As we step fully into the new year, I find myself reflecting on the stories I’ve read that build strength and courage – the ones that have stayed with me over the past year, long after the last page was turned. They remind me that resilience isn’t passive—it’s a choice to keep striving, to stay informed, and to hold space for connection and hope. Whether you’re called to reflect inwardly or act outwardly, these stories offer inspiration and a blueprint for navigating the complexities of our world.
Top Notch Historical Fiction with Women Protagonists Breaking Barriers
The Women was an incredible read, shedding new light on a very divided time in our country. It focuses on the lives of women who served as nurses during the Vietnam War—women who battled not just on the front lines but also at home. They faced unimaginable challenges: tending to soldiers with devastating injuries, enduring the stigma of being women in a male-dominated war zone, and confronting a society that often rejected their service.
Hannah’s storytelling brings their struggles to life, from navigating PTSD in an era that barely recognized it to the heartbreak of familial rejection. The Women isn’t just a historical novel; it’s a testament to quiet resilience and choosing to keep going, even when the world doesn’t seem to understand your journey.
The Rose Code is another great work of historical fiction with strong women protagonists. And it’s a real page-turner! It’s set in Bletchley Park, England, during World War II, and tells the story of the women codebreakers who played a pivotal role in uncovering enemy plans. Based on true stories, these women, from vastly different backgrounds, came together to perform extraordinary work—often at great personal cost.
Quinn’s narrative is a gripping tale of betrayal, resilience, and redemption, moving seamlessly between wartime and postwar narratives. It’s not just the twists and turns that stay with you but the sheer strength of the women at the heart of the story. Their friendships, their quiet acts of defiance, and their determination to break barriers serve as a powerful reminder of how much strength is often underestimated—and how transformative it can be.
Personal Growth and Resilience in Nonfiction
Something Lost, Something Gained by Hillary Rodham Clinton
I never cease to be amazed by Hillary Rodham Clinton’s enduring strength and resilience. She shares that with us in a more personal way in her latest book, Something Lost, Something Gained. It felt like having a heartfelt conversation with a trusted friend. She shares raw, honest reflections on profound moments of loss—like the 2016 election—and the ways she’s found purpose and clarity in the aftermath.
One story that struck me deeply was her work behind the scenes to organize secret flights for Afghan women as the Taliban regained power. It’s a vivid reminder that even in moments of despair, action is possible. Clinton also reflects on the challenges faced by the Clinton Foundation during her presidential campaign, when she and Bill Clinton weathered extraordinary scrutiny, offering a deeply personal perspective on holding onto purpose amid adversity. Her Methodist mantra, “Do all the good you can…in all the ways you can…for as long as ever you can” is a throughline for the book and deeply resonated for me.
From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks
One of my company’s advisors recommended this book to me, and I was able to read it at the end of last summer. It became my guiding light for the fall. It has been a transformative read for me as I navigate both personal and professional transitions. Brooks invites us to embrace the wisdom and clarity that come with life’s later chapters rather than mourning the loss of earlier capabilities.
He reframes aging and change as opportunities for growth, urging us to lean into new strengths like perspective and adaptability. This perspective has helped me see my own evolution—and that of my work—not as a loss but as an unfolding journey. It’s an inspiring reminder that resilience isn’t just about surviving change; it’s about thriving within it.
Escapist Mystery and Exploration
Sometimes, you just need a story that feels like an escape, and Kate Morton’s Homecoming delivers in every way. Set against the backdrop of the remote Australian countryside, it’s a layered, atmospheric mystery about a journalist unraveling her family’s secrets. It’s a fully immersive page-turner that explores family, identity, and the stories we inherit. Her work reminds us that uncovering the past, however painful, is a step toward justice and healing.
As we engage with this new year, I hope these stories bring you strength and inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me.
Happy reading!