ELLE: 12 great female writers recommend their 40 favorite female writers
The April 2014 issue of Elle magazine features an article in which 12 current female writers of consequence recommend their favorite women authors. Their recommendations are very solid and should give any reader a long list of titles to add to their "To Be Read" list/stack.
http://www.elle.com/pop-culture/reviews/chick-lit-versus-lit-chicks-great-novel
However, as is usually the case with articles like this, many worthwhile female writers were not mentioned. So allow ME to mention them, because they belong on any list of "women writers you should read."
Barbara Kingsolver
Jane Smiley
Louis Erdrich
Ann Patchett
Roxana Robinson
Lauren Groff
Marisa Silver
Sue Miller
Jesmyn Ward
Karen Russell
Joyce Maynard
Alafair Burke
Rilla Askew
Joan Wickersham
Jennifer Haigh
Sandra Cisneros
Helen Oyeyemi
Rebecca Lee
Molly Antopol
Eleanor Catton
Amanda Coplin
NoViolet Bulawayo
Ru Freeman
Cara Hoffman
Kristiana Kahakauwila
Katey Schultz
Hannah Kent
Helene Wecker