Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

I love Gillian Flynn’s debut novel. I would read anything from her to be honest—she writes such edgy stories, and her female leads don’t necessarily seem concerned with being liked so much as being understood. Get reading this quick as the HBO series based on the book is about to air in the US on July 8th!

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

Nominated for The Man Booker Prize in 2016, this is a dark claustrophobic thriller about a woman who is a little bit different. Set in New England in the 1960s, it’s slightly reminiscent of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar but with a psychological thriller angle. Definitely worth a look if you like your thrillers dark.

The Power by Naomi Alderman

This book was unputdownable. I whizzed through it. In the story, women all over the world start to notice they can make sparks fly from their hands. The power dynamic of the whole world changes almost overnight! The novel is such a fascinating and at times darkly funny musing on what would and wouldn’t change if women had ‘the power.’

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Again, I essentially inhaled this book! Ruth Ware has such a brilliantly atmospheric style that I could have chosen any of her novels (they’re all great), but this is her debut and the one that got me hooked on her writing. It’s a modern thriller in the style of an Agatha Christie country-house murder mystery and Ware does not disappoint!

Just Kids by Patti Smith

This one isn’t a thriller, but it had me gripped and desperate to read more. In this memoir, Patti Smith lets the reader dive into her deeply evocative world of 1970s New York, and introduces us to its strange and beautiful characters. It’s also a deeply inspiring portrait of a female artist forging her own identity and aesthetic.