Author: Sarah Stook. Sarah is a writer for Elections Daily, The Mallard and other publications. She enjoys history, reading and fashion.

I read a few books this year and these are the books I would recommend the most:

The Presidents Vs. the Press: The Endless Battle Between the White House and the Media–from the Founding Fathers to Fake News by Harold Homer

As it says on the tin, the book is about the relationship between the US presidents and the press. I don’t remember the book that well but I gave it five stars on GoodReads, with the caveat that it was definitely biased towards Bill Clinton. https://newbooksnetwork.com/the-presidents-vs-the-press

Daughters of the Winter Queen: Four Remarkable Sisters, the Crown of Bohemia, and the Enduring Legacy of Mary, Queen of Scots- Nancy Bazelon Goldstone

The book tells us the story of Elizabeth Stuart, granddaughter of Mary, Queen of Scots and her daughters, from the intellectually brilliant Elisabeth to Sophia, Electress of Hanover and mother of George I. I gave it four stars on GoodReads, so it was good enough. https://amzn.eu/d/2KJjjDX

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War-Max Brooks

The fictional telling of a zombie invasion after the war, cleverly done in an interview style of people who survived the event. It’s got some humour and harshness, as well as well-researched takes on geopolitics. I really enjoyed it and hope for a TV series based off it (the film has no resemblance to the book whatsoever). https://www.waterstones.com/book/world-war-z/max-brooks/9780715653739

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo- Taylor Jenkins Reid

The fictional tale of Evelyn Hugo, a seven-times married Hollywood icon, and her story, as told to a young journalist named Monica  in her later years. The book has a huge following. I gave it four stars as I liked the story but despised every character apart from Monica. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-witching-tide/margaret-meyer/9781399605878

The Witching Tide- Margaret Meyer

The story of a mute woman caught up in the 17th Century Witch Trials. It has a promising story but I never really loved it or got into it properly. I do recommend The Witches of Vardo, set in Norway.

Douglas MacArthur: American Warrior-Arthur Herman

Another what it says on the tin- the story of the infamous General, from birth to death. A good story that gets into who MacArthur really was. https://www.waterstones.com/book/douglas-macarthur/arthur-herman/9780812985108

The Housemaid- Freida McFadden

A woman with a troubled past is hired as a housemaid at a rich family’s home, only to discover it’s not as it seems. I binged this book and absolutely loved it. One of my favourite thrillers. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-housemaid/freida-mcfadden/9781408728512

The Housemaid’s Secret- Freida McFadden

The housemaid returns, this time going to another house where things aren’t as they seem. I absolutely loved it as well. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-housemaids-secret/freida-mcfadden/9780349132600

Pivotal Tuesdays: Four Elections That Shaped the Twentieth Century- Margaret O’Mara

A book on four important presidential elections- 1912, 1932, 1968 and 1992. A good read, but the blurb calls it unbiased, which it isn’t. https://amzn.eu/d/3HwMHo8

King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa- Adam Hoschild

The story of the horrendous evil of the Belgian Congo, as well as the man who fought to get it in the public eye. I liked it but can’t say I remember much about it. https://www.waterstones.com/book/king-leopolds-ghost/adam-hochschild/barbara-kingsolver/9781509882205

The Book of Night Women- Marlon James

In eighteenth century Jamaica, a young girl named Lilith is a slave on a great plantation. Something, however, is brewing. It’s a little hard to get into because of the dialect but it’s a marvellous read. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-book-of-night-women/marlon-james/9781780746524

At Close Range- Peter Hart

The story of the South Notts Hussars in WW2 from their own mouths. Enjoyable but could be slow in places. https://www.waterstones.com/book/at-close-range/peter-hart/9781788161664

Queen Charlotte- Julia Quinn

I’m a Bridgerton super fan. Sue me. It’s the Bridgerton version of the early married life of George III and Queen Charlotte, so not a historical novel. I found it was basically a replica of the TV show so I was a little disappointed. https://www.waterstones.com/book/queen-charlotte/julia-quinn/shonda-rhimes/9780349436678

Why Is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me? Searching For The Truth on Political TV- Rob Burley

The story of the political interview, which includes the famous Brian Walden/Margaret Thatcher interviews and Burley’s own experiences with MPs from David Cameron to Jeremy Corbyn. Very interesting, and the Thatcher section is being made into a Channel 4 drama. https://www.waterstones.com/book/why-is-this-lying-bastard-lying-to-me/rob-burley/9780008542511

Young, Brave and Beautiful: The Missions of Special Operations Executive Agent Lieutenant Violette Szabó, George Cross, Croix de Guerre avec Étoile de Bronze- Tania Szabó

The story of Violette Szabó, a brilliant and brave widowed mother who was a member of the SOE during WW2. Unfortunately, the book was extremely poorly written and bored me silly. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Young-Brave-Beautiful-Operations-Lieutenant/dp/0750962097

The Housemaid is Watching- Fiona McFadden

The third one in the series- and without giving any spoilers, it’s great. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Housemaid-Watching-Freida-McFadden/dp/1464221138

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer- Kai Bird

The biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer and basis for the hit film starring Cillian Murphy. It’s long, but I felt very invested in the story and found myself fascinated by who he was as a person. https://www.waterstones.com/book/american-prometheus/kai-bird/martin-j-sherwin/9781838959708

The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World- Malcolm Gaskill

I have a deep fascination with witch trials, and was lucky enough to get this book for £2. Gaskill takes us to the small village of Springfield, Massachusetts in 1651 and to the witch trials that preceded Salem by decades. It’s really rich in detail and gives a great understanding of how the system worked in Puritan colonies. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-ruin-of-all-witches/malcolm-gaskill/9780141991481

The Counterfeit Candidate- Brian Klein

A bank robbery in Buenos Aires leads to trouble for not only the robbers, but the police as well, as it contains some very important secrets about the Nazis. Very gripping and at the time of writing, I’m waiting for the second book to arrive. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Counterfeit-Candidate-Brian-Klein/dp/1953789935

Queens of the Conquest- Alison Weir

I’m a big fan of all things kings and queens. Weir’s book tells us the story of Matilda of Flanders, Matilda of Scotland, Adeliza of Louvain, the Empress Matilda and Matilda of Boulogne. Interesting enough, though I would have liked a bit more substance. https://www.waterstones.com/book/queens-of-the-conquest/alison-weir/9781784701864

War and Peace: FDR’s Final Odyssey, D-Day to Yalta, 1943-1945- Nigel Hamilton

The story of the final two years of FDR’s life and presidency. I learnt a lot of things I didn’t know about, such as the president’s near-death experience on the USS Iowa. Whilst I enjoyed it, the author seems very anti-British for a Brit. https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/War-and-Peace-by-Nigel-Hamilton/9780358299226

The Maiden- Kate Foster

Semi-based on a true story, Lady Christian Nimmo has been arrested and put to death for murdering her lover/uncle-by-marriage. It follows her story, as well as that of a prostitute drawn into the struggle. Christian Nimmo was a real woman and this was her real crime, yet Foster has created a fictional backstory that gives her more sympathy. Really enjoyable and felt authentic. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-maiden/kate-foster/9781529091748

Sarah Churchill: Duchess of Marlborough: The Queen’s Favourite- Ophelia Field

The story behind the Oscar-winning film, this is the story of Sarah Jennings, a member of the gentry who became Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. As Duchess, Sarah became the favourite of the difficult but sympathetic Queen Anne, mother to numerous children who married into other noble families and ancestress to the famous PM. An interesting story- one must admire Sarah’s brilliance. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Favourite-Sarah-Duchess-Marlborough/dp/0340768088

The Gathering- C. J. Tudor

When a teenage boy is brutally killed in rural Alaska, a colony of vampires is blamed. An expert police woman named Barbara is sent from the big city to find the truth. Not what I expected, but in a good way- I liked her version of vampirism. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-gathering/c-j-tudor/9781405948302

Munich Wolf- Rory Clements

When a wealthy English girl is murdered in 1930s Munich, it seems that no one wants the police officer protagonist to find the truth. I’ve read several of Clements’ books and enjoyed them, this was no exception. https://www.waterstones.com/book/munich-wolf/rory-clements/9781804181461

The Mitford Girls: The Biography of an Extraordinary Family- Mary S. Lovell

The story of the six aristocratic Mitford sisters, from the famous Hitler fangirl Unity to the rebellious communist Jessica. I didn’t go into it expecting much but came out of it thoroughly fascinated by these scandalous sisters. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the grave of Deborah near Chatsworth House, as she is buried near JFK’s sister. A TV adaptation of the book is coming out in 2025. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-mitford-girls/mary-s-lovell/9780349115054

The Third World War: The Untold Story- General Sir John Hackett

The second edition of a fictionalised telling of the Third World War in the 1980s. Meticulously researched and thought-out, though a bit too technical for me. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Third-World-War-Untold-Story/dp/0025471104

Star of the North- D. B. John

In 1998, a Korean-American teenager mysteriously disappeared from a South Korean beach. Over a decade later, her twin sister is sought out by the CIA in their fight against North Korea. Really gripping and interesting, though I found the third act to be a little implausible. https://www.waterstones.com/book/star-of-the-north/d-b-john/9781784708184

Being Nixon: A Man Divided- Evan Thomas

The story of America’s 37th president, Richard Nixon, from birth to death. A fascinating insight into one of the most complex men to ever hold the office. I came away sympathetic to his inferiority complex and oddness, though aware of his flaws as a man. https://www.waterstones.com/book/being-nixon/evan-thomas/9780812985412

Christmas Shopaholic- Sophie Kinsella

Another one from Sophie Kinsella’s fluffy Shopaholic chick-lit series, with Becky in charge of Christmas this year. Gentle reading for once, though I’ve not read one of her books for years. Fun but not perfect. https://www.waterstones.com/book/christmas-shopaholic/sophie-kinsella/9781784164874

Nuclear War: A Scenario- Annie Jacobsen

Holy heck this was BRILLIANT. It’s the story of what happens if a nuclear weapon was sent towards America, using interviews with top scientists, politicians and officers to paint a speculative picture. Jacobsen takes us through the secret 1960 meeting that set America’s nuclear policy, as well as near-misses and controversies. Just the imagery of what would happen to those who survived the initial blast is terrifying. https://www.waterstones.com/book/nuclear-war/annie-jacobsen/9781911709596

BEST: Nuclear War: A Scenario

WORST: Young, Brave and Beautiful: The Missions of Special Operations Executive Agent Lieutenant Violette Szabó, George Cross, Croix de Guerre avec Étoile de Bronze

BEST SURPRISE: The Mitford Girls: The Biography of an Extraordinary Family.