Rita Reads: October 2025 Roundup📚✨

👋 Hi friends,

With Veterans Day coming up on November 11, I’m highlighting books that honor the incredible women who played vital wartime roles in the Armed Forces and on the home front.

My top three historical fiction reads from this month taught me so much, and I hope they inspire and inform you too! Women took on crucial (and often daring) roles during the war. They worked in factories and on farms to support food production, served as nurses, clerks, and ambulance drivers, and even stepped into high-stakes positions as code breakers and translators.

Each book brings these stories to life in a unique way, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

Happy reading,

Historical Fiction

Kate Quinn was born in Long Beach, California in 1981 and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Classical Voice from Boston University. Kate wrote her first novel, Mistress of Rome, during her freshman year of college and it was published after she graduated from Boston University. Her novels often focus on women’s unexpected roles in history, from spies to snipers to code breakers. She now lives in Maryland with her husband.

This book was absolutely fascinating and one of the best historical fiction novels I’ve read this year. At 624 pages long, The Rose Code is certainly a commitment, but I was completely absorbed from start to finish. I knew very little about Bletchley Park before reading, and learning about the real-life codebreakers who worked there during World War II was eye-opening. More than 10,000 people (many of them women) served in secrecy breaking German military codes and changing the course of the war.

The story follows three women — Osla, Mabel, and Beth — who come from very different backgrounds but are brought together by their work at Bletchley Park. Osla, a charming debutante fluent in German, becomes a translator; Mabel, practical and precise, maintains the complex codebreaking machines; and Beth, a shy but brilliant puzzle-solver, quickly proves herself indispensable to the team. Their friendship deepens under immense pressure, but suspicion and betrayal eventually drive them apart. Years later, a hidden message reunites them as they race to expose a traitor who once tore them apart.

There are so many twists and turns in this story, and it’s a true page-turner filled with friendship, betrayal, and bravery. Also, be sure to read the author’s note at the end! Quinn shares which characters were based on real people and where she took creative liberties.

Historical Fiction

When We Had Wings is a collaborative novel written by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner, three bestselling authors known for bringing women’s untold stories from history to life.

Ariel Lawhon is the critically acclaimed author of Code Name Hélène, I Was Anastasia, and Flight of Dreams. Her novels often explore women’s resilience and courage through richly researched historical narratives. Lawhon’s storytelling blends factual detail with emotional depth, shining light on overlooked figures and moments from history.

Kristina McMorris is the New York Times bestselling author of Letters from Home, inspired by her grandparents’ World War II correspondence. Her books often center on love, family, and the human connections forged during times of conflict.

Susan Meissner, also a New York Times bestselling author, has written more than 20 novels, including The Nature of Fragile Things and A Fall of Marigolds. She’s best known for her ability to blend dual timelines and weave themes of loss and redemption into powerful historical fiction.

Together, these three authors were inspired to tell the story of the “Angels of Bataan” — U.S. and Filipina military nurses captured as prisoners of war during World War II. Drawing on real events and first-hand accounts, they each wrote from a unique perspective to create a seamless, emotionally rich portrait of friendship, survival, and hope.

This book beautifully tells the story of three nurses — one from the U.S. Navy, one from the U.S. Army, and one Filipina — whose lives become intertwined in the Philippines at the start of World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, their world changes overnight as Japanese forces invade, and the women become some of the first female prisoners of war.

Despite the terrible conditions they endure, their friendship and strength never waver. The authors did a wonderful job bringing each woman’s courage and compassion to life. I didn’t know much about the war in the South Pacific before reading this, and I came away with a deep appreciation for these real-life heroes. It’s truly one of those memorable stories about sacrifice and the bonds that sustain us through dark times.

Historical Fiction

Amy Harmon is an award-winning and bestselling author known for her deeply emotional and character-driven historical fiction. Among her most popular works are What the Wind Knows and Where the Lost Wander, both of which blend thorough research with timeless storytelling.

Harmon was inspired to write A Girl Called Samson after discovering the real-life story of Deborah Sampson, a woman who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War. Struck by how little-known Deborah’s bravery was, Harmon set out to bring her story and her fight for freedom and equality to light through fiction.

I really enjoyed A Girl Called Samson. It’s a moving story about courage, conviction, and a woman’s determination to claim her own freedom in a world that tried to limit her. Based on the true story of Deborah Sampson, a real woman who disguised herself as a man to fight in the American Revolutionary War, the novel blends history and heart in an inspiring way.

Born into hardship in 1760, Deborah is sent into servitude as a child but grows into a fiercely independent young woman. When the Revolution begins, she can’t stand on the sidelines. Disguising herself as “Robert Shurtliff,” she enlists in the Continental Army and sets out to serve her country, risking everything for the ideals of liberty and equality.

I was amazed to learn that Deborah Sampson truly existed and that her story has been so often overlooked. Amy Harmon brings her to life with compassion and depth, reminding readers that bravery takes many forms. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end either! It adds even more fascinating context to Deborah’s real-life legacy.

Check out a few more of my recent reads that continue the themes from this month. Each of these stories highlights women whose strength and determination left a lasting mark on history, and on me as a reader.

Looking for more current titles? Here are some of the new releases generating buzz in the book world that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on.

With the holidays around the corner, I’m shifting into seasonal reads that capture the spirit of generosity and fresh starts. These stories all touch on themes of connection and the quiet magic that the holiday season brings.

Plus, you can follow me on Goodreads to keep up with my latest ratings.

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Thanks for spending a little of your time with me. I hope these stories, recommendations, and little literary detours brought a smile to your day or even inspired your next great read. Keep turning those pages and sharing the joy of books with someone you love. Until next time!