Redhead Must Reads For 2024
Redhead by the Side of the Road
Redhead by the Side of the Road was written by Anne Tyler and was long listed for the Booker Prize in 2020! The book follows Micah Mortimer and some unexpected turns in his life. Throughout the novel, Tyler shows us a glimpse into the heart and mind of a man who sometimes finds those around him just out of reach – and a love story about the differences that make us all unique.
The Girl with the Red Hair
The Girl with the Red Hair is all about female empowerment. While most novels set in WWII focus on the male experience, Buzzy Jackson tells us the true story of one redheaded woman in 1940. The book follows the life of Hannie Schaft, just a 19-year-old girl from Amsterdam who had her world turned upside down when she became a resistance fighter who disobeyed the notorious Adolf Hitler in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands.
Hannie was so powerful that Hitler was forced to personally call for her capture.
The Red Haired Woman
The Red Haired Woman, written by Orhan Pamuk, is guaranteed to make you question the power of art. The short novella follows a father and son who are desperate to find water while looking out at a barren and dry landscape. Not only that, but the book is set in the 1980s and investigates the murder of a young redheaded woman who was killed in Istanbul, Turkey, more than 30 years ago.
Ginger and Me
Ginger and Me won Elissa Soave the Primadonna Prize in 2023. The plot focuses on Wendy, who is struggling to come to terms with her mothers death. To do so, she sets her mind on doing small tasks each day – just to make her feel okay. But then she meets Ginger, her new best friend who has a secret that will change both of their lives forever. I smell trouble…
Eleanor and Park
Eleanor & Park was written by Rainbow Rowell, and oh… how opposites attract! The plot follows Eleanor and Park through a school year in the 1980s. Eleanor is a smart redheaded misfit, who meets a boy on the bus. Both Eleanor and Park have both struggled with different events in their lives, and are adamant that love never lasts… but that doesn’t stop them from trying.
The Time Traveller’s Wife
The Time Traveller’s Wife is guaranteed to make and break your heart. This novel is considered to be “the international bestselling novel of a time-altering love”. Henry is a librarian who suffers with a rare genetic malfunction – he is consistently thrown into his past or future Red Queenat random moments.
Henry has never been phased by his swift movement through time, that is, until he meets Clare. Clare is an artist, and redhead sensation who is the only woman to tame the time-traveller. In the movie adaptation, Rachel McAdams stars as Clare, and Eric Bana as Henry.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is possibly one of the most popular books this year! It was also named one of the New York Times‘ bestsellers. If you have TikTok, and enjoy reading, I am sure that you would have been recommended this masterpiece.
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Jenkins Reid is also known for writing Daisy Jones and The Six… but we will get to that later. In this novel, you follow the redheaded, strong, independent, protagonist, Evelyn Hugo, through her past relationships with men. Rumour has it, there will be a Netflix adaptation announcement soon! So, keep your eyes peeled!
Red Queen
Like all great novels, Red Queen has since been developed into an Amazon Prime Original Series. It gets even better… Red Queen has also been dubbed “The Award-Winning Bestselling Thriller” after it won the Cognac Prize in 2022 and sold over 2 million copies in Spain alone.
It’s safe to say that the author, Juan Gomez-Jurado, deserves a pat on the back for this one.
The plot follows Antonia Scott who hasn’t left her attic in Madrid for quite some time. She is an intriguing woman who has solved hundreds of crimes. However, if Antonia isn’t a policewoman or a lawyer… Who is she?
Scarlet
Scarlet is the second addition of Marissa Meyer’s ‘The Lunar Chronicles’. This second instalment throws you into prison breaks, wanted fugitives and the redheaded Scarlet Benoit. Scarlet is based on the fairytale character Little Red Riding Hood who finds that her grandmother is missing. While searching for her beloved grandmother in France, Scarlet meets Wolf and Cinder. The troublesome trio group together to escape the capture of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana.
If you’re a science-fiction fan, you can’t go wrong with this one!
The Big Redhead Book: Inside the Secret Society of Red Hair
The Big Redhead Book: Inside the Secret Society of Red Hair is written by Erin La Rosa. La Rosa is a natural redhead herself (and a hilarious one at that). The book is an insight into one of the most unique societies in the world, the redhead society – or in other words, the two per cent.
The book boasts humorous and personal stories, facts, and pop culture. It is an easy, light-hearted, entertaining read, and the perfect item to take down to the beach!
My Life as a Redhead: A Journal
After sharing her own experiences and a redhead, Jacky Colliss Harvey really makes you think. This book asks you questions about your own unique decisions and memories. The biographical piece begs the question, ‘how has being a redhead effected your life?’ and touches on how redheads were once celebrated and vilified, portrayed as saints, goddesses, clowns, brutes, and prostitutes.
Roots of Desire: The Myth, Meaning and Sexual Power of Red Hair
Marion Roach is a natural redhead herself. Roots of Desire: The Myth, Meaning and Sexual Power of Red Hair, is a witty, yet informative non-fiction piece. The book covers the history of redheads, together with the Greek mythology, science, fetishisation, and fact that a redhead rarely goes unnoticed in a crowd.
Red: A Natural History of the Redhead
Within a few paragraphs of Red: A History of The Redhead by Jacky Colliss Harvey, you’ll realise just how complicated redhead history and genetics is. You’ll also learn that, aside from a mutated MC1R gene on chromosome 16, red hair is also dictated by HCL2 on chromosome 4, which determines your exact shade of gingerness. Who knew! Fascinating.
Tracing back 50,000 years, Colliss Harvey guides the reader through the Ancient Romans, the Egyptians, the Scythians, Elizabeth I’s reign…the list goes on. Listen to the Ginger Parrot Podcast episode discussing all things redheaded with Jacky!
Daisy Jones and The Six
Daisy Jones and The Six! The hottest new show on Amazon Prime. But yes…like all great series, it was a book first. As you may already know, the leading lady, Daisy, is the redheaded star of the novel. Although the novel is fiction, it was inspired by the complicated romance between Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie.
As I mentioned earlier, this novel was also written by the one and only Taylor Jenkins Reid. If you love a good female-led novel, she is a great author to explore!
Books for Ginger Children:
Ginger or Ginger Finds a Home
Just like the Garfield trilogy, with this sequel, Charlotte Voake has kept ginger cat stories fun. The book follows the life of a cheeky cat that kids are guaranteed to become obsessed with. Children’s books are always fun to read, but they’re even better when there’s a touch of gingerness!
Annie
Annie, also known as one of the most famous ginger characters of all time. Written by Thomas Meehan, the writer of the original broadway play, this book offers more than you can imagine. Like the classic musical, the novel introduces you to Annie, Mrs Hannigan and Sandy. While the plot is still set in 1930s, Thomas Meehan has expanded the story to include many more adventures.
This really is a must-read for redheads in 2024!
Wizard of Oz
Another classic musical that is guaranteed to bring nostalgia and entertainment all at the same time. In paper form, L. Frank Baum introduces you to redheaded Dorothy, ToTo, the Lion, the Tinman, the Scarecrow and of course, the yellow brick road. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t want to hear all about Dorothy’s adventures from Kansas to Munchkinland.
The Wizard of Oz is all about friendship and love – isn’t that something we all want to hear about in 2024?
Freckleface Strawberry
Usually we are against the stereotypes but Freckleface Strawberry is too cute to ignore! In the words of author Julianne Moore, this little girl is just like everybody else. Except she isn’t because she has ginger hair and freckles! This story encourages children to embrace their unique looks, teaching them that being in the less than 2% club is a blessing and not a curse!
For affordable, cheap, and secondhand books, use the website: World of Books. You can thank me later!