WW Book Club for August 13th — August 19th, 2023

Welcome, fellow bookworms and literature lovers, to the seventh week of the Woman’s World — also known as ‘WW’ — book club!

As you know, every week our book editors will introduce you to seven brand-new page-turners that are just right for women over 45. We hope you will find a few jewels that are a perfect addition to your reading lists, your book club line-ups and/or your nightstand pile.

From rich historical sagas to sweet-meets-steamy romantic comedies to intriguingly charming whodunits to inspiring self-help guides, no matter what kind of bookish mood you’re in, we have you covered.

And there’s one thing we can guarantee: These reads are curated especially to lift your mood, lower your stress and make you feel great.

Here, our round-up for August 13th to August 19th — let us know which ones you end up reading and what you think. We love hearing from you!

In the mood for a drama about the Royals?

Get lost in The Princess by Wendy Holden

Readers are transported to 1961 Britain in this fascinating tale about beloved Princess Diana Spencer. Born into the Spencer earldom, Diana grew up amid her parents’ divorce, and her refuge was always her romantic novels. So when she becomes a candidate for the Prince of Wales, her dream to be loved intersects with Charles’ need for a bride. What follows is an astonishing story of Diana’s route to the altar and beyond.

Book cover of The Princess by Wendy Holden which shows a young Princess Diana with her back turned holding a summer straw hat

Craving a quirky crime-stopping whodunit?

Crack open A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke

Known for her charming and lighthearted whodunits, Olivia Blacke’s latest book is part of her Record Shop series. Juni Jessup and her sisters, Tansy and Maggie, open Sip & Spin Records —part record shop, part coffee shop. It’s all brewing up perfectly until the mayor drops dead after drinking their coffee. Now, the sisters must spring into action to find the real killer on the loose and clear Sip & Spin’s reputation!

Book cover of A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke which shows a colorful scene with a cat in sitting at a table in a record store

Looking for a historical escape?

Dive into The Bookbinder by Pip Williams

Filled with lovable characters and rich historical details, this story, set in 1914, stars twin sisters Peggy and Maude. During WWI, the sisters work in the bindery at the university press. Ambitious Peggy’s mind wanders to the female students of Oxford’s Somerville College across the street, while Maude is satisfied where she is. Peggy desires to live an educated life, but soon she learns the responsibility that comes with it.

Book cover of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams that shows a stack of illustrated books with a rose on the top book

Searching for an emotionally captivating tale?

Pick up The Peach Seed by Anita Gail Jones

This powerful, enchanting and beautifully written multigenerational story begins when widower Fletcher Dukes smells a familiar perfume and recognizes the woman as his lost love, Altovise Benson. Before Altovise fled the South, Fletcher gave her a monkey with diamond eyes carved from a peach pit. Now, seeing her again forces him to reckon with the past. He comes to find that a glimmer of hope as small as a seed can span across generations.

Book cover of The Peach Seed by Anita Gail Jones which shoes two trees and a coastal backdrop set amidst a tangerine sunset WW book club

Need an inspiring pick-me-up?

Jump into Tired of Trying by Ashley Morgan Jackson

In the middle of heartache and turmoil, it’s hard to imagine any good coming from it. But in her book, Christian author and speaker Ashley Morgan Jackson helps answer the question: What if that hard thing you’re going through is not happening to you but for you? With biblical encouragement, personal stories and practical applications — like how to break free from the cycle of frustration — she offers readers creative ways to redeem hurts and restore joy.

TIRED OF TRYING BY ASHLEY MORGAN JACKSON BOOK COVER

Yearning for a spicy-sweet romance?

Lend an ear to The Honeymoon Crashers By Christina Lauren

Hilarious antics and electric chemistry combine in this rom-com set in Hawaii. Ami is focusing on breaking the Torres family wedding curse. Her own wedding reception ended with all the guests getting food poisoning, and she left her cheating husband shortly after. Now, Ami is still processing her own divorce but she refuses to let her twin sister Olive and her fiance Ethan’s big day be anything but perfect. Her plan? Secretly flying the entire Torres family out to surprise the couple during their private ceremony. When she meets Brody, Ethan’s best man who is living in Maui, he insists on helping with wedding prep. Ami is convinced his playful, sunshine-y attitude is going to get in the way of her sister’s wedding, but then sparks fly between them. Could it derail all her meticulous plans?

The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren book cover WW book club

Interested in an electrifying thriller?

Press play on Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister

22-year-old Olivia has been missing for one day. Julia, the detective heading up the search, thinks she knows what to expect, but she has zero idea what’s in store. The criminal at the center of this disappearance is using a terrible weapon: a secret that threatens the safety of her daughter, Genevieve. And it’s Julia’s worst nightmare. What follows is a heart-racing game of cat and mouse, horrifying puzzles and a jaw-dropping series of twists.