Category: Past Tense

Retelling Romeo and Juliet

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date July 2, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, historical fiction fans,

Happy July! I’m trying to soak up as much sun and reading time as I can this week. Easier said than done, since I’m also chasing around my two nephews, both under three years old. I am getting some really good practice with my picture book reading skills, though. My voice work could use some improvement, but fortunately, they’re still young enough to be a forgiving audience. If you’re looking for some great picture book recs, some of my nephews’ current favorites are Gotta Go, Buffalo and Goodnight Veggies.

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Bookish Goods

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Bookmark Book Holders from mcs3Dstudios

Good for bookmarks or a little bouquet, these little 3D-printed bookmark holders are the perfect addition to any bookworm’s home. $10

New Releases

The Road to the Salt Sea by Samuel Kọ́láwọlé (July 2, 2024)

When a hotel employee named Abel God is involved in an unsavory incident, he decides to flee Nigeria to escape the repercussions. Now a migrant hoping to make his way to Europe, he finds himself first following a charismatic religious leader and then kidnapped by traffickers and forced to fight for his life and his freedom. It’s a gut-wrenching look into the realities of life for migrants.

Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi (July 2, 2024)

In a reimagined 15th-century version of West Africa, a woman working in a blacksmith guild in Timbuktu is abducted to become the new warrior king’s wife. After a lifetime of subjugation, her new station is enticing. But the king is cruel, and she’ll have to forge her own loyalties at court to become the political power player she hopes to be.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

I’ve read two Shakespeare retellings this year. The first, The Death I Gave Him, was a modern sci-fi reimagining of Hamlet. While it lost some key components in the retelling, it also gained cool elements, including AI characters and multiple viewpoints. The second retelling that I just finished is a version of Romeo and Juliet from Rosaline’s perspective. So let’s talk about that and another recent Shakespeare retelling historical fiction fans may enjoy.

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons

Before Juliet, there was Rosaline, and before Rosaline there were others. But Rosaline doesn’t know that yet. Committed to life in a nunnery by her grieving father, she is trying to grab life by the shoulders before she’s cloistered away. Romeo’s sweet words and novel attention are exactly what she wants in her last days of freedom. His words are empty, though. Rosaline realizes it too late, but now she’s determined to save her young cousin from a similar—or even worse—fate.

Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig

Forbidden romance and the consequences of adults refusing to put their children’s needs/desires first are at the heart of Romeo and Juliet, so what better way to reimagine it than with two boys falling in love? When Romeo meets Valentine at a Capulet party, he’s instantly enamored. But the growing conflict between Capulets and Montagues puts their already embattled romance even more at risk.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher. What about you?

Past Tense

The Best Historical Fiction of 2024 So Far

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date June 25, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, historical fiction fans,

How y’all doing? Finding ways to stay cool and hydrated in all this heat? I sure hope so. I’ve got another great week of historical fiction reads for you here, including two intriguing new releases and a collection of my favorite historical fiction reads of the year. Hopefully you can find some great new reads and some distraction from the summer heat.

Bookish Goods

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Book Locket from Kristin Grace Jewelry

Check out this fun book locket that lets you wear a book around your neck. $28.

New Releases

The Lions’ Den by Iris Mwanza (June 25, 2024)

In the early ’90s in Zambia, a rookie lawyer fights for a young queer dancer who is beaten and detained before disappearing from the system. Along with a former freedom fighter and the head of her law firm and ready for one last fight as his own battle against AIDS takes its toll, Grace will have to fight a corrupt system and the ugliness at the very core of President Kaunda’s administration to seek justice for her client.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams (June 25, 2024)

Husbands & Lovers follows two women connected by a family heirloom in the 1950s and 2020s. With her son in desperate need of a kidney donor after consuming a poisonous mushroom at summer camp, Mallory Dunne is forced to confront two family secrets that have haunted her: her mother’s adoption from an infamous orphanage in the 1950s and her own love affair with a now-famous singer a decade prior.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Somehow we’ve reached the halfway point of 2024, so it’s high time to talk favorite books. I am certain there are many other incredible historical fiction titles from the year, but these three are my favorites.

You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue, translated by Natasha Wimmer

In this surreal reimagining of the Spanish conquistadors’ first foray into the Aztec stronghold of Tenochtitlan, nothing goes quite as it seems—or quite as history tells it. Cortés meets Moctezuma, but it’s the complicated intersecting decisions leading up to that moment that changed history forever. It’s history and historical fiction as you’ve never seen it before.

The Woman with No Name by Audrey Blake

Based on the life story of an incredible woman working against the Nazis in WWII, The Woman With No Name follows Yvonne Rudellat, a French woman living in England during the Second World War. Her daughters and her neighbors are all doing their part, but despite Yvonne’s best attempts, no one seems to think a middle-aged woman can be of any help. Until she is recruited by the SOE to become the first female sabotage agent in France.

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

Although this is a follow-up and companion to Tommy Orange’s bestselling novel There There, it can be read—and thoroughly enjoyed—on its own. The story follows generations of a Cheyenne family and explores the complicated intergenerational legacy of trauma, from the Sand Creek Massacre and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School to a modern-day shooting that nearly tore a family apart.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy. What about you?

Past Tense

History Meets Magic in These Historical Fantasy Reads

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date June 18, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, historical fiction fans,

It’s always a joy to spend time with friends who are readers, and this past weekend I got to spend time–and get copious amounts of book recommendations–from several of closest reader friends. These are friends who have recommended books that I almost certainly wouldn’t have picked up otherwise, but wound up loving nonetheless. Books that were strange and wonderful. Books like The Regional Office is Under Attack, The Lonesome Bodybuilder, and The Need. If you have friends like that in your life, keep them close and keep the wonderfully weird book recommendations coming.

Bookish Goods

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Books Save Lives Shirt from Elite Girl Tee

Remind everyone of the importance of books and the dangers of book bans with this great tee shirt from Etsy. $16.45

New Releases

The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks

In a world where a strange Wasteland has appeared between Beijing and Moscow and only a train provides safe passage between the two, a price must be paid for any who want to make the journey on the Great Trans-Siberian Express. The price can’t be paid in any form of known currency. But for the characters at the heart of this tale, they can only hope the price is worth it.

Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin

Cabaret dancers’ faces are being stolen. Jingwen, who works at one of Shanghai’s finest clubs, worries she might be next. Her grandmother has always wanted her to become the next personal surgeon to the gang she herself serves, but in order to save herself and her fellow dancers, Jingwen will have to become something far more dangerous.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Both our new releases have a magical bent this week, so let’s look at the wide wonderful world of historical fantasy books!

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

In a magical version of Edwardian England, a normal man and a magician must work together after a clerical error lands them in the same department. Their animosity isn’t even the worst of their problems when they discover a dangerous magical conspiracy threatening all of England.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

When Casiopea accidentally frees an ancient Mayan god from her rich grandfather’s house, her life becomes infinitely more interesting—and more dangerous. The god has a quest for her, and as she ventures across Mexico during the Roaring Twenties to fulfill it, she discovers a side of herself she had always hoped to pursue.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading When Among Crows by Veronica Roth. What about you?

Past Tense

Read Historical Fiction with Pride

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date June 10, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, historical fiction fans,

It’s the second week of June, and summer is well and truly here with temperatures in my area already getting up into the 90°s. June is also Pride Month here in the U.S. I started off the month with a really cute sapphic cozy fantasy called The Honey Witch. I’m also looking forward to reading When Among Crows, The Titanic Survivor’s Book Club, and The City in Glass. All three books feature LGBTQ characters.

Whatever you’re planning on reading this month, I hope it’s good!

Bookish Goods

A white candle in a glass jar with a black label and black lid is set against a dark background with vintage books and a dark green plant. The label on the candle reads "lostbrich candles: vintage books"

Vintage Books Candle from Lostbirch Candles

Is there anything better than the smell of old books? $21

New Releases

The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar (June 11, 2024)

The Forgotten Names tells the true story of a woman who risked everything to reunite Jewish children with the names they had lost. When Valérie stumbles across a list of more than one hundred names during her thesis research, she discovers a ploy to sneak Jewish children to the French countryside right under the Nazi’s noses. She’s determined to help these people rediscover their lost names and heritage. But during a time in the 1990s when many people would rather forget—or even deny—the horrors of the Holocaust, Valérie must fight to preserve the truth.

cover of The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron; image in teal tint of a Black woman's face

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron (June 4, 2024)

Based on true events, The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye follows the rise of one of the first female pirate captains to sail in the Caribbean. When she is forced to flee her home, she finds herself working as an indentured servant to the infamous pirate Blackhand. Along with her fellow crew, Jacquotte endures his ruthless command. But when the chance to pursue a better future for herself and her fellow pirates appears, will Jacquotte be able to secure it?

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

As most of you probably know, June is Pride Month in the U.S., where we celebrate and honor LGBTQ+ identities and history. A great way to celebrate is to try to read queer books this month. Focusing on reading LGBTQ books is something I try to prioritize every June. Here are two great historical fiction books featuring queer characters to get you started.

When the Angels Left the Old Country Book Cover

When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb

Uriel and Little Ash are the unlikeliest of friends as an angel and a trickster demon, but they’ve been studying the Torah together for eons. A missing girl takes them away from their studies and their little shtetl as they follow a conspiracy targeting immigrants. Even as they disagree on the purpose of their trip, Uriel and Ash’s heartfelt friendship keeps them together.

Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak

After escaping violence in Haiti, Sylvie de Rosiers finds herself once again in the midst of revolution in Paris, France. But this time, Sylvie wants to be more than an unwitting bystander. As she’s swept up into the circle of the revolutionary Robespierre and his equally brilliant mistress Cornélie Duplay, she learns to question everything and everyone—including herself.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin. What about you?

Past Tense

Navigating Grief with Historical Fiction

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date June 4, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi historical fiction fans,

Happy June! It’s another rainy day after a series of so many off-and-on again rainy days, and I’m so ready for the sunshine. I thought the saying was “April showers bring May flowers” not April showers bring May showers and more showers and more showers. My mistake, I guess. I suppose it’s as good an excuse to stay inside and read as any.

Bookish Goods

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Custom Book Stack Tote from Ness 7 Boutique

Carry your books around in style with this custom book stack tote ready and waiting to feature your favorite titles. $25.

New Releases

The Secret Keeper of Main Street book cover

The Secret Keeper of Main Street
by Trisha R. Thomas (June 4, 2024)

A Black dressmaker in 1950s Oklahoma designs and creates custom dresses for the town’s oil-rich elite. But it’s her gift of prescience–seeing insight into the life of anyone her skin touches–that gets her into trouble when a wealthy white man is murdered and one of her clients charged with his murder.

The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma (June 4, 2024)

Amidst the chaos and violence of Nigeria’s civil war, a brother goes to great lengths to find his younger brother who goes missing just as war breaks out. Kunle has always been more bookish than bold, but in order to find his brother, he navigates a crisis, joins up to fight with an army, and tries to find redemption for himself even as he searches for the brother who’s missing.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

I unexpectedly lost a family member last weekend, and I’m honestly still reeling a bit. Often, I pick newsletter themes based off of what’s going on in my life or the world around me, and all I could think about this morning is loss and grief and the ways they affect us. Here are two historical fiction titles that deal with loss.

The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex

In this mystery novel based on the historical disappearance of three men from a lighthouse, questions linger even decades after the men went missing. The door was locked, the table laid, and all the clocks stopped at the same time. But the men were nowhere to be found. Now, two decades later, a writer speaks to the wives who were left behind and a story begins to take shape. But is it possible to know what really happened and who should we believe?

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro

A Japanese woman living in England is all alone after her daughter dies by suicide. To deal with the present, she immerses herself in memories of the past, as she and her friends tried to rebuild their lives after the war. But even these memories begin to take on a dark cast when she remembers the unusual friendship she had with a once wealthy woman turned to vagrancy.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields. What about you?

Past Tense

Stormy Weather in Historical Fiction

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date May 28, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, historical fiction fans,

How is it almost the end of May? Didn’t 2024 start, like, two weeks ago? I guess time flies when you’re running around and reading books. I tried out a new reading challenge called Bookspin Bingo over on Litsy this month, and I do think it helped me read a little more after several months of lagging behind. What methods do you use to challenge/inspire yourself to read?

Make this your most bookish summer yet with personalized reading recommendations from Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists (aka professional book nerds) are standing by to help you find your next favorite read. Get your recommendations via email, or opt to receive hardcovers or paperbacks delivered right to your door. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Get started today from just $18!

Bookish Goods

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Ceramic Book Mug from Erin Killian Pottery

Can you ever have too many mugs? Probably, but I refuse to believe it. This handmade bookshelf mug would be perfect for your collection. $55

New Releases

The Stolen Daughter by Florence Ọlájídé

When her Yorùbá village is attacked by slave raiders, 14-year-old Ṣìkẹ́mi is torn from her family and sold to a powerful slave trader named Madam Tinúbú. She’s eventually able to convince Madam Tinúbú to train her as a warrior, but Ṣìkẹ́mi never gives up on her determination to be reunited with her family once again.

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

In a rural Dutch province in 1961, buildings are being rebuilt after the war and life is returning to how it should be. Isabel is content with life until her brother brings his girlfriend to stay with her for the season. Eva and Isabel are polar opposites, and Isabel is driven to distraction by Eva’s loud, impetuous nature. Soon, though, her infuriation turns to infatuation—and she realizes neither Eva nor the house she’s been living in are quite what they seem.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

My community was hit by several tornadoes over the weekend, and while I am extremely fortunate to have come out of it fine, it got me thinking about how much storms impact humans and human history. Tornadoes don’t seem to make frequent appearances in historical fiction, but other types of storms certainly do.

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

The Last Train to Key West was the first book that came to mind when I thought about storms in historical fiction. In the book, three women are confronted with the fury of nature during the infamous Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 decimated Key West with winds of up to 200 mph.

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Another book about a hurricane, Salvage the Bones follows a Black family in rural Mississippi in the lead up to Hurricane Katrina. We experience these events through the eyes of 14-year-old Esch, who invites us into the lives of her family as her absentee father grows increasingly concerned about the hurricane growing in the Gulf. It’s admittedly a more recent “historical” fiction novel, but considering it takes place almost 20 years ago, I think it counts.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons. What about you?

Past Tense

Historical Romance for BRIDGERTON Fans

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date May 21, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, historical fiction fans,

I’ve been on a real audiobook kick recently, devouring Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and Alexandra Rowland’s soon-to-be-released historical fantasy romp Running Close to the Wind. My physical books and ebooks have probably been feeling neglected, and I’m really going to have to focus up on my library borrows before it’s time to return them. Don’t want to be accruing any late dues! But I am enjoying reading whatever feels right at the moment, and when that’s audiobooks, it’s audiobooks.

Bookish Goods

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Embroidered Bookworm Sweatshirt from Seams To Be Sweatshirt

This cozy bookish sweatshirt would make the perfect rainy day uniform to put on and read a book. $40

New Releases

A Gamble at Sunset by Vanessa Riley (May 21, 2024)

The author of Island Queen and A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby is back with a new Regency romance series perfect for fans of Bridgerton. The younger sister of a recently widowed Viscountess decides to lock lips with a stranger to get back at her sister. But after being caught in a scandalously compromising position, Georgina and Lord Sebastian have to convince everyone that their courtship is real lest their reputations are ruined forever.

Litany of Lies by Sarah Hawkswood (May 23, 2024)

In this Medieval mystery, an Abbott must call on the sheriff he dislikes in order to solve a murder. But when tensions between the abbey and the local castle reach a boiling point, another death will force the investigators to band together as their search for answers takes them down an increasingly dangerous path.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

The internet is abuzz with talk about the new season of Bridgerton, so when I saw that one of the new releases this week was a diverse Regency romance, I knew we had to talk historical romance for Bridgerton fans.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Among the few wealthy Black families in 1910s America, the Davenports live a life of glittering luxury. And they’re determined to find love along with their success. The Davenport girls have a duty to marry well, but love doesn’t always play by the rules. Somewhere between duty, desire, and schemes, true love might just lie in wait.

A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting book cover

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin

Kitty Talbot needs a husband and a fortune, though not necessarily in that order. Determined to find a rich man to save her from her father’s debts, she sets out for London for the season. But Lord Radcliffe has her number. He knows Kitty is only out for a fortune and is determined to stop her from harming any unwitting bachelors. When their sparring turns flirtatious, though, his plans to stop her from marrying anyone else take on an entirely different tone.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading Swordcrossed by Freya Marske. What about you?

Past Tense

Remembering Genocide Through Literature

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date May 14, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, historical fiction fans,

I’m still sick this week after a brief respite over the weekend, and I’m just so ready to feel better. At least I’ve had lots of good library books and audiobooks to keep me company. My 60-pound dog, who is not the world’s best nurse, has decided that lying on my chest is the best way for her to help me feel better. I’m not sure it’s working as well as she seems to think it is.

Bookish Goods

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Bedside Book Holder from The Art of Engraving

If you’re anything like me, you’ve always got a stack of books on your nightstand and this little bedside book holder is the perfect way to organize them. $80

New Releases

Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis (May 14, 2024)

A gothic mystery set in 19th-century Paris, Spitting Gold sees two sisters reunited years after they fooled the elite by pretending to be spirit mediums. Now, the estranged sisters are united once more to pull off one last con with their elderly father unable to pay off his bills. But are they really pulling one over on this rich family? Or is something supernatural going on?

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur (May 14, 2024)

June Hur is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. Her novels bring Joseon-era Korea to life in incredible detail, and I never want to put them down. In A Crane Among Wolves, Hur depicts one of the most hated tyrants in Korean history as a girl attempts to save her sister, who was kidnapped to be a part of the emperor’s harem at any cost.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

This week, I wanted to highlight historical genocides that I think may be less well-known. In the American school system (at least in my experience), the genocide against Native Americans in this country is glossed over. That, along with the United States’ systems of oppression against Black Americans, is not highlighted as a precursor to Nazi Germany, even though Hitler used them as blueprints for his own genocide. This history is so important to understand and acknowledge because if we’re taught to gloss over genocides of the past, what will stop us from ignoring—or missing—genocides of the present and future?

The Armenian genocide, the Khmer Rouge Cambodian genocide, and the Bosnian genocide are just a few examples of how war and conflict can be used to target a specific ethnic, religious, or sociopolitical group. Sadly there are many others.

According to the UN, there are “reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide…has been met” in Gaza. If you’d like to help the Palestinian people currently facing genocide, I highly recommend donating to Save the Children or checking out Operation Olive Branch, which verifies and highlights Palestinians using GoFundMe campaigns to try to escape the ongoing violence. It can feel impossible to help in the face of such overwhelming violence, but those are small ways you can make a difference. Educating yourself and others is another.

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian

A wealthy American woman volunteering with the Boston-based Friends of Armenia travels to Aleppo to help deliver aid and medical care to the recent refugees of the Armenian genocide. There, she meets Armen, an Armenian engineer who has lost his wife and infant daughter. Neither are expecting to fall in love in the wake of all this violence. Decades later, a novelist with Armenian heritage looks into her family’s past, uncovering shocking truths and secrets, long forgotten and left buried.

In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner

Raami’s childhood in Cambodia is upended when her father brings home news of civil war. Soon, the 17-year-old’s guarded home is swapped for a forced labor camp, and she faces violence, starvation, and death. Remembering is a death sentence, but Raami’s memories of the stories her father told her are all she has to cling to during this never-ending fight for survival.

Girl at War by Sara Nović

A 10-year-old girl growing up in the Croatian capital of Zagreb in the early 1990s watches her life turn upside down as civil war breaks out in the country. Now playground games are forgotten in favor of war games as she becomes a child soldier, forced to take up a gun to defend herself from violence. A chance to escape to America offers her the only possibility of survival. But 10 years later, as she confronts the life and people she left behind, Ana wonders if going home is the only way to confront the ghosts that still haunt her.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading The Titanic Survivors’ Book Club by Timothy Schaffert. What about you?

Past Tense

Sick Fiction for Sick Readers

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date May 7, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi historical fiction fans,

I am, somehow, struggling through my third illness of the year. I’m fortunate that none of them have left me seriously ill, but I’m also very tired of not feeling well. So you can see where the theme from this week’s newsletter came from. I wish I had the energy to tell you some funny anecdote about the litter of seven kittens I’m fostering right now or my dog and her cousin, who I’m currently watching, and all the fun they’re having in what we’re calling “doggie summer camp,” but I just don’t. You’ll just have to trust me that all the animals are very cute and providing some much needed snuggles and laughs–and only a little bit of extra work for their sick caretaker.

Bookish Goods

a white siker of black text that reads "a well read woman is a dangerous creature." The sticker rests against a stack of books.

A Well Read Woman Sticker from Sauce box Stickers

This sticker is perfect for e-readers, laptops, and water bottles alike. $3.50

New Releases

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung (May 7, 2024)

As civil war rages in China, the wealthy Ang family is more concerned by their lack of a male heir than the coming violence. Four daughters and their mother are left behind as the men flee the Communist party, and now, the women of the Ang family are left to feel the party’s wrath. But they’re also resourceful and determined, and soon they set off on a harrowing journey to escape to Taiwan and confront the family who left them behind.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club book cover

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson (May 7, 2024)

In the years after the end of WWI, Constance Haverhill is just one of many women forced to give up the position she had during the war to the men returning from the front. She finds a surprising promise of something better after rescuing a baronet’s daughter from a social faux pas when she’s invited to join a motorcycle club for women. The country is celebrating its victory and on the brink of change, but for these young women, it’s also a time of loss as the privileges and freedom they were granted during the war are snatched away.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Looking for a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift? Go beyond the tried and true flowers and chocolate and give the gift of reading with Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists are standing by to help your mom find her next favorite read, delivered right to her inbox or doorstep. And with gifts starting at just $18, there’s something for any budget! Head to mytbr.co/gift to send the gift of reading to the book nerd in your life!

Riot Recommendations

I’m sick and exhausted, so this week’s newsletter we’re talking historical fiction about illness.

The Pull of Stars by Emma Donoghue

I’m always fascinated by the 1918 influenza pandemic and its parallels to Covid-19. Emma Donoghue brings her character-driven narrative to this topic in a story about a nurse working in an understaffed hospital ward for expectant mothers with the flu. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful and oh so human in its exploration of how we face death and disease and each other.

King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chin-Tanner

When Victor Chin is diagnosed with leprosy as a teenager, his life is turned completely upside down. Forced to quarantine at a facility with other patients, Victor fears his life is over. But soon he finds a certain sense of freedom away from family expectations and surrounded by a diverse cast of characters. With a groundbreaking cure on the horizon, Victor will have to face a question he’s not sure he ready for: will he be able to keep this new version of himself if he leaves?

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons. What about you?

Past Tense

Flower Power and Hippie Cults

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date April 30, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, historical fiction fans,

Happy May! I know spring technically begins in March in the Northern Hemisphere, but May is the month I always most associate with spring. All the wildflowers are blooming and there’s a nice breeze to temper the hotter days. It’s just the perfect time of year, and I’m not just saying that because it’s also my Birthday month.

If the weather is as nice in your neck of the woods as mine right now, I highly recommend checking out one of the books on this list for a little reading in the park. It’s the best time of year for it.

Bookish Goods

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Flower Bookmarks from Celestial Flowers by B

Celebrate your birth month and your love of nature with these gorgeous pressed flower bookmarks from Etsy. $27

New Releases

Ella by Diane Richards (May 7, 2024)

In this biographical historical fiction novel, author Diane Richards brings to life the incredible story of Ella Fitzgerald. From her mother’s death during the Great Depression, which led Ella to work for the mob to make ends meet, to her unlikely career as the bestselling female vocalist in the United States, it’s the story of one talented and determined woman’s triumph over the harshness of life.

Monkey King: Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en (May 7, 2024)

This new hardcover edition of the Chinese classic follows a shapeshifting trickster on a quest to find eternal life. Along with a group of fallen immortals, Sun Wukong must protect a monk on his 14-year journey to India in order to redeem himself in the eyes of the Buddha after stealing from Heaven’s Orchard of Immortal Peaches.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

I’ve had the phrase “April showers bring May flowers” stuck in my head recently, so this first week of May seems like an appropriate time to share some historical fiction books set in the era of flower power. Of course, it wasn’t all good times. Cults and communes cropped up like wildflowers during the ’60s and ’70s and these two books describe the allure and dysfunctional relationships that fueled them.

Arcadia by Lauren Groff

An idealistic group of dreamers set off to create a better way of life in the 1960s, settling their commune in a decaying manor called Arcadia House. Through the eyes of the first child born into the group, Bit, Arcadia recounts the rise and fall of a hippie commune and all the people who hoped it would be perfect.

The Girls by Emma Cline

When Evie spots a group of carefree girls at the park, she’s immediately drawn into their orbit. Suzanne especially enthralls her. As Evie grows ever nearer to the center of the cult and its charismatic leader, she fails to see the violence and horror hurtling their future.

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading Faebound by Saara El-Arifi. What about you?

Bookish Goods

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New Releases

The Road to the Salt Sea by Samuel Kọ́láwọlé (July 2, 2024)

Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi (July 2, 2024)

Riot Recommendations

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons

Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig

Bookish Goods

Book Locket from Kristin Grace Jewelry

New Releases

The Lions’ Den by Iris Mwanza (June 25, 2024)

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams (June 25, 2024)

Riot Recommendations

You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue, translated by Natasha Wimmer

The Woman with No Name by Audrey Blake

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

Bookish Goods

Books Save Lives Shirt from Elite Girl Tee

New Releases

The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks

Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin

Riot Recommendations

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Bookish Goods

Vintage Books Candle from Lostbirch Candles

New Releases

The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar (June 11, 2024)

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron (June 4, 2024)

Riot Recommendations

When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb

Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak

Bookish Goods

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New Releases

The Secret Keeper of Main Streetby Trisha R. Thomas (June 4, 2024)

The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma (June 4, 2024)

Riot Recommendations

The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro

Bookish Goods

Ceramic Book Mug from Erin Killian Pottery

New Releases

The Stolen Daughter by Florence Ọlájídé

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

Riot Recommendations

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Bookish Goods

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New Releases

A Gamble at Sunset by Vanessa Riley (May 21, 2024)

Litany of Lies by Sarah Hawkswood (May 23, 2024)

Riot Recommendations

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin

Bookish Goods

Bedside Book Holder from The Art of Engraving

New Releases

Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis (May 14, 2024)

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur (May 14, 2024)

Riot Recommendations

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian

In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner

Girl at War by Sara Nović

Bookish Goods

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New Releases

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung (May 7, 2024)

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson (May 7, 2024)

Riot Recommendations

The Pull of Stars by Emma Donoghue

King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chin-Tanner

Bookish Goods

Flower Bookmarks from Celestial Flowers by B

New Releases

Ella by Diane Richards (May 7, 2024)

Monkey King: Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en (May 7, 2024)

Riot Recommendations

The Secret Keeper of Main Street
by Trisha R. Thomas (June 4, 2024)