In the early days of the CIA, a small group of groundbreaking women working in intelligence would prove instrumental in developing innovative tools for information gathering, shaping the future of espionage in the critical post-WWII era. Bestselling author Nathalia Holt tells their story. 

Science journalist Angelia Saini looks at how men came to dominate society, exploring the evolution and cultural elements that led to men assuming power and the role of religion, science and politics in the rise of the patriarchy. It’s an insightful look at the entrenched inequality women face and how they continue to push for equality. 

Once a national champion as well as a face for women's running for Nike, Lauren Fleshman went on to found women's running brand Oiselle and become a coach for elite female runners. She is also an advocate for women participating in a sports landscape that could do so much more for them. Her book Good for a Girl—part memoir, part manifesto—is a love letter to running but also a call for the changes that need to be made to ensure that women can enjoy better sporting experiences.

Woman, Captain, Rebel tells the extraordinary tale of an extraordinary woman who was the only female fishing boat captain on Iceland’s seas at the turn of the 19th century, and a most impressive one at that, demonstrating a superior knowledge and understanding of the seas she sailed. There was a lot more to her than her seafaring capabilities, too. The story of Captain Thuridor is one worth reading.

There were three types of women who were historically subject to a witch hunt—independent women, women who avoided having children and those who embraced ageing. Has much really changed? Chollet argues that there is still a demonisation of the women who challenge patriarchal norms and that perhaps it’s time to claim the witch as a symbol of female power. 

Psychotherapist Maxine Mei-Fung Chun’s book is based on hours of conversations she has had with seven of her female patients, each boasting a different background as well as being of varying ages and sexual orientation. Chun attempts to address what it is that women want when it comes to desire, power, love and growth.

There is a stigma around eating disorders. It’s something that journalist, author and recovered anorexic Hadley Freeman seeks to address in her memoir Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia, which not only tells her personal struggle with anorexia but looks at the myths and misconceptions around the condition and offers thoughtful analysis with the input of experts.

A group biography of four trailblazing yet largely forgotten British composers who impacted the world of classical music during careers that were rife with challenges is engagingly told in this debut from music historian Leah Broad. 

Kellie is the story of Irish boxer Kellie Harrington’s journey to the top of her game, beginning with a troubled childhood in Dublin and culminating in a gold medal in the lightweight division at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and detailing all that came in between, from poverty to persevering as a woman in the male-dominated sport. An inspiring memoir, it’s written in partnership with award-winning Irish author Roddy Doyle.

An amazing collection of women are profiled in this book, which not only shares the inspirational stories of these impactful women from a wide range of fields, but also how they are linked to each other because “behind every great woman is … another great woman.”

In this heartfelt and beautifully told memoir, the author pens a letter to her transgender daughter that details the journey of her child’s transition, the parenting challenges and joys involved and the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment.

The womb. It’s where life begins for us all. Yet it’s deeply misunderstood. In Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began, NHS midwife Leah Hazard seeks to uncover the mysteries of this miraculous organ, providing a detailed and accessible account of the uterus and what goes on within its walls.

Carmela Ciuraru examines five literary marriages in her acclaimed book, including those between Roald Dahl and his movie star wife Patricia Neal, and between Elizabeth Jane Howard and Kingsley Amis, looking at the many elements that influenced the relationships, from the creative process to money, power and fame—and what went down as a result.

A range of topics, from self-care to mental health, feminism to social justice, are addressed with quotes from trailblazing women compiled by coach and therapist Donna Lancaster in this pocket book of advice for women. 

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