By: Izabella Engelbrink
Theres many genres targeted toward female readers. Weather is romance, fantasy, or feminist literature; women have a variety to choose from. For women wanting a change of pace, it is time to find your inner freak and turn away from the usual genres. The Weird Girl Genre is a perfect way to unleash the inner weirdo and read about women who embody all things strange.
Bunny by Monna Awad
It is almost impossible to understand Bunny to the fullest. The time readers spend with Bunny feels like a strange lucid dream. However, the 2019 magic realism novel is the epitome of the Weird Girl Genre and will hook readers from the beginning.
The novel follows Samantha Mackay, a prestigious Master of Fine Arts student at a New England college. Samantha feels out of place among her wealthy classmates, spending most of her time with her friend Ava as she struggles to finish the year.
In Samantha writing workshop she meets The Bunnies, a clique of pretentious girls within her writing program. Samantha soon becomes enthralled by these women, abandoning the life she knew. After spending time with The Bunnies, Samantha learns of a ritual the women perform: magically exploding real life rabbits and conjuring it into a human man.
The lines between reality begin to blue for Samantha has she deepens herself into the cult-like clique of The Bunnies. The ending of the novel will leave readers shocked and question the morals of the unreliable narrator. Bunny by Monna Awad is a strange but perfect read for the Weird Girl Genre.
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
Readers must be completely committed to the Weird Girl Genre when attempting to read A Certain Hunger. It’s equally important that readers have a strong stomach, because Summers novel forces readers into the methodical mind of a cannibal.
The novel traces narrator Dorothy Daniels, a renowned food critic in her early fifties, as she tells the story of her crimes from behind bars. The entire novel is a flashback on Dorothy’s life, from childhood to prison, and most importantly Dorothy close but stealthy friendship with her best friend Joanne.
Dorothy specifically murders men she is in a relationship with. The food critic then cuts off their body part and cooks a gourmet meal with it. Despite the horrifying gory nature of the novel, the crux of the story is female power and friendship, that will leave readers more delighted then disgusted.
Summers not only puts readers in the mind of serial killer/cannibal but manages to charm readers with Dorothy’s wittiness and confidence. The ending is extremely strange- in that readers may find understanding on Dorothy’s ways and be moved by the resilience of female friendship, rather than the disgusting mind of a cannibal.
The Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
Romanic obsession, infidelity, mental health, and sex are some of the many themes within The Big Swiss. The 2023 novel will hook readers with its strange concept and turn in an unexpected direction. The Big Swiss is a perfectly odd book for the Weird Girl Genre.
The narrator Greta, a 45-year-old woman living in Hudson, New York is a transcriber for a sex therapist named Om. Of the many patients that Greta transcribes; Greta becomes enthralled by a patient she nicknames “Big Swiss,” sparking an obsession. Throughout the novel both Greta and Big Swiss are haunted by the vague past they cannot seem to run away from.
The Big Swiss real name is Flavia, who is sexually unsatisfied in her marriage and began therapy because both her and her husband want to have a baby. One day, Greta accidentally bumps into Big Swiss on a walk, sparking a secret affair. However, throughout the affair, Big Swiss is unaware Greta transcribes her therapy sessions.
The ambivalent ending will stay with readers. Especially sense a large part of the novel is spent in the morally confused mind of Greta; her ending is relatively open-ended. The Big Swiss by Jen Beagin is a perfectly strange novel for readers wanting to dip their toes in the Weird Girl Genre
The Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
A tamer version of the Weird Girl Genre, but none the less weird. The main theme throughout the novel is grief, and most importantly how to navigate family conflict around grief. For readers who enjoyed Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Blue Sisters is its strange relative.
The novel follows three sisters in their adulthood trying to navigate life after the death of their sister Nicky. Sisters-Avery, Bonnie, and Lucky are all keeping their own secrets and problems from each other as they are forced to reunite and sell the apartment they grew up in, including getting rid of Nickys belongings.
All three sisters are extremely flawed and make horrible discissions. Readers will be stressed following the sister’s messy lives, from cheating to addiction. The dialogue and character are extremely weird and witty. At times readers will feel like they are in alternative reality where humans forgot how to act properly.
Despite the complex characters and plot, the ending is bittersweet and positive. Readers will be pleased after the rollercoaster of the sister’s lives. The Blue Sisters is a perfect introductory read of the Weird Girl Genre.
