Monday, July 13, 2026

This month’s best new historical fiction

 
Readworthy by BookBub
This Month’s Best New Historical Fiction
 
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Book cover for Summer of Love by Kerri Maher
This sweeping multigenerational tale makes for ‘perfect beach reading’ (Library Journal)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • During one fateful summer in 1960s California, two sisters are faced with life-altering decisions. Fifty years later, Dawn sets out to uncover the identity of a mysterious writer — and her own family secrets
  • Recommended by Kate Quinn, Marjan Kamali, and Brooke Lea Foster, who says, “I couldn’t stop reading about these women”
  • A must-read for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Beatriz Williams
Learn more...
Media mentions for Summer of Love by Kerri Maher MEDIA MENTIONS: People, The Boston Globe, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist
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Book cover for Chelsea Girls by Catherine Lloyd
Discover the life of iconic British fashion designer Mary Quant in this sparkling novel!
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • After meeting in college, best friends Mary and Chrissie decide to defy society’s expectations — sparking a global fashion revolution
  • “An engaging look at a time when London was the center of all that was hip and trendy” (Library Journal)
  • “Lloyd gifts readers with a lively, entertaining window into the story behind the styles, expectations, and new freedoms that reshaped women’s lives on both sides of the Atlantic” (Stephanie Dray)
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Media mentions for Chelsea Girls by Catherine Lloyd MEDIA MENTION: Library Journal
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Book cover for The Spy and the Snake by M. J. Robotham
For her latest mission, an MI5 agent must pose as a British defector’s wife…
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • As Maggie arrives in Budapest, Cold War tensions simmer — and she realizes her case is more complicated than she ever imagined
  • “Maggie Flynn is a true original: a smart, intrepid, middle-aged spy with acute instincts and aching bunions” (Gill Paul)
  • “Robotham’s warmth for her Hungarian setting is infectious” (Kirkus Reviews)
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Media mentions for The Spy and the Snake by M. J. Robotham MEDIA MENTIONS: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews
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Book cover for Single Girls by John Searles
Oprah Daily and Harper’s Bazaar agree: This is one of summer’s best books
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • This “exuberantly imagined” read (Kirkus Reviews) is “brimming with retro New York glamour” (The Boston Globe)
  • Cosmopolitan is struggling — until a trailblazer unafraid of a little scandal takes control… With a team of savvy women, can Helen Gurley Brown revive the magazine in just three issues?
  • Kevin Kwan, author of Crazy Rich Asians, calls it “an irresistibly fun, sparkling novel”
Learn more...
Media mentions for Single Girls by John Searles MEDIA MENTIONS: TODAY Show, Oprah Daily, People, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, The Boston Globe, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal
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Book cover for Crescendo by Jane Healey
A mesmerizing tale of sibling rivalry that will transport you to summertime in Paris
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • “So immersive you’ll feel like you’re watching an Oscar-worthy film play in your head” (Layne Fargo)
  • In 1957, renowned pianist Max and his twin sister, Natasha, vie for the attention of an enigmatic French patron
  • “Recommend to fans of evocative, atmospheric historical fiction” (Booklist)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Crescendo by Jane Healey MEDIA MENTIONS: The Times, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Literary Hub
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Book cover for When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams
On an island off the coast of New England, three timelines intertwine
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • The New York Times bestselling author of Husbands & Lovers delivers “a supremely satisfying read” (Booklist starred review)
  • When Lucy returns to her late father’s estate on Winthrop Island, she pieces together the mystery of his final days — and is drawn into the hunt for a 18th-century pirate treasure
  • Rave reviews from Emily Giffin and Annabel Monaghan, who says, “When You Loved Me will both warm and open your heart. I absolutely loved it”
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Media mentions for When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams MEDIA MENTIONS: The Boston Globe, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist
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Book cover for Lost in the Summer of ’69 by Eliza Knight
‘An endearing read to be savored, then shared with family’ (Kristina McMorris)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • When her rocker grandma goes missing, trailblazer Nora and her mother, Leanne, embark on an epic cross-country road trip to track Eleanor down
  • “Knight is a pro at the historical fiction game, weaving nostalgia and true events into her characters’ stories with ease and humor” (Booklist)
  • “A heartfelt story that reminds us it’s never too late to find yourself and rediscover the ones you love most” (Meagan Church, author of The Mad Wife)
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Media mentions for Lost in the Summer of ’69 by Eliza Knight MEDIA MENTION: Booklist
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Book cover for An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton
Kate Quinn recommends this ‘deeply moving’ novel from a Reese’s Book Club alum
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • The New York Times bestselling author of Next Year in Havana’s “incredible range as a writer is on full display in this dazzling novel” (Natasha Lester)
  • After the spacecraft carrying her husband loses contact in 1968, grief-stricken Vivian sets out to uncover what happened — and bring him back
  • Perfect for fans of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid!
Learn more...
Media mentions for An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton MEDIA MENTIONS: NPR, People, Parade, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Literary Hub
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Book cover for What Came West by Josh Weil
Fans of Cormac McCarthy should pick up this ‘lush masterpiece’ (Publishers Weekly starred review)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • During the California gold rush, Silas Hall navigates ambition and destiny — and commits a desperate act of violence that transforms his life
  • “A beautiful, ruminative, bloody, terrifying, and brilliant book about a chapter in the life of one man and in the life of our country” (Pulitzer Prize–winning author Andrew Sean Greer)
  • Featuring “one of the most compelling narrators… in quite some time” (Literary Hub)
Learn more...
Media mentions for What Came West by Josh Weil MEDIA MENTIONS: The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Literary Hub
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New in Kindle Unlimited: Today’s top picks!

 
BookBub
New for you in Kindle Unlimited
Fresh reads just landed in Kindle Unlimited! Dive into our top picks from your favorite categories, free with a Kindle Unlimited membership.
 
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Some Bright Nowhere
New in Kindle Unlimited
Some Bright Nowhere
Ann Packer
This 2025 Oprah’s Book Club pick is “extraordinary. Books like this are why I love reading” (Elin Hilderbrand). In a sleepy New England town, elderly couple Claire and Eliot prepare to gather loved ones for Claire’s final days — but then she makes an unthinkable request… “One of those rare books that once you’ve finished, comes with you for life” (Rachel Joyce).
Bestsellers, Women's Fiction
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The Murder Machine
New in Kindle Unlimited
The Murder Machine
Heather Graham
A woman falls victim to the AI-controlled appliances in her cutting-edge smart home… Was it an accident? As FBI agent Jude Mackenzie considers the grisly death’s chilling implications, she turns to cybercrime specialist Victoria Tennant for help. A riveting 2025 release from a New York Times bestselling author who “knows what readers want” (Publishers Weekly).
Crime Fiction
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Stop at Nothing
New in Kindle Unlimited
Stop at Nothing
Michael Ledwidge
“Flawless” (James Patterson): Diving instructor Michael Gannon is pulled into a deadly game when he discovers a crashed plane containing an incredible fortune — and six dead men. Now, as Michael realizes that dangerous people are willing to kill for what he has, he must draw on all of his lethal skills to survive…
Thrillers
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The Outsider
New in Kindle Unlimited
The Outsider
Valerie Keogh
After a fiasco at work puts a target on her back, wallflower Joyce retreats to an isolated cottage to rebuild. But when a storm cuts her off from the world, an unmistakable realization settles in: She is not alone in the house… 
Psychological Thrillers
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Trouble Brewing
New in Kindle Unlimited
Trouble Brewing
Walker Rose
After swearing he’d never come home, Calder returns to the family ranch in North Dakota to sell up and leave town as soon as possible. But Meredith, the beautiful woman running the business, refuses to leave — and soon, unexpected sparks are flying…
Contemporary Romance
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The Secret of the Lantern Keepers
New in Kindle Unlimited
The Secret of the Lantern Keepers
Jenni Keer
In order to claim her inheritance, Edith Averly must uncover the truth behind a murder that occurred at a Cornish asylum years prior. And the only way to gain access is to feign illness herself… A lushly detailed historical novel for fans of Kate Morton.
Historical Fiction
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More Books You Might Like
Never Forgive
New in Kindle Unlimited
Never Forgive
Lane Carey
A brand-new series starter for fans of Lee Child and Tom Clancy: When American intelligence begins untangling the threads of a sinister plot that could upend global order, only one man can be trusted to stop it: former CIA operative Jack Mercer, who swore he’d never take on another mission…
Free
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50 First Kisses
New in Kindle Unlimited
50 First Kisses
Becky Monson
Claire Archer has a curse: Every time she kisses someone, the spark instantly evaporates. And after 49 first kisses, she’s determined to make number 50 count — if only handsome Luke Wilder, her professional rival, would stop distracting her…
Free
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