Women’s History Month 2025 | A Reading List

In 1987, Women’s History Month was formally recognized by presidential proclamation as a monthlong celebration to honor women’s contributions, accomplishments, and voices throughout U.S. history. The following books spotlight extraordinary women from the distant and not-so-distant past—women both imagined and real, both famous and little-known, coming from diverse cultures, countries, and continents.

In 1987, Women’s History Month was formally recognized by presidential proclamation as a monthlong celebration to honor women’s contributions, accomplishments, and voices throughout U.S. history. The following books spotlight extraordinary women from the distant and not-so-distant past—women both imagined and real, both famous and little-known, coming from diverse cultures, countries, and continents. These titles, and those selected from previous years, are available as a downloadable spreadsheet.

Fiction

Gallen, Michelle. Factory Girls. Algonquin. Nov. 2022. 304p. ISBN 9781643752457. pap. $17.99. COMING OF AGE

Jiménez, Claire. What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez. Grand Central. Mar. 2023. 240p. ISBN 9781538725962. $28. FICTION

Power, Mona Susan. A Council of Dolls. Mariner. Aug. 2023. 304p. ISBN 9780063281097. $30. INDIGENOUS

See, Lisa. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women. Scribner. Jun. 2024 368p. ISBN 9781982117092. pap. $18.99. HISTORICAL

Ward, Jesmyn. Let Us Descend. Scribner. Oct. 2023. 320p. ISBN 9781982104498. $28. LITERARY

Nonfiction

Campbell, Olivia. Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine. Park Row. Mar. 2022. 368p. ISBN 9780778311980. pap. $18.99. HISTORY

Hickman, Katie. Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West. Spiegel & Grau. Oct. 2022. 400p. ISBN 9781954118171. $32. HISTORY

Ryan, April. Black Women Will Save the World: An Anthem. Amistad. Oct. 2022. 208p. ISBN 9780063210196. $27.99. SOCIAL SCIENCES

Willis, Raquel. The Risk It Takes To Bloom: On Life and Liberation. St. Martin’s. Nov. 2023. 384p. ISBN 9781250275684. $29. MEMOIR

Wulfhart, Nell McShane. The Great Stewardess Rebellion: How Women Launched a Workplace Revolution at 30,000 Feet. Anchor. Feb. 2023. 320p. ISBN 9780593082294. pap. $17. HISTORY

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