BOOKS 10 Books To Add To Your Reading List

Y’all.

Y’ALL.

Did anyone else read the bookclub post I posted last month?

If you did—one thing is clear.

We are ALL BRILLIANT READERS.

Isn’t there something so amazing about reading? It fills you up and makes you happy and increases your vocabulary and has you dropping five-syllable words into every conversation.

And guess what?

I read all the comments and there were so many great suggestions that I checked out and someone suggested I create a list for all of us–from the comments so you all could check them off if you wanted to. I’ve made a list for myself, too, and I already read some of the books you suggested.

So in case you are a reader like me?

Here are more book recommendations and some of my favorites from last month’s post.

Let’s GO.

1.  The Gown

I put this book first because it gets a 10 out of 10 for me.

It’s the story of the construction of the gown for Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. It’s told from three different perspectives (two of the seamstresses). One is a refugee from World War II and one is a local seamstress from England and the third is one of the seamstresses’ granddaughter. There’s a love story and a mystery. I don’t want to share much more because I don’t want to give any of the story away—but trust me—it’s SO GOOD.

You can see The Gown here.

2. West With Giraffes

I have not read this book but several of you recommended it to me so it’s at the top of my list. It wasn’t at my local library so I’m going to order it online.

It’s based on a true story of two giraffes that captured the heart of the nation. 

Here’s the synopsis:

“It’s 1938. The Great Depression lingers….and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California’s first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.”

You can see West With Giraffes here.

3. The Lost Heiress

This was one of the first books you all recommended. I think this is Roseanna M. White’s most popular novel. 

It’s a romance and a mystery after her friend, Justin, discovers that the main character Brook Eden might be the lost heiress. He is the heir to the dukedom (of course he is) and as the story unfolds Justin and Brook try to navigate their changing roles and solve the mystery, too.

You can see The Lost Heiress here.

 

4. The Librarian Spy

This is another book from my favorite era, Word War II.

It’s about Ava who works as a librarian at the Library of Congress and Elaine who works at a printing press as part of the Resistance. Together they are so brave and they help the Resistance with coded messages and sharing hope when it looks like hope doesn’t exist anymore.

Such a good page-turner.

You can see it here.

5. The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post

This is such an example of a life well-lived.

This book is fascinating.

It’s based on the real life of Marjorie Post (although she changes her name because she gets married three different times).

Marjorie Post’s father was WC Post and she was one of the wealthiest women in America. But she wasn’t just a wealthy socialite. She was so much more than that. Her life spans some of the most important times in our history. It’s so interesting to see what happens from her perspective.

You can see it here.

6. A Happier Life

This is Kristy Woodson Harvey’s newest book that releases on June 25. I got an advance copy to read.

It’s a mystery and a romance (the best combination). 

It goes back and forth between Becks St. James in 1975 and her granddaughter Keaton in present day. Keaton moves back to her grandmother’s house and unravels the mystery of what happened to her (along with the help of her super cute neighbor).

A great summer read.

You can pre-order A Happier Life here.

7. Lessons In Chemistry

I was curious about this book because the movie just came out with the same name.

I haven’t read it yet—but one of you recommended it and it looks like a good read with characters that I’m going to want to be friends with.

Here’s the synopsis from the book page:

“Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results. 

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.”

You can see Lessons In Chemistry here.

8. A Gentleman In Moscow

I was surprised by how much I loved this story I wasn’t sure about the premise—which involves Count Alexander Rostov being sentenced to live his life in a Moscow hotel. He can’t ever set foot outside it again which sounds a little random, but the story is SO GOOD.

I just watched the series on this and now I want to read the book. It’s a fascinating glimpse into Russian history from the Czar to Lenin and Stalin.

You can see A Gentleman In Moscow here.

9. The Paris Apartment 

I am just starting this book per your recommendation.

It’s a little out of my genre because it’s present day—but everyone says that it will keep you guessing so I’m excited to try and figure it out.

It’s about a girl named Jess who heads to Paris to stay with her brother to escape her challenges at home, but he’s not there when she gets there and then she’s trying to unravel the mystery of what’s going on with him and the apartment.

(total aside: I feel like I didn’t do the description justice—it’s so much better than I’m making it sound.)

You can see The Paris Aparment here.

10. The Second Life of Mirielle West

TWENTY of out 10 stars for this book.

One of you recommended it and it was SO GOOD.

It’s about the wife of a movie star who comes down with leprosy in the 1920s and she’s sent to live in a leper colony in Louisiana. Her personal journey is amazing and is so fascinating to glimpse inside the colony and learn more about that time period. It is such a good read.

You can see The Second Life of Mirielle West here.

Here’s the checklist I compiled of all the recommendations you made last time.

I’m working my way through it now.

If you’d like to print off this list for your own book reading—you can download the list here.

And there you have it.

What I’ve read.

What I’m currently reading.

And what I’m about to read.

All based on recommendations from friends like you.

Let’s keep it going. Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you think or if you have a book I need to read. I added all the books to a list on my Amazon storefront with even more recommendations of books you recommended. You can see it here.

I can always make a new list for next month, too.

PS How do you read books? Do you order them online? Check them out from the library? Go to the bookstore? I do all of the above.

But lately, I’ve been using Cloud Library from my local library as well as Audible (if I can’t find the book at the library or if it’s on hold for a zillion months). Audible is really good if you go for a walk or are doing chores around the house. You can actually try it for FREE for 30 days. Here’s the sign-up if you are interested.

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