So many books come out each week that it makes it hard to decide what to read. We want to make that a little bit easier on you by sharing our favorite releases from the week and telling you our top 3 reasons why we think you’ll love them too!
This week one of our selections is The Dead Queens Club by Hannah Capin. Are you ready to hear more about this book and its author? Here we go…
The Dead Queens Club by Hannah Capin
Published by Inkyard Press on 1/29/2019
Genres: Contemporary, Retellings
Pages: 464
Goodreads Buy the Book
Mean Girls meets The Tudors in Hannah Capin’s The Dead Queens Club, a clever contemporary YA retelling of Henry VIII and his wives (or, in this case, his high school girlfriends). Told from the perspective of Annie Marck (“Cleves”), a 17-year-old aspiring journalist from Cleveland who meets Henry at summer camp, The Dead Queens Club is a fun, snarky read that provides great historical detail in an accessible way for teens while giving the infamous tale of Henry VIII its own unique spin.
What do a future ambassador, an overly ambitious Francophile, a hospital-volunteering Girl Scout, the new girl from Cleveland, the junior cheer captain, and the vice president of the debate club have in common? It sounds like the ridiculously long lead-up to an astoundingly absurd punchline, right? Except it’s not. Well, unless my life is the joke, which is kind of starting to look like a possibility given how beyond soap opera it’s been since I moved to Lancaster. But anyway, here’s your answer: we’ve all had the questionable privilege of going out with Lancaster High School’s de facto king. Otherwise known as my best friend. Otherwise known as the reason I’ve already helped steal a car, a jet ski, and one hundred spray-painted water bottles when it’s not even Christmas break yet. Otherwise known as Henry. Jersey number 8.
Meet Cleves. Girlfriend number four and the narrator of The Dead Queens Club, a young adult retelling of Henry VIII and his six wives. Cleves is the only girlfriend to come out of her relationship with Henry unscathed—but most breakups are messy, right? And sometimes tragic accidents happen…twice…
3 Reasons You Should Read…
The Dead Queens Club by Hannah Capin
- We don’t normally start off these posts raving about a character, but Cleves deserves that and more. She’s the kind of character that is so real, so relatable, that we can’t help but wish we could be friends with her in real life. Flaws and all.
- Hannah Capin wrote an ending that will leave you… well, we don’t want to spoil it. But trust us, it’s memorable. And full of all kinds of girl power.
- If you’re looking for a modern retelling of a classic set in the always dramatic high school setting- with a fun and quirky main character- The Dead Queens Club is for you. We absolutely cannot wait to read what Hannah puts out next.
About Hannah Capin
Hannah Capin lives in Tidewater Virginia. She holds degrees from the Indiana University School of Music and Columbia University. When she isn't writing, you'll find her sailing, singing, or pulling marathon gossip sessions with her girl squad.
