I wanted to put together a list of my favorite wlw literary fiction books I have read. This genre is my personal favorite since it truly focuses on the characters instead of relying on twists or plot to make the story interesting. It’s going to be a short list since I rarely hand out 5 stars unless I truly cannot put the book down. Also, i focus more on emotional intimacy instead of sexual in my books since that is what pulls me into a story.
1.) Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens - This book is a western wlw set in a brothel. The author is able to tell the story in a very tasteful way and gives the main character, Bridget, urgency. The story doesn’t focus on any graphic scenes but is still able to realistically portray what life was like for women who worked in that type of setting in the 1800s. Amazing writing that I would highly recommend.
2.) Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth - this book is set in an Irish village in the 90s focusing on Lucy and Susannah’s relationship. I don’t want to describe too much, however, the village where these two live in is very religious. This book is a great example of how easily you can ruin your life by doing what other people think is right.
3.) Sirens and Muses by Antonia Angress - I do want to warn that this book follows 4 povs, two being male and the other two being the women who start a relationship together. This book is absolute perfection if you love an academic/ uppity setting. Louisa and Karina dynamic is complicated but you can really feel the deep emotional connection they share throughout the book. Also, Antonia is able to write the 2 other male characters pov in an interesting and complex way. 100% recommend this book.
4.) The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden - I just finished binge reading this book and it is the reason I wanted to create this list. Absolutely amazing story surrounding the obsession these two women have for each other. This book is best going into blind because once you finish it you can read it for a second time and understand certain scenes with a different perspective. This book was able to capture the emotional intimacy between these two women in such a beautiful way.
5.) Fried Green Tomatoes at the whistle stop cafe by Fannie Flagg - This is my personal favorite book of all time and what made me realize that wlw literary fiction was my favorite genre to read. This book is about a cafe in the south run by 2 women in the 20s. The story focuses on multiple different characters but at the heart of it is Ruth and Idgie.
6.) The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - lastly a list like this cannot be complete without mentioning this story. Anyone who is interested in a list like this has probably already read this book but in case you haven’t it follows the life of Evelyn Hugo and her acting career starting in the 50s. At the heart of it is Evelyn’s on and off relationship with Celia st James. There is so many things I can say about this book and the complex nature of their relationship but if you haven’t read this book yet do yourself a favor and pick it up.
7.) I just finished These heavy lungs we breath with by K.S. Whittaker and had to add it to my list. Absolutely a 5 star book that I highly recommend people to read. I don’t like giving descriptions for books since I prefer to go into them blind, however, the beginning of the book reminded me of Sunburn. If I had to pick any of the books I mentioned above to be adapted into a movie it would be this one. Definitely recommend if any of my earlier suggestions appeal to you.
8.) Finished Dec. 15, 2024, Bloom Town: Genesis & Bloom Town: Exodus. This is a western duology that apparently was originally a Dani and Jamie fanfiction. I remember when reading the story thinking this reads like fanfiction (not in a bad way!) but if you know you know. These two books were so good and the cast of characters along with the story made it so easy to binge read. If the following summary: “A preacher’s daughter with a secret. An outlaw running from the gallows. A love story spanning oceans and deserts and years.” Sounds interesting to you then definitely pick these two books up. Especially if you enjoyed Lucky Red, these two books are also available on KU.
9.) Finished July 14, 2025, Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski. I just finished reading this story and I know I will need to make a separate post to fully articulate my thoughts and feelings about this novel. Absolutely a beautiful and intensely real story that I could not get enough of. Emily and Gen felt so real and the drama and heartache between the two of them felt very realistic. This is a must read to me and it rivals my favorite book of all time which is Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. 5/5 star book without question. The summary: “A page-turning, irresistible novel of class, ambition, and bisexuality, this is the breathtaking story of a woman risking everything for a second chance at her first love” does not do it justice. Highly, highly, highly recommend.
10.) Finished January 4th, 2026, As many souls as stars by Natasha Siegel. Okay technically this isn’t literary fiction, it’s a mixture of fantasy and romance but it’s my list damnit and this story is too good not to share! An inventive and romantic speculative novel about two women—a witch and an immortal demon—who make a Faustian bargain and are drawn into a cat-and-mouse chase across multiple lifetimes. Definitely a toxic romance but the main point is that there is love there but it’s complicated because one of them is a demon. I really appreciated the balance it took to show that, yes, Miriam loves Cybil, but she’s still a demon so the way she shows she cares is not going to be how a human typically dose. Obviously there’s more I can say but I’ll leave it there.
The Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante - This book revolves around two best friends from childhood into old age. The reason these books are in the honorable mention section is because it is not directly queer, however, if you read between the lines or have ever experienced an homorotic relationship, then you will see the underlying meaning between Lila and Lenu. Absolutely incredible read that I think every women should read.
Nana Manga Series by Ali Yazawa - I do want to give a warning that this manga is not finished nor do I think it ever will be, however, the two main characters are in love they just don’t want to admit it. Also, where the manga stops is not at a happy place. This story will have you depressed once you reach the last released volume but trust me it’s worth the read.
When we lost our heads by Heather O’Neill - this book is explicitly wlw, however, the reason it is in the honorable mention section is because I do not consider it a 5 star book. I ended up giving it a 4.75 so I still wanted to mention it. Marie and Sadie were so fun to read from and I definitely recommend picking this book up is any of my other recommendations sound interesting to you.
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