Marissa Stapley, author of the Globe and Mail bestselling novel, Mating for Life, shared with She Reads the books she has recently been loving. Catch up on her fiction picks below and grab your copy of her highly anticipated women’s fiction novel, Things to Do When It’s Raining. 

The Life Lucy Knew by Karma Brown

“I brought my advance copy of this novel (it’s not out until June so I feel lucky to have one!) with me on a recent family holiday and read the entire novel during the plane ride south. I’m a bit of a nervous flyer — that might be an understatement – so the book I bring with me to read on the plane has to be a perfect combination of comforting and diverting. This novel was exactly that: a compelling story about a woman at a difficult crossroads in her life delivered by an absolute pro whose authorial voice is familiar, wise—and the perfect antidote to turbulence.”

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

“I’m so glad this is the first in a mystery series because I adored everything about it: the characters (and especially the plucky lead, Perveen Mistry, who is based on the first female lawyer in 1920s Bombay), the setting, the way the plot wove between the mystery at hand and Perveen’s complicated past — and the subtle but strong message the book delivered about feminism, human rights and equality for all. I’ll be recommending this series to everyone I know.”

Eternal Life by Dara Horn

“I was hooked by the premise of this novel – Rachel, the daughter of a scribe, makes a spiritual pact in ancient Jerusalem that means she loses the ability to die in exchange for the life of her only son and must live her life over and over again. I was also fascinated by the fact that the novel spanned countless generations and yet was a fairly slim volume. Could Horn pull it off? The answer is yes. It’s an unconventional love story and a family drama all in one, and this is my favourite kind of book, the kind I love to both read and write. It’s also a poignant meditation on motherhood that broke my heart, because the most difficult thing about Rachel’s existence is outliving every one of her children. Her inner strength is formidable, as is this novel.”

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

“How shall I put this? There was really good sex in this novel. I’m talking truly titillating scenes that are delightfully raunchy and refreshingly modern (think condoms and consent without an ounce of cringe) and breathless romance, too.  But while it’s light and escapist, it’s also got some important things to say about relationships and race, making it an extremely timely read.”

The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer

“The day I returned from my holiday, this novel was waiting on my doorstep – which made returning to snowy Toronto much more tolerable.  I’m so busy right now preparing for the launch of Things to Do When It’s Raining, but I’m still carving out a little time every night to read it. I’m a huge Wolitzer fan and am delighted that yet again she has delivered a novel so perfect and sharply observed I’m reading with a pen in hand, underlining my favourite passages. The publisher is calling it the next Great American Novel and I have to agree. If you’re looking for a balanced and enlightening meditation on the current state of the western world, this is your novel. (But it’s not out until April so you’ll have to wait!)”