Favorite Historical Fiction Books

Historical fiction is my favorite genre and these are the the books I have loved, was sad when they ended, will always recommend, and are truly 5-star reads! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Books Are My Great Escape!

I read about 4 to 5 books per month. The overwhelming majority of my “reading” comes in the form of audiobooks and that’s because I’m an avid runner and walker and go out for long runs or walks daily. While music is fine, there’s nothing better for me than being able to become truly absorbed in a fantastic book! 15,000 steps can go by easy-breezy when I’m listening to something captivating.

• I quickly tire of rom-coms, meet-cutes, and romances - enemies-to-lovers and second-chance-romance tropes wear thin for me pretty quickly. I do love thrillers and mysteries but I need to be careful so that I don’t start keeping me up at night!

• I find that historical fiction is the sweet spot for me of keeping me very entertained, sometimes mystified, and often times shocked because I must have been asleep for my high school and college level history classes because I sure never got out of my history classes what I’m getting out of reading historical fiction books as an adult!

• By no way is this a comprehensive list, nor does it encompass every single historical fiction book I’ve ever read, but these are some that come to mind off the top of my head; mostly because I’ve read all of these within the last 12 months.

• They’re all 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! It should be noted that I’ve become “stingier” with my ratings over time. I used to say a book was a 4/5 when it was really more like a 2.5/5 - maybe because I was scared of voicing my opinion or saying anything less than glowing about an author’s work? - but I don’t do that anymore. I call it like I see it. I give current book reviews on my Instagram stories the minute I finish a book if you want to follow me there.

• When I read rather than listen, I do so on my Kindle Colorsoft.

• Finally, I keep all the books I’m reading updated in my Amazon Store - Books so you can easily find and grab them there.

5 Star Best Historical Fiction Books

The Women by Kristin Hannah follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse from a privileged background who volunteers to serve in the Vietnam War at the extreme displeasure of her parents. As she confronts the horrors of war (and this book is horrifying and gruesome in places, there is no sugar coating it) and the indifference awaiting her back home, Frankie’s journey becomes one of survival, resilience, and finding her voice in a country that refuses to acknowledge the contributions of women in combat. The novel is a powerful exploration of female courage, friendship, and the long shadow of trauma because we meet other women who served in Vietnam, each carrying their own crosses to bear. This is one of my favorite books of all time. If you’re inclined to listen to it, the wonderful Julia Whelan - aka best audiobook narrator of our time - does an incredible job!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah tells the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Vianne struggles to protect her family and home as her village is overrun, while rebellious Isabelle joins the French Resistance, risking everything to save others. Crossing the Pyrenees, as a woman (or man!) especially during those times - I truly cannot imagine how she did it! The novel is a poignant tribute to the strength, sacrifice, and heroism of women during wartime. This is one of my favorite books of all time.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah follows Elsa Wolcott, a woman cast out by her own family when she becomes unexpectedly pregnant, and finds herself married into a hard‑working Italian farm family in Dust Bowl‑era Texas. As drought, dust storms, and economic collapse ravage the Plains during the 1930s, Elsa must decide whether to stay and fight for the land she loves or uproot her children and head west to California in search of hope. A deeply emotional story, it explores resilience, motherhood, sacrifice, and the enduring struggle for the American Dream. Of the 3 Kristin Hannah books, I’m mentioning this was for sure third place for me because it does get very, very depressing. Julia Whelan’s narration is what kept me going at times!

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon reimagines the true story of Martha Ballard, an 18th‑century midwife in Maine whose meticulous diary becomes pivotal when a man's body is discovered frozen in the Kennebec River. As she navigates a town rife with secrets and legal bias—especially against sexual assault survivors—Martha uncovers truths no one expects her to pursue. The novel blends historical mystery with intimate domestic life, powerfully spotlighting a largely forgotten heroine. This is a long book but the narrator Jane Oppenheimer does an incredible job. You’ll be so gripped by the story lines that it does not feel long! This is one of my favorite books of all time.

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn is set in 1950s Washington, D.C., and centers on the residents of an all‑female boardinghouse whose lives are transformed when the enigmatic Grace March moves in and starts hosting weekly dinner parties. As each woman’s backstory unfolds, the women begin forming deep bonds, even as secrets simmer beneath the surface. A shocking Thanksgiving night turn of events brings everything to a fever pitch, revealing loyalty, betrayal, and resilience amid the paranoia of the McCarthy era. Saskia Maarleveld narrates it and does an amazing job with accents and voice changes for a dozen or so characters and makes following along with everyone’s story that much easier. If you like her here, you’ll love her in First Lie Wins.

Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams interweaves two gripping timelines flipping between modern-day New England with artist and single mother Mallory Dunne who searches for a kidney donor after her son Sam; and in 1950s Cairo, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth navigates love, loss, and political turmoil amidst revolution and colonial. The novel is a sweeping tale of love, class, redemption, and the complex bonds that span generations and truly I had no idea that Egypt was such a hotbed in the 1950s. Now I know!

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins follows Lydia Quixano Pérez, a bookstore owner in Acapulco, whose life is shattered when her journalist husband exposes a drug cartel leader. Forced to flee with her young son after their family is massacred, Lydia embarks on a harrowing journey north toward the U.S. border jumping on and off of trains with her young son - it’s truly incredible. The novel is a gripping portrayal of migration, resilience, and the human cost of violence in modern-day Mexico. This isn’t exactly “historical” per se because this theme continues at present day.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus follows Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist in 1960s America who is thwarted by sexism in the scientific community. When she's unexpectedly hired to host a cooking show, she uses it as a platform to teach women about science, empowerment, and self-worth. The novel blends humor and heart to explore themes of gender roles, resilience, and challenging societal expectations. The book was made into a mini series and while it was good, I found the book to be so much better! Like many adaptations, many details were omitted but its the details I loved. Is this technically “historical fiction”? For me it is, so it’s on my list.

Honorable Mention (I did not particularly love this book as much as the others, but it’s worth mentioning) - All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr tells the intertwined stories of Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German orphan and radio prodigy, during World War II. As war ravages Europe, their paths converge in occupied Saint-Malo, where each must navigate survival, sacrifice, and the haunting effects of war. The novel presents us with humanity, fate, and the unseen connections that bind us.

Tell me what you love to read! Give me your book recommendations! I am all ears (or eyes!) Here are the 130 books or so I’ve read in the past year and a half.