History Books for People Who Don't Read Nonfiction

I thought my travel days were on hiatus, but some last-minute good news worked in our favor. Tom’s funding and travel request for a conference in D.C. was approved, so we lucked out with two weeks on the East Coast. Because my family lives just 3 hours from D.C., they were able to drive up for a visit, and I was able to take a 24-hour visit down to see them and their new puppy, Millie. Being away from family has, by far, been the hardest part of being stationed in Guam, so even getting a short visit is such a blessing.

Coincidentally, Tom’s brother and sister-in-law live just a few minutes away from our hotel, so we were able to spend a lot of quality time with them and their newborn son. It’s exciting that our kids will be so close in age and will hopefully have lots of opportunities to play together at family gatherings. Once the conference was over, we met up with Tom's parents and his two youngest brothers (he's the oldest of 9!) for a week at Disney World. I've been on such a Disney kick this entire pregnancy, and I can't wait to share my trip recap with you! While anything mildly thrilling was off the table for me, I got to eat lots of delicious meals, watch lots of fireworks, and enjoy nostalgic rides from my childhood.

I’m still catching up on my travel writing, but you can expect to see my Old Town Alexandria dining recommendations soon. In line with spending time in one of America’s historic neighborhoods, I’m featuring 5 historical books. It’s going to be more of a lightning round than usual so we can fit them all in; let’s get to it!

When We Had Wings by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner

As I mentioned in my last book review, I love Ariel Lawhon’s writing, so I looked through my Kindle Unlimited store to see if there were any included titles I could read. I was a little hesitant to read a novel written by 3 authors because I doubted that there would be a steady and strong narrative voice, and I had a feeling that the story would be a little disjointed. Luckily, those fears were assuaged, though I still had some hangups about the three-author format.

The novel follows a U.S. Navy nurse, a U.S. Army nurse, and a Filipina nurse during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The women become historic prisoners of war and struggle to provide adequate medical care to the soldiers, sailors, and civilians that are trapped in unthinkable conditions. Their lives and safety are constantly at risk, and their endurance, determination, bravery, and compassion in the face of constant cruelty and uncertainty helped to save and sustain their fellow prisoners.

The three different narrators allow us to intimately see three vastly different experiences that female nurses would have undergone during World War II, and I appreciated that the Army, Navy, and Filipina perspectives were all given a voice. Women’s stories are taking the forefront in modern historical fiction, but there definitely are not enough books published about the Angels of Bataan and all that they endured. I did find that the relationship between the three women was played up more than it would have been if there was only one author, and it felt a little forced and unnecessary. At some points, I wished that the characters each had their own novel to expand on their stories while at others I felt that the pacing was beginning to drag. Overall, I loved learning about the war through multiple points of view that don’t get enough attention and recognition, and I often felt immersed in this tension-filled point in history.

Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe

I really enjoyed reading about the Vanderbilt family, especially because of Cooper’s personal ties to them, so I was excited to see that he was spotlighting another famously wealthy family. However, I felt as though this biography lacked the same narrative focus as his first, and I found myself taking some unexpected and tangential detours through history. For example, there is a chapter dedicated to a gay bar at the Astor Hotel. Does this have to do with the Astor family? Sure. Does it pull me away from the biographical focus on the family itself? Yep.

Given that so many Astors shared a name, it did get confusing to follow who was who and how they were all related. I read this on my Kindle, and I’m so glad I skipped the audio; I would have been lost. If I kept a family tree next to me, that would have been a big help. Who would have thought I felt the urge to take notes in an Anderson Cooper book!

The spotlights on specific Astors were interesting, especially learning how their fortune was amassed and their reputation was crafted. I’m fascinated by the idea of “legacy” and how people and institutions are remembered, and while this is not a deep dive, it’s an approachable and entertaining introduction to the topic. If you usually prefer fiction and are curious about trying biographies, this is a great place to start.

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

I hate to say it, but I really could not get myself invested in this story and felt so frustrated throughout. I’ve read a couple of other Kristin Hannah books, and while there’s astronomical demand and heaps of praise for them, I feel that the heavy-handed trauma and grief make her writing less approachable. In this instance, I could not connect with the characters and felt that the narrative structure was tedious and a hindrance to the pacing.

The story is divided into two timelines. In the present, Meredith and Nina struggle to understand their mother, Anya’s, life story. A consistently cold and distant figure who begins to struggle after her husband’s death, Anya reluctantly agrees to share her life in the form of a fairytale before transitioning into a more realistic portrayal of the hardships of surviving in Leningrad. While Meredith is meant to be a relatable overachiever who’s trying to hold everything together, I found her to be so unlikeable and couldn’t wait to get to the flashbacks. Similarly, Nina’s adventurous life as a photographer felt so out of place within the larger narrative and contributed to the glacial pace of the story. It took about a third of the book before things really got going, and I distinctly remember how impatient and frustrated I felt with how slowly the flashbacks were unfolding.

The flashbacks to Leningrad were, by far, the strongest aspect of the story, and if the present timeline was completely eliminated, I would have really connected with and enjoyed the novel more. The ending of the story, to me, was completely unrealistic and just so convenient that I felt like I had stepped into a Hallmark movie. After so many pages of dedicated research to the grueling and traumatizing experiences of Leningrad survivors, the magical possibility of a happily ever after felt like cheating. However, it wasn’t a real happily ever after, so that felt just as frustrating. While many reviewers loved the emotional payoff of the final chapters, I just felt cheated and unsatisfied.

American Duchess: A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt by Karen Harper

My historical search into Kindle Unlimited continued and led me to a Vanderbilt story. Perfect timing! However, the narrative relied much more on showing rather than telling, and the writing felt flat and lifeless. I wanted to be immersed in the vast world of wealth, but I always felt distanced from Consuelo and her glittering but lonely world. The writing lacked the polish needed to bring this story into technicolor and pulsing life, and I wish the editor had sent it back for further revisions. It was a quick read but not one that felt satisfying.

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

Wow, wow, wow did I love this novel! It was my final read of 2025 and very much deserved its spot in my top ten books of the year. While I’ve complained about dual timelines that feel unfulfilling and seem to just slow down the pacing, the alternating timelines were a full emotional investment for me. In the present, it seems as though we have a straightforward romance novel, but the flashbacks bring us into the high-stakes world of England in World War II. In the present, Georgia is responsible for protecting her great-grandmother’s legacy as a romance author, and she is wary about having Noah, a famous author, finish Scarlett’s manuscript that’s based on her own story. While Georgia and Noah build trust and fall in love, we’re transported to Scarlett’s love story with an American pilot and all of the heartache and obstacles that they face along the way.

The ending has a twist that I suspected was coming but didn’t fully anticipate or realize until it played out before me. Books get an automatic boost from me if they manage to surprise me, and the emotional rollercoaster the twist presented was enormous and so memorable.

Yarros is famous for her romance writing, and I was so impressed with her characters that I read two more of her books back-to-back immediately afterwards. This story is tender and tragic and beautifully balanced, and it gets so much right that so many authors get wrong in terms of structure, pacing, and voice.

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Watching: I started The Artful Dodger on Disney + and am loving the banter, the costumes, and the high stakes. It’s a fun, light-hearted watch, but I have to wonder: does Thomas Brodie-Sangster ever age? Seriously, he is like a real-life Peter Pan.

Listening: I’m all caught up on my Disney podcasts, and I don’t have any albums that are really speaking to me right now. I started listening to Passion Project by London Sperry, but it’s not consuming my interest the same way my past couple of audiobooks did. That’s not to say it isn’t a good book; my attention to audiobooks tends to sway a lot depending on my mood and schedule. If anyone has podcast recommendations that teach you something but feel engaging and chatty, please let me know.

Cooking: Because we’re leaving for two weeks, I’m subbing most of this week, and Tom is going to be working late, I’m on a quest to make quick and easy dinners that mostly pull from what’s already in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. It’s going to be a fairly unexciting culinary week that’s going to prioritize convenience over creativity.

Baking: Wow, making another banana dessert…shocking, I know. This week I made healthy banana muffins from Love & Lemons and they stayed perfectly soft and moist. I’m on the lookout for freezer friendly meal-preps for when our baby girl comes, and these muffins are high on my list.  

Doing: I have my book club this week, and I always look forward to chatting about books and life with like-minded women. With 24 hours of travel to get back to the States, Tom and I will be keeping ourselves busy with movies, books, and cribbage. I’m in the process of loading my Kindle with options that’ll keep me engaged regardless of my mood and energy levels.