From 16th century Mexico to 1970s Pennsylvania, to reimagining the lives of important people in history, immerse yourself in another place and time with these unforgettable historical fiction reads.
A Life Reimagined:
Becoming Madam Secretary: A Novel by Stephanie Dray
New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating and dramatic new novel about an American heroine Frances Perkins.
“Stephanie Dray’s love and respect for this American heroine shines from every page, as does her impeccable research. Unputdownable!”—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye
“Stephanie Dray is one of my absolute favorite authors of historical fiction, and her new novel Becoming Madam Secretary shows why . . . I couldn’t stop turning the pages in this novel, which is both an inspiration and a triumph!”—Lisa Scottoline,New York Times bestselling author of Loyalty
Available March 12th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Click for a Book Club Kit
Click for Audiobook Information
Finding Margaret Fuller: A Novel by Allison Pataki
A “sweeping” (Entertainment Weekly) novel of America’s forgotten leading lady, the central figure of a movement that defined a nation—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post.
“Whether exploring Margaret’s remarkable friendships or delving into her crucial legacy as a journalist, writer, and feminist, Finding Margaret Fuller promises to transform every reader it touches.”—Marie Benedict, co-author of The Personal Librarian
Available March 19th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click for More Information
Click for Audiobook Information
The Tower: A Novel by Flora Carr
A bold, feminist debut novel, reimagining Mary, Queen of Scots’s darkest hour, when she was held hostage in a remote Scottish castle with a handful of loyal women while plotting a daring escape to reclaim her country and her freedom.
“Such a vivid, visceral read, you feel you’re locked in the tower alongside the characters, acting out a royal family drama. I am moved and impressed.”—Tracy Chevalier, New York Times bestselling author of Girl with a Pearl Earring
“An immediate, immersive experience of sharing the year the fallen Mary Queen of Scots was held in a Scottish island castle prison with a few attendants and only her courage and charm to rescue her. Lyrical, riveting, and unforgettable.”—Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I
Available March 5th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click for More Information
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
The Frozen River: A Novel by Ariel Lawhon
*A LibraryReads Hall of Fame and Good Morning America Book Club Pick*
From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.
“Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent . . . impressive.”—The Washington Post
“Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine.”—People Magazine
Available in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Click for a Discussion Guide
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Picasso’s Lovers: A Novel by Jeanne Mackin
A tangled and vivid portrait of the women caught in Picasso’s charismatic orbit through the affairs, the scandals, and the art—only this time, they hold the brush.
“Mackin paints a bold, sumptuous portrait of a great artist and the women who inspired, frustrated, loved, and loathed him . . . Picasso’s Lovers is an epic, sensuous delight!”—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author
“Lyrical writing intertwined with a vibrant, richly detailed history makes Jeanne Mackin’s Picasso’s Lovers a delight for historical fiction readers. Art comes alive in this intimate glimpse into the women behind the masterpieces. A beautiful read!”—Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author
Available in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Click for a Book Club Kit
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
The Lost Dresses of Italy: A Novel by M. A. McLaughlin
In this rich, atmospheric historical novel, perfect for fans of Brenda Janowitz and Adriana Trigiani, two stories of love and deceit intertwine nearly a hundred years apart in Verona, Italy.
“A wonderful journey that enlightens the reader with the rich history of one of the Victorian era’s most noted poets, Christina Rossetti.”—Feathered Quill
“McLaughlin captures the essence of famed Victorian poet, Christina Rossetti and her family in this dual timeline mystery that is full of intrigue, fashion, art and passion all within the scenic backdrop of Italy. An enthralling historical mystery that will have you flipping the richly detailed pages late into the night!”—Eliza Knight, USA Today and international bestselling author of Starring Adele Astaire
Available in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
Click for More Information
World War I:
The Warm Hands of Ghosts: A Novel by Katherine Arden
*A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Pick*
During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.
“A wonderful clash of fire and ice—a book you won’t want to let go of.”—Diana Gabaldon, author of Outlander
“A spectacular tour de force by one of my favorite authors, so wonderful and deep and haunting that you might well imagine it required a Faustian bargain of its own—I love this book so much and want everyone to read it!”—Naomi Novik, author of A Deadly Education
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
World War II:
The Underground Library: A Novel by Jennifer Ryan
*A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Pick*
When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this novel based on true events from the author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.
When a slew of bombs destroy the Bethnal Green Library, deputy librarian Juliet Lansdown relocates the stacks to the local Underground station where the city’s residents shelter nightly, determined to lend out stories that will keep spirits up. Can the library be saved? Or will the beating heart of the neighborhood be lost forever?
Available March 12th in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Click for Audiobook Information
Civil War & Pre-Civil War Era:
All We Were Promised: A Novel by Ashton Lattimore
The paths of three young Black women in pre–Civil War Philadelphia unexpectedly—and dangerously—collide in this debut novel inspired by the explosive history of a divided city.
“A beguiling story of friendship, deception, and women crossing boundaries in the name of freedom.”—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Friends
Available April 2nd in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Click for More Information
Click for Audiobook Information
Watch Our Literary Launches Author Panel Featuring Ashton Lattimore
The American Daughters: A Novel by Maurice Carlos Ruffin
A gripping historical novel about a spirited girl who joins a sisterhood working to undermine the Confederates—from the award-winning author of We Cast a Shadow.
“I knew from page one that this wasn’t going to be a typical journey through a familiar history . . . A splendid work.”—Robert Jones, Jr., author of The Prophets
“Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s third book is a tour de force. An intelligent and haunting novel that grapples with the legacies of American slavery, The American Daughters features a sparkling cast of engaging Black women that you won’t soon forget.”—Lauren Wilkinson, author of American Spy
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Click for Audiobook Information
Watch Our Book Club Best Bets Author Panel Featuring Maurice Carlos Ruffalo
Republic of Georgia, Post Civil War:
Hard by a Great Forest: A Novel by Leo Vardiashvili
Amid rubble and rebuilding in a former Soviet land, one family must rescue one another and put the past to rest: a stirring novel about what happens after the fighting is over.
“This novel annihilated me . . . Left my heart bruised and battered and aching for more.”—Khaled Hosseini, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Kite Runner
“Tender and raw and funny.”—Colum McCann, National Book Award winning author of Let the Great World Spin
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Click for a Discussion Guide
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
Spanning Generations:
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years: A Novel by Shubnum Khan
*A LibraryReads Pick*
“A dark and heady dream of a book” (Alix E. Harrow) about a ruined mansion by the sea, the djinn that haunts it, and a curious girl who unearths the tragedy that happened there a hundred years previous.
“Khan’s prose is lush and lovely, her pacing skillful, and she successfully weaves a complex plot with a large cast. A ghost story, a love story, a mystery—this seductive novel has it all.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Click for a Discussion Guide
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
In the Shadow of the Greenbrier: A Novel by Emily Matchar
Four generations. One remarkable hotel. Countless secrets.
An immersive family saga rich with historical detail, In the Shadow of the Greenbrier explores the inevitable clash between past and future and the extraordinary moments in ordinary lives.
“A stirring coming-of-age tale and gripping family saga set against the backdrop of the famous and historic West Virginia resort. Readers will eagerly follow and root for the generations of the Zelner family as they struggle with their places in a changing world and come face-to-face with dark secrets of the past in this memorable and moving book.”—Pam Jenoff, author of Code Name Sapphire
Available March 12th in Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Click for a Discussion Guide
Click for Audiobook Information
Ours: A Novel by Phillip B. Williams
From a writer of singular voice and vision, a mesmerizing epic that reimagines the past to explore the true nature of freedom.
“Fans of The Underground Railroad, The Water Dancer, and Let Us Descend will devour this lyrical and surreal saga.”—Oprah Daily
“A gorgeously written, evocative saga of Black American survival and transcendence, blending elements of fantasy, mythology, and multigenerational history . . . A multilayered, enrapturing chronicle of freedom that interrogates the nature of freedom itself.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Available February 20th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click for More Information
Click for Audiobook Information
Pivotal Moments in American History:
The Evolution of Annabel Craig: A Novel by Lisa Grunwald
A young Southern woman sets out on a journey of self-discovery as the infamous 1925 Scopes Trial tests her faith and her marriage in this moving novel from the author of Time After Time and The Irresistible Henry House.
“Lisa Grunwald is a national treasure . . . An essential American story from a master craftsman.”—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Left Undone
“Engaging fiction about minds actually being changed by a landmark 1925 courtroom culture clash over science and religion set in a small Southern town and covered by the nation’s media. This is timely and hopeful.”—Edward J. Larson, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion
Available April 16th in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click for More Information
Click for Audiobook Information
Sisters of Fortune: A Novel of the Titanic by Anna Lee Huber
Based on the true story of the Fortune sisters, three young women each at a crossroads when they boarded the RMS Titanic in the spring of 1912—and how that maiden voyage would transform their lives in profound and unexpected ways.
“Filled with luscious detail of the Titanic’s maiden voyage and spot on depictions of its many passengers . . . Huber’s compelling narrative propelled me through the story, absolutely riveting until the very last page!”—Shelley Noble, New York Times Bestselling author of The Tiffany Girls
“Vividly detailed and painstakingly researched, Sisters of Fortune threads fact and fiction into a compelling story.”—Bryn Turnbull, author of The Paris Deception and The Woman Before Wallis
Available in Trade Paperback and eBook Editions.
Click for More Information
1970s Pennsylvania:
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel by James McBride
*A LibraryReads Pick*
From James McBride, author of the bestselling Oprah’s Book Club pick Deacon King Kong and the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them.
“A murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel . . . Charming, smart, heart-blistering, and heart-healing.”—Danez Smith, The New York Times Book Review
“We all need—we all deserve—this vibrant, love-affirming novel that bounds over any difference that claims to separate us.”—Ron Charles, The Washington Post
Available in Hardcover, eBook, Audio, and Large Print Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Click for a Discussion Guide
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
19th Century America:
A Wild and Heavenly Place: A Novel by Robin Oliviera
Poignant and lyrical, A Wild and Heavenly Place is an ode to the Pacific Northwest, to those courageous enough to chase the American Dream, and to a love so powerful it endures beyond distance, beyond hope.
“[A] novel so immersive you’ll feel like you’re one of the characters . . . Oliveira’s vivid descriptions of the landscapes and harsh living conditions experienced by so many 19th century American immigrants will linger long after you’ve closed the book and you’ll emerge with a richer understanding of the struggles they faced and the hopes and dreams that drove them.”—Amy Belding Brown, author of Flight of the Sparrow
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
The Sweet Blue Distance: A Novel by Sara Donati
A young midwife travels west to the New Mexico Territory to care for women in need and faces dangers more harrowing than the ones she’s fleeing in this epic tale of survival, redemption, and love from Sara Donati, the international bestselling author of the Wilderness series.
With its vivid descriptions of the breathtaking western landscape and its irresistible characters, The Sweet Blue Distance is the unforgettable story of one woman’s courage to heal herself, her family, and the women entrusted to her care.
Available April 2nd in Hardcover and eBook Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
16th Century Mexico:
You Dreamed of Empires: A Novel by Álvaro Enrigue; Translated by Natasha Wimmer
From the visionary author of Sudden Death, a hallucinatory, revelatory colonial revenge story.
“Enrigue’s genius lies in his ability to bring readers close to its tangled knot of priests, mercenaries, warriors and princesses while adding a pinch of biting humor.”—Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Los Angeles Times
“Riotously entertaining . . . A triumph of solemnity-busting erudition and mischievous invention that will delight and titillate.”—Financial Times
Available in Hardcover, eBook, and Audio Editions.
Click to Read an Excerpt
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
A Historical Fiction Listen:
The Gimlet Slip: A Novella by Fiona Davis and Greg Wands; Read by Carolina Hoyos, Patty Mattson and Marco Pelaez
A headstrong, fast-driving young woman gets pulled into a dangerous bootlegging scheme in this thrilling novella set in glamorous and gritty Prohibition-era New York City, written in an exciting collaboration between bestselling and critically acclaimed authors Fiona Davis and Greg Wands.
Available March 5th in Audio.
Click for Audiobook Information
Listen to a Clip from the Audiobook
