117 ratings | 33 reviews | avg rating:4.26

Christine’s Year In Books

Christine’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Christine’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Christine’s 2025 Year in Books

Christine Simolke’s Followers (17)

Christine’s Bookshelves

to-read (481)
currently-reading (9)
read (164)
favorites (0)

Christine’s Friends (64)

Rebecca Stephen

90,303 books | 404 friends

Maureen

35,965 books | 424 friends

Brian Michels

318 books | 2,367 friends

Karen

4,318 books | 45 friends

Krista

654 books | 220 friends

Carol Alwood

130 books | 521 friends

Pat Winter

81,566 books | 106 friends

Peggy

492 books | 32 friends

More friends…

Christine Simolke

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

April 18, 1961

Website

http://www.goodreads.com

Twitter

twitter.com/csimolke1

Genre

Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction

Influences

Christina Baker Kline, Adrianna Trigiani, Laurie Fabiano, Maria Laurin ...more

Member Since

March 2013

edit data

Christine Simolke is the granddaughter of Italian immigrants. She was inspired by her grandmother’s life story to write a novel of the immigrant experience. She has traveled to countries all over the world and is thankful that her ancestors chose to settle in the United States. She is a former language arts teacher and currently resides in North Carolina with her husband. They are the parents of two wonderful young men. When she is not writing, she's active in non-profit work.
The idea for her book, Children of Italy was formed many years ago when she wrote a research paper in graduate school based on an interview with her grandmother, Giovanna and stories her great aunt, Evelina told her. Her grandmother and her family immigrated from Ital ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Christine Simolke questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Christine Simolke’s books

Average rating: 4.21 · 28 ratings · 12 reviews · 2 distinct works

	Children of Italy 4.06 avg rating — 17 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Children of Italy: Love, Secrets & Betrayal 4.45 avg rating — 11 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

Christine is Currently Reading

Christine Simolke is currently reading

The Son and Heir: A Memoir

by Alexander Münninghoff

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jan 13, 2026 04:37AM

Christine Simolke is currently reading

The Grey Wolf (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #19)

by Louise Penny (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jun 12, 2025 10:22AM

Christine Simolke is currently reading

American Housewife

by Anita Abriel (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Mar 17, 2025 06:15AM

rss
Christine’s Recent Updates

Christine Simolke is currently reading The Son and Heir: A Memoir by Alexander Münninghoff	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 13, 2026 04:37AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Son and Heir by Alexander Münninghoff. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Son and Heir by Alexander Münninghoff <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Christine Simolke wants to read The Widow by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 06, 2025 12:19PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Widow by John Grisham. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Widow by John Grisham <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Christine Simolke has read Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 06, 2025 12:19PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Christine Simolke finished reading Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 06, 2025 12:19PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Christine Simolke wants to read The Intruder by Freida McFadden (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 06, 2025 12:19PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Intruder by Freida McFadden. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Intruder by Freida McFadden <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Christine Simolke wants to read The Crash by Freida McFadden (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 06, 2025 12:19PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Crash by Freida McFadden. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Crash by Freida McFadden <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Christine Simolke wants to read Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 06, 2025 12:18PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Christine Simolke wants to read The Tenant by Freida McFadden (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 06, 2025 12:18PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Tenant by Freida McFadden. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Tenant by Freida McFadden <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Christine Simolke wants to read Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 06, 2025 12:18PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Christine Simolke wants to read The Living and the Dead by Christoffer Carlsson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 26, 2025 11:00AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Living and the Dead by Christoffer Carlsson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Living and the Dead by Christoffer Carlsson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Christine's books…

Christine’s Quotes

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
― Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan

tags: inspirational, optimism, perception, pessimism

46518 likes

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

tags: darkness, drive-out, hate, inspirational, light, love, peace

78382 likes