Every girl has experienced the magic of girlhood. Whether it’s through sisters or good friends, it’s a feeling unlike any other. Here are some books that will give you those same vibes.
By Jayne Turner – Staff Writer
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
In this semi-autobiographical book, the March sisters grow from adolescence into adulthood. The story tells what it means to grow up alongside other girls who know you completely, through hard emotions, conflict, and the ups and downs of growing up. Despite each sister having their own dreams, they learn to support each other. Through grief, love, and an ever-evolving society, the sisters know that they are lucky just to have each other.
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
This story uses girlhood as a vehicle for grief and emotional formation. It follows the deep bond between the main character, Marin, and her best friend, Mabel, from young girls to adulthood. When Marin loses her grandfather, she withdraws from everything, even her best friend. Mabel shows her that she is loved and that growing up doesn’t have to mean letting go.
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Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
This book explains girlhood as something that is not left in adolescence. It is something that echoes for a lifetime. It shows that friendship gives you a safe place to be yourself, explore, and grow without judgment. Following two friends who spend every summer together, the seasonality of this friendship does not take away from its importance. Even short friendships can have a profound impact.
The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
This novel follows a group of women from their early twenties to midlife. It captures how friendships between women evolve, from burning intensity at the beginning to complex feelings as priorities change over a lifetime. Chosen family means that you make a commitment to support each other. However, it also means you know when someone is most vulnerable. The decision to share a life path with someone is multip-layered, like the friendships in this novel.
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Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
This book is a collection of short stories that follow two friends, Fiona Lin and Jane Shen, from their childhood into their thirties. The pair grew up together, navigating relationships, changing senses of identity, and connection to the second grader within – the one that chose this friendship in the first place.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
This book is a multi-generational portrait of friendship and girlhood. It shows lasting friendships, even when they are messy and painful. The Ya-Ya Sisterhood depicts female friendship as a kind of chosen family that can sustain and shape a person. It shows that deep friendships can last through misunderstandings and distance. It was even made into a movie!
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
This is another book that tracks two girls, Tully Hart and Kate Mularkey, from their budding preteen friendship to their still-standing adult one. As a friendship transforms from having a best playmate to an emotional anchor, girls grow up, learn, and keep choosing to love each other. This book has an emphasis on female solidarity: women supporting women in all stages of life.
