With my own novel The Exit Strategy, coming this year, I’ve been paying attention to new releases in the Women’s Fiction genre, and boy, are there some great new novels coming in 2020!
Here’s a round-up of the 2020 women’s fiction books I’m most excited about. A few notes:
This list focuses on books available now for pre-order. If you find it valuable, I’ll happily update mid year to add more (including my own!).
For those I’ve read, you’ll find my reviews on Goodreads.
With the exception of debuts, this list is more focused on contemporary than historical.
Did I miss one? The thing with upcoming books is I don’t always see them all, so if there is a novel you think is missing, please let me know (in the comments or via email).
If you are scratching your head on the definition of ‘women’s fiction’ I added a few notes at the end.
As there are so many, I’ve organized it by category:
Blockbusters
There are my favorite established authors who have releases coming in 2020.
Side Trip by Kerry Lonsdale
Kerry’s a skilled writer and a best-seller who’s already sold in the millions. She specializes in emotionally charged page-turners (every one of which I’ve read!), and this one promises to be no different.
Plus, what’s more fun than a road trip across the country?
I’m happy to say that I have gotten my grubby hands on an early copy (by joining Kerry’s Tiki Club of avid fans). I’m loving it, and will post a review on Goodreads as soon as completed!
Follow Me by Kathleen Barber
Kathleen Barber’s first book, Truth be Told (previously called Are You Sleeping) won the Women’s Fiction Writers STAR award for debut fiction and was made into an Apple TV show!
I mean, seriously, how often does that happen with a debut novel? Writer dream right there!
This second novel tells the story of a woman dealing with an obsessed social media follower, and promises to be just as chilling. Technically you could argue with me that this is a thriller, but Kathleen is so good at getting emotion on the page that I wanted to include here (author’s prerogative, right?).
This is Not How it Ends by Rochelle Weinstein
I really enjoyed this book about the people we love, the choices we make, and the question of ‘is there really only one soul mate for us?”. This book fit with my own perspective that life is more a series of people who come and go at the time we need them (but only if we let them).
It’s an excellent novel that deals with grief, and how it can both tear us apart or bring us toward the people we are meant to be with. Thoroughly recommended.
This Won’t End Well by Camille Pagán
I honestly don’t know anyone who likes women’s fiction and doesn’t love Camille Pagan’s uplifting books that often deal with difficult topics and situations (a cancer diagnosis in the case of one of my all time favorites of hers: Life and Other Near Death Experiences).
Her latest is a take on the challenges of letting others in, and it’s being called witty, wise and of the moment. I love how Camille’s books often hit on the question of “do we really believe we deserve a shot at happiness?”,. Several writer friends are already raving about this one, so I know it promises to be as uplifting and funny and poignant as her others.
If You Must Know by Jamie Beck
Jamie is a huge seller in the romance genre, who recently turned her skills toward women’s fiction. This is the first in her new series.
The novel is about two sisters, a rule-follower versus a free spirit, and how secrets can break, or bring together a family. Knowing Jamie’s ability to get emotion and intrigue on the page this new two book series promises to be great!
The Antidote to Everything by Kimmery Martin
Kimmery’s debut, The Queen of Hearts, truly broke through on its release in 2018, winning the Women’s Fiction Writers STAR award for debut fiction, and being named as a breakout hit of the year by Bookbub and many others.
She specializes in medical fiction, and this one hits on the topic of hospitals and their care (or intolerance) of transgender patients.
This novel is already being called ““Intense and vibrant.… A binge-worthy page-turner that’ll rival your favorite prime-time medical drama.” by none other than the best-seller, Kerry Lonsdale (see above).
What You Wish For by Katherine Center
Katherine Center is another NYT Best-selling author who keeps hitting the ball out of the park with powerful books about complex, interesting, strong women (just my kind of thing).
This one is set on the island of Galveston, Texas and is about dealing with a crush from our past re-entering our lives, and standing up for what we believe in.
Mother - Daughter Stories
You and Me and Us by Alison Hammer
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this one, so I understand what all the buzz is about. Laura Drake, one of my all-time favorite authors called it “the best book I read all year” and Alison is often called out in writer conferences as an example of getting emotion on the page.
Alison’s debut is a tear-jerker of a mother and daughter story that will leave you uplifted and wanting more from the author. And apparently everyone else agrees with me because the early reviews are just stellar!
Secret Lives of Mothers and Daughters by Anita Kushwaha
I’ve read this one, and rated it five stars! Another mother and daughter book - this time with secrets. One day after her eighteenth birthday, Asha is devastated to learn that she was adopted as a baby. Her grief in discovering her parents kept such a big secret from her is mirrored by her mothers’s devastation at the new and sudden distance with her daughter.
A strong debut novel, and an immigration story, that takes you inside lives and hearts that span between India and Canada. Masterful, uplifting, poignant and touching.
Brave Girl, Quiet Girl by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Just the blurb for this makes my heart pound; single mom’s worst nightmare comes true when she is carjacked and her two year old is taken.
The novel is being described as an unlikely and uplifting story of friendship.
Sure sounds gripping and emotional to me!
Well Behaved Indian Women by Suamya Dave
A mother-daughter story about three generations of women who find “the courage to create their own paths amidst unearthed secrets and mismatched expectations”.
Lori Nelson describes it as “ a lesson in dreaming passionately, loving deeply, and living authentically” and “a celebration of women— their loves and loyalties, dreams and disappointments, hopes and heartbreaks.”
Suspensey
Her Perfect Life by Rebecca Taylor
I’m looking forward to reading an early copy of this one (just got approved on NetGalley). It’s being called a “beautifully written and intricate novel that delves into the complexities of sisterhood” .
Eileen is at a loss for why her sister, with the seemingly perfect life of success and money would throw it all away? But everyone has secrets…
“Suspenseful” and “a page-turner” are the key words that had me requesting an early copy as soon as I could !
All the Silent Voices by Elena Mikalsen
I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of this at the end of last year, and as I say in my 5 star review it’s a is a suspenseful , well-written, #metoo tale that will pull you in right away.
It's hard to imagine living the horrific situation of coming face to face with a rapist from your past (and then having to work with them), but Mikalsen puts us in those shoes with her main character Emma. As a reader you live all the fear, anger, and questions of what makes for appropriate retribution (and does revenge pay?) right along with her.
Wildland by Rebecca Hodge
Coming on the back of the Australian fires, it’s hard not to relate to the story of a woman trapped by fire along with two children, fighting for all of their survival.
This debut is being described as “heart-stopping” (Diane Chamberlain) and “a page-turner with a fearsome heroine” (Barbara Claypole White).
This is another novel that placed in awards (Rising Star for Women’s Fiction) before it was even published!
Absolution by Regina Buttner
A hidden pregnancy in college that comes to light, combined with a current husband who isn’t willing to look past it, but will do anything to prevent her from leaving him…and will “resort to blackmail if necessary. Or worse.”
Should make for some suspenseful reading!
A Good Family by A H Kim
A domestic thriller, this one reads like a great modern day family saga, all about knowing who you can trust.
Beth has landed in white-collar women’s prison, thanks to a whistleblower, who turns out to be the au-pair. But did she do it alone?
“The story of the all-American family as it implodes under the weight of secrets, lies and the unchecked desire for wealth and power.”
Conversation Starters
I Know How This Ends by Amy Impellizzeri
Amy always hits on some topical issues with her fiction. One of my favorites, The Truth About Thea, was about the danger of social media addiction (yup, this author relates!).
With this newest novel, folks are already calling it “compelling” and talking about its' “stunning conclusion”. In the spring of 2020 an ambitious journalist, stumbles upon the commencement ceremony of a very special class, composed completely of 37 students: they are, in fact, the very first graduating high school class of true 9/11 survivors.
I can’t say too much more until I get my hands on an early copy, and people are saying the ending is “mind-blowing”, so I’m working on it
Queen of the Owls by Barbara Linn Probst
I love books that make you ask: what would I do in a similar situation? So, the premise of this book entirely intrigues me.
A university professor, in her quest to truly understand Georgia O’Keefe, is convinced to re-enact her famous nude photos. But when those phots are made public (without her consent), how will she handle the impact?
A Little Bit of Grace by Phoebe Fox
I’m excited to get my hands on this one by Phoebe Fox, an interesting new novel about new beginnings which poses questions about family and what is (and not) forgive-able?
It’s being called “A heartfelt story about family, forgiveness, and starting over when the happy ending ends—and handling it all with a little bit of grace.”
Home Making by Lee Matalone
This novel is being called a stunning debut about identity, family and legacy- and how we “find meaning in the places we inhabit”.
Cybil is a war child—the result of a brief affair between a young Japanese woman and a French soldier. She’s transplanted to Arizona, and raised by an American officer and his rigid wife. Now an adult, this novel focused on Cybil, her daughter, and her daughter’s closest friend, in a tale of “coming to grips with identity and family legacy”.
Books Set Outside the US
As a digital nomad and avid traveler, I love a good read that transports me to another location, and helps me better understand those living a reality outside my own.
The Mountains Sing by Que Mai Phan Nguyen
Que Mai is already a known poet and writer in Vietnam, but this is her debut novel in English. This novel is already racking up praise and awards: to give you an idea the Pullitzer prize winner, Viet Thanh Nguyen calls it “moving and riveting” and “both vast in scope and intimate in its telling”.
It’s a multi-generational tale of one Vietnamese family, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam war, and it’s guaranteed to take you on a journey inside a culture, history, and traditions many of us haven’t experienced. This might be one of the novels I am the most excited to read this year.
Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho
Set in Singapore, this book sounds like an absolute blast. It’s being hailed as “Crazy Rich Asians meets Brigitte Jones”.
This book might be verging into the romance/romcom category a little, but the story of a go-getter having a mid-life crisis (if mid-life were in your thirties that is), combined with Lauren’s hysterical prose (some of which I’ve seen) makes this promise to be such a fun read.
Little Gods by Meng Jing
This debut novel is getting a lot of great hype (named a best book of winter by tons of big name publications like Bustle, USA Today, Time).
A woman gives birth in a Beijing hospital, and seventeen years later, when she dies, it is her daughter who returns to China and discovers a new portrait of her mother and her own heritage.
Daughters of Smoke and Fire by Ava Homa
Set in Iran, this debut is about living as a Kurd in a country where your culture is repressed, and activism carries high risk. Leia dreams of making films, but when her brother disappears in Tehran, Leila herself becomes in danger when she starts seeking answers.
Several newspapers are already covering how important this novel is as the first to get the story out about what it’s like to live as one of 40 million stateless Kurds.
Great Debut Women's Fiction
Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes by Kathleen West
Another debut, just recently released that’s getting a lot of buzz. A privileged high school, helicopter parents, and a secret Facebook gossip site, just sounds like so much fun!
This book is already being compared to Small Admissions by Amy Poeppel and recommended to those who enjoy Maria Semple (that’d be me!). It’s high on my ‘up next’ list.
East Coast Girls by Kerry Kletter
This seems like a great beach read (yes, I might be a little influenced by the cover!).
It’s a story of a sisterhood of childhood friends, who re-meet more than a decade later, in Montauk for one last summer. But unexpected tragedy strikes again, forcing them to confront old trauma - and secrets.
Remembrance by Rita Woods
Set between present day Ohio and spanning several centuries of historical Haiti and New Orleans, some folks are already comparing this novel to The Underground Railroad and Orphan Train.
The novel has elements of magical realism, and touches on issues of slavery and the story of three generations of black women, across time and continents.
Sweet Jane by Joanne Kukanza Easley
This novel was a finalist in the Faulkner / Wisdom Writing Competition, and so far the reviews are calling it a warm read and full of “raw emotion”.
It’s the story of a woman who grows up with a drunk mother and runs away during the summer of love, to restart her life in California. But the death of her mother forces her to re-face the demons she thought she’d left behind.
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
The whole premise of this book has me intrigued. It’s New Years Eve and Oona is turning 19, except the next day she wakes up and she’s fifty-one! And the following year the same thing happens and now she’s a different age.
I think this premise is so clever and unusual (reminds me a little of The Time Traveler’s Wife, in some ways), and the novel is being described as “fascinating and sometimes heart-wrenching”.
The All-Night Sun by Diane Zinna
This debut has been called a “tender, aching, and unforgettable story” and “a provocative examination of the often-blurred boundaries between teacher and student as well as the disorienting effects of grief.”
Many are commenting on how beautiful and lyrical Diane’s language is as she addresses the topic of “a lonely young woman” who “gets too close to her charismatic female student”.
The Disharmony of Silence by Linda Rosen
Moving between 1915 and 2010, this debut is a tale of two women and an eighty-four-year old secret that has the power to tear lives apart.
Early reviewers are describing it as a novel that “propulsively moves the reader back and forth in time, creating suspense and momentum, with intricate physical and emotional detail.” and “a delightful journey through the past and present weaving together a story filled with vivid descriptions and characters that you will easily identify with”. Sounds pretty intriguing to me!
Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park
Suzanne actually has two debut novels coming in 2020, this and a romcom called The Perfect Escape, both of which sound delightfully funny.
This one is the story of a video game producer who suffers a troll attack, and finds herself getting closer and closer to the one person she has every reason to hate. The setting reminds me of my own novel in terms of the misogyny Melody, the main character, is dealing with in a macho workplace. But add Korean parents breathing down her neck and a whole lot of heart and humor!
Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West
“Set in the South Side of Chicago, an epic, enthralling story of a young woman determined to protect her best friend while a long-buried secret threatens to unravel both their families.”
This is a novel that hits on race, family secrets, and friendship.
When Ruby King’s mother is murdered, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a bad neighborhood, Ruby finds herself living with her violent father. Only her best friend Layla seems to care, but will she be able to help her?
Can’t Take it Back by Kelly Duran
This one’s a great choice if you enjoy audio books (it’s coming out only on Audible).
It’s being described as ideal for lovers of Katherine Center (see above), but the “interconnected stories of four women over the course of a kindergarten school year” sound to me like it will also appeal to fans of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies.
I love any time I see the words “captivating and immersive”. Sounds like a great listen for upcoming travel time to me!
Age of Consent by Amanda Brainerd
This novel is being called a “binge-worthy summer read” and “daringly honest and sexy.”
It’s about three women coming of age in 1980s New York, and dealing with sexual relationships, the powerful sway of older men, and staking independence from and their own parents.
Love and Other Contagious Diseases by Madi Sinha
Being described as Gray’s Anatomy meets Scrubs, this also promises to be a fun one. The story of a young doctor struggling to survive her residency, love and life in general.
When a fatal medical mistake takes place and she is pulled into the cover up, how far will she go to protect the secret?
What is Women’s Fiction?
I could write a series of blog posts on the categorization (and smarter people than me have: if you’re interested this is an awesome article by Rachel Howard on the perils involved in the gendering of books). But as a proud member of WFWA (Women’s Fiction Writer’s Association) I’ll just stick with their definition for now: “layered stories in which the plot is driven by the main character’s emotional journey.”
For me, women’s fiction is a genre classification I’ve embraced, as much because of the amazing people I’ve met and the support I’ve received through WFWA as any ‘duel to the death’ debate over whether it’s a useful classification.
I wish we could all just enjoy great fiction without sticking books in genre jail, but the reality is we also need help finding, as readers, what will appeal to us (as well as finding better ways to broaden our horizons) and I could argue this classification does some of both (helps and hurts us with finding books we’ll enjoy and broadening our reading considerations). As such where I knew a book above could be debated for fit, I swayed on the side of inclusive.
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure:
I’m testing being an amazon associate, which which means I may earn from qualifying purchases. In all honesty, it’s bit of an experiment: if this turns out to be worthwhile, I”m going to write a blog post and explain to other authors how to use this on their author sites.