The Golden Girls gave us seven seasons of laughter, wisdom, and truly unforgettable moments, but have you ever wondered what they’d be reading if they were around nowadays? Each woman has their own unique flair that makes them so easy to love, with Dorothy’s deep love of thought-provoking stories, Blanche’s taste for romance, Rose’s love for something full of kindness and quirks, and Sophia’s taste for drama and strong matriarchs. These four women’s unique tastes inspired this list of 12 iconic books that the Golden Girls would absolutely choose for their own book club.
Blanche Devereaux
Blanche is the confident and flirtatious Southern belle of The Golden Girls. Blanche is known for her charm, romantic flings, and her unapologetic self-love. Blanche’s reading taste would consist of steamy romance novels, Southern tales, and anything with a strong female heroine. So think passionate love stories, books set in the South, and stories with female main characters that are not afraid to work for what they want.
1. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Eva Mercy is a bestselling erotica writer and single mom who is struggling to find her balance in a world that seems to never stop moving. Shane Hall is an award-winning literary author who prefers to be alone and shocks everyone when he shows up in New York for a literary event. And when Shane and Eva cross paths at said literary event, their memories of their past one-week love affair when they were teenagers refuse to leave their minds. Over the next seven days in the middle of a hot Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane find themselves reconnecting, but Eva isn’t convinced that the man who once broke her heart can be the same man who saves it. Seven Days in June is a book that Blanche would swoon over and would remind her of a man just like Shane, whom she dated in 1978.
“And maybe that was what real, adult love was. Being fearless enough to hold each other close no matter how catastrophic the world became. Loving each other with enough ferocity to quell the fears of the past. Just f*cking being there.”
— Tia Williams, Seven Days in June
2. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows is a bold and provocative novel that Blanche would devour in less than a day. Nikki is a bartender and law school dropout who is just trying to live her best independent life in West London, far from the expectations of her traditional Sikh upbringing. When a job teaching a writing class to Punjabi widows pops up, she feels inclined to take it. But as the women begin to open up about their secret desires, Nikki realizes that these women are more interested in telling erotic stories than learning basic grammar. Now Nikki finds herself struggling to help these women find their voices while facing the pressure from the conservative group trying to silence them. Blanche would adore this spicy and empowering novel that’s full of sensual secrets, powerful women, and the kind of scandal that would remind her of her steamy summer spent in Savannah.
“Perhaps passion and excitement were meant to be secondary to a stable adult life.”
— Balli Kaur Jaswal, Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
3. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman caught between her culture and societal expectations. After a brutal breakup, she spirals through bad dates, bad decisions, and a constant struggle to find her place in all aspects of her life, including her own identity. As Queenie tries to pull herself and life back together, she is forced to face the harsh truths about mental health, race, and her own self-worth. Blanche would be captivated by Queenie’s messy and raw journey and would root for her every page.
“Turns out the sadness that silence from the person you love brings can be temporarily erased by the dull thrill of attention from strangers.”
— Candice Carty-Williams Queenie
Dorothy Zbornak
Dorothy is the sharp-tongued, intelligent, and sarcastic Golden Girl with a deep love of education and debate. As a former teacher and current bookworm, Dorothy finds herself gravitating more towards thought-provoking literature that challenges societal expectations and dissects complex human emotions. If a book makes you think and feel, then Dorothy’s probably already read it.
1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Dorothy would absolutely adore Elizabeth Zott, an ahead-of-her-time, brilliant chemist in the 1960s. Elizabeth is surrounded by people who refuse to take her seriously in a field dominated by men, until one finally sees her for the powerhouse that she is. But when Elizabeth’s life takes an unexpected turn, she finds herself a single mom and the unexpected star of a hit cooking show. But Elizabeth takes a scientific and no-nonsense approach to the recipes thrown at her, and she ends up doing much more than feeding the audience; she empowers them to challenge the expectations that have been placed upon them. Both witty and unapologetically smart, Elizabeth is exactly the type of woman that Dorothy would root for while shouting “F*ck the patriarchy!”
“Sometimes I think,” she said slowly, “that if a man were to spend a day being a woman in America, he wouldn’t make it past noon.”
— Bonnie Garmus, Lessons in Chemistry
2. The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Dorothy is the Golden Girl who is drawn to intellect, honesty, and courage, all traits that The Paper Palace’s main character, Elle, possesses. Elle always spends her summers at her family’s summer home, The Paper Palace, but when she wakes up with her childhood best friend naked next to her and her husband in the other room, her summer quickly turns into a nightmare. Now, as Elle moves through the next 24 hours, she must confront decades of buried trauma, yearning, and love as she chooses between the life she’s built and the one that could’ve been. Dorothy would devour the emotional depth and moral complexity of The Paper Palace and would give her the courage to face her own life’s messiest questions.
“But it’s what we do, what we’ve done for years now. We drag our past behind us like a weight, still shackled, but far enough back that we never have to see, never have to openly acknowledge who we once were.”
— Miranda Cowley Heller The Paper Palace
3. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Such a Fun Age is filled with sharp wit, social insight, and moral complexity, all of which are right up Dorothy’s alley. Emira Tucker is a 25-year-old Black woman who was wrongfully accused of kidnapping the White toddler that she was babysitting during a late-night grocery run. And after the incident goes viral, Emira’s well-intentioned employer, Alix Chamberlain, a wealthy White influencer, vows to make things right. But as Emira and Alix’s lives begin to intertwine, secrets from Alix’s past begin to emerge, and both women are forced to confront the uncomfortable truths about race, privilege, and the dynamics of modern relationships. Such a Fun Age is the type of book that Dorothy would bring to the book club and spend hours passionately dissecting while side-eyeing Blanche’s hot takes.
“I think it would be best if we went our separate ways, and that those paths never again connected.”
— Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age
Sophia Petrillo
Sophia may be the oldest Golden Girl, but she’s always unapologetically honest, sharp as a tack, and always has a quick-witted story that almost always starts with “Picture it…” Sophia’s reading taste typically reflects her vibrant personality with juicy family sagas, historical fictions with strong matriarchs, and anything with a little gossip. If the book is filled with wisdom, a touch of scandal, and a lot of heart, then Sophia’s already got it open and ready (with some snarky commentary in the margins, of course.)
1. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Olive is nearly identical to Sophia, a no-nonsense woman who tells it like it is, even when it hurts. Olive Kitteridge is a retired schoolteacher in a small town in Maine who is blunt, complicated, and often unaware of the emotions unfolding around her. But as Olive’s neighbors and family members struggle with love, loss, and regret, Olive’s strong boundaries and quiet reflections slowly reveal a woman who is wrestling with her own emotions. Sophia would appreciate Olive’s dry humor, raw honesty, and emotional grit while preaching, “Finally, a woman in a book who doesn’t take anyone’s sh*t.”
“She didn’t like to be alone. Even more, she didn’t like being with people.”
— Elizabeth Strout, Olive Kitteridge
2. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
The title alone is exactly who Sophia is and the type of woman Sophia would strongly admire. Martha Anderson is a 79-year-old woman who is not about to spend her “golden years” stuck in a care home with cold, stale food and early bedtimes. Instead, she and her four friends come together as the League of Pensioners to shake things up. What starts as small acts of defiance in the nursing home quickly escalates into a full-blown plan to rob a bank and escape to a better life. Sophia would absolutely devour this story filled with sass, smarts, and a group of seniors who are ready to prove that living doesn’t stop at retirement.
“I want to live for as long as possible — but I want to live an exciting life for as long as I can too.”
— Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg, The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules
3. The Switch by Beth O’Leary
Leena Cotton is burnt out and is ready for a break. But when her nearly 80-year-old grandmother, Eileen, proposes the outlandish idea of them switching lives for two months, Leena reluctantly agrees. Eileen heads to London in search of adventure and love, while Leena takes on her grandmother’s small town life, complete with neighbors who can’t mind their business and one charming school teacher. As both women begin to navigate each other’s unfamiliar worlds, they discover fresh starts, unexpected connections, and a second chance. Sophia would find The Switch utterly entertaining with its late-in-life romance and reminder that adventure doesn’t stop at 80. Sophia would finish the book stating, “Finally, a book with a good storyline and the grandma gets the guy!”
“Is it really an adventure if you don’t make at least one ill-advised decision?”
— Beth O’Leary, The Switch
Rose Nylund
Rose is the sweet, optimistic, and endlessly lovable Golden Girl. Rose has a love for storytelling that starts with “Back in St. Olaf…” and she sees the good in everyone. When it comes to her reading taste, Rose loves heartwarming and uplifting stories and cozy mysteries with quirky characters. If the book has a main character full of lovable traits and charm with a touch of humor, it’s right up Rose’s alley. Bonus points if it has a happy ending.
1. The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley
The Authenticity Project is a heartwarming and feel-good tale that Rose would absolutely love and cry over. It begins with a green notebook that brings together six strangers who share their deepest truths, which leads to unexpected friendships and love. As the strangers begin to reveal their real selves, they learn that honesty is the one thing that can connect and heal even the most unlikely of people. With its quirky and charming characters and gentle humor, this is exactly the kind of story that Rose would read curled up with a soft blanket and a warm cup of tea.
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
— Clare Pooley, The Authenticity Project
2. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Rose would absolutely fall in love with the grumpy yet charming old man named Ove. Ove’s solitary life is upended when a young family moves in next door. Despite being known only as the neighborhood grump, beneath his grumpy exterior lies a deep sadness and a heart unknowingly ready for unexpected friendship and chaos. Rose would fall for A Man Called Ove’s mix of humor, heart, and kindness, and is definitely the type of book that she would recommend everyone to read.
“People said Ove saw the world in black and white. But she was color. All the color he had.”
— Fredrik Backman, A Man Called Ove
3. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor is a socially awkward woman who is convinced that her rigid routine of life is completely fine. But when she befriends Raymond, an awkward yet kind coworker, her life is turned upside down. Together, Eleanor and Raymond form an unlikely duo that helps Eleanor confront her painful past and discover the power of friendship and its way of healing even the most painful wounds. Rose would find Eleanor’s story both heartwarming and full of hope, and would relate to Eleanor’s innocence. Rose would cheer for Eleanor page after page and would share Eleanor’s story with anyone who needed a little extra kindness in their life.
“Although it’s good to try new things and to keep an open mind, it’s also extremely important to stay true to who you really are.”
— Gail Honeyman, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Whether you’re drawn to Dorothy and Sophia’s sharp wit, Blanche’s love of romance, or Rose’s belief in the power of kindness, these Golden Girls’ book club picks offer something for every kind of reader. And just like The Golden Girls, these books remind us that life’s best moments come from kindness, humor, and the courage to embrace our truest selves.
Want to know which Golden Girl you’re reading taste is most like? Check out our quiz, Buy Some Books and Find Out Which Golden Girl You Are!
Find these books on our Bookshop The Golden Girls Book Club Bookshelf!
