r/weirdgirlliterature

since we've had some discussion of the same books being posted, here's 160 books i dont see posted here that often!

if there's any repeats on there don't come for me, i made this quickly hahaha. feel free to drop even more in comments! <3

edit: ok i already noticed i included deliver me by elle nash twice but in fairness i adore that book so i'm calling it justified

I thought it had so much potential and then it just fell flat for me in the end.

So I hear we want some recommendations that maybe haven't been heavily posted already. So here are 4 - with reviews - that I have read recently: (note I read things that lean into the genre of horror so keep this in mind with the reviews)

Hysterical- Amber Dean: this book is about obsession. Raz(Jessie) is absolutely infatuated with her best friend Tinsel. They both seem incredibly toxic for one another. But Raz's obsession for Tinsel begins to spiral, and the obsession even begins to extend onto her sugar daddy only ever referred to as "Mr Wall Street". The book was an absolute spiral of madness that I could not put down. Id give it a 4.8/5. I did not have any idea where it was going, and being inside Raz's head was an absolute clouded mess.

Our Wives Under The Sea-  Julia Armfield: This one broke me a bit. It is utterly bleak and sad in a really refreshing way though. The book bounces back and forth between the perspective of Miri and Leah. They are Married and Leah is a marine biologist who goes on a deep see expedition only ment for 3 weeks of research but the submarine results in some failures altering the trip into a 6 month absence. The perspectives switch between Miri in current time, dealing with the changes in Leah since her return and Leah's perspective in the past from what occurred while under the sea.

This one gripped me and then broke me into a million pieces. The need to get to answers kept me flipping pages. I will give a warning that the prose is supper fluffy. I would rate it a 4.7/10

The Salt Grows Heavy- Cassandra Khaw: This one isnt something I typically read. I would say it leans more into fantasy? Ish? So imagine if the bluebeard story mixed with the little mermaid. So the story follows a mermaid - who eats people. As she journeys with a plague doctor. They stumble upon a village run by only known as "the surgeons" who bring people back to life, but the revival seems to cause great agony, and the surgeons seem to be eating the body parts of the sacrificed dead. This one, hard to explain but it really kept my attention. It is a weird one and the prose is very heavy/flowery but I think I really had fun with it. Id rate it a 4.5/5

Sour Fruit- Ahana Virdi: wow! This one I JUST finished, and I saved the best for last. This one was WILD. I was absolute fully attentive and sucked into this story. The book follows Avni, an indian girl navigating adulthood in London. She has delt with some awful traffic events, like the death of her parents at the age of 10, living with a fairly cruel and unkind aunt. She goes on to become deeply obsessed and in love with a girl named Alice, so obsessed she desires to eat small parts of Alice, starting with the tip fo her thumb. Alice eventually, tragically dies (there is a mystery surrounding her death and I will let you all experience it and I will only say that). To cope with the tragic loss of the person she desperately craves to regrow within herself - she begins to find meaningless and aggressive sex/ hook ups. She eventually stumbles upon a dating app called Unicorn, involving the dating of couples. This story also spirals out of absolute control and madness. The book is also HILARIOUS I was laughing my ass off through so much of the book. Example of a quote - "Ken looks like the sort of man that fucks his wife with his socks on and announces he’s coming every second until he does, like a choo choo train." This one Id rate a 5/5

Happy reading fellow wierd gals ❤️

30% in and I enjoy it very much. I normally have a bad habit of reading plot summary while still reading the book. Here I don’t even cause how fun each page is.

(Unpopular opinion) While it might sound superfluous to praise the author’s eloquence, this level of writing is what Heart the lover first part should be. This is how academics think and talk, not the nonsense the two male characters putting in.

So many WTF and unhinged moments. I had to take breaks reading it, but at the same time, I felt like I hurried back to it each time. Kinda left me staring at a wall after each reading session and it is hard to find words to describe how I feel. 😂 Thought I would share.

From story graph:

"Martha is a trans woman and the picture-perfect Los Angeles housewife, though she is concealing her identity even from her own husband. When she is struck down by a mysterious illness, she begins a series of bizarre experimental treatments that awaken strange new appetites in her and even leave her seemingly – impossibly – pregnant. Equal parts inventive, funny and compulsive, Carrying mixes the sensational body horror of The Substance with the transgressive camp comedy of John Waters in a style that’s all its own, and announces the arrival of a thrilling new talent in fiction."

I just finished this book and wow what did I just read.

I really enjoyed it though and I’m processing it still. I’ve read a lot of unhinged books so I wasn’t super freaked out by the contents. But damn, it was interesting with the family dynamics and how it affected the main character.

Who else has read this?!

I’m going on a 10 day trip and i’m not sure my current tbr is gonna cut it after this book

Had to shelve some of the unhinged books for later. The vibes were messing with my SAD anxiety. But I know I’ll get back in the mood for them soon enough. Current reads: Mad Mabel and Sunburn.

I enjoyed Skin Contact quite a bit. It’s not WGL but it definitely has the introspection that I enjoy in a lot of WGL. My marriage is ENM, so it was a fun one for me.
If you want to branch out from the unhinged, it might be an enjoyable read.

Edit - request for ratings so here’s my impressions

Fruit Fly - Good audiobook. Fun read, MC qualifies as WG
Big Little Truths - Great sequel to the first
Etna - Such a short and simple book, I really enjoyed it
Pretend I’m Dead - Not bad, not a lot to the plot but enjoyed the characters
The Road to Tender Hearts - Quick and fun read despite murder and abuse (who doesn’t like a cat narrator)
Normal People - Very character driven, might be slow or flat for some but I enjoyed it and enjoy literary fiction in general
Nothing to See Here - Quick, fun WG read
East of Eden - Classic literary fiction. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I definitely didn’t enjoy it as much when I read, and have long since forgotten it, in high school. (Re)read in anticipation of mini series.
Whidbey - Depressing
Skin Contact - Really enjoyed
Alias Grace - Really enjoyed (read before I dive into older Netflix mini series)
Go Gentle - I enjoyed the first half of this book and then it just got overly chaotic. Like the editor or author decided it needed some excitement so threw a ridiculous and overly elaborate mystery/heist in

I haven't finished the book yet, so please no spoilers but.. I need to talk about it.

It's so visceral. It's so gripping. I am absolutely awed by the talent and ingenuity of Laura Cranehill. The division of the two sexes, the complete lack of overlap between them, the

The men! With the Cornell 7 case coming to light, I really don't need to feel anger for men any more than I already do but, damn, the feeling of fear and contempt (verging on loathing) the main character feels for "the men"... has my skin crawling with rage.

I also feel a deep, deep sadness about her relationship with Silas. She seems incapable of imagining he is lonely and (to some extent) kind (I'm at the bit where she just moved in). It also isn't lost on me that his seeming kindness is still a behaviour splayed on the background of him having taken this wife, therefore taking advantage of the patriarchal tradition he lives in. I can't wait to see how they navigate it.

The women! Her relationship with Thegan so far (is it romantic?? idk yet pls don't tell me :D ). The underlying feeling that she feels she needs to be close to women to survive and maybe even thrive (I hope). The relationship with other women. The notion of never being allowed to touch but doing it anyway, because they need it (the uncovering of that detail drew a quiet sob out of me on the tube).

The worldbuilding! Ms Cranehill, you're a blessing. All the above is tied together by her ability to reveal details at exactly the right pace and to really build her world by crucial cultural and natural details, without divulging details that would be unrealistic. Her characters' thoughts seem to be immersed in her world with great care, and therefore, this translates to us with masterful little revelations that sink us deeper into a carefully crafted reality.

Sorry, I'm rambling but yeah... I'm immensely impressed and affected so far, and am wondering how others felt.

P.s. and a debut! What a talented author!!

Had a good month, but for the last week I started like 4 books and just couldn't get into them. Not sure if I'm just fatigued or what.

Been looking for a kind of Lord of the Flies/Yellowjackets (TV show) kinda book. Was hoping for that with Grace Year but it fell flat for me.

Currently trying to read Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, and I think the satire is a bit too on the nose? Idk how to describe it. It's a bit over the top. It has made me laugh out loud a handful of times, I think I just need to power through. I haven't seen many talk about it on Reddit, and it doesn't have the best reviews. Any other recs for feral/stranded/what-really-happens-without-society-and-desperation type reads??

As for this month--

I liked Blob, but wish it had focused more on Bob. It felt a bit rushed most of the time and would have liked more development.

Fallow was really good, but the third act felt like an entirely different book. Both would be good books, but it gave me whiplash.

Really liked Annie Bot, and had a hard time putting it down, but two weeks later and I barely remember how it ended which isn't a good sign.

Best Offer Wins was entirely unhinged and a super fun read, but was a bit unrealistic at times.

I feel like a lot of my reads lately have had unlikable (at least at first) MCs, which I think I need a break from

For books I've tried and couldn't get into (from this sub):

- My Year of Rest and Relaxation (literally couldn't stand the MC, and not in a fun way)

- Paradise Logic (a bit out there in the writing style, would like to try to tackle again when I'm in the headspace for something that reads like it)