Romances with Strong Female Leads

The phrase “strong female lead” can mean a lot of different things, depending on your personal filters. Your background, financial situation, family ties, and more all meld together to form YOUR mental picture.

You might picture a strong female lead in a high-powered corporate position, calling the shots in the boardroom. You might picture a fit athlete, competing at the highest level. Maybe she’s happily married. Maybe she’s happily divorced. She might have kids, she might have pets, but the important thing is that our strong female lead does not sacrifice her femininity to please anyone, particularly a romantic partner. This list is full of books whose strong female leads who inspire and empower!

🏆 And don’t miss out on our Strong Female Leads Book Bundle Giveaway! Enter for your chance to win 4 empowering reads for this list that celebrate women who take charge, chase their dreams, and break barriers! Enter now for your chance to win, here!

Back After This—Linda Holmes

The world of podcasts is vast and can be overwhelming if you don’t have a gimmick. Cecily loves making podcasts, but a recent breakup with someone who stole her heart AND her ideas has her rethinking her approach to both work and love. After being disappointed and strung along by her boss again and again, Cecily jumps at the offer to host her own show.

There’s a catch.

The podcast will focus on Cecily’s dating life, which is currently nonexistent. AND Cecily will have to follow the advice and suggestions of a brand-new, trendy relationship coach, who is relentlessly upbeat about everything. Eliza Cassidy doesn’t have a lot of experience in relationships, but she does have a lot of OPINIONS about how other people should conduct them. Cecily does not want to put herself out there in such a public and vulnerable way, but when her boss starts making veiled threats about the security of a friend’s job, she knows she has no choice but to give this whole experiment a try.

Cecily balks again at the terms. Eliza wants to choose a total of 20 blind dates for Cecily, that’s the deal, take it or leave it. She takes it.

Even though her social calendar is booked out for the foreseeable future, Cecily can’t stop thinking about a man named Will, a handsome photographer with whom she joined forces briefly to help a lost dog. Will seems great, but he clearly has issues of his own. And Cecily is really starting to mistrust her own instincts, thanks to Eliza’s near-constant criticism about her decision-making abilities. Plus, she has 20 other strangers to meet!

The gap between the life Cecily wants versus the one Eliza is envisioning for her is starting to widen. What happens when you get TOO much advice about your love life?

What people are saying:

“Holmes clearly knows a thing or two about the world of podcasting, as she’s one of the hosts of the popular NPR show Pop Culture Happy Hour, and she fills the book with details that give listeners a peek behind the curtain. . . . An altogether charming and delightful romance full of laugh-out-loud lines.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review “Holmes once again crafts an engaging, appealing tale of a woman coming into her own and learning to leave her people-pleasing ways behind. But it is not just Cecily who readers will connect with; all of the cast members are fully realized, with their own motivations and insecurities. Blending witty humor, a tender romance, and true character growth, this is a winner.”—Booklist, starred review

“Back After This is a sweetheart of a novel—fun and warm, full of Linda Holmes’s signature charm. You’ll sink into this story and never want it to end. The dialogue is sweet and snappy, and the characters so real you could touch them. There’s so much to love in this book: dreamy men who do backflips, found family, the perfect revenge, and an adorable dog. What more could a reader want?”—Elissa Sussman, bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask

Definitely Better Now—Ava Robinson

This heartfelt, emotional read features a main character who is celebrating 365 days of sobriety. Emma has not had a drink in 52 weeks, she’s been focused on her health, her work, and a lot of 12-step meetings. But after an entire year of avoiding the sorts of bad decisions that used to leave her in a puddle of embarrassment and regret, Emma decides that she is ready to get back out there!

She’s feeling rather pleased with her new dating profile. Emma, 26, New York is ready to mingle. But of course, life gets in the way.

She’s been tapped to plan the office holiday celebration, which is always a nightmare. Her mother has chosen this minute to move in with a new boyfriend, which is beyond weird. And when her missing-in-action dad pops back into her life with some devastating news, Emma is officially overwhelmed and really missing the bottle.

It really isn’t a great time for the charming IT guy, Ben, to catch her eye. And she’s caught his eye, too. Can she open up to him about her addiction and some of those embarrassing, regretful things from her drinking days? This is a wonderful story about personal redemption and the strength inside each of us to take life one day at a time.

What people are saying:

“Thoughtfully presented details about alcoholism and sobriety add realism to Emma’s story, and while serious issues such as addiction, trauma, and terminal illness are major plot points, there’s a hopeful tone throughout, and plenty of humor. Fans of Natalie Sue’s I Hope This Finds You Well (2024) will cheer for Emma as she learns to navigate her new life.”—Booklist

“This smart, heartbreaking, and funny novel tackles the real life human frailty that we bring to our romantic relationships. It left me feeling like even our most broken parts are beautiful. I loved it.”—Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script

It’s Getting Hot in Here—Jane Costello

This part of the plot description just jumped out at me when I was reading up on this book: a “celebration of midlife and all its marvelous messiness”. As a lady of a certain age, it was nice to

see a peer so honestly represented. Not all of us are fresh out of college, and some of us have been around the block more than… twice.

Lisa spends a lot of time feeling overheated. And it might not just be the menopause. But Lisa continues to blame her hormones for all of the weirdness she’s been experiencing in her body. She has two ex-husbands, two kids, a best friend undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and a to-do list that is a mile long. She definitely has no time to treat herself or to enjoy hobbies or complicated, epic TV shows.

When an LA-based media hotshot talking head appears on the scene as a temporary stand-in for her best friend’s job, Lisa’s body responds with heat flashes, flushing, and sweat rolling down her body. Zach Russo is only in town temporarily, and when he leaves, he might just take the rest of her energy and self esteem with him. This sexxxxxy read reminds us that life—and romance—doesn’t have to end when menstruation does!

What people are saying:

“A celebration of midlife and all its marvelous messiness. You’ll see yourself every time you turn the page.”―Tracey Cox, author of Great Sex Starts at 50

“Hot? It’s positively steamy! A timely, touching, and laugh-out-loud read from Jane Costello. Thoroughly recommend!”―Clare Mackintosh, author of I Let You Go

“Fabulous, fun, and hot!”―Milly Johnson, author of The Happiest Ever After

Killer Potential—Hannah Deitch

A striking cover design that invokes memories of Kate Hudson in Almost Famous. A quote from the author of The Girl on the Train. That quote mentions Thelma & Louise.

“Compelling and cool, Hannah Deitch has written a Thelma & Louise for our times.” — Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Slow Fire Burning and The Girl on the Train

I mean, what else could you possibly need in a book jacket?

I was shocked when I realized that Hannah Deitch is a debut author! This book is a thriller packed with twists, turns, unique characters, and the difference between the haves and the have-nots.

Evie Gordon is a good kid. She is a scholarship students with great grades and large dreams, and she just knows that she is destined to be Someone Someday. In the meantime, she keeps her head down, earning money as an SAT tutor for the ultra-rich kids of Los Angeles’ most powerful families.

Evie arrives at a Beverly Hills estate for an established, weekly lesson, and instead of a bratty student, she finds two dead bodies and a woman trapped in a closet. Everything changes.

Before she can figure out why, she’s Evie is at the center of a manhunt, dragging along the liberated woman, who refuses to say a word.

The silent woman quickly becomes the central figure in Evie’s life. They head off on a spree across the country, shocking a nation and inspiring excellent headlines.

A former gifted kid-turned-murderer. Labeled by the press as the “new Charles Manson”. Eva has definitely become Someone.

What people are saying:

“Stylish . . . Deitch’s twisty tale takes the form of an after-the-fact tell-all by Evie, and her wry narration adds texture and fizz to the action without skimping on character development. Neo-noir fans will get a kick out of this.” — Publishers Weekly

“Razor-sharp writing, frenzied pace, twists and turns – prepare for impact!” — Bonnie Garmus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

Spring Fling—Annie England Noblin

After finishing an intense thriller or a creepy mystery, I love resetting with a sweet, gentle romance. In a perfect world, the action takes place in a small town, which is filled with adorable characters and quirky customs. If you love Sarah Adams, you will love Annie England Noblin! This friends-to-lovers read is a great way to usher in spring.

Clay Creek, Arkansas, is filled with charm and is also filled with tourists who plan to participate in the town’s annual fishing tournament. Mylie’s tackle shop is thriving, and she is a major employer in the area. And she’s ready for her all-female team to land this year’s biggest fish!

Ben never wanted to return to Clay Creek. But after both his mother and his grandfather pass away, he’s the only one left to deal with estate matters. He knows that his return to his hometown will excite the local gossip mill, but he underestimates just how unresolved his unresolved feelings for Mylie really are. Unable to ignore a shared history, the two find each other again, but Ben doesn’t plan on sticking around Clay Creek for long after his business is concluded. And there is just no way that Mylie can pick up and move to Chicago! Can they resolve their lifestyle differences and meet in the middle?

What people are saying:

“Feelgood fiction at its finest. Annie England Noblin has crafted an utterly entertaining tale of unexpected chances and small-town secrets, and it’s as sweet and comforting as a hand-knit sweater and a warm puppy in your lap.” — Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author

“Fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Mary Alice Monroe will enjoy Noblin’s lighthearted second novel. For many readers, spending time immersed in Caroline’s world might be just the ticket.” — Library Journal

Variation—Rebecca Yarros

Instant USA Today, Amazon Charts, and Publishers Weekly bestseller.

If you’ve heard of a lil’ book called Fourth Wing, you are familiar with Rebecca Yarros! This INSTANT bestseller is full of family secrets, deep regrets, and memories of a long-ago romance that fell apart.

Hudson Ellis is an elite Coast Guard rescue swimmer. That comes with a lot of pressure and responsibility, and a split-second hesitation can have fatal consequences. Hudson prides himself on his spot-on instincts. He’s only even been wrong about one thing: Allie Rousseau.

Allie also has a life that is built on stress and pressure. She is an elite ballerina sidelined by an injury, so she returns to her summer home to rest and heal. She just needs to rest.

Suddenly, Hudson’s niece appears at Allie’s door. She is embroiled in a desperate search for her birth mother, and Allie finds herself in an impossible position. Will she betray years of secrets?

Will she and Hudson be pulled back together by the tides of time? Or will they be forced to beat against the rocks forever?

What people are saying:

“Yarros has a talent for writing likable characters and extraordinarily swoony men, and she’s frankly an artist with the smoldering slow burn.” —The Observer

“Yarros keeps the twists coming as her complex but lovable characters find their way back to each other in the face of impossible odds. Readers who like their romance on the soapy side will be more than satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly

Strong Female Leads Reviews

To recap: “strong” means something different to all of us. Whether you are commuting to corporate or handling your business at home, “strong” can also mean getting out of bed each day and putting one foot in front of the other! And it doesn’t have to be a fixed definition. Redefine your interpretation of “strong” every single morning.

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