10 Heartfelt and Touching Modern Novels Written By Women

10 Heartfelt Books By Women Writers

1. Love and Treasure by Ayelet Waldman
2. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
3. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
4. White Oleander by Janet Fitch
5. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
6. The You I've Never Known by Ellen Hopkins
7. Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber
8. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
9. From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon
10. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Why Should We Celebrate Women Writers?

In Depth

There are literary works that catch readers' interest only for a short period of time, while there are others that seem to strike a chord and leave a lasting impression. Some of these stories come from brilliant women writers who draw inspiration from their own experiences. In no particular order, here are 10 novels by women that provide incredible insight into their characters' inner life in the face of outward struggle.

#1: "Love and Treasure" by Ayelet Waldman. The plot of this novel revolves around a tragic love and forgotten crimes during the Holocaust. Lieutenant Jack Wiseman, a New York-based Jewish soldier, is tasked to guard a train that American soldiers captured near Salzburg. The vehicle is full of unbelievable riches including gold watches, family heirlooms, wedding rings, silver picture frames, and many other pricey items. Wiseman then meets a Hungarian woman named Ilona who lost virtually everything in the war.

Fast forward to 70 years later, Wiseman gives his granddaughter a necklace and a task. She must search for an unknown lady who holds a secret that will explain to her the guilt her grandfather had been carrying with him for decades.

She must search for an unknown lady who holds a secret that will explain to her the guilt her grandfather had been carrying with him for decades.

#2: "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon. A young adult novel published in 2017, this is Yoon's debut work. The plot revolves around a girl named Maddy who has a strange medical condition which makes her allergic to the outside world. This left her inside the house for 17 years, until a boy named Olly moves in next door and changes everything. Yoon uses different elements like diary entries, vignettes, and illustrations to tell a romantic story that is both inspiring and heart-breaking.

#3: "The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah. The story is set in 1974 when ex-P.O.W. Ernt Allbright decides to move his family to Alaska, after becoming volatile as a result of his stint in the Vietnam War. His 13-year-old daughter, Leni, gets caught in the middle of all the tumult brought by her father's deteriorating mental state, leaving her and her mother scrambling to survive. The story gives readers a closer look at man's shortcomings and his resilience to endure the challenges caused by his past and the environment he is living in.

#4: "White Oleander" by Janet Fitch. This novel tells the story of Ingrid, a poet who is in prison for murder, and Astrid, her daughter. The latter finds herself moving from one foster home to another, experiencing hardships and challenges alone. Astrid has a hard time fitting into different schools. She wants to depend on her mother, but Ingrid is so self-centered that she barely shows care and affection for her daughter. The result leaves Ingrid in a very challenging predicament where she fears being abandoned. Readers praise this work for its lyrical prose and well-developed narrative that encourages introspection.

The result leaves Ingrid in a very challenging predicament where she fears being abandoned.

#5. "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman. This best-selling novel tells the story of Mia, a teenager who slips into a coma after a horrific car accident. Despite her condition, she remains fully aware of what is taking place around her. The book received praise from critics and won the 2009 NAIBA Book of the Year, as well as the 2010 Indie Choice Honor Award. "If I Stay" has been hailed for giving readers different levels of emotions, leaving them with a change of perspective on life and love.

#6: "The You I've Never Known" by Ellen Hopkins. In this novel, the author tells the story of a 17-year-old girl named Ariel as she moves towards finding the truth behind her identity. Her life is shaken up when, after living only with her father for her entire life, her mother appears out of the blue. The latter claims that she did not abandon Ariel. Rather, it was her own father who kidnapped her. The plot also tackles the life of Ariel's friend, Maya, who ran away from her own abusive mother and moved in with an older man who she thought she could trust.

#7: "Any Dream Will Do" by Debbie Macomber. This novel tells the story of Shay Benson, a woman who would do anything to help her brother, Caden, get out of trouble. Including putting herself into peril. Determined to begin a new life, she finds herself inside a church where she meets a pastor who is also looking for a fresh start after losing his wife. Readers praised the book for its emotional, romantic, and realistic depiction of the two protagonists.

Readers praised the book for its emotional, romantic, and realistic depiction of the two protagonists.

#8: "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. This is Niffenegger's debut novel, which tells the story of Henry, a librarian who has a rare genetic disorder. His condition makes him involuntarily travel through time at random. His wife, Clare, has to cope with her husband's supernatural ability and the dangers that come along with it. The novel was praised for the emotional depth it provided to readers and its clever plot. The book was adapted into a film in 2009, starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.

#9: "From Sand and Ash" by Amy Harmon. Set during World War II in Italy, it tells the story of Eva and Angelo who grew up like family, but were divided by religion and circumstance. The two eventually fall in love, only to be separated when Angelo enters the priesthood. Over a decade later, they cross paths again. Angelo has become a priest and Eva is running and hiding for her life from the Gestapo. Eva becomes one of the Jews finding protection inside Angelo's church.

#10. "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson. The plot tells the story of close but competitive twins Jude and Noah. After a series of misunderstandings and tragedies concerning their family, they became distant from one another. The two, however, find themselves meeting intriguing people along the way who will play crucial roles in rebuilding their destroyed relationship. The book received praise for its prose and poetry, which contributes to the novel's moving story.