27 Best Books For Single Women That You Should Read

Tired of swiping through dating apps, ghosting, and hearing well-meaning questions about why you’re still single? it’s hard not to get low self-esteem because you haven’t found the right person.

An empowering guide to stop over-analyzing romantic relationships, get over the worst breakups and guilt of past relationships, and identify what you need in your future husband. But this isn’t just another dating book!
Drawing on her expertise as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Jennifer challenges myths about women and love life. She teaches how to skillfully date, and also helps to cultivate the mindset, values, and connections that ensure you’ll live your best, happiest life, whether single or coupled up.

A New York Times Best Seller by “Dear Sugar” (pseudonym of bestselling author Cheryl Strayed), “advice on life and love”.

Tiny Beautiful Things collects the best of her online columns, hit podcast, and Substack newsletter, in one volume. With its humor, insight, compassion, and unwavering honesty, this book is a balm for every obstacle life presents.

A must-read book—a funny, frank, and fearless memoir. If the story doesn’t end with marriage or a child, what then? Despite a successful career and an exciting life in New York City, Glynnis was constantly reminded she had neither of the things the world expected of a woman her age: a partner or a baby.

Single women are frequently viewed as either pitiable objects or spoiled, self-centered individuals. Glynnis refused to be cast into either, but there was no clear blueprint for being a woman alone in the world. It was time to create one. So she did!

In doing so, she discovered that holding the power to determine her own fate requires resilience and courage that no one talks about, and is more rewarding than anyone imagines.

“Why am I still single?” Others will give explanations, excuses, and criticisms when you’re single and searching for a partner:

• You’re too picky. Find a good-enough guy and you’ll be fine.
• You’re too desperate. If men think you need them, they’ll run scared.
• You’re too independent. Smart, ambitious women always have a harder time finding mates.
• You have low self-esteem. You can’t love someone else until you’ve learned to love yourself.

These myths are challenged by clinical psychologist Sara Eckel, who urges singletons to rely on their own wisdom about what is right for them, rather than scrutinizing their personalities. She uses psychological and sociological research, and interviews with individuals who have been single their entire life.

This anniversary edition of #1 New York Times best seller features a new foreword and new tools to make the work your own. Brené Brown writes as being your best friend whom you can always count on to tell the truth, make you laugh, and cry with you.

Brené writes, “This book is an invitation to join a wholehearted revolution. A small, quiet, grassroots movement that starts with each of us saying, ‘My story matters because I matter.’ Revolution might sound a little dramatic, but in this world, choosing authenticity and worthiness is an absolute act of resistance.”

First published in 1963, The Feminine Mystique spoke to women across the globe and changed the world. The book demonstrated to women that they have the potential to pursue a life beyond their domestic duties and family responsibilities. It emphasized that true satisfaction cannot be attained as long as their roles and aspirations are limited to narrow definitions.

A powerful and ground-breaking work that had significant societal and political influence on the progression of gender equality.

The instant New York Times best seller shares how saying YES changed her life. With three children at home and three hit television shows, it was easy for Shonda to say she was too busy. But she was also afraid. She got a wake-up call when her sister muttered: You never say yes to anything. Shonda knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her.

This poignant, intimate, and hilarious memoir explores Shonda’s life before her Year of Yes. And then the book chronicles her life after her Year of Yes had begun—when Shonda forced herself out of the house and onto the stage; when she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self.

The New York Times bestselling author returns with a novel that illuminates the power of friendship in women’s lives. Filled with her trademark wit, poignant and timely themes, sassy, flesh-and-blood characters.

She captures the complexities, pain, and joy of relationships. In this charming, evocative, soul-touching novel, about three amazing middle-aged women bonded by another amazing woman’s death. Through their shared loss, they forge a deep friendship, asking critical questions.

All Grown Up, a New York Times bestseller, is a wickedly funny fiction novel about a thirty-nine-year-old single, child-free woman (Andrea Bern) who defies convention as she seeks connection. One of the splendid books about being single in your 40s.

Everyone around the main character seems to have an entirely different idea of what it means to be an adult. But when Andrea’s niece finally arrives, her family is forced to reexamine what really matters. Told in gut-wrenchingly honest, mordantly comic vignettes, All Grown Up is a breathtaking display of Jami Attenberg’s power as a storyteller, a whip-smart examination of one woman’s life, lived entirely on her own terms.

YES, YOU CAN BE SINGLE AND HAPPY!

A self-help book for single women who are exhausted from The Endless Search for a soul mate and are ready to find happiness on their own. Leslie Kaz, confirmed single girl, and 21-year dating-and-relationship veteran, delivers a down-to-earth, lighthearted look at being a single person and gives you permission to be happy alone.

She offers thought-provoking advice. She shares inspiring personal stories and adds humor to her stories. This favorite book gives you a well-rounded look at the journey from desperately seeking to happily thriving. There are exercises at the end of each chapter to help you get a new outlook on your single-girl life.

If you’re a young woman who wants to grow into the best version of herself and succeed, this is one of the best books about finding yourself in your 20s. Making this one of the best books about being single in your 20s.

In this book, you will discover practical ways to find your purpose and fulfillment. It helps you effectively reprogram your negative mindset into a positive one, how to invite abundance into your life, and why neglecting your feminine energy leads to unfulfillment. As a true self-help book, it shows 8 practices to nurture your feminine energy.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER memoir of an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe—and built her back up again.

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life.

Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

“I’ve been single for my entire life. Not one boyfriend. Not one short-term dating situation. Not one person with whom I regularly hung out and kissed on the face.“

So begins Katie Heaney’s memoir of her years spent looking for love, but never quite finding it. A laugh-out-loud funny book, in which you will get to know Katie herself — a smart, modern heroine relaying truths about everything.

Funny, relatable, and inspiring, this is a memoir for anyone who has ever struggled to find love, but has also had a lot of fun in the process.

A New York Times Book Review Notable Book. Using the author’s experiences as a starting point, this book explores the joys and benefits of being single in a clever and insightful way.

Spinster showcases remarkable women from the past century who inspired the author to live life on her own terms. Bolick uses animation to showcase how settling down and having it all are timeless debates. These debates have been the crucible for thoughtful women for centuries as they strive to create a fulfilling life by making unconventional choices.

Spinster is a memoir that explores our ability to live authentically. The author encourages us to see the opportunities in our own lives, whether we are young women and unencumbered or middle-aged and free.

Being a mother is one of the biggest jobs a woman can ever uphold. The author offers a self-help book that will capture and connect the hearts of all single mothers from across the globe.

The words and activities will encourage, uplift and humor you. You will be fulfilled and even more proud to be a mom, even while doing it single.

The Successful Single Mom book, written by a business coach and former single mom, is your best friend, personal coach, and therapist, all rolled into one. You’ll get inspired to begin your transformation and become the mom and woman you’ve always known you could be.

In this self-help book, you’ll discover how to rebuild your personal and professional lives, how to create a plan and action steps to put you on the path to success, and how to be an incredible role model for your kids, and much, much more!

If you are a single parent and have ever felt overwhelmed, exhausted, or just downright ready to quit, this is the right book!

The Three of Us is one mom’s hilarious and inspirational story of single parent life. A brutally honest look at the difficulties that can come after the divorce papers are signed. With motivational tips and advice, this book will feel like a much needed night out with a best friend. This mom holds nothing back and will leave you feeling heard, understood, and empowered on your single parent journey!

Smart, strong, independent—single women can live a fabulous life. Husband not required.

Mandy Hale, also known as The Single WomanTM, shares her stories, advice, and enthusiasm for living life as an empowered, confident, God-centered woman who doesn’t just resign herself to being single—she enjoys it!

Being single has had its stigmas, but Mandy proves it has its advantages too. She inspires single women to celebrate and live fully in the life that God has given them. She uses wisdom and wit to achieve this.

Mandy motivates her readers to take risks, develop friendships, release negative emotions, and discover a higher calling. Readers can rely on her assistance to stop worrying about happily ever after and start discovering a happy life.

Dear Single Girl, do you want to believe there is more to singleness than waiting for marriage?

This is one of the great books for women in their 30s! This devotional transformed how we view being a single young girl by learning to see ourselves and our singleness as Jesus does. So we can live our single lives with joy, confidence, and purpose.

Being single doesn’t mean you can’t live a fulfilling life. Embrace this season as a true gift already filled with Christ.

Throughout her 20’s, Selina Almodovar has experienced just about everything in love, relationships, and finding Mr. Right. Her past experiences led her to desperation, confusion, doubt, and fear. When she hit her lowest breakup point, she did something that would change the way she loved forever: she prayed.

In this book about being single in your 20s, she shares her personal prayers that lead her to a deep and meaningful relationship with Jesus, healing, love for herself, confidence and contentment during her season of singleness, and you guessed it… a loving marriage with her Mr. Right!

Selina coaches Christian, Millennial women to find love.

Being single is a time of great opportunity, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. There are moments when we’re tempted to go beyond God’s desires for us, or jump ahead of His timing. During the waiting we may feel like settling, or re-connecting with someone from our past.

We deal with things like jealousy, loneliness, and impatience. A Single Rose is for struggles such as these. The advice in this book, written by a single girl, encourages and helps you. Written in short devotional like segments, each section discusses a different topic pertaining to being single.

“Why aren’t you married yet? The clock is ticking!” This question can leave you questioning your value, purpose, and place in the world. Happily Ever After All is a good book that encourages you to embrace where you’re at right now and to stop falling into the comparison trap that robs you of joy and leaves you feeling unsatisfied.

For single Christian women, a life of abundance and freedom is not dependent on a marriage vow, but on living a purposeful life for Jesus and surrendering to His will.

I’ll admit, I’m biased about this one, as I wrote it myself (LOL!). Though not directed to single women per se, as a single lady, it’s vital to understand trials and setbacks can lead to a negative mindset, causing you to miss out on God’s best.

Even if it looks like everything in your life has gone wrong, it is never too late. In every challenging situation, God can give you a new life. Based on my own experiences, my Christian coaching practice, and God’s Word, I wrote ‘The God of New Beginnings’. In my moments of despair, I drew close to God and experienced Him as the God of New Beginnings.

Written by a psychologist who’s successfully navigated single motherhood herself, this book helps Christian single moms believe they deserve the best of life. With practical tips, smart strategies, and ways to improve the well-being of single moms and their children, this book shows how to improve leadership and parenting skills.

It tackles pressing issues such as self-care, a support network, organizing, finances, discipline, and more. Teresa Whitehurst reminds single moms that they don’t need to be overwhelmed and that God loves them, is on their side, and wants to guide and support them every step of the way.

No matter how you became a single mom, you share the same challenges and fears all single mothers have. You may feel stretched to the limit and feel your children need more than you’re able to give. How are you going to do this on your own?

With humor, Scripture, and sage advice, Pam Farrel (child of a single mother) and PeggySue Wells (single parent of 7 children) show you how to do it in this loving, practical guide.

A daily devotional created for single moms that will give you spiritual inspiration. The author has been that single mother that has been broken, struggling, and barely able to pay her bills. She knows what it is like being unhappy, unfulfilled, and unsatisfied, thinking that there has to be more to life than this.

This book touches on the specific issues that you are facing as a single mother AND gives you direct guidance on how God can bring you out of it.

In this inspirational book, Veronica S. Flores shares her own journey of being a single mom. She shares real-life stories of struggle and triumph, and how God’s Word encouraged her.

Broken, Not Crushed invites single mothers to see how they, too, can live an abundant life.