10 Feminist Romance Novels to Hop in Bed With

Updated on 1/7/2015 at 7:00 PM

Has the romance genre embraced feminism with strong, muscular arms? That's the question explored in an Atlantic article about how romance novels and feminism became unlikely bedfellows. Writer Jessica Luther explains that in the 1970s, feminists were challenging the patriarchy, while romance novels played into it. Today, however, many younger authors write while taking the gains of feminism for granted.

A heroine who makes choices, an undermining of gender expectations, and women enjoying sex for pleasure are all characteristics of "feminist" romance novels. Still, today's authors, like Cecilia Grant, do admit in the article that bodice-rippers and the women's movement don't always go together seamlessly. In the article, Grant explains, "A romance novel, by definition, privileges the romantic relationship above other aspects of the characters' lives. And in a culture that already bombards women with the message that finding and keeping a man is their most important goal in life, it can be difficult to make a case for romance as a feminist-friendly medium."

Even so, in many modern romance novels, a woman is the subject of sex, rather than the object, and that should be considered a positive advancement and worthy example. Get a taste of romance novels with feminist flair.

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (who happens to be a Harvard grad) follows Lady Calpurnia Hartwell, a wealthy 28-year-old woman who refuses to marry a "rake" (aka a loose man) who only wants her money. As the title suggests, 19th century rules are broken.

Lush

In Lush by Lauren Dane, protagonist Mary Whaley is busy and content with her catering company and supper club. Then she meets a rock star, Damien Hurley. They hook up and he starts falling for her, but he can't figure out why Mary doesn't want more of a relationship with him. She goes on to make him prove he's worth it.

A Woman Entangled

Cecilia Grant's heroine in A Woman Entangled has no time for love. But if she wants to enter London's elite, she'll have to take on a disruptive and handsome gentleman.

Wallbanger

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton follows Caroline Reynolds, who has a fabulous San Francisco apartment, a design career, and great friends. But her sex life leaves something to be desired, and her neighbor's loud sex life isn't helping — until she meets him one late night in the hallway.

Hearts and Harbingers

In Hearts and Harbingers by Olivia Waite, Millicent Harbinger decides to get out of an impending arranged marriage and pay her brother's gambling debts by selling her virginity at a brothel, where she unexpectedly finds love.

Along Came Trouble

Single mother and attorney Ellen Callahan is doing just fine on her own in Along Came Trouble by Ruthie Knox. But after her pop-star brother hires security for her, she falls into bed with her bodyguard.

Can't Hurry Love

After her disgraced banker husband dies, Victoria Baker is ready to make a new life for herself in Can't Hurry Love by Molly O'Keefe. Then she meets a cowboy who complicates her plans.

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover

The heroine in One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean is a naughty Brit named Pippa! In it, Lady Philippa "Pippa" Marbury decides to explore London's dark side before she gets married and heads off to the country.

Good Girls Don't

Good Girls Don't by Victoria Dahl is about a focused woman running her family's brewery and managing the damage caused by her playboy brother. When there's a break-in at her family's business, she meets a detective, Luke Asher, who may just be this good girl's match.

A Lady Awakened

In A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant, Martha Russell comes up with a plan to protect her estate: she makes a strictly business deal with her neighbor to conceive a baby. But soon he wants more, and not the other way around.