CDS Book Club: 5 Books from Female Authors to Read this Month

As a major counterintelligence hub during WWII, Bletchley Park and all those who worked there were crucial to the Allied Victory. Kate Quinn’s historical fiction masterpiece tells the story of three Bletchley women who worked to help win the war. There’s Osla Benning, the Canadian-born socialite who just so happens to be Prince Philip’s first love; Beth, an awkward but brilliant codebreaker; and Mab, a bold born-and-raised Londoner who goes to Bletchley Park in search of a wealthy husband and ends up finding herself fully immersed in the efforts. It’s a page-turner that’s also very much based on true events, and we recommend reading it before it hits the big screen–it’s currently being developed into a miniseries by the production company that created The Imitation Game (and, yes, Alan Turing was at Bletchley Park, too).

By now, you may have read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, a book that has garnered widespread and well-deserved popularity. If you haven’t, consider this a sign to pick it up on your next bookstore trip. Tomorrow x 3 (let’s call it that, for brevity’s sake) follows Sadie and Sam, best friends since their chance encounter in a children’s hospital as tweens, as they reconnect in their adulthood to co-found a gaming company. You don’t have to be interested in games to love this book–it’s a gorgeous reflection on a number of life’s challenges, from creativity vs. success to the deep connective power–and occasional pain–that comes with lifelong friendship.

If you’re after a bit of literary fun, look no further than Happy Hour. Buzzy, refreshing and youthful, the book follows two best friends, Isa and Gala, as they navigate New York’s downtown party scene. Trouble is: they don’t have the parental trust funds or career prospects that their peers do, which means they’re constantly scrambling to make ends meet. Happy Hour is an electric journey into the rarefied world of New York City’s coolest crew, from clubs in Brooklyn at 4am to the manicured lawns of Hamptons homes. Best enjoyed with a cold cocktail.

Wintering may not be a new book–it was published back in November 2020. But it has become a book we find ourselves returning to as soon as this time of year comes around. If you struggle a bit with the wintertime seasonal shift–and we get it, early sunsets and bracing temperatures aren’t for everyone–this is the type of book that will help you see things differently. After you finish, you may just find yourself loving this time of year.

On TikTok, the hashtag #manifesting currently has 28,039,041 views and counting. We can’t deny that manifesting has permeated the mainstream. And if you’re still totally skeptical, we get it–but we do recommend you leaf through Roxie Nafousi’s book. A ubiquitous mainstay in celebrity bookshelves across the pond, it’s a simple, streamlined, 7-step plan to achieving your goals. And, contrary to popular belief, the book isn’t about how to manifest fancy material items; it’s more of a personal manual on self-worth, with tools everyone can incorporate in their lives–yes, even the skeptics.