By Any Other Name

In 1950s Jaipur, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi escapes an abusive marriage and arrives in the vibrant "pink city" alone, seeking independence. Becoming the most sought-after henna artist and confidante to wealthy women, she is privy to secrets she can never reveal, while carefully guarding her own.

Known for her unique designs and wise counsel, Lakshmi navigates the treacherous world of gossip and tradition, striving to build a life on her own terms. But her past catches up when her husband reappears, bringing with him a sister Lakshmi never knew she had, threatening to shatter the carefully constructed world she has created.

In a society on the cusp of change, Lakshmi must draw upon her talents and resilience to persevere, uplifting those around her as she confronts the challenges of family, love, and the enduring quest for self-discovery.

In early twentieth-century rural Georgia, sisters Celie and Nettie face unimaginable hardships. Celie, torn from her sister and trapped in an abusive marriage, seeks solace by pouring her heart into letters to God. As years pass, the vibrant Shug Avery and the strong-willed Sofia enter Celie's life, igniting a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

Separated by distance and silence, Celie and Nettie sustain their hope through intimate letters, weaving a tapestry of resilience and sisterhood. Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, The Color Purple, is a powerful testament to the enduring strength of Black women, their unwavering bond, and their triumphant rise against a world determined to silence them. A story of courage, awakening, and the transformative power of love, this landmark achievement in American literature continues to inspire generations.

USA TODAY BESTSELLER · SOUTHERN INDIE BESTSELLER · A BRENDA NOVAK BOOK GROUP PICK · GLOSS BOOK CLUB PICK · THE GIRLFRIEND BOOK CLUB PICK · A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2025 (SheReads) · Margaret never really meant to start a book club . . . or a feminist revolution, for that matter in this bold and plucky novel from New York Times bestselling author Marie Bostwick. "Ideal for fans of historical fiction and those who enjoyed Bonnie Garmus's Lessons in Chemistry ." -- Library Journal , starred review "Readers will cheer." --Kirkus "Perfect for those who love book club, nostalgia for the 1960s, and stories of female friendship." --Booklist "A feel-good beach read with . . . elements that spark a revolution." -- Southern Review of Books By 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan is living the American woman's dream. She has a husband, three children, a station wagon, and a home in Concordia--one of Northern Virginia's most exclusive and picturesque suburbs. She has a standing invitation to the neighborhood coffee klatch, and now, thanks to her husband, a new subscription to A Woman's Place --a magazine that tells housewives like Margaret exactly who to be and what to buy. On paper, she has it all. So why doesn't that feel like enough? Margaret is thrown for a loop when she first meets Charlotte Gustafson, Concordia's newest and most intriguing resident. As an excuse to be in the mysterious Charlotte's orbit, Margaret concocts a book club get-together and invites two other neighborhood women--Bitsy and Viv--to the inaugural meeting. As the women share secrets, cocktails, and their honest reactions to the controversial bestseller The Feminine Mystique , they begin to discover that the American dream they'd been sold isn't all roses and sunshine--and that their secret longing for more is something they share. Nicknaming themselves the Bettys, after Betty Friedan, these four friends have no idea their impromptu club and the books they read together will become the glue that helps them hold fast through tears, triumphs, angst, and arguments--and what will prove to be the most consequential and freeing year of their lives. The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a humorous, thought provoking, and nostalgic romp through one pivotal and tumultuous American year--as well as an ode to self-discovery, persistence, and the power of sisterhood.

In 1902, two students at the Brookhants School for Girls, Flo and Clara, found solace and obsession in each other and the scandalous memoir of Mary MacLane. Together, they formed the Plain Bad Heroine Society, their secret meetings in an apple orchard culminating in a gruesome demise—victims of a furious swarm of yellow jackets, Mary's book splayed beside their bodies. The school, shrouded in tragedy, soon closed its doors after three more inexplicable deaths.

A century later, the crumbling Brookhants is resurrected in headlines with Merritt Emmons' bestselling book, a celebration of the institution's queer, feminist history and whispered curse. This ignites a controversial horror film adaptation, casting the acclaimed Harper Harper as Flo and rising star Audrey Wells as Clara. But as the cameras roll on the haunted grounds, the veil between past and present thins, blurring the lines between a chilling curse and the glamorous artifice of Hollywood.

“Plain Bad Heroines” is a devilishly clever, genre-bending novel that weaves gothic horror, sharp satire, sapphic romance, and metafictional wonder. With a deliciously ghoulish voice and a nod to Mary Shelley, the book is a spellbinding exploration of storytelling, obsession, and the enduring power of rebellious female spirits.