Recommendations based on Hausfrauby Jill Alexander Essbaum

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Dept. of Speculation

    by Jenny Offill
    A woman's exploration of relationships, marriage, and motherhood amidst personal and familial struggles.

    Dept. of Speculation is a portrait of a marriage. It is also a beguiling rumination on the mysteries of intimacy, trust, faith, knowledge, and the condition of universal shipwreck that unites us all. ... (Goodreads)

  2. The Infinite Plan

    by Isabel Allende
    A man's journey from a poverty-stricken childhood to a successful adulthood, exploring themes of identity, family, and destiny.

    Summer Reissues with P.S. The engrossing story of one man’s quest for love and for his soul from bestselling author Isabel Allende, now available with P.S. Isabel Allende’s first novel to be set in ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Lover

    by Marguerite Duras
    A young French girl's exploration of passion, love, and relationships in French Indochina.

    Set against the backdrop of French Indochina , The Lover reveals the intimacies and intricacies of a clandestine romance between a pubescent girl from a financially strapped French family and an ... (Wikipedia)

  4. Another Brooklyn

    by Jacqueline Woodson
    A poetic story of four teenage girls growing up in Brooklyn in the 1970s.

    The story starts with August, an adult anthropologist, returning to New York to bury her father. On the subway, she encounters an old friend, and begins to reminisce. She remembers being an 8 year ... (Wikipedia)

  5. The Casual Vacancy

    by J.K. Rowling
    A small town is split by a heated local election, sparking social tensions and hidden secrets.

    A BIG NOVEL ABOUT A SMALL TOWN ... When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock. Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ... (Goodreads)

  6. This is Where I Leave You

    by Jonathan Tropper
    A family comes together during a week of sitting shiva, rediscovering the joys of being a family.

    A riotously funny, emotionally raw New York Times bestselling novel about love, marriage, divorce, family, and the ties that bind—whether we like it or not. The death of Judd Foxman’s father marks ... (Goodreads)

  7. Americanah

    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    An exploration of race, identity, and belonging as two Nigerian immigrants experience life in America and beyond.

    Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to ... (Goodreads)

  8. The Course of Love

    by Alain de Botton
    A realistic portrayal of a couple's relationship, from the initial infatuation to the challenges of long-term commitment.

    “An engrossing tale [that] provides plenty of food for thought” ( People , Best New Books pick), this playful, wise, and profoundly moving second novel from the internationally bestselling author of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. Shanghai Girls

    by Lisa See
    Two sisters navigate the turmoil of 1930s Shanghai, while struggling to protect each other.

    Shanghai Girls is divided into three parts: Fate, Fortune, and Destiny. Here See treats Chinese immigration from a personal view through Pearl's narration. In, On Gold Mountain, she objectively ... (Wikipedia)

  10. Fates and Furies

    by Lauren Groff
    A tale of the secrets and passions of a marriage, exploring the depths of private lives.

    Every story has two sides. Every relationship has two perspectives. And sometimes, it turns out, the key to a great marriage is not its truths but its secrets. At the core of this rich, expansive, ... (Goodreads)

  11. My Name Is Lucy Barton

    by Elizabeth Strout
    A woman's journey of self-reflection, uncovering secrets from her past.

    Lucy Barton is recovering slowly from what should have been a simple operation. Her mother, to whom she hasn't spoken for many years, comes to see her. Her unexpected visit forces Lucy to confront ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Lost Girls

    by Heather Young
    A family saga that explores the disappearance of three sisters from their secluded lake house in Minnesota in 1935.

    In the summer of 1935, six-year-old Emily Evans vanishes from her family’s vacation home on a remote Minnesota lake. Her disappearance destroys her mother, who spends the rest of her life at the lake ... (Goodreads)

  13. The Queen of the Big Time

    by Adriana Trigiani
    A coming-of-age story of a young Italian-American girl in the early 20th century, navigating love, family, and tradition.

    Known and loved around the world for her sweeping Big Stone Gap trilogy and the instant New York Times bestseller Lucia, Lucia, Adriana Trigiani returns to the charm and drama of small-town life with ... (Goodreads)

  14. Breakfast at Tiffany's and Three Stories

    by Truman Capote
    Collection of stories, exploring the lives of eccentric individuals in New York City.

    In autumn 1943, the unnamed narrator befriends Holly Golightly. The two are tenants in a brownstone apartment in Manhattan 's Upper East Side . Holly (age 18–19) is a country girl turned New York ... (Wikipedia)

  15. What Alice Forgot

    by Liane Moriarty
    A woman wakes up with amnesia and must reconstruct her life, rediscovering truths hidden in her past.

    FROM THE #1, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF, THE HUSBAND'S SECRET, AND, BIG LITTLE LIES,. A “cheerfully engaging”(,Kirkus Reviews,) novel for anyone who’s ever asked herself, “How did I get ... (Barnes & Noble)

  16. The Orphan Master's Son

    by Adam Johnson
    A man's struggle to survive in a totalitarian North Korean regime and his journey to freedom.

    Part 1 details Jun Do's upbringing in a state orphanage and his service to the state, including as a kidnapper of Japanese citizens , and later as a signal operator stationed on a fishing boat. Due ... (Wikipedia)

  17. Half of a Yellow Sun

    by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    Story of two sisters navigating a civil war in Nigeria, and the effects of colonialism.

    The novel takes place in Nigeria prior to and during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–70). The effect of the war is shown through the relationships of five people's lives including the twin daughters of ... (Wikipedia)

  18. Holy Smokes

    by Katie MacAlister
    A woman discovers she's a demon hunter and falls for a demon she's supposed to kill. Chaos ensues.

    Drake Vireo, the green dragon of Aisling's dreams, is finally ready to make an honest woman of her-if she can ever get him to the altar. Being stood up cools Aisling's jets, but not her passion, ... (Goodreads)

  19. Cry, the Beloved Country

    by Alan Paton
    A journey of faith in a divided land, seeking justice and reconciliation.

    In the remote village of Ndotsheni, in the Natal province of eastern South Africa , the Reverend Stephen Kumalo receives a letter from a fellow minister summoning him to Johannesburg . He is needed ... (Wikipedia)

  20. Rules of Civility

    by Amor Towles
    An ambitious young woman looks to make her mark in 1930s New York, learning the complex rules of high society.

    This sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a ... (Goodreads)

  21. I Liked My Life

    by Abby Fabiaschi
    A woman's suicide leaves her family in disarray, but she continues to guide them from beyond the grave.

    Called "marvelous" and "absolutely stunning," this debut asks: What happens when a mother's death leaves her husband and daughter wondering why they thought everything was okay when it was not? ,“An ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Winter Loon

    by Susan Bernhard
    A young boy struggles to cope with his mother's suicide and his father's absence in rural Wisconsin.

    A haunting debut novel about family and sacrifice,, Winter Loon, reminds us of how great a burden the past can be, the toll it exacts, and the freedom that comes from letting it go., Abandoned by his ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. After You Left

    by Carol Mason
    A woman struggles to move on after her partner's sudden disappearance, until a stranger brings new hope.

    You want to know what the worst thing is? It’s not the embarrassment, or the looks on people’s faces when I tell them what happened. It isn’t the pain of him not being there—loneliness is manageable. ... (Goodreads)

  24. No One Knows

    by J.T. Ellison
    Aubrey Hamilton's husband disappeared on their fifth wedding anniversary. Five years later, he's declared dead, but Aubrey isn't convinced.

    In this riveting and complex thriller from the author of, Lie to Me, a woman must figure out if she’s losing her mind, or if her husband has really returned from the dead... The day Aubrey Hamilton’s ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. The Golden Cage

    by Camilla Läckberg
    A wealthy woman's perfect life is shattered when her husband is found dead, and she becomes the prime suspect.

    An exhilarating new novel from a global superstar–a sexy, over-the-top psychological thriller that tells the story of the scorned wife of a billionaire and her delicious plot to get her revenge and ... (Goodreads)

  26. Unmarriageable

    by Soniah Kamal
    A modern retelling of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" set in Pakistan. A story of love, family, and societal expectations.

    In this one-of-a-kind retelling of, Pride and Prejudice, set in modern-day Pakistan, Alys Binat has sworn never to marry—until an encounter with one Mr. Darsee at a wedding makes her reconsider. A ... (Goodreads)

  27. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

    by Hiawyn Oram
    Four siblings enter a magical world of Narnia, ruled by the evil White Witch. They must unite with Aslan, the lion, to defeat her and restore peace.

    A picture book retelling of C. S. Lewis's classic story, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , for the youngest fans! Introduce them to the magic of Narnia with this picture book featuring ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Expatriates

    by Janice Y.K. Lee
    Three American women living in Hong Kong navigate their personal and professional lives, facing loss, love, and identity crises.

    Mercy, a young Korean American and recent Columbia graduate, is adrift, undone by a terrible incident in her recent past. Hilary, a wealthy housewife, is haunted by her struggle to have a child, ... (Goodreads)

  29. A Little Life

    by Hanya Yanagihara
    A powerful tale of four friends navigating life's hardships and the devastating effects of trauma.

    The novel follows the lives of four friends in New York City from college through to middle-age. It focuses particularly on Jude, a lawyer with a mysterious past, ambiguous ethnicity, and unexplained ... (Wikipedia)

  30. Anne of the Island

    by L.M. Montgomery
    A young woman's journey of self-discovery as she transitions into adulthood, away from home.

    Anne leaves Green Gables and her work as a teacher in Avonlea to pursue her original dream (which she gave up in, Anne of Green Gables, ) of taking further education at Redmond College in Nova ... (Wikipedia)