Thanks to Scribner Books, Dart Frogg Co and Book Club Favorites for the copy of this book!

A fascinating story of a female physician in 15th-century China, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is perfect for lovers of historical fiction, Chinese history, and women’s health. Tan Yunxian is born into an elite family, learns medicine from her grandmother, and starts practicing and recording what she’s learning as she treats ailments even as she goes to live in her husband’s house. She faces challenges as most doctors are male and females have certain duties and traditions within the home and society.

I loved learning about this time period in the light of women’s health: when feet were bound, concubines were common, many female ailments were “unclean”, and female friendships across classes are forbidden. I leaned a lot, but also enjoyed Yunxian’s tenacity and her friendship with Meiling - it’s a tale that’s informative but captivating at the same time. I read this in two sittings! Highly recommend if you typically enjoy medical history, women’s health issues, or friendship/family stories. There are definite trigger warnings for this book, so please feel free to ask me if you have a concern.