The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

                                                           

 Title: The Jane Austen Society

Author: Natalie Jenner

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Synopsis: Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people―a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others―could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society. - Back Cover

My Thoughts

My own love for Jane Austen's novels often draws me to novels about her or her writing (see my review of Jane of Austin). By the same token, I am always worried it won't do her justice or try to imitate her work and end up making me angry. I walk delicately on the tightrope between reading all Austen-related fiction and reading none. I'm really glad that I decided to pick this one up.

The characters come together due to their love of reading Austen. Each of them comes to read her work for different reasons, but they all continue to re-read them finding minutiae to discuss in the relationships Austen creates. In its own right, the novel has complex and compelling relationships, while also following an Austen-like pattern. Those of you who have read Austen know what that means for how the story ends. 

This book was a breath of fresh air from all of the novels set in WWII that I have read lately, and I would recommend it to any Jane Austen fans without hesitation.

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Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells

Title: Sisters of the Resistance

Author: Christine Wells

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Synopsis: Paris, 1944: The war is nearly over, but for members of the Resistance in occupied France, it is more dangerous than ever before. Twenty-five-year-old Gabby Foucher loathes the Nazis, though as the concierge of 10 rue Royale, she does her best to avoid conflict—unlike her bolder sister Yvette, who finds trouble at every turn.

Then they are both recruited into the Resistance by Catherine Dior and swept into a treacherous world of spies, fugitives, and intrigue. While Gabby risks everything for the man she is hiding from the Nazis, Yvette must decide whether to trust an enigmatic diplomat who seems to have guessed her secret. As the threat of betrayal draws ever closer, one slip could mean the deaths of many, and both sisters must make choices they might regret.

Paris, 1947: Yvette returns from New York to reunite with Gabby and begin life anew as a mannequin for Dior, who is revolutionizing fashion with the New Look. But first, she must discover the truth behind Catherine’s terrible fate, while Gabby finds that there are many kinds of courage, and that love is always worth fighting for. - Back Cover

My Thoughts

I was so excited to win this book in a giveaway on Instagram! I had been wanting to read it, so when the author shared that she had some copies to give away I knew I had to comment.

You all know I love a novel with a time jump, and this novel is set in 1944 and 1947. It is refreshing to have two time settings that are not 100 years or 50 years apart, but rather only 3 years apart. There is not a generational mystery or pieces of information that seem 'lost to time,' but rather a highlight of how much and how little can change during, and just a few years following a war. 

I love that little pieces of the story come together as we learn about Yvette and Gabby's lives during and after the war. There are some curves along the way as the author expertly underscores that what the sisters believe to be true can affect them for years.

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The Duke & I by Julia Quinn

    

 Title: The Duke & I

Author: Julia Quinn

Genre: Historical Romance

Synopsis: In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable…but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule... - Back Cover

My Thoughts

I have to admit that I have judged romance novels in the past. My grandma, lovingly called Nan, LOVED romance novels but I always saw them as cheezy books with Fabio on the cover in a shirt open to his navel. After watching Netflix's Bridgerton and seeing that it was based on a romance novel series, I thought I would give it a chance. Fresh off binging season 2 I picked up a copy of The Duke & I at the library. Part of my hesitation in the past was also that I was afraid that the book would be better than the series and ruin the tv show for me. I have only experienced one case when the book was not as good as the film/tv adaptation (Divergent).

As it turns out, I did like some aspects of the book better than the show. Book Daphne is way better than Netflix Daphne. While the novel follows the book in general, there are specifics in the book that are not the same. I also find that books are better for backstory than film adaptations, you can better understand the characters and their motivations. 

The novel really follows Daphne and Simon and very few of the other storylines from the tv series show up in the book. The queen is not mentioned in the book at all and Lady Whistledown is used at the beginning of each chapter to chronicle the passing of time, and to provide background information about the characters that the reader would not get otherwise. The other Bridgerton siblings are mentioned, but only Anthony gets much development as Simon's best friend. 

It may also be surprising to some readers who are fans of the show when Simon is described to have blue eyes and fair skin. The relationships of the upper class in the novel are historically accurate and non-interracial, unlike the color-conscious casting chosen by Shonda Rhimes. 

I was wrong to judge this genre, I enjoyed reading this book and plan to learn more about each Bridgerton sibling by reading each novel in the series. Then, like I do with Outlander, I can yell at the tv about how "that isn't how it happened in the book" but still love both anyway. 

Since these books were originally published between 2000-and 2006, I wonder if Nan read and enjoyed them too. I hope so!

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

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The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

    

 Title: The Lions of Fifth Avenue

Author: Fiona Davis

Genre: Historical Fiction

Other Books I've Read by This Author: The Address


Synopsis: It's 1913, and on the surface, Laura Lyons couldn't ask for more out of life—her husband is the superintendent of the New York Public Library, allowing their family to live in an apartment within the grand building, and they are blessed with two children. But headstrong, passionate Laura wants more, and when she takes a leap of faith and applies to the Columbia Journalism School, her world is cracked wide open. As her studies take her all over the city, she is drawn to Greenwich Village's new bohemia, where she discovers the Heterodoxy Club—a radical, all-female group in which women are encouraged to loudly share their opinions on suffrage, birth control, and women's rights. Soon, Laura finds herself questioning her traditional role as wife and mother. And when valuable books are stolen back at the library, threatening the home and institution she loves, she's forced to confront her shifting priorities head on . . . and may just lose everything in the process.

Eighty years later, in 1993, Sadie Donovan struggles with the legacy of her grandmother, the famous essayist Laura Lyons, especially after she's wrangled her dream job as a curator at the New York Public Library. But the job quickly becomes a nightmare when rare manuscripts, notes, and books for the exhibit Sadie's running begin disappearing from the library's famous Berg Collection. Determined to save both the exhibit and her career, the typically risk-averse Sadie teams up with a private security expert to uncover the culprit. However, things unexpectedly become personal when the investigation leads Sadie to some unwelcome truths about her own family heritage—truths that shed new light on the biggest tragedy in the library's history. - Back Cover

My Thoughts

Any time there is a book about books, libraries, or other book lovers, I'm in. This one has all three AND is a multigenerational dual time period story, so what is not to love? Plus, it all centers around a mystery of stolen rare books from the famous New York Public Library, so it really seems like this book was written with me personally in mind. 

I LOVED this novel. Laura and Sadie share similarities across generations; they fight for their careers and love their families. There were many evenings when I knew I needed to go to sleep but really wanted to keep reading to get to the bottom of the mystery. Then when all was revealed I was not prepared for the culprits. 

 Lately, I am super into historical fiction that is incorporating the more recent past. Like I love the look back at 1993 compared to 1913 instead of setting Sadie in the 2020s or the more ambiguous "Today." The choice of the early 1990s feels intentional and works so well for the comparison of the two women's stories.
I look forward to reading more from this author!


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Love and Ruin by Paula McLain

   

Title: Love and Ruin

Author: Paula McLain

Genre: Historical Fiction

Other books I've read by this author: Circling the Sun, The Paris Wife

Synopsis: In 1937, twenty-eight-year-old Martha Gellhorn travels alone to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and becomes drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in the devastating conflict. It’s her chance to prove herself a worthy journalist in a field dominated by men. There she also finds herself unexpectedly—and unwillingly—falling in love with Ernest Hemingway, a man on his way to becoming a legend.

On the eve of World War II, and set against the turbulent backdrops of Madrid and Cuba, Martha and Ernest’s relationship and careers ignite. But when Ernest publishes the biggest literary success of his career, For Whom the Bell Tolls, they are no longer equals, and Martha must forge a path as her own woman and writer. - Back Cover

My Thoughts

This novel took me a little while to get into. At first, I really didn't like Martha 'Marty' Gellhorn, and when I don't connect with the protagonist right away it makes it difficult for me to enjoy a book. I kept reading, and Marty started to grow on me but I really did not enjoy the portion of the book set in Spain. Again, I hoped it would get better, and it did. 

After Marty's first trip to Spain, things really picked up for me. I found her to be more likable and relatable, and I loved learning about Marty's career as a war correspondent and author. Her life with Hemingway in Cuba and her growing relationship with his children was so endearing. I find that my (poor) opinion of Ernest Hemingway has not changed since McLain's depiction of him in The Paris Wife. I love that Martha chose to do what was right for her despite Hemingway's childish and controlling personality. 

If this one starts off slowly for you as well, I implore you to keep reading, it is worth it in the end! 
 
Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!


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Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

 

 Title: Next Year in Havana

Author: Chanel Cleeton

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity—and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution...

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest—until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary...

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage. - Back Cover

My Thoughts

This novel is so good. It is filled with intriguing and eye-opening juxtapositions: The life of wealthy Cubans in positions of favor in 1958 compared to those who were just trying to get by. The 2017 views of Cuban families who left during the revolution vs those who have never left. It is so complex and interesting.

There is a GIANT twist toward the end of the novel that I honestly did NOT see coming at all, but that I absolutely loved. 

The characters are well developed and relatable, and Marisol definitely gets more than she expected from her trip to Havana to write a tourism article and spread her grandmother's ashes. I cannot wait to continue reading more books in this series! 

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

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Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

   

Title: Wish You Were Here

Author: Jodi Picoult

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s an associate specialist at Sotheby’s now, but her boss has hinted at a promotion if she can close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. Her luggage is lost, the Wi-Fi is nearly nonexistent, and the hotel they’d booked is shut down due to the pandemic. In fact, the whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

In the Galápagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was formed, Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different. - Back Cover

My Thoughts

My mom and I went to see Jodi Picoult at the Cuyahoga County Public library on her book tour for Wish You Were Here and each received a signed copy of the book when we attended! It was a super fun event and Picoult mentioned that this book had a huge twist during her discussion with the moderator. 

As I was reading I didn't really notice anything that could foreshadow a twist for the majority of part one of the book. Then little things started to make me think, 'hmm maybe this is what is going to happen,' but then the story would go on and I would think, ' no that would be too crazy if that actually happened,' and I was lulled back into complacency. 

Then, BAM, the 'no, that is too crazy' twist ACTUALLY HAPPENED and I was MAD. Not because it didn't make sense, not because it couldn't happen, but because of what it meant for Diana and several other main characters. I was so invested in the novel that I was angry on their behalf. That tells you how good it is. When I continued past and onto the next part of the book (after putting it down for a day to get over my strong reaction) I felt vindicated to find that Diana felt the exact same way that I did about what happened.

I would totally recommend this book to anyone, no matter what genre they typically read, because it was that good. Also, I now want to travel to the Galapagos.

Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!

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To see more from the author, visit the website linked above