Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Please help me find lighthearted books about single women

37 replies

MsKL · 16/01/2021 12:18

I do like lighthearted books. Trying to recover from depression and anxiety, struggling to concentrate on anything heavy. But why are they all centred around finding love?! Is that all we've got to look forward to?

Any recommendations?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Hobbes8 · 21/01/2021 20:52

Olive by Emma Gannon might fit the bill - chick lit but about a break up and it’s aftermath.

Or expectation by Anna Hope, which I loved.

Both about female friendships as some people get married and have children and others don’t.

Feawen · 21/01/2021 20:46

A different type of recommendation, but any of Terry Pratchett’s witches books would fit the bill. Two formidable old ladies protecting their community from dark fates of which it’s members have no conception, while having a good bicker.

Someone might or might not marry a king at one point, but it’s very clear she’d be settling for less than the witchy future she could have Wink

kmmm0 · 19/01/2021 04:49

How about:

Miss Benson''s Beetle- Rachel Joyce
Dear Mrs Bird- A J Pearce
The Confession- Jessie Burton

These might fit what you're looking for? Hope you feel better soon Flowers x

katy1213 · 19/01/2021 03:52

How about Miss Hargreaves (Frank Baker)?

katy1213 · 19/01/2021 03:44

And even Miss Pettigrew finds that thermal undies are no bar to romance. It is a lovely, light-hearted book, though.

katy1213 · 19/01/2021 03:42

Barbara Pym's heroines always seem desperate to nab a curate!

LunaNorth · 19/01/2021 03:05

Cold Comfort Farm is just the ticket.

Also, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day.
The Girls by Liz Gilbert.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

HeronLanyon · 19/01/2021 02:59

Mapp and Lucia books - some great audio read by Miriam margolese (I have no idea how to spell her surname !) there are a few husbands floating around but not so as you’d notice given the fierce sharp-elbowed jostling for position going on between all of the women. Laugh out loud funny.

Original poster
MsKL · 19/01/2021 02:55

Oh, I used to read those a long time ago. Lovely books. Thanks for reminding me Smile

OP posts:
SkeletorAttack · 19/01/2021 02:18

A very gentle read is the Fairacre series of books by Miss Read, all about an unmarried schoolmistress, her village school and the (gentle) adventures of the village herself.

It is a really sweet, nostalgic read of a rose-tinted 1950s village and the protagonist is really content with her fulfilling single life.

Original poster
MsKL · 19/01/2021 01:51

Great thanks, I'll check them out.

I'm just not in the mood for reading about love at the moment.

OP posts:
SnickersnotMArs · 18/01/2021 19:54

Good vibes Good life - Vex King.

I’ve just started reading it today so far so good.

MaudTheInvincible · 18/01/2021 19:53

Another vote for Barbara Pym! I'd also recommend Sylvia Townsend Warner and Stella Gibbons.

princessspotify · 18/01/2021 19:51

Sorry just read the op again. Maybe not Jill Mansell as they're lovey dovey

princessspotify · 18/01/2021 19:50

Jill Mansell writes fairly light-hearted books about single women

Original poster
MsKL · 18/01/2021 12:35

Thanks, I'll look at that.

In the past I've loved books like The Queen and I.

OP posts:
TheWindOnTheMoon · 18/01/2021 09:36

Have you read Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams? It's modern, she's single but thinks she wants a relationship, although that's not what she really needs. I read it last year. Lots of strong female characters. I loved it.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 17/01/2021 20:11

I know it's crime, but Sue Grafton's Alphabet series is great. Kinsey Millhone is a great character. She's a PI in California. Series starts in 1980 when she's 30, and finishes as it turns to 1990 and she's 40. Except poor Sue died just after she finished Y....doesn't take away from the series tbh.

StrikingMatches · 17/01/2021 20:07

Not a work of fiction but I love this Rough Guide travel book. It features lots of stories of women who travelled alone. I found it very inspiring and the places visited are so diverse.

Please help me find lighthearted books about single women
Viviennemary · 17/01/2021 20:03

I second Or even third Barbara Pym. Though a younger person might find them a bit dated.

Original poster
MsKL · 17/01/2021 18:51

Thanks. Im not sure if it'll be a bit too old fashioned, but I'll download a kindle sample and see. I do prefer current day fiction.

OP posts:
TheWindOnTheMoon · 17/01/2021 12:18

@MsKL I'd start with Crampton Hodnet. It's my favourite Barbara Pym and it's very funny.

Original poster
MsKL · 16/01/2021 22:51

Definitely! There must be other things to write about than love?

OP posts:
BooFuckingHoo2 · 16/01/2021 15:40

Someone needs to write a book about a modern day single woman who’s still single at the end of the book Grin.

DemolitionBarbie · 16/01/2021 15:38

Lolly willowes is good. It's interwar tho.

Spinster aunt is so fed up with family using her as a skivvy that she goes to the country and becomes a witch.

Swipe left for the next trending thread