Unrelated but: You and Jack Edwards give Lana and Taylor stan besties (respectively) and I love the dramatic literary chaos of it

1.Brutes (group of girls in a small town with secrets and a missing girl) 2. The virgin suicides (Sisters sheltered from the rest of the world and they rebel) 3. The girls (end of 60s. Girl is bored of domestic life and decides to follow a group of hippies ) 4. Bonjour Tristesse (tale of youthful love and rebellion) 5. A Girl is a half formed thing (this is going to make you mega uncomfy. Traumatized girlie. No happy ending) 6. Sharp objects ( Woman detective trying to solve the disappearance of girls) 7. The idiot (coming of age. Culture and college. Kinda like Catcher of the rye if the Main character was a girl) 8. My dark Vanessa (kind of like if Lolita was told from Dolores perspective. Grooming victim trying to come to term with seeing herself as a victim and realizing it’s not actual love) 9. Somebody’s daughter (poor, black girl growing up without a father. Trying to accept her culture and identity) 10. Girl interrupted (girls in mental hospital. Shows how mentally ill are being treated back then (I think 80? Don’t remember)) 11. Diary of a young girl Anne frank

the neapolitan quartet by elena ferrante has to be one of the most accurate depictions of female friendships i've come across in literature!

Dakota you MUST read Jawbone by Monica Ojeda. It is my favorite girlhood horror novel about desire, puberty, purity, and fear. You’ll love it

You might like "Her Body and Other Parties" by Carmen Maria Machado! It's a collection of very weird and twisted short stories that are all about womanhood and the horror and grief of it. "The Husband Stitch" is the most famous short story. It's one of my favorite pieces of writing of all time.

Id recommend My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante!! It really showcases the brutality of girlhood

dakota, i’m not sure if you read oranges aren’t the only fruit but i think it would fit wonderfully on this list. it’s about a girl who grows up in a super religious community and her mother is ver controlling. She then discovers queerness and her love for women. i really liked it and it’s one of my favourites. (i also recommended the vintage heroine classics bc the cover is gorgeous)

1. Brutes by Dizz Tate (4:27) 2. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (6:02) 3. The Girls by Emma Cline (7:47) 4. Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan (9:04) 5. A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride (10:25) 6. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (12:47) 7. The Idiot by Elif Batuman (14:12) 8. My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (15:53) 9. Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford (17:20) 10. Girl Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen (18:35) 11. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (19:37)

I love most of the books presented in this video and I would also add "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath to the list. It is one of the most heart wrenchingly beautiful novels that most greatly represent the struggles of girlhood and the discovery of identity and in my honest opinion.

Dare Me by Megan Abbott has the iconic "There's something dangerous about the boredom of teenage girls" quote and it's truly a fantastic book about girlhood but tbh most of her books fall into that category. They're a sliding scale of traumatizing with The End of Everything being perhaps the most traumatizing and maybe Dare Me is the least..maybe. The Fever is also fantastic. I've never read a book by her that I didn't love.

Also “Valerie and her week of wonders.”It’s exactly as dreamlike and bizarre as the movie that captures an undercurrent of something sinister in girlhood coming of age

I absolutely adore the way you speak about books. Its so eloquent and beautiful. You elucidate books so magnificently, perfectly describing them. I aspire to one day be able to speak about books as you do. ❤️

the cat’s eye by Margaret Atwood is a favorite of mine that definitely is a very relatable depiction of girlhood

this is one of my favorite genres honestly, I feel like its especially fascinating how we can connect to such different circumstances, cultures, and time periods, just because of our shared coming-of-age experiences. I'd also recommend Oranges Aren't the Only Fruit, by Jeanette Winterson. It's a semi-autobiographical depiction of Jeanette discovering her sexuality in a poor, religious household. Winterson has a very unique voice, her prose is brilliantly descriptive and unlike anything I've read before. Once you start reading her work, it's hard to stop. The Invisible Circus by Jennifer Egan- this is about a young girl in the 70s (i think) following the path of her missing sister and maturing into the void her sister has left. Egan is one of my favorite authors and this story feels so hauntingly real. Braided Lives by Marge Piercy- this is also semi-autobiographical about college girls trying to forge their own path to womanhood and take control of their sexuality in 1950's America. Definitely more about the later stages of adolescence, but I would recommend this to anyone in their 20's, especially if you are a writer! thank you for the lovely vid Dakota

another book that comes to my mind is "abzurdah" by cielo latini, an argentinian author. the book it's a biography about her early years as an anorexic and bulimic girl who also has bpd, it touches really dark topics that are frequently in girlhood

ahhhh this is bringing me back to the book called the lying life of adults by Elena Ferrante. I think I mentioned I was reading it to you at the start of year at your Sydney poetry reading but it has all the themes that we love (religion, parents divorcing, sexual discovery, etc.) and it is written so delicately and honestly and I think you'd very much enjoy it,, love you Dakota

the way you described the virgin suicides 🤧 it’s true we do romanticize our pain. Wonder if it’s something we’ll learned by feminine socialization. I was a little skeptical on that book but you sold it to me

Painting and listening to your videos is my favorite activity. And what a glory to think about and celebrate girlhood with you...a real transcendantal experience I love your selection so far. Bonjour tristesse est magnifique, mais surtout en français

I must recommend The Lovely Bones, The Book Thief, and Memiors of a Geisha. Some of my very favorite books are in this category of girlhood. Also adored the virgin suicides, girl interrupted, and sharp objects. Excited to pick up a few of your recs. Thanks for the unique content!

She has blessed us with another video❤

Does anyone have book recommendations about an isolated and alienated girlhood? Like about the experience of growing up without teen love, intense friendships, crazy experiences, close relationships to family... And the longing for it but never happening and only having yourself as company through growing up and feeling like you're not really enjoying that time of your life

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala is a gorgeous book set at an idyllic summer camp about the joys & horrors of female friendships.

your hair has grown so long omg so gorgeous

thank you lady dakota for this blessing of a book video 🤍

I just yesterday finished The Master and Margarita that you recommended in one of your videos and absolutely adored it! So excited to pick up one of these books, thank you so much!

This is so beautiful and warm! Thank you

This is so lovely, I also grew up as a small girl in a rural Australian town so I'm excited to add many of these to my TBR. Thank you!

your content always manages to inspire me creatively and fill my soul with peace

I have an exam in a few hours but it can wait. Dakota's videos are much important

i’ve missed you so my lady, excellent vibes as always (+ I love your dress!!!!!!)

Dakota is so beautifully well spoken I adore her!!!

I read Jawbone by Monica Ojeda last year and it was such a visceral experience for me. I have never read a representation of girlhood and the violence of girlhood that rang so true to me. I really wish that book had more readers, Extasia by Claire LeGrand is a fantasy/horror novel (and YA), but still examines girlhood in a way that aches so good. God tier genre, honestly.

wake up ladies, Dakota just posted!

YAYAYAY i missed you !!!! and i neeeded one like this

So glad your back missed you and happy you are back 😊

It’s an amazing book list, thank you so much for introducing this many books exploring the mentality of girlhood! My by far the favorite in this genre is Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson, it is said to be inspired by a true missing person case back in the 60’s, reading it almost feel like having a high fever while tumbling in the dark with sourceless murmurs, hope you enjoy it ❤

What a great idea for a booklist! I remember reading the Gemma Doyle trilogy and the second volume is one I would definitely put on my version of this list

Hey Dakota, I found your channel from your collabs with Jack Edwards and this is the video that made me subscribe. You're so lovely and I love all your recommendations.

I've fallen in love with the layout of the background

another amazing book about girlhood, womens friendship, the role of women in society, racism, and mental health is Sula by Toni Morrison. Its my favorite book and it truly changed by perspective on so many things. Def something everyone should read at least once in their life. Great video by the way :)

Ugh i love this list, thank you!

Some incredible books here you've mentioned that I love. I am going to read everything you mentioned that I haven't read yet.

You're glowing differently

YESSS I WAITED FOR THIS VIDEO FOR HOUUURS

Such an interesting video, I love the topic and your recommendations)

I've never watched you before and I'm not even 2 minutes in but the way you talk is so beautiful and i love it so much it just resonates with me

came to this video hoping My Dark Vanessa would be on the list as i just finished it recently and im so glad it is. it has to be the best book i’ve ever read up to date. highly reccomend!!

Ah, another cosy video with our favourite little bookworm.

That is one magnificent dress… I love it! 🤎🍂

I love you Dakota!❤

I’d also recommend My Brilliant Friend and The Lying Life of Adults, both by Elena Ferrante, and Dogs of Summer by Andrea Abreu

finding ur channel was the highlight of my night

Hearing you talk about these books made me think of a strange, disturbing book I read this summer called *Chouette* by Claire Oshetsky. While it is not about girlhood but about motherhood, those two somehow feel connected at times, the confusion, overwhelming amount of new experiences, the constant doubt and questions... This book is disorienting, raw and fierce. It's a display of a mother doing her best to raise a child who is non-conforming in various ways and her endless tries at being a good mother while her husband and society tell her she's doing it wrong. Powerful and memorable

These vibes remind me of The Little Friend, Donna Tartt’s not well-liked second novel. I loved it, it’s about a girl in the American south who is very Scout-from-TKAM-like. It’s written in a Dickensian fashion, as in it goes on and on and on, but contrary to some of the reviews there is a plot and it’s interesting and disturbing and darkly funny. Anyway, just another book to consider 🙂

i recommend white oleander by janet fitch. i almost underlined every page because each line was lush and poetic. the torn skirt by rebecca godfrey is not as outstanding, but it's about girls getting in trouble and it's not talked about enough. marlena by julie buntin is another favourite. happy reading

your video just came across my recommended page, instantly subbed when you said you're fostering a community of people who love books that destroy us LMAO. always on the hunt for deep depressing novels

I read Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood a while back and I remember that it explored a lot of the dark, shitty things girls go through but in a sort of light, comedic way because the protagonist is just so young, innocent and gullible.

not dakota warren making a video on my favourite genre

thank god i was losing my mind without your videos 🛐

i'd recommend Schoolgirl by Osamu Dazai. also this made me realize i haven't read that many books about girlhood, mostly on womanhood. need to check these books out, thanks!

I read The Virgin Suicides probably 30 years ago when I was 18. I wonder what it would be like to read now at 48... I would definitely recommend The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis and Sadie by Courtney Summers.

Love this book haul so much ❤

we gotta seee a new flat tour or room tour! it looks beautiful 😻

I love cracks, one of my favorite books and movies Italian aristocrat girl comes to boarding school in South Africa where her female teacher becomes creepily obsessed with her, her fellow peers are extremely jealous and it gets really dark from there

I absolutely adore you videos so much, what camera do you use? Every frame is so beautiful

i think you'd really like anything written by Megan Abbott! i recommend dare me or you will know me. the prose is beautiful and i love how she breaks down girlhood and the relationships women have with each other

My copy of on sun swallowing arrived today!!!

im so excited for this subject aaahhh!!!!!

my friend and i read brutes after your last book rec video and it was sooo good omg

I'm currently reading a book called girl, woman, other and I think the way it follows the characters' journey of girlhood is so beautiful. love love love the book I can't wait to finish it but I'm dreading it as well to be honest

I loved The Virgin Suicides, such an amazing, powerful story. Adding a few of these to my tbr 😊

Love this!!!!! ❤

my plant of orange lime, i think is my favorite book. i just love it so much, it destroyed me and makes me kinda happy at the same time

There is one book I haven't seen mentioned so far, although it could have been. A gem that completely envelopes you the moment from the first page. White Bird in a Blizzard by Laura Kasischke. The twisted narrative of girlhood into adulthood with a healthy and unhealthy obsession of a certain individuals disappearing disappointments.

I'd recommend "Nothing Holds back the night" by Delphine De Vigan. It's about the life of a mentally ill woman, from her daughter's point of view. She tries describing what's her mom has been through, and how suffering it was being her child

i feel like sweet days of discipline of fleur jaeggy, sula by toni morrison, and we have always lived in the castle by shirley jackson are a few more great additions to this list!

You are so amazing and incredible gifted ❤

i feel like you’re my big virgo sister, i missed youuu❤️❤️

Somebody’s daughter beautiful cover and and her character is so strong and loved it ❤

Oh I love your aesthetic

this is what i needed

I randomly checked to see if you uploaded new content a few hours ago and boom lol ✨🤍

hi dakota!! i am doing a project/ essay thing for school on girlhood, but specifically, how it is represented in art. do you have any recommendations for pieces that you think capture the essence of girlhood in the same way that these books do? thank you! :))

I love your videos sm 😭

i've missed you dearly! truly hope you are doing well these days 🖤

i feel like neely’s character and arc in valley of the dolls is an interesting take on girlhood and growing up, expectations, substance abuse and the effects of fame. it has haunted me ever since i read it and it’s one of my favourite books bc of that

I just read the lying life of adults by elena ferrante and i think it fits in this list

have you recommended books like carmilla before? i finished it a week ago and it’s been plaguing my mind ever since. i wish i could relive the experience of reading it for the first time all over again.

Missed your videos!

We are Okay by Nina LaCour is such a beautiful book about grief, love, girlhood, and everything in between. Though I believe its classified as YA, the writing is mature beyond its years and it was truly such a wonderful read.

good to see you again my lady

She’s so beautiful

You should read Salt Slow by Julia Armfield. Its a beautiful collection of short stories about the female experience including tales of girlhood and leading to motherhood. It utilises elements of horror and surrealism to craft a truely unique exploration on girlhood and growing up.

My Dark Vanessa was SO good.

Sharp objects sounds scary and creepy and but good and love that ❤

Ugh, the way you talk about books just makes me want to read them all, although I know I can’t! Some books about girlhood (or rather young womanhood) I recommend would be ‘Kim Jiyoung, born 1982’ by Cho Namjoo (it’s about a kind of “every woman”, and all the experiences a girl makes growing up until she end up going a little crazy), ‘Berlin’ by Bea Setton (a chaotic young woman moves from London to Berlin to escape her life, I found it a little too relatable for comfort)and ‘Lemon’ by Kwon Yeosun (super short read, about a girl who’s older sister gets m*rdered and the aftermath)

Finally a new video!!!!♥️ yey

hey dakota could you recommend books about navigating through your 20s

"The Pirate's Daughter" by Margaret Cezair is INCREDIBLE. Set in 1950s-1980s Jamaica - follows the lives of a Black teenage girl impregnated by Errol Flynn, and the childhood through early adulthood of that daughter. It is gut wrenching and so, so beautiful. ♥

Dude i love knigga!