The book experience that Junie immediately brings to mind is The Girl With the Louding Voice, which explores a girl growing up in an unfathomable situation who finds comfort in literature.

In this story, Eckstine envisions a world where an enslaved girl's friendship with the plantation owner's daughter means that the girls share a deep love for books and each other.

But when Violet's family's financially failing plantation comes into play, she must contemplate marrying an evil wealthy suitor risking the safety of Junie. Their worlds are transformed in surprising ways that the reader won't see coming, especially as the power dynamics come into play.

Eckstine's background as an English teacher means the home's library is immaculately curated, as is her storytelling.  

Listen to today's Erin Crosby Eckstine interview on the Book Gang podcast to learn more about her research and writing process for this novel that was selected as a GMA Book Club pick.

Murray brings to life the true story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance who helped shape the literary voices that defined an era.

As the literary editor of The Crisis, Jessie discovers young talents like Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen while navigating a secret, tumultuous affair with W.E.B. Du Bois.

In the face of overwhelming sexism and racism, Jessie must balance her drive with her desires. However, as she strives to preserve her legacy, she’ll discover the high cost of her unparalleled success.

Murray's exploration offers an inspiring and poignant tribute to a woman who made her mark on history.

A publishing event ten years in the making, this searing, exquisite new novel from Adichie is on my Kindle right now, and I can't wait to dive back into her storytelling.

Set against the backdrop of the pandemic, the novel follows four women—Chiamaka, Zikora, Omelogor, and Kadiatou—as they navigate the complexities of their lives, relationships, and dreams.

Adichie's lyrical prose delves deep into the emotional intricacies of each woman's journey, from past betrayals to self-doubt, all while questioning the nature of true happiness and what it means to truly love.

Release Date- 4 March 2025

Johnson weaves together the stories of two women across generations, connected by their legacy of activism.

In the fall of 1959, Freda arrives on the campus of Fisk University full of hope. Soon, the ugliness of the Jim Crow South intrudes, and she's thrown into the movement for social change.

Reluctant to get involved, torn between a soon-to-be doctor her parents approve of and an audacious young man willing to risk it all in the name of justice, Freda finds herself caught between her two worlds.

In 1992 Chicago, Freda's daughter Tulip is an ambitious PR professional on track for an exciting career, if workplace politics and racial microaggressions don't get in her way. But with the Rodney King trial ruling weighing heavily on her, she feels called to action.

Now she must decide what she will risk in the name of justice and equality, just like her mother had three decades prior.

Johnson's novel powerfully reflects on the cost of standing up for what is right, no matter the personal sacrifice.

Isaac's Song is a return to the beloved characters of Don't Cry for Me and has been adored by fans of this story.  

In the late '80s, Isaac, a tenderhearted young Black man, is finally embracing his queer identity. But as the AIDS crisis and the attack on Rodney King cast shadows over his newfound freedom, he turns to writing as a means of survival and self-reckoning.

His journey takes him back to his Arkansas roots, where long-buried truths and generational trauma threaten to either heal or unravel him.

With lyrical prose and deep emotional resonance, Isaac's Song is a profound exploration on the pursuit of authenticity.

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Readers might not know that this sharp, darkly funny novel comes from an acclaimed writer who also happens to be married to fellow author Percival Everett!

Jane, a struggling writer and college professor, is on a year-long sabbatical to complete her sprawling, 400-page history of mulatto identity in America—her ticket to tenure. But with two kids, an artist husband, and a precarious financial situation, she finds herself drawn into the world of television writing, lured by the promise of stability and fame.

Her assignment to create "the Jackie Robinson of biracial comedies," forces her to examine her creative integrity—and the uneasy feeling that she might be playing a role she never auditioned for.

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This brilliant reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is told from the point of view of Jim, the enslaved man whose voice has been lost in history, and is one I'm eager to discuss with my book club this year.

This powerful adventure novel follows Jim as he plans his escape from slavery while Huck Finn embarks on his own journey down the Mississippi River.

Everett's signature humor and deep insights into race and identity make James an unforgettable, contemporary classic. It's both a tribute to and a subversion of the American literary canon, exploring the complexities of freedom and friendship in the face of overwhelming odds.

Be sure to purchase a paper copy to highlight while listening to Dominic Hoffman's riveting audiobook performance as it brings Jim to life for an immersive reading experience.

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Nnedi Okorafor creates a thought-provoking, genre-bending exploration of identity and storytelling.

Zelu, disabled and facing the crushing weight of rejection—both professionally and personally—decides to take a risk that will change her life.

In the midst of a family wedding, she writes a science fiction novel about androids and AI after humanity's extinction, a far cry from her past work. To say more would spoil the plot elements, but Okorafor masterfully blurs the line between fiction and reality, reminding us that the stories we tell can reshape the world and the very essence of who we are.

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Debut novelist Sarai Johnson explores the lives of four generations of Black women—Evelyn, Charlotte, Corinna, and Camille—whose deep love for each other is complicated by their trauma and differing worldviews.

As Camille is born into this complex family, the three mothers commit to raising her with the tenderness and empathy they missed in their own relationships, though their differences persist.

When Camille leaves her rural Tennessee home for Washington, D.C., she must reconcile her family's expectations and define her own path to happiness.

Johnson's lyrical prose creates a rich, moving portrait of Black women navigating motherhood and is a moving experience on audiobook with narration by Karen Chilton.

As a Black woman following in her mother's footsteps to become a physician, Blackstock's journey—from Harvard Medical School to the front lines of emergency medicine—reveals the systemic barriers Black patients and doctors face.

Her experiences, set against the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, transform into a call to action for health equity.

Both deeply personal and sharply analytical, Legacy is a compelling testament to advocacy and the urgent need for change in medicine.

Charmaine Wilkerson returns with a sweeping, multi-generational novel that cements her place as a masterful storyteller. At its heart is a treasured stoneware jar, passed through generations, carrying the weight of a family's history and the echoes of a crime that shaped one woman's life.

Her meticulous research into African pottery makes this an unforgettable read for Black History Month. With lyrical prose and an immersive narrative, this one is destined for book club greatness—I can't wait to read it with you next month in our book club.

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This month, our book club is reading this well-researched historical fiction novel on the life of Hattie McDaniel, who made history with her Academy Award win for Gone With the Wind, but beyond that monumental night lay a world filled with challenges.

This powerful, immersive narrative sheds light on her relentless push against Hollywood's rigid boundaries, a fight often unseen by the public. It feels as cinematic as her career, from fiery clashes with the NAACP to romantic entanglements and a bond with Clark Gable that defied societal norms of this era.

Tate's writing captures Hattie's complexity and her pursuit of more meaningful roles. I highly recommend the audiobook, as Lynnette Freeman delivers an immersive experience that brings Hattie's magic to life for the reader.

In this thrilling debut, a former Olympic-level runner, Dixon, has avoided his obsession ever since missing his chance at the Games by two-tenths of a second.

But when his charismatic brother, Nate, proposes they become the first Black American men to summit Mount Everest, Dixon can't resist a new challenge.

As they push their limits on the unforgiving mountain, their journey becomes an endurance test and a test of their brotherhood.

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Ady, a sharp-witted young girl enslaved in New Orleans, finds her world shattered when she is separated from her mother, Sanite.

Lost and unmoored, she discovers The Daughters, a clandestine society of Black women spies working against the Confederacy.

With the courage instilled in her by Sanite—and with help from these strong women—Ady learns how to begin to put herself first.

The novel is meant to serve as a reminder of what is possible when a community bands together to fight for their freedom. I have found the storytelling to be so compelling as I'm closing in on the final pages this week.

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This haunting and powerful work of historical fiction shines a light on the injustices of the Jim Crow South and is on my personal stack this month to read.

Robbie is sent to a notorious reformatory school in Florida, where he uncovers the dark secrets of its history, aided by the ghosts of boys who never escaped its horrors.

Based on the real-life Dozier School for Boys, this novel blends chilling supernatural elements with a poignant family story, as Robbie's sister Gloria fights to save him from the terrifying truths lurking behind the school's walls.

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Carr weaves her own personal experience of IVF and the haunting possibility of a mix-up into this debut novel.

Katherine, a woman whose life has been defined by her pursuit of perfection, has finally achieved the dream she's spent years chasing: motherhood.

But when her IVF miracle child, Rose, is born with a different skin tone than her own, doubts begin to gnaw at her. Is Rose truly hers?

Tess, on the other hand, never got the happy ending she dreamed of—her IVF baby was stillborn, and she's been struggling with grief, a broken marriage, and a dismal future.

Then, just before Rose's first birthday, the truth is revealed: Katherine and Tess's eggs were switched at the fertility clinic.

What follows is a heart-wrenching journey as both women wrestle with the question of who deserves to be Rose's mother, confronting their deepest fears, including racial identity.

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It was a joy to share space with Crystal Smith Paul, on the Book Gang Podcast, whose novel was selected as a Reese's Book Club selection.

Kitty Karr is an iconic actress whose rise to stardom is precariously in balance as she harbors secrets to her family's story.

As her past and present begin to collide, the novel delves deep into issues of identity, legacy, and the painful truths that can shape our lives.

Paul's exploration of the discrimination of the Jim Crow era clashes beautifully on the page with the fabricated security of Hollywood.

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This chunky novel offers readers a searing and insightful exploration of identity, race, and the immigrant experience that I am so glad I read, especially as I anticipate her next novel.

When a Nigerian couple become adults, they both try to make their way to America, one succeeding and the other not reaching their destination.

Adichie writes beautifully about race in America, effectively creating social commentary through one of her characters as a blogger who focuses on racial tensions.

I loved that the novel weaves together themes of love, belonging, and the complexities of being Black in two different parts of the world.

This gripping coming-of-age novel follows a young gay Black man forging his own identity amidst the AIDS crisis.

Leaving behind his privileged upbringing, Trey immerses himself in activism, encountering the harsh realities of systemic oppression and the fierce fight for survival.

With powerful footnotes that offer historical context, Newson crafts an urgent, unflinching portrait of early AIDS activism and the marginalized voices too often erased from history.

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This powerful and necessary historical fiction novel sheds light on a horrific chapter of American history—the forced sterilization of Black girls in the 1970s.

Inspired by true events, this story unfolds through the eyes of a young Black nurse who wrestles with the devastating realization that she has unwittingly played a role in a systemic violation of bodily autonomy.

As she fights for justice for these girls, the novel lays bare the intersections of race, healthcare, and reproductive rights in America, which continue to be ongoing issues for women in this country.

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This moving novel is a powerful testament to the transformative power of education for young Nigerian girls.

Fourteen-year-old Adunni's story illuminates the reader on the ongoing fight for girls' education and the realities of child marriage and domestic servitude. These issues persist today for many her age who are unable to escape their financial circumstances.

Through her unwavering determination, Adunni refuses to be silenced, embodying the spirit of countless young women striving for a better future.

Daré's stunning prose and the immersive audiobook narration bring Adunni's voice to life, making this an unforgettable reading experience.

When you fall in love with Adunni, know that you can continue her story in And So I Roar when Adunni finds herself returning to her village, facing hard choices and a reputation now clouded by scrutiny.

This gripping, heart-wrenching young adult book pulls back the curtain on the dark side of the music industry and the exploitation of young Black women.

Enchanted, an aspiring singer, finds herself drawn into the world of R&B star Korey Fields, whose initial mentorship quickly turns into manipulation and abuse.

Jackson's poignant storytelling not only highlights the dangers of fame but also forces us to reckon with systemic exploitation that often goes unnoticed.

It is a powerful and necessary read that is especially timely as we examine the horrors committed by artists like R. Kelly and P. Diddy.

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Spanning four decades, this twin story masterfully unpacks the complexities of colorism and privilege as one sister embraces her Black identity while the other vanishes into whiteness.

Bennett's intimate and expansive storytelling offers a deeply emotional look at the generational impact of passing and the search for belonging.

It's the kind of meaty novel you don't want to end, as the reader longs for the two girls to come together and find their commonalities again.

This poignant and haunting Nigerian novel follows the life and tragic death of Vivek Oji, a young boy unlike any other.

He loves wearing dresses and keeping his hair long, which is unusual in Nigeria's conservative society. His family is supportive and protective of him, but they do not fully understand him.

One day his mother discovers his body wrapped in colorful fabric at her doorstep. As the family grieves and tries to make sense of the tragedy, they learn that Vivek had been keeping many secrets.

This story beautifully explores the challenges of growing up in a society that does not accept differences and the pain of losing someone who was never fully understood.

Emezi's writing is lyrical and powerful, and she creates unforgettable characters who will stay with readers long after they finish the book.

This book has left an imprint on my heart forever.

When I picked up this spicy romance novel, I wasn't expecting a history lesson, but Ryan thoughtfully honors the history of Black artists during the Harlem Renaissance.

Through Neevah's journey—from an overlooked Broadway understudy to the star of a groundbreaking biopic—Ryan highlights Black women's barriers in the entertainment industry while celebrating the rich history of Black storytelling in film and theater.

The novel also provides a deeply moving depiction of how Neevah's lupus impacts her career and relationships. It is a disease that disproportionately affects Black women, who are two to three times more likely to develop the disease!

This novel won an Audie Award for Best Romance with a full-cast narration that has made a favorite audiobook among romance readers.

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Colson Whitehead's searing, unflinching portrayal of slavery is a must-read.

Reimagining the Underground Railroad as a literal subterranean network, Whitehead blends historical fiction with surrealism, immersing the reader in Cora's harrowing journey toward freedom.

Each stop along her escape reveals a new face of American racism, from deceptive sanctuary to outright terror, mirroring the shifting realities Black people have endured throughout history.

Devastating, necessary, and unforgettable.

This novel is the remarkable true story of Belle de Costa Greene, who served as the personal librarian to J.P. Morgan and became the first director of the Morgan Library Museum. 

In a singular role during the early 20th century, Belle, a Black woman passing as white, made significant contributions to the world of art and literature.

The narrative follows Belle’s home life and rises in upper society as she makes a name for herself, procuring rare manuscripts and art to build Mr. Morgan’s personal collection. 

Constantly threatened by the shadow of her true identity, Belle navigates a world dominated by men, evading advances from various suitors. However, her heart is unexpectedly captured by a man who harbors a secret of his own.

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This stunning novel follows the lives of two half-sisters from Ghana. One sister marries the British governor of the Cape Coast Slave Castle, while the other is imprisoned in the castle's dungeon, awaiting transport to America.

The sweeping narrative winds between Ghana and America as their children and descendants live very differently. These two timelines connect beautifully, highlighting historical events and their impact on each generation.

More importantly, it yields a powerful exploration that is unflinching in both its depiction of the horrors of slavery and the triumph of the human spirit.

This novel was discussed in our Celebrity Book Deep Dive podcast episode as one of the most impactful reads ever selected for Jenna’s Book Club. Sadly, it has been a banned book in many school libraries as have many other books featured in today's list.

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Kindred is not just a propulsive page-turner; it's a journey.

This science fiction classic pulls the reader in with this jarring opening sentence. "I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm."

Dana is a Black woman married to a white man in the late 1970s. A modern African-American writer, she begins to find herself mysteriously pulled back in time when she experiences dizzy spells.

As this happens, Dana finds herself being pulled repeatedly to the South in 1815 after she arrives and discovers a little boy named Rufus is drowning in a river.

After saving him, it initiates the first of many visits where Rufus risks his life, and Dana returns to repeat this heroic act. The catch is that her role as a Black woman is not free in this era.

When pulled in, she must work as an enslaved person at the house and witness the true brutalities of an unkind enslaver.

What Butler does so well is offer readers a captivating dimension by giving Dana a white husband in a modern timeline. When they are transported through time together, he must act as her enslaver to keep her safe.

The dynamics in these roles cause stress and doubts between the two, unlocking unbelievable tension to see if their relationship can weather these changes in dynamics.

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Maya Angelou's first autobiography is a deeply personal yet universally resonant coming-of-age story.

The book recounts her early years in the segregated South, where she experiences racism, abandonment, and abuse, yet ultimately finds her voice through literature and self-expression.

With vivid imagery and poetic language, Angelou transports readers into her world, making them feel every hardship, triumph, and moment of self-discovery.

This collection of two searing essays, written as a letter to Baldwin's nephew and a reflection on his own experiences, lays bare the realities of racial injustice in America.

Baldwin's words are urgent and lyrical, filled with raw emotion and piercing insights about the country's failure to confront its racial history.

His analysis of religion, power, and identity remains as relevant today as it was in the 1960s. This is not just a book—it's a reckoning with the soul of America.

Janie Crawford's journey from a voiceless young girl to a woman who fully embraces her desires and dreams is told with dazzling prose and unforgettable characters.

The novel's unique storytelling techniques set it apart as one of the most beautifully written works in American literature.

Hurston captures the complexity of Black womanhood in the early 20th century, offering a narrative that feels both timeless and radical.

A novel of memory, loss, and haunting love, Beloved tells the story of Sethe, an escaped slave who is forced to confront the past when a mysterious young woman arrives claiming to be her deceased daughter.

Morrison's prose is poetic and deeply layered, immersing readers in a world where trauma and love intertwine heartbreakingly.

The novel challenges readers to grapple with the psychological scars of slavery and the ways the past refuses to be buried.

A winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this book is an unforgettable masterpiece of American literature.

Octavia Butler was a trailblazer and the first Black woman to be honored with both the Hugo and Nebula awards. It's impossible to not include more than one of her novels in today's list.

Set in a near-future America ravaged by climate change and social collapse, this novel follows Lauren Olamina, a teenage girl with a vision for a better world.

As she escapes her burning community, she develops a new spiritual philosophy called Earthseed, believing that humanity's destiny lies among the stars.

Butler's dystopian world feels eerily plausible, especially now, making this novel an unsettling premise.

This sweeping historical narrative chronicles the Great Migration through the lives of three individuals who left the South searching for a better life.

Wilkerson's research is meticulous, yet her storytelling is so engaging that the book reads like a novel. She captures the heartbreak, hope, and perseverance of those who reshaped America by leaving everything behind.

By weaving together personal stories with historical context, Wilkerson provides a deeply humanized perspective on one of the most significant movements in American history.

This groundbreaking book tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman whose cancer cells were taken without her consent in 1951 and went on to revolutionize modern medicine.

Known as HeLa cells, they became the first immortal human cell line, leading to medical breakthroughs in vaccines, cancer research, and even COVID-19 treatments.

However, while her cells generated billions of dollars in scientific advancements, Henrietta's family was left in poverty, unaware of her immense contribution to medical science for decades. This story highlights racial and ethical injustices in healthcare, mainly how Black bodies have been historically exploited without consent.

What if you fell asleep in 2019 and woke up in 2021? That's the reality for Jack Jr., who emerges from a two-year coma to find his life unrecognizable. His job is gone, his apartment is lost, and his partner has moved on.

But in his return to his childhood home and his family's struggling restaurant, he begins to rebuild—rekindling relationships, rediscovering love with the male nurse who cared for him, and redefining what home truly means.

Jinwoo Chong shares the beautiful inspiration behind this poignant and tender slice-of-life novel on the Book Gang Podcast, which seamlessly blends a swoon-worthy love story in with a cozy family drama. We discuss how I Leave It Up to You evolved from a short story, the impact of the pandemic on its themes, and the role of food as both a comfort and a metaphor for resilience.

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Julia Whelan delivers an impeccable performance on Hannah's new historical fiction novel, offering an earnest portrayal of the lives of nurses who served in the Vietnam War but seemingly were forgotten.

This novel celebrates nurses and their service during the Vietnam War, a detail that few Americans think about, showcasing the sacrifices made and the disbelief in their journey when returning home. It delivers on the book's goals while encompassing a signature soapier spin perfect for fans of her earlier work on Firefly Lane.

There were many elements of surprise that made me glad that I read this. I had yet to learn that nurses could not take advantage of the VA benefits when returning home from their service. I appreciated the accurate portrayal of PTSD on returning and the haunting nature of caring for patients in this environment. I found it enlightening how women were demoted to the roles of candy stripers upon their return home despite their expertise in serving on the frontlines.

It has been an enormous hit with frontline workers, including my sister, so I included it in today's list. Fans of the novel will be excited to hear that Warner Bros. acquired the rights to The Women movie ahead of its bestselling release.

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Mary Kubica is back with her ninth thriller, and I'm so happy to report that her new book delivers. The story builds slow-burn suspense, but Kubica plots a line of dominoes that will all come tumbling down with her signature twists.

Meghan is navigating single parenting of her teen daughter and a demanding job as an ICU nurse. Put in charge of a patient with a traumatic brain injury, she learns that the patient has jumped from a bridge, triggering difficult memories of the loss of her sister.

But as you might have guessed, there is more to her story and some surprising overlap to Meghan's that will leave you guessing until the final pages.

The novel's cinematic Chicago setting, smart red herrings, and a believable mother-daughter relationship with her teenager enhance the storyline. I appreciated the researched medical details, from the demanding patient challenges to safety concerns to even oversights that can happen on an ICU floor.

As the story unspooled, the novel kept me up until midnight to finish as I closed in on the second half.

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Jimenez's satisfyingly clever concept for her new romance novel is bringing together two people who feel cursed in love for a potential fling to break their curse and meet their soulmates.

If that sounds enchanted, I will ground it a bit and tell you that they meet on a subreddit titled r/AmItheAsshole. Seeing this as a rather unique experience, they are stunned to discover they aren't alone in this haunting dating issue. Each person they break up with finds their soulmate after ending things with them. Could they potentially rig the system?

What starts as witty banter between Justin and Emma evolves into serious contemplation on taking a traveling nurse assignment near Justin for a summer fling. Her assigned job locations are three-month stints—a perfect amount of time to make this a short but successful run of a failed relationship.

Told in dual perspectives, Justin approaches the dating negotiations with adorkable charm, from sending Emma evites to conducting exit surveys on each of their planned dates.

Readers will discover some Easter eggs from past novels, but this novel can be read as a standalone.

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Katherine Arden may have been in your book stacks before with her popular magical realism series, The Bear and the Nightingale.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a haunting, lyrical historical novel set during World War I. The story follows Laura, a battlefield nurse who searches for her missing brother while confronting supernatural forces lurking in the trenches. The reader should be prepared to navigate the bloody trenches and the horrors of the war in vivid detail.

Arden shared on GoodReads that while this novel is not her longest, it was her most difficult to write.

She states, "Ghosts is a book about love and loss, how the world ends, and how it goes on. It's about the nature of evil and the shape of hell, and about war. I started it in 2019, and here it is coming out in 2024, when young men are fighting in trenches in Europe once again. Perhaps enjoy is the wrong word for the book I spent a long time calling the Fiend. But I hope it haunts you, as it has haunted me."

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From the Dagger Award-winning author of Norwegian by Night comes a vivid, thrilling, and moving World War II art-heist-adventure tale in which enemies become heroes, allies become villains, and a child learns what it means to become an adult. This highly-rated novel is recommended for fans of All the Light We Cannot See.

This genre-blending novel features a nurse caught in a dangerous adventure involving a legendary magician's secret. With elements of mystery, historical intrigue, and a touch of the supernatural, this book offers readers a fresh and thrilling take on the nurse-as-hero trope.

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In Nazi Germany, Allina Strauss is forced into service as a nurse at Hochland Home, a state-run "baby factory" where women are used to perpetuate the Aryan race.

As she navigates the horrors of the Lebensborn program, Allina must hide her Jewish identity while caring for the neglected children in her charge. When she uncovers the atrocities within the home, she risks everything—not only to save herself but also the innocent lives she's vowed to protect.

A book pairing with Necessary Lies following social workers navigating a secret eugenics project in the South would be a magnificent medical drama book pairing.  

This haunting novel was a MomAdvice Book Club selection that I highly recommend for a thought-provoking conversation.

This historical fiction selection is inspired by the real-life story of two girls, Mary Alice and Minnie Lee Relf. In 1973, at ages 12 and 14, they were surgically sterilized without their consent in Montgomery, Alabama.

This book adds dimension by using narration through the eyes of a Black nurse in her first job, unknowingly participating in this sterilization project, and what steps she takes once she finds out.

As she fights for justice, she's forced to confront the limits of her own power. Thought-provoking and heartbreaking, this novel explores race, healthcare, and the haunting ethics of medical intervention.

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Set in a Dublin maternity ward during the 1918 flu pandemic, this tense and beautifully written novel follows three women—a nurse, a doctor, and a volunteer—who work tirelessly to care for expectant mothers battling the deadly virus. Donoghue's immersive storytelling brings to life the claustrophobic urgency of a hospital under siege.

This 5-star novel had a surprising detail in the author's note that shared that Donoghue had submitted her draft well before COVID, as I had poured over eerie similarities to this tragic chapter in our lived history.

This novel follows an ambitious young woman determined to break barriers as a nurse and war correspondent from the Spanish-American War to the early days of World War I.

Our heroine has sworn off war nursing but receives word that an estranged friend is headed to Cuba to work for the Red Cross. Determined to stop her, she joins in her place, following Teddy Roosevelet's Rough Riders straight to the heart of the fighting.

Willig might not have a medical background, but the author has a PhD in history from Harvard, so readers know that the historical details in her novels will be top-notch.

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Set in the gritty underbelly of 1880s New York, this historical mystery follows a cunning con artist who escapes the law by posing as a nurse at Bellevue Hospital.

But when a series of murders shakes the city, she finds herself at the center of a deadly game. The Nurse's Secret is a fascinating look at the early days of modern nursing, wrapped in a twisty, page-turning plot.

Skenandore gives us a unique lens into this world because she isn't just an author; she's also a registered nurse and certified infection preventionist.

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Rachel Kalama is a spirited little girl who captures your heart immediately. She is living the typical life of a little Hawaiian girl, but when a rose-colored mark appears on her leg, her mother knows immediately that she has leprosy.

To protect her daughter, she covers the mark and hides other marks that appear on Rachel's body. It is the family's dark secret since all people afflicted by leprosy are quarantined and taken from their families.

But, when Rachel's sister gets in a fight with Rachel, and calls her a, "leper," the authorities are immediately notified. She is taken from her family and moved to the island of Kalaupapa, a quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i.

Her life should be over, but it is just beginning. Over the years, as Rachel grows up in Kalaupapa, she encounters dedicated healthcare professionals, including nuns and nurses, who provide care and compassion to the residents despite the stigma surrounding the disease.

While much of the story focuses on Rachel's resilience and personal journey, the role of nurses and other caregivers highlights the evolving understanding of public health, the ethics of patient care, and the humanity within the medical field during a time of fear and misunderstanding.

If you love the story, don't miss the sequel, Daughter of Moloka'i!

Fleeing a troubled past in Michigan, Eva joins the Army Nurse Corps, hoping for a fresh start in Hawaii.

Her journey begins aboard a military transport ship, where she finds herself drawn to the dashing Lieutenant Clark while navigating the tense atmosphere of intercepted Japanese signals and looming uncertainty.

As the attack on Pearl Harbor unfolds, Eva is hurled into the chaos, tending to the wounded in a hospital overwhelmed by the devastation.

With rich historical detail, this novel explores the intrigue surrounding the attack and the resilience of those who fought to save lives in its wake.

Inspired by true events, this novel tells the story of a nurse in 1926 who secretly places a premature baby in Dr. Couney's controversial Coney Island incubator exhibit in a desperate bid to save its life.

Decades later, a young teacher discovers her mother's hidden past, unraveling a family mystery that challenges everything she thought she knew. Armstrong crafts a deeply moving dual-timeline tale about medical ethics, motherhood, and courage.

This historic event made a cameo in The Last Carolina Girl and would be a perfect pairing with this novel.

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Based on the true story of Julia Stimson, this novel follows a pioneering nurse who leads a team of American women to the Western Front during World War I.

As superintendent of the Army Nurse Corps during World War I, Stimson became the first woman to attain the rank of Major in the United States Army.

This powerful and inspiring tribute to the women who served is penned by Tracey Enerson Wood, a registered nurse and military wife!

When people ask for books like The Women- this is ALWAYS my first recommendation.

Inspired by Fader's mother's career in nursing, this novel delves into the layers of tender and enduring bonds of friendship set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, with rich dual timelines that offer glimpses into magnificent Hollywood settings.

The story begins with the funeral of BettyKay Beecher, a beloved nurse, and mother. Her daughters, Clara and Abby, are reunited for the somber occasion, but tensions arise as the two sisters cannot be more different in their lives and approach wrapping up their mother's estate.

However, things take an unexpected turn when Kitty Deveraux, a famous Hollywood actress, appears at the funeral and places an unusual pink button in the coffin.

Intrigued, Clara and Abby, invite Kitty to their mother's home, where she reveals that she knew BettyKay and their "Aunt Jenny" from their time as nursing students. The two odd-couple roommates had formed a fast comradery with Jenny, one of the few Black women in their nursing school program, a friendship that endured for many years.

Her daughters have never known of their friendship with Kitty or her secret past life, and Jenny does not seem pleased by her sudden appearance. So, as Kitty regales them with stories from their three friends' pasts, the girls learn surprising secrets about their mother they never knew.

While Molly Fader may be a new writer to me, she is well-known as the award-winning author of more than 40 romance novels under the pennames Molly O'Keefe and M. O'Keefe!

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The story is about a trio of nurses and was written by a trio of bestselling historical fiction writers!

Inspired by true events, this novel tells the harrowing story of three military nurses stationed in the Philippines during World War II, who become prisoners of war after the Japanese invasion. Their friendship and resilience become their greatest weapons as they fight for survival under brutal conditions.

Readers should be aware that as prisoners of war, they endure harrowing conditions yet continue to inspire by providing medical care to their fellow internees with minimal resources.

The partnership for this writing project came through the publisher Harper Muse, whose assignment coincided with the pandemic. These three friends selected characters based on their own backgrounds, which aligned with many details in this nurse story.

"Men tell stories. Women get on with it. For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over."

This novel is one of my favorite Kristin Hannah books because it highlights the courage and sacrifices of women during World War II, particularly those inspired by real-life nurses and resistance fighters who were the unsung heroes of this era.

Hannah tells a beautiful story of two sisters who fought the war in their own ways when the Nazis invaded France. It is a moving rendering of the survival skills needed during this time, focusing on the missions of one sister, who joins the French Resistance and brings soldiers to safety.

While her story may seem more significant, the everyday struggles of her own sister, who must house a Nazi soldier, are just as harrowing.

The writing is brutally honest and unflinching at what women must do to survive, and Hannah perfectly captures their journey.

Picoult's gripping courtroom drama centers on a Black labor and delivery nurse who is wrongfully accused of murder after a racist couple refuses her care.

When a baby goes into cardiac arrest while Ruth is on duty, she finds herself in the middle of a grueling murder trial and without a job to support her.

Kennedy, a lawyer assigned to this tough case, and the reader get to go along on this journey with Ruth as she agonizes over a split-second decision that may have cost her the job she has loved for so many years.

In a predictable Picoult fashion, there is a twist at the end that you may or may not see coming. Powerful and deeply relevant, this is one of Picoult's most thought-provoking and timely novels.

Myra Lipinsky, a dedicated visiting nurse, has built a quiet life centered around caring for others. At fifty-one, she has accepted her solitude, finding purpose in patient care rather than personal relationships.

When she is assigned to care for Chip Reardon, a former high school crush now terminally ill, her professional and personal worlds collide.

As she tends to his physical and emotional needs, Myra grapples with the boundaries of nursing practice, the complexities of human connection, and the profound impact of compassionate care.

Lib Wright, a nurse trained by Florence Nightingale, is tasked with a strange assignment in 19th-century Ireland: to watch over an eleven-year-old girl, Anna, who claims to have survived for months without food, living only on "manna from heaven."

As Lib and a nun monitor Anna's condition around the clock, Lib's skepticism gives way to a growing sense of doubt. As Anna's health deteriorates, she must confront her training and beliefs, questioning whether she's witnessing a miracle or a dangerous deception.

The Wonder movie can be streamed on Netflix, starring France Pugh, after you finish the book.

In Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series, nursing plays a crucial role in shaping the protagonist's journey. Before becoming a psychologist and private investigator, Maisie served as a nurse during World War I, an experience that deeply influenced her approach to both life and detective work.

These experiences fuel her compassion and sharpen her observational skills making her uniquely suited to uncover hidden truths.

As she investigates a mysterious case tied to the war, Maisie's background in nursing—and her understanding of both physical and emotional wounds—prove invaluable. Winspear masterfully weaves historical fiction, mystery, and a deep respect for the nursing profession into this compelling debut.

We have to have a nurse behaving badly story!

The infamous Nurse Ratched is certainly not a nurse to emulate, but she is one of the most well-known figures in literature.

While the novel critiques the oppressive nature of psychiatric institutions, it also highlights the critical role nurses play in shaping patient experiences—for better or worse. Nurse Ratched's character serves as a haunting exploration of power, compliance, and the ethical responsibilities of healthcare professionals.

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School nurse Kate Cypher returns to her rural Vermont hometown to care for her mother, who is battling Alzheimer's. On the night of her arrival, a young girl is brutally murdered—an unsettling echo of a similar crime that haunted Kate's childhood.

The victim back then was Del, a lonely outcast cruelly nicknamed the "Potato Girl," whose tragic fate still lingers in the town's memory.

As the novel weaves between past and present, Kate becomes entangled in the mystery of these two eerily similar murders. As she uncovers long-buried secrets, the boundaries between memory, guilt, and the supernatural become unclear.

A chilling ghost story, a gripping mystery, and a poignant coming-of-age tale, this novel delivers a dark and twisted narrative with a satisfying final twist like Jennifer McMahon's other works.

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When a glamorous Hollywood socialite is diagnosed with leprosy in the 1920s, she is sent to a Louisiana quarantine hospital, where she unexpectedly finds purpose as a volunteer nurse.

Mirielle, spoiled and wealthy, struggles to fit in, but as time goes by, she finds purpose at this clinic and discovers her new found family. How she connects with one young patient, in particular, speaks to Mirielle's character growth.

Skenandore's medical background helps bring to life this disease, its social stigma, and the experimental medical treatments used by this leprosy colony, making this an informative reading experience.

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Set during World War II, this sweeping historical novel follows Red Cross volunteer Irene Woodward as she embarks on a dangerous mission to bring comfort and coffee to soldiers on the front lines through her volunteerism with the Red Cross.

Inspired by the true story of the Clubmobile women, Urrea's poignant tale celebrates the resilience and camaraderie of women in wartime.

With rich historical detail and unforgettable characters, this novel is a must-read for fans of The Nightingale and The Alice Network.

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After surviving a tragic plane crash, Margaret Jacobsen faces a long and painful rehabilitation guided by an uncompromising but deeply compassionate physical therapist.

As she rebuilds her life, she learns that sometimes, the things we fear losing most aren't the things we truly need.

Center's signature blend of heart, humor, and hope makes this a compelling story of resilience and unexpected love.

Get your tissues out for this novel, which I'm strongly considering for next year's book club.

Set against the backdrop of war-torn Syria, this powerful novel follows Salama, a young pharmacy student turned volunteer nurse, as she struggles with an impossible choice—to stay and help her people or flee for safety.

A stunning mix of historical fiction and magical realism, Katouh's novel explores love, loss, and the heartbreaking realities of war through breathtaking prose.

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Allison Larkin shared with me that Home of the American Circus is the book she is most proud of, and it's easy to see why.

Her heart is on every page of this 432-page family drama, vividly capturing the author's hometown of Somers, New York- a place rich in history as the birthplace of the American circus.

This town's status symbol becomes the author's cornerstone for a story filled with reinvention and, perhaps, a reinterpretation that echoes her character's transformative journeys.

After a financial emergency, Freya reluctantly returns to the crumbling house she inherited from her estranged parents. What begins as a hesitant homecoming transforms into an emotional excavation of her past as she confronts the ghosts of broken friendships, familial betrayals, and unresolved love.

But it is her discovery of Aubrey, her fifteen-year-old niece secretly living in the neglected family home, who brings Freya's journey into sharp focus as she tries to make up for what she missed when she was gone.

Details about this town's historic circus roots unspool for the reader while the story is firmly rooted in this contemporary setting.

Release Date- 6 May 2025

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I fell in love with Jess Kidd's writing after reading her debut, and this circus-adjacent story perfectly for today's book list prompt.

Kidd's storytelling takes a dark turn with a female detective, Bridie Devine, who is trying to solve the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, the secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick. 

In Victorian London, a child with peculiarities and supernatural powers is hidden from society to protect her from a grim fate.

In this era, such "marvels" are exploited as sideshow spectacles in traveling circuses—or worse, children are killed, their oddities preserved in jars to satisfy the dark appetites of collectors and profiteers.

It's why Bridie is determined to find this girl, even if it means putting her past at risk. She isn't alone, though. A tattooed ghost aids her throughout this story and doesn't leave her side as she investigates. 

Kidd does a great job adding her signature humor into this dark story and weaves in history and folklore that anyone can appreciate. Fans of magical realism will love this unusual story that finds great beauty in the oddities.

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Inspired by the true life story of Austrian-American strongwoman Katie Sandwina, this Christian fiction novel introduces Mabel MacGinnis, Europe's strongest woman, in 1911.

When her father's sudden death leaves her unmoored, Mabel undertakes a journey with acrobat Jake Cunningham to find the mother she thought was dead.

Isabella Moreau, once America's most celebrated aerialist, now struggles with age, injury, and the ghosts of her past. When Mabel unexpectedly enters her life, accompanied by the man who wants nothing to do with Isabella, long-buried secrets are forced into the spotlight under the glittering lights of Madison Square Garden.

Kimberly Duffy's historical fiction novels often feature ahead-of-their-time heroines, and this is no exception to that rule. Readers have loved this story for its gender stereotype-breaking characters and its exploration of mental health.

I was CAPTIVATED by this 5-star circus novel the year it came out, as I've been with many of Benjamin's novels.

Vinnie stood a mere two feet and eight inches tall, but her small stature is only a tiny element of her big story.

Born in the nineteenth century, most families were encouraged to keep children plagued with genetic abnormalities or disorders hidden away from the public eye. Despite her parent's longing for her to choose a quiet, simple life, Vinnie always wanted to be in the spotlight.

When a "cousin" decides to start a traveling show, he reaches out to see if Vinnie is interested in participating. But the show isn't what Vinnie had hoped it would be, and she finds herself paraded as a freak rather than the life singing and dancing she thought she was going to have.

Ever determined to be and make more of her life, she sends a letter to P.T. Barnum that will forever alter the course of her life.

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This haunting and vividly atmospheric novel is set in Victorian England and follows Nell, a young woman whose unusual birthmarks make her a target of scorn in her small village.

When Jasper Jupiter's traveling Circus of Wonders comes to town, Nell's father sells her to the show. But, what begins as a betrayal transforms into an unexpected journey of self-discovery and fame as Nell becomes the star attraction, dazzling audiences with her uniqueness.

Elizabeth Macneal is best known for her debut novel, The Doll Factory. It won the Caledonia Noel Award in 2018 and became a TV series that that can be streamed on Prime.

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In 1931, young Lilly is locked away in the attic of Blackwood Manor, hidden from the world because of her albinism.

Sold to a Depression-era circus sideshow, her rare bond with animals becomes both her salvation and her curse amid the cruelty of the big top.

Two decades later, Julia, a runaway from the same manor, learns she's inherited the sprawling estate and haunting family secrets. As she pieces together the past, Julia unravels the dark legacy that binds her to Lilly's tragic story.

Readers should prepare for a challenging yet powerful story of child and animal abuse that makes this dual-timeline novel a heartbreaking page-turner.

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Fun Fact: Erika Swyler learned the bookbinding process and bound this manuscript to try to catch an editor's eye. You can learn more about that process in my interview with the author (linked below).

When young librarian Simon receives a mysterious book detailing the travails of a 1700s carnival, he uncovers chilling parallels to his family's history of drowning tragedies.

Desperate to break the curse looming over his sister, Simon pursues this mesmerizing mystery, which unfolds in a seamless narrative that pulls together the past and present, taking readers on a beautiful journey.

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Jacob Janowski, who is either ninety or ninety-three—a detail he can't quite remember—now resides in a nursing home. His life, however, wasn't always this way. After the untimely death of his parents, Jacob joined a traveling circus. He unwittingly embarked on this journey when boarding a train to escape his grief following his parents' passing.

When Jacob is appointed as the veterinarian, he faces a challenging role under August, a paranoid schizophrenic who serves as the circus's animal trainer. The reader is drawn into the heartbreaking lives of the animals and the ongoing abuse they endure.

The only sparkle of light in Jacob's life is Marlena, a beautiful circus performer who Jacob cannot stop thinking about. Sadly, he has fallen in love with August's wife, and the reader will be on the edge of their seat as Jacob risks it all to free Marlena.

This novel was later adapted for film with Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson starring in the lead roles.

Set in early 20th-century Coney Island, this circus novel is about a young woman raised in a sideshow museum and her search for independence and love.

Coralie Sardie, a gifted swimmer, performs as the Mermaid in her father's sinister Coney Island freak show, The Museum of Extraordinary Things.

Her life takes a dramatic turn one night when she encounters Eddie Cohen, a dashing photographer and Russian immigrant, capturing the moonlit beauty of the Hudson River.

Eddie, having fled his restrictive community, is drawn into the chaos of the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, uncovering a young woman's disappearance. As Eddie's journey intertwines with Coralie's, their growing connection reveals hope and tenderness amid a world of exploitation.

Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The World That We Knew, The Marriage of Opposites, The Red Garden, The Dovekeepers, Here on Earth, and the Practical Magic series.

This heartwarming and adventurous story, by the author of Whistling Past the Graveyard, follows three misfits who form an unlikely friendship together.

Set in 1920s America, where hustlers travel town to town captivating crowds, we meet Henry, a mechanic with a shadowed past; Gil, a daring pilot with a streak of recklessness; and Cora, a fearless motorcycle stuntwoman determined to forge her own path. All three are running from their own broken lives when they form an unlikely alliance—a barnstorming "flying circus" to make ends meet.

As the trio's bond deepens into a makeshift family, their buried secrets threaten to unravel everything they've built together in this charming historical fiction novel.

Young Mable dreams of having adventures beyond her family's farm. Armed with her wit and a cigar box of treasures, she seeks the wonders of the Chicago World's Fair, where a chance encounter with showman John Ringling changes her life.

Twenty-five years later, Lady Rosamund boards a ship to America for one last adventure before her life is set.

When Rosamund meets Mable and enters the glamorous world of the Ringlings, she makes a life-changing decision. She chooses to abandon her comfortable future, opting instead for the adventurous life of a trick rider in the Ringling Brothers' circus.

Kristy Cambron is a Christy-award-winning author who holds a degree in art history/research writing. She spent fifteen years in education and leadership development for a Fortune 100 corporation before she stepped away to pursue her passion for storytelling.

Readers should prepare for a dark journey with this novel.

Cecile Cabot is bound to the Secret Circus, a magical world of illusions and wonder until a forbidden love affair threatens to unravel everything.

Decades later, Lara Barnes discovers her great-grandmother's journals while searching for her vanished fiancé, uncovering a dark family curse that has haunted generations—and may hold the key to her own heartbreak.

From the author of A Witch in Time readers are promised a spellbinding tale of family secrets that have sent a chill or two down the reader's spine.

Emily Roebling defies convention, determined to carve her own path until her husband's injury forces her to step into his role as the chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge.

With no formal training, she battles overwhelming obstacles to complete the monumental project while questioning whose legacy she is building—hers or her husband's.

Emily's journey intersects with the world of P.T. Barnum, whose circus empire sparks an unexpected romance in this fictionalized tale.

While Barnum's influence in Brooklyn is historical, Woods takes creative liberties by imagining a relationship between Emily and the famed showman, adding an intriguing circus layer to this historical fiction story.

Lena Papadopoulos, the daughter of a renowned illusionist, has always felt out of place in the circus world, dreaming instead of science and medicine despite her father's overprotectiveness and the constraints of her disability.

When a Jewish stowaway seeks refuge with the circus, Lena's life is irrevocably changed, leading her on a harrowing journey while facing the horrors of a Nazi-occupied world.

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A magical, nocturnal circus, filled with breathtaking illusions and dazzling performances, appears without warning. Behind the scenes, two rival magicians are locked in a deadly game, and only one can emerge victorious.

With lush descriptions and a rich atmosphere, this novel blends fantasy and suspense, where the boundaries between reality and magic blur in thrilling ways. It was a thrill to read it as a community read in our town!

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live under the oppressive rule of their father.

When the sisters receive invitations to Caraval, a legendary once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, they become entangled in a game of love, magic, and heartbreak.

This is the first book in a trilogy! If you find a connection to it, you can continue this journey with Legendary and Finale.

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This dark and unforgettable novel was the most recommended by our reading community.

The story follows the Binewski family, who run a traveling carnival and deliberately create their own "freaks" through genetic manipulation. It is a gritty, twisted exploration of family, identity, and exploitation.

Katherine Dunn spent a decade writing this cult-classic novel that sold hundreds of thousands of copies and became a National Book Award finalist in 1989. 

The author passed away at seventy, but this unique circus story lives on through her readers.

In Ray Bradbury's most famous and beloved novel, Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show has arrived, bringing with it a strange and sinister mystery that threatens to disrupt the lives of everyone it touches.

The carnival appears sometime after midnight, ushering in Halloween a week early. In this chilling tale, two boys will uncover the secrets hidden within its smoke, mazes, and mirrors—two friends who will soon learn the heavy cost of wishes and the true nature of nightmares.

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We read this odd historical fiction novel about Marie Tussaud for our book club. In the 1700s, Marie was an orphan who was taken in by an eccentric wax sculptor and developed a growing curiosity and fondness for the art.

To pay for her food and shelter, she began as an apprentice and later tutored a princess in the art of creating wax sculptures. Learning about the craftsmanship that went into these wax figures, particularly in those days, was equally fascinating and horrifying.

Carey writes and illustrates this unusual novel, which reminded many of our book club participants of a good old-fashioned Dickens novel. Admittedly, this has a slow start, but I loved the rabbit trails it led me down after I finished it.

This sapphic novel, published in 1998, is Waters's debut and serves as a strong introduction to her work.

What makes it all so risqué is that this story is set in the 1890's London when women were really exploring the boundaries of gender roles during this era. Many women bucked the system and challenged these roles in some pretty shocking ways and Waters doesn't shy away from the scene.

In short, this is a steamy read that should come with a pack of smokes.

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This dazzling YA debut stand-alone fantasy is set on a magical island resembling Prohibition-era New York, inspired by Moulin Rouge's allure!

Luxe Revelle, a performer in her family's fantastical show, finds herself entangled in a dangerous game when she agrees to pose as the girlfriend of the son of Charmant's wealthiest family, in exchange for saving her family's struggling business.

Just as this happens, Jamison enters her life with his own mysterious past. Luxe and Jamison's connection begins to grow as they uncover the island's secrets, but the consequences of their hidden truths could shatter their worlds.

If you love time travel stories, this also has a time travel element that I loved, along with unique world-building.

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I still think about this memoir often. Many of us dream of escaping it all, but Tessa does this and applies for a job working with the World of Wonders, America's last traveling sideshow.

Bravely, she tries all sorts of incredible acts within this company, such as sword swallowing, snake charming, and even performing as an electric woman.

Surrounding herself with some of the world's most unusual people, she shares their stories with kindness and love for this misfit family and her time with them.

Layered between these captivating moments, she weaves in the parallel life of her mother and her own death-defying act of traveling the world amid health struggles that should have killed her.

She beautifully reflects poetically on the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship and how we increasingly understand our parents as we age.

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This moving novel takes us to the Dutch countryside in 1961, exploring the story of a woman who clings to her rigid routines in her childhood home but finds her life disrupted when her brother's girlfriend arrives, shattering her carefully maintained order.

What unfolds is a deeply layered, character-driven tale that gradually reveals the complexities of the story's protagonist. The novel offers surprising twists in a beautiful, slow-burning narrative to reward its patient readers.

Amidst the brutality of World War I, this historical novel centers on Henry and Sydney, two boys at a British boarding school whose tight-knit friendships are tested as war intrudes on their youth.

This novel helped me understand what happened to these people in this period and the ramifications. It's a poignant narrative about camaraderie, loss, and the profound costs of conflict.

Editor's Note: I recommend pairing the audiobook with the paper book for a truly immersive experience. Readers are offered a mixed media experience with newspapers to comb through to discover the fallen victims.

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Elwood's life takes a harrowing turn when a single misstep lands him at the Nickel Academy, a reform school steeped in cruelty and corruption.

When pure-hearted Elwood befriends a hard-scrabble, jaded boy named Turner, they will do whatever they need to survive the horrifying system.

I can't recommend this short novel enough, and readers can read it before the release of  The Nickel Boys movie, which is coming to theaters soon.

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In the confines of Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic English boarding school, Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy's childhoods are infused with mystery and a dash of subtle dread for the reader.

Reflecting on their time together, the narrator, now in adulthood, tells the story with some perspective.

This novel plays with structure, and once I got the hang of it, I immediately wanted to read more by this author.

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I love literary suspense, and Kukafka masterfully shifts the crime genre's lens in this compelling tale of a death-row inmate told through the perspectives of the women connected to him.

Atmospheric and rich in character, the story dismantles the conventional narratives of guilt and consequence, highlighting the ripples left by violence through its different perspectives.

In my local book club, every member enjoyed the reading experience. and readers will find this novel has broad appeal across audiences.

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Thank you to Random House for the advanced copy. This novel publishes on January 28th.

I was lucky to be an early screener for this novel after Charmaine Wilkerson's smashing success with her debut novel, Black Cake.

This story centers on Ebby Freeman, who, as a child, witnessed an unspeakable act of violence against her brother that altered the course of her life and shattered her family's tranquility.

Decades later, the echoes of that day still reverberate, not just in the scars left behind but in the enduring mystery surrounding the shattered pieces of a treasured family heirloom.

This stoneware jar brought North by an ancestor who endured unimaginable hardship encapsulates Ebby's lineage, harboring secrets that could help her move forward.

Readers are taken through sweeping turns as this stoneware exchanges hands where Wilkerson masterfully balances past and present.

Wilkerson's signature lyrical prose captures the lingering impact of generational trauma and the unyielding strength of familial bonds. Her background as a journalist exploring the trauma of being a headline news topic, in particular, is done with great care.

Franny Stone, haunted by her past and tethered to the dwindling wildlife of a changing world, sets out to track the final migration of Arctic terns.

Her tragic life spills out in haunting memories that leave the reader breathless and let us know that she is boarding this boat for some profound reasons we will soon discover through her flashback sequences.

I found this story to be uniquely told, enthralling, and disturbing. The themes of a world left behind by the devastation of climate change feel altogether too close, which might be why this storyline was so compelling.

This 2010 novel transported me through three decades of the narrator's life, bookended with the Nixon to Obama eras for timing, as it intricately weaves the haunting narrative of a daughter grappling with her father's alcoholism.

King's memoir-like portrayal offers a pitch-perfect 11-year-old perspective and the subsequent impact on her adult life. As illuminating as the adult chapters navigating an interracial relationship, I had never considered until reading this story.

Infuriating, sad, and reflective, it unveils the complexities of navigating a narcissistic loved one's sobriety and finding your voice in the process.

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After losing her eleven-year-old son Santiago, Magos is desperate to keep a piece of him alive. Instead of a lock of hair, she takes something more intimate and haunting—a piece of his underdeveloped lung, the very organ that led to his death.

Tucked away in her crumbling Mexico City estate, this fragment begins to grow, transforming into a carnivorous creature she mothers in secret. 

As Monstrilio evolves, he starts to resemble Santiago, but the dark instincts that fuel his survival become impossible to ignore. Blinded by grief, his parents overlook the dangerous toll his existence takes on those around them as chilling events begin to unfold.

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An aspiring writer, Leah awaits her chance to enter the professional writing scene with her first-pitched short story. Surrounded by a warm and beautiful community of fellow writers, they are surprised and worried when they discover that Leah has started a fast and furious relationship with Charlie, a man who is newly navigating recovery from addiction. 

Charlie exudes boyish charm and charisma with a fully fleshed, big-hearted family offering continued support through his trials. Much like Leah, you are drawn into the attraction of what this family represents and the newness of it all. 

But as Charlie's behavior becomes increasingly bewildering, Leah's alarm bells begin to ring that he may not be in a place of active recovery as disclosed.

The novel follows their relationship as it shifts from intoxicating highs to devastating lows, exposing the thin line between love and self-destruction in an unflinching narrative.

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Hill wrote this novel's first chapter as a short story fifteen years before this novel's publication.

It told of an enchanted meet-cute moment where Jack and Elizabeth peek out their apartment complex windows to spy on one another's reflections and ultimately fall in love through this perceived portrait of their everyday lives.

But Hill began to imagine a "what if?" scenario as a book idea where this magical couple is now in their middle-aged years and navigating all the marriage and parenting trials that come with this stage. How does this story change?

Using the couple's project of building a new home together as the story's scaffolding, the novel offers readers a myriad of their midlife marriage nonsense, with circular arguments in their full and blazing glory. We sink deeper and deeper into their past and present as they play the proverbial whack-a-mole in their marital and parenting troubles. 

But, what enhances this literary fiction story is its distinct mixed media experience exploring photography and scientific journals that tie into the couple's respective jobs. I encourage readers to read this on paper or iPad for total immersion.

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I adored this sweeping historical fiction story about a man who retreats to a solitary life in the Arctic Circle. He finds he is never alone as he finds unexpected companionship in good friends, a loyal dog, and a surprise visitor that upends his world. 

In this poignant debut, a mining accident disfigures Sven Ormson, who retreats to an uninhabited fjord in the Arctic Circle to escape society's reactions. 

As he struggles to survive the harsh conditions, he unexpectedly finds companionship with a Finnish trapper and a Scottish geologist, who bring excitement to his otherwise quiet life. However, as the years go by, the arrival of a relative forces Sven to confront the possibility of living a different kind of life.

This book is for you if you love introverted, bookish, and surprisingly funny characters. I never want to play Nathaniel Ian Miller in Scrabble- his richly descriptive language is what made this novel a standout.

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I've read and loved all of Liz Moore's novels for different reasons, but this one was such a standout that we had to choose it for our book club year.

After an unexpected separation from her father, Ada finds solace in the evenings by immersing herself in the AI system her programmer father meticulously crafted.

This chatbot becomes a source of comfort and intrigue, but the more Ada uses it, the more she realizes that her father has placed special messages just for her within its code.

This literary mystery spans 451 pages and uncovers different eras and technological challenges throughout the generations. It's a well-researched and thought-provoking novel about the early days of AI in the 1980s with a well-plotted twist at the end.

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This novel memorably begins with Amadeo Padilla, who is determined to redeem himself when he plays Jesus in a Good Friday procession.

But as his teenage daughter Angel shows up pregnant, their dysfunctional family is forced to confront the realities of their generational scars.

The father struggles with alcoholism, the daughter with the new role of motherhood, and the grandmother faces a terminal illness diagnosis that she's kept from her family.

Set in New Mexico, the author builds a fictional town that the reader can see unfold on each page that had many of our book club members transfixed.

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Picture it: you have finally bought your dream beach property, and a week after you move in, a Category Five hurricane passes through, destroying your house in its path. 

A news crew comes to cover your story, and the anchorman offers you a place to stay until you can get back on your feet. It is undoubtedly a strange offer from a perfect stranger, and that, my friends, is the beginning of the category five hurricane YOU will be on as a reader. 

To tell you where this story goes would rob you of the unforgettable experience. Dermansky manages to use the darkest humor that made me laugh and shake my head at times.

Cleo, a young painter, shares a meet-cute moment with a successful businessman named Frank. She's facing a bigger dilemma, though, and requires a Green Card. A relationship with Frank offers both the steadiness that her artistic life lacks and a permanent residence in the States. 

Readers follow the two as they take the marriage plunge, experiencing the highs of new love, the monotony in the middle, and then what it feels like to fall out of love. 

Each chapter is a month, and the observations of family and friends round out the story as they, too, observe this relationship and try to forge their own in different ways. 

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This sweeping saga covers several generations of a Korean family in Japan and their moving cultural struggles over the years.

The story begins in the early 1900's with the unplanned pregnancy of a Korean girl, named Sunja. She faces a lot of humiliation when she discovers she isn't the only one who has captured her lover's eye.

But, when her path crosses with a tubercular minister, he offers to marry her and bring her to Japan to start a new life as thanks for helping him through his difficult illness.

The story then unfolds as generation after generation deals with their own cultural challenges, the discrimination they must face, and the poverty that threatens to take everything away from them.

Lee's writing is gorgeous and weaves this tapestry of characters very well.  At almost 500 pages, this one is a bit of a commitment, but I finished it in just a few short days because I had to know what would happen to these characters.

After you finish, you can stream the Panchinko TV series on Apple+.

Jude, a successful litigator, harbors unspoken childhood trauma that shadows his friendships with three college friends in New York City.

His incredible company, a friendship masterfully told, makes these raw moments even slightly bearable, a circle that never gives up on Jude, even when he feels most broken.

Readers should know that the brutal and violent passages are quite unbearable. I would put the book down and walk away for a bit or find myself holding my breath or weeping uncontrollably for the beautifully broken Jude.

But, the writing is so brave and so beautifully descriptive that I have held these fictional people in my heart since I shut the book. This novel is, certainly, polarizing among readers, but I'm grateful for the friendship lessons it taught me.

Barbara Kingsolver's novel is a modern odyssey infused with the rugged, defiant spirit of Appalachia that offers readers a bold and soulful homage to Charles Dickens's David Copperfield.

What struck me the most is how she nails a memorable voice to Demon orphaned by circumstance and tethered to a breathtaking and brutal landscape. Readers will find themselves sinking into a labyrinth of problems, including unhealthy foster care environments, the unyielding grip of poverty, and the opioid crisis that rocked this community. 

But Kingsolver doesn't just borrow Dickens' themes; she reinvents them to expose the raw nerves of today's America and ask us to examine our knee-jerk reactions to rural communities and systems that fail so many.