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📚 Her Voice, Our Shelf 📖

lady_wyrm's profile picture lady_wyrm Host

11 participants (158 books)

01 Aug 2025—31 Jul 2026

Overview

Building a bookshelf full of women’s perspectives.

When you look at your shelves (or scroll through your e-reader library), how many of those books are authored by men? I you took them away, how many would be left?

Many readers are surprised when they examined their shelves and realize that the majority of the books they own (and have read…) are written by men. I certainly was a couple of years ago. Once I noticed the imbalance, I made a conscious choice to seek out books by women and set aside men’s voices - at least for now. 

This isn’t because books written by men are bad or unworthy, or because their voices lack variety, but because I wanted to intentionally honor and make space for women’s voices in my reading life.

This challenge is your invitation to do the same: rebalance your reading, add diversity to your shelves, and discover just how rich and varied women’s writing can be. Over the course of the challenge, you’ll explore books written (or translated by women) from around the globe, across genres, time periods and perspectives.

Whether it’s a classic penned a century ago, a contemporary bestseller, or a hidden gem in translation, every book you choose will spotlight the creativity, insight, and influence of women writers.

‼️ For this challenge, ‘women authors’ includes cis women, trans women (and non-binary authors who identify with women’s perspectives). The aim is to celebrate and amplify the wide spectrum of voices and experiences within women’s writing.


Goal:
The challenge is set at 100 books. It’s an ambitious number, yes, but think of it as an invitation rather than a demand. This isn’t about pressure or perfection, it’s about curiosity and exploration. You might reach the full 100 or you might discover that even a handful of books by women transforms your reading life. Every step toward balancing your shelf counts. 

Why Join?
Because every story told by a woman adds another thread to the rich tapestry of human experience. The more we read them, the stronger those threads become.

Challenge Books

All books added
Life on Mars: Poems by Tracy K. Smith

Life on Mars: Poems

Tracy K. Smith

1 hour, 22 minutes • audio • 2011

poetry science fiction emotional reflective medium-paced
Weeping Becomes a River by Siphokazi Jonas

Weeping Becomes a River

Siphokazi Jonas

72 pages • paperback

nonfiction poetry
Survival Training for Lonely Hearts by Elana Bregin
Survival Training for Lonely Hearts
—
Elana Bregin

Survival Training for Lonely Hearts

Elana Bregin

289 pages • digital • 2012

Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity by Julia Cameron

Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity

Julia Cameron

6 hours, 58 minutes • audio • 2002 user-added

nonfiction art self help inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced
Life Is a Lazy Susan of Sh*t Sandwiches: Advice, Inspiration and Laughter from the I've Had It Podcast Hosts by Angie Sullivan, Jennifer Welch

Life Is a Lazy Susan of Sh*t Sandwiches: Advice, Inspiration and Laughter from the I've Had It Podcast Hosts

Angie Sullivan, Jennifer Welch

5 hours, 31 minutes • audio • 2025

nonfiction emotional reflective medium-paced
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Olive Kitteridge

Olive Kitteridge #1

Elizabeth Strout

280 pages • digital • 2008

fiction literary short stories emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Inverse Cowgirl: A Memoir by Alicia Roth Weigel

Inverse Cowgirl: A Memoir

Alicia Roth Weigel

256 pages • digital • 2023

nonfiction lgbtqia+ memoir politics informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Axie Oh

336 pages • digital • 2022

fiction fantasy young adult adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced
Mother Sea by Lorraine Wilson

Mother Sea

Lorraine Wilson

359 pages • paperback • 2023 user-added

fiction literary speculative fiction emotional reflective sad medium-paced
The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware

The Woman in Suite 11

Lo Blacklock #2

Ruth Ware

387 pages • hardcover • 2025

fiction thriller mysterious tense medium-paced