10 Historical Fiction Books I Couldn’t Put Down

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Historical fiction has been one of my favorite genres for as long as I’ve been blogging about books, which made putting this list together ridiculously difficult.

I’ve read SO many outstanding historical fiction novels over the years. Some have introduced me to places and periods in history I knew almost nothing about. Others sent me down research rabbit holes long after I finished the book. And then there are the ones that kept me up way too late because I simply needed to know what happened next.

Those are the books I wanted to focus on here.

This also isn’t meant to be a definitive list of the “best historical fiction books ever written.” These are simply the books and series that immediately come to mind when I think about historical fiction I absolutely could not put down.

I also tried—emphasis on tried—to keep straight historical romance, historical mysteries and historical fantasy off this list. Those are genres I love too, but they deserve their own lists eventually. There is definitely romance in many of these books because apparently I can’t help myself, but the history and setting are a huge part of why each one has stayed with me.

So after years and years of historical fiction reading, these are ten books and series I still find myself recommending.

1. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I know Outlander crosses several genre lines, but there was absolutely no way I was making a historical fiction favorites list and leaving this series off.

The first three books are especially captivating, although I love the larger series as a whole. But that first book? I could read Outlander over and over again without a problem.

The combination of history, romance, adventure and time travel completely sucked me in, and Diana Gabaldon’s Scotland made me fall in love with a place I’ve never even visited. Scotland has been on my travel wish list ever since, and I am determined to finally get there someday!

I love the television series too, but for me, nothing compares to the books.

Read my Outlander review →
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2. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

A giant novel about the construction of a medieval cathedral doesn’t exactly scream “I won’t be able to put this down,” and yet here we are.

The Pillars of the Earth is one of those books that completely transported me. I loved learning about cathedral construction and architecture, but there’s so much more happening around that central story. You get medieval politics, religion, power, ambition, violence and, of course, a love story.

I’ve read other books in the Kingsbridge series and enjoyed them, but The Pillars of the Earth remains the standout for me.

I also happened to read this book while touring cathedrals in England, which made the experience even more memorable. Reading about the enormous undertaking of building these structures and then actually standing inside them was incredible.

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3. Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

One of my favorite things about historical fiction is picking up a book and realizing how little I know about a particular place or period in history.

That’s exactly what happened with Next Year in Havana.

I knew very little about Cuban history going into this book, and that made the experience feel completely fresh. The history surrounding the Cuban Revolution and its aftermath fascinated me, and I loved learning about it through the characters rather than feeling like I was being handed a history lesson.

There’s also a wonderful love story here, which certainly didn’t hurt.

I devoured this book and immediately wanted more from Chanel Cleeton. It’s a perfect example of why I love historical fiction so much: I finished an entertaining story while also coming away wanting to know more about the real history behind it.

Read my full review of Next Year in Havana →
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4. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

I’ve read a LOT of WWII historical fiction over the years, but The Bronze Horseman felt completely different from so many of the WWII novels I had read before it.

The setting played a huge role in that.

Set in Leningrad during World War II, the book gave me a perspective and place that felt new to me, while also delivering an absolutely consuming love story.

And when I say consuming, I mean I stayed up way too late reading this one because I couldn’t put it down.

The combination of the Russian setting, wartime history and romance made this one stand out in a genre I’ve read extensively. Years later, it’s still one of the historical fiction books I immediately think of when someone asks for a recommendation.

Read my full review of The Bronze Horseman →
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5. The Pink Carnation Series by Lauren Willig

I don’t think anything demonstrates how completely obsessed I became with this series better than what happened while I was reading the first book.

I realized I only had about 100 pages left and didn’t own book two.

So I got out of my pajamas, went out into the cold rain, drove across town and bought the next book because there was NO WAY I was finishing The Secret History of the Pink Carnation without having another one ready to go.

I don’t do things like that!

I went on to absolutely devour this series. Female spies, historical intrigue, romance and adventure? It was basically irresistible to me.

I loved the series overall, although books #1, #4 and #11 are particular favorites. It’s also a series I’ve recommended—and even gifted—to friends who I know love historical fiction.

If you want historical fiction that’s fun, romantic and incredibly easy to binge, this is one I still recommend all these years later.

Read my review of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation →
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6. The Seven Sisters Series by Lucinda Riley

At this point, I feel like Lucinda Riley could almost have her own section of The Lit Bitch.

I’ve read all of her books, and honestly, I could put several of her standalones on this list. Her stories tend to have that sweeping, epic quality I love in historical fiction, and I’ve spent many hours completely lost in the worlds she created.

But if I have to choose, The Seven Sisters series is the standout.

Each sister gets her own story, usually combining a contemporary storyline with a historical one in another part of the world. There’s romance, family mystery, history and this larger storyline connecting all of the sisters together.

Some installments are stronger than others, but I love the series as a whole. The Pearl Sister is probably my favorite, and I genuinely wish I could go back and experience these books for the first time again.

Read my complete guide to The Seven Sisters books in order →
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7. Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams

This book holds a special place on my list because it introduced me to Beatriz Williams.

And the funny thing is, I wasn’t even particularly excited about reading it at first.

Then I started.

I completely fell in love with Williams’s writing and the story, gave the book five stars and promptly went out and bought more of her books. I’ve read plenty of Beatriz Williams since then and enjoyed many of them, but there’s something about the first book that introduces you to an author you end up loving.

Along the Infinite Sea was that book for me.

It’s one of those reads that reminds me why I’m willing to take chances on books I might not initially think are for me. Sometimes they end up becoming favorites.

Read my full review of Along the Infinite Sea →
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8. The Lake House by Kate Morton

And speaking of books that introduced me to authors I ended up loving…

The Lake House was my first Kate Morton novel, and I immediately fell in love with her storytelling.

At first, I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about all the different perspectives and timelines. Then suddenly I was completely absorbed in this family’s history and all of its secrets.

There’s something about the way Kate Morton writes these sprawling family sagas that makes me want to disappear inside them. You get old houses, secrets, mysteries, complicated families and history layered throughout everything.

After The Lake House, I immediately wanted more Kate Morton, and I’ve gone on to read many of her other novels. But this one remains special because it’s where that love affair with her books started.

Read my full review of The Lake House →
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9. The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski

First of all, can we talk about that cover?

It’s gorgeous.

Thankfully, the story inside absolutely lived up to it.

What really caught my attention in The Ice Swan was the history surrounding Russian aristocrats fleeing their country after the Revolution and establishing lives in Paris. Add in World War I, Russian mob connections and a marriage-of-convenience storyline and I was SOLD.

I loved Wynn and Svetlana, but it was really the combination of their story with all of that fascinating historical background that kept me turning pages.

I read this one incredibly fast, gave it five stars and went on to read J’nell Ciesielski’s other books because of how much I enjoyed it. She’s another author who became an automatic read for me because of one standout book.

Read my full review of The Ice Swan →
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10. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn is simply a solid historical fiction writer.

I’ve read a number of her books over the years and enjoyed them, but The Rose Code stands out because I was completely fascinated by the women working as codebreakers at Bletchley Park during World War II.

I loved the three central women and the different perspectives they brought to the story, but the historical component was what really hooked me. This is one of those books that sent me down rabbit holes afterward researching Bletchley Park and the real people who did this extraordinary work during the war.

I didn’t think the book was absolutely perfect—the ending felt a little rushed to me—but I still gave it 4.5 stars and couldn’t put it down.

And honestly, I like that this one isn’t a perfect five-star read. A book doesn’t have to be flawless to completely engross me or stay with me years later.

Read my full review of The Rose Code →
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Bonus: Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon

Okay, I said ten.

But apparently I can’t follow my own rules because I couldn’t bring myself to leave Where the Lost Wander off this list.

This was an unexpected favorite for me.

Amy Harmon takes readers onto the Oregon Trail, and somehow she managed to romanticize that setting in a way I didn’t know was possible. I became completely invested in Naomi and John and loved how their relationship developed against such a dangerous and unforgiving journey.

When I originally finished this book, I had a MASSIVE book hangover. I gave it five stars, immediately started raving about it to friends and family, and honestly could have kept reading for another 400 pages.

It’s immersive, emotional and exactly the kind of historical fiction I love: a book that makes the past feel immediate while still giving me characters and a love story I can become completely invested in.

So yes, I’m cheating and giving you eleven.

I regret nothing.

Read my full review of Where the Lost Wander →
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Why I Keep Coming Back to Historical Fiction

Looking at this list, I realized there’s a pretty obvious pattern in the historical fiction I love most.

I want to be transported.

I want a book to take me somewhere I haven’t been or introduce me to a piece of history I know very little about. I want to finish the story and immediately start Googling cathedrals, Bletchley Park, revolutionary Cuba, Russian aristocrats or whatever historical rabbit hole the author has dropped me into.

Give me compelling characters and a great love story on top of that and I’m probably not going anywhere until I’ve finished the book.

There are so many other historical fiction novels I’ve loved over the years that narrowing this down was almost impossible. And I’m sure the minute I hit publish I’ll remember another favorite and wonder how I possibly left it off.

But these are the books and series that have stayed with me—the ones I devoured, the ones that introduced me to authors I now love, and the ones I continue recommending years later.

Looking for more historical fiction?

I’ve read a LOT of historical fiction over the years, and narrowing this list down was nearly impossible! You can find even more of my favorite historical fiction books in my Amazon storefront.

Shop My Favorite Historical Fiction Books →