Monday, September 01, 2025

Best of 2025 So Far: Historical Fiction

 
Readworthy by BookBub
This Month's Best New Historical Fiction
Are you in the know about the year's buzziest new historical novels? Keep reading to discover the 10 titles historical fiction fans shouldn't miss in 2025.
 
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Book cover for Strangers in Time by David Baldacci
An unforgettable story of found family set in a World War II bookshop
WHY IT'S READWORTHY:
  • #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci is "one of the best authors alive, and every page of Strangers in Time shows why" (Lisa Scottoline)
  • In London, a grieving bookstore owner finds his life transformed by two struggling teenagers — but his secrets could put all their lives in danger
  • Kate Quinn and Jodi Picoult are praising this transportive, heart-wrenching read
Learn more...
Media mentions for Strangers in Time by David BaldacciMEDIA MENTIONS:The Times, New York Post, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews
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Book cover for The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue
'Historical fiction you can feel in your bones' (Los Angeles Times)
WHY IT'S READWORTHY:
  • In 1895 Paris, a train ride ends in shocking disaster in the highly anticipated latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Room
  • Illuminating the glamour and chaos of the era, this is "a nail-biter — and you'll learn some history, too" (People)
  • Train passengers from all walks of life are forever bound together in this sweeping novel inspired by a true story
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Paris Express by Emma DonoghueMEDIA MENTIONS:NPR, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, Oprah Daily, People, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, The Times, The Boston Globe, Indie Next List, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, BookPage, Literary Hub
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Book cover for My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende
A sweeping wartime tale from 'one of our most revered storytellers' (Kate Morton)
WHY IT'S READWORTHY:
  • During the 19th century, Emilia defies societal norms to become a writer. When she's assigned to cover a brewing civil war in Chile, she sets out to find her elusive father
  • Kristin Hannah gushes, "Isabel Allende is a literary treasure… A beautifully written portrait of a woman coming of age and finding her voice"
  • "All of Allende's books, My Name Is Emilia del Valle included, have the epic feel of a major Hollywood film" (Associated Press)
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Media mentions for My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel AllendeMEDIA MENTIONS:The New Yorker, NPR, TODAY Show, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Associated Press, Slate, Harper's Bazaar, Indie Next List, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, BookPage
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Book cover for The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
Could a book club started by two sisters turn the tide of war?
WHY IT'S READWORTHY:
  • Kate Quinn, Lisa Wingate, Kristin Harmel, and many more are gushing about this sparkling novel inspired by true events
  • As Cadence and Briar find their lives upended by World War II, they turn to the power of storytelling. Decades later, Mari travels to Martha's Vineyard after her mother's death — and unravels old secrets
  • From the author of Lilac Girls, who's hailed as "one of the best historical fiction writers around" (Fiona Davis)
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Media mentions for The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall KellyMEDIA MENTIONS:People, The Boston Globe, Indie Next List, Library Reads, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal
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Book cover for The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
A suspenseful New York Times bestseller from 'a reigning queen of historical fiction' (Allison Pataki)
WHY IT'S READWORTHY:
  • When a valuable Egyptian artifact goes missing, an unlikely duo must travel from New York City to Cairo to track it down
  • From the wildly popular author of The Magnolia Palace and The Lions of Fifth Avenue
  • Dual timelines transport readers to 1936 Egypt and 1970s Manhattan
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Stolen Queen by Fiona DavisMEDIA MENTIONS:Book of the Month, People, Town & Country, Library Reads, Publishers Weekly, Booklist
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Book cover for Isola by Allegra Goodman
A shocking true story inspired this 'extraordinary book' (Vogue)
WHY IT'S READWORTHY:
  • This highly anticipated Reese's Book Club pick captivated Jodi Picoult, Ann Napolitano, and many more
  • When noblewoman Marguerite is exiled to a small island in 1542, she must find a way to survive
  • "A work of tremendous imagination that draws on harrowing historical records to spin a story of self-determination, courage, and faith" (The New York Times Book Review)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Isola by Allegra GoodmanMEDIA MENTIONS:Reese's Book Club, Time Magazine, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, People, The Washington Post, Vogue, Indie Next List, Library Reads, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist, BookPage, Literary Hub
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Book cover for The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater
'This luxurious novel is set to take the world by storm' (Kirkus Reviews)
WHY IT'S READWORTHY:
  • In the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Avallon Hotel in West Virginia is transformed into a detention center for enemy diplomats — and hotel manager June faces a moral dilemma
  • Based on a little-known true story from World War II
  • "Perfect for fans of complex emotional narratives like works by Kate Morton and Amor Towles" (Reader's Digest)
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Listeners by Maggie StiefvaterMEDIA MENTIONS:The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, Oprah Daily, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Harper's Bazaar, Indie Next List, Library Reads, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist, BookPage, Literary Hub
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Book cover for Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine
Don't miss this 'stunning' Good Morning America Book Club pick (Booklist)
WHY IT'S READWORTHY:
  • In a moment of desperation, Junie, a young enslaved woman, awakens her sister's ghost — sparking a journey that leads her to uncover the horrifying secrets of Bellereine Plantation
  • A must-read for fans of Percival Everett's James
  • "Eckstine is a talented writer to watch. Featuring a spirited protagonist, this compelling mix of the historical and the supernatural will resonate" (Kirkus Reviews)
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Media mentions for Junie by Erin Crosby EckstineMEDIA MENTIONS:Good Morning America Book Club, People, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist
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Book cover for The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry
This New York Times bestseller transports you from the South Carolina coast to London
WHY IT'S READWORTHY:
  • Decades after a writer's disappearance, her daughter Clara unravels the mysteries of her life
  • "Brilliant, riveting, so beautifully written, impossible to put down" (Louise Penny)
  • The beloved author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea delivers a dazzling dual-timeline read
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan HenryMEDIA MENTIONS:Good Morning America, People, Indie Next List, Library Reads, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Literary Hub
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Book cover for Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie by James Lee Burke
Family drama, danger, and mystery collide in World War I–era Texas
WHY IT'S READWORTHY:
  • From a New York Times bestselling author hailed as "one of the finest novelists in North America" (The Globe and Mail)
  • As 14-year-old Bessie comes of age at the start of the 20th century, she accidentally kills an unarmed man to protect her father — and is forced to escape to New York
  • "Vivid, atmospheric prose enhances Burke's wrenching portrayal of Bessie's hope for a better life… [A] winner" (Publishers Weekly starred review)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie by James Lee BurkeMEDIA MENTIONS:Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal
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