Happy International Women’s Day! (and I can thank the first DEADPOOL movie for the highly inappropriate image saying that gives me ;)). To celebrate the day, I’m recommending a book and a tv show both created by and starring women.
First up, GOOD GIRLS. The show’s network home is NBC, but they made the clever move of putting season 1 on Netflix, which is how I found it. Or, more accurately, how my husband found it. I was working and heard him repeatedly laughing, so I stopped to see what he was watching. It was GOOD GIRLS, and he stopped watching it by himself after episode two because “Honey, you’ve got to see this. You’ll love it.”
I did, oh so much. It starts off with two sisters and their best friend holding up a local grocery store due to their dire financial needs. But the trio gets more than they bargained for when they realize the store is a money-laundering front for far more dangerous criminals. The premise might sound dark, but the story isn’t. It’s sharp, witty and hilarious, with moments of danger and sweetness blended in. Definitely binge-worthy! Watch GOOD GIRLS on Netflix or NBC.
Next up is the novel INTO THE DROWNING DEEP by Mira Grant. I’ve been Tweeting my love of this story recently, and a reader chimed in to say “I love it, too! It’s like Jurassic Park, but with mermaids!” Yes, yes, and yes. This book pits all the hubris of science combined with the desperation of a struggling tv network against creatures that shouldn’t exist, but do – and they are NOT Disney’s versions of mermaids. No, these mermaids are like velociraptors with fins.
Need an example? Here’s my Tweet recounting me giving my husband an update on INTO THE DROWNING DEEP as I read it: “One of the mermaids just ate someone’s face off. The others are about to attack the boat. I love this book!”
And here’s one of the many lines that made me smile with (admittedly twisted) delight, delivered by the character of a scientist who’d been repeatedly warning people that mermaids were real, and dangerous: “The Atargatis had found the mermaids because the people on the ship were made of meat, and the mermaids had empty stomachs that they wanted to fill. That was how you found things, in the sea. Be delicious.”
The prequel, ROLLING IN THE DEEP, has been optioned for film, so this awesome murderous mermaid mayhem might be coming to a big screen one day. I certainly hope so. Until then, order your copy of INTO THE DROWNING DEEP: Amazon, B&N, Apple Books, Kobo, Indiebound
Got a favorite female-featured book or show to recommend for International Women’s Day? Tell me in the comments. I’m working on Wicked Bite during the day, but at night, I’m always up for some great new shows and/or books.
I would also highly recommend Wynonna Earp, featuring bad-ass women taking care of supernatural curses. First 2 seasons are on netflix and it has a small but dedicated fandom that is currently putting up billboards in time square to get the production company to honor its agreement and make season 4.
Have you seen Miss Fisher? Because if you haven’t, make haste. And Agatha Raisin – ’cause let’s be honest, my life is a bit of a mess too. And I recently watched London Irish. Think Friends, but if the friends drank a lot more alcohol and the women were not willing to put up with any…. well, you know.
Also, you might like Stray Magic. Jenny Schwartz pulled me in with a different series but now I can’t get Stray Magic out of my head. Desperately waiting for the next book.
And honestly, when it comes to strong women, I love Shelly Laurenston stories. I laugh and laugh – so much violence and so much outrageous funny.
Oh – and Raised by Wolves. You really need to see Raised by Wolves.