The Fascinator's Reading List: Fall 2023

Curated picks from my shelves to yours.

Sep 19, 2023

One of the main reasons I wanted to start this newsletter was to have a place to concisely share the book recommendations that pile up in my brain over time. These will include picks to complement your shelves whether you’re a royal fanatic, royally curious, or just looking for something new.

I don’t read strictly royal history textbooks, so don’t worry, I won’t limit these recs to that genre! You’ll find everything from fact to fiction, silly to serious, timely to timeless in these quarterly reading roundups. This month, as the weather cools, I’ve found myself in the mood for fiction, so I’ve included a few of the cozy (yet also chilling—you’ll see) novels from my recent reads.

Oh, and I’ll also make a drink recommendation that I think would pair well with each of these reads. Not for any particular reason! It’s just my newsletter, that’s all.

Many of these books, I’ve picked up from my local independent bookstore, The Midtown Scholar. I urge you to shop local and shop indie whenever possible. If there’s not a brick-and-mortar bookshop near you, bookshop.org is a great way to shop online and still support indies, with a percentage of your purchase going to the independent bookstore of your choice.

Without further ado…

Royal Reads: Non-Fiction

Crown, Cloak, and Dagger

Two intelligence historians, Richard J. Aldrich and Rory Cormac, reveal the covert relationship between The British Royal Family and the UK’s intelligence services, and how that relationship has evolved from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II. (Who knew that QEII was one of Britain’s best-ever spy chiefs?!) Not only do the authors cover Elizabeth II's relationship with British intelligence in detail, but they also discuss Edward VIII being put under surveillance by his own government; Princess Diana's battles with her security; and, most recently, the security threats faced by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Get it here. Pair it with a dark roast coffee.

“Can the Monarchy Save Itself?” - ENDGAME and After Elizabeth

This one is a twofer, as two topical books on the monarchy’s future are set to release this fall. I’ve not had a chance to read either yet, but I do have something special planned for the release of Scobie’s ENDGAME…stay tuned!

I’d hazard a guess that the reason that so many of us are tuned into royal commentary at the moment stems from how turbulent the last few years have felt. First, there was the exit of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, then the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s record-breaking reign, then her death, and finally, the accession of King Charles III.

But these historic events—as much as they reminded us all of the pomp and ceremony that draws us to the Monarchy—occurred against a backdrop of uncertainty. Queen Elizabeth II’s death “dismantled the protective shield” around the inner workings of the Palace, eroding the public’s already-waning confidence in the Royal Family. Add in the Monarchy’s current reckoning with its Imperial past, as well as questions about its present relationship to class and race? Well, let’s just say we’re all breathlessly waiting for this chapter of history to play out.

After Elizabeth (releasing on November 14th) offers an in-depth and timely exploration of the future of the British monarchy following the death of Queen Elizabeth I and during the reign of King Charles III. Pre-order it here.

ENDGAME (releasing on November 21st) is journalist Omid Scobie’s highly anticipated second royal blockbuster, following his New York Times bestseller Finding Freedom. ENDGAME: The Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival, promises to “pull back the curtain on an institution in turmoil—exposing the chaos, family dysfunction, distrust and draconian practices threatening its very future.” Pre-order it here!

Pair either of these with a mimosa or a strong tea, depending on your feelings towards the Palace.

Mortal Monarchs: 1000 Years of Royal Deaths

Shall we dig up another body? You might hear the voice of my fellow TikTok creator, medical historian Suzie Edge, with that intro. She’s my go-to for the grisly nitty-gritty of royal history, whether that’s in tracing a family tree back through the generations or sharing an incredibly detailed account of how they met their ends. Mortal Monarchs examines 1,000 years of royal deaths, whether by natural or decidedly unnatural means.

It’s gory, incredibly well-researched, and grimly humorous. Get it here. Pair it with a brown sugar boba tea.

Royal Reads: Fiction

The Force of Such Beauty

Barbara Bourland’s third novel, inspired by the plight of real-life royals, weaves a story that is as unsettling as it is indulgent. Based on the alleged trials faced by the likes of Princess Charlene of Monaco and Diana, Princess of Wales, The Force of Such Beauty follows Caroline Mueller, an idealistic young athlete. Her skill on the track places her in the company of a prince, but it is her own will that, ultimately, makes her into a princess. But as she transitions from being one of the world’s top athletes to one of its most photographed women, Caroline discovers the steep price she has paid in her quest to be free from life’s mundane challenges.

The Force of Such Beauty is enthralling for its examination of the way that women are used to bolster patriarchal systems alone. What sets this novel apart from the rest, though, is the way it examines the physicality of Princess Caroline’s plight. Through intensely lush, visceral prose, Bourland takes us past merely feeling empathy for Caroline—and the real women whose stories we will never fully know—to physically aching for her. This overarching theme is unlike anything I’ve encountered in a novel before, and hammers home the point that monarchies and power structures around the world “ultimately rest on the subjugation of women's bodies.”

I’ve read this one three times since it was released last year, and it recently came out in paperback. A must-read for anyone who’s ever daydreamed of the royal life, while still knowing that at the end of the day, it’s certainly not what it’s cracked up to be.

Get it here. Pair it with a hot cup of Lady Grey tea and a lemon wedge.

Potpourri

Cackle

A darkly funny novel—somehow equal parts cozy and spooky—about a young woman named Annie who is learning how to take what she wants in life after a devastating breakup. These lessons come from a charming, magnetic woman in her new town, who might be too good to be true. And should we be worried that the rest of the townsfolk seem...a little afraid of her?

This one gives me the chills (in the best way) and puts me in the perfect fall mood! I literally cannot wait to re-read it this year.

Get it here! Pair it with a hot, spiced cider on a cool night.

Lavender House

I love a murder mystery. Agatha Christie’s Poirot has a regular place in my viewing and reading rotation, and I firmly believe that the movies Clue and Knives Out are modern classics. Lavender House gives me the same feelings as an old-fashioned, ensemble whodunit. It’s a queer historical fiction cozy mystery set in an eccentric 1952 San Francisco mansion after Irene, the matriarch of a soap empire, is found dead—ostensibly in a freak accident.

When Andy, a disgraced San Francisco policeman recently fired after being caught in a raid on a gay bar, is petitioned by Irene’s widow to investigate the death, he is initially skeptical. But upon arriving at Lavender House, Andy learns that Irene’s family is accustomed to guarding secrets, from the secret of the company’s soap formula to the secret of their own identities. After all, they’re a family of queer people who live their lives openly—as long as they can maintain their home’s safety and security. It stands to reason that if Irene were murdered, it would have been at the hands of one of her own…

What follows is a sensitive, well-plotted romp through the first queer mystery I’ve ever picked up. And now I’m itching for more. Get Lavender House here! Pair it with an iced London Fog with lavender and vanilla.

Have book recommendations for me, or our community? Leave a comment and share!