Some heroines don’t wear armour or wield swords, but their strength is just as fierce. They’re overlooked, underestimated, sometimes broken, but they rise. And when they do, we cheer.
These are the stories of women who start from the margins and make their way to the centre.
Real Power Is Quiet and Unstoppable
Take Millie from The Housemaid. She’s not loud or flashy, but she endures. She plans. And when she fights back, it’s all the more satisfying.
Or Elizabeth Zott from Lessons in Chemistry. She’s told no at every turn, but she says yes to herself, to science, to motherhood, and to change.
These women don’t fit a mould. They break it.
Why We Love Them
Because we see ourselves in them. We know what it feels like to be ignored, dismissed, or doubted. These heroines remind us we can keep going anyway. That resilience is its own kind of power.
Books That Celebrate the Underdog:
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
- The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
When you’re ready for a story that inspires, start here.
Know a great underdog heroine? Drop her name in the comments—we’re always collecting favourites.