Read with MLC: Read a Book with a Woman on the Cover

Welcome to March and the third month of the 2025 Read with MLC Reading Challenge! This month's goal is to read a book with a woman on the cover. This not-so-subtle nod to Women's History Month should have you examining the covers of the books you are reading just as closely as you do their insides. In The Clothing of Books, Jhumpa Lahiri says “The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that a cover is a sort of translation, that is, an interpretation of my words in another language -- a visual one. It represents the text, but isn't part of it. It can't be too literal. It has to have its own take on the book." How does your chosen book portray the women pictured? Does it meet the expectations you formed once you read the book or does the cover seem to follow a book cover trend that does little to show off the story it surrounds, like the women looking away phenomenon. It’s so much of a trope that we even created this test to see if our followers could spot a fake.

 

Our staff had some fun suggesting their own books with women on the cover, either ones they plan to read or ones they've already enjoyed. Catch their suggestions after the jump!

Anxious People
Fredrik Backman
MLC
BARD
I've loved other books by Backman, especially A Man Called Ove, so I'm really looking forward to reading this one!
-Charlie Simpkins, Special Collections Coordinator

Parable of the Talents
Octavia Butler
MLC
hoopla at MLC
BARD
I loved Parable of the Sower, and up until now, I haven't been ready to let Lauren Olamina's story go any further. I think this might be the time to dive in.
-Elisabeth Scott, Reference Librarian

Little
Edward Carey
MLC
BARD
This book follows the childhood of the girl who becomes Madam Tussaud. It’s a little bit gritty and doesn’t shy away from the challenges and weird happenings of royal court life and life on the streets in 18th-century Europe, which I appreciated. The cast of characters is delightfully odd and the book brings life to a person whose name we’re all familiar with, but whose story we are not.
-Alex Brower, Information Services Director

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
Roshani Chokshi
MLC
hoopla at MLC
BARD
This is an excellent short creepy read! It’s very lush and reads like a fairy tale.
-Alex Brower, Information Services Director

The Night Tiger
Yangsze Choo
MLC
BARD
I love Yangsze Choo's books! All three of them fit this category, but I think The Night Tiger is the most well-known. She writes a lovely mix of fantasy, historical fiction, and myth set in southeast Asia with strong, female protagonists.
-Elisabeth Scott, Reference Librarian

Danger in a Red Dress
Christina Dodd
MLC
BARD
I just finished this book and enjoyed it. I'm reading the whole series!
-Lorietha Myers, Library Development Assistant 

The Music Shop
Rachel Joyce
BARD
This has been on my TBR for a while; now seems like the perfect time to read it.
-Charlie Simpkins, Special Collections Coordinator

The Five: The Lives of Jack the Ripper's Women
Hallie Rubenhold
MLC
hoopla at MLC
BARD
A friend told me how good this book is, so I've been dying (ha ha) to read it.
-Charlie Simpkins, Special Collections Coordinator

Still not sure what to read? Check out MLC's BookMatch service! Fill out our short form telling us about your reading likes and dislikes; we'll send you a list of recommended reads tailored to your tastes. Until next time, happy reading!

Elisabeth Scott
Reference Librarian