The Fascinator's Reading List: Winter 2025
Curated picks from my shelves to yours
Winter is the perfect season for cozying up with a great book, and recently I’ve been diving into stories that transport the reader—both on paper and in audio format. In case you’re wondering: yes, I think that both formats count towards your annual reading goal. Most of my reading in 2024 was done via Libby (how did it take me this long to discover this incredible app?) or Audible.
Note: This is an all-fiction edition of our reading list! Towards the end of 2024, with the election, car repairs, and a grueling holiday schedule, I needed an escape in my hobbies—not more food for thought. In addition to the titles listed here, I also read Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing, Nora Roberts’ The Mirror, and Jane Austen’s Persuasion (for probably the 5th time).
The reads I’m recommending here will have you staying up until midnight, so make sure you’re armed with a mug of hot cocoa and plenty of blankets!
Many of these books, I’ve picked up from my local independent bookstore, The Midtown Scholar in Harrisburg, PA. 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.
Richard Osman, We Solve Murders
Winter and mystery books go together like cookies and milk, and there’s truly nothing better than the age-old quaint village whodunit. For the past few months, I’ve been bingeing Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series (just as fast as my holds in the Libby app can come through!); they’re a refreshing new take on the classic British genre. I also cannot wait for the film adaptation and its inspired casting. Seriously, look at this bunch:
But if you’re already well-acquainted with retirees Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron, and Ibrahim, might I suggest Osman’s new murder mystery novel, We Solve Murders.
The book follows a private bodyguard, Amy, and her retired father-in-law, Steve, who join forces to (what else?) solve a series of murders. A breakneck race around the world begins, but can Amy and Steve stay one step ahead of a lethal enemy? They’re a novel new crime-solving duo, and while I was skeptical about whether I would warm to them after being so attached to the members of the Thursday Murder Club (what if Osman only had this one premise story up his sleeve?), the father and daughter-in-law quickly won me over.
Osman’s writing carries such a charm for me in its realistic, bantery portrayal of modern relationships. And his witty asides! In a real world that’s becoming increasingly banal and predictable in its disappointment, I love slipping into Osman’s version of events. I might be biased with this recommendation, as I got to meet Richard at his book launch event for We Solve Murders back in September. Another reason to stay updated with your local bookstore’s events; you never know who will come to town!
Osman is just as witty and fun in person as the casts of characters he writes. He’s also, yes, that tall. And I will be reading everything he releases, forever. I think you should too.
Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows, My Contrary Mary
Did you know that the hit Prime Video series My Lady Jane was originally a YA novel? A YA novel about Lady Jane Grey that I’ve read at least 6 times, no less. And did you also know that the writers of said novel didn’t stop with My Lady Jane? They also went on to write quasi-sequels reimagining the stories of Jane Eyre and Calamity Jane*.
My love for the “Lady Janies,” as the trilogy is affectionately known, has no bounds. But the trio of authors also has a separate trilogy of loosely adapted novels under their belts—all centered around “The Marys” of literary (and actual) history.
My Contrary Mary is, as Hand, Ashton, and Meadows put it, “THE PRINCESS BRIDE meets REIGN (the TV show about Mary, Queen of Scots). Because the book stars MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.” It also builds upon the My Lady Jane universe, which is delightful. And just as My Lady Jane brought justice and fantasy in equal measure to Jane Grey’s story, My Contrary Mary reimagines the life and fate of the Queen of Scots. The one downside is that you’ll have to keep track of five main characters with the same name. Yep, it’s Mary.
The other “Mary” novels by Hand, Ashton, and Meadows include My Imaginary Mary, focused on Mary Shelley (her book also heavily features Ada Lovelace), and My Salty Mary, about the legendary female pirate Mary Read. Each and every one of these novels has its charms, and you can’t really go wrong with any of them. But My Contrary Mary remains the standout—especially for royal history lovers.
*my maternal great-great-grandfather was a Pony Express rider and once encountered Calamity Jane at a bar, but that’s a story for another time. Allegedly, there was a shot-out gas lamp in close proximity to his head.
Sarah Raughley, The Queen’s Spade
I don’t mind a reimagining of history as long as it is a) done for a good reason and b) executed well. The Queen's Spade checks both boxes. This is my first read from Sarah Raughley, and it is a riveting historical thriller from start to finish. Inspired by the true story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Queen Victoria's African goddaughter, the novel follows 19-year-old Sarah Bonetta Forbes, once a princess of the Egbado Clan, who seeks revenge against the British Crown for transforming her into “royal property.”
To dismantle the monarchy, Sarah navigates court politics, aligns with London's underworld, and manipulates Queen Victoria's inner circle—including her eldest son, Prince Albert. I don’t want to give much away, but as the Queen becomes suspicious, the stakes for Sarah increase, and the price of vengeance may require sacrificing her heart—or more.
I covered Sarah’s story in-depth on my podcast Art of History last year, and I was instantly intrigued by this fictional reimagining of her story.
Sarah (or Aina, as she was born) is a complex yet frustratingly obscured historical figure. We know of her, and we even have quite a bit of rich biographical evidence about her movements…but we don’t know her. As a woman of color living under Queen Victoria’s watchful eye, Sarah’s true thoughts and feelings about the world she was swept into remain lost to time.
The author, Sarah Raughley, is not only an established YA author but also a professor and scholar whose research concerns critical race studies, postcolonialism, African literature, and popular media culture. writer. Her work has been published in journals such as The Washington Post and Teen Vogue—find her articles here!
Once you become acquainted with Sarah and the trials of her life, Raughley’s revenge-fueled retelling is immensely satisfying. After all, a young lady can take only so many injuries before humiliation and insult forge a vow of revenge.
One to Watch
Sasha Peyton Smith, The Rose Bargain (Out February 4, 2025)
Sometimes I joke with my literary friends about the overuse of the word “lush” in book synopses, but it is absolutely appropriate to use when describing The Rose Bargain. Think Bridgerton set in a fae-governed fantasy realm (replete with trails and challenges to win a prince’s hand in marriage).
In an alternate-reality 1848 England, we learn that an immortal fae queen grants each of her subjects one bargain to fulfill their deepest desire. Ivy Benton, facing her family's declining social standing, enters a competition for the hand of Prince Bram—hoping that winning the crown will solve her problems. With the unexpected assistance of Prince Emmett, Bram's brother, Ivy navigates glittering balls and the queen's increasingly vicious trials. However, all faerie bargains come with a cost, and Ivy may discover hers too late.
The Rose Bargain is, first and foremost, a story for the GIRLS. It’s romantic, magickal, and scratches that itch for high-stakes drama without sacrificing character development. (One of my favorite aspects of Peyton Smith’s writing is her choice to include multiple characters’ backstories and perspectives). There’s also an oh-so-good love triangle that has me on-edge waiting for the sequel.
This book was gifted to me by the author, and she hoped I would enjoy her loving descriptions of Kensington Palace. Sasha, I did—and then some. The Rose Bargain releases on February 4, 2025, and you won’t want to miss it.
Thanks for checking out the winter reading list—and for kicking off another year of The Fascinator! 2025 promises to be a great year for cultural commentary, and I happen to have an additional outlet where you can get your royal media fix. Meredith Constant and I have joined forces to launch Off With Their Headlines, a weekly podcast focused on the media, royal news, pop culture, and…well, any and everything else that interests us. If a story is making waves in the media, there’s a good chance we’ll be applying our critical lens to it.
There’s also a Patreon for Off With Their Headlines, where you can find video episodes, bonus content, polls, and more. As the potential TikTok ban looms, we’re so grateful for this kind and intelligent community’s support in making content creation rewarding and sustainable.