Even though some of the advice seemed a little obvious at times, this is the type of book that feels like you’re reading your best friend’s diary. She’s telling you it’s going to be ok and “get your act together” all at the same time. When I was done, I found myself talking to other friends about certain chapters and how it impacted my thinking.

Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? But The Briar Club is so much more than that. The story centers around Briarwood House, a all-female boarding house in Washington D.C. in the 1950’s. The opening chapter only tells the reader there’s a dead body in the house, specifically in the room of mysterious widow Grace March.

As one of four siblings in my family, some of my favorite fiction novels are centered around family dynamics. This is a list of books that have been out for a few years or more, but if you’re like me, sometimes titles slip past me and I haven’t heard of the book before or haven’t had time yet. These are among my most recommended any time it comes up in conversation.

Before even cracking it open, I knew I would love this book for one simple reason: Jo based the storyline on her own family history and centuries old tale that her great grandmother was murdered. Like I said, I have my own “rich” family history, and that is what makes this book immediately intriguing. We’ve all heard stories about our family, but what really happened?