Since we frequently experience a story through the heroine’s POV, it helps us connect with her if we really like her. If we can relate to her, or would love to have her as a friend, or family member. And heroine’s come in all different personalities (bad-asses, damsels in distress, naive, jaded, etc…) but we truly get a kick out of the spitfires!
Doesn’t mean they can’t be vulnerable or sensitive, and flawed. But we love it when she has a great sense of self, a sense of humor, she’s compassionate, and loyal, but knows when to put herself first.
Considering we’ve run into a few “doormats” or “Mary Sues” in our reading lives (although, they too, can be fulfilling characters in their own right), this list is for heroines with spunk, and confidence and their own brand of bad-assedness! 😉
Nikki: I’m stuck right now. The books I’ve read recently all have mediocre, weak heroines. I need some books with bad boys and strong, feisty spitfires for heroines.”Bax” is an example of what I like. Seriously bad dude. Heroin looks meek, but is extremely bold, intelligent, and not to be messed with. In the series with Hell for Leather, Full Throttle, etc… there was a heroin named Beth and she was AMAZING. I need something where the sight of blood doesn’t make the h faint, and where they aren’t giving the guy grief because they aren’t wearing fine sweaters around their neck and having tea parties with pastors. PLEASE help!!
Jennifer: I love badass heroines!
bev: I love a likable heroine. A lot of times it is what can take a book good to great for me.
Lisa: I too struggle when the H does something REALLY bad or says something unforgivable. I guess it depends how much I have bonded with the H as to how easily I can forgive him or if I simply can’t forgive him at all. Sometimes I find my connection with the h is weakened if she is forgiving something the H has done that I just morally couldn’t. I like my heroines fierce and ready to rip the H a new one if he’s a douche.
bev: I still say we need a post on heroines we actually like. Lol. …I can sometimes be hard on heroines.
Lisa: I’m with Bev…..a post/list of heroines we liked and could actually relate too. Some of these book b@#$&*s need to be slapped.
Kristy: Do you have a list of definitely not innocent and fierce heroine novels? Possibly older than 20? I know Kristen Ashley books are like this but anything like Mia Asher books? …I really hate books where girls are described like the 1950s and the guy is all medieval about her virginity!!
LOL Kristy!!! 😛
Well, there’s a place for all of ’em (because each reader can connect on different levels to various personalities) but we DO love ’em fun and strong.
In fact, I just finished one this weekend (The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata) that had a feisty heroine indeed! Sure, she cared what others thought of her, but she knew her own strength, she didn’t let others derail her focus, and when push came to shove, she shoved right back!
Lisa: her femme fatales are wonderful….no door mats here….but smart mouthed sassy heroines you can’t help but love.
Teri: I did 5 star this read but only because of the fabulousness of being in Vanessa’s mind. I loved her character.
MichelleS: Her inner monologue was worth it alone…
Another one that I thought had a strong and sassy heroine was definitely Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre!!
Betty: How about Outlander?
Andrea: Which book had “Bax” in it? I know I read the sample but can’t remember the name. Thanks!
May: I think it’s “Better When He’s Bad” by Jay Crownover. I love this book.
Nikki: May is right. It’s called “Better when he’s Bad” by Jay Crownover and theres a second one called “Better When He’s Bold” awesome reads!
Andrea: I started reading Better when He’s Bad today. I’m loving it!
Jean: By the way guys, I finished All of Me by Gina Sorelle yesterday and I absolutely loved it! There were some editing issues but not enough to take away from the story. This heroine, Stella, was so strong, sassy, upfront, and completely loveable! And her sisters were all characters in their own right! Highly recommend!
bev: All of Me is nice strong heroine, broken hero fun. And like Jean said great secondary characters.
bev: Act Like It by Lucy Parker… I did like this book. Great chemistry, heroine, banter and flirting. No over the top angst, no ugly crying, no the mc is not a serial killer, or have split personalities. No Maury needed because she loves too much. I’m sorry to say.
Jillian: oh oh oh Abruption!! Beautiful 5+star read! Loved it all! amazing single father and a heroine that was one of the strongest women I’ve ever read, kids were adorable and a twist I wasn’t expecting! Definitely go for this one, couldn’t put it down, read it in one sitting!
BBR: “Tangled” by Em Wolf should be included in this list. He is bully for sure and the heroine in this book is not spineless at all:)) I hate spineless heroines!
Anne Marie: What about Jeaniene Frost’s (I think) vamp series, cat/bones plus the other badass vamps!
Shelly: And Kate (Ilona Andrews
bev: Mercy is hands down one of my FAVORITE heroines.
Tessa: Ilona Andrews… I agree. One of the best UF ever. Strong heroine, Strong her, slow burn romance, awesome secondary characters, great myth, it has everything… You want sassy strong heroine? Kate. Just… read it! You’ll read the first and be grateful there’s a lot in the series.
Shelly: Kelley Armstrong
Betty: Bitten by Kelley Armstrong is great
Ann: Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane! Chess is a badass heroine, with lots of flaws, but still a Heroine!!
Tessa: Lothaire …Soooo good. The heroine made that story, though. If she’d been weak, it’d have been blah, but she’s so strong, it was awesome. Felt like smacking Lothaire a BAZILLION times.
WANT MORE? Here’s every post we’ve tagged “Strong Heroines” on the blog. 😀
Have a recommendation? Let us know!!
Oooooh.
LOL!!!! 😛
Definitely agree with Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, and Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts series. I love them all and the heroines are unforgettable!!! I also thought of Karina Halle’s Experiment In Terror series because Parry was one tough cookie in a lot of ways and really came into her own strengths and beauty throughout that series. And Halle’s other series, the Artist Trilogy has a total kick-ass heroine in Ellie. I also loved all the heroine characters in each of the Chocolate Lovers series by Tara Sivec. They are all hilarious and feel like friends you would want to hang out with and sisters that would have your back. Thanks for the lists. I love to read everyone’s comments and recommendations. 😀
I liked both the heroines in These Old Shades and The Devil’s Cub. Then there is Evie in Devil in Winter. She is shy and stutters but Sebastian soon learns she is not a push over. Sal from Kulti. Meg from Written in Red. Some felt she was a bit of a Mary Sue but I don’t care. Caroline from Deeper, loved her.
I recommend The Walker Papers Series by CE Murphy, start with Urban Shaman.
In fact anything by CE Murphy tends to a strong female lead.
Remy in Bullet to the Heart….she is an assassin. This is part of the No Mercy series by Lea Griffith. All the books are about a team of female assassins. Can’t recommend them enough…strong female characters. Also,the Rylee Adamson series by Shannon Mayer, PNR, and again, she is a badass!
Ellen O’Connell heroines like in Eyes of Silver Eyes of Gold and Without Words.
Lilli is my ultimate kick a@#$ heroine from Move the Sun (Signal Bend series) by Susan Fanetti. She could hold her own with any mean MC club bad boy or bully.
Just started this series and loving them.
Kate Daniels has to be the ultimate badass heroine. I want to be her when I grow up.
Sassiest H ever in Suzanne Wright’s – Feral Sins! She takes on her Alpha Father and joins another pack with another “broken” Alpha Trey.
Loved it!
Totally agree with Jennifer, the Leah Griffith series – No mercy is an amazing series with female assassins. Titan series, by Cristin Harber has strong female characters along with the Alpha males. For a paranormal series. Immortal Witches – Maggie Shayne. Enjoy
I’m going to agree with Bev. Meg is an extremely strong heroine. From what she does in the beginning just to start the story to the latest, she’s strong.
I would recommend lovely vicious series
The heroine is soooo smart and witty
She’s so admirable and she has suffered a lot
Though it may not take some adventures, its a pretty good book tho…
I fell in love with the heroine and her banters
Should read it