It can be difficult to narrow the selection down with so many buzzy books hitting shelves every week, which is why I’ve turned to NetGalley member reviews for recommendations. Here’s a list of upcoming books from the Women’s Fiction category that are already exciting me and NetGalley members alike! I predict you’ll be adding quite a few of these to your next indie bookstore order.
A Million Reasons Why by Jessica Strawser
A mail-in DNA test brings two strangers together in this novel from Jessica Strawser. Once they meet, half-sisters Caroline and Sela must reexamine everything they thought they knew about their families, their futures, and themselves. Educator Renee P called it, “one of the best books I have read in a long time” while librarian Laurie W said this was “an absorbing read. Women’s fiction at its best.”
Judge’s Girls by Sharina Harris
When Georgia judge Joseph Donaldson passes, he leaves behind a daughter from his first marriage, his second wife, and his stepdaughter. They’re all to receive an inheritance, but his will includes a provision stating they must first live together at the family lake house. “Sharina Harris has become one of my favorite authors, moving swiftly up my automatic buy list. I love everything about her story-telling,” writes reviewer Deborah M. “Harris masterfully delves deep into lost love, found love, and new love… I loved everything about Judge’s Girls!”
The Cookbook Club by Beth Harbison
Beth Harbison’s latest celebrates the power of friendship and good food. Three women meet at a cookbook club, and while swapping recipes they learn to lean on each other for support as they navigate life’s ups and downs. “This charming book hooked me from the start,” writes reviewer Literary S. “I felt part of the club, rooting for each woman, wanting happy endings for all… Sequel? I sure hope so!”
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
Morgan Rogers’ debut novel follows Grace Porter, a 28-year-old with a PhD in astronomy and no clue where she should take her life next. When a celebratory night in Vegas ends in marriage, Grace decides to spend the summer in New York with her new wife until she can figure out how to juggle the expectations both she and her parents have for her future. In a five-star review, librarian Dontana M praised the book’s handling of mental health and therapy, exploration of what it’s like to be Black in academia, and how visual the language was. “I stayed up all night to read this book. I cried and laughed… It’s just an all-around good book, and I can’t wait to share it with readers.”
The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman
Two hundred years ago, Filomena Fontana placed a curse upon her sister that impacts the family’s second-born daughters for generations to come. Now, three of the cursed daughters are determined to break the hex once and for all on a trip to Italy. “Dramatic, intimate, and full of family secrets—Spielman pulls you into a multi-century family saga,” writes librarian Cathy S. “I didn’t want to put this one down. This book gave me a trip to Italy, if only from my couch.”
The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn
Sumi Hahn’s debut novel transports readers to post-World War II Korea to follow a deep sea diver who is left with her grandmother while her siblings are sent to live with their father after the death of her mother. “The Mermaid from Jeju is a captivating work of historical fiction,” writes reviewer Brooke A. “This book will resonate with fans of The Island of Sea Women and White Chrysanthemum. The character development is strong, and readers will be rooting for Goh Junja.”
