Books from United States — The Book Roads

Pam Jenoff

In 1919 New York, Hazel Brister leaves her privileged past behind to rebuild her life on the Lower East Side. When a woman arrives seeking help finding her missing husband, Hazel uncovers a troubling pattern: a group of women have all been abandoned by husbands who have mysteriously vanished. Hoping to uncover the truth and launch her journalism career, Hazel joins forces with these resourceful women—but their investigation reveals dangerous secrets that reach closer to home than she ever imagined. Inspired by true events, this is a story of female solidarity, resilience, and women reclaiming their futures.

2027

The Jewel of Sugar Hill

Fiona Davis

In 1800s New York, Eliza Brown is determined to escape her humble beginnings and claim a place among the city’s elite. When she catches the attention of political figure Aaron Burr, she sees an opportunity to secure her future—but her ambitions threaten to expose secrets from her past. More than two centuries later, disgraced architect Abby Dorrance investigates her father’s mysterious death at the historic Morris-Jumel Mansion in Harlem. As she uncovers the house’s hidden history, Abby must choose between protecting her family’s legacy and saving the landmark from destruction. Moving between two eras, this compelling novel follows two ambitious women determined to shape their own destinies against society’s expectations.

2027

The Stars Look Like Home

TJ Klune

Burke has always believed that dogs are immortal. After all, his mother told him that dogs are like stars: their light lasts forever. But when this cheerful, big-hearted dog discovers that his time on Earth is limited, he sets out to make every moment count. After moving between homes and struggling to find where he belongs, Burke finally meets Jake, a grieving professor who needs a reason to embrace life again. Their bond transforms both their worlds, but Burke knows he has one last mission: to find Jake someone to love before his own light fades. A funny, tender adventure about grief, belonging, and the extraordinary love between humans and animals.

2027

Blaze

Emma Donoghue

New York, 2040. In a half-flooded city devastated by environmental and social collapse, a young pigeon named Blaze survives with her tightly bonded flock in an abandoned tower. Life is dangerous, but her community has rules that keep them alive—until Blaze rescues a solitary stranger whose memories of the world before the catastrophe challenge everything she believes. As she navigates the complexities of loyalty, love, and motherhood, Blaze must decide whether to follow the traditions of her flock or dare to imagine a different future. An inventive, moving tale of survival, belonging, and the courage to change.

2027

The Witch of Wall Street

Marie Benedict

In Gilded Age New York, Hetty Robinson refuses to follow society’s expectations of a wealthy young woman. Instead of settling into a conventional marriage, she joins her father’s business and reveals an extraordinary talent for investing. After a devastating betrayal threatens everything she has built, Hetty vows never to depend on anyone again. Determined to forge her own financial empire, she takes on Wall Street’s most powerful men, including J. P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie. But behind the notorious nickname “The Witch of Wall Street” lies a more complicated woman: a fiercely independent financier, devoted mother, and shrewd investor whose actions would help save New York City from financial ruin. Inspired by the remarkable life of Hetty Green, this historical novel explores ambition, money, and the price women pay for power.

2027

Serious Music

Percival Everett

In 1918, Arthur Champion is a gifted young Black music scholar studying at the Oberlin Conservatory when a vindictive professor sends his life in an unexpected direction: he is drafted into the US Army and shipped to the trenches of the First World War. Surviving the horrors of the Somme, Arthur begins a remarkable journey through the jazz clubs of Paris and Harlem, eventually reaching the White House of President Woodrow Wilson. Along the way, he discovers the transformative power of his musical voice in a society determined to deny him ownership of his own talent. Blending dark humour with historical drama, Percival Everett examines racism, artistic freedom, and the struggle to claim one’s place in a world shaped by prejudice.

2027

Blade of Honey

Hafsah Faizal

Yasmine Ra’ad has one goal: to kill the king of Arawiya, the man whose throne was built on the destruction of her family. When she receives an invitation to compete for his hand in marriage, she sees the perfect opportunity to get close enough to strike. But King Altair has secrets of his own, including a deadly fate that can only be avoided if he takes a bride before the next full moon. As Yasmine plays the devoted suitor, revenge becomes complicated by an unexpected attraction. A dark, enchanting romantic fantasy about vengeance, political intrigue, and the dangerous distance between hatred and love.

2027

The Two-Body Problem

Ali Hazelwood

Olive Smith finally has her PhD and the happy ending she once dreamed of: a promising scientific career, wonderful friends, and Adam Carlsen by her side. But life after the happily-ever-after proves more complicated than expected. As Olive navigates the uncertainty of postdoctoral research, an increasingly competitive academic world, and the challenge of establishing herself as a scientist in her own right, she and Adam must learn how to balance their ambitions with their relationship. A witty, heartfelt sequel to The Love Hypothesis, this romance explores what happens when love is certain but the future is not.

2027

Somewhere, Something Incredible

Susan Meissner

San Diego, 1969. As America prepares to land a man on the moon, Gwen is struggling to keep her family together. After a head injury transforms her eighty-year-old mother, Lucille, into a bold, unpredictable woman who invites a much younger man into her home, Gwen fears that her mother is being taken advantage of. Meanwhile, Gwen’s eighteen-year-old daughter is grieving a friend lost to the Vietnam War. As the world stands on the threshold of an extraordinary achievement, three generations of women must confront grief, control, and the courage it takes to let go.

2027