Spring into reading with these fabulous new books! Whether you’re searching for a gift for Mother’s Day or planning your own summer reading, this is a good place to start when looking for new historical fiction.
BEST COVER
Sawadika American Girl by Daria Summers (1968 Bangkok, May 1))
“A stunning historical coming-of-age novel offers an unexpected take on the US presence in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of Piper, an American diplomat’s daughter, thrust into a world unlike any she has ever known.” John Fried, author of The Martin Chronicles
This month’s covers are almost all dark. Trust me, they are worth looking at more closely! The soft colors and subtle details of An Inheritance of Lies and The Scorpion Thief are very good, but the pop of color in The Manor of Dreams is truly eyecatching. My choice, though, is Sawadika American Girl because of the dramatic contrast between silhouette and background as well as the subtle detailing. That cover has it all.
The Tea Planter’s Secret by Clare Flynn (1908 Ceylon, May 27)
The Last Lady B by Eloisa James (Scottish highlands, May 12)
An Inheritance of Lies by Rebecca A. Carter (World War I, New York, May 5)
The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li (dual timeline, Hollywood, May 6)
The Scorpion Thief by Janyre Tromp (Cold War Cairo, May 1)
BEST TITLE
The Afterlife of a Threadbare Jester by Khanh Ha (Vietnam War, May 12)
“Sharp and haunting . . . A compelling addition to the literature of the Vietnam War.” ~Kirkus Review
In a title I look for an idea that grabs my imagination or makes me say, “Huh.” If I want to explore that book more, then the title has done its job. All of these titles do that, but The Afterlife of a Threadbare Jester is definitely the most interesting.
List of All Possible Desires by Dylan Landis (1950s New York, May 5)
The Dark and Wild Wood by Sarah Nicole Lemon (gothic fantasy, May 26)
The Girl With Two Names by Imogen Matthews (1943 Holland, May 26)
The Yankee Sphinx by Mark Frost (1934 United States, May 5)
Jungle of Ashes by Brynn Barineau (1928 Brazil, May 19)
MOST INTRIGUING
Three Queens by Rebecca Connolly (18th century Europe, May 5)
“A celebration of the humanity behind the mythology, sparking interest in further reading and opening minds to re-examining what has been claimed as true, possibly with ulterior motives. Book discussion groups and fans of Marie Benedict, Allison Weir, or Phillipa Gregory will enjoy Connolly’s latest.” — Booklist
I will definitely pick up all six of these books. Three are from authors I know well, one recommended to me by a friend. Aloha Wanderwell Takes the Wheel sounds delightful—title, cover, and premise are all compelling! The one that I chose, though, tops them all with its subject of three queens (U.S. first lady, England and France’s queens) meeting after the Revolutionary War.
We Meet Apart by Martha Conway (1940 Ireland, May 5)
Aloha Wanderwell Takes the Wheel by Laurel Corona (1920s world travel, May 22)
The Girl With a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean (Hong Kong, May 5)
The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline (1839 North Carolina, May 12)
A Founding Mother by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie (Revolutionary War, Boston, May 5)
Need more historical fiction on your TBR? See even more new release titles at Historical Novel Society.
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