History TomboyAndGirlyGirl / Literature

* ''Literature/NoraRyansSong'': Nory is the outdoorsy, rebellious tomboy and Celia is the reserved girly girl who is the better of the two at sewing.

** Aegon's sisters: Rhaenys (who loves dancing, music, and finery) and Visenya (an austere strategist, an DarkActionGirl with BraidsOfAction).

* ''Literature/LockwoodAndCo'' has tough, pragmatic, messy ghosthunter Lucy Carlyle and proper, feminine, beautiful, health-conscious NeatFreak Holly Munro. The two don't get on at first but later begin to warm up to each other, especially when Holly begins displaying a hidden BadassAdorable side.

* ''Literature/AllAmericanGirl'': Sisters Sam and Lucy, though Sam is more artsy than tomboyish. They have a third sister who's a child prodigy, but she's less important to the plot.

* ''[[Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar Vows and Honor]]'' by Creator/MercedesLackey feature [[SwordAndSorcerer Tarma and Kethry]]. Tarma is a hard-bitten swordswoman whose vow of celibacy to her goddess makes her completely UsefulNotes/{{asexual|ity}}. Kethry is a former noblewoman and a SquishyWizard. Of course, Kethry's only "girly" in comparison to Tarma; by herself, she's in better condition and more suited to rough living than most men. The trope is also subverted in that despite her asexuality, lack of looks, and ability to make Red Sonja look like a chorus girl, Tarma's the ''more'' domestic of the two -- every time they get near kids ''she'' ends up babysitting them and loving it, and she's the better cook. This carries over even after Kethry gets married and settles down, in that Tarma is (among other things) their live-in nursemaid.

* The ''Literature/AmericanGirlsCollection'' has Felicity as the tomboy and her friend Elizabeth as the girly-girl, and the same with Kit and Ruthie.

* ''Literature/EllenAndOtis'': Ellen Tebbits is the girly girl to her tomboy best friend Austine Allen.

* Creator/LouisaMayAlcott loves this trope, apparently:

** In the first sequel ''Literature/LittleMen'': Jo's pupil Annie aka Naughty Nan and Meg's older daughter Daisy.
** Ten years later in ''Jo's Boys'': Meg's other daughter [[{{Expy}} Josie]] and Amy's daughter.

* ''Literature/{{Shirley}}'' by Charlotte Bronte: Shirley is a tomboy, Caroline Helstone is a girly girl.

* ''Literature/TrixieBelden'': Trixie (wears jeans, abrupt, likes running around with her brothers, hates fussing with hair/makeup/jewelry/sewing) and her best friend Honey (tactful, can dress for any occasion and enjoys it, likes to sew). Honey's governess/surrogate mom and Trixie's mom both hope the other girl will rub off on their daughter a little. It's especially funny when Honey helps Trixie fake being girly and fake having a crush on Honey's cousin for plot reasons.

** The twice-royal sisters in the Trickster books could be interpreted this way, despite the fact that they both share characteristics from both sides. Sarai is more athletic, true, but she also enjoys getting dressed up more and has more fun messing with boys, while Dove is quieter and much more of an academic/scientist. Later, after Sarai leaves, there's Aly as the tomboy and Dove as the girly girl.

* In ''Literature/Wonder2012'', Summer (tomboy) and Via and Miranda (girly girl).

* ''Literature/TrixieBelden'': Trixie (tomboy) and her best friend Honey (girly girl). Honey's governess/surrogate mom and Trixie's mom both hope the other girl will rub off on their daughter a little. It's especially funny when Honey helps Trixie fake being girly and fake having a crush on Honey's cousin for plot reasons.