The best books about smart women trying to figure it all out (sometimes through the help of sea turtles)

Ronnie is everything a teenage girl should be—independent, sharp, and fierce. Will, the local guy who has it all, is drawn to her unique spirit. He sees through her defiance as they bond over Ronnie’s desire to save a sea turtle’s nest from predators. Over the course of their summer romance, Ronnie learns that Will’s life is not what she expected. In return, Will helps Ronnie make some discoveries of her own. This book is close to my heart in that you see how Ronnie learns how to channel her spirit from being rebellious to guiding her life in a more positive direction. She is similar to Jess in that she rises to the challenges presented to her and we see what a difference her decisions make in getting her to where she belongs.

This book is part of a series, but this particular one captured my heart. Cara’s niece, Linnea, is like Jess in so many ways. Having just graduated college, she joins the turtle team that works with the turtle hospital, learns to surf, and of course, falls in love. She also sets out to find her own calling and when she does, it requires sacrifices she did not know she would have to make. It is the pain we all feel when we discover our path does not align with those we love. Mary Alice Monroe has such a strong connection to nature and it comes through in all her books, particularly here when she describes life at the beach and those turtles, oh, those turtles...  

Kya is left to figure how out how to survive in her home in the swamp after being abandoned by her family. We are drawn in by her awe of nature and the beauty she sees in it, as well as how it encourages her own talents to unfurl. And we have the unusual romantic pairing with Chase that makes us root for them to stay together when misunderstandings drive them apart. The murder mystery aspect just adds further intrigue to the story of a lonely young woman others don’t take the time to understand. And while it may not have sea turtles, we have Kya’s connection to the water and her surroundings that mimic Jess’s love of the ocean and its creatures.

Set in the 1920s, this debut novel captures two young women of different backgrounds that end up living together in a shack in a Mississippi swamp. With the help of Matilda, Ada escapes her abusive father, though they still must both navigate the callous and sometimes lecherous locals that surround them. They both share a connection to their rural surroundings, which offer them food and isolation, as they determine how to escape those who aim to use or harm them. It portrays how grit and determination may not get you where exactly what you want, but can put you on the path to getting there.

What’s not to love about Olive, who is quirky, spontaneous, and brilliant? While working on her PhD, she makes a foolish move by kissing the star professor, Adam, just so her best friend, Anh, will finally go out with Olive’s ex-boyfriend. But maybe that’s the best move she ever makes, as it starts off a series of events that keeps you turning the pages to find out if Olive and Adam will end up together. Not to mention a rare moment of validation in the science field for Olive that seals the deal. It’s not often you see women in science portrayed as romantic characters, so it’s a refreshing narrative. No turtles in this one, but definitely a connection worth reading!