In 1987, Women’s History Month was formally recognized in the United States by presidential proclamation, as a month-long celebration of women’s contributions, accomplishments, and voices throughout history. The following books spotlight extraordinary women from the distant and not-so-distant past, from the United States and from around the world—some imagined and some real, some famous and others little-known. Access a full list of titles, from 2026 and all of our previous lists, here.

FICTION

Chambers, Essie. Swift River. S&S. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781668027912. 304p. $27.99. LITERARY

Gonzalez, Xochitl. Anita de Monte Laughs Last. Flatiron. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781250786210. 352p. $28.99. COMING OF AGE

Hannah, Kristin. The Women. St. Martin’s. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781250178633. 480p. $30. HISTORICAL

Kamali, Marjan. The Lion Women of Tehran. Gallery. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781668036587. 336p. $28.99. HISTORICAL

Porter, Michelle. A Grandmother Begins the Story. Algonquin. Nov. 2023. ISBN 9781643755182. 336p. $28. INDIGENOUS

NONFICTION

Bohannon, Cat. Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution. Knopf. Oct. 2023. ISBN 9780385350549. 624p. $36. LIFE SCIENCES

Gibson, Susannah. The Bluestockings: A History of the First Women’s Movement. Norton. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780393881387. 352p. $29.99. HISTORY

Satow, Julie. When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion. Doubleday. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780385548755. 320p. $32.50. FASHION

Targoff, Ramie. Shakespeare’s Sisters: How Women Wrote the Renaissance. Knopf. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9780525658030. 336p. $33. LITERATURE

Valosik, Vicki. Swimming Pretty: The Untold Story of Women in Water. Liveright. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781324093046. 432p. $28.99. SPORTS