The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
In Renaissance Italy, Lucrezia, the third daughter of the grand duke, is thrust into marriage with Alfonso, ruler of Ferrara, after her sister’s untimely death. Navigating an unfamiliar court and her enigmatic husband, she grapples with the immense pressure to secure the dynasty’s future by producing an heir. Maggie O’Farrell masterfully paints a vivid portrait of Lucrezia’s resilience and struggle for survival in a world of beauty and peril.
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
Life is full of ups and downs, from heartbreak and loss to moments of joy and triumph. Tiny Beautiful Things compiles Cheryl Strayed’s beloved advice columns as Dear Sugar, offering humor, compassion, and unflinching honesty. This heartfelt collection is a comforting guide for navigating life’s challenges.
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives quietly with his father under oppressive laws designed to “preserve American culture,” which have torn families apart and erased voices like that of his mother, a Chinese American poet who disappeared years ago. When a mysterious drawing arrives, Bird embarks on a journey to find her, uncovering hidden truths, an underground network, and a daring act of resistance. His quest intertwines folktales, lost children, and the fight for change in a fractured society.
On The Rooftop by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
Set in 1950s San Francisco, this novel follows The Salvations, a girl group shaped by their mother Vivian’s ambition for musical stardom. While Vivian secures a chance for national fame, her daughters—Ruth, Esther, and Chloe—grapple with their own dreams as they come of age. Amid the pressures of their evolving family dynamic and a gentrifying Fillmore district, each woman must navigate her place in a changing world.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
On Halloween night, Jen witnesses her teenage son, Todd, commit a shocking murder, shattering their lives. But when she wakes the next day, it’s yesterday—the murder hasn’t happened yet. As Jen continues waking further into the past, she must uncover the events that led to Todd’s crime and find a way to stop it before it’s too late.
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
Sharp-tongued Kiki Banjo, a student radio host dedicated to avoiding love, finds herself in a fake relationship with Malakai Korede, the very man she publicly denounced. What starts as a scheme to salvage their reputations turns into late-night talks and undeniable chemistry, challenging Kiki’s guarded heart. Bolu Babalola’s debut is a witty and heartfelt story of love, self-discovery, and unexpected connections.
Counterfeit by Kirsten Chen
Ava Wong, a rule-following Chinese American lawyer, reconnects with her bold former roommate, Winnie Fang, who runs a counterfeit luxury handbag empire. Drawn into Winnie’s high-stakes scheme, Ava’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel as their success falters and Winnie disappears. Kirstin Chen delivers a sharp, stylish tale of ambition, crime, and the complexities of friendship, challenging stereotypes and exploring the cost of chasing more.
Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
In 1901, Esme, a curious girl raised in the world of lexicography, discovers the word “bondmaid” missing from the Oxford English Dictionary. Realizing that women’s experiences are often excluded, she begins secretly collecting discarded or neglected words for a new project: The Dictionary of Lost Words. Set against the backdrop of the suffrage movement and World War I, this lyrical novel celebrates language’s power to shape history and identity.
True Biz by Sara Novic
At the River Valley School for the Deaf, Charlie, a rebellious new student; Austin, the golden boy grappling with his sister’s hearing; and February, the determined headmistress, face personal and political upheaval. As crises threaten their lives and the school’s future, their stories intertwine in profound ways. True Biz is a heartfelt exploration of the Deaf community, celebrating resilience, connection, and the fight for justice and identity.
The Club by Ellery Lloyd
The Home Group’s Island Home, an exclusive celebrity retreat, is set to host a lavish three-day launch party—but beneath its glamorous façade lies a web of secrets and mounting tensions. As the party spirals into chaos and the body count rises, guests and staff alike realize that this is one club they may not leave alive. A gripping tale of luxury, ambition, and deadly secrets.
The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
In 1925, Nan O’Dea infiltrates the lives of Agatha Christie and her husband, Archie, becoming his mistress and unraveling their marriage. But Nan’s manipulative plot began years earlier in Ireland, rooted in a tragic love story torn apart by war, loss, and betrayal. Nina de Gramont’s novel delves into love, revenge, and the secrets that drive people to the edge, reimagining the mystery behind Agatha Christie’s real-life disappearance.
Anatomy by Dana Schwartz
In 1817 Edinburgh, aspiring surgeon Hazel Sinnett teams up with resurrection man Jack Currer to secure the bodies she needs to study after being barred from medical lectures for her gender. As Hazel fights to prove herself in a male-dominated field, she and Jack uncover a web of dark secrets haunting the city, from graveyard prowlers to disappearing friends. This gothic tale weaves mystery, romance, and ambition in a society riddled with shadows.
Honor by Thrity Umrigar
In Honor, journalist Smita returns to India to cover the case of Meena, a Hindu woman brutally attacked for marrying a Muslim man. As Smita confronts the harsh realities of tradition and prejudice, she’s drawn into both Meena’s fight for justice and her own buried past. Thrity Umrigar weaves a poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and cultural divides, exploring what it means to stay true to one’s heart and heritage.
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