I put a lot of time and effort into finding the best books to read, especially for women. No one, including me, wants a book that doesn’t engage. In fashion, you look for something stylish and maybe versatile. Or perhaps you go for functional. It’s the same with books.
Everyone has a favorite draw. Something that says, this book is for me. I have difficulty saying no to books with stunning covers or beautiful descriptions of what’s to come. And the invention of the internet is truly a game changer, making it easy to sort through reviews and scroll through websites looking for good books.
If you’re reading this, we most likely have something in common: a firm belief that books are essential and that you also love to read.
My mission is simple: find varied books that stir the emotions to share with you. And it doesn’t matter if you’re looking for books about love, historical fiction, debut, or thriller books; if you keep scrolling, there is something for you. Also, since our reading challenge this month is debut books, I’ll start there.
Debut Books
The Maid by Nita Prose
I loved this book. It’s a warm, entertaining cozy mystery that is easy to read and intriguing. Great for those who love whodunnit stories. There are some great characters in this story, but Molly’s personality shines bright; she is a joy to get to know. Even when her flaws are revealed, you root for her.
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
All Good People Here is another solidly good whodunnit. It’s a quick read that revolves around a journalist on a mission to write a story and maybe solve a murder (or two). This story has quite a few plot twists and some emotional pull. And, as others have noted, it was reminiscent of the Jon-Bennet Ramsy case from years ago, which I liked.
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Now, here is a story that will have your mind spinning. First, imagine receiving a box that will reveal your life span. Now imagine what will happen if others find out. The possibilities are endless. Would you want to know how long you are going to live? How about your fiancee’s lifespan? Consider the consequences of insurance companies or the government gaining this knowledge. Then think about the human tendency to judge or a medical professional deciding who to save or how to prioritize resources. We got a glimpse of this during the recent covid epidemic. As I mentioned earlier, there are endless.
I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers, to become comfortable with a book, not daunted. Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives a terrific advantage.
– Roald Dahl
Historical Fiction
The Girl From Guernica by Karen Robards
I was drawn to this book by the jacket summary; it was about events new to me, and one of the things I love about Historical fiction is being able to learn something. It’s about Sibi, who survived the horrendous massacre by the Germans of Guernica. The story follows her as she works with the resistance movement and tries to pick up the pieces of her life and family. This is a suspenseful, informative, and emotional tale from beginning to end for those like me who love reading about brave, independent, risk-taking females.
The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer
This story intrigued me because I had not heard about the German rocket program, and I didn’t know our government brought over many German scientists, pardoned them, and put them to work in our space program. Kelly Rimmer pulls you in and shows you both sides of this controversial program that puts German scientists into a small American community. Thought-provoking and very emotional.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
Lisa See is one of my favorite authors, and I’m always thrilled when a new book of hers comes out. She really hit the mark with this one; set in 15th Century China, it’s compelling, informative, and has her unique and immersive writing style. I love it from cover to cover. Don’t miss this beautiful story of tradition, culture, and friendship.
The Winter Orphans by Kristin Beck
The Winter Orphans is a moving story about young Jewish children trying to escape Nazis occupied France during WWII. It’s gripping, suspenseful, informative, and so perfectly paced you’ll want to keep reading.
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
Eternal is Lisa Scottoline’s first historical fiction book, one of my favorite genres. I love her thrillers, so this was a must-read. It’s a story of three childhood friends and the challenges they faced trying to remain friends and support one another as Nazis invaded Italy and Mussolini’s fascism spread. If you love WWII books, you don’t want to miss this one. It’s well-researched and poignant.
Womens Fiction
Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro
I had not read anything by this author before, but the book blurb caught my eye: “One Night. One Fateful Choice. A Constellation of Lives Changed Forever” Who hasn’t thought about a past decision? After finishing the book, I couldn’t stop thinking about this concept’s truth. This is a moving book about marriage, family, friendships, and the life events and secrets that test these relationships.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
This book has excellent characters, witty dialog, and a perfect small-town setting. I also think it speaks to the younger working woman of today who wants a career and family. I loved the two main characters, Charlie and Nora. But I also loved the family drama interwoven throughout the story as Nora tries to support her sister, who’s dealing with some life-changing issues. This is a modern and fresh romance that will especially appeal to Rom-con fans and a great change of pace read. Loved it.
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
Although Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finley Boylan co-author this book, the writing was seamless and everything you expect from a Jodi Picoult book. It was thought-provoking, emotional, well-researched, twisty, and deeply explored social and moral issues. If you loved The Pact, Small Great Things, and Nineteen Minutes, to name a few – don’t miss this one.
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
I read Celest’s book, Everything I Never Told You, years ago and have been a fan of hers since. I couldn’t put her second book, Little Fires Everywhere, down; it’s her best one. Although I can’t say I liked Our Missing Hearts as much as her other two works, it worked for me. Dystopian novels are not my favorite genre, but that did not stop me from getting his book because I love Celeste Ng’s writing style. She put a lot of thought into this book. It’s well written, and with all the political instability in our country, I can imagine the future she depicts in this book. This book has an important message and is very on-topic for today.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
This book has been on the NY Times bestseller list for 97 weeks and consistently gets rave reviews, so I think it is worth mentioning. Matt Haig has an incredible imagination, creating a creative, fun, entertaining, and thought-provoking story. The Midnight Library is a place between life and death, where you can open a book and live another version of your life; a fascinating concept and a journey you don’t want to miss.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
This is another unputdownable book on the Times bestseller list for 95 weeks. If you loved Circe (which I can’t recommend enough) and have not read this one, give it some thought. After reading this book, I couldn’t resist any book about Greek mythology. I read Circe, A Thousand Ships, and, most recently, Clytemnestra, and I loved them all!
Thrillers
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Alice Feenye’s previous book His & Hers was one of my favorite thrillers; I’m always recommending it. As expected, this is a stand-out thriller, dark and twisty, with a fabulous remote setting and well-developed characters. This book also has terrific pacing; you have to keep reading.
The Personal Assistant by Kimberley Belle
When I read the book blur about Alex, a successful influencer with a million followers whose incredible success seems to turn on a dime, I bought the book without a second thought. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. What resonated with me was how fickle people can be. I could relate to the feelings of her twin daughters about having their life on display and needing privacy. It was also fascinating to see how easily and quickly things can careen out of control. The valuable lesson to all the social media addicts putting it all out there? Maybe it’s best to keep some things private.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Most people I’ve talked to about this book agree it’s a compulsive read, hard to put down with wicked twists. There are over 200k reviews for this book on amazon – a whopping 92% are 4 and 5 stars. I’m with the majority; I loved this book. If you haven’t read it yet and like thrillers, consider this one seriously.
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Strange things happen in NYC!
Happy Reading
Linda
