Matrix by Lauren Groff

Matrix is a fierce, feminist reimagining of the life of Marie de France, a 12th-century poet expelled from the French royal court and sent to live in exile at a crumbling English abbey. As Marie rises to lead the community, she transforms the nunnery into a place of radical female power and vision.

I chose this novel because it’s a beautifully written meditation on ambition, love, and legacy, with an unforgettable heroine at its heart. For readers who loved The Power or Hamnet, this is a book that made me feel electrified by how women rewrite the stories they’re given.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

Set in 1960s Harlem, Harlem Shuffle follows Ray Carney, a furniture salesman with a complicated past who gets drawn into the city’s underworld. As Ray tries to walk the line between legitimate businessman and small-time crook, the novel unfolds into a layered portrait of Harlem, crime, and the slow, inevitable pull of change.

I included this because it’s a sharp, stylish historical heist novel that’s also about family, ambition, and moral gray zones. For fans of The Nickel Boys or The Godfather, this one made me feel like I was walking the streets of Harlem alongside Ray, rooting for him to make it—but questioning if anyone ever really can.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Spanning centuries and continents, Cloud Cuckoo Land weaves together the stories of an orphan girl in 15th-century Constantinople, a troubled teenager in present-day Idaho, and a young girl on a 22nd-century interstellar ship—all connected by a mysterious, ancient Greek text that survives against all odds.

I selected this novel because it’s a love letter to books, storytelling, and human resilience. For readers who adored All the Light We Cannot See or The Overstory, this one felt like a beautiful, intricate puzzle that left me awestruck by the threads that bind past, present, and future.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Set over ten days in 1950s America, The Lincoln Highway follows four boys—Emmett, Duchess, Woolly, and Billy—on an unforgettable road trip as they chase dreams of reinvention, escape, and belonging. It’s a story about friendship, found family, and the roads we take to build the life we want.

I picked this because it’s a big-hearted, classic-feeling novel that combines humor, heartache, and adventure. For readers of A Gentleman in Moscow or The Boys in the Boat, this one made me nostalgic for the idea of the open road and the hope that comes with second chances.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Still Life by Sarah Winman

Opening in wartime Tuscany in 1944, Still Life brings together a British soldier and an art historian, weaving their lives together across decades through love, friendship, and the transformative power of art. It’s a tender, sweeping story about chosen family, beauty, and enduring connection.

I included this because it’s the kind of novel that feels like a warm embrace—lush, romantic, and deeply human. For fans of The Nightingale or The Paris Library, this book filled me with joy, bittersweet tears, and a longing to sit around a table with these characters and toast to love.

You can get a copy on Amazon.

Harsh Times by Mario Vargas Llosa, translated by Adrian Nathan West

Harsh Times plunges readers into the violent political upheaval of 1950s-60s Guatemala, tracing the American-backed coup and its devastating ripple effects through the lives of ordinary citizens and powerful elites. With razor-sharp prose, Llosa explores corruption, betrayal, and the brutal cost of imperial meddling.

I picked this novel because it’s bold, riveting, and gives voice to a history too often overlooked. For readers of The Feast of the Goat or In the Time of the Butterflies, this one left me heartbroken and furious but also grateful to witness a master storyteller shine a light on dark truths.You can get a copy on Amazon.