Canticle – by Janet Rich-Edwards – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Belgium) I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

CANTICLE by Janet Rich-Edwards - rich historical fiction that brings to life Brugge in the late 1200s, just before the Renaissance. Brilliant! #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2026/02/20/c...

Shooting Up – by Jonathan Tepper – independent book review – Fiction, Memoir How can a memoir about drug addicts and HIV in the 1980s and 1990s possibly have a hopeful slant?

On Sale TODAY! SHOOTING UP by Jonathan Tepper. FIVE Stars! A powerful memoir about growing up with missionary parents, whose lives are dedicated to drug addicts in the 1980s. A remarkable story of the human spirit. tobyasmith.com/2026/01/21/s...

The Fourth Daughter – by Lyn Liao Butler – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Taiwan, United States) I enjoyed learning more about Taiwan’s history and culture.

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER by Lyn Liao Butler - interesting Historical Fiction about life under martial law with the Kuomintang on the island of Taiwan. And its long-term consequences. #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2026/02/14/t...

The Goddess Abides – by Pearl S. Buck – independent book review – Fiction Few writers compete with her ability to consistently create a compelling storyline populated with interesting and believable characters.

An oldie but a goodie! THE GODDESS ABIDES, a thought-provoking late-in-life work by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Pearl S. Buck. A young widow explores different kinds of love as she works to build a new life for herself. #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2026/02/11/t...

Keeper of Lost Children – by Sadeqa Johnson – independent book review – Historical Fiction (World War II) A lovely story that illustrates just what a difference one person can make in the lives of others.

On Sale Today! KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by prize winning author Sadeqa Johnson. Historical fiction about a long forgotten consequence of World War II - the mixed-race children left behind by U.S. soldiers. #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/12/26/k...

All in Her Hands – by Audrey Blake – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England) Combines two of my particular interests: early medical practices and women struggling for recognition.

Coming in February - ALL IN HER HANDS - by Audrey Blake. Third and final #book in the Nora Beady Gibson #HistoricalFiction series about a woman physician struggling for acceptance in 19th century London. Completely fascinating. #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2026/01/04/a...

My Best Books of 2025 2025 was SUCH a good year for reading.

For those interested, here's my BEST BOOKS of 2025 recommendations: tobyasmith.com/2025/12/31/m... #books #bookreview #2025

Keeper of Lost Children – by Sadeqa Johnson – independent book review – Historical Fiction (World War II) A lovely story that illustrates just what a difference one person can make in the lives of others.

Coming in February - KEEPER OF LOST CHILDREN by Sadeqa Johnson. A little known story from World War II about children in Europe. Consequences for generations to come. #bookreview #HistoricalFiction #books #children tobyasmith.com/2025/12/26/k...

The Double Standard Sporting House – by Nancy Bernhard – independent book review – Historical Fiction (New York City) A novel about prostitution, political corruption, muckraking, and women with limited power and few options trying to take control of their lives.

Coming in January - THE DOUBLE STANDARD SPORTING HOUSE by Nancy Bernard. #historicalfiction about #prostitution, #corruption, #power, and #women in 1860s New York City during the era of "Boss" Tweed. #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/12/13/t...

Berlin Shuffle – by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Germany) By exploring the lives of a handful of characters, across class, we see how these economic problems impacted all aspects of society, even people’s very humanity.

On SALE Today! Berlin Shuffle by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz. A new translation of a famous German novel that presents a brilliant but bleak picture of Germany in the 1920s. Helping us understand the coming rise of the Nazi Party. #historicalfiction #bookreview #books tobyasmith.com/2025/08/21/b...

The Elements – by John Boyne – independent book review – Fiction Boyne so sensitively presents each character’s personal experiences that he forces readers to understand what leads a good person to commit bad actions.

THE ELEMENTS by John Boyne. A difficult-to-read novel by one of my favorite authors that's a true tour-de-force. With rich insight into child sexual assault from perspectives of victim, perpetrator, accomplice, and enabler. Somehow each remains sympathetic. tobyasmith.com/2025/12/01/t...

The Cassatt Sisters – by Lisa Groen – independent book review – Historical Fiction (France) Despite pressure to follow the more conventional path of marriage and motherhood and despite the difficulties of being a woman trying to find acceptance in the predominantly male art scene, America…

For lovers of #art #women and #Paris try THE CASSATT SISTERS - a debut novel by Lisa Groen about Mary Cassatt's challenges as a woman artist in the 19th century and about the origins of the Impressionism Movement. #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/11/19/t...

The Ferryman and His Wife – by Frode Grytten – independent book review – Fiction A lovely fable-like story of a Norwegian ferry driver who wakes up one morning knowing this is his last day alive.

On Sale TODAY - THE FERRYMAN AND HIS WIFE - by Frode Grytten - a newly translated, up-beat Norwegian fairy tale about a man reviewing his life. Tender and full of love. tobyasmith.com/2025/09/23/t...

The Go-Between – by L. P. Hartley – independent book review – Memoir, Fiction The vacation marks the end of Leo’s childhood naïveté and the beginning of a wiser understanding of the complexity and duplicity of the adult world.

THE GO-BETWEEN BY L. P. Hartley - a tender ComingOfAge novel about a naive 12-year-old boy in pre- WWI England and his entry into the world of adults. Beautifully written. #books #bookreview #children tobyasmith.com/2025/11/12/t...

The Missing Pages – by Alyson Richman – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States, England) Absorbing historical fiction combining, first love, grief, wealth, secrets, Harvard University and the doomed Titanic.

Lovers of #historicalfiction should rush to read THE MISSING PAGES by the Alyson Richman. Skillfully blends a tragic true story from the RMS Titanic with the author's own rich imagination. #suspense, #romance, and smart #women #bookreview #books tobyasmith.com/2025/10/30/t...

The Door-to-Door Bookstore – by Carsten Henn – independent book review – Fiction It would make a delightful read-aloud choice for the whole family.

THE DOOR-TO-DOOR BOOKSTORE by Carsten Henn, an international bestseller newly translated into English, is a not-to-be-missed fairy tale (for the whole family) of an unlikely friendship and how that relationship winds up changing MANY lives. #books #bookreview #fiction tobyasmith.com/2025/10/24/t...

Boleyn Traitor – by Philippa Gregory – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England) It’s a rare treat to discover new historical fiction that offers a unique take on a figure I’ve read about for decades.

BOLEYN TRAITOR by Philippa Gregory offers a new take on an often forgotten figure: Jane Parker Boleyn. From sister-in-law to one Queen to Lady-in-Waiting, how did Jane manage to survive the dangerous court of King Henry VIII for so long? #historicalfiction #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/10/18/b...

Butterfly Games – by Kelly Scarborough – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Sweden) Kelly Scarborough’s debut novel about politics in the Swedish royal court, in the early years of the 19th century.

Coming in January - BUTTERFLY GAMES - by Kelly Scarborough. Historical Fiction about the Swedish court in the early 19th century. A debut novel that, for me, fell short. #books #bookreview #Sweden #historicalfiction tobyasmith.com/2025/10/08/b...

Meditations for Mortals – by Oliver Burkeman – independent book review – Non-fiction I personally found MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS extraordinarily helpful and I’m likely read it again.

MEDITATIONS FOR MORTALS by Oliver Burkeman. Five Stars! One self-help book that TRULY makes a difference. Insightful opportunity to examine our daily lives, recognize ways we sabotage ourselves, and achieve greater contentment. #book #bookreview #wisdom #empowerment tobyasmith.com/2025/09/28/m...

The Ferryman and His Wife – by Frode Grytten – independent book review – Fiction A lovely fable-like story of a Norwegian ferry driver who wakes up one morning knowing this is his last day alive.

THE FERRYMAN AND HIS WIFE. A lovely fable for adults about the intrinsic value of each person's life. From bestselling Norwegian journalist and author Frode Grytten. On sale 11/18/35. #books #bookreview #marriage #love tobyasmith.com/2025/09/23/t...

Barriers to Entry – by Ariel Lawhon – independent book review – Fiction BARRIERS TO ENTRY is a short story commissioned by Amazon Original Stories Blaze Collection* from author Ariel Lawhon about a fascinating woman I had never heard of: Frances Glessner Lee, a scienti…

BARRIERS TO ENTRY by Ariel Lawhon is a short story about a fascinating woman who was the mother of forensic science. Very fun! #books #bookreview #women tobyasmith.com/2025/09/18/b...

The Path Beneath Her Feet – by Janis Robinson Daly – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States) THE PATH BENEATH HER FEET is the worthwhile sequel to this author’s previous book, THE UNLOCKED PATH – both books telling stories related to the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsyl…

THE PATH BENEATH HER FEET by Janis Robinson Daly. A worthy sequel about a woman physician trying to make a difference, despite discrimination, the Great Depression, and World War II. #medicine #healthcare #women #war #historicalfiction #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/09/15/t...

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax – by Dorothy Gilman – independent book review – Fiction There are plenty of delightful surprises and quite a bit of humor as Mrs. Pollifax navigates her way through the unexpected.

THE UNEXPECTED MRS. POLLIFAX by Dorothy Gilman launches a 14-mystery series about a senior citizen who wants to do something meaningful with her final years. Lots of humor and surprises! An oldie but fun! #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/09/02/t...

When Things Fall Apart – by Pema Chödrön – independent book review – Non-fiction, Philosophy This is simply a 170-page gem!

A gem of a book - WHEN THINGS FALL APART by Pema Chodrun with #wisdom #humor #kindness #advice for everyone. #bookreview #books tobyasmith.com/2025/08/29/w...

Daughter of Egypt – by Marie Benedict – independent book review – Historical Fiction (England, Egypt) Anyone with an interest in Ancient Egypt or British Colonialism should race to get a copy of DAUGHTER OF EGYPT.

Coming in March 2026! DAUGHTER OF EGYPT by Marie Benedict (THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN) historical fiction about women, power, and colonialism. GREAT story! #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/08/27/d...

Birds of a Feather – by Jacqueline Windspear – independent book review – Mystery I was delighted!

BIRDS OF A FEATHER - by Jacqueline Winspear - #2 in the Maisie Dobbs investigator series. Maisie is hired to find the adult runaway daughter of a successful businessman. Only it turns out the daughter may actually be in danger. #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/08/25/b...

My Mother’s Secret – by Alina Adams – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Soviet Union) Historical fiction that includes a wide range of topics: Russian immigrants living in the United States, Jews living in the Soviet Union during the era of Joseph Stalin, aspects of parents’ l…

MY MOTHER'S SECRET by Alina Adams - recommended historical fiction and romance about immigrants, collectivization in Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union, and a Jewish socialist state inside Russia. #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/08/23/m...

The First Witch of Boston – by Andrea Catalano – independent book review – Historical Fiction (United States, England) When Maggie winds up facing charges of witchcraft, that’s when all the hidden fears, hypocrisies, petty jealousies, and superstitions in the community come roaring to life.

THE FIRST WITCH OF BOSTON by Andrea Catalano will be released September 1st. Based on the true story of Margaret Jones. Spoiler Alert: it doesn't end well. #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/08/18/t...

The Magician – by Colm Tóibín – independent book review – Historical Fiction (Germany, United States) Here comes my rave!

THE MAGICIAN by Colm Tóibín is historical fiction with an exceptional story AND masterful style. The story of writer Thomas Mann and his family as they navigate the first half of the 20th century. Five Stars! #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/08/16/t...

The Magician of Tiger Castle – by Louis Sachar – independent book review – Fiction An easy read, written with lots of humor and it was fun.

Popular children's author Louis Sachar presents his first fairy tale for adults. THE MAGICIAN OF TIGER CASTLE. Quick fun! #books #bookreview tobyasmith.com/2025/08/14/t...