This reading list spotlights books by nine Mexican women writers who are shaping the literary scene in Mexico and beyond. These novels, works of nonfiction, and short story collections were all translated into English by women, and each denounces and resists various forms of violence in its own distinct way.

1. Reservoir Bitches
by Dahlia de la Cerda, translated by Heather Cleary and Julia Sanches
Feminist Press, September 2024

In this linked story collection, Dahlia de la Cerda gives voice to a range of characters, from a renowned witch who offers her services on Facebook to the mighty heiress of a cartel leader. Unabashed and defiant, these women share their stories, wielding whatever tools life has given them to not only survive but also to seek their own form of vengeance.

2. This Mouth Is Mine
by Yásnaya Elena Aguilar Gil, translated by Ellen Jones
Charco Press, September 2024

Linguist Yásnaya Elena Aguilar Gil, a native speaker of Mixe, denounces Mexico’s hypocritical relationship with its many Indigenous languages. With both humor and a critical edge, Aguilar addresses the consequences of the neglect, disrespect, and disregard the speakers and communities of these languages face, even as they are ostensibly celebrated as a national treasure. 

3. In vitro: On Longing And Transformation
by Isabel Zapata, translated by Robin Myers
Coffee House Press, May 2024

In this book-length essay, Isabel Zapata explores the strangeness and intricacies of conception and motherhood through the lens of in vitro fertilization. In addressing the grief, misogyny, and discomfort that often accompany these processes, Zapata creates a space for more nuanced discussions about maternity.

4. Fury
by Clyo Mendoza, translated by Christina MacSweeney
Seven Stories Press, March 2024

The stories of soldiers Lázaro and Juan, who become lovers while fleeing war; Vicente Barrera, a salesman with a dark past; and Salvador, a morgue worker who hallucinates in the desert, are intertwined in the lyrical intensity of Fury. Through these narratives, Mendoza delves into the intense passions and existential struggles of her characters, creating a haunting and unforgettable exploration of eroticism and despair.

5. The Sadness of Shadows
by Lola Ancira, translated by Juana Adcock
MTO Press, March 2024

Set in two infamous Mexican institutions, La Castañeda psychiatric hospital and the prison known as “The Palace of Lecumberri,” Lola Ancira’s short story collection centers on those who live on the margins, plagued by longing, madness, anguish, and grief. Her characters resist by embracing abandonment, enduring despair, and holding on to the memory of what they once possessed.

6. The Book of Eve
by Carmen Boullosa, translated by Samantha Schnee
Deep Vellum, May 2023

In this feminist novel, we experience the tale of Genesis through Eve’s eyes. She refutes the stories we have grown up with and gives her own version, redefining our perception of the world through the previously unheard voice of one of the most important female characters in Western culture.

7. Cross-Stitch
by Jazmina Barrera, translated by Christina MacSweeney
Two Lines Press, November 2023

In this coming-of-age story, Jazmina Barrera uses embroidery as a central motif to delve into themes of depression, youth, and travel. The novel traces the intricate friendship of Mila, Citlali, and Dalia, three childhood friends who navigate their teenage years together and drift apart in adulthood—until an unexpected tragedy brings their friendship back into relief. 

8. The Visible Unseen
by Andrea Chapela, translated by Kelsi Vanada
Restless Books, October 2022

In this collection of experimental essays, Andrea Chapela, a chemist and author, questions scientific observations—and seeks to better understand herself—by reflecting on the properties of mirrors, glass, and light.

9. Empty Houses
by Brenda Navarro, translated by Sophie Hughes
Daunt Book Publishing, February 2021

Empty Houses offers an intimate and complex portrayal of both a mother grappling with the disappearance of her child and the woman who has taken the child as her own. Navarro’s first book to appear in English, Empty Houses probes the social pressures, desires, and regrets that accompany motherhood in contemporary Mexico.