If you know me, you know I love a good book (particularly World War II fiction, but that’s an article for another time). I’ve read some pretty incredible books in the past few years, so I thought I’d share some of them with you in case you’re a certified bibliophile like myself.
- The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
-
I just finished this book a couple of months ago and WOW. Set in Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, this book follows the incredible true story of Lale Sokolov as he navigates his way through the horrors of everyday life as the tattooist of Auschwitz. Heather Morris does a beautiful job of intertwining the brutal truth of the Holocaust with the inspiring story of Lale’s journey of love and survival.
- Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
-
I’ll be honest, I was a little skeptical about this book when I first picked it up. As someone who enjoys a good larger-than-life drama, I wasn’t sure if this story about a quiet, Cleveland suburb would do the trick for me. As usual, though, I was proved wrong and this turned out to be one of my all-time favorites! In Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng reveals an honest and heartbreaking story of two families who encounter prejudice, secrets, and societal pressures in their small-town lives.
- Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
-
I can’t say much about this book without spoiling anything, so I’ll just say this: Something in the Water is by far the best mystery novel I have read in a long time. There’s betrayal, there’s romance, there’s a bag of mysterious diamonds; what more could you ask for? I was constantly on the edge of my seat (bed) whenever I opened this book, so it is definitely a page-turner that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
-
What’s this, another historical fiction novel? Yes, that’s right friends. The Nightingale is a riveting story of two sisters, Isabelle and Vianne, trying to survive in German-occupied France during World War II. Kristin Hannah weaves a beautiful tapestry of love, bravery, and sacrifice as she offers a new perspective on those affected by wartime.
- Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
-
After reading and loving Little Fires Everywhere, I knew I had to get my hands on Ng’s first novel. Everything I Never Told You is set in a small town of Ohio in the 1970s and follows the story of a Chinese-American family after they discover their middle daughter has mysteriously drowned. As the family grapples with unthinkable loss, their complicated past is revealed to tell an emotional story of familial pressure, racism, and the struggle to find oneself.