Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

A book with a happily single woman protagonist.

I'm a wee bit embarrassed to say that this one is going to be tough for me. I AM a "happily single woman" but I can't think of a book on my TBR that fits!! Perhaps this is one that I will need to wait to discover by chance?

I have read two pretty great books this year that I will add to the Listopia:

Margo's Got Money Troubles - possibly my favorite book of the year! Margo starts out in a relationship, but he dumps her when she gets pregnant, and she spends the rest of the book being happily single.

The Teller of Small Fortunes - the protagonist of this cozy fantasy travels the country alone, until she slowly gathers a group of friends who join her. This is a strong "found family" vibe, but she remains happily single throughout.


Listopia list is Here: A Book with a Happily Single Woman Protagonist

Is Miss Marple happily single? I only read one mystery that she solved and I don't think she commented on the fact that she never got married.

Yes, Miss Marple is a spinster and it has been made very clear by Agatha Christie that she has indeed never been married, and not for lack of opportunity. I guess you could indeed call her happily single!

Does anyone know if Convenience Store Woman works here? The summary mentions OTHER people wanting her to get married, but that doesn't mean she does.

Or if anyone has read it, Full Fathom Five? This was on a list of books with female characters and no romance and was already on my TBR, but that doesn't mean the character doesn't want to be partnered.

Chelsea wrote: "Does anyone know if Convenience Store Woman works here? The summary mentions OTHER people wanting her to get married, but that doesn't mean she does.

Or if anyone has read it, [boo..."

I love Convenience Store Woman and think it would totally fit here. She is happy without a relationship, and unhappy when others try to force her into one. very ace and aro coded, as well as neurodivergent.

Ooooh I hope we get a new Harmony Black book in 2025, she would totally count for this!

Conny wrote: "Yes, Miss Marple is a spinster and it has been made very clear by Agatha Christie that she has indeed never been married, and not for lack of opportunity. I guess you could indeed call her happily ..."

Miss Marple is single because her one true love was killed in the war and after that she was never interested in any other man. But she lives a happy life.

CrystalIsReading on Storygraph wrote: "Chelsea wrote: "Does anyone know if Convenience Store Woman works here? The summary mentions OTHER people wanting her to get married, but that doesn't mean she does.

Or if anyone h..."

Oh, yes - such a good book! And it would definitely fit this prompt.

Convenience Store Woman is great for this, and so is Lessons in Chemistry (she starts off in a relationship, but for most of the book she isn't in one). I'll have to search for one I haven't read yet.

This will be a fun one to add to the list through the year - I read a lot of mysteries and while many of them feature women protagonists, most of them feel the need to give her a romantic interest.

The Cat + Gamer series works so far, I’m only two volumes in.

If you are looking for a book about a happy single woman, I recommend paying attention to "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern. Although the focus is on the magical circus and the complex relationships between the characters. One of the strengths of the book is the disclosure of the theme of personal freedom and inner independence. Although I have been looking for a book lately too. I just have time to read something. I found a writing service for one of my problems, I used https://ca.edubirdie.com/lab-report-w... for this. I have not yet found a book for myself. I always want to find something like this. But it never works out.

Any of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books with the witches would count for this - Granny Weatherwax is happily single by choice

Two from the listopia I’d like to read are:
Lolly Willowes
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
12262741]

Playing it simple by going with one on the list. I've read it before but it's been years:

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

This really is a tough one. I think The Once and Future Witches would work. I seem to remember one of the sisters having no interest in relationships or dating.

I will be reading Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed


HAPPY READING!!

I just finished The Road Trip for my "road trip" book, and one of the four main characters is a happily single woman.

I started out loving the book and ended up feeling not so great about it, for reasons: it's a second chance romance, and the Big Reason they broke up the first time is that (view spoiler)[ Addie's boss attempted to rape her, Dylan's bestie took a photo of the assault and sent it to Dylan, and Dylan immediately assumed she was cheating on him and broke up with her. Addie didn't really protest the break up because she thought she deserved it for "leading on" her boss. This made me hate everyone. (hide spoiler)]

I read The Whisper Sister Jennifer S. Brown. She is being pushed to get married, but chooses not to.

Madam. Phoebe Wynne. Could go in a couple of other categories but let’s put it here.

I’ve just finished the audiobook of The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren, and can confirm that Poppy, the protagonist, is happily single throughout.

I’ve looked at the Goodreads synopsis for the other books in the series (9 in total): it seems like a secret admirer makes an appearance in book 6, and then there’s a very slow burn romance after that. So books 1-5 would definitely fit this prompt, for anyone who likes cosy mysteries and the Great British Bake Off.

Diana wrote: "This really is a tough one. I think The Once and Future Witches would work. I seem to remember one of the sisters having no interest in relationships or dating."

Not that you asked but I REALLY enjoyed that book and hope you do too!

Through Streets Broad and Narrow by Gemma Jackson fits this prompt perfectly.

I was thinking that maybe "Last Tang Standing" by Lauren Ho could fit the prompts: "A book with a happily single woman protagonist" (at least she starts single and happy, don't know how it finishes, haven't read it) and "A book about POC experiencing joy and not trauma", would you agree?

Thanks in advance!

Kinsey Milhone in Sue Grafton's mystery series is happily single - first is A Is for Alibi.

@Nadine - thanks for tip on Margo's Got Money Troubles! A client gave it to me for Christmas!

Just read Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. Towards the end, the grandmother mentions that she got divorced 51 years ago because she'd rather be single than put up with that.

She's definitely not the protagonist, just one of the characters, but I thought I'd mention it.

I read Sourdough by Robin Sloan for this prompt. Sourdough

The protagonist is a tech professional, single, seems happy with her life. Changes it up a bit but ultimately upbeat. Plus I think it's a cute story.

Has anyone read The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise? Are either of them happily single?

Megan wrote: "Diana wrote: "This really is a tough one. I think The Once and Future Witches would work. I seem to remember one of the sisters having no interest in relationships or dating."

Not ..."

Thanks! I appreciate the input! I like seeing if someone enjoys all these suggestions or not. Alix Harrow has quickly become on of my favorite writers.

Found one that I'm going to use: Killers of a Certain Age

Why, if people want to brave spoilers: (view spoiler)[ She's apparently single for the majority of the book. There is a flashback chapter to falling for a guy 40 years earlier, but we initially don't know what happened to him. At the end, he reappears, and it turns out that they were together for three years, but broke up because he wanted to marry and have a family and she didn't. They specifically talk about their life choices, and she says that she's happy with how her life turned out. It seems that her singledom may not continue, as she thinks about getting together with him after the book events, but given the discussion, I'm happy with it. (hide spoiler)]

Joanna G wrote: "Found one that I'm going to use: Killers of a Certain Age

Why, if people want to brave spoilers: [spoilers removed]"

Oh excellent! I read this one a while ago but I just got the sequel from the library. Glad I can slot it in.

I started reading A Daughter of Fair Verona for this, but didn't really feel that it fitted the prompt. I DNF'd it at 26%, as it wasn't really my style of book.

I will probably use The Emperor's Soul for this prompt instead. I haven't finished it yet, but at 79% there's no whiff of marriage or romance or any sign that the MC thinks her situation would be improved by having a partner. Fingers crossed!

I read The Briar Club

I went with This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My Life, a memoir/polemic by Lyz Lenz.

I'm listening to Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. I found this book on the listopia. The blurb reads, "Convenience Store Woman is the heartwarming and surprising story of thirty-six-year-old Tokyo resident Keiko Furukura. Keiko has never fit in, neither in her family, nor in school, but when at the age of eighteen she begins working at the Hiiromachi branch of “Smile Mart,” she finds peace and purpose in her life. In the store, unlike anywhere else, she understands the rules of social interaction ― many are laid out line by line in the store’s manual ― and she does her best to copy the dress, mannerisms, and speech of her colleagues, playing the part of a “normal” person excellently, more or less. Managers come and go, but Keiko stays at the store for eighteen years. It’s almost hard to tell where the store ends and she begins. Keiko is very happy, but the people close to her, from her family to her coworkers, increasingly pressure her to find a husband, and to start a proper career, prompting her to take desperate action…"

Hi all! Does anyone know if "Carrie Soto Is Back" by Taylor Jenkins Reid would work for this prompt? I saw it on the Listopia for the happily single female protagonist prompt, but I thought the main character goes through a romance at some point in the plot? Thanks!

Finished City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor. It was a fun mystery written in the style of Jane Austen with her as a detective.