Jenna Bush Hager’s Favorite Family Saga Books: ‘You Will Love, Love, Love this Book’
From sister sagas to shocking secrets, Jenna’s picks will keep you up way past bedtime
Key Takeaways
- Jenna says 'Blue Sisters' is the first sisterhood book to move her as much as 'Little Women.'
- 'Real Americans' is a Read With Jenna pick that spans generations and explores family secrets.
- Jenna calls 'The School for Good Mothers' so captivating that nothing she read after compared.
Any Today show fan knows cohost Jenna Bush Hager loves to read. After all, she has her book club Read With Jenna, her publishing imprint Thousand Voices and a podcast, Open Book with Jenna, where she talks to celebrities and authors about all things books. One genre Jenna returns to again and again is family sagas, and we get it: The books are packed with drama, secrets, lies and intrigue. Here, five must-read family sagas Jenna has recommended.
Jenna Bush Hager’s top family saga books
From thrilling tales to magical adventures, here are five family saga books Jenna likes.
‘Cursed Daughters’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite
In this 2025 novel, generations of Falodun women have lived under a chilling curse: “No man will call your house his home.” When Ebun gives birth to her daughter Eniiyi on the day her cousin Monife is buried, the family becomes convinced Eniiyi is Monife reborn—and destined for the same tragic fate. As Eniiyi grows into a woman, both mother and daughter must face the dark legacy that has haunted their family for generations. What follows is a battle of love, loss and acceptance.
What Jenna says: “I was delighted by this book. It is very funny at moments and extremely poignant at others. It’ll have you getting a pen out to underline as I did. I think you will love this book and I hope you will share it with your daughters, your sisters, your mothers.”
What readers are saying: “This book is dark, clever and utterly addictive. I was completely drawn in by everything—the characters, the structure and the way the relationships evolved. The pacing and the slow reveals were spot-on, and the “curse” sections wove in beautifully. Themes of identity, female resilience, sisterhood, inherited trauma, forgiveness, and the power of rewriting your narrative shine through.”
‘A Family Matter’ by Claire Lynch
Fans of dual-timeline historical fiction novels will enjoy this book by Claire Lynch. In 1982, Dawn is working hard to become a good wife and mother to her young daughter. Forty years later in 2022, a man named Heron receives devastating news from his doctor—news he’s determined to hide from his only child, Maggie. But that’s not the only secret Heron’s keeping, and as time goes on, it becomes clear he can only keep Maggie in the dark for so long. As these two timelines unfold, the connection between Dawn’s past and Heron’s present slowly comes to light.
What Jenna says: “In the ’80s, we meet a young mother who falls in love and is punished for it. In the early aughts, we meet Heron, who is an older man who has to reckon with the decision he made and tell the story of her life. It’s a story about family, truth and most of all, about love. “
What readers are saying: “A Family Matter by Claire Lynch is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. It’s an intricate, emotional story about love, loss, and the weight of secrets that shape the lives of a family over decades. It explores universal themes—love, family, regrets and the profound impact of the choices we make. If you’re a fan of emotionally charged stories that make you question what you’d do in the characters’ shoes, this book is an absolute must-read.”
‘Blue Sisters’ by Coco Mellors
Unforgettable characters and moving storylines drive this bestselling novel. When the Blue sisters—Avery, Bonnie and Lucky—learn the New York City apartment they grew up in is for sale, they race home, hoping to stop it. But going home isn’t easy for them: The place is filled with memories of their late sister Nicky. Can they put their grief and differences aside and save their beloved childhood home?
What Jenna says: “I grew up with a mother and grandmother who read Little Women to me, which is about a strong group of sisters. Not since then has a book about sisterhood stuck with me as much as Coco Mellors’ Blue Sisters. Like Little Women, home is always when the sisters were unified and together. I loved these characters who span continents and yet their DNA and the history of their childhood is like a compass that brings them back when they need it most.”
What readers are saying: “After not having picked up a book in a long while, this was a very comfortable and cozy read to step back in with. The character development came together right from the beginning and made the sisters feel like long-held friends who were easily relatable.”
‘Real Americans’ by Rachel Khong
In 1999, Lily Chen—a 22-year-old raised by Chinese scientists who fled Mao’s regime—falls in love with Matthew, a laid-back pharmaceutical heir from the East Coast. Despite their differences, they marry. Fast forward 22 years, and Lily’s 15-year-old son Nick is growing up on a remote Washington island, feeling like he doesn’t belong. He’s convinced his mother is hiding something. When Nick starts questioning who his father is, he embarks on a journey searching for answers—only to uncover secrets far deeper and more complicated than he ever imagined.
What Jenna says: “It’s set in 2000, right when Y2K was happening, and it starts as a love story. But then it spans time and place, so that really, it’s a story of family and what we carry, what we pass down, secrets, and how they can divide us, and then bring us back together again. You will love, love, love this book.”
What readers are saying: “If you like a sprawling saga, interested in identity, history and contemporary issues, you cannot go wrong with this beguiling book, Real Americans. This is a story I will not soon forget.”
‘The School for Good Mothers’ by Jessamine Chan
This New York Times bestseller follows Frida Liu, a hardworking mother who struggles to meet her family’s expectations. To make matters worse, the state targets mothers who make one parenting error. Frida is targeted, and one day she’s sent to The School for Good Mothers. While there, she’s supposed to learn how to parent correctly or risk losing her child altogether. A powerful dystopian tale perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and 1984.
What Jenna says: “This debut novel was so captivating, thought-provoking and beautifully written, everything I tried to pick up next paled in comparison. It was all I wanted to talk about, think about and read.”
What readers are saying: “This novel is about motherhood, pure and joyous and painful. It is about control by a misdirected society trying to produce better mothers. There is an overload of guilt that accompanies motherhood. Because this novel reads like a mystery, you are in for an unpredictable outcome. The book is sure to stimulate your thinking and addresses human values. I loved it.”
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