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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:
Original poster
MsKL · 16/01/2021 15:35

Thanks.

It just seems, unless it's historical fiction or crime, there's nothing, it's all love and happy ever afters!

OP posts:
redfernsydney · 16/01/2021 15:29

I have just finished the single thread by tracey chevalier. ....I enjoyed it...its about a single woman in the inter war period. ok.,There is a bit of romance. .it is not the main focus and it's a bit different to my normal choice, of thriller or contemporary novel

Palavah · 16/01/2021 15:28

Miss Marple?

Or stuff by Val McDermid? I've found crime novels oddly comforting when I want to avoid stories of romance.

Alternatively biography of a female explorer eg
www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/travel/2016/mar/30/top-10-inspiring-contemporary-uk-female-adventurers

Or, less recent, Gertude Bell or similar?

Original poster
MsKL · 16/01/2021 15:21

Exactly @BooFuckingHoo2 ... surely it's possible to be interesting without looking for or finding love?!

OP posts:
BooFuckingHoo2 · 16/01/2021 15:19

Watching with interest! Every book I read about a “single” woman seems to end up with them magically finding love.

Original poster
MsKL · 16/01/2021 15:16

Thanks @highlandcoo looking them up now!

OP posts:
highlandcoo · 16/01/2021 15:05

Oh, and The Observations by Jane Harris is good fun.

Narrated by Bessy, a maid in a large Victorian house where there is something strange going on with her mistress. It's intriguing and amusing; I really enjoyed it.

highlandcoo · 16/01/2021 14:59

Try Old Baggage by Lissa Evans.

Mattie is now in late middle age. Her best memories are of her suffragette days and she is now looking for an outlet for her energy and intelligence, so starts a club for girls on Hampstead Heath.

This is funny and touching and thought-provoking, and if you enjoy it there are the other two books in the trilogy to follow.

Original poster
MsKL · 16/01/2021 13:45

I haven't TheWind. I'll take a look. Any you'd particularly recommend to start with?

OP posts:
TheWindOnTheMoon · 16/01/2021 13:38

Have you read any Barbara Pym novels? They often have single women in them, and are not romances.

Original poster
MsKL · 16/01/2021 12:56

Hi @RightOnTheEdge. I've just finished Away with the penguins, not too much love in there except at the end really, and it was quite funny.

Hopefully someone will be along with suggestions.

OP posts:
RightOnTheEdge · 16/01/2021 12:21

Good question OP.
I haven't got any recommendations but I'd like to know too.
I'm finding it hard to find a book because I'm not in the mood for love stories and I've read so many detective books.
It would be good to get out of my book reading rut.

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