women-centred fiction recommendations for a holiday read

[BananaPeachPie]

I’m on holiday so would like a new book. I like an enjoyable read but that doesn’t make me feel like I’m wasting my time, so no twee romance, I really don’t enjoy mystery and crime books. I seem drawn to books with women at the centre where I can learn a little of their lives and history but ultimately have a good storyline and great characters.
I’ve just finished The Women and The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah and Small pleasures, all of which I enjoyed. I also enjoyed books like A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Book Seller of Kabul. I like to feel that there is a little hope left in humanity.
Does anyone have a recommendation that might fit the bill? Thank you

Would also recommend. Fab writer.

I saw the dog as a metaphor for old age. Poor dog ..

Also the Glassmaker by Tracey Chevalier. Set in Venice.

Number Thirty-Two by Cassie Steward

The Women was fascinating…I loved the story. The writing I thought was quite off putting and I nearly stopped after a couple of chapters as it felt quite contrived. A bit like reading a soap opera script. But…I am so glad I preserved and got used to the writing style. I feel like I learned a lot about something I previously had no idea about.

I've just started reading The Women on the recommendations from this thread. I'm glad you said to stick with it @GTTSR because at the moment it's feeling quite formulaic and a bit like it's written for the big screen with actors like Callum Turner and Zendaya.

I was going to suggest The Women. I loved that book. I’ve just read The Names on holiday. Picked it up at the airport and read it in a couple of days. Centred around a woman in a domestic violence situation and her children.