Chicks On Lit discussion

So, wrote Reverb with a really strong, not mushy, nor particularly sympathetic woman lead in Reverb. And while most women readers really like her, I've been getting some women who don't. She's too harsh, not nice, selfish. (She's a mom, and looking out for her son, not James, the lead.)

I'm wondering, unless a woman is "womanly," like in Jane Austin, quick with come-back quibs but otherwise sweet and nurturing, is she not likeable? When a women thinks like a man, even acts like one, to a certain degree, does that make her a selfish bitch?

okay before I comment I'm not totally sure what you mean by "thinks like a man, even acts like one, to a certain degree" I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you don't mean she isn't scratching her crotch and fixing the brakes on her truck. I'm not sure what characteristics you mean are more male than female. But going by you're description of someone too harsh and selfish (not traits I consider exclusive to any gender) I will say some of my favorite or most memorable characters are woman who are selfish and harsh. I may not admire them the way I do others that are softer or more caring by I enjoy them.
Women that come to my mind are Scarlett O'Hara, quite possibly the most selfish unnurturing woman in literature. I think of Oliver Kitteridge who was very harsh and unkind but a memorable well formed charater.
I think most women (and men) like characters not because they are nice but because they are well formed and dynamic but are realistic and their flaws are relateable on some level.

Bravo Tera, well said!

Many have liked the protagonist in the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series (sorry, read it too long ago to remember her name), and - on the YA end of the spectrum - Katniss Everdeen in the "Hunger Games" series. And neither of these women are demure or particularly nurturing. They tend to have more masculine, strong personality traits, and are nonetheless wildly popular. So I don't think masculine female characters are off-putting per se.

I also agree with Tera that readers can like a story about an unlikeable character. But selfishness and insensitivity are traits not much admired in characters of either gender; so that may be why some readers looking to bond with your protagonist end up disappointed.