Must-read books
I promised I’d put together a blog post with some of my best reads, and here it finally is. Most of these books are well-researched historical fiction based on real events and people. Others are not so historical and depict real things that are happening in our world.
Needless to say, some of these stories are intense: they will make you think, they will make you feel things, and they will even make you cry. I hope these words won’t stop you from reading them, because, truly, these have been some of the best books I’ve read so far. And here they are:
The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd.
“The year is 1739. Eliza Lucas is sixteen years old when her father leaves her in charge of their family's three plantations in rural South Carolina and then proceeds to bleed the estates dry in pursuit of his military ambitions. Tensions with the British, and with the Spanish in Florida, just a short way down the coast, are rising, and slaves are starting to become restless. Her mother wants nothing more than for their South Carolina endeavor to fail so they can go back to England. Soon her family is in danger of losing everything.”
This might very much be the best book I’ve read this year (so far)! What an incredible story, and one that actually happened… This novel is based on a real person and events that occurred during the colony days of South Carolina. Throughout the book, I found myself rooting for Eliza Lucas, our heroine, who fought to live on her own terms and had a huge impact on South Carolina’s agriculture as a result. Fun fact: Eliza was the mother of the founding father Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.
The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff.
“Three women. One daring mission.
1946. One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal, Grace Healey finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Inside are a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to Eleanor Trigg, leader of a network of female secret agents deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home.
Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor, and betrayal. In this riveting story inspired by true events, Pam Jenoff weaves a tale of courage, sisterhood, and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.”
Though I don’t particularly like reading novels about war, I’m glad I read this one. This is a moving story, one that will leave you with an amalgam of emotions.
The Winter Garden by Nicola Cornick.
“Sweeping across generations from the 1600s to the present day and inspired by the true story of the leader of the infamous Gunpowder Plot, Nicola Cornick’s latest historical mystery combines past and present story lines that fans of Philippa Gregory and Susanna Kearsley will devour.”
It took me a chapter or so, to get into this book, but I coldn’t put it down soon after. A perfect mix of past and present, this novel will keep you guessing and draw you in.
“… At Nora's house, Jess discovers a true crime book chronicling a long-buried police case: the Turner Family Tragedy of 1959. It is only when Jess skims through its pages that she finds a shocking connection between her own family and this notorious event – a mystery that has never been satisfactorily resolved…
An epic story that spans generations, Homecoming asks what we would do for those we love, how we protect the lies we tell, and what it means to come home. Above all, it is an intricate and spellbinding novel from one of the finest writers working today.”
An enthralling story that will keep you guessing up to the very end.
The Queen of Paris: A Novel of Coco Chanel by Pamela Binnings Ewen.
“Legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel is revered for her sophisticated style—the iconic little black dress—and famed for her intoxicating perfume Chanel No. 5. Yet behind the public persona is a complicated woman of intrigue, shadowed by mysterious rumors. The Queen of Paris, the new novel from award-winning author Pamela Binnings Ewen, is fiction based on facts, some uncovered only within the past few years, and vividly imagines the hidden life of Chanel during the four years of Nazi occupation in Paris in the midst of WWII.”
A well-researched and well-written story about the woman behind the very iconic brand — from how she creates it to how she made it survive during, and after the war. A fascinating read.
Rare Objects by Kathleen Tessaro.
“In Depression-era Boston, a city divided by privilege and poverty, two unlikely friends are bound by a dangerous secret in this mesmerizing work of historical fiction from the New York Times best-selling author of The Perfume Collector”.
I had moments when I wasn’t in love with this book, and moments when it left me not wanting to part with it. A great story worth reading! The ending made me really proud.
The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro. “An inheritance from a mysterious stranger... An abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank of Paris... And three exquisite perfumes that hold a memory...and a secret.”
This was another book that I found to be incredible. I suspected after a while where the story was going, but that, in no way, made the book less interesting. I especially loved the part where our main character finally decides to take control of her own life.
Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict.
“Clara Kelley is not who they think she is. She's not the experienced Irish maid who was hired to work in one of Pittsburgh's grandest households. She's a poor farmer's daughter with nowhere to go and nothing in her pockets. But the woman who shares her name has vanished, and assuming her identity just might get Clara some money to send back home…”
Having heard and read about Andrew Carnegie and his legacy, this book was a delight to dive into… There have long been questions and rumors about the person who changed Carnegie into a charitable human, and our Clara might just be that. This book is a work of fiction but the story is based on real events and people… While it doesn’t have the ending I was hoping for as it stays true to Carnegie’s life, it left me deeply impressed.
The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict.
“Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to her marriage to an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side and understood more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, a screen star.
But she kept a secret more shocking than her heritage or her marriage: she was a scientist. And she had an idea that might help the country fight the Nazis and revolutionize modern communication...if anyone would listen to her.”
I have been recommending this book from the moment I finished reading it and for good reason. The story is based on the life of Hedy Lamarr, a Hollywood icon, and inventor considered the most beautiful woman in the world. It seems that few people are aware that Hedy is the person responsible for the invention of the WiFi technology, which she discovered while researching a way to prevent torpedoes from being intercepted during World War II. Prior to reading this book, I wasn’t aware of it either and had to look her up. If you’re concerned that the book might be too technical, don’t — it’s 100% worth reading.
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict.
“Mitza Maric has always been a little different from other girls. Most twenty-year-olds are wives by now, not studying physics at an elite Zurich university with only male students trying to outdo her clever calculations. But Mitza is smart enough to know that, for her, math is an easier path than marriage. Then fellow student Albert Einstein takes an interest in her, and the world turns sideways. Theirs becomes a partnership of the mind and of the heart, but there might not be room for more than one genius in a marriage”.
Marie Benedict strikes again! This book is very much focused on science — physics, particularly, and no surprise there as it literally talks of the Einsteins — yes, the famous inventor and his less-famous wife, Mileva Maric, who deserves just as much fame. The debate is still ongoing whether Mileva is the person behind some of the inventions Einstein took credit for. The story is infuriating at times, but eye-opening nonetheless. And if you’re wondering, yes, it is based on true events as related in letters written by Mileva herself, so it’s a well-researched novel.
“This sweeping novel of historical fiction is inspired by the true rags-to-riches story of Arabella Huntington—a woman whose great beauty was surpassed only by her exceptional business acumen, grit, and artistic eye, and who defied the constraints of her era to become the wealthiest self-made woman in America.”.
A remarkable story about one remarkable woman, this book glimpses into a family that without a doubt, made history, and quite literally, changed our world.
The House of Closed Doors by Jane Steen.
“Heedless. Stubborn. Disgraced.
Small town Illinois, 1870: "My stepfather was not particularly fond of me to begin with, and now that he'd found out about the baby, he was foaming at the mouth”.
Don’t be too quick in judging Nell or this series… I found it remarkable and totally enthralling and I didn’t want it to end... These books were full of rollercoaster-like emotions and edge-of-your-seat experiences, and I 100% recommend the entire series.
House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick.
“The wooded hills of Oxfordshire conceal the remains of the aptly named Ashdown House—a wasted pile of cinders and regret. Once home to the daughter of a king, Ashdown, and its secrets will unite three women across four centuries in a tangle of intrigue, deceit, and destiny…”.
Another book that I simply couldn’t put down. The sometimes unexpected time jumps back and forth got me a bit confused but not enough to ruin the experience; I just couldn’t wait to find out what happens next in the “other” story. And then, book 2…
The Phantom Tree: A Novel by Nicola Cornick.
“Browsing an antiques shop in Wiltshire, Alison Bannister stumbles across a delicate old portrait—identified as the doomed Tudor queen, Anne Boleyn. Except Alison knows better. The subject is Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr, who was taken to Wolf Hall in 1557 and presumed dead after going missing as a child. And Alison knows this because she, too, lived at Wolf Hall and knew Mary...more than four hundred years ago.”
Book two of the New Timeslip series, this is a time-travel novel that will keep you on your toes. It has everything a good book has: mystery, history, drama, and romance. I throughly enjoyed it.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
“The epic tale of wrongful imprisonment, adventure, and revenge, in its definitive translation.
Thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantès is confined to the grim fortress of If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and he becomes determined not only to escape but also to use the treasure to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration. Dumas' epic tale of suffering and retribution, inspired by a real-life case of wrongful imprisonment, was a huge popular success when it was first serialized in the 1840s.”
What an incredible book! I always thought that this was a work of fiction, so imagine my surprise when I recently discovered that it is based on real events! There are several theories out there about which exact historical figure inspired this story: Wikipedia has its own version, and other media outlets have theirs — whatever the truth, what’s certain is that this book is a must-read and a classic for a reason.
I read it countless times and the first time was during one of the summer breaks while I was in school. I remember vividly hearing my friends play in the streets while I could not tear myself away from the pages… I was so enthralled, that I read this book while eating, and every other chance I got… The story is just that good!
The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas.
“Set at the height of the "tulipomania" that gripped Holland in the 17th century, this is the story of Cornelius van Baerle, a humble grower whose sole desire is to grow the perfect specimen of the tulip negra.”
This book doesn’t have a very inviting opening — in fact, it’s quite horrific but I promise you, it gets so good shortly after! In true Dumas style, this novel is based on historical events and tells of the “tulipmania” that put the Netherlands on the map as the land of tulips. A story about treason, deceit, and greed, but also heartwarming love and tenderness that will leave a mark on you — I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
A Murphy Shepherd Novel by Charles Martin.
Trigger warning: human trafficking!
“A riveting story of heroism, heartache, and the power of love to heal all wounds by New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin.
Murphy Shepherd is a man with many secrets. He lives alone on an island, tending the grounds of a church with no parishioners, and he’s dedicated his life to rescuing those in peril. But as he mourns the loss of his mentor and friend, Murph himself may be more lost than he realizes.”
A riveting story indeed! When I tell you that I did nothing else but read these books all day, I mean it. These aren’t stories that will make you feel good about humanity overall… on the contrary, they show the absolute worst of it. But among the darkness, there is light, and it is also abundantly highlighted in this series…
From the same author, I also read and was deeply moved by Long Way Gone, The Mountain Between Us, and Chasing Fireflies. I particularly wish people read the last one listed — Chasing Fireflies as it once again, brings light onto something so many people are blissfully unaware of.
I hope you read these books and find them as captivating as I did.
xo,
Em