​21 Inspiring Books Written by Women You Simply Can't Miss in 2018

Imagine an America in which abortion is completely illegal and in-vitro fertilization has now been banned. Despite how scary that sounds, it's exactly the scenario that takes place in dystopian novel Red Clocks by Leni Zumas. Fierce, fearless, and frighteningly plausible — you won't be able to put this book down.

After being married for only one year, Celestial finds out her husband, Roy, is being sentenced to 12 years in prison for a crime she knows he didn't commit. Struggling to overcome forces beyond their control, the powerful novel An American Marriage by Tayari Jones follows the love story of a newlywed couple as they embark down a gripping emotional path.

From high culture and social media to politics and the environment, you won't find a subject that is too fringe or too mainstream for the ever-so-curious Zadie Smith. And luckily for us, she's documented all of her brilliantly witty thoughts in the electrifying collection of essays Feel Free.

On a mission to empower others to speak up, Rose McGowan recounts her childhood being raised in a cult and her early years in Hollywood, as well as her recent rise as a feminist activist.

"Brave is the story of how I fought my way out of these cults and reclaimed my life. I want to help you do the same," she writes.

If you loved Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, then just wait until you read her latest novel, The Great Alone, which takes place in the wilderness of Alaska. Set in 1974, this captivating page-turner follows the story of a family who is forced to find strength in the most unexpected of places.

"What does it mean to 'be' — to live as, to exist as — a black woman today?" That's the question Morgan Jerkins finds herself exploring throughout her essay collection This Will Be My Undoing.

Covering topics such as sexuality, disability, and body image at the intersection of race and gender, it won't take long to realize why she's quickly becoming such a paramount voice for our generation.

If you couldn't get enough of the short-story Cat Person that went viral last year, then this stunning collection of stories should definitely be next on your list to read. In Back Talk, Danielle Lazarin examines just how narrowly our culture allows women to express their desires and needs in a way that feels refreshingly real. There's no doubt you'll be hooked from the get-go.

In this thoughtful, boldly honest memoir, Vogue columnist Karley Sciortino details the many trials and tribulations she's faced through her navigation of finding love. From casual hookups and open relationships to BDSM and bisexuality, there is simply no subject off limits in Slutever.

Unveiling an untold story of the secret, scandalous romance of Eleanor Roosevelt and her longtime friend and companion, Lorena Hickok, White Houses is a compelling novel is guaranteed to take your breath away. With emotional depth, wit, and keenness, Amy Bloom beautifully intertwines a fictionalized love story with American politics and history.

Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad grew up in a time when women were expected to be silent. Yet, instead of staying quiet, she rebelled against both society and her family to publish her written work.

Inspired by her never-ending bravery, Jasmin Darznik draws from her poetry, letters, films, and interviews to deliver a powerful, fictionalized portrayal of the influence Farrokhzad left behind in Song of a Captive Bird.

In her debut novel, Freshwater, Akwaeke Emezi tells the story of a young Nigerian woman who moves from Africa to attend college in America. Yet, "as a result of being born with one foot on the other side," she soon develops multiple identities within herself and must learn how to take control as each one continues to grow.

Named "A Most Anticipated Book of 2018," there is no question that Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower should be on everyone's must-read list.

Written with searing honesty, intimacy and humor, Brittney Cooper celebrates the power of eloquently expressed anger and details how it can be utilized as a force for positive change.

Out Feb. 20

Growing up in the lush hills of southern Trinidad, Krystal Sital idolized her grandfather, a wealthy Hindu landowner. Yet, once he lapses into a coma and women start coming forward vocalizing how he terrorized them, a light is shed on the many tribulations Krystal's foremothers had to endure in order to survive.

Not only is Secrets We Kept an enthralling memoir through every page, but it brilliantly reveals the gender inequality that too commonly takes place throughout the Caribbean and around the world.

Out Feb. 20

After discovering young women with serious illnesses are one of the most overlooked populations in American society, Michele Lent Hirsch decides enough is enough.

In Invisible, she weaves together her own harrowing medical story with experiences from other women to shine a light on this hidden demographic.

Out Feb. 27

Having been a strong feminist voice for several decades, Peggy Orenstein compiles her most important essays to celebrate how far we've come yet at the same time showcase just how far we still need to go.

Touching on an enticing range of topics including the infertility industry, girl culture, and even reproductive justice, Don't Call Me Princess will instantly become one you simply can't put down.

Out Feb. 27

After having one too many medical professional dismiss her excruciating pain, Abby Norman took matters into her own hands. Determined to find the cause, she educated herself and eventually realized the "pain" doctors couldn't seem to find was stemming from endometriosis.

In Ask Me About My Uterus, Abby not only details her own infuriating trials, but also vocalizes on the misogyny that takes place in the medical industry.

Out March 6

Kirstin Chen's highly anticipated second novel, Bury What We Cannot Take, follows the tale of a family forced to flee Communist China after a 9-year-old boy reports his grandmother vandalizing a framed portrait of Chairman Mao. Yet as soon as he tells the Party, a terrible chain of events is set in motion, starting with the fact that the government declares one child out of the bunch must stay behind.

Out March 20

Written as a letter from Hillary Clinton's former communications director Jennifer Palmieri to the first woman president, Dear Madam President is an empowering read for future female leaders and independent thinkers everywhere.

Drawing on her experience in politics, Jennifer shares inspiring advice for women in all professions looking to make a difference in the world while at the same time striving to take control of their own lives.

Out March 27

Acclaimed poet and journalist Dunya Mikhail tells the true story of a beekeeper who risks his life to rescue enslaved women from Daesh, a group who have been brutalizing and killing the Yazidi people of northern Iraq. A powerful work of nonfiction, The Beekeeper brilliantly captures hope in the face of inhuman suffering.

Out March 27

Feminist author Roxane Gay continues to be a paramount voice for change as she reveals a compelling collection of original and previously published essays, Not That Bad.

Unveiling what it means to live in a world with constant harassment and violence against women, she not only features her own work, but also includes pieces by actors Ally Sheedy and Gabrielle Union, writers Amy Jo Burns, Lyz Lenz, Claire Schwartz, and many more.

Out May 1

Chronicling her experience of late-stage Lyme disease, Porochista Khakpour takes us on her intimate struggle toward recovering her health. Through the beautifully written memoir Sick, she openly writes about survival, pain, and transformation while boldly examining the deep impact illness can have on one's own life.

Out June 5