October 2025 list by Holly Whistler |
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L.A. Women
by Ella Berman
In 1960s L.A., writer and Hollywood outsider Lane becomes envious when socialite and fellow writer Gala gains fame; 10 years later she betrays Gala by writing a successful book based on her life—her only problem is Gala's now been missing for months.
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Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure
by Rhys Bowen
In Surrey, England, 1938, blindsided by her husband's divorce appeal, Ellie impulsively heads to the South of France with housekeeper Mavis and elderly friend Dora until their Bentley breaks down in Saint Benet, where Ellie is drawn to fisherman Nico—but war looms.
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The Collector of Burned Books
by Roseanna M. White
In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.
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Daikon by Samuel Jay HawleyA sweeping and suspenseful novel of love and war, set in Japan during the final days of World War II, with a shocking historical premise: three atomic bombs were actually delivered to the Pacific-not two-and when one of them falls into the hands of the Japanese, the fate of a couple that has been separated from one another becomes entangled with the fate of this strange new device.
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The Secret Book Society
by Madeline Martin
London, 1895: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club--a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood, and the courage to rewrite their stories.
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The Cover Girl
by Amy Rossi
A model comes to terms with the manipulation she suffered early in her career from those she trusted the most.
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A Magic Deep & Drowning
by Hester Fox
A gender-flipped historical fantasy retelling of The Little Mermaid is set in the Dutch Golden Age.
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The French Kitchen by Kristy CambronAs Paris rebuilds in the aftermath of World War II, Kat Fontaine never expected the skills she learned in a French chateau kitchen to be the key that unlocks the secrets swirling in her new post-war life.
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A Resistance of Witches
by Morgan Ryan
In WWII-era Europe, witch Lydia Polk races to find a deadly magical grimoire before the Nazis do, teaming up with a resistance fighter and a rogue historian as supernatural threats close in and betrayal looms.
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House of Frost and Feathers
by Lauren E. Wiesebron
To escape a deadly sleeping plague, Marisha apprentices to a feared sorceress and joins a perilous quest for a cure, only to uncover eerie dreams, dark magic and a terrifying link to her own haunted past.
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Archive of Unknown Universes
by Ruben Reyes
Cambridge, 2018. Ana and Luis's relationship is on the rocks, despite their many similarities, including their mothers who both fled El Salvador during the war. In her search for answers, and against her best judgement, Ana uses The Defractor, an experimental device that allows users to peek into alternate versions of their lives. What she sees leads her and Luis on a quest through Havana and San Salvador to uncover the family histories.
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The Night Sparrow
by Shelly Sanders
For fans of Kate Quinn and The Nightingale, a gripping story of a young Jewish girl who joins an elite Russian sniper unit and embarks on a mission targeting the highest prize of World War II: Adolph Hitler. Inspired by the real-life female snipers and interpreters in the Red Army during World War II, this novel is a portrait of friendship, resilience, courage, and sacrifice under extraordinary circumstances.
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Six Weeks By the Sea
by Paula Byrne
As Jane Austen's family relocates to Bath, she finds solace in a seaside holiday where family ties, budding romance, and unexpected friendships—including with a mysterious lawyer—shape her reflections amidst the social complexities of Regency England.
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Julia: A Novel Inspired by the Extraordinary Life of Julia Child
by Heather B. Moore
Julia leaves behind a privileged life in California to join the OSS during World War II, decoding covert messages and aiding the Allied effort. Amid her far-reaching missions, she meets Paul Child, whose love leads her to postwar Paris. There, Julia Child's daring pursuit of French cuisine transforms her into a culinary trailblazer and icon, forever changing the way America cooks.
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Thus with a kiss I die
by Christina Dodd
Rosie Montague, a 20-year-old free spirit in Verona, finds her life upended when she's tasked by the ghost of Prince Escalus the Elder to solve his murder, all while navigating a love triangle, revolution, and a looming threat that may turn her into a tragic heroine
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