From seeking inspiration to gaining confidence in your solo journey, delving into the top books for single girls can be an empowering experience. There are a lot of happy women who don’t need a partner, don’t want one, and sneer at the idea of being someone’s “other half” again. Then, there are those of us who are still hoping for a relationship – if not now, then at some point in the future. Over the last couple of years, I’ve read a few books on the topic, and it’s from this secret library that I share…
The Best Books for Single Girls
1. All The Rules: Time-tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right by Ellen Fein & Sherrie Schneider
This book advocates for living life, having fun, and allowing your love interest to chase YOU. Then, it gives time-tested rules to follow—should you be a woman like me who says, “Ugh, I don’t have time for games,” who always succumbs to the temptation of being an alpha female and taking charge of the process.
2. Calling in “The One”: 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life by Katherine Woodward Thomas
Ok…I must tell you…I first read this book in 2011, and though the title says 7 weeks…I’m still single (womp, womp). The first time I read it, on the last day of the 7th week, I met a manwhomo I ended up caring deeply for. (It didn’t materialize, but that’s a story for another post). That being said, every time I start re-reading the book, new great men come into my life. This book is not a book about telling you the rules, but a book that gives you exercises/activities to fall in love with yourself and heal from past wounds, as it is when we exercise the energy of self-love that we are the most attractive.
3. The One: Discovering the Secrets to Soul Mate Love by Kathy Freston
The message of this book is more about spirituality, less about the particulars of dating. It argues for the quality of being “whole,” and “connected,” to that which is greater than us, so that we can understand and appreciate the ebbs and flows of life, love, and relationships. It opens our eyes to realizing that the discords we experience in relationships are vehicles for growth.
4. Expect a Miracle: 7 Spiritual Steps to Finding the Right Relationship by Kathy Freston
The title is self-explanatory. This book feeds the soul. It redirects one’s focus from outward (looking for a partner) to the inner work one must do to match the challenge of actually being in a relationship.
5. Mars and Venus on a Date: A Guide for Navigating the 5 Stages of Dating to Create a Loving and Lasting Relationship written by Dr. John Gray
This is another fav! Dr. Gray has studied men, women, relationships, and dating extensively. He’s practically manualized the stages of dating and pitfalls to be mindful of.
6. Meeting Your Half Orange: An Utterly Upbeat Guide to Using Dating Optimism
This positive book shares the story of a woman who has had many ups and downs in dating, the lessons she’s learned, and the story of how she met, re-met (and met again) her love.
7. My Blind Date Went Blind: True Stories of Dates Gone Wrong by Virginia Vitzthum
I found this little book for $1.99 at Marshalls and am glad I bought it. It has 52 short, FUNNY stories about real-life first dates that went bad. It’s sure to make you laugh as you realize you’re not the only one who’s looked across the table thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
8. Untamed by Glennon Doyle
This memoir is just one of the best books that single girls can read to stop living their lives based on other people’s expectations and start trusting their own intuition instead. Glennon’s raw honesty and wisdom are a reminder to readers that for any healthy connection to occur, self-liberation needs to be the first step. Among the best books for single girls, it shows that life isn’t about finding “the one” but it’s about being your truest, most authentic self.
9. You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero
If you are building confidence and independence, this is one of the best books for single girls to start off with. It challenges you to lose self-doubt and step into your confidence – that is because confidence is magnetic, whether you’re dating or flying solo. Every chapter is filled with motivation to help you create a life that is powerful and full, as you see fit- In the best books for single girls to create the life you want for yourself.
10. The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brene Brown
Brene’s book is one of the best books for solo girls as it encourages the value of vulnerability and authenticity as strength, and not a flaw. It teaches you to let go of the perfectionism and be happy with who you are at this moment. When you truly accept yourself, you stop trying to gain validation from anybody else – a message every single girl should be reading.
11. Women Who Love Too Much by Robin Norwood
This timeless guide deserves its rank in being one of the best books for single girls as it is about the overgiving pattern in relationships. Through real stories and kind advice, Norwood helps readers identify unhealthy relationships and make the choice to be emotionally balanced. It’s perfect for women who learn to love without losing their heads – a personal theme of many best books for single girls.
12. Why Men Love Bitches by Sherry Argov
Bold, witty, and empowering, this is, without a doubt, one of the best books for single girls for reclaiming their self-respect in dating. Argov teaches that kindness does not mean giving up your power, and building up your confidence is way more attractive than being submissive to others. Like the other best books for single girls, it is a masterclass in self-worth and boundaries.
13. How to Be Single reviewer Liz Tuccillo
This fun and relatable read is the perfect spirit for the best books for single girls to embrace the ups and downs in life. With humor and heart, Tuccillo explores the themes of love, friendship, and self-discovery through the lens of modern singlehood. But it would remind readers that being single is a journey to be celebrated – a common message in the best books for single girls genre.
14. Sex and The Single Girl by Helen Gurley Brown
As one of the original best books for single girls, this classic helped to bust a barrier by celebrating independence, ambition, and self-confidence. Brown’s message that women are not dependent upon marriage to be fulfilled (financially, emotionally, and sexually) still stands as revolutionary. It’s empowering evidence that single women have always had the power to define happiness on their own terms.
15. Spinster – Making a Life of One’s Own (Kate Bolick)
The combination of memoir and cultural exploration in Bolick makes this one of the best books for single girls who are looking for a sense of purpose outside of partnership. She draws from the lives of those women who chose independence over convention, and gives women inspiration for those doing the same today. Like all the best books for single girls, it is about freedom, authenticity, and self-defined happiness.
In the end, the best books for single girls serve as a reminder that being single is not a waiting game but a journey of growth and discovery. These reads are about independence, confidence, and self-love. Whether you’re in recovery, doing well, or just curious, every book will encourage you to claim your own beautiful experience.
