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Reads for the Rest of Us: The Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024

My most anticipated queer and feminist books of 2024.

Karla J. Strand

Feb 10, 2024 — 13 min read

Originally published 2/9/2024 at Ms. Magazine.

The Feminist Know-It-All: You know her. You can’t stand her. Good thing she’s not here! Instead, this column by gender and women’s studies librarian Karla Strand will amplify stories of the creation, access, use and preservation of knowledge by women and girls around the world; share innovative projects and initiatives that focus on information, literacies, libraries and more; and, of course, talk about all of the books.

It’s been a rough year… oh wait, it’s only February. This is my Most Anticipated List, not my end-of-year Best Of list! Apologies, it feels as though we’ve already been through it … because we have.

Let’s be honest, it’s hard to think about anything other than violence and injustice lately. Then you add the daily grind of work, caring for children or aging parents, school, politics, book banning, the attacks on education and the rest, and it is no wonder we all feel exhausted and overwhelmed.

Dare I say: Don’t despair?

It’s easy for me to say, and I recognize the luck and privilege I’m afforded. But while many are in the depths, it’s vital for others of us to have hope. To breathe and take up space for them. To use our voices and power for them.

So, gather your person or people around. Cry or laugh or organize. Spend some time alone. Move your body, create or enjoy the art of others. Care for yourself and others. Write and read.

Yes, read.

Reading shouldn’t have to be a privilege or a luxury reserved for some. As a kid, I needed reading to feel safe, seen and whole. I’m not exaggerating when I say it saved my life several times. Even when I couldn’t afford to buy books, I was a regular at the library. Books helped me learn, question and calm myself. I felt like the writers understood me and possessed the otherworldly talent to express what I only dreamed of being able to. Reading encouraged ideas, visualization and imagination.

With books, I wasn’t alone. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels—you name it. I could find myself and others in stories and witnessing from around the world or in my own backyard. Books gave me strength, attention and solace. They taught me the importance of compassion, empathy and action.

I know that when you are just trying to eat and stay safe and live, books are not the priority. We should all be safe enough to wonder what our next book will be, instead of where we’ll find our next meal, our next quiet night’s sleep or our next place to call home. Books can be a comfort in dark times. They can provide understanding and light. They provide ideas, knowledge and the bravery to speak up when others cannot and to act on their behalf.

So I read to feel. Read and reflect. Read and take action. We all have gifts to share and strengths to utilize for others who need our help. Let books inspire you to find and develop your own power and courage to be a support through someone’s dark time. Let them relax you so you can get up and fight another day.

I am looking for these 100 books to be of service to me so that I might be of service to others. I hope you’ll find some here that will do the same for you.

I’m proud to say that I’ve always focused on independent and university publishers, debut writers and, of course, authors of the global majority. By this, I mean writers who are women, queer, aro/ace, intersex, trans, nonbinary or gender expansive; those who are fat, neurodivergent, poly, sex workers, immigrants, justice-involved or speak English as a second or third language; those who have, for any number of reasons, been marginalized or excluded.

While some of the big publishers have slipped in, it’s only on the talent or reputation of the author or because an imprint is doing some valuable work. Because of this focus, you may notice that I’ve not included some of the year’s most talked-about books on this list. It’s not that I think they are not deserving or that you shouldn’t read them; I just want to shine a light on those that are just as deserving (or more so), but that might not have the funding or marketing machines behind them.

But let’s face it, there are so many books and writers who are deserving of your attention this year. So you can’t go wrong with any book you may pick up. And time is short! This is why I described each book with a few words or a phrase that described why or how it stood out to me instead of writing a few lines about each as I usually do. Please note that release dates may change.

So, let’s read. Read and encourage others to do so. Gift books to others. Read one and pass it on. Visit and support your local libraries. But please read. Read as though your life (or someone else’s) depends on it. Because it just might.