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Betches Booklist: Crush Your 2025 Goodreads Challenge With These New Books And Old Classics

"Ah, January. The month where we all collectively lie to ourselves about becoming better people. [...] But among all the ambitious self-improvement goals, there’s one that feels simultaneously achievable and aspirational: becoming a reader. We all know the goal: You picture yourself curled up in a cozy nook with a cup of tea, effortlessly flipping through pages of something smart and profound. You’re that girlie who can casually drop, “Oh, I just finished the most fascinating book about [insert intellectual topic here]” into conversation. But then reality hits, and suddenly you’re scrolling Instagram [...]. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to read 100 books or join an annoying book club to earn the title of “reader.” You just need the right books to fit the kind of reader you want to be. [...] Whether you’re going for “literary intellectual” or “romance novel enthusiast who still has depth,” I’ve got you covered." -Syeda Khaula Saad for The Betches

Pima County Public Library

18 items

  • Cassandra Speaks

    When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes

    Lesser, Elizabeth
    "Putting women’s stories at the forefront, where they belong of course."
    eAudiobook, 2020HarperCollins, 2020
  • "This is for the lovers of things that are a little more taboo."
    Audiobook CD, 2022[Grand Haven, Michigan] : Brilliance: Audible Studios, [2022] — Fiction Douglas CD
  • "No, watching it on Netflix isn’t enough. I mean, why not start with something you know is a hit?"
    Book, 2006New York : Penguin Books, 2006. — Fiction Jackson
  • Hood Feminism

    Notes From the Women That a Movement Forgot

    Kendall, Mikki
    "Your feminism doesn’t matter if it’s not intersectional, so this is the perfect place to start."
    Book, 2020[New York, New York] : Viking, [2020] — 305.42097 K335h 2020
  • "All I’m going to say is that the hockey player main character will ruin all other book boyfriends for you."
    Book, 2023New York : Atria Paperback, 2023. — Fiction Grace
  • Invisible Women

    Data Bias in a World Designed for Men

    Criado-Perez, Caroline
    "Packed with shocking stats and sharp insights, this book will have you ranting about gender inequality for weeks."
    eBook, 2019Abrams Press, 2019
  • "If you’re looking for a cross between steamy and heartwarming (and the occasional appearance of an escort) this book is for you."
    eAudiobook, 2018Dreamscape Media, 2018
  • "Think Jane Eyre, but make it terrifying."
    Large Print, 2021[Waterville, Maine] : Thorndike Press, a part of Gale, a Cengage Company, 2021. — Fiction Moreno Large Type
  • "If you’re trying to make sure you stay consistent with reading, this horror novel full of twists and turns will definitely ensure you keep turning the page."
    Audiobook CD, 2021[New York, NY] : Simon & Schuster Audio, [2021] — Fiction Jones CD
  • "If you’re craving a high-stakes fantasy with dragons, secrets, and a bada** heroine who refuses to back down, 'Onyx Storm' is your next obsession. And you already know the sex scenes are intense."
    Book, 2025Shrewsbury, PA : Red Tower Books, an imprint of Entangled Publishing, [2025] — Fiction Yarros
  • Prisoners of Geography

    Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World

    Marshall, Tim, 1959-
    "This book combines geopolitics with cartography, so you can impress your friends with both your smarts and your map-reading skills."
    Book, 2015New York, NY : Scribner : 2015. — 320.12 M3584p 2015
  • "If you’re looking to be the person in the room who can connect historical dots in no time, this deep dive on authoritarianism and why it matters is just what you need."
    eAudiobook, 2018Books on Tape, 2018
  • Sapiens

    a Brief History of Humankind

    Harari, Yuval N.
    "I mean, what better book to read if you want to know basically everything about humans ever?"
    Audiobook CD, 2017[New York] : HarperCollins, [2017] — 909 H2125s 2015 CD
  • The Silk Roads

    a New History of the World

    Frankopan, Peter
    "If you’ve always wanted to know about global trade and cultural exchange, well, let’s just say this book is the perfect one to make you feel like the smartest person in the room at dinner parties."
    Book, 2016New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2016. — 909 F8549s 2016
  • There Is No Place for Us

    Working and Homeless in America

    Goldstone, Brian
    "Whether you’re a policy nerd or just someone who cares about human dignity, this is a must-read."
    eBook, 2025Crown, 2025
  • "Ever wondered what 'American Psycho' would look like in a corset and petticoat? Learning about women’s issues don’t always have to mean reading non-fiction."
    Book, 2025New York, NY : Liveright Publishing Corporation, a division of W.W. Norton & Company, [2025] — Fiction Feito
  • "If you love your horror with a side of social commentary, 'Wake Up and Open Your Eyes' is the nightmare you’ll want to dive into. I mean there are demonic possessions — what more could you want?"
    Book, 2025Philadelphia : Quirk Books, [2025] — Fiction Chapman