The Strong Female Lead

     This week's novels are new paperback fiction that feature strong female characters who are struggling to overcome adversity. Enjoy!

      “The Witches of Cambridge” is a novel by Menna Van Praag. Amandine Bisset has always had the ability to read the emotions of those around her. The only people she can share her secret with are the other professors—all witches—of the Cambridge University Society of Literature and Witchcraft. Amandine cherishes the meetings with her dear friends, but lately, she senses that the ties that bind them starting to unravel. If only she had her student Noa’s power to actually read people’s thoughts she is sure she could help the others heal the rifts forming in their friendships. Noa, however, is sure that her gift is a curse and jumps at the chance to be “cured” when a seductive con artist comes to town. Then, there is mathematics professor Kat and her baker sister Cosima. Kat is stewing in her unrequited love, but she refuses to cast any spells to help the process along. Cosima, on the other hand, is all too happy to sprinkle her pastries with sugar and enchantment, but when she casts a spell on Kat’s crush, she creates a dangerous love triangle.

     “No Ordinary Life” is a novel by Suzanne Redfearn. Faye Martin’s husband abandoned her and their three children and now she is struggling to make ends meet. When her four-year-old daughter is discovered through a YouTube video and offered a starring role on a television series, it seems that Faye’s prayers have been answered. The reality of this new life hits her hard and Faye realizes that fame and fortune come with a price. In this world everyone is an actor, every move is watched by millions, and knowing who to trust is absolutely impossible. Faye finds herself completely alone in her struggle to protect this precious and fragile time in her children’s lives.

     “The Restaurant Critic’s Wife” is a novel by Elizabeth LaBan. Lila Soto has a work-obsessed husband, two kids, and a master’s degree that is going to waste. She is also quite perplexed as to how she ended up in this situation. They have recently moved to Philadelphia where Lila’s husband, Sam, is taking his job of restaurant critic much too seriously. In order to protect his professional credibility, Sam is determined to remain anonymous and goes out of his way to make sure none of his family have any contact with anyone from the foodie culture. Lila craves adult conversation and some relief from her homemaker role. She can feel her patience wearing thin and she begins to question the major decisions of the past several years—her decision to get pregnant again, giving up her career, her marriage to Sam, breaking up with her ex-boyfriend. As Sam becomes more and more obsessed with his anonymity, Lila begins to wonder if her own identity has completely disappeared and she’s not sure what to do to get it back.