Jess Brammar

This debut novel is a big-hearted story about race and privilege, centered around a black babysitter and her well-intentioned employer. When Emira Tucker is accused of kidnapping the child she's babysitting, her employer, Alix Chamberlain, aims to make it right. However, Emira is mired in personal and financial struggles and is skeptical of Alix's help. As their transactional relationship deepens, both women confront their own realities and the consequences of their actions. With empathy and social commentary, this book explores what it means to make someone "family" and the stickiness of transactional relationships.

Set in 1782 London, Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson follows Caroline Corsham as she seeks justice for a murdered woman whom society would rather forget. Caroline's inquiry into the crime delves into the hidden corners of Georgian society, a world of artifice, deception and secret lives. With many gentlemen refusing to speak about their dealings with the dead woman, finding the killer will be harder, and more treacherous than she can know.

A captivating historical fiction novel set in Tudor England, The Mirror & the Light tells the story of Thomas Cromwell's climb to power and wealth after the execution of Anne Boleyn. Despite the threats of rebellion, traitors, and invasion, Cromwell imagines a new country in the future, but wonders if a person or a nation can truly shed their past. Hilary Mantel brings the trilogy that began with Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies to a triumphant close with this defining portrait of predator and prey, royal will and common man's vision, and the creation of a modern nation through conflict, passion, and courage.

In this modern classic, Alice Walker depicts the lives of African American women in early 20th-century rural Georgia. The story follows Celie and Nettie, two sisters separated as girls who sustain their loyalty and hope in each other through a series of letters spanning 20 years. The Color Purple broke the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, narrating the lives of women through their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery. With deep compassion and beautiful writing, this Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner is a must-read journey towards redemption and love.

Experience the heartbreaking tale of a beekeeper and his artist wife, and how war ripped apart their simple life in Aleppo. Follow their perilous journey through Turkey and Greece, as they struggle to escape to a better future in Britain, all while dealing with the pain of their loss and the dangers that come with being refugees. The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a poignant reminder of the real human toll of war, and how the human spirit can still triumph in the darkest of times.

This novel follows Queenie, a Jamaican British woman in London trying to find her place in a world that doesn't quite fit her. After a difficult breakup, she seeks comfort in all the wrong places, including dangerous men. As Queenie struggles to make sense of her life, readers are taken on a journey that is both funny and heartbreaking. Written with fresh and honest prose, this is a relatable and inclusive exploration of what it means to be a modern woman in today's world.

This thought-provoking work delves into American history and presents a powerful new framework for understanding the nation's current crisis. Through personal narratives and reimagined history, the author addresses the falsehood of "race" and its damaging effects on black men and women. Written as a letter to his son, this emotionally charged book sheds light on the past, confronts the present, and offers a hopeful vision for the future.

This Man Booker Prize-winning sequel to a bestselling historical novel explores the scandalous downfall of Anne Boleyn. King Henry VIII is disenchanted with her failure to produce a son and her sharp intelligence that leads to political enemies. When Anne is accused of adultery and treason, Thomas Cromwell must navigate through a web of conspiracy to bring her down. This gripping historical fiction portrays the power struggles and ferocious battles of Tudor England.

Explore the extravagant and turbulent world of Thatcher-era London with this critically acclaimed novel. Follow Nick Guest, an innocent newcomer to the wealthy and powerful Fedden family, as he falls into their world of politics, parties, and excess. But even as he indulges in the pursuit of beauty, Nick must navigate the changes and tragedies that unfold over four tumultuous years. An unflinching examination of class, sex, and money, The Line of Beauty captures the essence of a defining moment in British history.