“There's nothing wrong with reading a book you love over and over. When you do, the words get inside you, become a part of you, in a way that words in a book you've read only once can't.” - Gail Carson Levine
Loved:
Terrible Virtue: A Novel, Ellen Feldman: It felt timely to read a book about one of the major crusaders in the fight for women's reproductive rights. This (fictional-ish) tale of Margaret Sanger was a fantastic read...I've seen it compared to "Loving Frank" and "The Paris Wife," which I also loved.
The Names They Gave Us, Emery Lord: This sits solidly in the young adult readership camp, but I've loved Emery Lord's writing since she wrote for a website I follow like...eight years ago. This story of cancer and faith and finding one's own way was so light, quick and beautifully written. Totally recommend for any age.
Enjoyed:
Diana in Search of Herself, Sally Bedell Smith: I went on a royals biography kick and thought this biography of Princess Diana handled a really complex woman with candor and impartiality. Definitely recommend, especially in light of the 20th anniversary of her death this summer.
Tolerated:
It Seemed Important at the Time, Gloria Vanderbilt: Oh god this was just obnoxious. A totally self-serving account of how awesome heiress Gloria Vanderbilt is and how many men she's slept with, basically. Waste of about two hours of my life.
Re-reads:
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern: Magic and a circus at the end of the 19th century. I've read this about half a dozen times in the last five-ish years and I still love it every time.
The White Queen, Philippa Gregory: Plantagenets doing duplicitous things. Very fictionalized, and not as fun as her Tudor works, in my opinion.
The Red Queen, Philippa Gregory: Lancasters doing duplicitous things to Plantagenets. Again, not my favorite (If I'm going to read really fictional historical fiction, I want it to be sexier and really lean into the fictional aspect, HA.).
The Royal We, Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks: Another perennial fave - an imagined depiction of a fictional "William" and "Kate," but Kate (Bex) is American. I've read it about five times and it's still so fun.
Love the One You're With, Emily Giffin: She wrote "Something Borrowed" and "Something Blue," and this one, about the trials of old and new loves, is a quick, good beach read.
Baby Proof, Emily Giffin: Ditto above, only with babies and whether or not people should/can/want to have them.
The Debutante Divorcée, Plum Sykes: The frothiest, silliest mid-2000s romp through upper upper class Manhattan. Super fast, super perfect for a beach or poolside (with a cocktail mandatory).
Bergdorf Blondes, Plum Sykes: See above, minus the divorce stuff, plus falling in love adorably and a little bit of England, OOH!