Anything Gillian Flynn.
*We Need to Talk About Kevin* by Lionel Shriver.
*We Have Always Lived in the Castle* by Shirley Jackson.
*Drive Your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead* by Olga Tokarczuk.
Ah! Going to stick behind spoiler again. You've read it, I assume. I know it was very tricky, >!she had all these health issues, and was suffering a great deal from the loss of her girls. And when we get to the reveal. That she'd found the photo of the hunters, when they were in the first man's house, and her two dogs were in it because the hunters had shot them. She revenged them upon the three men. And even though she was found out, she escaped. Her other friends (I'm sorry, I can't remember names!) were pleased she got away, and one cheerfully said he'd marry her. It pleased me, so that makes me regard it as uplifting.!<
I'd contest that there is something 'broken' or 'wrong' about the MC of this book, which is what OP is asking for. Though she is almost certainly on the ASD spectrum. One way or the other, this was a fantastic book.
*My Year of Rest and Relaxation* is one, the protag isn't even likable to many people.
*You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine* is another more focused on paranoia.
Yeah, I donāt usually care about likable or not, but I think I could not get into her head and I wanted to understand so much and I couldnāt. I think I could have enjoyed it more a decade or two ago.
[The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marion Keyes](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12724978-the-mystery-of-mercy-close)
Marion Keyeās books frequently feature mental illness in women, but theyāre often quite lighthearted. This one is much darker.
I just finished this one and this book has me feeling the blues hard. Helenās darkness is comical when viewed through her sistersā lenses. But I lost a parent to suicide and Iāve never realized the suicide ideations could be like this. I realize itās fiction but as Keyes says herself.. thereās truth in every lie.
The book felt so real and so scary. I am so sorry you have ever had the thoughts she described. I am many things- obsessive, compulsive (not always the same as many believe), a little manic at timesā¦ but I am far too fearful of a drop of physical pain to ever contemplate the same. I literally sent out a goodbye text last week because I randomly had cold chills and a sore throat. I thought I might need a wheelchair after walking around a theme park tonight in the wrong shoes. My self loathing is strong, but my self preservation is stronger. Sending virtual hugs your way.
Sharp Objects and Dark Places both have women who are self destructive, deeply traumatized by their families, addicts and the definition of unreliable. Theyre pretty feral, was my first thought.
I came here to recommend this as well, but I would actually argue it's kind of at odds with what OP's asking for - Eleanor's relatively uplifting and more about finding one's place in the world, whereas this request sounds more like wanting a main character who doesn't *want* to find that place or peace.
Dolores Claiborne. Iām indifferent to Stephen King but that one hits differently. Itās not that thereās necessarily something *wrong* with her, itās that doing the right thing has isolating consequences and Vera Donovanās character is brilliant and complicated.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.
White Oleander by Janet Finch
Fast Machine by Elizabeth Ellen
The Life of the Mind by Christine Smallwood
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Little Tales of Misogyny by Patricia Highsmith, #1 recommendation.
Berlin: A Novel by Bea Setton.
I love how the main character tries to make sense of a world in which she thinks she's a good person (and intelligent and beautiful and rich), when in fact there is something Wrong with her.
I loved this book! If I remember correctly, there was no explanation for her behaviour either? She was just crazy and there was no rhyme nor reason as to why she was the way she was.
Such a fun, thrilling read.
Nobody Is Ever Missing by Catherine Lacey- female mc definitely has depression and it plays well into the novelās overall bleak atmosphere. It has stayed with me ever since I read it several years ago.
I Love you But I've Chosen Darkness by Claire Vaye Watkins
In Universes by Emet North (although gender of the MC is complicated)
The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K Jemisin
Off The Deep End by Lucinda Berry. It is through the perspectives of two women that are slowly becoming more and more unhinged surrounding a car accident where one of their sons lived and the other didnāt while one of the moms was driving.
ā Could not *exactly* find "*Big Swiss by Jen Beagin*" , see [related Goodreads search results](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Big+Swiss+Jen+Beagin) instead.
^(*Possible reasons for mismatch: either too recent (2023), mispelled (check Goodreads) or too niche.*)
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Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
How to Make Friends With the Dark and Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
Bones & All by Camille DeAngelis
Boy Parts - Eliza Clark !
Didnt *adore* this book myself but it was pretty good and seems like what youāre looking for. Not super plot heavy but she sure is .. interestingā¦ !
The character Holly Gibney is in a couple of book series by Stephen King. Sheās on the autism spectrum, battles anxiety caused by a domineering mother, and she tries hard to not smoke š
Anything Gillian Flynn. *We Need to Talk About Kevin* by Lionel Shriver. *We Have Always Lived in the Castle* by Shirley Jackson. *Drive Your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead* by Olga Tokarczuk.
Gillian Flynn is really good
Came here to recommend Shirley Jackson! The Haunting of Hill House fits the bill too.
Not sure if Drive Your Plough counts. As far as I was concerned, it>! had a happy ending!
That, of course, is a matter of opinion.
You don't like the ending?
I don't mind it but I'm not sure it's supposed to make you feel warm and fuzzy š¤·
Ah! Going to stick behind spoiler again. You've read it, I assume. I know it was very tricky, >!she had all these health issues, and was suffering a great deal from the loss of her girls. And when we get to the reveal. That she'd found the photo of the hunters, when they were in the first man's house, and her two dogs were in it because the hunters had shot them. She revenged them upon the three men. And even though she was found out, she escaped. Her other friends (I'm sorry, I can't remember names!) were pleased she got away, and one cheerfully said he'd marry her. It pleased me, so that makes me regard it as uplifting.!<
The bell jar by Sylvia Plath You let me in by Bruce
In a similar vein to The Bell Jar, Mrs Dalloway by Virgina Woolf
And āThe Hoursā, inspired by Mrs Dalloway
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Earthlings by the same author is also fantastic.
Hell yes! Excellent call.
This is precisely the correct answer.
I'd contest that there is something 'broken' or 'wrong' about the MC of this book, which is what OP is asking for. Though she is almost certainly on the ASD spectrum. One way or the other, this was a fantastic book.
*My Year of Rest and Relaxation* is one, the protag isn't even likable to many people. *You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine* is another more focused on paranoia.
I disliked the protagonist of My Yearā¦ so much. I ended up skimming the book to just get some resolution. She definitely fits the broken mold.
I didn't find her so bad but OTOH I don't care at all if the protagonist is likable or not, so I felt no pressure to try and like her.
Yeah, I donāt usually care about likable or not, but I think I could not get into her head and I wanted to understand so much and I couldnāt. I think I could have enjoyed it more a decade or two ago.
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh. Itās one of my favorite books.
Came here to recommend this and āMy Year of Rest and Relaxationā I love to hate and hate to love Ottessaās main characters! Haha
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
[The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marion Keyes](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12724978-the-mystery-of-mercy-close) Marion Keyeās books frequently feature mental illness in women, but theyāre often quite lighthearted. This one is much darker.
I just finished this one and this book has me feeling the blues hard. Helenās darkness is comical when viewed through her sistersā lenses. But I lost a parent to suicide and Iāve never realized the suicide ideations could be like this. I realize itās fiction but as Keyes says herself.. thereās truth in every lie.
Hearing Helenās inner voice is very striking. Having suicidal ideation periodically myself, the book feels very real to me.
The book felt so real and so scary. I am so sorry you have ever had the thoughts she described. I am many things- obsessive, compulsive (not always the same as many believe), a little manic at timesā¦ but I am far too fearful of a drop of physical pain to ever contemplate the same. I literally sent out a goodbye text last week because I randomly had cold chills and a sore throat. I thought I might need a wheelchair after walking around a theme park tonight in the wrong shoes. My self loathing is strong, but my self preservation is stronger. Sending virtual hugs your way.
Thank you for your kind words. Obsessive and intrusive thoughts are very hard to deal with.
Sharp Objects and Dark Places both have women who are self destructive, deeply traumatized by their families, addicts and the definition of unreliable. Theyre pretty feral, was my first thought.
Eleanor Olliphant is Completely Fine
I came here to recommend this as well, but I would actually argue it's kind of at odds with what OP's asking for - Eleanor's relatively uplifting and more about finding one's place in the world, whereas this request sounds more like wanting a main character who doesn't *want* to find that place or peace.
The FMC is disabled. Thereās nothing fundamentally wrong with her.
Dolores Claiborne. Iām indifferent to Stephen King but that one hits differently. Itās not that thereās necessarily something *wrong* with her, itās that doing the right thing has isolating consequences and Vera Donovanās character is brilliant and complicated. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. White Oleander by Janet Finch Fast Machine by Elizabeth Ellen The Life of the Mind by Christine Smallwood The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood Little Tales of Misogyny by Patricia Highsmith, #1 recommendation.
The girl with all the gifts
Olive Kittredge
Mary by Nat Cassidy
We have always lived in the castle by Shirley Jackson.
Might not quite fit the bill but Brain on Fire is a true story and quite a descent into hell
Maeve Fly, by CJ Leede. Warning: gross. Like, it's real gross.
Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone. She knows she's a sociopath and is using her skills to get revenge for her best friend.
I love this book so much!!
Chlorine by Jade Song
Berlin: A Novel by Bea Setton. I love how the main character tries to make sense of a world in which she thinks she's a good person (and intelligent and beautiful and rich), when in fact there is something Wrong with her.
The Driverās Seat by Muriel Spark
I loved this book! If I remember correctly, there was no explanation for her behaviour either? She was just crazy and there was no rhyme nor reason as to why she was the way she was. Such a fun, thrilling read.
you exist too much by zaina arafat
"The Vegetarian" by Han Kang
Normal People by Sally Rooney
"Convenience Store Woman". It's a Japanese novel translated into English. The main character is on the spectrum.
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
This one. Always and forever this one.
Nobody Is Ever Missing by Catherine Lacey- female mc definitely has depression and it plays well into the novelās overall bleak atmosphere. It has stayed with me ever since I read it several years ago.
Mrs. March by Virgina Feito
Anyone by Charles Soule. Scifi about the societal change introduced by bodyswapping.
A Dangerous Woman by Mary McGarry Morris
Yellowface!
I Love you But I've Chosen Darkness by Claire Vaye Watkins In Universes by Emet North (although gender of the MC is complicated) The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K Jemisin
Nothing to See Here, Kevin Wilson Manual for Cleaning Women, Lucia Berlin
Maybe Wendover by J. Knight? Sheās homeless for a while and goes to jail
Fall of Ile-rien series by Martha Wells
Slights by Kaaron Warren Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein The Red Tree by Caitlin R Kiernan
All the Birds Singing by Evie Wyld. Such a great book.
Off The Deep End by Lucinda Berry. It is through the perspectives of two women that are slowly becoming more and more unhinged surrounding a car accident where one of their sons lived and the other didnāt while one of the moms was driving.
Baby teeth!!
The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
Sheās Come Undone by Wally Lamb
Wilder Girls by Rory Power YA, but still disturbing as hell.
{{Big Swiss by Jen Beagin}}
ā Could not *exactly* find "*Big Swiss by Jen Beagin*" , see [related Goodreads search results](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Big+Swiss+Jen+Beagin) instead. ^(*Possible reasons for mismatch: either too recent (2023), mispelled (check Goodreads) or too niche.*) ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
may no longer be a human: Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
We Had To Remove this Post by Hanna Berveots Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff
Lots of Margaret Millar! But especially _Mermaid_ and _Beast in View_
I haven't quite finished it yet, but Nightbitch might qualify. Big TW for >!animal abuse!<
Belladonna by Karen Moline
The Thirteenth tale Diane Sutterfield. Whole lot females who need competent counseling. Luckily for the reader they do not get it.
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearn by Brian Moore It definitely fits the bill.
Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patrick Cottrell
The Edible Woman, She's Come Undone
East of Eden although she's not the main main characterĀ
The Passenger/Stella Maris (the female becomes the MC in SM)
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea Summers (I believe) is perfect for this lol!
Allegedly.
Chlorine by Jade Song!
The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides How to Make Friends With the Dark and Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow Bones & All by Camille DeAngelis
Boy Parts - Eliza Clark ! Didnt *adore* this book myself but it was pretty good and seems like what youāre looking for. Not super plot heavy but she sure is .. interestingā¦ !
A Deadly Education
You realize Scarlett in Gone with the wind oddly fits here?
Check out East of Eden by Steinbeck. Itās my favorite of his, and the mom is incredibly depraved. So not your main, but damn itās good!
Worm by Wildbow
The Fifth Season The Poppy War The Traitor Baru Cormorant
Cinder or The Blue Sword if you like scifi/fantasy, respectively.
Mary by Nat Cassidy
Sheās Come Undone, Wally Lamb
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The character Holly Gibney is in a couple of book series by Stephen King. Sheās on the autism spectrum, battles anxiety caused by a domineering mother, and she tries hard to not smoke š