Finding Ourselves in Every Chapter:
A Book Lovers Reading Year
January – Ladies, Ladies
Books: Brave the Wild River & First Ladies
January highlights women who forged their own paths. Brave the Wild River tells the true story of two trailblazing botanists navigating the treacherous Colorado River in 1938 to expand scientific understanding. First Ladies provides an intimate look at the women whose partnership, influence, and leadership shaped presidencies and national policy. A month celebrating audacity and impact.
Books: Brave the Wild River & First Ladies
January highlights women who forged their own paths. Brave the Wild River tells the true story of two trailblazing botanists navigating the treacherous Colorado River in 1938 to expand scientific understanding. First Ladies provides an intimate look at the women whose partnership, influence, and leadership shaped presidencies and national policy. A month celebrating audacity and impact.
February – Lovers Lane
Books: Atmosphere & Heart the Lover
February turns toward romance in all its shades. Heart the Lovers follows characters entangled in love’s sweetness and complications, while Atmosphere uses mood, setting, and emotional tension to reveal the invisible pressures and pleasures that shape relationships. A lovely blend of heartbeats and heartbreak.
Books: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible & Everything Sad Is Untrue
March leans into storytelling as truth-seeking. Everything Sad Is Untrue combines memoir, myth, and memory as Daniel—an Iranian refugee—pieces together his family’s fractured history. The True True Story of Raja the Gullible plays with folktale structure to explore how truth can be stretched or misunderstood. Both books invite readers to question whose truth gets told and why.
Books: Ordinary Time & Secret Astronomers
April offers a contemplative pause. Secret Astronomers is a tender, introspective story about observing life and love from a distance—much like charting hidden constellations. Ordinary Time reflects on spirituality, seasons, and the profound meaning found within the quiet rhythms of life. A beautifully meditative pairing.
May – Fierce Women
Books: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women & The Lion Women of Tehran
May spotlights powerful stories of women whose bonds—and bravery—sustain them. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women immerses readers in 15th-century China, where a woman trained in medicine relies on her network of female healers. The Lion Women of Tehran portrays modern Iranian women confronting danger, secrets, and societal constraints through friendship and resilience. A month full of courage and connection.
Book: Queen Esther
June focuses on a timeless narrative of bravery and calling. Queen Esther recounts the story of a young woman elevated to royalty who risks her position and life to save her people. It’s a month for reflecting on purpose, courage, and acting boldly when the moment demands it.
Books: How to Read a Book & The River Is Waiting
July centers on connection and reflection. How to Read a Book shows how shared reading can build relationships and open new paths forward, while The River Is Waiting captures the steady movement of life and the moments when we pause and listen. Together, these books reflect the gentle flow of summer and the ways stories carry us along.
August – Lost Lives, Found Stories
Books: The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau & The Book of Disappearance
August explores disappearance, identity, and the haunting power of absence. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau follows a woman whose life shifts or is taken from her, forcing a journey of revelation and reclamation. The Book of Disappearance imagines a world where all Palestinians vanish overnight, leaving Israelis to confront memory, presence, and loss. Both novels examine what remains when people or identities disappear—and what truths rise to the surface.
Books: The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau & The Book of Disappearance
August explores disappearance, identity, and the haunting power of absence. The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau follows a woman whose life shifts or is taken from her, forcing a journey of revelation and reclamation. The Book of Disappearance imagines a world where all Palestinians vanish overnight, leaving Israelis to confront memory, presence, and loss. Both novels examine what remains when people or identities disappear—and what truths rise to the surface.
Books: The Lost Bookshop & The Secret Book Society
September is a celebration of stories about stories. The Secret Book Society highlights readers who find refuge, healing, and community through shared reading. The Lost Bookshop adds a touch of magic and mystery as characters uncover a hidden literary haven that alters their lives. A joyful month honoring the transformative power of books.
Books: The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris & Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter
October leans delightfully into whimsy and wonder. In The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris, a seemingly ordinary bakery brims with secrets and enchantment. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter introduces magical cats, hidden powers, and a caretaker with an extraordinary story. A cozy, magical month perfect for fall.
Books: Buckeye & Good Dirt
November digs into the complexities of family—its roots, conflicts, loyalties, and the imperfect soil we grow from. Buckeye reflects on heritage and generational ties, while Good Dirt explores relationships shaped by land, lineage, and the messiness that gives families their unique shape. A warm, earthy pairing for a season centered on gathering.
December – It’s Draft Night Month!
Book: The Names
December closes the year with a thoughtful, layered exploration of identity and belonging. The Names traces the connections, histories, and personal stories that shape who we become. It’s an ideal end-of-year read—quiet, reflective, and rich with meaning as we consider the next chapter ahead.
Book: The Names
December closes the year with a thoughtful, layered exploration of identity and belonging. The Names traces the connections, histories, and personal stories that shape who we become. It’s an ideal end-of-year read—quiet, reflective, and rich with meaning as we consider the next chapter ahead.
