in question. So you're basically setting off an auto-alarm to tell us that you're spamming the thread that exists for technical issues.

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message 16: by Rosa (new)

Oct 05, 2017 06:23PM

"Is love our raison d'etre?"
Yes.

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message 17: by Michelle (last edited Nov 08, 2017 08:56AM) (new)

Nov 08, 2017 08:55AM

Karen Azinger has a wonderful series with a great heroine called The Silk and Steel Saga, starting with The Steel Queen. In addition to the heroine, there are several other very strong female characters, including one female antagonist who is excellent! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

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message 18: by Lio (last edited Nov 13, 2017 04:17PM) (new)

Nov 13, 2017 04:17PM

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is definitely a romance - the whole book is about Miss Pettigrew spending a day with a woman who has three boyfriends and has to decide which she loves, with Miss Pettigrew's help.

The Snow Child also has a romance which is a big part of the second half of the book, even if it's not the protagonist's romance. It certainly has a big impact on the ending and the plot itself.

Some other books you might consider for your list though:
How Saints Die by Carmen Marcus
Call of the Undertow by Linda Cracknell
The Good People by Hannah Kent
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Dreaming the Bear by Mimi Thebo
The Vanishing Act by Mette Jakobsen
The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton
The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman (Will doesn't appear until the second book so this one's clear of romance)

Also possibly:
The Unseen World by Liz Moore (there is a vague kind of romantic suggestion right at the end, but it's of the negligible/easily removed kind that has no influence on the plot, so I think you'd be cool with it?)

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message 19: by Yinzadi (new)

Sep 09, 2018 01:50AM

The Scarlet Letter has a romance which is definitely an integral part of the plot.

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message 20: by Tina (new)

Dec 31, 2018 10:55AM

Most of my favorite books have no romance in them or if they do, it's just incidental. I'm not aromatic but do get tired of a plot being pushed along with just a love interest. The characters are richer when not bogged down with the romance.

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message 21: by Tina (new)

Dec 31, 2018 11:10AM

Lily wrote: "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is definitely a romance - the whole book is about Miss Pettigrew spending a day with a woman who has three boyfriends and has to decide which she loves, with Miss Pet..."
I'm not the maker of this list, but I would think that if a character is married or has a partner or even a love interest but it was a very small part and if the part about romance could be taken out and doesn't effect the book, I'd say sure. Like "her marriage was good" done. Like in the book "The Help" Skeeter had a love interest but he was used to make the character choose between love and her beliefs. But he is just incidental to the book and the plot doesn't rely on him. Also it is only a small part of the book and really isn't "romantic" at all.

Another example is in The Secret Life of Bees" one of the characters has a love interest but it's purely incidental and is a very small part. I think those are fine for this list.

Just my thought on this.

There are some books that I could just skip all the romance and it didn't change the plot at all. As if the author said "I better put some romance in this." It really bogs a book down.

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message 22: by JZ (new)

Feb 22, 2019 01:00PM

There are a few autobiographies and non-fiction books in here, too. Not all here are novels.

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message 23: by Jess (new)

Nov 22, 2020 07:51AM

Something I've noticed about many of these is that they focus on young women (of an age prior to when romantic relationships will become a consideration).

Why aren't there more stories about adult women whose lives are not somehow defined by love and relationships? Is it because that is truly the central focus of our lives, or is it because that's what we've been told is the central focus of our lives?

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message 24: by Celia (new)

Jan 06, 2022 07:19PM