Here are 13 books that The Path fans have personally recommended once you finish the The Path series.
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I love historical stories that challenge the status quo. To me, patriarchy shows up when dominant members of a single group (generally white cisgender men) fiercely grab and hold onto power by erecting systemic barriers based on gender, race, and class. It silences or cuts off anyone in these marginalized groups from having agency and treats these groups as âless than.â Historical stories that overturn patriarchy inspire me.
This unexpected discoveryâthe story of Meg of St. Michaelâs Mead in the 14th centuryâexemplifies the best of what draws readers to historical fiction. First, there's the heroine, Meg, a young woman coming of age and marked by a facial disfigurement. Immediately, we understand her outsider status, her alienation, and her inevitable struggle against others' scapegoating.
This scapegoating stems not only from typical ignorance but also from the very real fears of the time that she might be a child of the Devil. Meg's life and journey are populated with memorable allies and enemies, but it's her determination to cultivate her talents in women's healthâdespite the opposition of the male medical eliteâthat lends her story contemporary relevance.
She struggles against her enemies. But still, they stand in her way.
In 14th century England, Meg of St. Michael's Mead endures a life of abuse and isolation due to her birth deformity. However, her fortunes change when the village wise woman saves her and teaches her the art of healing. After witnessing a shocking birth, Meg discovers her true purpose: to become England's first licensed female physician and provide compassionate care to women.
To achieve her goal, Meg seeks the tutelage of William of Oxford, a gruff surgeon who agrees to mentor her. But there's a catch. She mustâŚ
I love historical stories that challenge the status quo. To me, patriarchy shows up when dominant members of a single group (generally white cisgender men) fiercely grab and hold onto power by erecting systemic barriers based on gender, race, and class. It silences or cuts off anyone in these marginalized groups from having agency and treats these groups as âless than.â Historical stories that overturn patriarchy inspire me.
This woman is a force. Protagonist Isabelle bursts onto the page with a razor-sharp intensity, driven by a rage and pain that simmers relentlessly beneath the surface, ultimately erupting with lightning force. Written in the present tense, this historical fiction drama grips the reader from the very first sentence and never lets up.
Set in 16th-century 'New France' (Quebec) and Paris, this extraordinary drama vividly portrays the horrific slaughter of Protestant Huguenots by the Catholic Church. Isabelle seeks to rectify this injustice and save her people. Buckle up. It's a charged ride.
"In the second installment of her Defying the Crown series, Kerry Chaput transports readers from the wilds of Quebec to Paris and the palace of the Sun King, spinning a tale of daring and danger. Isabelle Beaumont is a fighter and a fierce woman that readers will root for. With meticulous research and passion for her subject matter, Chaput beautifully conjures the haunting fate of the French Huguenots, and the indelible human drive to fight for love and freedom." âAllison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post
I love historical stories that challenge the status quo. To me, patriarchy shows up when dominant members of a single group (generally white cisgender men) fiercely grab and hold onto power by erecting systemic barriers based on gender, race, and class. It silences or cuts off anyone in these marginalized groups from having agency and treats these groups as âless than.â Historical stories that overturn patriarchy inspire me.
This expertly crafted historical thriller is a masterpiece of suspense, set against the backdrop of the Hanford, Washington, nuclear power plant and its recklessly dangerous expansion during the Cold War. The plant's actions poisoned the environment and led to the illness and deaths of local residents.
The story unfolds as we witness the characters' gradual progression from suspicion to evidence gathering, culminating in their decision to expose the perpetrators. It's a classic confrontation between the faceless, disdainful arrogance of the governmentâwaving a patriotic flag to excuse its flagrant disregard for public safetyâand a few determined, unlikely allies. This book is a true page-turner!
âIn a well-crafted debut, Smith-Blum provides the reader a ringside seat to the birth of the nuclear age...a beautifully written, important story...Tangles packs a punch and hits close to home.â âRobert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Tracy Crosswhite Series
Oppenheimer was just the beginning.
When a harpooned whale offers proof the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, Luke Hinson, a brash young scientist, seizes the chance to avenge his father's death but a thyroid cancer diagnosis derails Luke's research. Between treatments, he dives back in, making enemies at every turn. OnâŚ
The biggest compliment a reader can give me is to tell me my book made them cry. Yes, I love a great tear-jerker. I love writing them, and I love reading them. When we feel more deeply, we can live more fully. Books that evoke emotion can help us tune into our authentic selves and confront falsehoods that have held us back from full victory in our lives. Plus, reading is cheaper than therapy! I seek to bring hope, healing, and freedom through fiction. You have to feel to heal, so bring on all the feels.
Only the Beautiful is one of the most important books Iâve ever read.
Iâve read many excellent books, but this one highlights the value of human life in such a profound way. Itâs weighty, and definitely not an easy âbeachâ read. Yet, for all the emotions that rise to the surface throughout, I was left with a cord of hope. Iâm a mother of a couple of children with special needs.
Historically, society has not placed a high value on the lives of children like mine. However, each day I see the light and beauty they bring to the world. I hope every believer will read this book and take the message to heart.Â
A Best Historical Fiction of Spring Pick by Amazon, PopSugar, AARP, and BookBub!
A heartrending story about a young motherâs fight to keep her daughter, and the terrible injustice that tears them apart, by the USA Today bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things and The Last Year of the War.  California, 1938âWhen she loses her parents in an accident, sixteen-year-old Rosanne is taken in by the owners of the vineyard where she has lived her whole life as the vinedresserâs daughter. She moves into Celine and Truman Calvertâs spacious house with a secret, howeverâRosie sees colors when sheâŚ
As a woman who started writing later in life, I know about reinventing oneself and overcoming obstacles along the way. At any age, there are many hurdles to climb in getting a novel published, though probably more for an older woman. Marketing is a whole other aspect of being an author and thatâs where technology comes in. It can be daunting. I had to learn a whole new vocabulary, programs, and social media I never dreamed Iâd use. It all seems easy now, yet in the beginning, it definitely created a lot of angst. My life has blossomed from it all and Iâm proud Iâve climbed those hurdles. I want the same for my characters.
This is an inspiring, well-researched novel. Rosenberg introduces us to the woman who created Brut Champagne.
Mme. Pommery is determined to support her family. With no experience and no one willing to teach her the art of making champagne, she defies societal restrictions on women, a greedy banker, and even the Prussian Army to become a successful vigneron.
This courageous and forward-thinking young woman reminds me of the protagonist in one of my novels. Though our stories are set one hundred years apart, both of our protagonists are young, determined women who make their way in the world of winemaking fighting their societyâs restrictions on women.Â
"The sun-drenched vineyards of France, a real-life heroine who against all odds refuses to give up her dreams... and champagne. What's not to love?â Barbara Davis, Best-selling author of The Echo of Old Books
Champagne, France, 1860. Madame Pommery, an etiquette teacher and orphanage founder, loses her husband and is forced to support her family. With no experience, the forty-year-old widow decides to make champagne. Her unique vision is to change it from a sweet dessert beverage to a dry, crisp wine to be enjoyed anytime. When champagne makers refuse to teach her their craft, she forges ahead on herâŚ
As a woman who started writing later in life, I know about reinventing oneself and overcoming obstacles along the way. At any age, there are many hurdles to climb in getting a novel published, though probably more for an older woman. Marketing is a whole other aspect of being an author and thatâs where technology comes in. It can be daunting. I had to learn a whole new vocabulary, programs, and social media I never dreamed Iâd use. It all seems easy now, yet in the beginning, it definitely created a lot of angst. My life has blossomed from it all and Iâm proud Iâve climbed those hurdles. I want the same for my characters.
Caugherty brings us a sensory treat, a love letter to Yosemite National Park, as she brings to life Enid Michael, the first female ranger-naturalist.
I love a novel with lyrical prose, especially one that introduces me to a strong, determined little-known woman. The gripping story is rich in historical detail, setting the readersâ feet in the Depression era with a young woman struggling for equality.
Enid is a determined teenager who had the courage to overcome societal boundaries in pursuing her dream. It resonates today, almost 100 years later.Â
"Isabel will steal your heart with her hopeful spirit." âKerry Chaput, author of Daughter of the King
1934. Isabel longs to escape her squalid San Francisco neighborhood. While her mother struggles to make ends meet and her older brother serves with the CCC at Yosemite, she manages the household and comforts her younger sister with stories about an idyllic imaginary world. Desperate for a taste of freedom, she takes matters into her own hands-with tragic consequences.
Distraught, she flees to Yosemite, where she falls in love with its majestic beauty. Inspired by Enid Michael, the park's only female ranger-naturalist, IsabelâŚ
As a woman who started writing later in life, I know about reinventing oneself and overcoming obstacles along the way. At any age, there are many hurdles to climb in getting a novel published, though probably more for an older woman. Marketing is a whole other aspect of being an author and thatâs where technology comes in. It can be daunting. I had to learn a whole new vocabulary, programs, and social media I never dreamed Iâd use. It all seems easy now, yet in the beginning, it definitely created a lot of angst. My life has blossomed from it all and Iâm proud Iâve climbed those hurdles. I want the same for my characters.
This suspenseful novel centers on the life of Hannah Isaacson, a female obstetrician in the early 1900s, a time when womenâs choices for birth control and abortion were more than limited. A devoted women's advocate and suffragist, Hannah is determined to make a difference for her patients, even if it means going to jail or challenging the governor of New York.
We women stand on the shoulders of those strong, determined women who fiercely fought for our rights, and Rubinâs well-researched novel brings that home.
In the Hands of Womenis a suspenseful historical novel centered on the life of Hannah Isaacson, an obstetrician in training who was determined to improve medical safety for women in a time when women had few choices. This carefully researched work, set in 1900 Baltimore and New York City, when birth control and abortion were both illegal, leaves us contemplating whether history is repeating itself.
With the advent of obstetrics and anesthesia as distinct fields of practice in 1900, hospital births rapidly gained popularity. Midwives, who previously cared for these women, began supplementing their shrinking incomes with abortions, sometimes performingâŚ
I am a writer who has spent my entire reading life emersed in the past, reading everything from Russian literature, to nineteenth-century English, to early modern American. Itâs no surprise I became a historical fiction novelist. The 1950s is one of my favorite eras to write about because of its complexity. The glamour of the Golden Age and the dark truths it represents make for compelling reads. I hope you love the list below as much as I do.
This one is pure fun. Itâs hard to believe no one thought to make a female chemist the star of a cooking show before! The story is witty and original, artfully combining the hard truths of being a scientist and a TV personality in male-dominated fields, with femininity and motherhood.
Sexism is rampant (obviously, itâs the 1950s), and the challenges the protagonist faces often seem insurmountable. Garmus takes these difficult themes seriously, while delivering them with humor and a lightheartedness that makes for a refreshing read.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ⢠GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK ⢠Meet Elizabeth Zott: a âformidable, unapologetic and inspiringâ (PARADE) scientist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show in this novel that is âirresistible, satisfying and full of fuel. It reminds you that change takes time and always requires heatâ (The New York Times Book Review).
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Newsweek, GoodReads
"A unique heroine ... you'll find yourself wishing she wasnât fictional." âSeattle TimesâŚ
I graduated from Wheaton College, MA, at the time, a womenâs college where I developed a heightened appreciation of the power of womenâs abilities to strive for more and achieve more. After learning about an ancestorâs involvement in founding the first womenâs only medical school, I knew those graduatesâ stories needed to be unearthed from the shadows of history by writing my book. Every March, to coincide with Womenâs History Month, I celebrate these women, other glass-ceiling smashers, and the authors who write about them through my list of #31titleswomeninhistory. I have presented to the American Medical Womenâs Association, local chapters of AAUW, ADK sorority, and Soroptimist International, among others.
I sincerely thank Ruth P. Watson for sharing Maggie Lena Walker's story to celebrate Walkerâs accomplishments, including being the first African American woman to charter a bank and serve as a bank president.
I stood in awe learning about this unknown woman of history: an entrepreneur, civic leader, philanthropist, and visionary who believed in the power of people. I love historical fiction because a talented author like Watson can also weave in references to other people and historical events.
Watson succeeds in this respect when she mentions other influential African Americans like W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington as she highlights Walkerâs role in challenging Jim Crow-era norms.
In the vein of The Personal Librarian and The House of Eve, a âremarkable and stirring novelâ (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author) based on the inspiring true story of Virginiaâs Black Wall Street and the indomitable Maggie Lena Walker, the daughter of a formerly enslaved woman who became the first Black woman to establish and preside over a bank in the United States.
Maggie Lena Walker was ambitious and unafraid. Her childhood in 19th-century Virginia helping her mother with her laundry service opened her eyes to the overwhelming discrepancy between the Black residents and her motherâs affluentâŚ
I graduated from Wheaton College, MA, at the time, a womenâs college where I developed a heightened appreciation of the power of womenâs abilities to strive for more and achieve more. After learning about an ancestorâs involvement in founding the first womenâs only medical school, I knew those graduatesâ stories needed to be unearthed from the shadows of history by writing my book. Every March, to coincide with Womenâs History Month, I celebrate these women, other glass-ceiling smashers, and the authors who write about them through my list of #31titleswomeninhistory. I have presented to the American Medical Womenâs Association, local chapters of AAUW, ADK sorority, and Soroptimist International, among others.
This book is a compelling and powerful WWII novel that vividly captures the chaos and courage of December 7, 1941, the day the first woman, Lieutenant Annie Fox, was awarded the Purple Heart.
I was particularly moved by how it balanced the heroism of Annieâs relentless dedication in her role as Chief Nurse at Hickam Field with the harsh reality of prejudice that she faced later. Page after page, I was pulled into this gripping read that sheds light on both the valor of these unsung heroes and the darker sides of history.Â
Based on the real life of Lieutenant Annie Fox, Chief Nurse of Hickam Hospital, The Woman with a Purple Heart is an inspiring WWII novel of heroic leadership, courage, and friendship that also exposes a shocking and shameful side of history.
Annie Fox will stop at nothing to serve her country. But what happens when her country fails her?
In November 1941, Annie Fox, an Army nurse, is transferred to Hickam Field, an air force base in Honolulu. The others on her transport plane are thrilled to work in paradise, but Annie sees her new duty station as the Army'sâŚ
