The Bookbinder's Secret (2025) A D Bell "Atmospheric and propulsive, The Book Binder's Secret chronicles a passion for books and the cost of obsession. Lilian Delany learns that love and loss are bound as tightly as the pages of a novel while she tries to solve a mystery (and possibly murder) with clues hidden inside a rare book. Perfect for fans of Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale."
The Expert of Subtle Revisions (2025) Kirsten Menger-Anderson "In her brilliant, unsettling novel, Kirsten Menger-Anderson reminds the reader that every nuance counts. Before, history was written by the victor; now, an army of volunteers with pseudonyms like 'Manifold' battle and edit each Wikipedia page. From Vienna to San Francisco, I was swept away by this fascinating search for family and for answers."
The Day I Left You (2025) Caroline Bishop "Caroline Bishop's page-turner delves into eternal questions: How far will we go to protect loved ones? Can we truly know the people who share our lives? Which choices will define our lives? I loved The Day I Left You both for its striking portrait of the Cold War years and for the nuanced depiction of a marriage."
The Titanic Survivors Book Club (2024) Timothy Schaffert "Book a trip to Paris with this intriguing take on the Titanic story. For members of The Titanic Survivors Book Club, hard luck brings good fortune and second chances. Echoes of a modern Cyrano love triangle set in the Parisian bookshop La Sirene will keep you turning the pages in this powerful ode to books and friendship."
The Sicilian Inheritance (2024) Jo Piazza "A gorgeous, propulsive read that keeps you guessing until the last page, The Sicilian Inheritance is a poignant meditation on secrets and myths that exist in family lore. I finished the book and immediately wanted to research my own roots."
The Smoke in Our Eyes (2024) James Grady "Grady pivots from the intrigue of The Condor to a powerful, heartfelt coming-of-age tale set in the Last Best Place. Young Lucas gets his first pair of glasses and a good, long look at the underbelly of his hometown. From first crushes and family ties to profound love and deep injustice, The Smoke in Our Eyes is a brilliant portrait of an era. This book feels like home."
The Wildest Sun (2023) Asha Lemmie "From France to Cuba, from war to revolution, The Wildest Sun is a moving meditation on the stories we tell others, the stories we tell ourselves, and how we break free of the past in order to write a brighter future. Simply marvelous!"
Bonfire Night (2023) Anna Bliss "This beautifully written, timely historical novel encompasses so much - difficult family ties, female ambition, and the sacrifices we make for love. With her meticulous research and heartrending descriptions of life in Brighton during the war, Anna Bliss had me turning the pages into the night."
The Beautiful and the Wild (2023) Peggy Townsend "Wow, wow, wow. Townsend explores the lengths we go to keep loved ones safe as well as how memory and perception change over time. Filled with secrets, dark terrain, and hope, The Beautiful and the Wild kept me guessing until the end. Propulsive and addictive."
The Paris Daughter (2023) Kristin Harmel "The Paris Daughter is a heartrending, uplifting novel. It is a poignant portrait of how we assign guilt even in the most blameless of circumstances, and a powerful reminder of the importance of moving on from the past before we become trapped there."
Crow Mary (2023) Kathleen Grissom "My favorite novels shine a light on women that history books have forgotten. Over twenty years ago, Kathleen Grissom heard about an incredible woman named Goes First, and Crow Mary is worth the wait. While reading Crow Mary, I couldn't help but think of My Antonia by Willa Cather, and the debt we owe to the women who came before us."
The Secret Book of Flora Lea (2023) Patti Callahan Henry "In this gorgeous ode to books and storytellers, Patti Callahan Henry shows that literature lives inside us, and can unite us despite the odds. Through war, young love, a sister's remorse, and a mysterious land called Whisperwood, I was torn between savoring each word and tearing through the pages to learn what happened next. Pure magic!"
The House is on Fire (2023) Rachel Beanland "A meticulously researched, riveting account of one of America's first tragedies. Rachel Beanland demonstrates how the choices we make impact others, how the help we give or withhold changes lives, and how the narrative of events is influenced by who is telling the story. This timely tale - of courage and cowardice, of love and obsession, and of holding on to hope or letting go - will stay with readers."
The Hunter (2023) Jennifer Herrera "Smart, taut, and atmospheric. The Hunter had me reading into the night as I followed Leigh from New York back to her hometown. She must find and confront a killer as well as make peace with her past. I finished the book in one sitting and can't wait to read the next page-turner in the series!"
The Invincible Miss Cust (2022) Penny Haw "I loved The Invincible Miss Cust. What a remarkable woman - and what an enthralling story!"
Mademoiselle Revolution (2022) Zoe Sivak "This beautifully written book encompasses so much--family ties, sibling resentment, racism, questions about belonging, and the meaning of love. With her meticulous research and keen insights, Zoe Sivak had me happily diving back into French history and turning the pages into the night."
On Gin Lane (2022) Brooke Lea Foster "On Gin Lane begins as a languid, sensual glimpse into the lives of women in the late 1950s until a shocking event - and the ensuing investigation - ratchets up the tension. The book is at once a page-turner that kept me reading into the night, and a reminder of the importance of carving out a place for ourselves, whether it is by creating art or finding where we belong."
Bloomsbury Girls (2022) Natalie Jenner "A timely and beautiful ode to ambition, friendship, bookshops, and the written word."
Bluebird (2022) Genevieve Graham "From the battlefields of World War I to Prohibition-era Canada, Bluebird swept me away. Once again, Genevieve Graham writes brilliantly about how the past impacts the present. This meticulously researched page-turner will keep you reading into the night."
Looking for Jane (2022) Heather Marshall "A beautifully written meditation on the lengths mothers will go to for their children as well as an eye-opening history of women."
A Ballad of Love and Glory (2022) Reyna Grande "Meticulously researched, Reyna Grande's A Ballad of Love and Glory is a timely and fascinating novel about courage, love, and loyalty. It captivated me from the first line to its end. Days after I finished the book, I kept reflecting on the parallels with our world today."
Geography of an Adultery (2022) Agnès Riva "The focus of Agnes Riva's compelling novel, Geography of an Adultery, is not on an affair but on the impact of place. Who we are is defined by where we are. Through the eyes of Ema, the reader feels the tension between passion and pulling back, between desire and the fear of being caught. Ultimately, the terrain explored is of a woman's needs, a couple's clandestine fantasies, and the shifting boundaries within relationships"
While Paris Slept (2021) Ruth Druart "As writers, some stories keep us up at night with the need to get them down on paper. Ruth Druart has one such tale. We met in 2006, and I read pages of her story then. She never let go and never gave up. Thanks to this tenacity, her heartbreaking debut will be published in several languages. It will appeal to fans of The Light Between Oceans as well as to readers fascinated by novels set in World War II. While Paris Slept delves into eternal questions: how far will we go to protect our child? Is love holding tightly or letting go? The characters -- and readers -- must choose between what is right and what is best in this mediation on love and sacrifice."
