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A Look Back at Five Years of Historical Fiction Hits
A young duchess navigates treacherous palace intrigue in Renaissance Italy. A black cake recipe passes through history to unite a fracturing Caribbean family. Five courageous women in Depression-era Appalachia spread hope and literature in the amazing true story of the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky.
Such are the narrative destinations available in today’s collection of books, in which we sort out Goodreads’ most popular historical fiction novels from the past five years. The titles listed below have been selected by tracking overall reader reviews, ratings, and shelvings—that is to say, which books end up on Goodreaders’ Read and Want to Read shelves. The books are presented in order of overall popularity, with the most popular on top. Also, each of the titles has earned an average rating of 3.5 stars or higher.
Habitual historical fiction readers will recognize some familiar names here. Goodreads members clearly have some favorite authors in this particular aisle: Kristin Hannah, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Kate Quinn, and Lisa See, to name four. You’ll find some genre crossover specimens, too, like Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land, which incorporates historical, contemporary, and sci-fi elements. Also look for acclaimed writers from other fields trying historical fiction for the first time—for instance, Ta-Nehisi Coates’ frankly amazing novel The Water Dancer.
Click on the book cover images for more details about each title, and add any good leads to your Want to Read shelf. (Actually, we might add that this collection features some particularly excellent book cover art and design.)
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Have a favorite read from the books above? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Comments Showing 1-50 of 136 (136 new)
message 1:
by
Jess
(new)
Jul 15, 2024 01:05AM
I've read 21 titles and 13 of them are on my TBR!
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Have read none of it and neither do I plan
I’ve read a few and have more on my to be read list. I particularly enjoyed reading The Women, Still Life, The Night Watchman and The Book of Longings . My favourite on this list would have to be Weyward. I loved it.
I love Historical Fiction! I've read 18 books from this list, but Code Name Hélène is one of my all-time favorites. I also loved Weyward & The Diamond Eye.Here are more Historical Fiction I loved that aren’t on this list:
These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901
I Must Betray You (Young Adult)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Salt to the Sea (Young Adult)
The Siren of Sussex
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson was absolutely wonderful. It was hard to put down.
Historical Fiction is my favorite genre, and I've read 34 of these books. Both Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait stand out in my memory as magnificent reads. The Covenant of Water was also exceptional.
I have read 28 of these books, with many more on my to be read list.Really enjoyed The Women
I have read 20 and The Water Dancer was one of my favorites as well as Lessons in Chemistry
Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? Historical fiction has been disappointing me lately. I read three books on this list. Weyward was depressing and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store and The House of Eve were unsettling. So much racism. I plan to read Lessons in Chemistry, The Women and Lady Tan's Circle of Women next. Are they any good?
I just added so many more to my TBR list! I’ve read many of these and The Women and Henna Artist (and the following in the trilogy) were my favourites! I also loved House of Eve, Book woman of troublesome creek and all by Quinn and Harmel!
Love Kate Morton's historical fiction!
I find it sad that so few of these novels are set before the 20th century. I have read and enjoyed a number of books on this list (and have a fair number of others on my TBR pile), but I wish more authors would explore earlier time periods.
Read 3 (loved Allendes books about Chile!), started but put away a few others. Definitely an interesting list and a source for books to be read. Too bad quite a few seem to be WWII related when I want to explore outside that dark period.
I've read 35 of these and have most of the others in my TBR
I've read 27 of these. Favorites include The Water Dancer and the two Abraham Verghese novels. The list should include Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips.
Law wrote: "Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? Historical fiction has been disappointing me lately. I read three books on this list. Weyward was depressing and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Sto..."I loved Lessons in Chemistry (listened to it twice!), also loved Giver of Stars, The Women, Looking for Jane (one of my favourites), Homecoming and the Last Bookshop of London. I read 26 of the books above, but these stood out as favourites. They all have a moment or two in them that aren't "happy", but I also don't love books that leave me feeling sad so I would reccommend these as they left me feeling content.
Kirby wrote: "I love Historical Fiction! I've read 18 books from this list, but Code Name Hélène is one of my all-time favorites. I also loved Weyward & The Diamond Eye.Here are more Historical Fiction I loved..."
This list is limited to books published for the first time during the past 5 years--unfortunately only 2 of the terrific five you listed qualify.
Kirby wrote: "I love Historical Fiction! I've read 18 books from this list, but Code Name Hélène is one of my all-time favorites. I also loved Weyward & The Diamond Eye.Here are more Historical Fiction I loved..."
We have a lot in common! These is My Words is one of my all time favorite books! I feel like hardly anyone has read it, so it was nice to see someone else mention it. I liked all your other recs, too, except I haven't read The Siren of Sussex (adding to my list now). Code Name Helene is also one of my favs on this list.
I've read 36 on this list.
I've read 14 books on this list and enjoyed them all. Several of the others are on my tbr. My absolute favorites are The Love Songs W.E.B DuBois, The Yellow Wife and The Women.
Read non, one a maybe. Books for women….which is fine.
Law wrote: "Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? Historical fiction has been disappointing me lately. I read three books on this list. Weyward was depressing and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Sto..."A lot of people loved "Lessons in Chemistry", but I hated it. Contrived and completely unbelievable. It's one of the four I've read from this list and the only one I liked was "Cloud Cuckoo Land".
I have some of these novels couple I read it heard they’re good. I’m sure you’re all the way like these books as well.
I have read 18.. My favorites HorseGo As A River
_------------------------ And The Forest of Vanishing Stars
Why read Historical Fiction ? Because learning something new feels good.
Have read 16 and enjoyed all the ones I read. Still Life doesn’t get talked about enough in my opinion. Such a beautifully written novel.
Too many historical fiction novels are set in the 20th century.
Kirby wrote: "I love Historical Fiction! I've read 18 books from this list, but Code Name Hélène is one of my all-time favorites. I also loved Weyward & The Diamond Eye.Here are more Historical Fiction I loved..."
Ruta Sepetys is a fantastic author. I also loved her books on your list!
I’ve read 4 and have 2 on my tbr✨
I’ve read 10 so far . Loved The Giver of Stars and Yellow wife Also really enjoyed the heaven and earth grocery store, lady tans circle of women and the covenant of water
Have begun reading way more historical fiction than I ever thought I would so I’ve read a few of these and have many on my list. Currently reading “Goodnight,Irene” which I unfortunately don’t see here but I’m really enjoying it.
Wow. I’ve read 15 of these, and 37 others are on my TBR list. Quite a list!
I've read 16 of them and many more are on my TBR list. But saying Daisy Jones and the Six is historical fiction makes me feel old!
The Lost Apothecary’s went from a random library find to a story I could not put down.
Frozen River is outstanding. Perfectly paced mystery. Loved the way she valued her husband and the respect they had for each other
My favorite from the list is The Covenant of Water and the Lincoln Highway. I have read at least 21 of these and enjoyed most of them for various reasons, whether the setting (familiar) or learning something new. There are several on my WTR list and many I have not even heard of. I did nor care at all for The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store and did not finish it but did like The Good Lord Bird.
Only read 2 but have several on by TBR. A bit bummed to see a historical fiction list without Ken Follett (The Armor of Light being the latest and would qualify coming out last year).
I have read several of these titles and just marked several more as "want to read". I can't wait!
Law wrote: "Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? Historical fiction has been disappointing me lately. I read three books on this list. Weyward was depressing and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Sto..."The Dutch House is amazing, IMHO
I've read 13. This is a fantastic list, although one of my favorites is not there. Deep River by Karl Marlantes.
Calling Cloud Cuckoo Land historical fiction is a stretch.
I've read a few and have even more on my list to read. Lots of great books. Take a chane on Lady Tan's Circle of Women was great.
Kirby wrote: "I love Historical Fiction! I've read 18 books from this list, but Code Name Hélène is one of my all-time favorites. I also loved Weyward & The Diamond Eye.Here are more Historical Fiction I loved..."
Yes! GUERNSEY and THESE IS MY WORDS!!!
Law wrote: "Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? Historical fiction has been disappointing me lately. I read three books on this list. Weyward was depressing and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Sto..."To me, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women was much better than Lessons in Chemistry, but I can’t say the same would be for you since I don’t know you. I’m a retired nurse, so I’m drawn to anything about health care. Another on the list that I loved was The Frozen River.
I have read 19 of these books and have added many of the others. The Goid Reads app and recommendation lists are my go to place to select my books for reading.
Love this genre! Have read 28 from the list with majority of remaining titles on my TBR list - which never seems to get any shorter! Mostly great reads, with Allende, Krueger, Hannah and See rising to the top of the list.
I’m so surprised to see that I’ve read 23 books on this list. Thanks for showing me this. Every now and then I try something different and now I’m reading Mr. Penumbras 24 hour Bookstore. It’s a fun book.
Law wrote: "Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? Historical fiction has been disappointing me lately. I read three books on this list. Weyward was depressing and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Sto..."I love The Women. I lived through the Viet Nam War era, so I could relate to what was happening. I loved it.
Law wrote: "Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? Historical fiction has been disappointing me lately. I read three books on this list. Weyward was depressing and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Sto..."I loved Lessons in Chemistry. I’d start with that. I am not much of an historical fiction reader but I found this book interesting, compelling and at times both funny and sad.
Thanks for putting this list together. I’ve read 43 on the list but thanks to the comments I have more to read. I only left unfinished Cloud Cuckoo Land, Hamnet and The Nickel Boys. My favorite author is Marie Benedict. My most recommended book : Lessons in Chemistry.
