We all want to see ourselves represented in stories that inspire us. Because while a story may be fictional, the themes and messages it conveys can be relevant and relatable, reflecting possibilities within our own experiences. After all, we turn to fiction to learn through imagination, by seeing the world through the eyes of another.

Although by no means an exhaustive list, these books are works of fiction from across different genres by women authors that capture a diverse range of female experiences through the lens of complex female protagonists. Not all of these stories have a happy ending, nor are the subject matters they touch on always pleasant, but they will take you on an emotional journey where you will feel seen and represented.

1. Pseudo-Immortals by Charissa Ong Ty

Imagine a not-so-distant future where ageing becomes optional, and lifespans can stretch across centuries, thanks to technological advancements. What then becomes of purpose, meaning, and identity when time is no longer of the essence? Such is the world of Sheila Patel, a 214-year-old “pseudo-immortal” with bionic limbs who is determined to challenge what it means to exist in a world without limits.

Charissa Ong’s debut novel gives us a glimpse into a possible future with thoughtful exploration of several issues that are presently relevant, such as the possible impact of artificial intelligence and genetic engineering. But far from a heavy read, Pseudo-Immortals is a high-concept sci-fi adventure sprinkled with humour, romance and a touch of mystery.

2. The Book of Fate by Parinoush Saniee, Sara Kahlili (translator)

As an average teenager in pre-revolutionary Iran, Massoumeh is passionate about learning. When her family discovers her affections for a local man, she is accused of bringing them dishonour, forced to discontinue her education, and hastily married off to a stranger who turns out to be a political dissident. For the next five turbulent decades, Massoumeh’s destiny becomes tied to rigid traditions, uncompromising family values and the changing fortunes of her country.

A twice-banned bestselling novel in Iran, The Book of Fate offers a rare insider’s view of Iranian society and the role of women within it through the eyes of its resilient protagonist.

3. Bane of Widuri by Nadiah Zakaria

In Widuri Manor live seven orphaned girls, each named after a flower that grows in the manor’s garden, where the girls are forbidden from entering. These girls know nothing of the world beyond the gates of the 18th century manor and are promised freedom on their 16th birthday in the form of foster parents.

On the night before her eldest sister’s 16th birthday, curiosity gets the better of the youngest sister, Melur, who sneaks into the forbidden garden to steal a flower as a present. Her single action sets off a chain of events that brings to light the darkest secrets of Widuri. Fans of dark fantasy are in for a treat with this imaginative Malaysian gothic tale that features magic, light horror and the power of sisterhood, set in an ominous manor full of secrets.

4. Circe by Madeline Miller

Famously featured in Homer’s Odyssey as the enchantress who turns Odysseus’s men into swine on her island, Circe is a complex figure in Greek mythology. As the daughter of the sun god and an oceanid mother, she possesses the power to transform her enemies into beasts. Because her power is deemed a threat to the gods, she is banished to a deserted island where she hones her magical abilities in solitude.

Madeline Miller’s novel retells the tale from the Odyssey with Circe as the main character, delving into the sorceress’s origin and how a woman’s independence and power can upset the status quo.

5. Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

Broke and jobless after her graduation, Jessamyn leaves America to return to Malaysia. However, starting over in the home country she left as a toddler doesn’t prepare her for her eccentric family’s shenanigans. It started with hearing her late grandmother’s voice in her head. Despite being dead, Grandma wants revenge on someone who dared to offend her patron deity, the Black Water Sister, and she has decided Jessamyn will help.

Black Water Sister is a delightful, fast-paced Malaysia-set urban fantasy novel filled with magic and over-the-top family drama. You will enjoy watching Jessamyn grow as a character, finding strength she never realised she had, while clashing with the ghost of her grandmother.

6. The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish

When a woman, abducted by a spurned lover, becomes the sole survivor of a shipwreck, she finds a portal into a parallel world inhabited by animal-human hybrids who worship her as a goddess and make her their new empress. As ruler, she now uses her power to establish a utopia free of war, religious division and social injustice. 

First published in 1666, The Blazing World is a book way ahead of its time. Margaret Cavendish, also known by her formal title as Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, originally published the work as an imaginative think-piece to accompany her philosophical work, Observations upon Experimental Philosophy. As classic literature, it is considered a work of proto-science fiction worth reading for its exploration of women’s agency, complex ideas of social structures and what could happen when women are in charge.

7. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

In the Republic of Gilead, women are stripped of all autonomy in response to social unrest and declining birth rates. Fertile women are enslaved as Handmaids, assigned to powerful men and their wives for the purpose of conceiving and birthing children. The story is told from the point of view of Offred, one of the Handmaids, as she recounts horrific details of her daily life under the new social order, while resisting the regime and maintaining her individuality.

Disturbing, evocative, and scarily plausible, the near-future dystopia depicted in The Handmaid’s Tale is both a satire and a dire warning of what can happen if extremism and misogyny are left unchecked.

8. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator)

Keiko is 36 years old, never had a boyfriend, and has been working in the same supermarket for eighteen years. Despite pressures to conform to a traditional life path from family and friends – namely, get a higher-paying job with better prospects, get married and start a family – Keiko knows what makes her happy, and she’s not letting anyone come between her and her convenience store.

The charm of Convenience Store Woman is that it cleverly explores themes of individuality, happiness, and restrictive societal expectations in a way that is quirky and strangely comforting. For those who feel they can never fit the mould of what society defines as being successful, Keiko’s journey will be especially relatable and inspiring.

Together, these stories affirm that there is no single way to be a woman — only the courage to live as one on your own terms.