This novel centers in the world of media and politics, thus is naturally full of scandal and behind the curtain type content. Yellin chronicles a female protagonist as she encounters obstacles on her way to try and make it as a big time journalist. One can assume was largely based on her own experiences as a journalist and the former CNN Chief White House Correspondent. This was a juicy, at times frustrating, read which was timely on the heels of the #metoo movement. Follow her on Instagram @jessicayellin for “News Not Noise”.

As a wife and mother, as a professional, as someone deeply interested in politics, I appreciated and enjoyed her story. Obama gives a detailed personal account of her life – from her upbringing, to meeting and dating former President Barack Obama, to present day. She keeps it very real sharing the journey and struggles in politics, marriage, and being a working mom. She is inspiring, relatable and delivers a great read.

This is such a beautiful and heartbreaking story about two sisters during WWII. Set in Nazi-occupied France, Hannah paints a vivid tale of women fighting in unique ways to do more than simply survive the war. From food rations to Nazis billeting in their home, the detailed day to day struggles they faced served as sad reminders of the realities of war. I was reading this one when we went into quarantine for COVID in the Spring, which provided good perspective as to what true hardship looks like. This excellent work of historical fiction will be coming to the big screen soon. It will surely be a ‘must-see’!

I’ve always been a fan of Giffin’s but this book included some very relevant social issues which made it that much more interesting, and emotional, to read. Well done without sounding preachy, Giffin weaves a present day story of complicated family and social conflicts. A tale catapulted by the danger of technology, the characters wrestle with deciphering hard truths and standing up for what they believe to be right. She has since released a new one, The Lies That Bind, which I have on my long list of books to read.

A raw, entertaining, and emotional autobiography, Union literally made me laugh and cry. I’ve been a fan of hers for half of my life, yet didn’t know all she’s gone through as a Black female, actress, and now mother. I love and applaud her for bravely baring such private parts of her life. In doing so, she’s helping other women who may relate and be struggling. In addition to some serious issues, Union entertains with an easy read.

My most recent read, an extremely well-written piece of historical fiction. Dray and Kamoie immerse us in the Revolutionary War era. Eliza Schuyler meets and becomes the wife of Alexander Hamilton, one of our country’s founding fathers. I loved experiencing history through her unique perspective as her life spanned the creation of our nation. She was deeply involved in supporting and affecting change in a young and turbulent nation. Meanwhile, she endured much pain and heartbreak in her personal life. Hamilton’s memory was resurrected, and made more widely known, by the popular Broadway musical “Hamilton” for which the authors address differences in historical accounts at the end of the book’s authors’ notes.