5 Books to Read Now From Women’s Fiction Authority

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

Secrets of a Charmed Life (Berkley) by Susan Meissner

I am a sucker for dual timeline stories, and Meissner is a master at seamlessly meshing present day with history. This is a story of mothers, daughters and sisters. Filled with hope and love, Secrets of a Charmed Life also illustrates the theme of living with the choices we make. It’s a beautifully written story about a horrible time in London during WWII. It’s a story whose characters will steal your heart.

How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O’Neal

How to Bake a Perfect Life (Random House) by Barbara O’Neal

Like yeasty dough, this story bubbles with all the perfect ingredients – relatable characters, vivid descriptions, complicated relationships and recipes that will have you baking in no time. O’Neal has long been one of my go-to authors for characters I wish could be my real-life neighbors and friends.

Forever is the Worst Long Time by Camille Pagán

Forever is the Worst Long Time (Lake Union Publishing) by Camille Pagán

Prepare yourself for a roller coaster of emotions with this book. It’s about relationships, friendships, love, heartache, betrayal and the messiness of real life. Pagán characters are perfectly flawed and her writing draws you in and leaves you breathless.

The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go by Amy Reichert

The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go (Gallery Books) by Amy Reichert

A heart-warming story about the messy dynamics between mothers and daughters. Reichert brings her characters to life and sucks the reader into their world as they struggle with secrets and resentment, grief and forgiveness. Don’t read this book on an empty stomach though because the food descriptions will have you raiding the fridge.

The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh

The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh

An engrossing read that will draw you in with the beautiful writing and keep you with the powerful story. Walsh hits the perfect emotional depth on the complicated relationships between sisters and heartbreaking stages through grief, then expertly guides them on the railroad tracks to recovery.

Orly Konig is an escapee from the corporate world who now spends her time chatting up imaginary friends, drinking entirely too much coffee, and negotiating writing space around her cats. She is the founding president of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and a member of the Tall Poppy Writers. She is the author of The Distance Home (May 2017) and Carousel Beach (May 2018), both from Forge.