The Vanishing Act Of Esme Lennox / novel recommendations

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I have just read The Vanishing Act Of Esme Lennox after Glosswitch recommended it in one of her mail outs. I read it quickly, it gripped me, and I'm glad, I think, overall, that I read it. But mainly I feel pissed off with the plot. Three central female characters, themes of society's expectations of women, poor understanding of mental health issues... it could have been really good but just wasn't.
With Christmas coming up and the possibility of books coming my way, I wondered if anyone could recommend something else please? Ideally novels as I have a lot of the recent nonfiction to get to but equally please feel free just to recommend away in case someone else is looking for suggestions.
I know there is a books section on Mumsnet but I thought here might be a better place to try.

Agree Crawdads was badly written. I loved the place and the nature descriptions but it made me cross - the author just kept throwing away plotpoints with no dramatic tension. One single paragraph started with a description of the main protagonist spending two days feeling terribly ill and struggling outside and ended with something like ‘but then she was fine and two years later X happened’. I’m exaggerating for effect but it kept making me cross.

Another one I keep meaning to reread is She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb. I love Wally Lamb and he’s good at women.

I really enjoyed On Green Dolphin Street by Sebastian Faulks but that was a good while ago and I don't like his stuff much usually. Don't want to re-read in case I hate it this time.

Well written women was the criteria

Each to their own but applying that criteria would exclude One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich which is one of the best books I've ever read. The final sentence is jaw- dropping.

I'm fairly sure this doesn't fit the brief of a woman centred book or abound with well written women. But just to mention in passing if you like Sebastian Faulks you might enjoy Engleby. Chilling but darkly funny too. It's a long time since I read it but I do remember being utterly gripped.

@CrochetyCrochet I did indeed enjoy Engleby.

Sorry, ignore me. Just seen you don't like Sebastian Faulks' stuff much usually.

We Have Always Lived In the Castle by Shirley Jackson has interesting main female characters.

Eleanor Oliphant by Gail Honeyman I hated that book. It was one where I did a full on text rant about how awful it was !

So glad it's not just me - utterly lame, completely implausible dross. The internal monologue, plotting and dialogue are all feeble. I'm absolutely mystified that it became a bestseller and that various neuro-atypical pressure groups haven't kicked up a shitstorm about it.

Just thought of another couple. A S Byatt the virgin in the garden quartet. And Margaret Drabble (the radiant way, in particular). They're sisters but apparently don't get on

@everythingcrossed

Eleanor Oliphant by Gail Honeyman I hated that book. It was one where I did a full on text rant about how awful it was !

So glad it's not just me - utterly lame, completely implausible dross. The internal monologue, plotting and dialogue are all feeble. I'm absolutely mystified that it became a bestseller and that various neuro-atypical pressure groups haven't kicked up a shitstorm about it.

Yes, this completely. I couldn't get through even a few pages, it was painful to read. As part of a neurodiverse family it felt quite uncomfortably like a nerotypical way of exploring neurodiverse thoughts and it didn't sit well with me. Maybe it got better further on but I couldn't force myself through it.

A Kind Of Intimacy by Jenny Ashworth would be my suggested replacement for this 😁

*Jenn Ashworth

The natural way of things Charlotte Wood.

It's not a happy novel, but 2 weeks after I read it I can't stop thinking about it. Set in the Outback 10 young women wake up to find themselves prisoners because of their "transgressions".

I love Kate Atkinson's writing although wasn't too keen on Transcriptions. Also loved Diary of an Ordinary Woman and the Poisonwood Bible which made me cry on public transport

I'll add Lissa Evans and Sarah Waters to the great names mentioned so far.