Are you a lady? 

Do you know a lady? Perhaps you have a lady for a mother! Maybe you once heard a story about a lady (or multiple ladies), that had an adventure that they told another lady about.

 Once you put your mind to it, you’ll start seeing ladies everywhere!

To make it easier for you to find your own special lady a book that she’ll feel comfortable reading in front of other ladies – I’ve curated 3 books with ‘lady’ in the title, to calm her nerves.

Also, if you identify as ‘not a lady’, I encourage you to check these books out too. There’s a little lady in all of us. I think her name is Sue.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on the link and purchase the book, I get a few dollars at no extra cost to you! This way we can both stock up on more books! 😀

Happy Reading, Friends! 

Cover Synopsis:

As England becomes enmeshed in the early days of World War II and the men are away fighting, the women of Chilbury village forge an uncommon bond. They defy the Vicar’s stuffy edict to close the choir and instead “carry on singing,” resurrecting themselves as the Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.

We come to know the home-front struggles of five unforgettable choir members: a timid widow devastated when her only son goes to fight; the older daughter of a local scion drawn to a mysterious artist; her younger sister pining over an impossible crush; a Jewish refugee from Czechoslovakia hiding a family secret; and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past. 
 
An enchanting ensemble story that shuttles from village intrigue to romance to the heartbreaking matters of life and death, Jennifer Ryan’s debut novel thrillingly illuminates the true strength of the women on the home front in a village of indomitable spirit.”

Review: 4/5

Full disclaimer, this genre of book is not one that I’d normally reach for.

When I spotted it at the library I was looking for a ‘small town cosy’ vibe, and thought this might follow a grass-roots choir as they won a bunch of competitions thanks to their quirky cast of characters. A cosy slice-of-life book isn’t usually my first port of call either, but I sometimes crave the close-knit community feel. Obviously I’d prefer if there was also a ghost or a T-Rex in that community to give it some ‘zing’.

Saying that (and despite the glaring lack of dinosaurs), this book kept me entertained and I got attached to the characters – a strong group of women, navigating the trials of a country at war and the opportunities it can create.

I thought the author walked the line well between keeping the story relatively light, while still showing the darkness and loss that impacts loved ones in wartime.

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Cover Synopsis:

Bridgerton meets Peaky Blinders in the first book in The Dangerous Damsels series – an enemies-to-lovers romance with a fantastical twist . . .

Cecilia Bassingwaite belongs to the prestigious Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. Yet this is no ordinary society – as it’s full of pirates, thieves and ne’er-do-wells.

These women spend their days pickpocketing and blackmailing all before tea time. But when Cecilia meets Ned Lightingbourne her world is set to change.

Because he’s an assassin and she’s his next hit. Under the employment of Captain Movath Ned knows he has one job to do.

But when he lays eyes on the feisty, beautiful Cecilia he’s faced with a conundrum: does he kill her or fall in love with her?”

Review: 5/5
"... there was a wind-coloured silence in her eyes, like a sky over moorlands, that made him believe she might one day cast aside reason and run into the wilds, dragging everyone else behind her until the world was a wrecked heart.' (p.129)
What a delightful surprise! Witty, fast paced and funny – this book was a delight.
 
From the blurb, I was expecting a historical romance, with a dash of skullduggery – which made me wonder why I had this on my to-be-read pile to begin with. Although romance is my middle name, I don’t read a lot in the smoochy genre. Skullduggery, I’m your gal. Meet-cutes not so much.
 

Thankfully past me knew better, and we can all thank her with a gift basket. Wine and cheese, please. 

This book has a cast of magical matriarchal women, piloting flying houses in search of adventure – sipping strong tea, trying to assassinate each other between social calls and untangling family shennanigans. Also, it’s a bit saucy.

Sign me up for Book 2! In the mean time, I’ve got a hankering to re-watch ‘Howls Moving Castle‘ …

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Cover Synopsis:

“From the bestselling author of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale‘ and ‘The Testaments‘ – comes the brilliant and funny story of a woman whose attempts to escape herself become instead an occasion for confronting the self-deception that has driven her since childhood.

Review: X/5 – DNF
I called it quits on this book at the halfway mark. So why am I including it here? Because largely this is a well-liked book, and I don’t feel that I’m the target audience. If there was a stronger plot line, I may have continued on. 
 
I found the first third of the book really challenging to read, as it centres on Joan’s unhappy childhood, bullying and toxic relationship with her mother. The constant and negative descriptions of weight felt very dated and not pleasant to consume, though effective in providing context for some of Joan’s decisions in later chapters.
 
I enjoy Atwood’s writing, and would still recommend this for readers who like literary fiction with a focus on identity and the impacts of a dysfunctional upbringing.
 
If you still want to enjoy Atwood’s writing but need more of a plot, I’d suggest checking out ‘Alias Grace‘.
 
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