News and Updates
What a week it’s been! We’re still riding the high from Library Week and Independent Bookstore Day, and yesterday’s Free Comic Book Day kept the celebration going strong. But the biggest joy of all came at home—our youngest just turned 10! It’s been such a delight to watch him grow into a true bibliophile. Most nights, we catch him sneaking in just a few more pages before bed. This month’s prompts couldn’t be more perfect for him—he’s all about dragons and fantasy right now, and I’m especially excited to share a few of my longtime favorites with him.
This Week
Magical realism offers a different kind of enchantment than your typical fantasy novel. Here, magic is woven seamlessly into the fabric of everyday life—part of the natural world rather than something set apart from it. It feels as though it has always existed, quietly shaping the characters’ lives. Think of it as that fleeting sense of wonder you feel when something extraordinary happens right before your eyes.
Monthly Reading Challenge: Fantasy
Weekly Reading Challenge: Magical Realism
The undisputed queen of magical realism, Heather Webber has been a favorite of mine since I picked up my first of her novels in 2021—and I’ve been hooked ever since. She has a gift for weaving magic into the smallest details of everyday life—birds, butterflies, fireflies, trees—reminding us that wonder is always within reach.
This novel will tug at your heartstrings while inviting you to see family in a new light—perhaps just in time for your next reunion. Beneath the surface, nothing is quite as simple as it seems, and people are rarely as defined as their reputations suggest. I couldn’t put this one down and stayed up late to finish it in a single sitting—you’re going to love it.
If you’re looking for other great books for this prompt, try one of these reads recommended by our StoryGraph community:
- The Dead Romantics, Ashley Poston
- The Invisible Hour, Alice Hoffman
- Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt
- Weyward, Emilia Hart
New This week
While none of our preview books are hitting shelves this week, I am anxiously waiting on the arrival of these two books – the postman can’t get here fast enough!
The author of The Help returns with her highly anticipated sophomore novel, The Calamity Club. While her debut shone a light on the lives of domestic workers, this new story follows three women in the 1930s as they navigate the lingering hardships of the Great Depression and fight to hold their lives—and families—together.
Stockett once again pulls back the curtain on carefully constructed lives, revealing the tension between outward appearances and private struggles. Readers can expect the same unflinching honesty as these women grapple with societal expectations, hidden truths, and the quiet resilience it takes to keep going.
And beyond the story itself, don’t miss the chance to admire this stunning cover—it’s as captivating as the novel within.
I’ve always shied away from the Scarpetta series—until I stumbled upon the Netflix adaptation. Now, I can’t wait to dive into the books themselves. Beyond the gripping plots and powerful performances, what truly drew me in was learning that Patricia Cornwell is a former forensic expert, bringing a level of authenticity that’s hard to match.
In this memoir, Cornwell takes readers from a turbulent childhood marked by parental abandonment to the mentors who shaped her path, and ultimately to her groundbreaking work in the medical examiner’s office. It’s often said that the best thriller writers draw from real-life experiences—and this candid, compelling story offers a fascinating glimpse into how Cornwell’s own journey may have influenced the world of Kay Scarpetta.
In Case You Missed It
Last Week’s Prompt
Fiona Davis’s The Lions of Fifth Avenue is a dual-timeline historical novel centered on the New York Public Library. In 1913, Laura Lyons lives in the library’s residential quarters with her husband and children, but she wants more than the domestic life expected of her—she hopes to build a career as a journalist. A decision she makes has lasting consequences for her family. In the later timeline, her granddaughter Sadie becomes drawn into a mystery connected to the library and to Laura’s unresolved past.
I rated The Lions of Fifth Avenue 4.35 out of 5 stars. The historical detail is one of the book’s biggest strengths, and the thefts provide a strong through line that connects the two timelines and keeps the plot moving. My main hesitation is the romance in both storylines: it often feels secondary, and in Sadie’s sections it sometimes distracts from the more interesting questions about reputation, choice, and family legacy. I also would have liked more attention to how the New York Public Library changes between Laura’s era and Sadie’s, since the setting plays such a central role in the novel. Overall, it’s a well-paced, engaging read with a vivid sense of place.
If you enjoyed Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray’s The Personal Librarian, you’ll likely enjoy Davis’s novel as well.
Last Week’s Articles
April was such a strong reading month for me — I read 11 books, including historical fiction, family-history novels, and a few pre-release titles, and one of them completely stole the show.
Our April Book of the Month is The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer. If you love emotional stories, layered family history, and a read that stays with you long after the last page, this one deserves a spot on your list. It was such a meaningful pick for April, and I’m so excited to spotlight it here.
If you want the full rundown of all of our April reads, you can find the article here.
Last Week’s Preview
The Making of a Witch by Judy Molland follows Alice Molland, a young healer navigating a dangerous world shaped by fear, superstition, and rigid social expectations. This historical fiction novel highlights the risks faced by women practicing herbal medicine, as well as the influence of class and gender biases during the time period. The story stands out for its detailed portrayal of historical remedies and immersive setting, drawing readers into a time when healing practices could easily be mistaken for witchcraft.
I give The Making of a Witch 4.1 out of 5 stars. While the novel is engaging and well-researched, I found it difficult to fully connect with the characters, particularly Alice, whose motivations sometimes felt unclear. Certain plot points were predictable due to heavy foreshadowing, and some repetition slowed the narrative. Despite these issues, the book offers a unique coming-of-age perspective and a strong historical atmosphere.
You can read the full review here.
Reading Challenge Prompts
I always say that fantasy isn’t a genre I read very often… and then I look at the list of fantasy sub-genres and realize I absolutely do. Think Practical Magic, The Hobbit, and so many others—they all belong here. Magical realism, in particular, hooked me a few years ago through Heather Webber’s writing, and I can’t wait to share some longtime favorites with you. I’m also excited to step a little outside my comfort zone this month and explore a sub-genre I don’t read often at all: paranormal fiction.
May is Get Caught Reading Month, and with several of our favorite authors celebrating birthdays in the weeks ahead, it felt like the perfect time to lean into imaginative, transportive reads. I can’t wait to see which fantasy books you choose to pick up this month!
This post contains affiliate links.
What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Tom Clancy Rules of Engagement, Ward Larson
- Current audio book: How to Sell a Haunted House, Grady Hendrix
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Pretty Dead Things, Kelsey Cox
Discover more from Read With Lindsey
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
