The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is one of those novels that you can read in a single day.

“It’s an unimaginative accusation and one that I am frankly tired of hearing. Witchcraft. As though there is no other explanation for a woman who excels at her work.”― Ariel Lawhon, quote from The Frozen River

On a high level, this mystery is about a midwife named Martha Ballard. The body of an accused rapist is found frozen in the river, and after examination, Martha says that the victim was murdered. She becomes a key witness in a trial for the woman who was raped because she treated the woman's wounds after the assault. The other accused man is a judge.

This novel has many layers. Beyond the mystery, there is the social commentary on women, family, sexual assault, and society during early days of America in New England. Paul Revere is mentioned as a friend of the family. The author depicts a rich setting of cold winter, warm homes and hearts, young love and pre-marital relationships, and the early court system. I couldn't put it down.

Find your next great read by exploring my reviews of these books you’ll devour if you liked The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Some of these books are historical. Some are about assault and the impact on women. Both YA and adult fiction is here. I hope you find something that catches your interest.

Purge by Sofi Oksanen

"The only thing left alive was the shame." ― Sofi Oksanen, quote from Purge

I picked up Purge to add to my list of YA books about human trafficking, but this novel is pure literature, a stunning international masterpiece that spans decades of history, generations of pain, and dark twisted family secrets.

Set in Estonia and bouncing between 1941 and 1992, two protagonists tell their tales in a long and dizzying narrative that weaves between present terror and past horror. These women are bound to each other in multiple ways. Their mutual distrust them unreliable narrators, so that only the reader really only has the full picture, and sometimes even that picture is murky.

As I think back on each of these women's experiences, I see so many parallels in what happened to each, even though the details are very different on the surface. For example, both are raped. Both are silenced. Both are shamed. One is betrayed. One is a betrayer.

This is the kind of epic novel that I can think about for a long time and even read again. I missed things and know that I would see even more in a second reading because the book is so sweeping and full of such meaningful symbolism and detail.

If you liked The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, you will devour Purge. Add it to your TBR pile today!

The Cutting Edge of Friendship by Khristina Chess

“My first time was supposed to be different. It wasn’t supposed to happen in darkness, dirt, and violence. It wasn’t supposed to be a two-man job.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Cutting Edge of Friendship

Sadie and Elana are keeping dangerous secrets.

Best friends since elementary school, they know everything about each other, but on the night of the fireworks, something terrible happened to Sadie that she hasn’t told anyone. She can’t even say the word to herself. Instead, she’s started cutting to deal with the pain.

Elana has a secret of her own; she’s texting Hunter and making plans for a clandestine meeting with him. She doesn’t know what he did or why he really wants to keep their relationship secret.

To end this dangerous cat-and-mouse game, Sadie must reclaim her courage and rescue Elana before a rapist can attack again.

So powerful! The Cutting Edge of Friendship instantly drew me into the tangled conflict, and I couldn’t look away until the girls were safe.

What I love most about The Cutting Edge of Friendship is Sadie’s fierce and resilient character and the raw and authentic emotion as this painful story escalates toward its thrilling climax. This is the kind of novel that really shows how someone self harms to cope with pain in the aftermath of sexual assault. If you connected with the impact of sexual violence on women (and its prevalence) in The Frozen River, you will devour The Cutting Edge of Friendship.

The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

“When things come to an end in a way you didn't expect, in a way you never could have imagined, do they really come to an end? Does it mean you should keep searching, for better answers, for ones that don't keep you up at night? Or does it mean it's time to make peace?” ― Monica Hesse, quote from The Girl in the Blue Coat

The Girl in the Blue Coat hooked me from the very beginning. It's a historical mystery, set in Amsterdam during WWII, and the protagonist is a teenage girl who trades black market goods to support her family. One of her clients asks her to help find a missing Jewish girl. Hanneke is good at finding things, but this isn't her kind of thing.

Still, she is drawn into the mystery and can't help herself from searching. As the pages unfold, we learn about Hanneke's lost love, meet new friends, and see her grow as a person.

Sometimes, young Hanneke seems bratty, singularly focused, and unfeeling, but at the same time, her instincts have helped her stay alive this far. Fans of The Frozen River will enjoy this one.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

“I am haunted by humans.” ― Markus Zusak, quote from The Book Thief

No list of historical literature would be complete without including The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. How could you have missed this one? It has been at the top of the best seller lists for years—and with good reason!

In this novel set in Nazi Germany, we meet a young foster girl named Liesel. She’s an orphan. She loves books. She and her foster parents are sheltering a Jewish man in their basement. He also likes to read.

The writing is lovely. Zusak paints Liesel’s world of poverty, anxiety, fear, and grief in shades of stark contrasts. He is both a poet and a novelist.

What a wonderful, heartbreaking, haunting, and gripping story! It makes you really ask deep questions. It’s so beautiful. It’s transformational. It’s the reason why I love books.

If you liked The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon and you’re looking for more historical fiction, you won’t be able to put down this award-winner.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

“Because while stupid people may not know they’re stupid because they’re stupid, surely unattractive people must know they’re unattractive because of mirrors.” ― Bonnie Garmus, quote from Lessons in Chemistry

Lessons in Chemistry is one of the best books I've read in a while. It made me laugh out loud on many occasions. Elizabeth Zott has a direct and no nonsense practicality about her that is so lovable. Her dog, six thirty, makes a delightful sidekick. That she teaches him almost 1,000 words (and the author gives him a point of view) is beyond wonderful.

Elizabeth's struggles for equality in a male-dominated world were poignant and emotional. She demonstrated great restraint and composure when it wasn't deserved. I felt grateful to women of her generation for the opportunities I enjoy today in the technology workplace.

If you loved Martha’s character in The Frozen River, you will find Elizabeth Zott irresistible! Lessons in Chemistry is an inspiring, page-turning, and important historical book about women.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

“If there was only one tree like that in the world, you would think it was beautiful. But because there are so many, you just can't see how beautiful it really is.” ― Betty Smith, quote from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

I first heard about this book from Oprah Winfrey and picked it up during the book club years. A classic YA novel published in 1943, before YA was really “a thing,” A Tree Grows in Brooklyn tells the story of a poor young girl growing up in Brooklyn, a child of struggling immigrant parents.

This historical YA book about immigration, class, and poverty, and Francie, has remained with me for decades. There’s a reason why this novel has stood the test of time and lands in the category of literary classics. This one makes the list for fans of The Frozen River purely on its historical and literary merits.

We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler

“The show must go on, even when it's not the show you expected to be in.” ― Lisa Felder, quote from We Walked the Sky

Fiedler's multi-generational novel really captured and held my interest. Two parallel stories are running: the grandmother, Victoria, is a 16-year-old who runs away and joins the circus in 1965, and her granddaughter, Callie, is a teen who has followed in her circus footsteps, but now finds herself in a new place.

There are mysteries to unravel and friendships to develop. I loved all the circus lore and animals and characters. Really, it was an enchanting story. I want to read more by this author.

If you enjoyed the women and history of The Frozen River, you won’t want to miss this lovely story.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

I have read several of Laurie Halse Anderson's books, and I found this one to be ambitious, compelling, and heartfelt. I learned things about slavery during the American revolutionary war that were new since most literature I've consumed has been during the later period of the civil war. The author’s research into the book made it rich and come alive.

If you loved The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon as much as I did, you will want to add this amazing historical YA book about class difference, race, and slavery in early American history to your reading list. In fact, Laurie Halse Anderson is such a great author that she’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s all-around amazing!

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

“Murderers are not monsters, they're men. And that's the most frightening thing about them.” ― Alice Sebold, quote from The Lovely Bones

Susie Salmon is dead.

She was raped and murdered in a most gruesome fashion by a most gruesome man, and now she exists in an afterlife, observing her family and her killer.

The story is a bit disorienting, but I think that’s kind of the point. Most of the novel is about Susie’s struggle to come to terms with the fact that she’s dead and move on. The “why?” questions haunt her. Her family and former life haunts her. The desire for justice and vengeance haunts her.

It’s the disquiet that comes when a young person dies tragically, suddenly, whether or not by foul means. There is a profound unfairness. The soul cries out.

If the poignant portrayal of rape and sexual assault in The Frozen River tugged at your heart, you will find The Lovely Bones to be tragic and unforgettable.

Other Books You’ll Devour If You Liked The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

If you are looking for other books like The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, Goodreads offers a list: Readers Who Enjoyed The Frozen River. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads.

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