In honor of Women’s History Month, I want to shout out my top ten favorite female protagonists in some of my favorite books! If you’re looking for a fun new read with an actually likable main character or you just want to dig into the inner thoughts of a girl and be like, “she’s just like me fr!” then I highly recommend looking into some of these!
10. The Elizabeth Stories - Elizabeth
So, I picked up The Elizabeth Stories at the used book section in Prairie Lights because I needed pages for a blackout poetry activity I was doing with IYWP. But as I was reading some of the pages, I was like, oh. Oh no. So I had to read through every single page to check for anything inappropriate, and in doing so, I read The Elizabeth Stories! They’re all nuts because Elizabeth herself is, even though throughout most of it she’s a child. Don’t care- I love this unhinged little child.
9. Tomie - Tomie
Okay, Tomie might not be the “protagonist” of the series- but she’s really the only constant for every story. And honestly? She’s always such a treat. Not to objectify but she is so, so gorgeous AND she kills men! Sometimes women but most of the time guys! She walked so Jennifer Check could run.
8. Gone Girl - Amy Dunne
Another villain, but honestly, the Cool Girl monologue cements her as iconic in one page. She’s sort of half a protagonist, but what’s so interesting about Amy is that she lies so effortlessly, so that you don’t even know who she is right until the end of the novel, and even then it’s in question.
7. Pride and Prejudice - Elizabeth Bennett
Of course Lizzie had to be on here, come on. She’s literally the original enemies-to-lovers historical AU. Where would society be without Jane Austen? I don’t even want to think about it.
6. Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go - Luna
LG x 3 is actually a series of short stories, but Luna makes an appearance in at least 3 (hard to explain). She’s kind of chaotic, but in the best way possible. She steals bucket hats and kisses her best friend’s boyfriend right in front of her, all while still being super likable.
5. One’s Company - Bonnie
One’s Company is genuinely such a trip. I read it all in one day and wanted to throw up afterwards (obv in the best way possible). Bonnie’s psyche and process is the biggest contributor to this, she’s so fantastic to read about. One’s Company is so insane, definitely look up TW before if you’re going to give it a go!
4. After Dark - Mari Asai
Mari’s first scene is her at a McDonalds in the middle of the night, and she’s just this chill girl despite all of the weird stuff going on around her. She also lives in the shadow of her sister, who not only sleeps the entire book but hangs out inside of a TV for a while. So. Yeah. She rocks despite the horrors
3. Pizza Girl - Pizza Girl
Is she going to give her baby FAS? Yes. Is she turning into her father? Also yes. Does she take her boyfriend/baby daddy for granted in favor of the MILF that is Jenny? Yeah… Do I love reading her insane stream of consciousness throughout the whole book anyway? Duhhhhh.
2. Howl’s Moving Castle - Sophie Hatter
Not to be an astrology nut, but Sophie taking being turned into an old woman like a champ is very Capricorn of her. Also, her relationship with Howl is so much more defined in the book, which in turn reveals more of Sophie’s character and she rocks even more!!! Insane how much of him she puts up with, honestly.
1. Jane Eyre - Jane Eyre
“I care for myself”. It’s insane that Janet Eyre and Charlotte Bronte invented self respect and autonomy in 1847. Crazy even.
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