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From freshly fallen snow to steaming cups of hot chocolate, roaring fires and decadent holiday sweet treats, we can’t think of a cozier time of year than winter. And what better way to spend the coldest months of the year than curled up on your couch with an immersive page-turning tale set in the past? If you’re in the market for a new historical fiction recommendation, you’re in the right place! Woman’s World editors sifted through dozens of newly released historical fiction books and hand-picked the top titles from beloved authors like Sarah McCoy, Natalie Jenner and more!
If you enjoy books centered around Hollywood’s Golden Age, pick up Blonde Dust by Tatiana de Rosnay, which features everyone’s favorite glamour girl, Marilyn Monroe. One reader called it a “moving story of female friendship that showcases how even fleeting encounters can change a life forever.” Prefer to get lost within the pages of a really good historical thriller? Then don’t miss The Mad Wife by Meagan Church. Fellow bestselling author Sarah Penner described Church’s latest novel as “a haunting, hopeful tale of resilience, reckoning and the redemptive power of truth.”
To discover all of our top 10 new historical fiction books, keep scrolling!
‘One of Them’ by Kitty Zeldis
In the charged postwar atmosphere of Vassar College, Anne Bishop hides a secret she believes could shatter her place on campus: she’s Jewish. She’s spent years keeping that truth tucked safely out of sight—until she meets Delia, a fellow Jewish student who lives her identity without fear. As their friendship deepens, Anne is pushed into a reckoning she can no longer avoid, one that threatens to upend her friendships, her future and her sense of self.
What readers are saying: “Kitty Zeldis’s One of Them is a powerful, beautifully written novel about identity, belonging, and the cost of hiding who we truly are. Lushly written, emotionally layered, and unflinchingly honest, this story asks what we sacrifice for acceptance, and what it means to find courage in truth. I literally couldn’t put it down.”
‘Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely?’ By Sarah McCoy
If you adored The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you will love Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely? by bestselling author Sarah McCoy. Based on a true story, the book follows Golden Age starlet Lori Lovely, who shocks the world by leaving her film career to…become a nun. In 1990, Lu Tibbott is working on her thesis in modern American history. She decides to dig into her aunt Lori’s past and is surprised when Lori agrees to finally tell her story after all these years—a tale filled with forbidden love and secrets.
What readers are saying: “Sarah McCoy delivers another beautiful story filled with heart and depth. Her characters feel alive from the very first page, and the writing is both lyrical and engaging. I couldn’t put it down!”
‘Sonora’ by Jenni L. Walsh
Fans of the 1991 cult-favorite film Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken will love Sonora by Jenni L. Walsh, which looks deeper into the fascinating life of Sonora Webster, one of the first female horse divers. During the 1920s American carnival scene, Sonora answers an ad for a horse diver. As she enters the dazzling and dangerous world of show business, her passion and drive only deepen. But after a tragic accident alters her world, Sonora risks her life to save the show and her horses. A powerful story about a courageous woman.
What readers are saying: “I truly enjoyed this story, inspired by the real-life events of Sonora Webster Carver, one of the first female horse divers whose courage and resilience were extraordinary. Jenny L. Walsh crafted a beautiful, heartfelt tribute—honoring not just Sonora’s achievements, but her strength and spirit after she lost her sight.”
‘The Eights’ by Joanna Miller
Heartfelt and engaging, this story takes readers to Oxford University in 1920—the first year the famous school allowed women to attend. When Beatrice, Dora, Marianne and Otto move into Corridor 8, the young women become fast friends, collectively known as The Eights. Fueled by dreams of ambition, each girl harbors her own secrets. As they navigate the aftermath of the Great War, they find strength in sisterhood.
What readers are saying: “I don’t usually enjoy novels about history and things of the past, but I am a sucker for novels about friendships born of great significance in that time period. I was rooting these four women on as they stepped into the historical timeline and forged ahead under very difficult circumstances.”
‘The Book Club for Troublesome Women’ by Marie Bostwick
This delightful, nostalgic story takes readers to 1963 Virginia. With three kids, a husband and a house in the suburbs, Margaret is living the American dream. When Charlotte, an artsy New Yorker, moves into their community, Margaret starts a book club and invites Charlotte and two other women. Their first read: The Feminine Mystique. What follows is a year of trials, triumphs, self-discovery and sisterhood.
What readers are saying: “The story pulled me forward and I had to force myself to put it down when life tasks called. I loved the history and learning more about the stories going on around me when I was in my 20s. I lived some of this and missed a bunch, so it was delightful to explore nuances I missed.”
‘Austen at Sea’ Natalie Jenner
Austenian charm? Check! Nautical adventure? Check! Brimming with rich historical detail? Check! Natalie Jenner’s latest historical fiction novel set at sea is a delight. Frustrated with the societal expectations of 1865 Boston, Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson decide to write a letter to Sir Francis Austen, the last living Austen sibling. Nicholas and Haslett Nelson are also in touch with Francis, and soon the four of them find themselves unknowingly on the same boat to England in the hopes of meeting their mysterious pen pal. It’s a sweeping journey perfect for classic lit lovers!
What readers are saying: “Austen at Sea was so compelling, intriguing and full of history. Natalie Jenner created a full cast of bright characters with this one! While a work of fiction, two real stories inspired this book, and I think the author did such an amazing job crafting this one!”
‘Blonde Dust’ by Tatiana de Rosnay
Marilyn Monroe in a historical Western novel? Count us in! Set at the legendary Mapes Hotel in Reno, Nevada, this enthralling story follows Pauline, a chambermaid tasked with cleaning a room, only to discover Mrs. Miller, a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe, dazed and confused inside. Seeing no other choice, Pauline befriends Marilyn and attempts to help her heal from her divorce from Arthur Miller. An ode to female friendship and a reimagining of a never-before-seen side of Marilyn Monroe!
What readers are saying: “Blonde Dust is not only a tribute to Marilyn Monroe’s humanity but also a moving story of resilience, female friendship and the power of fleeting encounters to change a life forever. Fans of historical fiction, old Hollywood and stories of women finding their voices will be captivated.”
‘The Mad Wife’ by Meagan Church
In this instant New York Times bestseller, 1950s housewife Lulu Mayfield is teetering on the edge after the birth of her second child. Her world feels small—until Bitsy, a dazzling new neighbor, moves in next door. Lulu is instantly drawn to her. But the closer she gets, the more the edges of reality blur. Who is Bitsy, really? And what truths is Lulu hiding from herself? As the boundaries between longing and illusion begin to fracture, Lulu must decide what—and who—she can trust.
What readers are saying: “This is historical fiction at its finest. The Mad Wife held me in its clutches as Church created tension and suspense with a well-placed word or phrase in this psychological domestic drama. I’m not sure how she manages it or how it’s even possible, but her prose is immersive, lyrical, atmospheric, haunting, real—it just keeps getting better.”
‘The Lies They Told’ by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Set in 1930s Virginia, this novel follows Lena Conti, a young woman who finds herself stranded at Ellis Island with her 2-year-old daughter. Silas Wolfe, a widowed relative, agrees to take them in, but only if Lena agrees to help around the house. But Silas has a secret: He knows the state of Virginia is planning to seize children from parents and evict them from their land, a move that eventually leads to Lena getting sent to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics. Can she stay strong and reunite with her daughter or will Lena spend the rest of her life locked up?
What readers are saying: “This well-researched and beautifully written book brought this reader to tears several times since I could well imagine the inhumanity on display at Ellis Island when my own grandparents arrived there for the first time. The story is so well-crafted that I easily found myself a third of the way into the book before I set it down for the first time. I would highly recommend this based-on-true-history novel and am calling it a must-read.”
‘Isola’ by Allegra Goodman
Inspired by the true story of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola follows Marguerite, a young woman born into comfort. But after she’s orphaned and placed in the hands of a volatile guardian, her world unravels. Her guardian squanders her inheritance, drags her to New France and ultimately abandons her on an island after accusing her of betrayal. Marguerite now has to face the raw force of nature as winter closes in. In her isolation, she taps into a faith and strength she never knew she had. A timeless, haunting story of a woman fighting to survive.
What readers are saying: “All the reviews are true. The story is compelling and engaging and gripping and all the other adjectives. The real gem in this book is Goodman’s writing. She managed to capture and hold the language, the culture, and the sentiment of sixteenth century France in every sentence—an impossible task for all but the most dedicated and talented of writers.”
