Jean Thesquare's favorite books about unapologetic women reclaiming their power and owning their sexuality

List by Jean Thesquare

Why am I passionate about this?

I started writing to explore how women can reclaim their agency in worlds designed to control them—a topic that seems even more urgent now. I believe true empowerment comes from women owning their bodies, relying on fierce female friendships, and outsmarting the powerful men who try to break them. I read and write to celebrate women who unapologetically take what is rightfully theirs in a world where men are too often trying to lay claim to what they don’t own. With the billionaire class currently feeling even more unchained, I figured worlds that show you can reclaim things from them are also essential, which is why I’m drawn to these types of stories.

The books I picked & why

Maestra

By L.S. Hilton,

Book cover of Maestra

Why I love this book

I am obsessed with how the protagonist, Judith, completely rejects societal expectations and weaponizes her sexuality to navigate the corrupt, ultra-wealthy art world.

I loved watching her transform from an overlooked assistant into a ruthless, calculating force who outsmarts every powerful man who tries to use her. The story is an intoxicating thrill ride of high fashion, European glamour, and pure, unapologetic female rage.

It made me feel incredibly empowered to see a woman refuse to apologize for her desires or her ambition, completely owning her narrative no matter how dark it became.

Maestra

By L.S. Hilton,

What is this book about?

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND THE PERFECT READ FOR FANS OF KILLING EVE

THE BEST OF SKIMM READS 2016

“One of this year’s most talked about novels.” —The Washington Post

“A twenty-first-century femme fatale as lethal as Tom Ripley and as seductive as Bacall.” —Vogue

A put-upon assistant at a prestigious London art house, Judith Rashleigh is well-educated, well-groomed, and impeccably behaved—keeping the darker desires she indulges on nights off as her own little secret. But when Judith uncovers a dangerous heist, her life is shattered and she’s forced to run. Armed with just her wits and a…

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

By Taylor Jenkins Reid,

Why I love this book

I was completely captivated by Evelyn Hugo’s ferocious determination to build her empire on her own terms.

I adore how she unapologetically uses the patriarchal systems of old Hollywood against themselves, wielding her beauty and marriages as calculated weapons to protect the women she truly loves. I couldn't put it down because Evelyn is so flawed yet brilliantly commanding; she never asks for permission or forgiveness.

It deeply moved me to see a story that celebrates female ambition and the unshakeable bonds between women, proving that true power comes from owning your own truth.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

By Taylor Jenkins Reid,

Why should I read it?

24 authors picked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"If you're looking for a book to take on holiday this summer, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has got all the glitz and glamour to make it a perfect beach read." -Bustle

From the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six-an entrancing and "wildly addictive journey of a reclusive Hollywood starlet" (PopSugar) as she reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is…

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The Last Mrs. Parrish

By Liv Constantine,

Why I love this book

I devoured this psychological thriller because it features an absolutely brilliant, high-stakes game of chess between women in the upper echelons of society.

I loved the immense satisfaction of watching an arrogant, controlling billionaire get completely outmaneuvered by the women he thought he could easily manipulate and abuse. The delicious twists kept me on the edge of my seat, but it was the ultimate display of female cunning and solidarity that left me cheering.

It is a masterclass in watching women reclaim their agency and meticulously dismantle male dominance from the inside out.

The Last Mrs. Parrish

By Liv Constantine,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Last Mrs. Parrish as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Deliciously duplicitous. . . . equally as twisty, spellbinding, and addictive as Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl or Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train."-Library Journal (starred review)The mesmerizing debut about a coolly manipulative woman and a wealthy "golden couple," from a stunning new voice in psychological suspense.Some women get everything. Some women get everything they deserve.Amber Patterson is fed up. She's tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more-a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town…

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Neon Gods

By Katee Robert, #1 of Dark Olympus series

Why I love this book

I am deeply in love with how this modern, ultra-wealthy reimagining centers entirely on a woman reclaiming her agency.

I cheered for Persephone as she used her sharp intelligence and unapologetic sexuality to escape the men trying to control her city and her body. The power-exchange dynamics are written with such delicious tension, but what kept me hooked was her refusal to be a victim.

I found it incredibly empowering to read a romance where the heroine bends the rules to her advantage, forging her own unshakeable empire out of the very tools society tries to shame her for.

Neon Gods

By Katee Robert,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Neon Gods as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

He was supposed to be a myth. But from the moment I crossed the River Styx and fell under his dark spell...he was, quite simply, mine.

*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Hades and Persephone that's as sinful as it is sweet.*

Society darling Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the ultra-modern city of Olympus and start over far from the backstabbing politics of the Thirteen Houses. But all that's ripped away when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, the dangerous power behind their glittering city's dark facade.

With no options left, Persephone flees to the forbidden undercity…

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Iron Widow

By Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 of Iron Widow series

Why I love this book

I was absolutely blown away by the sheer, unfiltered female rage in this novel.

I love how the protagonist, Zetian, completely obliterates the patriarchal systems designed to crush her, refusing to conform to the role of a sacrificial, obedient woman. I felt an exhilarating rush watching her weaponize the expectations placed upon her to rise to absolute power.

It is a fierce, relentless, and wildly unapologetic story that resonated deeply with my belief that women shouldn’t have to play nice to win. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to watch a woman burn the world down to rebuild it on her own terms.

Iron Widow

By Xiran Jay Zhao,

Why should I read it?

17 authors picked Iron Widow as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller!

Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers.

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him…

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