Grace & Grit: Stories of Women Who Rose Above

August 2026 Issue

We believe every woman has a story of strength—moments when life asks more of her than she ever thought she could do. The women celebrated in the pages of these book recommendations remind us that courage comes in many forms.

Some find themselves standing in the middle of history’s most challenging moments, facing uncertainty with unwavering determination. Others quietly fight battles that few people see, using their voices, compassion, and conviction to create change. And some discover that the greatest acts of bravery come later in life, when they choose friendship, hope, and a new beginning despite the obstacles they have faced.

These unforgettable women show us that grit is not about never feeling afraid—it is about moving forward anyway. Grace is not about having an easy journey—it is about meeting life’s twists and turns with resilience, courage, and strength. They remind us of the women who have paved the way, the women who stand beside us today, and the strength we discover within ourselves when we are tested.

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The Frozen River
By Ariel Lawhon
(Historical Fiction)

Set in 1789 Maine when the Kennebec River freezes over, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine the cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking death on her own.

Martha Ballard is an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy, yet she remains nearly forgotten to this day.

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Necessary Lies
By Diane Chamberlain
(Historical Fiction)

It is 1960 in North Carolina, and the lives of Ivy Hart and Jane Forrester couldn’t be more different. Fifteen-year-old Ivy lives with her family as tenants on a small tobacco farm, but when her parents die, Ivy is left to care for her grandmother, older sister, and nephew. As she struggles with her grandmother’s aging, her sister’s mental illness, and her own epilepsy, she realizes they might need more than she can give.

When Jane Forrester takes a position as Grace County’s (N.C.) newest social worker, she is given the task of recommending which of her clients should be sterilized without their knowledge or consent via the N.C. eugenics program. The state’s rationalization is that if her clients are poor, or ill, or deemed in some way “unfit” they should not be allowed to have children. But soon Jane becomes emotionally invested in her clients’ lives, causing tension with her new husband and her supervisors. As Jane is drawn in by the Hart women, she begins to discover the secrets of the small farm—secrets much darker than she would have guessed. Soon, she must decide whether to take drastic action to help them, or risk losing a life-changing battle.

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The Calamity Club
By Kathryn Stockett
(Women’s Contemporary Fiction)

The multimillion-copy-selling author of The Help returns with a bold, big-hearted novel about a group of unbreakable women, fighting for what’s rightfully theirs—and the power of friendship to change everything.

Oxford, Mississippi, 1933: Abandoned by her mother one Christmas Eve, 11-year-old Meg Lefleur has learned the hard way to rely on no one. Now as one of the unadoptable “big girls” at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, she fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed. 

Birdie Calhoun, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford to ask her socialite sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. But as the Depression tightens its grip, Birdie discovers her sister’s seemingly charmed life is a tapestry of lies. 

Then, Birdie encounters Charlie, a woman running low on luck with little left to lose. When their fates—and Meg’s—converge, Charlie comes up with an audacious plan for them to take control of their lives. The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to underestimated women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings.

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The Women: A Novel
By Kristin Hannah
(Historical Fiction)

Women can be heroes: When 20-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal. Friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

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Code Name Helene
By Ariel Lawhon
(Historical Fiction)

It is 1936 and Nancy Wake is an intrepid Australian expat living in Paris who has bluffed her way into a reporting job for a Hearst newspaper when she meets the wealthy French industrialist Henri Fiocca. No sooner does Henri sweep Nancy off her feet and convince her to become Mrs. Fiocca than the Germans invade France, and she takes yet another name—a code name.

Code Name Hélène follows Nancy’s transformation from journalist to one of the most powerful leaders in the French Resistance, known for her ferocious wit, her signature red lipstick, and her ability to summon weapons straight from the Allied forces. But with power comes notoriety, and no matter how careful Nancy is to protect her identity, the risk of exposure is great—for herself and for those she loves.

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What’s Happening at
Pink Magazine’s Book Club?

If you’re a reader and haven’t joined us for book club yet, I highly recommend you join us. We have had wonderful discussions every month, and so far, most people are thoroughly enjoying the book picks. This month will end our Summer Beach Read Series, with Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren being our Pink pick of the month—it’s one of my favorite books!

So, if you’re curious about how Pink’s Book Club works, it’s super simple. All you do is read the book and show up. My staff and I do the rest. We have hors d’oeuvres and beverages, including a variety of wine, sparkling waters, Fresca and water. Often times we base what we’re serving on the theme of the book. For instance, when we read Theo of Golden, we offered port wine since it was so prevalent in the story. And in July, we put out a Southern spread because the book was set in Sullivan’s Island, S.C. Attendees enjoyed pimento cheese tea sandwiches, deviled eggs, cream cheese with pepper jelly and Ritz crackers, as mentioned in the book, and delicious brownies. The charge each month is $15 and reservations are required.

And one more thing, our discussions are a lot of fun. You should hear some of the things we talk about! If you’re thinking this is a set group and that you’ve already missed out, that’s not the case at all. Some ladies attend each month, and some come and go. We welcome newcomers every meeting!

Now let’s talk about our meeting place: We meet in the beautiful lobby of OneCareSpa on Main Street on Hilton Head. It is a cozy setting to gather, connect, have conversation and is complete with a full kitchen and a pink refrigerator!

Here are the books we have read so far this year, and the lineup for fall is so exciting! I hope you will come. This is women supporting women all the way—while having so much fun!

January: The Wedding People by Alison Espach
February: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
March: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
April: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
May: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
June: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
July: Sullivan’s Island by Dorothea Benton Frank
August: Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
September: The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff
October: The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
November: The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
December: To Be Announced Later

Reserve Your Spot for August:
Call 843-842-PINK (7465) or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Meet Paige
Every book club has its personalities, and we have one with paws! Meet Paige, our cheerful little pink kitty and the official mascot of the Pink Magazine Book Club. Paige believes every great story deserves a comfy chair, a warm cup of something delicious, and friends to share the journey. Plus, she has a knack for finding the best stories—and the coziest reading nooks. She’ll be popping in each month to welcome you to our featured reads, offer a few playful thoughts, and remind us that the best books don’t just fill our shelves—they fill our hearts. So pull up a chair, turn the page, and let Paige lead you to your next unforgettable reading adventure.