The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki, 2015

A fictionalized story of Elisabeth 'Sisi', duchess of Bavaria, The Accidental Empress tells the story of a girl who accompanies her older sister Helene to marry Emperor Franz Joseph, the Hapsburg ruler of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

During the fateful visit where the future bride and groom (and cousins) meet after not seeing each other since they were children, Emperor Franz Joseph falls in love with Sisi and takes her to be his wife and Empress instead of her meek sister.

Only 16 and having grown up in the countryside of Bavaria, Sisi has much to learn at the Austrian court, where she is constantly watched by Princess Sophie, Franz Joseph's controlling mother.

Soon, her idealistic ideas of love and marriage are challenged as political unrest and declarations of war preoccupy Franz Joseph.

With the heavy-handed foreign policy dictated by Sophie of Hapsburg needing no one, countries begin to rebel and the downfall of the Hapsburg empire begins.

Relegated to a figurehead, a pretty Empress whom the people love, Sisi becomes more isolated as Franz refuses to discuss politics with her and her children's upbringing, and even names, are dictated by the domineering Sophie.

Sophie even named Sisi's first daughter after herself.  Pretty cheeky.

Possessing an affinity for the Hungarian people, including the Count Andrassy, as they struggle to be recognized as a separate people within the Hapsburg empire, Sisi advocates for their recognition and the story ends in 1867, when Sisi is 40-years-old and she and Franz are crowned Queen and King of Hungary. 

The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty by Vendela Vida, 2015

Written in the 2nd person, The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty is a unique novel.

The protagonist, you, remains a mystery.  As your adventures in Morocco unfold, it is clear you are running away from something.

Through happenstance and the simple fact that you are American, you take on aliases, including assuming your niece's name, and end up working for a movie production.

To add to your surreal life in Morocco, you befriend the glamorous star of the movie, and find that your trust is used against you, like so many times before.

Slowly, the story comes out about the strained relationship with your sister, husband and mother and it is apparent that there is nothing left for you home in the States, so you continue your adventures in Morocco, reinventing yourself.

After reading the novel, I discovered that Vida is married to Dave Eggers.  This seems fitting given the eclecticism of her writing.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, 2015

A thriller told from the first person view point of three women, The Girl on the Train revolves around a missing girl.

The main character is Rachel Watson, a divorcee who turns to alcohol to deal with her pain.  She takes the train into London each day and the significance of her train ride and her involvement with a missing women case addictively unfolds.

Unfortunately, Rachel's recollections of events are fogged by her drunken state as she struggles to piece together what she has seen and witnessed.

Other first person narratives include the missing woman and Rachel's ex-husband's new wife Anna.  As their entwined lives are told through daily accounts by each of the characters, the reader learns of the many secrets all the women keep, blurring the lines between perception and reality.

Compared often to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, both novels include first person narratives from different characters and compelling twists and surprises.  Written by female authors with female protagonists, the comparisons are inevitable.

On a side note, the story includes characters who live on Blenheim Road, which reminded me of my visit to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. 

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, 2014

Very much a chick-lit book, but with surprising twists and a serious tone as well.  The story is enjoyable and builds in suspense as there has been a murder at Pirriwee Public elementary school.

Pirriwee is an idyllic Australian town by the ocean that single mom Jane moves to with her son Ziggy seemingly on a whim.

At Pirriwee, she befriends flamboyant Madeline and quiet, gorgeous Celeste with her wealthy, perfect husband Perry.

Madeline helps Jane navigate the inner politics and cat-fights of Perriwee Public parents, especially the Blond Bobs, middle-aged 'mean girls' who rule the elementary school.

Touching on serious topics such as working v stay-at-home moms, mistakes made in youth and domestic violence, Big Little Lies is an enjoyable, witty and brisk read.

I definitely plan to read other Liane Moriarty novels.