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Are you a history lover craving a journey through time—without the need for a time machine? You’re in the right place. We’ve curated a list of the best historical fiction books that will transport you straight into the heart of the past, one captivating story at a time.
Whether you’re fascinated by the American Revolution, the World Wars, ancient civilizations, or everything in between, there’s something here for every kind of reader. From contemporary favorites like Amy Harmon’s A Girl Called Samsonto timeless classics like Tolstoy’s War and Peace, these novels bring history to life with unforgettable characters, richly detailed settings, and emotionally resonant storytelling.
And if you’re in the mood for stories that blend romance with rich historical detail, don’t miss this list of the best historical romance books for even more swoon-worthy journeys through the past.
So if you’re ready to explore different eras, cultures, and conflicts—all from the comfort of your reading nook—this list of must-read historical fiction books is the perfect place to start.
Table of Contents
Best WWI & WWII Historical Fiction Books
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
If you love historical fiction with dual timelines and female spies, The Alice Network is a standout. It weaves together the stories of Eve, a former WWI spy haunted by betrayal, and Charlie, a pregnant American searching for her missing cousin after WWII. Their paths collide in a powerful story of resilience, revenge, and unexpected sisterhood that’s perfect for fans of espionage fiction with heart.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
This beautifully written WWII novel completely wrecked me in the best way. It follows Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German orphan conscripted into the Nazi army, as their lives slowly converge. With lyrical prose and quiet emotional depth, it’s one of the most moving historical fiction books about World War II I’ve ever read.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Set in Nazi-occupied France, The Nightingale is a gut-wrenching story of two sisters who survive the war in very different ways—one by quietly enduring, the other by joining the Resistance. It’s powerful, emotional, and a go-to recommendation for historical fiction fans.
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan
Based on a true story, Beneath a Scarlet Sky reads like a fast-paced spy thriller wrapped in real-life heroism. It follows Pino Lella, a young Italian who’s pulled into WWII espionage while secretly working against the Nazis. It’s gripping, emotional, and perfect if you want your historical fiction with high stakes and a heavy dose of real history.
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
This one’s all about the heroes who worked in the shadows. The Book of Lost Names follows Eva, a forger with a secret mission to preserve real identities in a coded ledger. A quieter WWII novel, but one that packs an emotional punch.
The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken
If you’re looking for historical fiction that goes beyond Western Europe, this one’s a standout. Inspired by real events, The Memory Keeper of Kyiv explores Stalin’s forced famine in 1930s Ukraine through the lens of a young woman fighting to survive. It’s haunting and deeply emotional—ideal for fans of Between Shades of Gray or anyone drawn to lesser-known WWII narratives.
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
Kate Quinn delivers again with this post-WWII thriller about a Nazi hunter, a Soviet bomber pilot, and a woman with a dark past. Their intersecting paths form a twisty, suspenseful story of revenge and redemption. If you like your historical fiction with Cold War intrigue, morally gray characters, and fierce women, you’ll be hooked.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Between Shades of Gray is one of those historical fiction novels that quietly devastates you. It follows a teenage girl deported from Lithuania to a Siberian labor camp during Stalin’s regime, based on true events. Though technically YA, it’s every bit as powerful and harrowing as any adult WWII fiction you’ll read.
From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon
Set in WWII Italy, this book follows Eva, a Jewish woman on the run, and Angelo, the Catholic priest who hides her. It’s a story of forbidden love, faith, and moral complexity that tore me apart emotionally. If you love historical fiction with romance and high emotional stakes, this one hits all the marks.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Set in Nazi Germany, The Book Thief follows a girl who steals books and shares stories in a time when words were weaponized. It’s haunting, literary, and unforgettable—a true modern classic of WWII fiction.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
This one has everything: spies, secrets, a dash of royal romance, and fractured friendships. It follows three women working at Bletchley Park whose friendship unravels in the shadow of betrayal. If you’re into dual timelines, smart heroines, and slow-burn mystery, you’ll devour this one.
Best 20th Century Historical Fiction Books
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
Set in 1950s Spain under Franco’s dictatorship, The Fountains of Silence quietly devastates as it reveals the harsh truths hidden beneath a veneer of tourism and sunshine. Through the eyes of Daniel, an American teen with a camera, and Ana, a hotel worker with a painful past, Sepetys tells a powerful story of family secrets, forbidden love, and political repression.
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
A must-read multigenerational historical saga, Pachinko spans nearly eight decades of Korean family history in Japan. With themes of cultural identity, survival, and generational sacrifice, this novel stands out among the best historical fiction books of the 20th century.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Set during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era, The Four Winds is one of the best 20th century historical fiction books about resilience and motherhood. It follows Elsa, a mother who must decide whether to stay on her dying Texas farm or head west in search of a better life. It’s gritty, emotional, and filled with the kind of perseverance Hannah writes so well.
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Inspired by the real Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky, The Giver of Stars is a heartwarming story of five women who brave rough terrain and societal pushback to deliver books in rural Appalachia. If you love stories about friendship, literacy, and female empowerment, this one’s a charmer.
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
Set in 1932, This Tender Land follows a group of kids fleeing an oppressive institution in a canoe, chasing freedom down the Mississippi River. It’s nostalgic, beautifully written, and packed with heart—perfect for fans of heartfelt historical fiction like Where the Crawdads Sing.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Set in the early 1960s, Lessons in Chemistry follows Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant scientist navigating blatant sexism in academia—and later becoming an unlikely TV cooking star. Sharp, funny, and full of feminist fire, this is historical fiction with a rebellious streak.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Set in 1960s Mississippi, The Help gives voice to three women—two Black maids and one white aspiring journalist—as they navigate race, privilege, and resistance in the Jim Crow South. Equal parts heartwarming and hard-hitting, it’s an accessible and powerful look at systemic injustice.
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
Set in 1989 Romania, I Must Betray You is one of the best lesser-known historical fiction books based on real events. Ruta Sepetys reveals the harsh surveillance state under Nicolae Ceaușescu through the eyes of a teen informant, creating a tense and eye-opening read for fans of Cold War-era stories.
11/22/63 by Stephen King
In 11/22/63, an ordinary man discovers a portal to 1958 and takes on the mission of stopping one of America’s most infamous assassinations. This one’s got it all: nostalgia, suspense, historical detail, and just enough supernatural edge to keep you guessing.
The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore
When 1920s socialite Mirielle is diagnosed with leprosy, she’s sent to a remote colony in Louisiana—her glamorous life shattered overnight. The Second Life of Mirielle West is a harrowing but ultimately redemptive story about identity, stigma, and resilience.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
With showgirls, scandals, and Second World War chaos, City of Girls captures one woman’s unconventional life with humor and heart. Elizabeth Gilbert gives us a heroine who’s deeply flawed but endlessly relatable in a story all about joy, freedom, and reinvention.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Confined to the Metropol Hotel in 1920s Moscow, a fallen aristocrat observes decades of Soviet history unfold from his suite. A Gentleman in Moscow is graceful, smart, and surprisingly funny—a warm, deeply human novel about adapting with dignity.
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
This epic historical novel follows Victor and Roser, unlikely companions whose lives are reshaped by the Spanish Civil War and political upheaval in South America. A Long Petal of the Sea blends passion, politics, and history into a breathtaking journey of endurance.
Historical Fiction Books Before the 20th Century
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Part historical epic, part time-travel romance, Outlander drops 20th-century nurse Claire Randall into the heart of 18th-century Scotland, where she meets Jamie Fraser—a fierce Highland warrior who tests everything she thought she knew about loyalty, love, and fate. If you’re into sweeping historical fiction books with romance, rebellion, and a touch of the supernatural, this one’s iconic for a reason.
A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon
Set during the American Revolutionary War, A Girl Called Samson tells the incredible story of a woman fighting for freedom—both her country’s and her own. With themes of gender, identity, and courage, this is historical fiction with heart, ideal for fans of early American history and hidden women’s stories.
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Blending time travel with harrowing historical realism, Kindred explores what it means to reckon with the past—especially when that past is filled with pain, power, and survival. It’s a groundbreaking novel and essential reading for anyone interested in historical fiction that tackles slavery and generational trauma through a modern lens.
The Terror by Dan Simmons
Based on the doomed 1845 Franklin expedition, The Terror is historical fiction with a chilling twist. As the HMS Terror gets trapped in Arctic ice, the crew faces not just starvation and madness—but something monstrous stalking them in the dark. If you like your history with a side of horror, this one’s unforgettable.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Set during Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, War and Peace is more than just a novel—it’s an experience. Tolstoy’s masterpiece captures love, loss, and the chaos of war, making it a must-read for anyone drawn to 19th-century historical fiction that explores the human condition.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Homegoing traces the lineage of two half-sisters—one sold into slavery, the other married to a colonizer—through generations of trauma, survival, and hope. Spanning from 18th-century Ghana to modern-day America, it’s one of the most powerful multigenerational historical fiction books you’ll ever read.
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Set in a remote Norwegian village in the 1600s, The Mercies is a chilling and lyrical novel about women surviving alone after a storm kills all their men—and the witch hunt that follows. If you love historical fiction about strong women, religious persecution, and icy Nordic settings, this one’s a standout.
Shōgun by James Clavell
Shōgun is a sweeping tale of 17th-century Japan, where an English sailor becomes enmeshed in the political games of samurai lords. This historical adventure is packed with intrigue, honor codes, and cross-cultural dynamics—a must for readers who love immersive, detailed historical settings.
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
Set in 9th-century England, The Last Kingdom is a gritty tale of war, loyalty, and survival as Viking invaders clash with Saxon kingdoms. Uhtred, born a Saxon but raised by Danes, offers a unique perspective in this action-packed historical fiction series full of shifting allegiances.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
She Who Became the Sun reimagines the founding of the Ming dynasty through the story of a girl who refuses to accept her fate and assumes her brother’s identity. It’s bold, poetic, and one of the best queer historical fiction books set in 14th-century China.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
Inspired by a real woman physician in 15th-century China, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a rich, character-driven novel about resisting patriarchal norms and building strength through sisterhood. It’s beautifully written, thought-provoking, and deeply empowering.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Set in 12th-century England, The Pillars of the Earth is a gripping historical fiction novel centered around the decades-long construction of a cathedral. It’s filled with ambition, betrayal, and class struggles—ideal for readers who love medieval history and epic drama.
Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian
With sea battles, political intrigue, and deep friendship, Master and Commander captures the rhythm of life aboard a British warship in the early 1800s. Patrick O’Brian’s blend of action and authenticity makes this one of the best historical fiction books set during the Age of Sail.
Ancient Historical Fiction Books
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Set in the first century, The Book of Longings imagines the untold story of Ana, a bold, educated woman who becomes the wife of Jesus. This powerful piece of biblical historical fiction gives voice to a woman often left out of history, weaving passion, faith, and resistance into a vivid portrait of ancient life under Roman rule.
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
In A Thousand Ships, Natalie Haynes retells the Trojan War through the eyes of women—queens, slaves, goddesses, and survivors who history often silenced. This lyrical and powerful novel is a standout among ancient Greek historical fiction books, especially for readers craving myth retellings centered on female voices.
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
A classic of biblical historical fiction, The Red Tent reimagines the life of Dinah, daughter of Jacob and sister to Joseph, as she navigates womanhood, ritual, and survival in a patriarchal world. Diamant’s lush storytelling breathes life into ancient traditions and forgotten female stories, making it essential reading for fans of historical fiction set in biblical times.