We’re less than two weeks away from Sarah J. Maas’ sixth A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) book, A Court of Splintered Harmony, and if you’ve already finished your reread of books 1 through 5 and are looking for more page-turning romantasy tales, Goodreads users have plenty of recommendations. From other books written by Maas to a page-turning adventure tale centered around two sisters, each book delivers the same swoon-worthy adventure ACOTAR fans know and love. To discover what the titles are, keep scrolling!

‘Throne of Glass’ by Sarah J. Maas 

The first book in Maas’ bestselling Throne of Glass series begins when assassin Celaena Sardothien is taken out of a prison labor camp called the Salt Mines of Endovier by the kingdom’s prince to become his champion in a competition to serve the king. If Celaena wins, she will be paid generously and eventually pardoned for her crimes, but if she loses, she could die. As the competition begins, enemies are discovered, friendships form and secrets about the kingdom begin to emerge. This novel is perfect for people who enjoyed the love triangle aspect of ACOTAR and want to read tales told from the perspective of strong, powerful women.

What Goodreads users are saying: “From the opening chapters we are treated with excellent world building, fascinating characters and vivid descriptive prose that transports the reader into the world of dark fairy tales. A place I can quite easily stay when the story delivers this much. This is total escapism at its best. Easy to read, captivating, adventurous, and with the requisite adrenaline rush you come to expect with these fantasy stories but with some humor and a bit of romance thrown in to add more appeal.” 

‘House of Earth and Blood’ by Sarah J. Maas

Maas’ Crescent City series begins with House of Earth and Blood. In it, party girl and half-fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan’s best friend Danika Fendyr and her pack are murdered. The city is desperate to find out what happened, so they enlist Bryce’s help. Also helping is a fallen angel named Hunt Athalar, who is just as handsome as he is stubborn. As he and Bryce bond and investigate, secrets emerge and sparks fly. ACOTAR readers will love this book because—spoiler alert—the next two books in the Crescent City series feature some of the characters from ACOTAR.

What Goodreads users are saying: “I love Sarah J Maas and I love fantasy, especially when there’s some romance in here. First, let’s talk about romance. This romance was SLOW BURN CITY. Seriously, I was so obsessed with the angst between Hunt and Bryce and how the chemistry was brewing and brewing. His wing would graze her back and I would swooooon. Ugh. I was obsessed with any hint of their romance and I was shipping them the entire time.” 

‘Fourth Wing’ by Rebecca Yarros 

When it comes to romantasy, two authors reign supreme: Maas and Rebecca Yarros. And in this book, the latter proves why. After being accepted to Basgiath War College, where people turn to become dragon riders, Violet Sorrengail learns that surviving it is going to be harder than she imagined. Not only is the school incredibly dangerous, but her wingleader is Xaden Riorson, a handsome rider who wants to kill her just because her mother is commanding general for the the kingdom of Navarre. To survive, Violet must cheat, lie, steal, make friends and maybe even fall in love with the one man she’s been told not to touch. A swoon-worthy tale filled with spice and drama.

What Goodreads users are saying: “If Fourth Wing were a drug, I’d be an addict. It grabbed me so thoroughly from the very first moment and refused to let go. I was fully immersed, I didn’t want to sleep, I didn’t want to eat. I just wanted to inhale it as fast as I could. And honestly, isn’t this why we read, for this exact feeling?” 

Entertainment

Obsessed with ‘Fourth Wing?’ You Need to Read These 7 Books

Fourth Wing 4 by Rebecca Yarros still doesn’t have a release date, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t books out there that capture the same magic, spice and danger. Some even feature dragons! To learn our seven best books to read if you like Fourth Wing, keep scrolling! Romance and fantasy await! ‘The Serpent & […]

‘Caraval’ by Stephanie Garber 

If you loved the sister aspect of ACOTAR, be sure to grab this novel by bestselling author Stephanie Garber. Sisters Scarlett and Tella have never left their tiny island—their abusive father has forbidden it. And if that weren’t enough, Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and her only escape is getting invited to Caraval, a once-in-a-lifetime magical game where audience members actually become part of the cast. WhenScarlett’s invitation arrives, she brings Tella along. But shortly after, Tella disappears, and it’s revealed that to win the game, someone must find her. Now Scarlett is determined to save her sister before it’s too late.

What Goodreads users are saying: “Caraval is the only book I’ve read in a long time that has made me truly disoriented after I put it down. I truly felt that I had gotten sucked into an entirely different dimension and only part of me had returned to the ordinary world. When I got up to eat dinner, I felt like my mind wasn’t even present, but that it had stayed in the world, trying to solve this mystery, trying to find Tella and win the game. This book fully engrossed me and pulled me in and did not let go until the last page.” 

Entertainment

How to Read All of Sarah J. Maas's Books in the Right Order

If you’ve ever stared at a shelf full of Sarah J. Maas books and had absolutely no idea where to begin, you’re not alone. Known for her incredible world building, swoon-worthy love stories and devastating cliffhangers, the author is truly one of a kind. Currently, she has three bestselling series—Throne of Glass, A Court of […]

‘Shield of Sparrows’ by Devney Perry 

Filled with the same suspense and steam as ACOTAR, this novel by bestselling author Devney Perry follows Princess Odessa, who is forced into an arranged marriage with Prince Zavier from a neighboring kingdom to fulfill an ancient treaty. But before the wedding, Odessa’s father assigns her a covert mission: to infiltrate Zavier’s family and discover their secrets. He believes they hold the key to defeating the monstrous dragon-like Crux. As Odessa grows closer to Zavier, she must decide where her loyalty truly lies: with her father’s ambitions or her soon-to-be husband.

What Goodreads users are saying: “This book has it all- tension, banter, mystery, whimsical setting, magic, creatures and a cliffhanger that has me dying for book 2! If you’re looking to get into the fantasy romance genre this would be a wonderful starting place as the world building is very approachable and given to the reader on what I refer to as a ‘need to know’ basis. If you’re already a fan and love Sarah J. Maas books read this immediately.” 

Ready for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

If you’re looking to explore the literary works of Ann Patchett but don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered. We’ve done a deep dive into the bestselling author’s most popular full-length novels according to Goodreads users. We’ve also got reviews from readers sharing why they love these stories as much as they do. Keep scrolling for more.

‘Whistler’ – 4.31 average rating 

Patchett’s newest novel was published just a few months ago and already has more than 200,000 ratings on Goodreads. The plot follows a 53-year-old woman named Daphne Fuller after she runs into her ex-stepfather Eddie Triplett during a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He was only married to her mother for a year, and during that time, Daphne and Eddie were involved in a car accident that changed their lives and forced Eddie and Daphne to separate. A beautiful exploration of love and family.

What Goodreads users are saying: “Whistler is the only book I’ve read that made my eyes well with tears after reading the last sentence of the first chapter. What a way to start a book, but it didn’t end there. Ann Patchett’s beautiful prose continued to surprise me throughout. This was a breakthrough read for me with this author, and I felt giddy during and after I finished.” 

Entertainment

5 Books to Read if You Loved Ann Patchett's 'Whistler'

If you’re anything like us, then you probably devoured Ann Patchett’s newest novel Whistler. In the book, 53-year-old Daphne Fuller spots a familiar face in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s Eddie Triplett—her former stepfather. They haven’t laid eyes on each other in more than four decades, but as they begin to reconnect, Daphne and […]

‘The Dutch House’ – 4.10 average rating

This 2019 novel was chosen as a Read With Jenna pick and has garnered more than 600,000 ratings on Goodreads. After the World War II, Cyril Conroy buys a lavish piece of real estate outside Philadelphia called the Dutch House. He plans to live there with his wife and two kids, Danny and Maeve. But when his wife abandons them and he remarries, it causes drama within the family. The stepmother hates the children, and after Cyril dies, she forces them to leave the house. Decades later, Danny and Maeve remain close and are determined to figure out what really happened to their family and their beloved Dutch House all those years ago.

What Goodreads users are saying: “This is a timeless plot with unforgettable characters, but it is the house that looms large in both its physical presence and in the characters’ emotional and often obsessive attachment to it. Ann offers a perfectly paced and intimate portrait of family, loss and longing and will leave you to ponder the essential question posed, do you think it is ever possible to see the past as it actually was?” 

‘Bel Canto’ – 3.94 average rating 

In 2001, Patchett published this novel, which has since received more than 300,000 ratings on Goodreads. When renowned soprano Roxanne Coss is invited to perform at a lavish birthday party for businessman Mr. Hosokawa, no one expects anything to go wrong. But when armed terrorists storm the party and take everyone hostage, a once-glamorous night turns into something dangerous. As days turn into weeks, captors and captives begin to bond, blurring the lines between enemy and friend. A beautiful exploration of how important friendship and bravery are.

What Goodreads users are saying: “What an absolute marvelous novel! The story, the people, the exceptional setting just blew me away. I could go into detail, but everyone should just read this book! Ann Patchett’s sentences flow with beauty and wit.” 

‘Tom Lake’ – 3.92 average rating 

Published in 2023, this novel was a Reese’s Book Club pick and has more than 500,000 ratings on Goodreads. The story is set during the pandemic and begins when three grown daughters —Emily, Maisie and Nell—return to their family’s cherry farm in Michigan to help with the harvest. As the long, isolated days unfold out in the fields, the sisters get their mother, Lara, to open up about her first love. What follows is a beautiful dual-timeline tale of love, loss, family and growing up.

What Goodreads users are saying: “Ann Patchett’s storytelling is rich and reflective; layered with memories, sisters, family; the complexity of relationships and life decisions. As a mother myself, is there anything more pure than having your children’s adoration for wanting to know of your past?” 

Entertainment

Ann Patchett Reveals Her Favorite Books and What Inspired Her New Novel ‘Whistler’

Ann Patchett has spent the last three decades telling unforgettable stories. The award-winning New York Times bestselling author has written 15 critically acclaimed books like The Dutch House, Bel Canto and Tom Lake. In 2011, she started a new chapter in her literary life by opening Parnassus Books, a beloved independent bookstore in her home […]

‘State of Wonder’ – 3.91 average rating 

This 2011 novel has received more than 200,000 ratings on Goodreads. When Dr. Marina Singh journeys deep into the Amazon to track down her missing former mentor Dr. Annick Swenson, she’s thrown into a jungle filled with poison arrows and snakes—dangers she never imagined facing. Forced to confront these elements and her own fears, Marina must dig deep to find the inner strength required for survival. A page-turning tale that will leave readers guessing until the very end. 

What Goodreads users are saying: “I love the pace Ann Patchett delivers in her books that is gentle and flowing and just keeps you wanting to turn the pages. It is a brilliant engrossing story of exceptional insight and the fantastic backdrop of the rainforest. I love Patchett’s writing style and I highly recommend this book.” 

Ready for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Bookworms, rejoice! This weekend, the Southern Festival of Books is returning to Nashville and it’s bringing more than 200 authors—including bestselling writers Ann Patchett, Kathryn Stockett, Christina Baker Kline, Tia Williams, Kristy Woodson Harvey and more.

The beloved event remains one of Nashville’s longest-running literary festivals, dating back to its inaugural year in 1989! This year, it returns to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park with a variety of special guests, musical performances, signings and a very special ode to the one and only ‘Book Lady,’ also known as Dolly Parton. From historical fiction to romance and mystery, this year’s festival has something for every type of reader. 

Here, we gathered up everything to know about Nashville’s bookish two-day festival, how to attend (hint: it’s free!) and more. Keep scrolling for all the must-know details—and 5 must-read books from the festival lineup to cozy up with this fall. 

What is the Southern Festival of Books?

Humanities Tennessee, in partnership with Vanderbilt University, is putting on the 38th annual Southern Festival of Books (SFOB). One of the largest and longest-running literary festivals in the country, this year’s event features a lineup of 200 authors. 

The free festival will take place on Saturday, October 17, from 9AM to 6PM and Sunday, October 18, from 9AM to 5PM at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall, the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

The two-day event is long-loved by locals, bibliophiles and authors alike. Nashville-based bestselling author and songwriter Alice Randall sings the bookish festival’s praises every year. “Like the Michigan State Fair, Humanities Tennessee’s annual Southern Festival of Books has a charmed location in the center of the city,” Randall shared in a piece for Literary Hub. 

“Beautiful as the original Michigan State Fairgrounds were, the setting of the Southern Festival of Books is more beautiful…Twenty-seven years ago, if you had asked me about the best time to visit Nashville, I would have said the second weekend in October—the weekend of the Southern Festival of Books. It’s a guaranteed good time. If you asked me that question today, I would say the same damn thing.”

At this year’s SFOB, don’t miss Randall’s conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jayne Anne Phillips at noon on Saturday, October 17 in the museum’s Sequatchie Room, discussing Phillips’ new memoir, Small Town Girls: A Writer’s Memoir.

Ann Patchett’s meaningful connection to SFOB

Parnassus Books, Nashville’s cherished independent bookstore owned by Patchett, serves as the official bookseller for the Southern Festival of Books! Parnassus will operate the festival’s book sales tent, where attendees can browse, ask for book recommendations, purchase featured titles by participating authors—and even get them signed!

In 2025, Humanities Tennessee faced federal funding cuts and the festival’s future was in jeopardy. During this time, Patchett rallied the bookstore’s loyal community and social media followers to raise donations in a surprisingly simple way. Her idea? If everyone chipped in $20, they could help keep the beloved festival going. The grassroots campaign brought readers together to support this event that’s near and dear to Tennessee’s literary community. 

“We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve raised $48,172 for our organization with your support and Ann Patchett’s generous match,” Humanities Tennessee shared on Instagram last year. “We are immensely grateful to everyone who has donated and shared this campaign, especially our friends at Parnassus Books.”

Entertainment

Ann Patchett’s Bookstore Shares 5 Unputdownable Summer Reads

If you drive down Nashville’s bustling Hillsboro Pike and turn into an unassuming strip mall, you’ll find one of the city’s greatest treasures for book lovers: Parnassus Books. Opened in 2011 by bestselling author Ann Patchett, the nearly 5,000 square foot independent bookstore—which started out half that size—serves as a beacon for book lovers, and […]

The 2026 Southern Festival of Books lineup—from Patchett to Stockett!

This year, more than 200 authors will be in attendance at the Southern Festival of Books! Award-winning and bestselling authors including Tia Williams, Ann Patchett, Kathryn Stockett, Christina Baker Kline, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Jayne Anne Phillips, Belle Burden, J.T. Ellison, Allegra Goodman, Maria Semple and many more will headline the event with panels, signings and discussions.

One of the most special facets of SFOB is that there’s truly something for book lovers of all ages. In addition to readings that cover a wide variety of genres from historical fiction to sci-fi, mystery and more, attendees can look forward to bookish games and activities for little ones. The festival will also celebrate Dolly Parton, a cherished lifelong champion of books and reading through her Imagination Library, with a special interactive installation called Butterfly Book: A Tribute to Dolly.

Add these must-read books to your TBR

For the full list of authors attending this year’s SFOB, visit this link. Ready to add some fantastic fall picks to your TBR list by a few of these reader-favorite authors? We have you covered. Here, we hand-picked 5 authors from the SFOB lineup—and their cannot-miss books! Happy reading!

‘Whistler’ by Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett’s hit bestseller Whistler probably needs no introduction, but it’s certainly one of 2026’s most beloved books of the year. In many ways, the novel asks whether the past can ever really stay in the past, and reveals how, oftentimes, revisiting our own stories is the surest way to grow, heal and learn from them. The story centers on 53-three-year-old English teacher Daphne Fuller. One day, she’s at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City when she runs into Eddie Triplett—her estranged stepfather from many years ago. As they reexamine the past, they uncover the real meaning of family. 

How to see Patchett at SFOB: Cumberland Tent at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park on Saturday at 2PM 

What readers are saying: “I think I can officially say this is the best fiction I’ve read this year so far, and honestly, when it comes to Ann Patchett, I shouldn’t be surprised anymore. She has this almost unfair ability to take ordinary human lives, complicated relationships, old wounds, missed opportunities, and all the things people carry silently for decades—and somehow turn them into something that feels completely extraordinary.”

‘Falling for Peachtree Bluff’ by Kristy Woodson Harvey 

If you’re in the mood for a book to transport you to a cozy Southern Stars Hollow, pick up Kristy Woodson Harvey’s newest novel. Harvey has a talent for penning stories filled with characters that feel like friends and Falling for Peachtree Bluff reunites readers with the lovable Murphy family. In the final installment of her long-loved Peachtree Bluff series, eldest sister Caroline is finally in a good place. So when her soon-to-be ex-husband is back in the picture and suddenly asking about a second chance, she’s floored. Meanwhile, the Murphy matriarch, Ansley, is navigating an unexpected scandal. Can the Murphy women once again band together to help each other?

What readers are saying: “It had been a pretty long time since I’d visited Peachtree Bluff, so I’ll admit I was a little nervous going into Falling for Peachtree Bluff. After all, it had been a while since book four, and I wondered if I’d remember all of the characters, relationships and drama well enough to slip back into the story. Thankfully, I had absolutely nothing to worry about because I fell right back into this world like I’d never left.”

Where to see Harvey at SFOB: Harpeth Room at the at the Library on Sunday at 10AM

Entertainment

I'm a Bestselling Author: These Are My Picks for Best Books of 2025

Editor’s Note: As the holidays approach and 2025 winds down, book lovers everywhere are looking back on their favorite stories of the year. Recently, Woman’s World caught up with New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey—who has penned beloved novels like The Peach Tree Bluff series, The Summer of Songbirds, A Happier Life and […]

‘Music Against the Night’ by Yiyun Li—an Ann Patchett favorite!

Award-winning author Yiyun Li has written 11 books and, according to Ann Patchett, her new novel, Music Against the Night, is “perfectly constructed, moving and beautiful.” Set at the end of the 18th century in Dublin, the novel follows young musical virtuoso John Field, who composes melodies he calls nocturnes, but Chopin is the one to play them. Adelaide Percheron also dreams of a life in music. A rich, stunning saga based on true events.

What readers are saying: “I was captivated by this novel about the composer John Field, who was born in 1782. I am not a classical music buff, but I loved the way Li elevated what could have been run-of-the-mill historical fiction into an enthralling literary novel about both John’s childhood and his future wife, Adelaide Percheron. I also liked Li’s use of “interludes from the future,” to reveal the turns both their lives would take. This is not a biography of what happened but rather an examination of what formed them. I loved that the audiobook included selections from John Field’s compositions between chapters, setting a mood while also educating me.”

Where to see Li at SFOB: Li spoke with Patchett at a special pre-festival event at Parnassus books earlier this week, but keep an eye out for signed copies of Music Against the Night at the festival!

‘The Calamity Club’ by Kathryn Stockett 

Beloved Southern author Kathryn Stockett made waves in 2009 with her debut novel, The Help, which sold millions and was adapted into an award-winning film starring Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis and Emma Stone. This year, her highly anticipated follow-up released and became another instant bestseller. In The Calamity Club, readers are taken to 1933 Oxford, Mississippi, where people are struggling through the Depression, and women are on the sidelines. There’s 11-year-old Meg, who is considered ‘unadoptable’ in her orphanage, Birdie, an unmarried woman who arrives in town with plans to ask her sister for help and Charlie, a woman trying to outrun her past. As the women’s very different realities collide, they form an unlikely bond.

What readers are saying: “I highly recommend listening to this on audio. The dual POV narration brought the story and characters’ personalities to life so well. It’s hefty (28 hours ) but honestly, it flew by! Every time I stopped reading it, I was craving to get back to the story and characters. Now since finishing, I’ve been thinking of this story nonstop.”

Where to see Stockett at SFOB: Cumberland Tent at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park on Saturday at 1PM

Life

This Mississippi Town Is Heaven for Book Lovers

Tucked into the rolling hills of Mississippi, Oxford is a college town unlike any other. Home to the University of Mississippi, better known as Ole Miss, Oxford has long been considered a cultural mecca of the South, and one visit will show you why. Oxford’s bookish history Visit Oxford MX Oxford is a book lover’s […]

‘The Missed Connection’ by Tia Williams

With acclaimed novels like Seven Days in June and A Love Song for Ricki Wilde, Tia Williams is revered for her beautiful love stories. And her newest  novel, The Missed Connection, is another deeply romantic tale. “Few authors write about romance as beautifully as Tia Williams,” says Woman’s World associate editor Carissa Mosness. Casting agent Sasha Cruz is a pro at matching people to roles—except in her own love life. After a chance encounter with an elusive Italian man on a flight to Paris, Sasha vows to find him. So she hires a charming detective who proves to be an even bigger distraction.

What readers are saying: “The book’s message came across to me that we often romanticize ideas and what-ifs to the point of absurdity, instead of looking at what’s right in front of us and making the best of seemingly imperfect situations—and I really liked that. Plus, their chemistry was so palpable! They had such great banter and organic conversational flow.”

Where to see Williams at SFOB: Cumberland Tent at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park at 11AM

Over the years, Jenna Bush Hager’s book club, Read With Jenna, has chosen dozens of books that went on to become bestsellers and international sensations. Those books include novels written by authors like Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kristin Hannah and even Ann Patchett! The Today Show co-host has also chosen authors who were unknown at first but went on to become beloved voices. Today, we’re looking back at some of the original Read With Jenna books that helped solidify the book club as one of the best. Read on for more.

‘The Last Romantics’ by Tara Conklin 

In March 2019, Jenna announced this Tara Conklin book as her first-ever Read With Jenna pick. It follows a poet named Fiona Skinner, who decides to tell an audience about the inspiration behind her most well-known work, The Love Poem. Growing up, the Skinner family endured what they called a “Pause,” which means they spent one summer completely free and feral. It left them bonded in ways they never thought possible; decades later, a family crisis reunites the siblings and they are once again thrown into chaos, but this time they might not survive it. A moving family saga that will leave readers wanting more. 

What Jenna says: “I sent it immediately to my husband and my mom and to my sister, who was laying next to me when I finished it, weeping. I think it’s because the Skinner siblings have this dynamic that any of us who are lucky enough to have siblings or best friends that are like sisters or brothers, we know that feeling of that shared history.”

What Goodreads users are saying: “The Last Romantics is a glorious book from start to finish. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what it is without giving it all away, so my best approximation is this book is an ode to sibling love. And I think that is more than enough.” 

‘The Dutch House’ by Ann Patchett 

From bestselling author Ann Patchett comes another moving family saga that follows siblings Danny and Maeve, who grow up in a beautiful home outside Philadelphia in the 1950s. Abandoned by their mother, they’re raised by their father and their stepmother Andrea, who despises them. Soon after their father dies, Andrea forces the siblings out of their family home, called the Dutch House. As adults, Danny and Maeve remain close, often reminiscing about their childhood home. Eventually, secrets emerge and the two begin to question everything they thought they knew about each other and their family.

What Jenna says: “The Dutch House is a beautiful, dark fairy tale. I thought it was a beautiful story of a relationship between brother and sister. Danny and Maeve’s childhood is filled with disappointment, but the love they find in each other is beautiful and hopeful.”

What Goodreads users are saying: “An Ann Patchett novel is a treasure. She writes about family so compellingly that I always feel as if I know her characters in real life, and I’m drawn into the stories she shares about their inner lives. I listened to this book on audio, performed by Tom Hanks, who was a marvelous storyteller. I usually read an Ann Patchett novel several times, and I’m already looking forward to re-reading this one and discovering all of her clever descriptions.” 

Entertainment

Jenna Bush Hager Calls Ann Patchett Her 'Favorite Writer'

If there’s one thing Jenna Bush Hager can’t resist, it’s a good family saga—the messier and more emotionally loaded, the better. Over the years, she has championed numerous books in this category, and she called Ann Patchett, whose family saga, The Dutch House was a Read With Jenna book club a few years ago, her “favorite […]

‘The Four Winds’ by Kristin Hannah 

Kristin Hannah’s historical fiction tales are renowned for their moving prose and unforgettable characters, and this February 2021 Read With Jenna pick delivers those exact same vibes. In 1934, Elsa Martinelli leaves Texas with her two children to escape the drought that’s killing all their crops and making their future look bleak. She decides to head west to California in search of a better life. But when they arrive, Elsa discovers that life in California is just as hard, and soon she is forced to work on farms in harsh conditions with the other migrants for unlivable wages. Despite that, Elsa continues to fight for herself and her children, even when it seems impossible. 

What Jenna says: “I couldn’t believe how many of these things were relevant today. This character, Elsa, is strong but she also suffers. She’s vulnerable. I love her.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “This is an epic read that is undoubtedly heartbreaking, but it’s stunning and so beautifully written that I will take Elsa Martinelli with me in my heart for some time to come. Don’t miss this one!” 

‘Dear Edward’ by Ann Napolitano 

This January 2020 Read With Jenna pick follows 12-year-old Edward Adler after a plane crash claims the lives of everyone aboard his flight—except him. As the only survivor, Edward must navigate overwhelming grief, the loss of his entire family and unwanted public attention, all while the world watches his every move. What follows is a keenly observed, heart-wrenching exploration of survival, identity and grief. 

What Jenna says: “I choose Dear Edward because it is a book about love and loss and finding your way after the unthinkable. It deals with grief and there are definitely sad moments but, ultimately, I found it to be a really hopeful, beautiful book.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “Ann Napolitano has such an incredible way of making you feel connected to her characters. Her writing is emotional without constantly telling you how to feel. She gives you the little details, the thoughts and the quiet moments, and somehow they can hit harder than the big dramatic scenes. I also loved how the two timelines slowly work together. We’re seeing the people before the crash and Edward afterwards, and the contrast between the two makes everything feel even more poignant.” 

Entertainment

4 Authors Jenna Bush Hager Says She Loves

Finding an author whose books you love–a writer whose novels become auto-buys—can be difficult sometimes, but Jenna Bush Hager has you covered. Over the years the Today show co-host and Read With Jenna book club founder has shared some of her favorite writers, and they range from Ann Patchett to Alice Hoffman. To learn more, […]

‘Nothing to See Here’ by Kevin Wilson 

In November 2019, Jenna picked this book as her Read With Jenna pick. Lillian and Madison become roommates at a boarding school, but Lillian leaves the school after a scandal. As a result, she and Madison begin to talk less and less. Then, one day out of the blue, Lillian receives a letter shows from Madison, begging Lillian to help her take care of Madison’s stepchildren—young twins—who need someone. The only problem is sometimes the kids randomly burst into flames. Even so, Lillian bonds with them, and soon her life begins to change for the better.

What Jenna says: “It sounds a little bit sci-fi but I don’t think any book has touched me about parenthood as much as Nothing to See Here.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “It takes a lot of skill for an author to write a book about children bursting into flames and do it in a way that makes it not only believable, but endearing. I absolutely loved this quirky, funny and sweet story.” 

Ready for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Before there was the After book series and the subsequent films, Anna Todd was simply publishing her story chapter by chapter from her iPhone on Wattpad. What began as a One Direction fanfiction based on Harry Styles soon evolved into the bestselling story about Tessa Young and Hardin Scott. 

Todd, who didn’t know what would become of her creative endeavor, quickly became Wattpad’s biggest and most influential success. Her chapters accumulated over 1.5 billion reads on the platform and her story was one of the platform’s first global sensations. Now, with several movies and books under her belt, Todd is going on to produce more projects, including the upcoming House of Crowns show.

Woman’s World recently spoke with the author about her journey from Wattpad to the big screen, what she loves about fanfiction and her favorite One Direction members—because Anna Todd is a fangirl too. 

Woman’s World: The first thing you published was the Harry Styles fanfiction—why was he the subject?

Anna Todd: I genuinely don’t think I would have ever written if it wasn’t a Harry fanfiction, because I was reading so much of it. I was reading romance outside of Wattpad also, but I was already a fan. We didn’t really have a glimpse into their [One Direction’s] personalities, but there was something about him that was so charming and enchanting, and it scratched something in my brain, even though my character is the complete opposite of the real Harry.

WW: Was Harry your favorite member of One Direction?

Anna Todd: Harry [Styles] and Liam [Payne]. And then Zayn [Malik] was the most beautiful creature. 

WW: Had you been interested in writing before you started publishing chapters on Wattpad or was this just a hobby?

Anna Todd: It was just a hobby, but I also had no idea what I wanted to do either. My son was young and had a lot of medical conditions, so it was just a hobby and escapism from life…This was something that I did for myself for the first time in a long time. After writing that first chapter, I thought ‘That felt really good,’ and then I just kept doing it. 

WW: What is it that you like about fan fiction?

Anna Todd: I’m a zero or one hundred person when I love something—whether it’s a band, an actor, a TV show, a film, or another book series—when it’s over, I’m not ready for it to be over. I love Twilight, for example. I could read 1,000 different versions of those characters, and at the end, they’re always together. It’s the comfort of staying in a world that you already love. 

WW: Do you feel like writing fan fiction on Wattpad is a good place to get started if you want to be a writer?

Anna Todd: Definitely. It’s a good place to start. Realistically, it’s hard to be discovered on the internet, no matter what, but I also think going into a query situation, if you have 10,000 reads [on Wattpad], it gives you leverage. So I definitely think at least trying to build a community, you can learn about your own writing. 

WW: What books are you reading right now?

Anna Todd: I try to read [books] far away from what I’m writing at the moment, so I just finished Brain Damage by Freida McFadden. Cassandra Clare has a book called The Last King of Faerie and I read everything she writes. She’s my number one living author of all time. I love her. 

WW: Everyone always talks about After, but you’ve written several other books. Which of those would you love to see adapted into a series or film?

Anna Todd: We were brainstorming about Nothing More and Nothing Less, but after Liam Payne [died], I was like, I can’t do that. Not only for my own mental health and my own sadness, but just in general, it felt like crossing a line. The only thing I have that has not sold is The Spring Girls. I just love retellings. It’s a Little Women retelling, but it’s modern. I would like to see that one. 

WW: What’s your favorite trope to write about?

Anna Todd: I love enemies to lovers, but I definitely look at it a bit differently now. With After, for example, that was like hatred to lovers. I would still do [enemies to lovers], just a shorter period of enemies and it’s not as cutthroat. I do love rivals. One of my tropes in the House of Crowns series is rivals to lovers, which I like because then it’s competitive for a reason. Lately, I’ve also been playing a lot with classism and wealth, which isn’t that romantic and fun, but I love the trope of people coming from different worlds and falling in love despite that.

Fourth Wing fans, it’s time to fly down to Barnes & Noble, because the popular bookseller just released tons of new merch inspired by the series. And it’s not just bookmarks. It’s keychains, puzzles, Monopoly and even a crochet set! To learn more, keep scrolling! 

A plush keychain 

One of the most adorable characters in the Fourth Wing series is Andarna, one of Violet’s dragons, and while readers—sadly—cannot have their own, they can have this plush keychain from Barnes & Noble, which is the next best thing. The 5.5-inch polyester accessory costs $17. Be right back, we are busy buying all of them!

Puzzles 

Since we don’t have a release date for Fourth Wing 4 yet, many readers are looking for things to do while they wait. Enter puzzles: Barnes & Noble has plenty of puzzles inspired by the Empyrean world, including one featuring a gorgeous illustration of the book’s main characters, which costs $20 and has 500 pieces. Another one shows Violet reading in the archives while her dragons fly around outside. That one is $18 and has 250 pieces. Finally, there is a $20 500-piece puzzle that looks like it’s made of stained glass and features some of the series’ most iconic dragons. 

Entertainment

7 ‘ACOTAR’ Finds Fans Will Want Before Book 6 Arrives

We are just about six weeks away from the highly anticipated release of A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) 6, A Court of Splintered Harmony, and if you’re looking for ways to add some magic to your bookshelf in the meantime, get ready, because there is a ton of merch out there that will […]

Coloring books, word searches and journals 

If you’re looking for a more interactive Fourth Wing book, don’t miss out on these sticker books, journals and word searches at Barnes & Noble.

The bookseller has several sticker and coloring books for sale, featuring amazing details and designs. One is called The Rider Files and costs $17, another is Fourth Wing: The Official Coloring & Sticker Book, selling for $20. Then there’s the official Onyx Storm coloring and sticker book for $19 and an Iron Flame coloring and sticker book for $20.

And don’t miss the official Fourth Wing word search, which costs $16 and features hundreds of puzzles, or the Book of Brennan journal and Navarre Library journal, which allow readers to write down their own heroic journey. Both of these items cost $25.

Crochet kits 

These kits are the perfect way to bring a little Fourth Wing love into your home. One of them, which costs $25, allows readers to make their own Andarna. The second one, also $25, allows readers to stitch their own Andarna, Tairn, Sgaeyl, Violet and even a shirtless Xaden! Now that’s a design we can get behind.

Entertainment

Rebecca Yarros Just Dropped a Big ‘Fourth Wing’ Book 4 Hint

Rebecca Yarros is finally giving us some Fourth Wing 4 details! During her recent ApollyCon panel, the author teased several different things including its length and how book 5 will be impacted. Yarros also shared some details on what the highly anticipated unnamed book releasing in September will be about. Read on for more.  Rebecca […]

Games 

Pull up a chair: We have some Fourth Wing-inspired games to play. First up is Monopoly, featuring some of the series’ most iconic places, items and even a special note from Rebecca Yarros herself. Next is the game Fourth Wing: Rise of the Wingleader, which allows players to compete for fame and rank at Basgiath War College. Then there’s a game that centers around players seeing how their real-life responses to book events would shape their journey in the Empyrean world. Finally, check out the priority game, which allows players to rank things from the series from least favorite to favorite. 

Tote bags 

No book merch roundup is complete without a tote bag, and right now Barnes & Noble has two Fourth Wing-inspired options. One features the Basgiath War College logo and costs $16, and the other features books mentioned in the series and costs $25.

Ready for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Need a can’t-miss book recommendation? One worth of your limited time and precious dime? Take it from Ann Patchett. The bestselling Nashville-based author and beloved independent bookseller has her finger on the pulse of great literature like no one else in America—and she’s sharing her favorite reads written by, narrated or recommended by some of the biggest creative superstars around. From Tom Hanks’ short stories to Viola Davis’ powerful memoir, these six books come double-approved: written (or performed) by names you already love, and personally recommended by Patchett herself. Ready to stock up your nightstand? Add these five-star, star-studded titles to your must-read pile today!

Patchett’s pick #1: ‘Uncommon Type’ by Tom Hanks

This was the actor’s first work of fiction: a charming collection of short stories, all connected by one quirky common thread—typewriters. As a natural storyteller, Hanks explores characters including a World War II vet and an actor struck by sudden fame during a press junket. What has Patchett said about it? In an essay, she revealed, “In 2017, I picked up a collection called Uncommon Type, by Tom Hanks. It had been languishing in a pile by the dresser for a while, and I’d left it there because of an unarticulated belief that actors should stick to acting.” One read was all it took to change her mind. Patchett later named the collection to her list of “top 30 must-read books.”

And it turned into a full-circle moment: Patchett and Hanks became friends and he narrated the audiobook version of her novel The Dutch House in 2019.

One reader raved about the superstar’s work: “This book has turned me on to how much fun short stories can be. And I loved this. I hope he does a second collection…it’s not fair he can be so good in multiple formats.”

Patchett’s pick #2: ‘Angels in America’ by Tony Kushner

In a social media reel for her store Parnassus Books, Patchett called this two-part collection subtitled A Gay Fantasia on National Themes “one of the greatest works of art in our time” by one of the greatest playwrights of the generation. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. She added, “Angels in America—a widely banned two-play set that came out in 1991—is as important and beautiful and relevant today as it was when it came out.” It explores the AIDS epidemic. And she says it reminds her “about how art bears witness, and that witness stays forever.” She continued, “This is such an important and beautiful piece of literature.”

Patchett has even called friends to read this play in community. “It’s like a different way to have a book club. You don’t read it in advance. Somebody assigns everybody a part, and you read it out loud, and it’s incredibly meaningful.” Patchett is usually cool as a cucumber, but she admits to becoming totally starstruck in the presence of this superstar creator. “I met Tony Kushner once. I shook his hand, and I burst into tears when I met him!”

What fans say: “After watching the Angels in America DVD, I wanted to see how it was originally as a play, and it does not disappoint. In many ways, I think it’s a better experience reading this play than it was to see it on my tiny television.”

Patchett’s pick #3: ‘If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?’ by Alan Alda

If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating, is the memoir from the larger-than-life M*A*S*H actor. It blends personal stories from Alda’s past about miscommunications gone awry with communication tips and tricks he’s learned either from improv acting or research as the former host of PBS’s Scientific American Frontiers.

Patchett called this book a “brilliant must read.” And Alda repaid the compliment when he had Patchett on his podcast Clear+Vivid, and said, “At the heart of communication is empathy—the ability to take on the perspective of another person. Novelists are especially good at this, and I think there are a few novelists as good at it as Ann Patchett.”

One reader shared, “Alda has a way of coming into our lives and leaving a mark. And this book is no exception. Filled with autobiographical ruminations, he teaches us about science and ourselves in a way that no other author can replicate.”

Patchett’s pick #4: ‘The Testament of Mary’ by Colm Toibin, narrated by Meryl Streep

Okay, Meryl Streep didn’t write this one. But Patchett did rave about Streep’s beautiful audiobook narration of this title, which was nominated for multiple Audie Awards in 2014. What’s it about? This story imagines Mary, the mother of Jesus, later in life—still grappling with the loss of her son from many years earlier. The novel imagines the parts of Mary’s story left untold in the New Testament of the Bible.

One reader commented: “This is the most amazing book. Colm Toibin has broached an entire new dimension of history, religion and humanity. This book has also been read by Meryl Streep on audiobook and has since been performed as a Broadway play to great reviews.”

And fun fact: Streep also narrated the audiobook version of Patchett’s bestseller Tom Lake.

Patchett’s pick #5: ‘Finding Me’ by Viola Davis

This memoir, subtitled  An Inspiring Story of Resilience, Self-Discovery, and Finding Your Voice, follows Viola Davis from her impoverished childhood in Rhode Island to her training as an actress at Juilliard and her rise to EGOT fame in Hollywood. And every page contains the “radical honesty” Davis is known for.

Patchett’s bookstore recommended this title online, announcing, “The amazing Viola Davis is out with a memoir, Finding Me.” And the two—Patchett and Davis—share something in common: They were both named to the 2012 TIME magazine 100 Most Influential People list.

What fans are saying about the memoir: “I’m a little speechless… I came across Finding Me by random chance, listened to the preview and with the opening line, I was hooked. I can’t even begin to express how incredible this book is. Never in my life would I have expected to enjoy a memoir/autobiography as much as I enjoyed Finding Me.”

Patchett’s pick #6: “The Covenant of Water’ by Abraham Verghese

The novel is set on the southern coast of India and spans 77 years, following a family haunted by a mysterious curse: In every generation, someone dies by drowning. It’s a sweeping story about loss, resilience and the loved ones left behind to carry on. Patchett is a fan, gushing on social media about “my friend Abraham Verghese and Covenant of Water.”

She has good taste because Viola Davis recently shared this book recommendation in an exclusive interview with Woman’s World. When asked what book has captured her attention lately, she said, “Oh my goodness, the books that I’m recommending today—and once again, I’m working on that too, my focus, as I’m getting older. I’m reading The Covenant of Water. ” She added, “Oh, it’s grand. It’s sweeping. It’s a love story to India. I love it. I love it so much.”

“Epic, generational novel,” said one online reader. “This book reminded me a little of One Hundred Years of Solitude, in that we see these people and villages as they grow and evolve from the early 1900s up to the modern age… what makes this book sing are the characters.”

Bottom line: In Ann Patchett we trust when it comes to quality books to read. And now you have six more great titles to add to your list this fall. Enjoy!

Bonnie Garmus’ new novel, Peck & Peck, is out this week, and whether you’ve already started it, have a copy on hold or are still waiting for your turn, the Lessons in Chemistry author has plenty of other books to recommend. Here are five she has praised, plus what Goodreads readers say about each. 

‘Whistler’ by Ann Patchett 

Ann Patchett’s newest novel is filled with love, heart and depth. When 53-year-old Daphne Fuller unexpectedly runs into her ex-stepfather Eddie Triplett at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, she is shocked to see him. But as the two get to talking, Daphne is reminded of how much she loved him when he was married to her mother—a relationship that came to an end after Daphne and Eddie were involved in a car accident. As they continue to catch up, Daphne and Eddie realize how much they need each other.

What Bonnie says: “I don’t cry very easily but when I got to that part in Ann Patchett’s Whistler when we finally understood what happened, I lost it.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “I think I can officially say this is the best fiction I’ve read this year so far, and honestly, when it comes to Ann Patchett, I shouldn’t be surprised anymore. She has this almost unfair ability to take ordinary human lives, complicated relationships, old wounds, missed opportunities, and all the things people carry silently for decades—and somehow turn them into something that feels completely extraordinary. And seeing Whistler among Barack Obama’s favorite books made me ridiculously happy because apparently my reading taste and his can occasionally have a little reunion.” 

‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara

This bestselling novel by Hanya Yanagihara is hard to read, but that doesn’t make it any less poignant and important. The plot follows a group of college friends—Willem, JB and Malcolm—navigating life in New York City. At the center of the group is Jude, who has a past he’s desperate to keep hidden. As time goes on, Jude’s friends begin to wonder who he truly is and what he’s been hiding. [Editor’s note: This novel includes distressing, graphic depictions of abuse, self-harm and suicide, so consider checking a full list of content warnings before you read.

What Bonnie says: “The most difficult read on sexual abuse I’ve ever encountered and yet interlaced with amazing passages of theoretical thought.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “Where to even begin reviewing this book? I just finished this book today, and I am so emotionally drained it’s hard to put my thoughts into words. Despite this book’s emotional pain, there are moments of hope, beautiful characters, and loving relationships. Maybe the coolest part of this book is that we follow Jude through his entire life. I have never ever read a book before where we get such a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of our main character’s life. If you choose to read this book, proceed with extreme caution. There are so many trigger warnings, and it is such an emotional read, but if you feel that you are in the right headspace to read it, it will be a worthwhile read on trauma and friendship.” 

‘American Wife’ by Curtis Sittenfeld

Inspired by former First Lady Laura Bush, this story follows Alice Lindgren, a Wisconsin native whose life is upended after a tragic accident when she is a teenager. Years later, Alice’s entire life has changed and she finds herself falling in love with the son of a powerful Republican family named Charlie. Eventually, Charlie becomes President of the United States and Alice is the First Lady, a position she never thought she would have. Now, eight years after arriving at the White House, Alice begins to question if the life she has is the one she really wants. 

What Bonnie says: “Sittenfeld sees right through everything and everyone and writes with such grace and honesty, even when she’s reinventing real people. Only Sittenfeld could make me adore Laura Bush.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “American Wife is the best thing I have read in a very long time. I picked this book up from my local library in a moment of desperation when I had nothing else to read. I was about to pass on it when two of my holds came in, but I am so glad I cracked the front cover, because I was immediately and hopelessly hooked. Sittenfeld does an extraordinary job bringing Charlie and Alice to life in all their glory, warts and all. The prose is beautiful—clear, plain and heartfelt—and the story both moving and matter-of-fact.” 

Entertainment

4 Authors Jenna Bush Hager Says She Loves

Finding an author whose books you love–a writer whose novels become auto-buys—can be difficult sometimes, but Jenna Bush Hager has you covered. Over the years the Today show co-host and Read With Jenna book club founder has shared some of her favorite writers, and they range from Ann Patchett to Alice Hoffman. To learn more, […]

‘Take My Hand’ by Dolen Perkins-Valdez 

Set in 1973 and inspired by real events, this novel follows nurse Civil Townsend, who works at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic and is determined to make a difference in her community. During her first week on the job, Civil meets two Black sisters, 13-year-old Erica and 11-year-old India Williams, who are forced to go on birth control, and she’s shocked at how young they are. As she grows close to the girls and their family, something happens that changes all of their lives, and Civil is pulled into a fight for justice. Decades later, Civil is ready to retire and leave the past behind, but the past isn’t finished with her. A powerful, moving look at a painful chapter of American history.

What Bonnie says: “Although it’s a work of fiction, Take My Hand is based on true events. That fact alone should make this required reading, but it is Perkins-Valdez’s electric prose that brings this shameful chapter of American history back where it belongs: on the front burner.” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “Take My Hand is a gem of a read! It reminds us just how important it is for these stories to be told, for them to be heard, to be acknowledged and remembered and to care; that feels crucial right now. This is why I read the books I do!”  

Entertainment

Ann Patchett Recommends 4 Backlist Books That Will Transform You

Think of your favorite books on your shelf—the ones that helped shape your view of the world. We often turn to stories to learn, to gain empathy and to feel inspired. But does the saying, “You are what you eat” apply beyond food—to the books we devour over a cozy weekend? Following Ann Patchett’s recent […]

‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ by Roald Dahl 

Originally published in 1964, this classic novel has been adapted into two different movies. One day, the mysterious chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka sends out five golden tickets. The children who find them will be invited into his factory. Among the children who find one is Charlie Bucket, a poor boy with a kind and giving personality, which he will need if he’s going to survive the life-changing tour of the chocolate factory. A magical tale.

What Bonnie says: “When I was a kid, I wrote Dahl and told him how much I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (I’d also written other authors —it’s just what I did whenever I loved a book that much.) I never heard back from anyone—I’d come to accept that authors were very busy people and probably got a thousand such letters a week. But then one day, several months later, I came home from school and my mom said, ‘who in the world would be writing you all the way from England?’ Dahl!” 

What Goodreads users are saying: “Charlie and Willy Wonka bring back a lot of nostalgia for me. I watched the movie and read the book (and its sequel) several times as a child. It was one of those stories I could watch/read over and over again without a break between.”

If you’ve fallen in love with State of Wonder—Ann Patchett’s lush novel about a scientist searching for a vanished colleague in the Amazon—you already know the bestselling author has a gift for transporting readers somewhere they didn’t expect to go. What you might not know is how deeply she researched that book. In a conversation with Ina Garten on Be My Guest with Ina Garten, Patchett revealed she shadowed the chief malariologist at Bethesda Naval Hospital to prepare for the novel.

“People want to be asked questions. I know a lot about malaria from writing State of Wonder,” Patchett told Garten. “I went to the Bethesda Naval Hospital. They said, ‘I’m interested in malaria. Can I shadow you for a day?’ And the chief malariologist—he didn’t know who I was, he didn’t care what I did—he just wanted somebody to talk about mosquitoes all day, because people really want to share what they know.”

That same curiosity shapes the recommendations Patchett regularly shares from her Nashville bookstore, Parnassus Books, which she co-founded with Karen Hayes in 2011. When readers tell her they’re feeling overwhelmed, she doesn’t point them to the newest release. She points them to backlist titles she’s loved for years. “Okay, friends, lately I’ve been a little down, right? I mean, I’m guessing that maybe you’ve been a little down too. There’s a lot going on,” she recently admitted on social media before sharing her favorite mood lifters.

On social media reels for the store, Patchett has shared the backlist titles she returns to when the news feels heavy or sleep won’t come. Her rule: forget what’s new on the front table. “If you haven’t read them, they’re new to you!” Here are seven books she swears by—all drawn from her own recommendations to readers.

‘Beowulf,’ translated by Seamus Heaney

The ancient epic — a foreigner arrives in a village terrorized by a monster — is Patchett’s go-to for a restless night. She specifically recommends the 2000 Nobel laureate translation. “Beowulf is what I need. Specifically, I need the Seamus Heaney translation of Beowulf that came out in 2000,” she said in her “New To You” series. The appeal, she explains, is primal: “It’s so satisfying. It’ll make you feel warm, safe. It’ll make you understand what really matters in life, which is kindness, courage, bravery, good deeds.” She adds that the language itself keeps her turning pages: “It is beautiful. You can’t put it down.”

‘The Wind in the Willows’ by Kenneth Grahame

Patchett confesses she lied for years about having read Kenneth Grahame’s 1908 classic. At 62, she finally picked it up — and called the experience “like a therapy project.” The book follows Toad, Badger, Mole and Ratty through a mix of adventure and gentle social satire. “It is a soul-calming, peaceful book about friendship and nature, about making mistakes and being forgiven, about having adventures and being brave, about problem-solving,” she says. The result sneaks up on you: “I just felt this complete rush of peace go through me when I was reading this book. I felt completely renewed.”

‘The Book of Delights’ by Ross Gay

Poet Ross Gay spent a year writing one short essay a day about something that brought him joy. The 2019 collection is Patchett’s recommendation when a reader needs a slow, savored read. “Gay decided to find good things in the world, and every day he wrote a little tiny micro essay about something that he had found that day that brought him happiness,” Patchett told followers in a Parnassus reel. She rationed the chapters herself: “I love this book so much that I only let myself read like two or three a night. It was like a box of chocolates.” Her verdict: “It’s kind, it’s thoughtful and it gives a more expansive view of the world.”

‘On Beauty’ by Zadie Smith

Patchett and her friend Katie DiCamillo recently discovered, mid-phone call, that they had independently picked up Zadie Smith’s 2005 novel for comfort. The book centers on two academic families locked in a long feud, raising children and navigating the culture wars. “This is a glorious novel that is full of love and joy, and obviously intelligence, because Zadie Smith is the smartest person alive,” Patchett says. What sets it apart, in her view, is tone: “Lots of people can be smart and biting and funny and mean, but almost no one can be smart and biting and funny and loving, and that’s what this book is!”

‘Little Heathens’ by Mildred Armstrong Kalish

A memoir of growing up on an Iowa farm during the Great Depression, Mildred Armstrong Kalish’s 2007 book was named one of the 10 best books of that year by The New York Times. Patchett rediscovered it through an unusual sleep ritual — mentally walking through her grandmother’s house room by room. “My grandmother grew up during the Depression in Kansas, so it’s very close to her story,” she explains. Chapters move methodically through animals, chores and gardening on the farm. “It’s interesting and soothing, and really well written,” Patchett says. “I ended up rereading the whole thing again, just because I enjoyed it so much.”

‘This Is Happiness’ by Niall Williams

Set in the tiny Irish village of Faha in 1958 — the year electricity arrives — Niall Williams’ novel came to Patchett through another bookshop owner’s insistence. She is now evangelizing. “I love this book so passionately. It’s about the tiny town of Faha in Ireland in 1958 getting electricity. It’s about falling in love. It’s about making friends,” she says. Williams’ sentences slowed her reading pace to a crawl: “It’s one of those books that every single sentence I wanted to underline and sit with and think about.” Her prescription is direct: “If you are sad, you should read it.”

‘This Time Tomorrow’ by Emma Straub

Patchett’s one contemporary pick on this list is Emma Straub’s 2022 novel about a woman who time-travels back to spend more time with her beloved father. “This time travel strengthens and deepens their relationship,” Patchett says. She calls it the book she thinks a lot of readers are quietly looking for. “This is such a fantastic book, and I feel like it’s the book that so many people are looking for. It’s different. It’s funny. It’s moving. It’s smart. It’s gripping. It’s so touching and innovative.” It’s a reminder that comfort reads don’t have to be old to work.

Patchett, whose own novels include Bel Canto, The Dutch House, Tom Lake and her latest, Whistler, published this June, knows the right book can shift a reader’s whole outlook. If State of Wonder reminded you how transporting a novel can be, these five picks offer the same immersive magic—minus the mosquitoes.

Jodi Picoult has published 30 books in the last 30 years, and in that time, she has amassed quite a following. Her emotional novels shine a light on modern-day issues, and they have  received more than 6 million ratings on Goodreads. But which of her books received the highest scores? And why do readers find the books so captivating?  Below, we reveal the top five Jodi Picoult books according to Goodreads fans and reveal what readers love about them.

‘Hollow Bones’ – 4.46 average rating

Picoult’s most recent novel was published last month and it has already received more than 300,000 ratings on Goodreads. The plot follows Molly Fitzgerald, a young woman who lost her mother in the devastating 9/11 attacks when she was 2 months old. She now works at the Rhode Island Department for Emergency Preparedness and is married to a man named Jesse—who was featured  in Picoult’s novel My Sister’s Keeper (more on that story, below). When a bit of unexpected news upends their entire lives, Molly is forced to reexamine everything she thought she knew about herself and her family. A moving, gripping tale.

What Goodreads users are saying: “What I loved most about this story is how it balances massive emotional themes with intimate character moments. Trauma, motherhood, marriage, grief, identity, fear of losing people you love—it’s all here, tangled together in the messiest, most human way possible. Some scenes genuinely hurt to read because they felt too real, too raw, too recognizable. There were moments I had to stop reading for a second just to emotionally recover before diving back in. And yet I could not stop turning the pages.” 

‘Small Great Things’ – 4.36 average rating 

In 2016, Picoult published this novel, which has since garnered more than 400,000 ratings on Goodreads. The plot begins when hospital  nurse Ruth Jefferson checks on a newborn baby in her unit only to learn that she’s been reassigned to a different patient after the baby’s parents are revealed to be white supremacists who don’t want Ruth, who is Black, taking care of their child. Soon after, the baby goes into cardiac distress and Ruth debates whether or not to go against the parents’ wishes and perform CPR. When she finds herself  charged with second-degree murder, she is forced to reexamine everything she thought she knew about humanity, the medical field and the law. 

What Goodreads users are saying: “It is a very emotional and powerful story. Although it is a fictional story I feel it is so important and everyone should read this and listen to the message carefully! This story stirred so many emotions inside me. It was heartbreaking, frustrating, maddening and sad. There were parts that made me cringe but most of all it has left me feeling hopeful. I highly recommend it to everyone. I enjoyed the author’s note at the end that went into detail on why she wrote the book and what she hoped to accomplish.” 

‘The Storyteller’ – 4.30 average rating 

Published in 2013, this dual-timeline tale has more than 200,000 ratings on Goodreads. In modern day, Sage Singer, a baker,  joins a support group to overcome the grief she’s experiencing from her mother’s death. There she meets a 95-year-old man named Josef Weber, who asks if Sage is willing to listen to him discuss his past and then eventually help him end his life. She reluctantly agrees and is soon transported back to World War II, where Josef worked as a Nazi SS guard at Auschwitz, something he has kept a secret for decades. A beautiful historical fiction tale that will leave readers guessing.

What Goodreads users are saying: “This was an amazing read…you will not be able to put this book down until the ending.It is a highly emotional read that deals straight on with concepts of the consequences of Good versus Evil, justice and punishment, forgiveness or hatred, all centering around the topic of the holocaust and genocide. Jodi Picoult weaves an unforgettable story based on historical facts and memorable characters that will keep you thinking long after you finish reading the novel.” 

Entertainment

Love Kristin Hannah? Her Fans Say You’ll Also Love 4 Jodi Picoult Books

From The Women and The Nightingale to Winter Garden and The Great Alone— Kristin Hannah’s bestsellers are famous for strong heroines, emotional punch and page-turning suspense. Want to try another author with the same power to move us? Diehard Kristin Hannah fans enthusiastically suggest Jodi Picoult.  Like Hannah, Picoult has spent the last 30+ years […]

‘Nineteen Minutes’ – 4.18 average rating 

Picoult wrote this novel in 2007 and it has since received more than 400,000 ratings on Goodreads and has also become one of the most banned books in America. One day, Peter Houghton opens fire on a school in New Hampshire. Josie Cormier is one of the victims of the shooting and is supposed to be the key witness, but she claims she cannot remember what happened. Meanwhile, Josie’s mother Alex is the superior court judge assigned to the case, since she’s the one of the few in the small county, and the case hits close to home for her in more ways than one. This novel is devastating and hard to read at points, but it’s also timely and gripping—and a beautiful tale of friendship, love and family relationships. 

What Goodreads users are saying: “Nineteen Minutes ends with stunning results. We think we know exactly what happened, but as the story progresses and we delve deeper into various characters’ psyche we begin to realize everything is not what it seems. I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you’re like me you’ll begin to suspect things earlier on. I’d say more, but sometimes I just have to let the book speak for itself. It’s such an amazingly sensitive story, to critique it too much might skew your own opinion going into it. The writing is beautiful, the characters complex and real. That’s all I’m going to say, I think you need to find the rest out for yourself.” 

Entertainment

Jodi Picoult Recommends 5 Books You’ll Want to Read Next

Jodi Picoult just released her 30th novel, Hollow Bones, a deeply moving 9/11-themed story of love and loss, and many readers have already torn through it and are now searching for something that has the same emotional depth and intriguing plot. Many readers are diving into some of the author’s past books, but if you’ve […]

‘My Sister’s Keeper’ – 4.11 average rating  

With more than 1 million ratings on Goodreads, this 2004 novel—which was made into a movie starring Cameron Diaz and Alec Baldwin—has become one of Picoult’s most famous. At just 13 years old, Anna has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions and medical procedures to help her older sister Kate with her leukemia battle. One day, Anna has had enough of it and decides to sue her parents for the rights to her own body, which causes the family to explode. What follows is a devastating legal battle that tears apart a family and raises the question: how far would you go to help your sister?

What Goodreads users are saying: “This book was incredible! Devastating though for sure! There are really no words to describe how moving and engrossing this story is. You can see both sides of the debate but at the same time it is so hard to choose which is the better side compared to the ethical side and possibly even realistic. My quick and simple overall is just one word for this book: AMAZING!”

Ready for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.