Diverse Subjects written by Diverse Female Authors

Supporting women every day is a good thing, but March 8th is officially International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate women’s achievements. Writing a book is an incredible undertaking and I am so excited to share this new list of books by accomplished and amazing women. If we don’t take advantage of learning through others, we miss out on the greater understanding of different people and cultures. By tapping in to the work of these great authors, we benefit from different perspectives and grow from the immersive experience of reading. Celebrate the women who wrote the stories and the women characters who are written; they all have something important to say. Stay tuned for reviews and author Q & As!

The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik available April 6th

Jasmin Daznik was born in Iran and now lives in California.

Fiction based on the American documentary photojournalist, Dorothea Lange in early 1900s San Francisco. I loved Darznik’s earlier book, Song of a Captive Bird, about the trailblazing Iranian poet, Forugh Farrokhzhad.

Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia available March 30th.

Gabriela Garcia is the daughter of immigrants from Cuba and Mexico, was raised in Miami and currently lives in northern CA.

Fiction about a Cuban immigrant, her daughter battling addiction, and the trauma of displacement.

Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi available March 2nd

Nadia Hashimi’s parents were born in Afghanistan, she was raised in New York and New Jersey, is a pediatrician and currently serves as the Health Care Commissioner in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Afghan ten year old girl, Sitara is sole survivor of a communist coup, rescued and raised by a diplomat in America. Forty years later, and a successful surgeon, she is unexpectedly faced with the tragedy of her past. I love Nadia Hashimi’s prior novels, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, The House Without Windows and When the Moon is Low.

Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge available March 30th

Kaitlyn Greenidge, an American author and contributing writer for the New York Times, was born in Boston, MA and lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Fiction inspired by one of the first Black female doctors in the United States and her quest for freedom. I loved Greenidge’s earlier novel, We Love You, Charlie Freeman, and I look forward to reading this one.

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline available March 23rd

Lisa Scottoline is an American author of legal thrillers; she lives in the Philadelphia area.

A love triangle plays out amidst antisemitism and fascism in late 1930s Rome, challenging families, their homes and connections to each other. This is Scottoline’s first historical fiction novel based on true events.

The Smash-Up by Ali Benjamin available Feb. 23rd

Ali Benjamin is an American author of youth literature and lives in Massachusetts.

Debut novel that touches on the #MeToo movement and political activism amidst a love triangle in a small town.

How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue available March 9th

Imbolo Mbue, novelist and short story writer was born in Camaroon, and lives in New York.

An African village faces detrimental environmental issues caused by an American oil company’s greed in this new novel by the author of the Behold the Dreamers.

How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones available Feb. 2nd

Cherie Jones, an author and a practicing lawyer, was born, raised and currently resides in Barbados.

A debut novel about four people and their legacies of crime set on the beautiful island of Barbados.

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner available March 2nd

Sarah Penner was born and raised in Kansas, has a finance degree and currently lives in Florida.

A female apothecary dispenses poison to be used on men and centuries later in London, a clue to murders from the past is uncovered.

This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith available Feb. 2nd

Leesa Cross-Smith is a homemaker and author from Kentucky.

A recently divorced therapist and a suicidal man brought together by chance, spend a life changing, healing weekend together.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles available Feb. 9th

Janet Skeslien Charles, an american author, grew up in Montana and splits her time between Montana and Paris.

From heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris during WWII to a Montana teenager in 1983 with an interest in her elderly neighbor, this historical fiction novel explores family, friends, relationships and authors.

One Two Three by Laurie Frankel available April 27th

Laurie Frankel, an author and a humorist, lives in Seattle with her family.

Laurie Frankel’s This is How It Always Is expanded readers views of what is normal, and here she does it again. Triplets uncover mysteries in a small town where change rarely occurs.

When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson available Feb. 2nd

Gina Wilkinson, a former foreign correspondent and aid worker has lived all over, from the Australian dessert to Bagdad, Bangkok, New York, Brazil, Canada and Sri Lanka, and currently resides in Melbourne.

Based on the author’s experience as a foreign correspondent, radio journalist and documentary maker, this debut is about three women who’s lives intersect amidst the politics and government of Iraq.

Those Who Are Saved by Alexis Landau available Feb. 1st

Alexis Landau is an American author, has a PHD in English Literature and Creative Writing and lives in Los Angeles.

A Russian Jew in France must decide whether to bring her four year old daughter with her to an internment camp or send her away to hide in safety.

Other Great Books by Women You May Have Missed

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum – Review by Book Nation by Jen

Etaf Rum is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and currently living in North Carolina.

Conservative Arab women adjusting to life in America.

The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali – Review and Q & A by Book Nation by Jen

Marjan Kamali was born in Turkey to Iranian parents and grew up in Kenya, Germany, Turkey, Iran and the United States, and currently lives in the Boston area.

A love story gone wrong among political unrest in 1950s Iran.

If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais – Review and Q & A by Book Nation by Jen

Bianca Marais was born and raised in South Africa, currently residing in Toronto.

Family, identity and love in the lives of three women in post-Apartheid South Africa.

The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose – Review by Book Nation by Jen

Heather Rose was born in Tasmania, Australia, traveled Europe and Asia, worked in Melbourne and currently resides in Tasmania.

Fictional novel about the human need for connection surrounding the artist Marina Abramovic and her Artist is Present exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in 2010 NYC.

Searching For Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok – Review and Q & A by Book Nation by Jen

Jean Kwok was born in Hong Kong, raised in Brooklyn, NY and currently resides in the Netherlands.

A Chinese immigrant family, a missing daughter and family secrets make up this moving story of culture and language.

The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner – Review and Q & A by Book Nation by Jen

Jennifer Rosner, an American author and philosophy professor was raised in Connecticut and currently resides in MA.

Mother and daughter hide in Poland during World War II in this beautiful and hopeful story during the darkest of times.

The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce – Review by Book Nation by Jen

Rachel Joyce, a former actress, is a British writer currently residing in South West England.

Charming story in 1980s London where music brings odd people together.

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai – Review by Book Nation by Jen

Rebecca Makkai is an American author based in Chicago.

1980s Chicago during the AIDs crisis and 30 years later in Paris, a mother looks back to understand how disaster impacted the relationship with her daughter.

White Houses by Amy Bloom – Review by Book Nation by Jen

Amy Bloom is an American writer and psychotherapist based in Connecticut.

Fiction based on truth about Eleanor Roosevelt and her romantic affair in the 1930s with friend and reporter Lorena Hickok.

The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya – Review by Book Nation by Jen

Clemantine Wamariya was born in Rwanda and forced to leave due to the genocide. She later grew up in Chicago, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and attended Yale.

1994 Rwanda, Clementine and her sister wandered the country for six years until they were granted asylum and arrived in the US. Incredible memoir that touches on memory, faith and survival.

White Fur by Jardine Libaire – Review by Book Nation by Jen

Jardine Libaire is an American writer based in Austin, Texas.

1980s New Haven, a Yale student and a townie become sexually obsessed and move to New York City.

The Memory of Us by Camille Di Maio – Review by Book Nation by Jen

Camille Di Maio left her real estate career in Texas to be a full time writer and currently resides in Virginia.

Protestant girl and Irish Catholic groundskeeper in a forbidden relationship in pre-war England; this story is a real tear jerker.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee – Review by Book Nation by Jen

Min Jin Lee was born in Seoul, Korea, immigrated to Queens, attended Yale and Georgetown Law, lived in Tokyo to do research and is currently based in New York City.

Early 1900s Korean teenager, her pregnancy, rejection of the baby’s father, a Japanese husband and all that ensues in this multigenerational saga.

The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff – Review by Book Nation by Jen

Pam Jenoff, an American author was born in Maryland, raised outside Philadelphia, was the Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, worked at the Pentagon, State Department, US Consulate in Krakow, Poland, became an employment lawyer and now teaches law at Rutgers University.

A story of friendship, a German traveling circus and Jewish infants heading to a concentration camp during World War II.