Stuck in a reading rut? Want to expand your reading horizons in 2026? You’re in luck! Every month this year, we will be delving deep into popular genres at the library. If you’re already a fan, find readalike suggestions for popular authors and ideas for similar genres to explore. If you’re brand new to the genre in question, you will find a helpful explanation of the hallmarks of the genre, a breakdown of its most common subgenres, and explanations of what readers find so appealing about the most popular authors writing those types of books. Let’s explore women’s fiction for June!
Women’s fiction is one of the most popular genres in the library. Also known as relationship fiction, these novels focus on the lives of contemporary women and their relationships. While romantic relationships can play a part, these novels prioritize exploring the main character’s relationships with family and friends as well, unlike romance novels where romantic relationships are front and center. I have done a couple women’s fiction reader’s advisory readalike lists over the years. That’s the service we offer that provides tailor-made suggestions for people based on their own personal reading history and preferences.
Women’s fiction typically isn’t broken into subgenres in the same way many genres are, with the exception of what was once called chick lit–breezy, funny reads usually about younger single women. For the sake of convenience, however, in this booklet, we cover 6 different subsets of women’s fiction–classic women’s fiction authors (written by authors popular since the 1970s-1990s), Christian women’s fiction, comedic women’s fiction, women’s fiction with vivid settings, next-generation women’s fiction (authors popular since 2000), and issues-oriented women’s fiction (which often explores controversial contemporary social issues).
Whether you’re a complete newbie to women’s fiction or a veteran women’s fiction reader, there should be something new for you in the booklet.
We also have some cool women’s fiction handouts and recommendation lists already uploaded on our Readers’ And Viewers’ Advisory Resources page on the right-hand sidebar under General Fiction and Romance.
You can also use the “women’s fiction” tags and categories feature on the top left-hand side of this post to search for other women’s fiction recommendations on the blog. Just click on them, and you can pore through every single post that highlights a women’s fiction book.
If you are still not finding anything new and appealing to read (or you are not interested in women’s fiction), use our Google Form or contact the library in person or by phone or email to request a reader’s advisory consultation. I will write you a personalized list of suggested authors and titles based on your reading preferences.
Also be sure to check out our our Romance genre booklet and keep an eye out for next month’s Historical Fiction genre booklet, which will include a section highlighting women’s fiction reads with historical settings.
Happy reading!
What’s your favorite genre? What new-to-you genre are you exploring in 2026? Who’s your favorite women’s fiction writer? Tell us in the comments! As always, please follow this link to our online library catalog for more information on any of our items or to place them on hold.
The following resources have been especially helpful in preparing this booklet and post:
NoveListPlus. Ebsco.
Joyce G. Saricks. Reader’s Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. ALA: Chicago and London, 2001.
Joyce G. Saricks. Reader’s Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. 2nd edition. ALA: Chicago, 2009.
Syndetics Unbound library catalog enrichment service.
Berryville Book Buzz 