What To Read Next: 7 Book Recommendations I Loved So Far This Year

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

If you love historical fiction with a bit of mystery, this book is totally for you. It goes back and forth between present day London and eighteenth century London. The main character, Caroline, is going through a lot of feelings in her relationship and discovers an items that launches her into a search for a mysterious apothecary that once helped women.

The Girls in Queens by Christine Kandic Torres

This story follows two girlfriends as they grow up as teens in a close knit community and the intricacies of their friendship, especially as it pertains to the men in their lives. It subtly explores sexuality of that age and how it can shift the bond of friendship. What I really loved about this book is how vivid the writing is.

The Listening House by Mabel Seeley

This book isn’t new by any means and was actually first published in 1938. It popped up as a recommendation from my library and I really enjoyed it! I was surprised to find out that it was originally from 1938 because it feels pretty modern. The story follows a young woman who moves into a boarding house full of shifty characters. When there’s a murder and rumors of blackmail, she tries to find out what’s going on with many twists and turns along the way (and a wee bit of a love story)!

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In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

When I say that I couldn’t put this book down, what I really mean is that I stayed up all night reading it from start to ending because it was so engrossing! The story follows a group of close friends from college, including all of the various tensions and secrets within that group. When one of them ends up viciously murdered, it seems like pretty much every character could be the culprit. The book culminates in to a very dramatic ending — I seriously cannot recommend this one enough!

New to Liberty by DeMisty D. Bellinger

This book follows the stories of 3 interconnected women during different periods of time from 1933 to 1947 and 1966. I don’t want to give away too much, but in looking back during these eras, the author explores issues that were taboo back then including interracial relationships and same-sex relationships. It’s a truly powerful book that really explores the strength of women and the role that society plays in how they are able to live their lives.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

While I felt like this book was a bit too long and felt like it just kept going, at the end of it I found that I’d enjoyed it. Basically, the main character makes a deal with the devil in exchange for living forever. The book follows her throughout different points in history and as she falls in love and connects with another person for the first time in centuries. There are parts of it that I found heartbreakingly sad, but the story was so good that I can’t help but recommend it!

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

I mean… I love historical fiction a lot so this book was definitely a home run for me. Especially because it is all about female spies being recruited to work in France during World War I. I almost didn’t read it because I worried that a book set during wartime would feel heavy given the current state of our own society, but I’m glad I read it.