7 Deeply Satisfying Reads with Happily Single Protagonists

The minor-goddess Circe (from Homer’s THE ODYSSEY) is the epitome of a single woman, as she lives completely alone in exile on a small, rocky island. She might’ve been known as a goddess of magic, but she really should’ve been known as the goddess of social distancing, am I right? Circe builds a beautiful life for herself, finding her inner strength and savvy when hordes of men invade her island, including the wily Odysseus. Lyrical, heart-wrenching, and as enchanting as Circe’s magic, this Greek mythology re-imagining is not to be missed.

This classic coming-of-age story follows the eccentric, impoverished Mortmain family, particularly the whip-smart teenager Cassandra, who narrates through diary entries. Cassandra is tethered to a crumbling castle as she tries to help various members of her family, including her writer father and scheming sister. Along the way, Cassandra deals with both wanted and unwanted suitors, and, more importantly, figures out her own ambitions and takes steps to forge a future as bright as she is.

Listen! Some single people might not want to be in a relationship, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t want to have a little bit of romantic fun! Hazel, with her quirky personality, knows she’s not exactly “a catch,” and Josh, fresh off a painful breakup, knows he’s not in the best headspace, either. The two longtime friends take great fun in setting each other up with other people, and have even more fun hanging out with each other in between. But they’re absolutely not dating (sure, ok). This is a lighthearted, effervescent read about learning how to love yourself and how to surround yourself with people who do too.

Nick and Amy Dunne seem like the picture-perfect couple—the golden boy and the cool girl—but that illusion is shattered when Amy disappears and Nick discovers, through passages of Amy’s diary, that she wasn’t who he, and the rest of the world, thought she was. Who was Amy Dunne and where did she go? Whether you know the twist or not, Amy Dunne is the epitome of a girl who should be single and never forced to mingle, with anyone, ever again.

If you aren’t familiar with the Honorable Phryne Fisher, then I highly suggest that you pick up the first book in the mystery series by Kerry Greenwood (or watch the fantastic TV adaptation Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries). Phryne lives a high-flying life in 1920’s England, but the adventuring, independent woman bores of the petty tedium and moves across the world to Melbourne, Australia, to become a “lady detective.” Miss Fisher is the epitome of a single woman who lives her life exactly how she pleases, no matter what her friends, family, or others in society say, and is honestly who I want to be when I grow up.

Moving into nonfiction, this is a comedic, philosophical book as one woman muses about how to navigate heterosexual dating when it seems like relations between men and women are more fraught than ever. Full of sage advice, hilarious anecdotes, and self-deprecating humor, Roberson embodies so much about what it means to be a young, single woman, torn between wanting to be romantically close to men while also fearing and hating them (and not even hating them, but rather, society’s expectations about love, dating, and marriage).

How could I make a list of books about single people and leave this off? Traister explores the statistics and implications of single women in the twenty-first century, and what it means for society that women are putting off getting married, if at all. What she found is that when women are given more choices than just marriage, incredible social change occurs. Informative, brilliant, and powerful, ALL THE SINGLE LADIES is a must-read for anyone, single, female or otherwise (especially that nagging relative who wonders why you haven’t settled down yet).

SINGLE AND FORCED TO MINGLE is out now!

A laugh-out-loud, tongue-in-cheek guidebook filled with hilarious and helpful advice—from how to dodge family members’ unwanted questions about babies to successfully creating a fake partner during wedding season—for anyone trying to survive and thrive in the midst of singledom. Perfect for fans of HEY LADIES! and SINGLE STATE OF MIND.