Spring! Reading & Side Salads

I noticed that there were no International Women’s Day GIFs on Instagram this year. I also noticed that Google no longer had it on it’s calendar either. But here, in reality, lol March IS internationally known as Women’s Month. A month of celebrating, encouraging, and sharing women’s stories. Over the past few weeks I have read so many amazing, courageous, fascinating stories about women in science, women in love, women in history, and women that RESISTED.

No billionaire can erase these stories and if we continue to share them, we will continue to celebrate them. To further that sentiment, I have made a decision. Moving forward, I will no longer be an Amazon affiliate. I will not be linking any more Amazon products on my site. I can’t figure out how to get the link at the bottom off my page yet lol but I have reached out to a friend for help, so hopefully soon! I just don’t want to be affiliated with a company that closes up shop in Quebec after workers organize and unionize. I cannot support Bezos as he turns newspapers into right wing propaganda. I can’t support American companies when we have so many amazing Canadian companies right here in our own backyard. This might change. I don’t think it will lol but it might. I will however, share links to Indigo! I am not affiliated with them but it is Canada’s last remaining national bookstore and I am a loyal Plum+ member! But, I would also like to recommend getting these fabulous titles at your local used book store, or your small local bookshop, or my personal favourite, the public library!

This might be my favourite batch of books, ever! As usual I have italicized the Book Challenge Theme for each book, beside the title. The last 3 books, I read in late December 2024, they counted in last year’s challenge. Please enjoy these awesome reads and let me know if you’ve read any of these fantastic books!

Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini With at least 4 different POVs

Well this book was terrifying. This book describes what was happening in Germany during the lead up to WWII. It is alarmingly similar to the state of world affairs right now. If you ever wondered how the Germans allowed Hitler to rise to power, this book sheds light on that answer. The logical masses kept thinking, it won’t go any further than this. Right? But it did. The years leading up to World War II are fascinating especially because I see the exact same methods Hitler used, being used today. The 4 women whose POVs the book is written from, were brave women in history. Real women. Resisting tyranny when the rest of the world turned their backs and their fellow citizens fell prey to false promises and lies. This book was inspiring, heartbreaking and terrifying.

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali Set in the Middle East

This book was eye opening. I have never read a book about Iran before. I was surprised by how modern and westernized that the country was becoming before Ayatollah. This is a story about 2 women, born in the same country but from different backgrounds that become best friends. It really gets to the point, will you stand up for your rights or sit down and not rock the boat? This book tells the story of the radical changes in Iran the last half of the 20th century. While this book is written around the Iranian revolution, it doesn’t get into specifics which led me to a lot of of googling and going down the Iranian political rabbit hole. I also loved how the author described the Persian foods. I can’t wait to find some similar recipes! Reading this makes me grateful for the freedom I have but scared as I realize how quickly women and human rights can slide backwards.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult About any type of art 

This book starts off letting the reader know, it’s a man’s world and not much has changed about that in the last 500 years. I went through a Shakespeare phase in high school so I really enjoyed all the references to his works that drop in Emilia’s story. Both stories Emilia’s in the 16th century and present day, Melina’s were thoughtful and insightful. At its core, this book is a comedy, a tragedy, and an ode to feminism. I loved both of these strong female characters and I really liked this book and the idea that Shakespeare didn’t actually author the plays attributed to him, is fascinating.

Radium Girls by Kate Moore About women in STEM

Wow! This book had me Googling! This is a historical nonfiction book told as a story. Kate Moore uses primary sources and direct quotes to write an interesting account of what radium did to the people and women in particular that worked with it and used it in the 1920s. Everything that happened to those women from the working conditions, to the gaslighting, to the inept doctors, and the broken justice system, nothing about any of it was fair. It made me angry to read how unjust everything was and it reminded me of what is still happening today. This is a story that everyone should hear about, those women went through hell on earth to be beloved and change working conditions for future generations.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo Modern retelling of a “classic”

This book is addictive and I couldn’t put it down. This storyline, similar to Wuthering Heights is a salacious story, written in a similar interview style as Daisy Jones, is told from multiple perspectives via documentary style. It is a story of 2 lost kids that find each other, one with a goal of becoming an Olympic figure skating gold medalist and the other, who just wanted to love her. It is the soapy behind the scenes account of elite figure skating and it is full of backstabbing and spicy affairs. This was an absolute roller coaster ride and I was surprised but satisfied with the decade long conclusion.

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer Armentrout Whose title starts with “A”

This is the second book in the Blood and Ash series. Picking up right after the first one ended, the quick recap was helpful as I had read the first book last year. This was a long book set over a short period of time. It felt very drawn out and the whole book was setting up the relationship between the Prince and his new bride. However, there really wasn’t that big of a problem between them that should have taken the whole book to figure out. It was obvious that nothing about the 2 main characters was fake. It made them look stupid to keep on allowing nothing to stand in the way of their future. I am intrigued by the cliffhanger and I’m really interested in seeing where things go with the wolven especially the weird relationship tension with Kieran. I also like that the world is fully formed with great history and lore.

When the World Fell Silent A Novel of the 1917 Halifax Explosion by Donna Jones Alward 2025 New Release

Growing up in Canada I had heard about the harbour explosion in Nova Scotia but I had no idea. This book tells the stories of 2 courageous women in Halifax during 1917, both tragically affected by the devastating explosion that destroyed Halifax. The tragic event unfolds while World War I, snow storms, and the Spanish flu rage around them. This is a lost tale, not often told that was heartbreaking and hopeful.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson Recommended read when you were looking for another author (readalikes)

A book based on the historical Pack Horse Library Project, Cussy Mary is a 20 year old women born with a rare skin disorder that runs in her family. 1936 Kentucky seemed like a different planet. Blue people, book learning, snake oil cures and names I didn’t know how to pronounce. I can see how deep seated suspicion of government goes deep and has led directly to the current political climate in Kentucky. Superstition and old wives tales make it seem like this is written during the Middle Ages and yet the car, the magazines and the books that she delivers are all from the 20th century. Life was hard for Cussy Mary and hearing her story was eye opening.

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn About spies

This book explores a lot of themes jumping between Eve’s life in 1915 and Charlie’s life in 1947. Both women are questioning their worth and what the wars have costed them. Mainly, what makes a woman a whore? This is the third book I read from Kate Quinn and while I love her stories, they drag a bit. This one is too long and some parts needed to be edited down or out. This is a wonderful story that kept me wanting to know what happened to Rose and where Rene was hiding. Like all of Kate Quinn’s books. The last 100 pages are so satisfying as all the storylines come together.

Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale Written by a neurodiverse author

Cassie is a hoot! I love how she sees colours around people and how she sees solutions to problems. I also love all the Greek mythology drops in this delightful book that celebrates neurodiversity. Time travel is hard but this book keeps it super light and you do t have to think too hard at the magic of it all. I love a good book about second chances. The twist was interesting and I was happy that the real relationships that became the focus of the story were on family and friends rather than a romantic relationship. The ending surprised me but I was satisfied with the outcome.

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain With 3 or more timelines/time periods

Time travel. The circular thinking always makes my brain hurt but in this case, it was well explained and thought out. This is the story of true love. The love a mother has for her daughter. Carly is willing to risk everything to save her daughter’s life and later to be in her daughter’s life. This is my first novel by this author and I liked her style. This is a thoughtful book that jumps timelines and takes place along side major historical events.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah Made into a TV series

I could relate to this book. Kristin Hannah writes women and their stories really really well. This is a story of 2 women, best friends and their lives. It isn’t fast paced or thrilling but it is emotional and honest. I loved the headlines throughout the book, I loved the news and journalism aspect of the story. Like all of her books this one will wreck you. I ugly cried reading this book. Multiple times. Their relationship is so real and their lives have real problems throughout the story of their lives over 3 decades.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio 2024 Bestseller

This is an interesting concept for a book. Lauren is a young single woman who comes home from her girlfriend’s bachelorette party and discovers a man in her apartment. Her husband. Lauren isn’t married though. Turns out, she has a magic attic and every time her “husband” goes up into it, he comes back down a new husband! Lauren continuously sends the men back upstairs and only gets to know a few of them. Very comparable to today’s dating apps except each time a new man comes down, her entire life has changed, new job, different aspects of different relationships are changed, and even her “exes“ lives have changed. Lauren starts using the husband phenomenon to reset her life whenever things get tough. When or who is the best time to stop?

A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon With Chapter Titles

Deborah Samson was a rebel. This is the amazing true story of a young woman that disguised herself as a boy and enlisted in the American army during the Revolution. In the late 1700s women were treated like property and were unable to do anything on their own. Deborah is smart, brave, and physically capable and yet has no independence. This was a really good book with two really great main characters. Deborah and John were true Patriots. I truly enjoyed each of the relationships Deborah made with fellow soldiers and the Thomas boys as they grew up together.

Margo’s Got Money Problems by Rufus Thorpe Book Becoming Movie/Show in 2025

This is a book about a 20 year old woman without a good support system and the realities of her new life as a single mom. It is also a book that makes you think about being a woman, sex, and how women are portrayed in the sex industry. It was also interesting to read a novel discussing social media branding and about making viral tik toks. Margo was a great character and I really liked her and her first person/third person view of her life.

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

This is a very important book. This is a powerful and honest story about women and their journey to control their own bodies. This story takes place in Toronto and I had no idea women went through so much trauma before abortions were finally legalized in 1988. This is a moving story that is heartbreaking and so important, especially right now as women’s rights slide backwards and autonomy seems to be silently slipping away.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

What an amazing story based on actual events about, women. It is hard to be a woman and in the late 1700s, even harder. This is the story of rape, love, and hypocrisy. It is honest and shows how strong women were and continue to be. I loved Martha and her first person recount of one winter in a small town in Massachusetts. I loved the murder mystery, side characters, and the honest account of relationships and how women were treated in the late 18th century.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

This book was heartbreaking. I cried multiple times while reading this book. However, it was an enlightening, beautiful, and rewarding book. I had never thought about the meaning of flowers, but Victoria’s way of expressing herself through the meaning of flowers was beautiful. Victoria, Grant and Elizabeth’s stories are SO sad but the hope of reconciliation made me cry even harder.