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Our Favorite Books of 2025 (So Far)
By: Angela & Melissa
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.While 2025 has been flying by faster than we can comprehend, we still didn’t want to miss the opportunity to highlight our favorite reads from the year so far. At the end of the year, we’ll update this list again to add whichever wonderful new release novels we read over the rest of the year!
The Best Books We’ve Read in 2025
This list only includes books with 2025 release dates that at least one of the Book Girls (Angela or Melissa) read, and when we reflected on the first half of the year, it stood out as one of our favorite reads. We know that many other excellent books were released in 2025 that we haven’t had the opportunity to read. So, if you don’t see your favorite new title, there’s a good chance it’s still on our TBR list!
The Great Mann
Book Summary
Set in the real-life neighborhood of Sugar Hill in Los Angeles during the 1940s, this modern retelling of The Great Gatsby follows the mysterious and glamorous James Mann, whose parties illuminate the night, but whose past is shrouded in secrets.
Soon, Charlie is drawn into Mann’s glittering orbit. He discovers that behind the glamor, Mann is haunted by love and ambition, and is determined to reclaim something, or someone, that he lost.
Charlie, a young veteran, comes to town at the invitation of his cousin, Marguerite, and is shocked to discover the world of L.A.’s Black elite. Marguerite’s cousin helps him land a promising career as an insurance agent.
Real historical events and figures are woven throughout the novel, including a court battle over racial covenants and real stars like Hattie McDaniel and Lena Horn.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
The Great Gatsby, The Queen of Sugar Hill, and James
The Book Girls Say…
The Great Gatsby is one of Angela’s favorite classics (in fact, her dog is named Gatsby), so she was immediately intrigued when she learned of this new retelling. The foreword by the author explains that The Great Gatsby is also one of her favorite classics, despite the inclusion of racist elements. She notes that there were only a few African Americans in The Great Gatsby, and that their role was only addressed in a dismissive way. With that in mind, Kyra Davis Lurie wanted to retell the story with Black characters in the central roles.
What really sets this novel apart from other retellings is its grounding in real history. Sugar Hill is a real neighborhood in Los Angeles, which was the center of a legal battle over racial covenants in the 1940s. Angela first learned about this neighborhood and the legal challenge in the 2024 historical fiction novel “The Queen of Sugar Hill,” which tells the life story of actress Hattie McDaniel. Having enjoyed that book, this new novel, which sets The Great Gatsby in Hattie’s neighborhood, felt like the perfect companion read.
Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride
Book Summary
Llyod is a 43-year-old father of a teenage son and a 20-year veteran of the Atlanta PD. He’s cautious by nature and has lived life with the goal of being different from his own father. Unfortunately, he’s just received terrible news. He has an aggressive brain tumor and will only live a few more months.
Instead of thinking about himself, Lloyd’s focus is on his son and how he can ensure his financial well-being after he is gone. Unfortunately, he only has $50,000 of life insurance, which won’t even cover four years of college. But, if he gets killed in the line of duty, his son will receive so much more.
So, as his body begins to betray him, Lloyd throws himself into dangerous situations on the job, all while hiding his disease from those who love him. Can he successfully make this ultimate sacrifice before his co-workers or family discover the truth?
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, or father-son stories that blend emotion with humor.
The Book Girls Say…
Melissa started reading this on a whim because she remembered enjoying the author’s previous book, How Lucky. While she thought she’d like it, she did not expect it to become one of the books she’s already recommended to friends and family.
While the subject matter is tear-jerking, the author is a master of balance. The main character isn’t perfect, but he’s quite likable, whether you’re cheering for him or wanting to shake some sense into him. There is a perfect mix of poignant moments, important insights into life, a little mystery, and laugh-out-loud humor. Plus, the life lessons Lloyd writes to leave behind for his son are great reminders for us all.
My Friends
Book Summary
When looking at one of the most famous paintings in the world, it’s easy to miss the three tiny figures in the corner at the far end of the pier. You might even think they’re just part of the sea. But 18-year-old Louisa, an artist herself, noticed them. The painting has unexpectedly been bequeathed to her, and she’s determined to find out the story behind the enigmatic figures.
Twenty-five years ago, a group of teenagers spent their days hanging out and laughing on the pier to escape their difficult lives at home. Joar never backs down from a fight. Bookish Ted is mourning his father. Ali’s dad never stays in place for long. And then there is the boy who hoards sleeping pills and doesn’t want too much attention, but who has an extraordinary talent for art.
Louisa sets out on a cross-country journey to learn more about the work of art. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more she feels compelled to unleash her own artistic spirit.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
Beartown, How to Read a Book, character-driven and emotional intergenerational stories
The Book Girls Say…
We will read anything Fredrik Backman writes, and we enthusiastically encourage everyone else to do the same! We share more about his struggles with writing this book in our Fredrik Backman guide, and all we can add is that this novel is Backman at his best as a writer, despite his struggles and feeling emotionally his worst while creating it. As we’ve come to expect, he has a deep understanding of human emotion and motivation that we’ve never seen another author capture in quite the same way.
If you are new to Backman’s writing, it may, at first, seem stream of consciousness, and you may even feel like you don’t understand what it’s about or where it’s going… but just keep reading and trust the journey. You’ll soon discover his immense talent for crafting characters and stories that will stick with you long after you’ve read the final page.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
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Best Book Club Books for Summer 2025
19 Books About Friendship for Adults
Book Summary
Long-time friends Pam, Nancy, Shalisa, and Marlene are now in their 60s and looking forward to the perfect retirement. Except their husbands got involved in an investment gone wrong, and now the future looks as dreary as the recent past in all their relationships.
Then, one of the husbands dies. While the wives all think it was a freak accident, the husbands have concerns that they may be next due to some shady things they have done in hopes of recouping the money they lost.
Simultaneously, the women realize the men each have significant life insurance policies and are worth more dead than alive. And the men are pretty annoying to live with…
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
Only Murders in the Building, Grace & Frankie, Finlay Donovan is Killing It, and humorous mysteries that don’t take themselves too seriously
The Book Girls Say…
Melissa listened to this one and absolutely loved the audiobook. It was a fun, dark humor romp with silly, yet shocking twists and turns that Melissa found herself relaying to her husband each night over dinner. She also recommended it to her hairstylist, who already reached out to say that she was laughing her way through it and telling HER husband about it.
Throughout the story, the author skillfully balances an entertaining cat-and-mouse game with a narrative of friendship and marriage. This isn’t a serious book to read when you’re in a literary mood, but when you need a fun escape, The Retirement Plan has you covered!
Melissa recommends reading without delving into reviews that mention the plot, as it’s more enjoyable to discover each surprising twist and new character as they emerge. Just know going in that if you don’t enjoy dark humor occasionally, or you know you’ll be upset with wives plotting to kill their husbands for silly reasons, you should skip this one.
The Book Club for Troublesome Women
Book Summary
Margaret, Viv, and Bitsy appear to have it all by the standards of the early 1960s, but “all” doesn’t feel like enough to them. They live in a brand-new “planned community” in Northern Virginia and feel guilty and confused that they aren’t satisfied with their supposedly idyllic housewife lives.
Things begin to change when the three women form a book club with their artsy new neighbor from Manhattan, Charlotte. Together they read Betty Friedan’s controversial new book, The Feminine Mystique. For the first time, each of these women realizes that they are not alone in their dissatisfaction or their longings.
Their lives are forever altered. The book may be the start of it all, but it’s their bond of sisterhood that helps them find the courage they each need to navigate the rapidly changing world and see themselves in a new light.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
The Women, Lessons in Chemistry, Behind Every Good Man, and other stories of women challenging gender roles in the middle of the twentieth century.
The Book Girls Say…
Angela picked up this book as a crossover read for our Books About Book Clubs prompt in the 2025 Book Lover’s Reading Challenge and the 1960s prompt in the Decades Challenge. This is one of her favorite time periods to read about, so she knew she’d enjoy the book from the outset, but it exceeded her already high expectations.
Sometimes in a book that follows four characters, we’re left feeling like none of them are as well-developed as we’d like, but here Marie Bostwick has created four fully-realized, unique characters. Each of the women has her own struggles and dreams, and the development of their storylines, individually and together as neighbors and friends, feels realistic and relatable.
As a woman born two decades after these fictional women formed their book club and transformed their lives, this novel gave Angela an even greater appreciation of the shoulders I stood on as I pursued my education and career without the same limitations that prior generations experienced.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
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Books Set in the 1960s
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The Bright Years
Book Summary
Ryan and Lillian Bright were deeply in love when they married and became parents to baby Georgette. But they were also keeping secrets from one another. As the years pass, Geogette comes of age, watching the highs and lows of her parents’ marriage and becoming best friends with the boy next door.
Later, after a shocking blow tears the family apart, teenager Georgette tries to distance herself from reminders of her parents. But an unexpected email changes what she thought she new about her mom’s past. Ultimately, she’ll have to decide what she wants to do with this information and how she should move forward in her life.
As you follow the Bright family history from the 1970s-2019, there are a few flashbacks in the early chapters, but the majority of the book is a linear timeline. The years are clearly denoted for each chapter. Instead of one character narrating the whole book or alternating narrators, you’ll find that the first half of the book is told from Lillian’s perspective before her daughter takes over for the next 40%. One final narrator then tells the last 10% of the story.
The Book Girls Say…
While this novel covers nearly fifty years of a family’s story, it’s a very quick read at 271 pages. Melissa read it in one afternoon because once she started, she couldn’t put it down.
She agrees with the long list of readers praising this debut author, who is also a Harvard-educated social worker, for creating compelling and realistically flawed characters that you will really come to care about.
Several difficult topics are covered, so please check trigger warnings if needed. Melissa picked it up without remembering much more about the book than several people telling her it was their favorite of the year. Because of that, her jaw dropped at several points, and she recommends going in not knowing more than we’ve told you if possible.
While this is, without a doubt, a tear-jerker and gut-puncher at points, the author also brings back hope with lighter moments and character growth. That balance keeps it from feeling like a dark book, despite the family facing some very tough moments.
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Best Book Club Books for 2025
Great Big Beautiful Life
Book Summary
Margaret Ives is the daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th century, but the former tabloid princess hasn’t been seen in years. Now in her 80s, this tragic heiress is ready to tell her story. She invites two authors to Little Crescent Island for a one-month trial period, after which she intends to choose one to write her memoir.
The two authors she has invited couldn’t be more different. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-Prize winner with the personality of a thundercloud. Alice Scott, on the other hand, is an eternal optimist still working toward her big break as a writer.
Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story, but because of their ironclad NDAs, Hayden and Alice can’t share what they’ve learned in order to put together a more complete picture. Whether her story is a mystery, a tragedy, or a love ballad is yet to be determined. The same can be said for the story between Alice and Hayden, who can’t deny the inconvenient pull between them each time they’re in the same room.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Beach Read, and those who enjoy stories of the challenges that come with fame and fortune
The Book Girls Say…
We’ve always loved that Henry’s romance novels are more than just that, but Henry has entered new writing territory with this novel.
Angela picked up this book with a bit of trepidation after seeing very mixed reviews, including those from readers who felt it was too similar to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. But it didn’t take long at all before she knew it would work for her!
The book’s writing style is classic Emily Henry, but it’s even heavier on the plot and lighter on the romance. While on its face the storyline is quite similar to Evelyn Hugo, Henry has taken the concept of a reclusive socialite and combined it with a writing rivalry twist that we’ve seen her do so well before in Beach Read. The result is something truly original, providing fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpses into writing, publishing, and fame.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
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Emily Henry Books in Order – 2025 Guide
Intergenerational Novels: Books that Connect Generations
The Sideways Life of Denny Voss
Book Summary
This poignant novel takes you into the life of Denny Voss, a thirty-year-old man who lives with his Nana-Jo and his best friend, George, a blind Saint Bernard. He has a job with his cousin, who lives next door, picking up roadkill for the city. Denny just barely misses the cut-off of being officially “developmentally challenged,” but struggles to clearly communicate and recount stories succinctly. And that difficulty has led to some problems for him, including his recent arrest for the murder of a mayoral candidate in his small Minnesota town.
As Denny awaits his trial, he works with a court-appointed therapist. It takes many sessions (and most of the book) for the therapist to get the full story of Denny’s three arrests over the past year without Denny shutting down. Along the way, you’ll also be trying to figure out if Denny was involved in the murder. Plus, you’ll laugh as certain things are revealed, you’ll be angered by the way he is treated, and your heart will melt with some of his stories.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life, The Collected Regrets of Clover, and Forest Gump (there’s even a Tom Hanks reference in the book!)
The Book Girls Say…
Melissa stumbled upon this gem of a book and decided to read it ASAP when she saw the 4.64 rating on Goodreads. And the other reviewers were right!
The author does an amazing job taking us into Denny’s mind and telling the story from his unique POV. You’ll want to shake some of the people he encounters, while others are so kind. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end after reading!
Say You’ll Remember Me
Book Summary
Veterinarian Xavier might be the perfect guy, complete with his Greek god vibes and his kitten-cuddling ways. But then he opens his mouth and says the exact wrong thing. Luckily, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving a jerk wrong. But what if that jerk can also admit his mistakes? Well, then there might just be an incredible date.
Unfortunately, that date comes just as Samantha is leaving town. She’s moving from Minnesota back to California to deal with a family crisis. Xavier, on the other hand, is firmly rooted in Minnesota, where he’s invested everything in his vet practice.
Samantha is determined that a long-distance relationship could never work, and she begs Xavier to forget about her. But even 2,000 miles between them isn’t enough distance for her to forget that there was, in fact, something undeniable between them.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
Things You Save in a Fire, Still Alice, and lovers of dogs and cats!
The Book Girls Say…
As with all Abby Jimenez books, the pretty cover might make you think this is just a light, happy romance, but her novels always go much deeper and feature fully developed characters dealing with real-life struggles that will have you sobbing.
While some readers feel like the long-distance relationship drags on too long, Angela found it refreshing to see the day-to-day struggles of the main characters portrayed in such a realistic way, where the romance was forced to take a back seat for some time. Many books rely heavily on tropes like miscommunication, where you want to yell at the characters to just talk so all the problems would all be resolved. But in this case, Jimenez presents two characters with complex lives where the solution is not so easy or obvious, making the ultimate happily ever after (of course, there’s an HEA) just that much sweeter.
Angela listened to the last quarter of the book while sitting on a plane that was grounded for mechanical issues, and she’s certain that her seatmates wondered why there were tears streaming down her cheeks. This novel is a perfect mix of laugh-out-loud funny and heartfelt tearjerker.
This book could be especially triggering to those who have been, or are currently, a caregiver for someone with dementia. However, some with that experience say they found this book cathartic because it made them feel seen.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
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Abby Jimenez Books in Order
Jane and Dan at the End of the World
Book Summary
Jane had dreams of being a writer, but feels like her whole life is in flux as her one published work only sold 500 copies. She also believes her husband of 19ish years, Dan, is cheating on her. When they go to an upscale restaurant for their anniversary, it seems like a good time to tell him she wants a divorce.
But before the second course arrives, an underground climate activist group bursts into the dining room, taking the whole restaurant hostage…but in a bumbling sort of way. Jane is shocked. Not because she’s suddenly a hostage, but because everything the activists say and do is straight from the pages of her novel. This means she knows what is going to happen next, and it’s up to her to stop it.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
Anxious People and other contemporary, cozy, locked room mysteries
The Book Girls Say…
Although the overall Goodreads ratings of this book are slightly lower than we expected, we both thoroughly enjoyed this novel for exactly what it set out to be. It’s an amusing blend of mystery, family drama, and romance as it brings us into the craziest night in one family’s life.
Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a fun read that requires you to suspend your disbelief and let yourself be fully immersed in the story to enjoy it to the fullest. That said, it’s not too light and still gives you plenty to think about.
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Books With Characters in Their 40s
LiteraryHistorical Fiction
Broken Country
Book Summary
After a teenage heartbreak, Beth marries a kind, gentle farmer named Frank, and they build a beautiful life together. Years later, Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog that is attacking sheep on the farm, and then they learn that the dog belonged to Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager, who has just returned to town. From that moment forward, nothing will ever be the same again.
Gabriel, now a famous author, has returned to his hometown with his young son. The child reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident.
As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s orbit, the past is no longer in the past. Secrets and jealousies resurface, and tensions rise throughout the village. Beth will have to decide between the life she has and the life she once wanted.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF:
Go As a River and other novels featuring strong female protagonists that are deeply rooted in the landscape
The Book Girls Say…
Angela picked up this book without even reading the synopsis based on early recommendations from friends, and she was immediately captivated. Told in short chapters that alternate between the “before” of 1955 and the “present” of 1968, this heartbreaking and layered novel strikes a balance between drama, mystery, and romance.
It’s hard to say too much without giving anything away, but it’s a perfect book club pick because you’ll definitely want someone to discuss it with!
Southern by Design
Book Summary
After her husband sent an unsolicited personal photo to another woman that quickly went viral among every mom group in Charleston, thirtysomething Magnolia “Mack” Bishop is facing divorce and single motherhood. But she’s determined not to let her personal life get in the way of her professional interior design ambitions.
Mack is close to securing the prestigious Historic Preservation Design Fellowship, but after a series of calamities at a house tour, her shot at the fellowship goes up in flames. Her mom, the original Magnolia Bishop, who enjoys her perch at the top of the Southern social ladder, swoops in with a lead on a big project to save Mack. But it comes with strings attached, which is no surprise to Mack, given how much her mom likes to control her life.
Mack dreads working for her mom until a television network puts out a call for local designers. She sees the opportunity to pitch the project and potentially win the coveted TV pilot for her dream renovation and historic preservation project. However, she’ll have to keep it secret to avoid interference from her mother.
Just when she’s starting to get her professional life back on track, the man that got away starts unloading a moving truck next door. Fifteen years earlier, she had a summer romance with Lincoln Kelly, but then he followed his dreams to New York and left Mack broken-hearted.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
HGTV design shows and Gilmore Girls
The Book Girls Say…
This debut novel has a good mix of mother-daughter drama and second-chance romance, and it completely transports you to Charleston, where the streets and homes come alive like characters. If you enjoy audiobooks, the narrator’s accent definitely adds to the story.
We are both huge Gilmore Girls fans, and while Angela didn’t start making the connections until later in the novel, it definitely gives southern Gilmore vibes. As the grandmother-mother-daughter storyline continues to unravel, you’ll start to see more and more similarities.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
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Books With Characters In Their 30s
Harlem Rhapsody
Book Summary
While much of the country was experiencing social unrest in 1919, Harlem felt different. This corner of New York was filled with Black pride, as evidenced in the music, theater, fashion, and arts. Positioned right in the heart of this renaissance is a literary editor for a preeminent Negro magazine named Jessie Redmon Fauset.
The founder and editor of the magazine, W.E.B. Du Bois, tasked Jessie with discovering promising young writers whose words could change the world. Jessie wastes no time finding 16-year-old Countee Cullen and 17-year-old Langston Hughes. She also discovers Nella Larson, who becomes one of Jessie’s best friends.
Subscriptions soar for the already notable magazine, and every Black writer in the country is vying for the opportunity to be published in The Crisis. Jessie’s career is taking off, but her relationship with her married boss, W.E.B., threatens to jeopardize it all. At a time when she faces both overwhelming sexism and racism, Jessie will have to find a way to balance her drive and her desires if she hopes to preserve her legacy and achieve her ambitious dreams.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
The Personal Librarian, Finding Margaret Fuller, and other literary historical fiction books
The Book Girls Say…
Victoria Christopher Murray has co-authored two of our favorite books from recent years, The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies, so Melissa couldn’t wait to dig into Harlem Rhapsody. Similar to Finding Margaret Fuller noted above, Melissa didn’t initially walk away from this one at the top of her list because it felt a bit longer than necessary. However, when thinking back on the books she’s most glad she picked up in the first half of the year, this one easily makes the list because she learned so much about many important literary figures.
This historical fiction novel is based on the real life of Jessie Redmon Fauset. Those interested in digging deeper into the true stories and literary works behind this novel will be excited to learn that every edition of The Crisis is available online. Whether you want to simply browse the covers or read the pieces referenced in the novel, you
Grace of the Empire State
Book Summary
When the patriarch of the O’Connell family died in a workplace accident within months of the Stock Market Crash of 1929, Grace’s family lost nearly everything. But she was at least making money as a dancer while her twin brother had a well-paying, but dangerous, job on the beams of the Empire State Building.
Life threw them another twist when Grace’s club closed, leaving her without income, and her brother was injured on the job. And if he can’t work, his entire four-person crew would be out of a job.
But Patrick has an idea. Could Grace use her time in the circus to take his role on the beams? She’ll have to pretend to be him, but they are twins…Could it work?
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
Fiona Davis’ historical fiction novels, in which a New York City building becomes like a character in the novel
The Book Girls Say…
We’ve both been lucky enough to visit the top of the Empire State Building and see photos of the construction process, but reading this book gave us new perspectives on both the Empire State Building and this pivotal time in NYC history.
We were both very impressed with this debut novel and Angela, who is a huge fan of musical theater, hasn’t stopped thinking about how wonderful it would be to see a stage production of this show that combines the ballet of Grace’s past with the intricate choreography of the steel workers for whom every move is a matter of life and death precision.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
The Favorites
Book Summary
Katarina didn’t have the family support or funding usually required to make it to the Olympics, but she knew becoming an Olympic figure skater was her destiny. When she has an instant connection with Heath, who was in the foster system, their chemistry and determination make them a formidable duo on the ice. Skating is the perfect escape from their difficult lives. The childhood sweethearts turn into crowd-favorite champions in the cut-throat world of ice dancing.
Their story takes a terrible turn after a shocking incident at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Ten years later, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Kat and Heath and promises to uncover the truth about their final skate. Kat initially wants nothing to do with the documentary, but more than that, she doesn’t want anyone else to tell her story. It’s finally time to share everything, and the truth may be even more shocking than her fans anticipate.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
Daisy Jones & the Six, Carrie Soto is Back, and sports documentaries
The Book Girls Say…
While Melissa doesn’t have any sports-playing ability, she enjoys watching almost any athletic competition. But her favorite part of being a fan is actually learning about the players’ backstories, especially if the athlete has worked their way to success against all odds.
Despite that, she wasn’t sure if The Favorites would live up to its instant hype. But it did! While Melissa prefers reading visually over audiobooks, she highly recommends the audio version of this one because the full-cast production adds to the documentary style of the writing. She especially loved Olympian Johnny Weir’s involvement, reading one of the side characters. Once she started the book, she was quickly enamored and flew through it because she couldn’t wait to learn more about the characters, their rise to stardom, and their fall.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
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Homeseeking
Book Summary
Suchi was only 7 years old when she first met Haiwen in Shanghai. She was drawn to the sounds of his violin, and their friendship developed into a deep love. But when Haiwen secretly enlisted in the Nationalist army in 1947 to save his brother from the draft, Suchi was left behind with nothing more than his violin and a note begging for her forgiveness.
Sixty years later, they see each other for the first time thanks to a chance encounter at an Asian supermarket in Los Angeles. Recently widowed Haiwen hopes it might be a second chance for him and Suchi, but she has survived the intervening decades by refusing to look back.
This novel follows Suchi and Haiwen through the six decades they were separated. Through alternating viewpoints, Suchi’s story is told from her childhood to the present, while Haiwen’s story is traced in reverse. From Chinese war and famine to the song halls of Hong Kong, from military encampments in Taiwan to the busy streets of NYC, and to sunny California, where they are finally reunited.
This epic, character-driven novel illustrates the different ways that people learn to survive through a lifetime of difficult decisions. Haiwen holds his memories close, while Suchi forces herself only ever to look forward.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
Pachinko, The Lion Women of Tehran, and those who don’t mind a nonlinear narrative structure
The Book Girls Say…
If Angela is being honest, multigenerational epics are not typically among her favorite historical fiction reads, but there was something about the storytelling style of this book that drew her in and never let go. She knew going in that it would be a love story and an immigration story, but it delivered so much more than that!
Angela especially enjoyed the non-linear structure where one story is being told forward, and the other in reverse. From the first moment that they saw each other at the supermarket in Los Angeles late in their lives, she needed to know their backstory. Along the way, Angela learned so much more about the Chinese Civil War.
This novel incorporates various languages, and the characters are referred to by different names and at different times in their lives. While this initially seemed like it would get very confusing, it was done in such a way that Angela was able to keep track of the characters even while listening to the audiobook.
The Stolen Queen
Book Summary
In 1936, anthropology student Charlotte Cross was offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, but when tragedy strikes, Charlotte’s future is forever changed.
Forty-two years later, 18-year-old Annie Jenkins lands a fantastic opportunity working for Diana Vreeland, the iconic former fashion editor at Vogue. It’s 1978, and Diana is organizing the famous Met Gala. Annie will have her work cut out for her in order to keep up with Diana’s demands and exacting standards.
Charlotte now leads a quiet life as the associate curator of Egyptian Art at the Met. She wants little to do with the city’s “party of the year” because she’s too consumed with her research on Hathorkare, a rare female pharaoh whom most other Egyptologists deem unimportant.
When one of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing on the night of the gala, Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity. With signs that Hathorkare’s legendary curse might have been reawakened, the two women will travel to the one place Charlotte swore never to return – Egypt.
PERFECT FOR FANS OF…
The Antiquity Affair, The Last Mona Lisa, and historical fiction featuring strong female characters
The Book Girls Say…
Fiona Davis is one of our all-time favorite authors, in part because NYC is one of our favorite places. Her novels all feature strong female characters and a tie-in to a specific historic building in New York City. This book had us from the moment the summary mentioned the Met, but then the chance to also armchair travel to Egypt was icing on the cake.
For years we’ve been researching books set in Egypt for our Book Voyage Read Around the World challenge, and for years we’ve been largely disappointed in the options. We wanted a book that would make us feel like we were there while also diving into the topics of archaeology and the rightful ownership of antiquities. This book completely hit the mark and delivered everything we hoped and more.
If your book club enjoys historical fiction, this book provides so many opportunities for discussion ranging from repatriation of antiquities and cultural appropriation to museum funding and gender bias in academia, and even fashion.
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Fiona Davis Books: The Ultimate Author Guide
Best Book Club Books for 2025
We have SO MANY other 2025 books on our TBR lists, and we’re hoping to get a chance to read before the year-end update to this list. Once the list is updated at the end of the year, we’ll also put together the printable version for our Buy Me a Coffee members!
