Review Laura Resau delivers a strong adult debut with The Alchemy of Flowers. Her whimsical storytelling sets the mood immediately, where readers meet Eloise and join her journey through grief and (hopefully) healing in the beautiful setting of the French castle gardens. While I cannot relate to Eloise's story arc of struggles with infertility and… Continue reading The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau
Lily Summers is assistant the Tate Gallery’s Modern Collections keeper Diana Gilden. After the great Pablo Picasso passes away, Lily and Diana work to plan an exhibit honoring the painter’s legacy. In mere days after his death, opening day has arrived. Only without thinking, Lily sees one of Picasso’s hanging pieces and declares it a forgery. Out loud. Where the press, donors, and her boss all hear. And Lily can’t seem to explain her reasoning or back up her claim. Now her and Diana’s careers are on the line. After all, in 1970s London, authenticity is questioned at every turn in a post-WWII art scene. What’s worse, the piece belongs to an investor who purchased it based on Diana’s advice. Her reputation is at stake, and she’s determined to fix it. And Lily, on the other hand, must do her due diligence or else face unforeseen consequences. The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay is a historical women’s fiction novel where both women’s futures hang in the balance, but one will take the fall for it.
Margaret Ryan is a housewife living in 1960s Virginia. She has a husband, a house, three kids, and excellent homemaking skills. The other women in her neighborhood, Vivian Buschetti and Bitsy Cobb, are living similar lifestyles. They are leading the epitome of what is expected of them as women. Yet they feel as if something is missing. Fulfilling their role seems like the end of the road with nothing else to strive for. Then one day, Margaret notices an outspoken and eccentric woman – Charlotte Gustafson. In trying to befriend Charlotte, Margaret forms a book club. And Charlotte suggests the newly published The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. Soon these dutiful housewives are starting to understand that they’re not alone, nor is something wrong with them for wanting more in life. The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick is a historical women’s fiction novel that explores the transformations of four women who find the courage to change their lives and form a sacred friendship.
