14 Summer Must-Reads about Women & Work
Fiction and Nonfiction Picks for Women by Women
Women & Work: Fiction
It’s time for poolside reads and beach vacays. Slather on SPF, don your sunglasses with your drink in hand and swim in these compelling stories and leadership narratives about women making their mark, so you can make yours. From fiction to nonfiction, there’s a book for every woman.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
A goodie-two-shoes nurse, Frankie, expands her vision for her life at the outbreak of the Vietnam War. Joining the Army ranks, she confronts the realities of work and war. It’s “a novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism.” Because women can be heroes, too. Read Amazon description here.
The Tiffany Girls: A Novel by Shelley Noble
Catch a unique glimpse within the Tiffany Glass company preparing for Paris’ World Fair. Meet and get acquainted with the realities of being a “Tiffany Girl”: Women who relish their craft and pursue their dreams no matter what the world tells them. “This historical fiction novel set in the Gilded Age of New York City” showcases the “art, history and strong women breaking the glass ceiling of their era.” Read the Amazon description here.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Recommended by Tessa Barlow for being “a great read plus a show on Apple TV.”
Main character (and chemist), Elizabeth Zott, redefines the ‘average woman’ in the 60s. Like most of us, her career takes an unexpected turn. From the chemistry lab to the star of a cooking TV show, she shakes up the status quo in this “laugh-out-loud funny and shrewd” novel. Read the Amazon description here.
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
It has the can’t-put-it-down quality per recommender Anne Donovan. Meet the unlikely woman who curates the J.P. Morgan’s renowned Pierpont Morgan Library. Holding a deep secret that’ll ruin her career and reputation, she doesn’t let it hold back but captivates New York City high society becoming one of the most esteemed working women and library curators of her time. Read the Amazon description here.
If I Were You: A Novel By Lynn Austin
Faith and friendship amid war time, two friends, Eve and Audrey, have a history to say the least. They join forces as ambulance drivers in World War II, but both make choices that weave a web of lies, connecting their lives long after the fighting is over. Read the Amazon description here.
The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street: A Novel by Susan Jane Gilman
You’ll either love her or hate her. From poor immigrant to powerful ice cream franchise CEO, Lillian Dunkle is more like a strong drink rather than the sweet treat she pedals. “Conniving, profane, and irreverent, she is a supremely complex woman…and when her past begins to catch up with her, everything she has spent her life building is at stake.” Read the Amazon description here.
The Gown: A Novel of The Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson
Get a peek inside the workrooms where one of the most famous wedding gowns in history was created. Three unforgettable women are bound not only by their craftsmanship on Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding dress, but “by the pain of survival, the bonds of friendship, and love.” Read the Amazon description here.
Women & Work: Non-fiction
Leap: Why It's Time to Let Go to Get Ahead in Your Career by Jessica Galica
Delve into stories of real women who are reinventing what career means to them. Tired of the you can have it all sell that comes up short, “debut author Jessica Galica blends narrative, research, and pep talk to empower women to reclaim control of their career trajectories and define success on their own terms.” - Read the Amazon description here.
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski & Amelia Nagoski
Did you know men and women experience burnout differently? Both Maria Healey and Breanna Wheeler tout this book as a game changer. Healy says, “I understand myself when experiencing burnout” and Wheeler now knows “how to expel anxious stress energy.” It’s a science-backed approach “to help women minimize stress, manage emotions, and live a more joyful life.” - Read the Amazon description here.
Women, Work & Calling: Step Into Your Place in God's World by Joanna Meyer
Speaking into the personal and professional gap of female Christian’s lives, Joanna Meyer bolsters confidence from within providing “a theological framework for women's work and influence” while resourcing tactical advice to release the tension between public and private life. - Read the Amazon description here.
How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith
Get ready to take notes! Find (and release) yourself from the common traps every career woman faces. It’s the perfect “show and tell” that exposes the habits you need to break to get ahead. Read the Amazon description here.
Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live) by Eve Rodsky
It’s a division-of-labor system for alllll the hidden work on your plate. Make your seemingly invisible work visible trading burnout for an equitable bottom line of who’s doing what, when. The book includes “4 easy-to-follow rules, 100 household tasks, and a series of conversation starters for you and your partner.” - Read the Amazon description here.
Sacred Work: A Christian Woman's Guide to Leadership in the Marketplace by Peggy Bodde
The pocket-size mentor for Christian working women, Bodde weaves personal stories and tactical leadership practices to guide you through any sticky situation in the workplace. Because “faith and leadership work together.” - Read the Amazon description here.
The Likeability Trap: How to Break Free and Succeed as You Are by Alicia Menendez
How does being liked affect you and your work? A recommended read by Cathy Lanzalaco, Mendez breaks down the paradox of female expectations and how to ditch the demands for “likeability [that] hinder everyone’s progress and power.” - Read the Amazon description here.