I read 39 books in the second quarter, bringing my yearly total to 69 so far. I had many more 4.5/5 star reads this quarter, so I had a hard time narrowing them down to my favorites. Several of my favorites came from my Booking It Through History: First Ladies project which was a nice change from so many months of first ladies with little-to-nothing written about them. Plus I had some great books that I read in anticipation of my trip to Greece. I love reading about a destination and then walking in the footsteps of the characters!
The books that I’m still thinking about weeks or months after reading are the ones that made my favorites list. Check it out below, and let me know if you’ve read any!
All book links are Amazon affiliate links. You can also visit my Bookshop.org shop where your purchases help independent bookstores and creators.
Favorite Historical Fiction
Favorite New Releases
The Last Twelve Miles by Erika Robuck
A five star read for me from one of my favorite authors! I loved learning about rum running in 1920s Miami. Read my review here.
The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron
I love all books about WWII, but I especially enjoy learning about new aspects of the war. This book is set in Coventry which was a small town that took several direct hits by the Luftwaffe. Read my five star review here.
Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran (releases July 30)
This book answered all of the questions I had about the real Maria von Trapp after my childhood singing songs from The Sound of Music! It is wonderful! Read my five star review here.
Follow the Stars Home by Diane C. McPhail (releases August 20)
This book tells the story of an amazing woman who took the first steamboat down the Mississippi while pregnant and taking care of a toddler! From earthquakes to Native American attacks, Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt saw it all! Read my five star review here.
Favorite Books Set in Greece
I learned so much about the amazing history of Greece from these novels!
The Officer and the Spy by Jenny Ashcroft
This book brought me to tears, especially as I finished the story about two star-crossed lovers on WWII Crete as I was sitting on my hotel balcony in Crete. I give this book all of the stars! Read my review here.
Once We Were Here by Christopher Cosmos
This is a must-read about what the Greek people went through at the beginning of WWII. So powerful! Read my five star review here.
Where the Wandering Ends by Yvette Corporon
I learned so much about the horrific Greek civil war and how it affected the island of Corfu. So moving! Read my review here.
Favorite Novels about the First Ladies
Jackie by Dawn Tripp
I absolutely loved this searing tale about the tragic first lady and her amazing life. Read my five star review here.
The First Lady and the Rebel: A Novel of Mary Todd Lincoln by Susan Higginbotham
What an interesting novel about Mary Todd Lincoln and her Confederate sister, Emilie. Truly immersive! Read my review here.
History Nonfiction
The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President by Edward F. O’Keefe
Learning about the formidable women who made Theodore Roosevelt into the amazing president and leader we all revere was fascinating! Read my review here.
The Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant
Covering Julia’s life from meeting Ulysses at her childhood plantation to traveling 10,000 miles to see him during the Civil War to her time in the White House and beyond, this memoir is the story of an extraordinary woman’s life in her own words. I highly recommend it to any first lady enthusiast! Read my review here.
Contemporary Books
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
I had to throw in my favorite contemporary book I’ve read this year! Annabel’s latest romance is lovely and perfect for reading by a beach or pool. Read my review here.
What was your favorite book read from April – June? Let me know!
Be sure to join me on Goodreads and Instagram where I highlight even more books and provide book reviews.
