Most (= around 2/3) of the books in the list were published in the past two years, and almost all were originally written in English. There'll be the odd translation though, as well as one title that diverges from the overall theme - fiction written by women - because this work from a non-binary author was just too good not to mention. I hope you'll forgive me for not sticking 100% to the prompt there. Anyway, here it goes!
#24books #bookstodon #womenwriters #frauenlesen

Also, another disclaimer+apology upfront: Generally, there'll be 1 post per book, with a short vignette of the content mixed with my personal opinion/critique of the work. In addition, I'll include the release year, genre(s), and CNs relating to graphic (!) descriptions of trigger topics in the book. BUT sometimes I might add an extra toot to highlight further work by the same author which otherwise didn't fit into the list. So technically, it will be a bit more than #24books in this thread.

1. "Silver Nitrate" by Silvia Moreno Garcia (2023), Horror
An old curse, a dead Nazi occultist, obscure horror flicks and two bisexual friends navigating 1990s Mexico City - this book has it all, and more. I loved the complexity of the characters Montserrat and Tristán as well as the pacing of the story, once it started to pick up. Thoroughly enjoyed this one!
CN death, violence, trauma
#24books #bookstodon #womenwriters #frauenlesen

It was my first book from Moreno Garcia, but after reading it, I decided to give her breakout novel - Mexican Gothic, a gothic horror tale reminiscent of Poe's House of Usher, set in a old British mansion in a Mexican mining town - a go. I had previously avoided it because of the hype, but I ended up rather enjoying it! The eugenics-theme is even more prominent than in Silver Nitrate, but it's more of a creepy-atmosphere-book rather than lots of action happening (Silver Nitrate).

2. "Yellowface" by R. F. Kuang (2023), Satire
A mediocre white author steals the new manuscript of her hugely successful, recently deceased Asian-American frenemy - and passes it off as her own. In the first person narration she justifies her actions as she crosses more and more ethical boundaries to uphold her castle of lies. Bold, witty and entertaining read, biting criticism of the publishing industry and twitter outrage dynamics included.
CN racism, death
#24books #womenwriters

R. F. Kuang is a brilliant writer. Her book "Babel" - a work of alternate-reality historical fiction set in 1830s England, where silver can hold magic - is a masterpiece. It tackles topics such as colonialism and resistance incredibly eloquently and beautifully. It also offers insights into the art of translation and what is lost in the process. Extremely well researched and despite the rather heavy topics and academic breadth a great read and an engaging and memorable story. #womenwriters

3. "Detransition, Baby" by Torrey Peters (2021), LitFic
This insightful, incisive novel centres on Reese, a trans woman, and Amy/Ames, a detransitioner. The former couple is reunited by an unexpected pregancy and a dream of shared parenthood. The story delves into their past and paints a nuanced picture of their relationship and struggles. Contains a fair share of explicit sexual content; CN transmisia, miscarriage, hate crime, violence. #24books
1/4 of my faves of previous years in this list.

4. "The Girls I've Been" by Tess Sharpe (2021), YA thriller
A girl, her girlfriend and her ex are taken hostage in a heist. What the bank robbers don't know is that there's more to her than there seems to be: after having escaped a life as a con artist, she uses the skills that were drilled into her to get her friends out alive of this nightmare.
I don't read a lot of YA, but this book stroke me as having a number of "mature" topics for the adult reader too. #24books
CN trauma, abuse, violence

5. "If I Had Your Face" by Frances Cha (2020), LitFic
Four young women do their best to navigate their life in Seoul. Their individual stories hint at a strongly stratified society placing impossible beauty standards and expectations on women. This book made me read up on room salons, plastic surgery in Korea and K-Pop-Fandom. It was an insightful read that weaves in lots of interesting facets of contemporary Korea.
#24books
CN sexism, miscarriage

6. "Station Eleven" by Emily St John Mandel (2014), dystopian fiction
A respiratory virus causes a devastating pandemic that kills more than 99% of the global population. But this book isn't about how exactly that happens and how society collapses. It's much more about purpose beyond survival and about the necessity of art and beauty to give life a greater meaning. Devastating, yet hopeful, it shows what we might hold on to after the apocalypse. #24books
CN disease, death, violence, murder

I also read her newest novel "Sea of Tranquility", a work of speculative fiction set in different time periods spanning from the early 20th century to the 23rd century. It references some characters and locales from Mandel's earlier work while telling a completely new story. But to be honest, I enjoyed Station Eleven way more.

7. "Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers" by Jesse Q. Sutanto (2023), cozy crime
Vera Wong is a determined lady with a bit too much time on her hands. When she discovers a dead man in her tea shop, she decides to "help" the police catch the murderer. What she doesn't expect is that soon she finds herself bonding with her murder suspects...
This is more about battling loneliness and finding family than murder; a sweet, cute, comforting read. #24books
CN death, emotional abuse

8. "I'm A Fan" by Sheena Patel (2022), LitFic
The unnamed protagonist of this story tells us about her affair with "the man she wants to be with" and how she is stalking him and the other women in his life. The style of the narration is raw, blunt, distanced and at the same time intimate. A book about obsession and social media that also touches on issues surrounding gender, class, wealth and racism. #24books
CN stalking, abuse

9. "The Book of Form and Emptiness" by Ruth Ozeki (2021), magical realism
Did a book ever speak to you? This one literally will. It's the story of a boy who can hear the voices of inanimate objects. But it's also about love, grief, acceptance and dealing with mental illness. An unusual, imaginative book, that may even give the most cynical person a beacon of hope for humans and humanity. #24books
CN death, mental illness, grief

10. "Our Wives Under The Sea" by Julia Armfield (2022), horror
When Leah, a deep-sea researcher, returns months later than expected from a submarine mission, her partner Miri finds her ... changed. She is trying her best to take care of her while Leah goes through a slow transformation.
Eerie, deeply unsettling, claustrophobic - yet beautifully written. This book hit me hard and about a year later, I still feel a sense of dread thinking about it. #24books
CN body horror

11. "Penance" by Eliza Clark (2023), satire
A faux-true-crime-story about a teenage girl that was killed by her classmates in a desolate British town - and the sleazy investigative reporter that sets out to uncover the "definitive story" behind the events. The book is written from his (unreliable) perspective.
This clever, well-paced book packs a punch - and digs at our obsession with true crime and the exploitation of suffering for entertainment. #24books
CN murder, violence, abuse, mobbing

12. "Euphoria" by Lily King (2014), HistFic
An anthropologist couple studying tribes in 1930s New Guinea crosses paths with a lone colleague in the same area - an encounter that affects all of their further lives. A story of love and abuse, discovery and exploitation, and a quest for understanding riddled by imperialist mindsets and misinterpretation.
Very loosely based on the lives of Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson.
#24books
CN (intimate partner) violence, abuse, death/suicide

13. "Rouge" by Mona Awad (2023), Suspense/Horror
Belle comes to California to bury her mother, who died unexpectedly after a fall from the cliff. But not all is what it seems. She discovers her mother was part of a cult-like beauty spa that promises real transformations - for a steep prize, as it turns out.
A dark fairy tale about obsession with beauty and a complicated mother-daughter relationship that had a Suspiria-like feel to it: slow, mysterious, sinister. #24books
CN dysmorphia, death

14. "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin (2022), LitFic
This is a story about love, but it is not a romance. It's about two childhood friends, Sadie and Sam, who share a passion for video games - and who also have a knack for creating them. It's about friendship, collaboration, the road to success, falling out and making up, loss and grief. A beautiful, moving book, also for those who are not into video games. #24books
CN chronic disease, trauma, death, grief

15. "Even Though I Knew The End" by C. L. Polk (2022), fantasy/noir
A supernaturally gifted detective is tasked to investigate a murder - one that, as it quickly turns out, is connected to her own fate. She is offered a deal she can't turn down to find the culprit - but that is just a small part of this action-packed, fast-paced novella, that also contains a sweet queer love story, family drama, demons and well developed characters. I absolutely *loved* this one! #24books
CN murder, violence

16. "What Moves The Dead" by T. Kingfisher (2022), gothic horror
A deceptingly fleshy mushroom in a rather desolate landscape sets the scene for this reinterpretation of E. A. Poe's "The Fall Of The House Of Usher". A non-binary protagonist encounters creepy hares, a glowing lake and an old friend that seems at the brink of death. Can they find out what makes her sick?
Atmospheric, spooky, yet light-hearted - Ursula Vernon's unique style shines through every page. #24books
CN death, body horror

And while we are talking about T. Kingfisher / Ursula Vernon: Have you all already read her Hugo 2023 awarded "Nettle and Bone", about a princess that sets out to save her sister from the clutches of a cruel prince? If not, I highly recommend you do, at least if you like stories with a modern twist on a fairy tale theme.

17. "Diary Of A Void" by Emi Yagi (2022), LitFic
Ms. Shibata, a 34-year-old single woman, is the only female employee in her company. In addition to doing her job, the men expect her to clean up after them and cater for them. One day, fed up, she claims she can't do it because is pregnant. Suddenly, their demeanour towards her changes and she starts to enjoy her new role. But how long can she uphold the lie?
This book was cheeky, subversive, and so much fun to read! #24books
CN sexism/misogyny

18. "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus (2022), Humorous Fiction
Elizabeth is a brilliant scientist - but in the 1960s male dominated chemistry department, her talent and smarts go largely unacknowledged. Her straightforward attitude puts her at odds with most people. But one man sees the spark in her... and offers her to host a cooking show, which she promptly turns into lessons in Chemistry.
A lightish read with a portion of love and tragedy. #24books
CN sexism/misogyny, death, abuse/rape

19. "The Bandit Queens" by Parini Shroff (2023), LifFic
Geeta's husband disappeared years ago - and somehow, the whole town got convinced that she "got rid of him", i.e. killed him. Now, other women try to enlist her to help them "take off their nose ring" too...
Set in rural India, this story packs quite the punch. It describes the brutality and social stratification so many women experience. A tough, but rewarding read. #24books
CN murder, abuse, violence, rape, animal cruelty, casteism

20. "My Sister, The Serial Killer" by Oyinkan Braithwaite (2018), Thriller
Ayoola is beautiful, popular, beloved. Ayoola is also a serial killer - she stabbed her last 3 boyfriends, allegedly in self-defence. No one knows but her older sister Korede, who cleans up her messes. When Ayoola sets her eyes on her sister's crush, Korede feels more torn than ever...
Wickedly funny, dark, sharp and fun to read, I greatly enjoyed this novella. #24books
CN murder, violence, abuse

21. "The Adventures Of Amina Al-Sirafi" by Shannon Chakraborty (2023), histfic-fantasy
A horny, foul-mouthed, middle-aged lady pirate pauses her retirement to go on one last epic mission - this premise had me SOLD, and I was not disappointed. The story was so much fun, filled to the brim with action and interesting characters. I devoured this book and I could easily have read 500 or 1000 pages more about Amina and her crew. Can't wait for the rest of the trilogy! #24books
CN violence