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3 Books about Badass Ladies to Read after Seeing Charlie’s Angels

by  | November 19

The Charlie’s Angels franchise is so fun because at its core is a group of women defying stereotypes, kicking ass, and taking the names of anyone who dares to cross them. The movies are campy and entertaining and they lean into formulaic while remaining true to their story. I am on such an adrenaline high after watching the new Charlie’s Angels reboot starring Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska, and Naomi Scott, that all I want is more stories featuring badass women at the center. Here are 3 books you should check out when you get home from the movies.

Red Sparrow

Red Sparrow

by Jason Matthews

Much like Charlie’s Angels, the Red Sparrow trilogy is a thrilling spy drama. The first book in the series introduces us to Dominika Egorova (played in the movie by Jennifer Lawrence), a woman recruited to be a Sparrow—a spy trained in seducing secrets from enemies. Dominika learns the tricks of the trade at Russia’s top-secret Sparrow School. She becomes entangled in a forbidden attraction to Nathaniel Nash, a CIA officer who handles sensitive Russian intelligence, putting both their careers and the security of several nations in jeopardy. If you love the heart-pounding, twisty, spy drama of Charlie’s Angels, then you’ll love Red Sparrow.

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The Secrets We Kept

The Secrets We Kept

by Lara Prescott

One of my favorite things about Charlie’s Angels is that the men are constantly underestimating the Angels (Oh, is that a woman over there? Can’t be a threat!), and they’re wrong every single time. In The Secrets We Kept, two secretaries (a term of the time) are pulled from their post and into an assignment working for the CIA. Inspired by a true story, this book follows Sally and Irina as they attempt to smuggle the manuscript of Doctor Zhivago (a sweeping love story) out of the USSR, where no one would publish it at the height of the Cold War. Much like Charlie’s Angels, The Secrets We Kept centers on women empowered to make their mark on the world.

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Widows

Widows

by Lynda La Plante

Each of Charlie’s Angels come to the Townsend Agency in a different way. Some are abandoned by family while others are looking for a new life challenge. The women of Lynda La Plante’s novel Widows come together after their husbands are killed in a heist gone wrong, and decide to finish the job their husbands started. In 2018, Widows was turned into a feature film starring Viola Davis, and it gave me much of the energy of Charlie’s Angels, minus the humor. If you’re into a darker look at a heist thriller, check out Widows.

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Photo Credit // Sony

Categories // Bookish Lists • Movies

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Nicole Sam contains multitudes. She is a huge fan of graphic novels, SFF stories, and reality TV. When she isn’t at the office, you can find her attending cons around the country to experience her favorite fandoms IRL.
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