The Henna Artist

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 the vibrant, glittering Shanghai of 1937, sisters Pearl and May live lives of carefree beauty and privilege. But their world shatters when their father gambles away their fortune and forces them to become brides to strangers from America to settle his debts. As Japanese bombs begin to fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May embark on a perilous journey that will lead them through war-torn China and across the Pacific to the shores of Los Angeles.

In the labyrinth of Chinatown, they face the harsh realities of immigration, discrimination, and arranged marriages, striving to build new lives while clinging to their identities as Shanghai girls. Yet, beneath the surface of their struggles lie petty jealousies, unspoken rivalries, and a devastating secret that will test the unbreakable bond between them. From the seduction of Hollywood to the suffocating weight of tradition and McCarthy-era paranoia, their path is fraught with impossible choices and heartbreaking sacrifices. At its core, this is a powerful story of sisterhood, resilience, and the enduring search for love and belonging against the backdrop of a tumultuous era.

In a dazzling blend of historical intrigue and contemporary struggle, Jodi Picoult explores the timeless battle for recognition in a world dominated by men. By Any Other Name masterfully interweaves the stories of two women, centuries apart, bound by blood and a shared defiance against societal constraints.

In present-day Manhattan, Melina Green, a promising playwright, wrestles with the sting of past criticism and the courage to unveil her latest work—a play inspired by her ancestor, Emilia Bassano. But in a world where female voices are often silenced, Melina's best friend submits her play under a male pseudonym, forcing her to confront the ultimate question: Is recognition worth sacrificing her identity?

Journey back to 1581, where young Emilia Bassano, a woman of sharp wit and literary talent, navigates the treacherous landscape of Elizabethan England. As the mistress of the Lord Chamberlain, she gains unprecedented access to the world of theater and witnesses the power of words firsthand. Denied a voice of her own, Emilia conceives a daring plan: to secretly pen her own plays and pay a struggling actor named William Shakespeare to present them as his own.

By Any Other Name is a sweeping saga of ambition, courage, and desire, where two women defy the odds to leave their indelible mark on history. But as their stories intertwine, Picoult poses a provocative question: How far will a writer go to ensure her story lives on, even if it means surrendering her name?

From the bestselling author of Before We Were Yours comes a sweeping story of엇 family, identity, and the enduring power of hope, set against the backdrop of the post-Civil War South and a struggling Louisiana school in 1987.

In 1875, Hannie Gossett, a former slave, embarks on a perilous journey with two young white women, seeking to reunite her family and offering a glimpse into a little-known piece of history: advertisements placed by newly freed slaves searching for loved ones after the Civil War. Their survival hinges on a “Book of Lost Friends,” a compilation of these heart-wrenching ads.

More than a century later, Benny Silva, a first-year teacher in August, Louisiana, is struggling to connect with her students. When she stumbles upon the long-forgotten "Book of Lost Friends," she sees a lifeline—a way to bridge the gap between the classroom and the painful history in their own backyards. As Benny and her students delve into the stories within the book, they uncover secrets that echo through generations, forcing them to confront the complicated legacy of the past and the enduring bonds of kinship.

Inspired by true events, The Book of Lost Friends is a powerful and ultimately uplifting novel about women, family, and the stories that connect us. It's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of remembering those who were once lost.