The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

The Constant Princess My Rating: 4.8

Philippa Gregory brings Katherine of Aragon to life in The Constant Princess, offering a deeply personal view of a young woman bound by royal duty yet determined to shape her own destiny. Born to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, Katherine is fated to marry Prince Arthur of England. Their marriage blossoms into love, but tragedy strikes when Arthur dies at fifteen, leaving Katherine with a deathbed promise to marry his brother, Henry, and fulfill their shared dreams.

For seven years, Katherine navigates the dangerous Tudor court, enduring poverty, humiliation, and political intrigue, all while waiting for her moment to claim her role as Queen. Gregory portrays Katherine as brave, clever, and unyielding—a woman whose resilience and determination are inspiring.

I absolutely loved experiencing Katherine’s story through her own eyes. The only downside was that my audiobook was abridged, but even so, I felt I didn’t miss any key moments. This is a compelling, emotional read, and I’m diving straight into the next book in the series!

The White Princess by Philippa Gregory

The White Princess My Rating: 4.8

Philippa Gregory once again weaves a masterful tale of intrigue, betrayal, and tangled loyalties in The White Princess, the latest chapter in her sweeping Cousins' War series.

The story opens on the battlefield of Bosworth, where Henry Tudor claims the crown and, with it, the burden of uniting a fractured kingdom. His solution? Marry his enemy’s daughter—Elizabeth of York. It’s a strategic match meant to bind the houses of York and Tudor, but beneath the surface lies a world of suppressed grief, hidden loyalties, and the lingering ghost of Richard III—Elizabeth’s slain lover.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave! Gregory pulls readers directly into the paranoia and fear that grips Henry VII, a king who, though victorious, can never truly rest. His reign is haunted by whispers of a surviving York heir and the constant threat of rebellion. Elizabeth, caught between duty and hope, must navigate her role as queen while her heart mourns the past and her family remains suspect.

This novel is drenched in emotional conflict—tension between husband and wife, loyalty to blood versus loyalty to crown, and a nation still reeling from decades of war. Henry’s relentless dread isolates him from those he most needs, including his queen. Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s strength shines as she bears the weight of being both symbol and pawn.

Gregory’s prose is rich and evocative, drawing you fully into the 15th-century court where every gesture and rumor can shift the balance of power. Though steeped in history, the storytelling feels immediate and immersive.

This was another delightful retelling of history by Gregory—full of heartache, political drama, and human complexity. I found myself deeply moved by Queen Elizabeth’s plight and eager to follow the next threads in this gripping saga. I’ll be diving into the next book right away!.

The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory

The Kingmaker's Daughter My Rating: 5.0

The daughters of the man known as the Kingmaker, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick: the most powerful magnate in fifteenth-century England. Without a son and heir, he uses his daughters, Anne and Isabel, as pawns in his political games, and they grow up to be influential players in their own right.

At the court of Edward IV and his beautiful queen, Elizabeth Woodville, Anne grows from a delightful child to become ever more fearful and desperate when her father makes war on his former friends. Married at age fourteen, she is soon left widowed and fatherless, her mother in sanctuary and her sister married to the enemy. Anne manages her own escape by marrying Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but her choice will set her on a collision course with the overwhelming power of the royal family.

Wow! I struggled with the unlikable characters in the last book and was honestly hesitant to continue with the series. But I absolutely loved this one. Anne was so lovable, and I felt deeply for everything she endured — what a difficult life she had. The plotting and treachery of the court surpass even today’s politics (if that’s possible!). I’m really enjoying rereading each period of history from different perspectives. This was absolutely excellent. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series!

The Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers

My Rating: 4.8

1946: Maddie is a developing seamstress who’s just arrived in Bright Leaf, North Carolina—the tobacco capital of the South—where her aunt has a thriving sewing business. Maddie is dazzled by the bustle of the crisply uniformed female factory workers, the palatial homes, and, most of all, her aunt’s glossiest clientele: the wives of the powerful tobacco executives.

But she soon learns that Bright Leaf isn’t quite the carefree paradise that it seems. A trail of misfortune follows many of the women, including substantial health problems, and although Maddie is quick to believe that this is a coincidence, she inadvertently uncovers evidence that suggests otherwise.

Maddie wants to report what she knows, but in a town where everyone depends on Big Tobacco to survive, she doesn’t know who she can trust—and fears that exposing the truth may destroy the lives of the proud, strong women with whom she has forged strong bonds.

Shedding light on the hidden history of women’s activism during the post-war period, at its heart, The Tobacco Wives is a deeply human, emotionally satisfying, and dramatic novel about the power of female connection and the importance of seeking truth. 

I especially loved the setting in North Carolina—the vivid descriptions of the clothes, the social gatherings, and the world of the “tobacco wives” made the story come alive. The author beautifully captures the charm and contradictions of small-town Southern life in the 1940s.

The “Tobacco Husbands,” however—especially Mr. Winston and Dr. Hale—were not particularly likeable, which added tension but also frustration at times. While the characters weren’t very deeply developed, the book was still a quick, enjoyable read that offered both heart and history.