Wiki definition:
“Women’s fiction is an umbrella term for women centered books that focus on women’s life experience that are marketed to female readers, and includes many mainstream novels. It is distinct from Women’s writing, which refers to literature written by (rather than promoted to) women. There exists no comparable label in English for works of fiction that are marketed to males.”
I find the whole thing condescending. “Women’s fiction” appears to be a cover for romance novels as opposed to “women’s writing” that can compete with the boys.
IMO the book I’m reading, The Orphan Game, by Ann Darby is a well written book that primarily concerns itself with the complex relationships within an American family in the 1970’s.
One of my favorite authors, Wally Lamb, writes books that I consider very similar. When discussing his writing, it’s not defined by his sex.
If anything, I wish more could be done to segregate the shallow “women’s fiction” of romance novels from mainstream fiction written by women—I had a hell of a time finding this gem in the used books.