Welcome back to another installment of FFW Book Club! This week, we have a wide variety of riveting novels filled with drama, mystery, intrigue and so much more. From young adult to suspense and literary fiction, we guarantee there’s a genre for everyone.
If you were a fan of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, pick up Sash Bischoff’s debut suspense novel Sweet Fury, which one FIRST said was “filled with classic literary references, a range of illuminating and difficult topics and a fascinating heroine.”
If you’re in the mood to embark on a spellbinding adventure in a faraway land, dive into Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley. For those interested in YA novels, Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter (the sequel to her bestselling book Better Than The Movies) is peppered with second chances and swoon-worthy moments. One FIRST editor noted that Painter’s latest made her feel like she “was watching a 2000’s rom-com!”
Are you more drawn to page-turning tales inspired by real events? If so, don’t miss Cristina Henríquez’s The Great Divide. FIRST’s Digital Director, Julia Dennison, recommends Henríquez’s novel and highlights the importance of stories based on true events: “History often gets diluted in textbooks—and the beauty of historical fiction is that it gives lifeblood to footnotes.”
Keep scrolling here for the entire list of FFW Book Club must-read recommendations for January 17 to January 30. Happy reading!
Suspense
‘Sweet Fury’ by Sash Bischoff
“I reread The Great Gatsby at least once a year—I love F. Scott Fitzgerald,” shares Carissa Mosness, FIRST Assistant Digital Editor. “So when I heard his other classic, Tender Is the Night, was woven into this novel’s plot in a unique way, I just knew I had to read it.” In Sash Bischoff’s debut novel, beloved American actress Lila Crayne is prepping for the lead role in a modern adaptation of Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night— a film she’s working on along with her talented fiancé, filmmaker Kurt Royall. To gear up for the role, Lila begins meeting with an accomplished therapist named Jonah, who helps her unearth the ghosts of her past. Soon, secrets are coming to light and Lila finds herself turning into a shell of the girl she once was—and more of what Jonah thinks she should be. “Filled with classic literary references, a range of illuminating and difficult topics and a fascinating heroine, this book engrossed me from the very beginning and kept me turning pages late into the night,” says Carissa. “Bischoff’s suspenseful tale will satisfy fans of The Silent Patient—it’s a vivid, twist-filled read!” (Simon & Schuster, 2025)
Young adult
‘Nothing Like the Movies’ by Lynn Painter
“Whenever I’m looking for a sweet romance, I grab a Lynn Painter book—and I finally read this sequel to Better Than the Movies,” says Julianne MacNeill, FIRST Assistant Digital Editor. The story follows Wes and Liz after a tragedy breaks them up. Then they begin their freshman year of college at the same school and Wes is determined to get Liz back. Julianne raves, “Wes’ grand romantic gestures to win Liz’s heart made me feel like I was watching a 2000’s rom-com!” (Simon & Schuster, 2024)
Mystery
‘We Solve Murders’ by Richard Osman
“I’m a big fan of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, and when I heard this new book described as ‘a hilarious thriller,’ I dove right in,” says Shay Trotter, FIRST Associate Editor. “And it didn’t disappoint.” Amy Wheeler is used to danger, thanks to her job in security. But a string of suspicious murders has her on edge, so she teams up with her retired investigator father-in-law Steve to help her outrun and outsmart the killer. “The adrenaline of trying to solve the case gave me a much-needed energy boost,” says Shay. “And Osman’s clever cast of characters was delightful!” (Pamela Dorman, 2024)
Historical fiction
‘The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club’ by Helen Simonson
“I enjoy humor and history, and this coming-of-age tale merged the two seamlessly,” says Kristina Mastrocola, FIRST Senior Editor. England’s young men are coming home from the Great War. But their return threatens the autonomy Constance Haverhill enjoyed in their absence. She finds new work at the seaside resort of Hazelbourne, where she meets a group of women. Together they form the Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle Club—with flying lessons to come, of course. As they grapple with a post-war society, they discover everything from friendship to romance. “The women in this novel felt three-dimensional. I loved being an honorary member of their club!” (The Dial, 2024)
Fantasy
‘Servant of Earth’ by Sarah Hawley
“I was in the mood to escape into a fantasy world—and this novel was just the ticket,” says Courtney Shapiro, FIRST Digital Associate Editor. Kenna Heron’s village thinks of her as wild or half feral—and it’s a good thing because she’ll need these attributes to survive in the fae realm. When Kenna gets trapped as a servant in the faeries’ kingdom of Mistei, she must help her new mistress complete six trials, one for each sect of magic: Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion and Blood. But if they fail, Kenna and her mistress will perish. “I loved this story. I can’t wait for the sequel!” (Ace, 2024)
Literary fiction
‘The Great Divide’ by Cristina Henríquez
“History often gets diluted in textbooks—and the beauty of historical fiction is that it gives lifeblood to footnotes,” says Julia Dennison, FIRST Digital Director. “Never has this been truer than in this tale, which takes place around the 1907 building of the Panama Canal.” The story is told through the eyes of a series of characters—from a fisherman estranged from his son to an American scientist hoping to cure malaria to a teen from Barbados trying to save her sister. Says Julia, “There are real truths in Henríquez’s imaginings.” (Ecco, 2024)
Women’s fiction
‘The Bookish Life of Nina Hill’ by Abbi Waxman
“Whether in films or books, there’s nothing I adore more than a quirky leading lady,” says Raquel Lekic, FIRST Assistant Digital Editor. “And Nina Hill was exactly that.” An introverted young woman comfortable in the routine of her life is rattled when she learns of the passing of her father whom she never knew—leaving her with countless new siblings and family members. Simultaneously, she’s being charmed by one of her trivia nemeses. “This book was beyond heartwarming—I kept rooting Nina on as she navigated her new normal.” (Berkley, 2019)
Family saga
‘Like Mother, Like Mother’ by Susan Rieger
“Coming from a big family with so many personalities, I can never resist a book about family drama—and this one was filled with heart and humor,” says Patty Bontekoe, FIRST Executive Editor. Lila Pereira was raised by an abusive father after her mother was committed to an asylum. Having no idea how to be a mother, she leaves the parenting to her husband as she achieves success as the editor of a major newspaper. But Grace, the youngest of their three daughters, resents Lila and writes a book about her—a process that has her diving into Lila’s past, and learning more than she imagined. “This thought-provoking look at motherhood was enthralling!” (The Dial, 2024)
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