87 New Historical Fiction Books Hitting Shelves This Year

amazon.com
Every editorial product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn commission.

Show of hands: how many of us have learned something new about history because we read about it in a book?

Whether you're a major history nerd curious to learn more or just looking for an enthralling story set in the past, there are plenty of great new historical fiction books coming out in 2023 that are perfect for you. Travel from the ancient world to the 1800s, from the world wars up through the mid-20th century and beyond, all while getting lost in the stories of some unforgettable characters, sweeping love stories, and tense battles — both literal and metaphorical. Some of the genre's best new releases this year are inspired by true stories and real people, while others tell original stories to uncover the corners of history that might be forgotten.

Authors like Chanel Cleeton, Sophfronia Scott, Sadeqa Johnson, and Vanessa Riley paint vivid pictures of eras gone by and characters struggling with what's expected of them. You can read about real figures from history in new titles from Renée Rosen, Heather Webb, Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray, Stephanie Marie Thornton, and more, putting a more personal spin on the stories from your history books. So as you make your reading plans for the year, get ready to go back in time — and maybe learn something about the present, too — with 2023's best historical fiction books.

01
"The Porcelain Maker" by Sarah Freethy
amazon.com

"The Porcelain Maker" by Sarah Freethy

Inspired by the true story of a porcelain factory in Dachau, "The Porcelain Maker" by Sarah Freethy traces a love story torn apart by war and the Holocaust. In the 1920s, architect Max and painter Bettina meet and fall in love, journeying together into the whirlwind art world of Berlin. Then the Nazis take over Germany, and Max, who is Jewish, is deported to a concentration camp, where his talent for making porcelain figures saves his life — at least temporarily. Decades later, Bettina's daughter seeks to uncover her family's history, turning up new information about what really happened in those dark days.

Release date: Nov. 7

02
"A Grandmother Begins the Story" by Michelle Porter
amazon.com

"A Grandmother Begins the Story" by Michelle Porter

Instead of a traditional historical narrative, "A Grandmother Begins the Story" by Michelle Porter weaves together past and present through the entwined stories of five generations of Métis women, the bison that are so important to their people, and the land around them. From a young mother struggling to connect with her newly discovered heritage to the ancestors whose work is still not finished even in the Afterlife, these women's stories connect and influence each other. The women are irrevocably tied to each other, as well as to the bison (and their descendants) and the stories of what has happened to their land over the generations.

Release date: Nov. 7

03
"The Woman With a Purple Heart" by Diane Hanks
amazon.com

"The Woman With a Purple Heart" by Diane Hanks

"The Woman With a Purple Heart" by Diane Hanks is based on the true story of Lieutenant Annie Fox, the chief nurse of Hickam Hospital during World War II and the first woman in American history to earn the Purple Heart. Stationed in Hawaii, Annie witnesses the horrors of Pearl Harbor firsthand and takes command to ensure that her team can save as many lives as possible. Then, one of her friends and colleagues — a Japanese-American woman — is arrested as a possible spy, putting Annie right in the middle of one of the most terrifying and shameful episodes of American history.

Release date: Nov. 7

04
"Enchanted Hill" by Emily Bain Murphy
amazon.com

"Enchanted Hill" by Emily Bain Murphy

A legendary Hollywood estate becomes the setting for sinister secrets in "Enchanted Hill" by Emily Bain Murphy. Years after an ill-fated night that changed the course of their lives, private investigator Cora and former convict Jack cross paths, both on different "assignments," at a weeklong party at a Hollywood mogul's estate. They're forced to work together, albeit reluctantly, to uncover dangerous secrets, but along the way, they'll also find themselves uncovering how their shared past connects to a much larger web of conspiracy. What they discover could change everything — if they survive long enough to get the word out.

Release date: Nov. 7

05
"Above the Salt" by Katherine Vaz
amazon.com

"Above the Salt" by Katherine Vaz

"Above the Salt" by Katherine Vaz traces the years-long connection between John and Mary, two Portuguese refugees who flee religious conflict, are separated, and land in the United States just ahead of the Civil War. Both find themselves in Illinois, where John teaches at a school for the deaf and Mary works as a gardener. When war breaks out, they find themselves yet again at a crossroads. Should John join the Army or stay behind, and should Mary accept her employer's proposal or follow her heart with John? Their choices weave with the choices that lead a nation to turn against itself.

Release date: Nov. 7

06
"A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself" by Katherine Howe
amazon.com

"A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself" by Katherine Howe

Katherine Howe's "A True Account" centers on the story of Hannah Masury, a teenage girl in the Golden Age of Piracy, who takes her fate into her own hands and claims a spot on the crew of fearsome pirate Ned Low. Disguised as a cabin boy, she'll be part of a violent and vicious search for treasure, but if she can survive, she might finally be free. Centuries later, professor Marian Beresford sees her own lack of freedom reflected when she uncovers Hannah's story, and she becomes determined to unravel the one mystery Hannah apparently took with her to her grave.

Release date: Nov. 21

07
"We Must Not Think of Ourselves" by Lauren Grodstein
amazon.com

"We Must Not Think of Ourselves" by Lauren Grodstein

"We Must Not Think of Ourselves" by Lauren Grodstein takes inspiration from real acts of bravery within the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, where determined individuals found ways to create and protect archives so their stories wouldn't be lost. Adam, one of the captives in the ghetto, agrees to join the archivists' project, interviewing others in the ghetto and recording their stories. Even as he falls in love with his flatmate Sala, Adam thinks he may have found a way out of the ghetto — but now he must decide what he's willing to leave behind to get his own freedom.

Release date: Nov. 28

08
"The Other Princess" by Denny S. Bryce
amazon.com

"The Other Princess" by Denny S. Bryce

Denny S. Bryce tells the story of a lesser-known princess in "The Other Princess." Born a Yoruba princess, at the age of seven, Sarah is kidnapped from her home, given a new English name, and presented to Queen Victoria as a "gift." Sarah grows up between two worlds, given opportunities and education but also constantly put on display for the queen's own purposes. As she grows older, the memories of her childhood still haunt her, as do the many obstacles she faces in the world of white, wealthy English society. Intelligent and determined, she puts her talents to the test as she seeks what she has always wanted: a place to belong.

When it's available: Oct. 3

09
"The Roaring Days of Zora Lily" by Noelle Salazar
amazon.com

"The Roaring Days of Zora Lily" by Noelle Salazar

"The Roaring Days of Zora Lily" by Noelle Salazar takes readers from a modern-day museum exhibit to the Roaring Twenties, where a single dress connects past and present. In 1924, Zora struggles as a seamstress, mending clothes to earn enough money to support herself and her siblings, but she dreams of being a famous designer. When she follows a friend into the secretive and glamorous world of speakeasies, she's swept up in the glitter and danger of a world she only ever imagined. Even as Zora hopes that she can finally make the connections to make her dreams come true, tragedy strikes and forces her to decide where her loyalties really are.

When it's available: Oct. 3

10
"Shoot the Moon" by Isa Arsén
amazon.com

"Shoot the Moon" by Isa Arsén

In "Shoot the Moon," Isa Arsén narrates the story of an ambitious young woman who lands a NASA job at the peak of the space race. A physics graduate searching for intellectual fulfillment, she finds herself with a very different kind of job as a secretary during the Apollo 11 mission. Soon, however, her knack for noticing mistaken calculations gets her boosted into a new position, where a mysterious discovery leads her to question everything she has believed to be true. Annie struggles to find a way to balance what her heart wants and what her head questions as she pursues what she's always dreamed of.

Release date: Oct. 10

11
"Queen Hereafter" by Isabelle Schuler
amazon.com

"Queen Hereafter" by Isabelle Schuler

Isabelle Schuler takes inspiration from real medieval history and from Shakespeare's famous tragedy for "Queen Hereafter," the story of the real woman who inspired Lady Macbeth. Gruoch, daughter of a deposed king and descendant of ancient druids in medieval Scotland, believes that it is her destiny to become queen and reclaim her people's ancient lands. As she grows up, she is betrothed to Duncan, the king's heir, and is sent to court, where she finds herself among people she cannot trust. Even as her coronation draws closer, Gruoch is forced to flee, and she is faced with a choice: slip away into obscurity or embrace revenge.

Release date: Oct. 10

12
"The House on Sun Street" by Mojgan Ghazirad
amazon.com

"The House on Sun Street" by Mojgan Ghazirad

The terror and upheaval of the Iranian revolution of 1979 take the spotlight in "The House on Sun Street" by Mojgan Ghazirad. Moji grows up with an idyllic life in Tehran, listening to her grandparents tell her and her sister stories in their beautiful garden. When revolution comes to her homeland, though, her life will never be the same. She faces prejudice and cruelty when she travels to attend school in America, has her family torn apart by politics and suspicion, and faces the enormous shift in what women are allowed to do under the new regime. It will take all her courage to pull through as the heroine of her own story.

Release date: Oct. 17

13
"Let Us Descend" by Jesmyn Ward
amazon.com

"Let Us Descend" by Jesmyn Ward

Jesmyn Ward's "Let Us Descend" narrates the horrors of slavery through the eyes of one enslaved girl, Annis. Fathered by a slave owner and sold away by him, Annis embarks on a dangerous and terrifying journey through the world of slavery, plantations, and the unforgiving landscapes of the American South. As she is pushed to her physical limits, Annis takes comfort within, where a world beyond is filled with spirits of ancestors and of nature itself, and where she can cling to precious memories of her mother and stories of her grandmother, an African warrior whose strength she must reclaim to emerge from this hellish descent.

Release date: Oct. 24

14
"Sisters Under the Rising Sun" by Heather Morris
amazon.com

"Sisters Under the Rising Sun" by Heather Morris

"Sisters Under the Rising Sun" by Heather Morris brings together two very different women in a Japanese POW camp during World War II. English musician Norah gets her young daughter out safely, but remains behind to care for her husband and parents; Welsh Australian nurse Nesta is part of a group attempting to flee Singapore as it falls to the Japanese. When the two women are among those captured and imprisoned by the Japanese, they soon learn to rely on each other to make it through each day. They'll do their best to help who they can, how they can, as they wait to see how the war will determine their fates.

Release date: Oct. 24

15
"A Beautiful Rival" by Gill Paul
amazon.com

"A Beautiful Rival" by Gill Paul

The real-life rivalry between beauty titans Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubenstein inspired Gill Paul's "A Beautiful Rival." Spanning decades from the early 1900s to the post-World War II era and beyond, the novel traces how these two women rose from obscurity, painting over their humble origins with glamorous backstories and pioneering the beauty industry as we now know it. Over the years, the two poach employees from each other, constantly try to one-up each other's products and methods, and even allow the rivalry to get painfully personal at times — all while refusing to acknowledge that they perhaps have more in common than they might think.

Release date: Sept. 5

16
"The Fraud" by Zadie Smith
amazon.com

"The Fraud" by Zadie Smith

"The Fraud" by Zadie Smith draws inspiration from real historical events and an inheritance battle that captivated all of England in the 1870s. Mrs. Touchet appears to be an ordinary housekeeper, working for her cousin, a novelist in decline, but she actually is a woman of diverse interests and strong opinions, and soon becomes intrigued by a scandalous inheritance claim. Meanwhle, Andre Bogle grew up enslaved in Jamaica, but now he's in England as a star witness for a headline-grabbing trial. The case revolves around an Australian butcher claiming to be the lost heir to an enormous (and wealthy) estate and title. Is any of it true, or is it all a fraud — and how can any of them be sure of the difference?

Release date: Sept. 5

17
"The Royal Windsor Secret" by Christine Wells
amazon.com

"The Royal Windsor Secret" by Christine Wells

In "The Royal Windsor Secret," Christine Wells ties together fictional characters with real figures from history and notable royal family gossip. Raised in Cairo by her guardian, Cleo wants nothing more than to become a jewelry designer, even when family friends bring her to London to come out into society. Her life is followed by one specific, potentially life-changing rumor: that she is the illegitimate daughter of the Prince of Wales. As Cleo struggles to figure out her own identity and future over the course of several years, her life intersects with that of an ambitious, take-no-prisoners courtesan who may hold the key to her past — or who may be lying about everything.

Release date: Sept. 12

18
"The Vaster Wilds" by Lauren Groff
amazon.com

"The Vaster Wilds" by Lauren Groff

In Lauren Groff's "The Vaster Wilds," a servant girl escapes an early colonial settlement in America, where she has been tasked with caring for a woman and her disabled daughter. One day, she flees for reasons yet unknown, heading into the uncharted wilderness with little besides her meager possessions and her fierce wit and determination. Her escape soon turns into a battle for survival against the harsh and unforgiving wilderness — and the cruelty of other humans — and she knows she cannot stop moving, or she will lose everything. Along the way, she discovers things she never knew about herself and about the vast "New World" around her.

Release date: Sept. 12

19
"All You Have to Do Is Call" by Kerri Maher
amazon.com

"All You Have to Do Is Call" by Kerri Maher

Kerri Maher's "All You Have to Do Is Call" may be set in the 1970s, but it's painfully timely for our post-Dobbs world. The story traces the now-famed "Jane" collective, a women-run underground organization for reproductive health and abortion care. The Chicago founder, Veronica, leads a double life as a seemingly average housewife, but her own high-risk pregnancy soon complicates both sides of her life. Her life intersects with her neighbors' struggles: Margaret, a young professor, is a Jane volunteer caught up in an increasingly disturbing relationship, while Patty, a wife and mother searching for more meaning in her life, has her worldview shaken by the arrival of her runaway sister.

Release date: Sept. 19

20
"The Weather Woman" by Sally Gardner
amazon.com

"The Weather Woman" by Sally Gardner

There's just a touch of magic in Sally Gardner's "The Weather Woman." In Regency England, Neva Friezland is born with an unusual gift: the ability to predict the weather. The strict gendered roles of her society prevent her from mingling with the men of science as she wishes, so she adopts a male disguise. To avoid criticism from those who believe only God can know the weather, she "predicts" the weather using a machine, building a potentially lucrative enterprise for herself. When Neva falls in love with a charming young man, her disguise hinders her for the first time, and she must decide which dangers to take a chance on.

Release date: Sept. 19

21
"The Novelist from Berlin" by V.S. Alexander
amazon.com

"The Novelist from Berlin" by V.S. Alexander

Based on the true story of novelist Irmgard Keun, "The Novelist from Berlin" by V.S. Alexander recounts the life of a pioneering writer in post-World War I Berlin. In 1920s Berlin, writer Niki Rittenhaus struggles to be taken seriously in the male-dominated artistic scene, even with the power of her movie producer husband. When he agrees to begin making Nazi propaganda films, Niki turns her film dreams into novel ones, publishing her first book under a pseudonym. As the Nazis gain more power over Germany (and her family), Niki flees, joins the Dutch Resistance, and ultimately returns to Berlin in hopes of rescuing her kidnapped daughter and claiming her own story at last.

Release date: Sept. 26

22
"The Armor of Light" by Ken Follett
amazon.com

"The Armor of Light" by Ken Follett

Ken Follett continues his "Kingsbridge" series with the fifth installment, "The Armor of Light." In the early days of industrialization in Europe, great men vie for power while ordinary people see their lives thrown into upheaval by technology and political machinations. A father is killed due to negligence at work; a young woman struggles to fund a school for impoverished children; a man unexpectedly inherits a faltering business; and one man is determined to protect his wealth at any price. All the while, Napoleon threatens to conquer all of Europe, and each person's role in what is to unfold is nothing like they might expect.

Release date: Sept. 26

23
"The Last Masterpiece" by Laura Morelli
amazon.com

"The Last Masterpiece" by Laura Morelli

Laura Morelli's "The Last Masterpiece" takes us to World War II Italy, where two very different women are called upon to determine the fates of some of Europe's greatest artworks, looted and stolen by warmongers. Eva and Josephine find themselves surrounded by legendary masterpieces, now in danger as Nazi Germany turns on its former ally and sets its sights on destroying Italy's cultural heritage. With an enemy determined to destroy these irreplaceable pieces drawing nearer, the women and their allies will have to take big risks in order to save the great works in their care — at any cost.

Release date: Aug. 1

24
"A Bakery in Paris" by Aimie K. Runyan
amazon.com

"A Bakery in Paris" by Aimie K. Runyan

Through generations and various wars, the titular shop of Aimie K. Runyan's "A Bakery in Paris" endures. In 1870, aristocratic Lisette waits, with the rest of Paris, to see if the Prussian invaders will succeed. She opens a small bakery, determined to help care for the people, but when famine strikes, she's tempted to run back to her life of luxury. Decades later, World War II is over but Paris is still reeling from the horrors of war and occupation. Micheline, a young woman whose parents are dead or missing, finds herself enrolled at a prestigious baking academy, where a classmate may hold the key to helping her move forward with her life.

Release date: Aug. 1

25
"The African Samurai" by Craig Shreve
amazon.com

"The African Samurai" by Craig Shreve

Based on a true story, "The African Samurai" by Craig Shreve tells a globe-spanning tale of Yasuke, the first foreign-born samurai in Japan and the only samurai of African descent. In 1579, a Portuguese ship docks in Japan, bringing with it a young man kidnapped from his people as a boy, enslaved, and forced into a life as a soldier. Now, he accompanies a priest on an expedition, only to be traded once more — this time, to a Japanese warlord. With time, the two men form a bond of trust, and the man now known as Yasuke ascends to ranks of honor, even as new dangers present themselves.

Release date: Aug. 1

26
"The Keeper of Hidden Books" by Madeline Martin
amazon.com

"The Keeper of Hidden Books" by Madeline Martin

Madeline Martin's "The Keeper of Hidden Books" is inspired by a real-life story: a secret, underground library in Warsaw during the height of World War II. As the Nazis destroy her home and her entire community, Zofia and her best friend Janina take on a new type of resistance. They salvage whatever books they can, forming a powerful community even when Janina is forced into a ghetto. Destruction and danger rage all around them, and even as liberation creeps closer, the threats are more violent than ever. Zofia must do all she can to save her friend, their community, and their culture, with books as their greatest weapon.

Release date: Aug. 1

27
"The Princess" by Wendy Holden
amazon.com

"The Princess" by Wendy Holden

Wendy Holden provides a different perspective on Princess Diana with "The Princess," a novel about the early days of the girl who would become one of the most famous women in the world. In the 1960s and '70s, young Diana grows up with plenty of creature comforts as the daughter of a wealthy earl, but her family life is chaotic at best. She seeks refuge in romantic stories and dreams of her own fairytale. When a real-life prince appears, her dreams seem to be coming true, but Diana's longing to be loved doesn't fit so neatly with real-life royal ideas of order and duty.

Release date: Aug. 1

28
"California Golden" by Melanie Benjamin
amazon.com

"California Golden" by Melanie Benjamin

Melanie Benjamin evokes 1960s Malibu surf culture with "California Golden." Carol Donnelly breaks barriers as an acclaimed female surfer, and her two daughters, Mindy and Ginger, reap both the consequences and the rewards of their mother's talents and fame. Struggling to cope with Carol's absence, both girls take to the waves themselves. Mindy grows up with natural talent and finds incredible fame of her own, while Ginger struggles, turning instead to an alluring but dangerous world of counterculture and drugs. Though they may take very different paths, one thing remains: the bond between two sisters and their complicated, unconventional childhood.

Release date: Aug. 8

29
"Canary Girls" by Jennifer Chiaverini
amazon.com

"Canary Girls" by Jennifer Chiaverini

Before there was Rosie the Riveter, there were the "Canary Girls" depicted in Jennifer Chiaverini's new historical novel. In World War I Britain, women were recruited to build munitions as the men were sent to the front lines. The work is dangerous, but it gives women of all backgrounds a chance to do more than they ever were told was possible. Among the crew are former housemaids April and Marjorie; Lucy, the wife of an Olympic soccer star; and Helen, the factory boss's wife, who grows concerned over the unexplained illnesses suffered by the girls in the factory, including their "canary yellow" skin.

Release date: Aug. 8

30
"The Paris Assignment" by Rhys Bowen
amazon.com

"The Paris Assignment" by Rhys Bowen

In "The Paris Assignment," Rhys Bowen tells the story of a family torn apart by war and a mother desperate for revenge. Madeleine, a Londoner, falls in love with French journalist Giles while studying in Paris. They marry, have a son, and seem to have their lives figured out. When war comes to Paris, Giles sends his wife and son to England in hopes of securing their safety, but tragedy finds them even there. Madeleine soon returns to France after being recruited for the war effort, hoping to find Giles alive and get revenge on the invaders who she blames for the shattering of her family.

Release date: Aug. 8

31
"A Council of Dolls" by Mona Susan Power
amazon.com

"A Council of Dolls" by Mona Susan Power

Mona Susan Power traces three generations of Yanktonai Dakota women in the sweeping "A Council of Dolls." Cora, born in 1888, is taken from her home and forced to attend a boarding school, but even after her beloved doll is taken and burned, she finds its spirit is still with her. Nearly four decades later, sisters Lillian and Blanche are likewise yanked from their families and sent to an abusive school to wipe away their culture — but their own doll seems to want to protect them. Another generation later, Sissy struggles with her relationship with her mother, but her Christmas present (a beautiful doll) might be her saving grace.

Release date: Aug. 8

32
"Learned by Heart" by Emma Donoghue
amazon.com

"Learned by Heart" by Emma Donoghue

"Learned by Heart" by Emma Donoghue takes its inspiration from the journals of Anne Lister, known today as a famed diarist and a lesbian icon. As a teenager, Anne, a troublesome tomboy, is sent to a boarding school for girls in York. There, she meets Emma, an orphaned heiress sent to England from her childhood home in India who seems to be a little different — just like Anne. The friendship between the girls blossoms, turning into young romance, but the demands placed on them as women of their time threaten to destroy the beautiful and fragile bond they have formed.

Release date: Aug. 29

33
"The House Keepers" by Alex Hay
amazon.com

"The House Keepers" by Alex Hay

If "Ocean's 8" took place at a "Bridgerton" ball instead of the Met Gala, you'd have "The House Keepers" by Alex Hay. Mrs. King, a highly respectable housekeeper for a wealthy family, has a secret: she wasn't always respectable, as she actually comes from a world of con artists and thieves. When she's fired unexpectedly, she plots her revenge. Gathering a mismatched crew of women around her — each with their own secrets and motivations — she plans the ultimate heist: robbing the house of all its treasures on the night of the annual costume ball. But there's one thing Mrs. King wants even more than riches: the truth.

Release date: July 4

34
"Queen of Exiles" by Vanessa Riley
amazon.com

"Queen of Exiles" by Vanessa Riley

Vanessa Riley returns with "Queen of Exiles," based on the true story of Marie-Louise Coidavid, the Queen of Haiti, following the nation's successful revolution against colonial French rule. 10 years into her husband's rule, the struggles of the fledgling nation pile up, and her husband is deposed and dies in quick succession. Louise and her daughters flee to Europe — crown jewels in tow — and set themselves up as equal to any royalty in Europe. As they navigate their makeshift court, the politics of Europe, and the pressures that hide behind the glamour, they learn more about themselves and about the difference they can make in the world.

Release date: July 11

35
"Alchemy of a Blackbird" by Claire McMillan
amazon.com

"Alchemy of a Blackbird" by Claire McMillan

If you like a little mysticism with your history, try "Alchemy of a Blackbird" by Claire McMillan. Inspired by real-life artists and occultists, the story traces friends Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington who find commonality in their status as "muses" and in their interest in tarot. Remedios and her lover, the poet Benjamin Peret, flee the Nazis to a safe house on the French Riviera, where she grows tired of being seen as a muse — not an artist — by their fellow refugees. When the couple finally makes it to Mexico, Remedios is reunited with her friend Leonora, and the two women are able to help each other awaken their own creativity and embrace their shared interest in the tarot.

Release date: July 11

36
"The Madwomen of Paris" by Jennifer Cody Epstein
amazon.com

"The Madwomen of Paris" by Jennifer Cody Epstein

"The Madwomen of Paris" by Jennifer Cody Epstein is a haunting historical novel made all the more devastating by its basis in true events. At the infamous Salpêtrière asylum in Paris, women are frequently diagnosed with "hysteria" and subjected to horrifying treatment, including hypnosis by the asylum's fame-hungry director, Jean-Martin Charcot. When a young woman named Josephine arrives at the institute, bruised and suffering amnesia, she soon becomes one of Charcot's "favorites" for his hypnosis demonstrations. But the more she gains fame, the more her own memories start to return, and Laure, a ward attendant, must figure out if she is truly mad or if she has a dark secret in her past.

Release date: July 11

37
"Crook Manifesto" by Colson Whitehead
amazon.com

"Crook Manifesto" by Colson Whitehead

Two-time Pulitzer winner Colson Whitehead returns with his latest novel, "Crook Manifesto." Set in 1970s Harlem, the story spans several years and centers on Carney, a furniture store owner who was formerly involved in some less-than-legal things but is now trying to stay on the right side of the law. When he contacts someone from his old life in hopes of getting concert tickets for his beloved daughter, he gets pulled back into a web of favors and struggles. Over the next several years, his life and the lives of those in his orbit get even more complicated against the backdrop of counterculture, corrupt city officials, and both the vibrant and the dark sides of Harlem.

Release date: July 18

38
"Women of the Post" by Joshunda Sanders
amazon.com

"Women of the Post" by Joshunda Sanders

Inspired by an all-Black battalion in the WWII Women's Army Corps, "Women of the Post" by Joshunda Sanders tells the remarkable stories of Black women whose efforts have often gone overlooked by history. Judy, Stacy, Bernadette, and Mary Alyce all come from different places and backgrounds, but under the guidance of Second Officer Charity Adams, they're sent to England to sort over a million pieces of mail — making them the only unit of Black women to serve overseas during the war. Their work takes a personal turn, however, when Mary Alyce discovers a lost letter that was meant for Judy, and it could change everything.

Release date: July 18

39
"Sinners of Starlight City" by Anika Scott
amazon.com

"Sinners of Starlight City" by Anika Scott

A "Godfather"-esque tale of revenge set at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, "Sinners of Starlight City" by Anika Scott invites readers into the lives of women determined to make their own lives at any cost. Rosa, an Italian immigrant, performs as "Madame Mystique" at the Fair while secretly plotting her revenge on her family's killers. Then, her estranged cousin Mina comes begging for help, a newborn baby in her arms and a mobster in hot pursuit. Rosa must decide how to best protect what's left of her family and how to finally settle scores and confront the biggest secrets of their pasts.

Release date: July 18

40
"The Woman in the Castello" by Kelsey James
amazon.com

"The Woman in the Castello" by Kelsey James

A midcentury tale of showbiz and family with a touch of the gothic, "The Woman in the Castello" by Kelsey James takes readers to 1960s Italy, where a mysterious horror movie shoot intersects with one woman's family secrets. When Silvia arrives in Italy, ready to shoot a movie in Rome, she finds out the movie has been canceled. Instead, she goes in search of her mysterious aunt, who lives in a crumbling castle on a volcanic lake. As Silvia learns more about the rift in her family, her aunt's castle becomes the location for another movie: a horror film whose on-screen terrors begin to seep into reality.

Release date: July 25

41
"Lady Tan's Circle of Women" by Lisa See
amazon.com

"Lady Tan's Circle of Women" by Lisa See

Lisa See returns with "Lady Tan's Circle of Women," another novel about extraordinary women from Chinese history. Tan Yunxian learns medicine from her grandmother, one of just a few female doctors in China, and befriends Meiling, a young midwife. The two plan to stay fast friends and help women in ways that male doctors cannot, but when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her new family forbids her from seeing Meiling, assisting women, or doing anything other than "ladylike" pastimes. Yunxian will not give up so easily, though — not when she knows that her skills are needed to take care of those who others cannot (or will not) help.

Release date: June 6

42
"The Paris Daughter" by Kristin Harmel
amazon.com

"The Paris Daughter" by Kristin Harmel

Kristin Harmel's "The Paris Daughter" traces the story of two young mothers, Elise and Juliette, who become close friends in 1939 Paris, only to have their lives shockingly ripped apart when the world goes to war. Targeted by the German occupiers, Elise flees, entrusting Juliette with her young daughter. But Paris isn't safe for anyone, and when Elise returns as the war ends, she finds Juliette's bookshop destroyed — and Juliette and the little girls missing. As Elise searches for answers, she travels enormous distances, even across an ocean, to track down Juliette and seek get answers to what really happened to their city and to her daughter.

Release date: June 6

43
"Starring Adele Astaire" by Eliza Knight
amazon.com

"Starring Adele Astaire" by Eliza Knight

Everyone knows about Fred Astaire, the dancer and actor who charmed his way to stardom in golden age Hollywood, but Eliza Knight's "Starring Adele Astaire" highlights the woman who was there on the way up: his sister and first dance partner, Adele. Adele gained her own fame as a star on the stage, but there's a part of her that would like to step out of the spotlight and live a quieter life with a family of her own. Along the way, she befriends Violet Wood, an ambitious dancer with everything to prove, and the two women's journeys intersect as they both question whether the fame and glamour are really worth it.

Release date: June 6

44
"A Right Worthy Woman" by Ruth P. Watson
amazon.com

"A Right Worthy Woman" by Ruth P. Watson

In "A Right Worthy Woman," Ruth P. Watson shares the true story of Maggie Lena Walker, the daughter of a formerly enslaved woman who eventually entered the history books as the first Black woman to establish and run a bank in the United States. After witnessing firsthand the vast divide between her mother's wealthy white laundry clients and the situations of the Black community in Virginia, Maggie turned her ambition towards righting those wrongs. Crossing paths with other Black luminaries, Maggie fights to build places where Black residents can be respected and valued, in the process transforming her city in ways that ripple through decades and centuries.

Release date: June 13

45
"The Last Lifeboat" by Hazel Gaynor
amazon.com

"The Last Lifeboat" by Hazel Gaynor

Two very different women's lives become unexpectedly entwined in "The Last Lifeboat" by Hazel Gaynor. In 1940, a plane crash near Alice's home inspires her to get involved with the evacuation of British children to safer temporary homes overseas. Lily, a would-be mathematician, has her life shattered by the German bombs falling daily, and she faces the heart-wrenching choice of whether or not to send her two children across the ocean until the war ends. When a ship carrying these young refugees to Canada is torpedoed by a Nazi U-boat, one lifeboat survives, and its occupants face a harrowing journey to safety, wherever that may be.

Release date: June 13

46
"The Spectacular" by Fiona Davis
amazon.com

"The Spectacular" by Fiona Davis

"The Spectacular" by Fiona Davis combines the story of one woman's quest to do something exciting with her life with the terrifying tale of a serial bomber in New York City. In 1956, Marion knows she should be excited about the impending proposal from her high school sweetheart, but instead, she just feels trapped — so when the opportunity to audition for the Rockettes appears, she takes it. Meanwhile, the police turn to Peter Griggs, a young doctor pioneering techniques of psychological profiling, in hopes of finally catching the serial bomber who has been terrorizing the city for years. Peter and Marion's paths cross in the hunt for the culprit, putting both of them at risk.

Release date: June 13

47
"Hotel Laguna" by Nicola Harrison
amazon.com

"Hotel Laguna" by Nicola Harrison

Nicola Harrison's "Hotel Laguna" explores what happened to the "Rosie the Riveter" women who were forced back into "proper" lives after World War II ended. Hazel found great purpose in her wartime factory job, but now that the men have returned, women are expected to return to the domestic sphere. Unwilling to give up her freedom, Hazel stays in California, where she accepts a job assisting a famous and cranky artist with a haunted past. In time, Hazel finds her place — and maybe even love — in the Laguna Beach community, but her yearning to work with planes once again forces her to make a difficult choice about her future.

Release date: June 20

48
"The Beach at Summerly" by Beatriz Williams
amazon.com

"The Beach at Summerly" by Beatriz Williams

Beatriz Williams brings us another intriguing historical fiction read with "The Beach at Summerly." In 1946, the mysterious Olive moves into the guest cottage at an idyllic summer estate, and the caretaker's daughter, Emilia, finds herself connected to the new arrival and to the wealthy family who owns the estate. Emilia's hopes for the future are shattered by the arrival of an FBI agent and the news that someone on the estate is a Soviet agent. Eight years later, Emilia is still trying to piece her life back together when she gets the news that the captured agent is about to be part of a prisoner swap — but they're demanding a condition only Emilia can fulfill.

Release date: June 27

49
"The First Ladies" by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
amazon.com

"The First Ladies" by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray

"The First Ladies" is the second historical novel team-up between Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, telling the story of the unlikely friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. The pair become good friends, bonded by their shared passion for progress and education, but things become more complicated when Eleanor's husband becomes president. Fueled by personal betrayal and a strong sense of what's right, Eleanor becomes a controversial and outspoken First Lady. Still, her fierce battles and her friendship with Mary put both women in harm's way, but the threats only make them more determined to fight on and win.

Release date: June 27

50
"The East Indian" by Brinda Charry
amazon.com

"The East Indian" by Brinda Charry

Brinda Charry narrates a Shakespearean odyssey in "The East Indian," set in the colonizing heyday of the British East India Trading Company. Tony, our protagonist, finds himself kidnapped and whisked away to the colonies in America, where he and his fellow indentured servants are forced to work the tobacco plantations. He dreams of a different life, of a community around him, and of becoming a medicine man who can help heal the sick and injured with knowledge of nature. In the early days of the settlement of Jamestown, Tony's life will be full of humor and heartache as he witnesses the birth of a great and terrible new world.

Release date: May 2

51
"The Secret Book of Flora Lea" by Patti Callahan Henry
amazon.com

"The Secret Book of Flora Lea" by Patti Callahan Henry

"The Secret Book of Flora Lea" by Patti Callahan Henry traces the story of two sisters whose lives are shattered by one tragic moment. In war-torn London in 1939, teenage Hazel cares for her little sister Flora, distracting her sister with secret tales of a magical land far away from war and terror. When Flora disappears one day, Hazel blames herself, and even two decades later, she finds it nearly impossible to let go of the guilt. Then, one day, she unwraps a package and finds a book describing the imaginary world she created for Flora, and she dives into a quest to find out if her sister might still be alive.

Release date: May 2

52
"All the Pretty Places" by Joy Callaway
amazon.com

"All the Pretty Places" by Joy Callaway

In "All the Pretty Places" by Joy Callaway, one young woman defies the odds to fight for her family's business and her own future. In 1893 New York, Sadie's family runs a flower nursery that does business with some of the most respected, sought-after landscape architects of the Gilded Age, supplying flowers to the wildly wealthy and elite. When the economy plummets, Sadie's family pressures her to marry a suitable man, but her dreams go far beyond marriage. As she risks everything to bolster the business, she also takes notice of the ones for whom the glamour of the Gilded Age is nothing but an illusion out of reach, and she begins to wonder if there's another way to do things.

Release date: May 9

53
"The Friday Night Club" by Sofia Lundberg, Alyson Richman, and M.J. Rose
amazon.com

"The Friday Night Club" by Sofia Lundberg, Alyson Richman, and M.J. Rose

Sofia Lundberg, Alyson Richman, and M.J. Rose uncover the true story of the women whose art sparked the abstract art movement in "The Friday Night Club." In the early 1900s, Hilma af Klint finds herself frustrated and excluded in the male-dominated art world of Stockholm. She brings together an eclectic group of women painters and writers — dubbed "The Five" — so they can support one another and even dabble in the occult in hopes of further inspiration. Over a century later, a curator uncovers the story of The Five and slowly discovers more unsettling questions about the history and funding of the entire art world.

Release date: May 16

54
"Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea" by Rita Chang-Eppig
amazon.com

"Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea" by Rita Chang-Eppig

A historical novel with just a hint of magical realism, "Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea" by Rita Chang-Eppig narrates the unbelievable story of Shek Yeung, the legendary Chinese pirate queen. After the death of her first husband, Shek Yeung realizes she has two choices: resign herself to whatever fate comes her way or take charge. A swift remarriage and some deft maneuvering buy her time and control over at least some of the fleet, but there are dangers at every turn. The Chinese emperor wants to rid the seas of pirates, the Europeans have their own plans, and other pirates are out for revenge. It will take everything she has to survive and hold onto her power.

Release date: May 30

55
"Good Night, Irene" by Luis Alberto Urrea
amazon.com

"Good Night, Irene" by Luis Alberto Urrea

Luis Alberto Urrea's "Good Night, Irene" carries readers through the emotional tale of two women who join the nursing corps and see firsthand the Allied surge that liberates Europe in World War II. Irene flees an abusive fiancé and joins the Red Cross in 1943, where she meets the witty Dorothy and becomes part of an elite group of women who work right at the front lines. After D-Day, they continue to stick with the troops streaming across the European continent, where Irene falls for a fighter pilot named Hans and hopes, against all odds, that she, Dorothy, and Hans will all make it back home alive.

Release date: May 30

56
"After Anne" by Logan Steiner
amazon.com

"After Anne" by Logan Steiner

Logan Steiner digs into the life of the woman behind "Anne of Green Gables" in "After Anne." Lucy Maud Montgomery dreams big despite the disapproval of her family and community. Meanwhile, she nurtures the idea of the irrepressible Anne Shirley, a character that just begs to be written. Just as Maud begins to write her novel, a young minister comes to town, and Maud finds herself torn between two choices: a life of respectability and ordinariness, or the risky life of a spinster author. Even after her choice is made, Maud struggles to find true happiness, with her inner self more and more unable to coexist with the facade she must put on in public.

Release date: May 30

57
"The Paris Deception" by Bryn Turnbull
amazon.com

"The Paris Deception" by Bryn Turnbull

"The Paris Deception" by Bryn Turnbull tells the story of two women who risked everything to rescue art from the Nazis in World War II-era Paris. Sophie, an art restorer, is forced to work for the regime, restoring damaged art that has been stolen from Jewish families. Her widowed sister-in-law, Fabienne, was a rising bohemian star until the Nazis clamped down on her kind of art. Together, the women hatch a plan to rescue art and artists alike who have been deemed "degenerate" by the regime, replacing key pieces of art with perfectly forged pieces. Even with their skills, however, time is not always on their side.

Release date: May 30

58
"The Hidden Life of Aster Kelly" by Katherine A. Sherbrooke
amazon.com

"The Hidden Life of Aster Kelly" by Katherine A. Sherbrooke

In "The Hidden Life of Aster Kelly," Katherine A. Sherbrooke explores the dark and secretive side of "golden age" Hollywood and what it demanded to keep its stars in the spotlight. After winning a design competition, Aster is sent on a tour across the country, but can't find a designer willing to apprentice her until she meets Fernando, an up-and-coming California designer catching the eye of Hollywood studios and stars. Aster and Fernando soon become entangled with high-profile men from one of the biggest studios, but the weight of expectations and secrecy threaten them both. Decades later, Aster's daughter is looking for her big Broadway break, and when she makes a shocking decision, years of secrets tumble out.

Release date: April 4

59
"Coronation Year" by Jennifer Robson
amazon.com

"Coronation Year" by Jennifer Robson

As the coronation of a new monarch looms in the real world, Jennifer Robson's "Coronation Year" revisits the 1950s and the turmoil happening around the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. At the Blue Lion hotel in London, struggling owner Edie has found a saving grace: the Queen's carriage route will run right past the hotel, allowing Edie to charge enough to save her hotel from disaster. Among her varied guests are Stella, a photographer and Holocaust survivor seeking meaning in her life and career, and James, an artist and war hero who struggles to be accepted due to his Indian heritage. All three soon find their lives disrupted by coronation-day threats against them, the hotel, and even the queen.

Release date: April 4

60
"The House Is on Fire" By Rachel Beanland
amazon.com

"The House Is on Fire" By Rachel Beanland

Rachel Beanland depicts a real-life tragedy in "The House Is on Fire": the Richmond Theatre Fire of 1811. One December evening, a theater in Richmond is packed for a double-billing performance. In the audience are Sally, a young widow and descendant of an American hero; Cecily, a young Black woman looking for an escape from her increasingly-difficult life; Patrick, a stagehand with dreams of a steady job; and Gilbert, a Black blacksmith trying to secure his wife's freedom. When a fire breaks out, these four, along with everyone else in the theater, must make split-second decisions that could determine whether they live or die. Even after the flames subside, their stories will forever be intertwined.

Release date: April 4

61
"The Cuban Heiress" by Chanel Cleeton
amazon.com

"The Cuban Heiress" by Chanel Cleeton

Chanel Cleeton continues telling stories of charismatic, complicated Cuban women in history in her latest novel, "The Cuban Heiress." Inspired by a real maritime disaster from 1934, the novel entwines the stories of two women whose secrets overlap on what should be a simple voyage. Catherine, a New York heiress, appears to the world like a woman who has it all. But her whole life is a lie, and she's forced to join forces with a jewel thief to find out who wants her dead and why. Elena is a woman on the run, betrayed and believed dead, and she's out for revenge against the architect of her misfortune — and her target is on the ship with her.

Release date: April 11

62
"The Golden Doves" by Martha Hall Kelly
amazon.com

"The Golden Doves" by Martha Hall Kelly

In "The Golden Doves," Martha Hall Kelly draws on real events to tell the story of two former spies who risk it all to chase down a Nazi doctor after World War II. During the war, spies Josie Anderson and Arlette LaRue are some of the most effective spies in the French Resistance, or at least they are until they're captured and sent to a concentration camp, where a Nazi doctor does horrific things to Josie's mother and takes Arlette's son. A decade after they're freed, Josie and Arlette find themselves on parallel paths: Josie, on a mission from the US military to go after the doctor, and Arlette, to track down her son.

Release date: April 18

63
"Only the Beautiful" by Susan Meissner
amazon.com

"Only the Beautiful" by Susan Meissner

"Only the Beautiful" by Susan Meissner uncovers the horrors of eugenics movements through the stories of two women in 20th-century America. In the 1930s, Rosie, who has a strange gift for seeing colors when she hears sounds, is orphaned at age 16 and taken in by the owners of the vineyard where her family works. When her secret is revealed, and she becomes pregnant, she and her child are sent away to a devastating fate. A decade later, Helen, the sister of the vineyard owner, returns from Europe after seeing the horrors of the Nazi pursuit of genetic "purity," only to learn the extent of what her own family has done, leading her to try to make things right.

Release date: April 18

64
"Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl" by Renée Rosen
amazon.com

"Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl" by Renée Rosen

Renée Rosen's "Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl" peeks behind the legend to share an origin story of sorts for one of the most famous names in the beauty world. In 1938, Gloria Downing is in need of some help to reinvent herself after a family scandal. That's when she makes a new friend: an ambitious woman named Estée Lauder. Estée dreams of running her own beauty business on the scale of Elizabeth Arden or Helena Rubinstein, and Gloria is happy to dive right in and help her. As success grows for both women, however, they must decide how far they're willing to go to stake their claim in a world that prefers to silence women rather than accept them in positions of power.

Release date: April 25

65
"Wild, Beautiful, and Free" by Sophfronia Scott
amazon.com

"Wild, Beautiful, and Free" by Sophfronia Scott

The classic story of "Jane Eyre" gets an update with "Wild, Beautiful, and Free," Sophfronia Scott's Civil War-era novel. Jeannette is a biracial woman, the daughter of an enslaved woman and a plantation owner. When her father dies, his will divides his estate between Jeannette and her white half-sister, but his vicious widow refuses to honor her inheritance and immediately sells her into slavery. Jeannette escapes north to freedom, where she meets Christian, the proprietor of a safe house for those who have escaped slavery. She begins teaching at the house, and she forms a connection with Christian, but devastating secrets and the impending Civil War threaten the happiness she's fought for.

Release date: March 1

66
"The Lost English Girl" by Julia Kelly
amazon.com

"The Lost English Girl" by Julia Kelly

Julia Kelly's "The Lost English Girl" spans several years with the story of star-crossed love, the daughter who results, and the terrors of World War II. Viv, a girl from a devoutly Catholic working-class family, finds herself pregnant and hastily married after a fling with Joshua, a young Jewish man with dreams of being a jazz musician. Pulled apart by her family's disapproval, the pair are separated, sending Joshua across the sea and Viv back to her family, along with her daughter, Maggie. When war breaks out, Viv allows Maggie to be evacuated to the countryside, while Joshua joins the Royal Air Force, but nowhere in Britain is truly safe.

Release date: March 7

67
"Clytemnestra" by Costanza Casati
amazon.com

"Clytemnestra" by Costanza Casati

If you've been enjoying the trend of women-centric retellings of ancient mythology, then you should definitely pick up "Clytemnestra" by Costanza Casati. In ancient Greek drama, Clytemnestra is a Spartan princess who is sister to Helen of Troy and wife to the hero Agamemnon and who eventually commits a brutal murder that makes her name synonymous with betrayal and villainy. Casati's tale takes a different look at Clytemnestra, revealing how she becomes the figure of legend and how she sets out for power and revenge against those who wronged her first.

Release date: March 7

68
"The London Séance Society" by Sarah Penner
amazon.com

"The London Séance Society" by Sarah Penner

"The London Séance Society" by Sarah Penner offers an atmospheric, eerie trip to 1870s Paris and London. At a séance led by an acclaimed spiritualist, Vaudeline, a young woman named Lenna seeks answers about her sister's mysterious death. The two women form an unexpected connection, then find themselves summoned to Paris to investigate a strange murder. Teaming up with the men of the "Séance Society," the women soon begin to realize that the tendrils of this crime go much further than they thought.

Release date: March 7

69
"Daughter Dalloway" by Emily France
amazon.com

"Daughter Dalloway" by Emily France

Loosely inspired by the Virginia Woolf classic "Mrs. Dalloway," "Daughter Dalloway" by Emily France imagines the ripple effects caused by the decisions of two complicated people decades ago. In the 1920s, young Elizabeth Dalloway is part of the "Bright Young Things," socializing with aristocrats and royalty. That same summer, Octavia Smith journeys to London in hopes of finding out what happened to her brother, a former soldier who never returned home. Almost 30 years later, Elizabeth discovers a medal that links her missing mother to Octavia's brother, sending her on a journey to deliver it to Octavia and recall what happened that one summer in 1923.

Release date: March 14

70
"The Last Russian Doll" by Kristen Loesch
amazon.com

"The Last Russian Doll" by Kristen Loesch

Spanning eight decades and multiple generations of women, "The Last Russian Doll" by Kristen Loesch takes us from the spark of the Russian Revolution to the post-Soviet uncertainty of the 1990s. In 1910s Russia, Tonya, a noblewoman, is trapped in a miserable marriage to a wealthy factory owner, but she finds her eyes (and heart) opened by a young revolutionary. In the 1990s, Rosie struggles with traumatic childhood memories of the day she witnessed the murder of her whole family except her mother. She agrees to be an assistant for an elderly scholar in order to travel back to Russia, where she uncovers the truth about her family's past and how it connects to Tonya's story decades ago.

Release date: March 14

71
"Strangers in the Night" by Heather Webb
amazon.com

"Strangers in the Night" by Heather Webb

"Strangers in the Night" by Heather Webb takes a new look at one of the most famous romances from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Famed crooner Frank Sinatra falls for screen siren Ava Gardner, leaving his wife to be with her and causing a scandal that gossips across the country can't get enough of. Their relationship is undeniably passionate but tumultuous, as Ava's star rises while Frank's reputation falls from its peak. Each new twist in their lives could spell the end of their glittering romance, but the one thing they can be sure of is that they'll be remembered for decades to come.

Release date: March 21

72
"Two Wars and a Wedding" by Lauren Willig
amazon.com

"Two Wars and a Wedding" by Lauren Willig

Set just before the turn of the 20th century, "Two Wars and a Wedding" by Lauren Willig centers on Betsy, an aspiring archaeologist who finds mostly disdain from the male-dominated profession — except for Charles, a baron who takes her seriously. When conflict erupts near their Greek site, Betsy decides to become a nurse, leading to an unexpected rift with her friend Ava. Two years later, another war strikes across the ocean, and Betsy travels overseas, this time to try to stop Ava from heading into the heart of danger. As their damaged friendship takes new turns, the world around them continues to change forever.

Release date: March 21

73
"Beyond That, the Sea" by Laura Spence-Ash
amazon.com

"Beyond That, the Sea" by Laura Spence-Ash

"Beyond That, the Sea" by Laura Spence-Ash follows a young English girl, Beatrix, who is sent by her parents to live temporarily in America, far away from the German bombs dropping over London. For a few years, she settles into her life with the family that takes her in, only to have everything upended when she's brought back to London at the end of the war. Unable to fully let go of the person she grew into in America, Beatrix finds herself pulled between countries and between ideas of who she could be, even as she grows up and pursues a life and love of her own.

Release date: March 21

74
"The Great Reclamation" by Rachel Heng
amazon.com

"The Great Reclamation" by Rachel Heng

Rachel Heng's "The Great Reclamation" traces the lives of two young people who grow up in a fast-changing Singapore. Born as British rule in Singapore slowly wanes, Ah Boon spends most of his days in his small village in the company of Siok Mei, the neighbor girl. As they grow up, their land changes around them, and Ah Boon discovers a strange gift: the ability to locate beautiful, moving islands that no one else can find. Just as the two friends near adulthood, their world shifts again when the Japanese army invades and a resistance sprouts. They'll have to decide who they want to be and what sacrifices they're willing to make for the future.

Release date: March 28

75
"The Perfumist of Paris" by Alka Joshi
amazon.com

"The Perfumist of Paris" by Alka Joshi

Alka Joshi completes her Jaipur trilogy with "The Perfumist of Paris." In 1970s Paris, Radha lives with her husband and two daughters, working with a master perfumer to design evocative and beautiful scents. She's sent to India on her first major project, where she enlists the help of her sister and a group of courtesans to find and understand the perfect elements of a scent. Then, her world is rocked to its core when she learns that the son she had to give up is on his way to Paris to find her — and she has never told her husband about this part of her past.

Release date: March 28

76
"Her Lost Words" by Stephanie Marie Thornton
amazon.com

"Her Lost Words" by Stephanie Marie Thornton

Mother and daughter Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley both became feminist and literary legends, and it is their lost chance to know one another that forms the backbone of "Her Lost Words" by Stephanie Marie Thornton. Mary Wollstonecraft is a courageous and radical writer, penning "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" and daring to say what few will: that women should be equal to men. More than 20 years later, her daughter, Mary Shelley, is destined to be a groundbreaking writer in her own right, penning the Gothic novel "Frankenstein" and "inventing" the science-fiction genre. As she struggles with her own family and career, she tries to unravel what her mother left behind and find her own place in history.

Release date: March 28

77
"Hotel of Secrets" by Diana Biller
amazon.com

"Hotel of Secrets" by Diana Biller

In "Hotel of Secrets," Diana Biller combines lush historical fiction with a touch of suspense and plenty of romance. In 1870s Vienna, Maria is determined to restore her family's hotel to its former glory despite her family's scandals, masked assassins attacking, and the presence of Eli, an American agent whose investigation of leaked secret codes has led him to the hotel. With secrets spanning generations and danger only growing, Maria and Eli must try to trust one another in order to unmask the would-be-deadly intrigues that lurk beneath the glittering facade of Vienna's ballrooms.

Release date: March 28

78
"Code Name Sapphire" by Pam Jenoff
amazon.com

"Code Name Sapphire" by Pam Jenoff

In Pam Jenoff's World War II novel "Code Name Sapphire," the lives of four very different people intersect in occupied Belgium. Hannah, a cartoonist and satirist, is forced to go to her cousin in Brussels after narrowly escaping Germany but being turned away from America. Her cousin, Lily, is trying to keep her head down and avoid facing the terrors closing in around them. Desperate to escape, Hannah connects with resistance leader Micheline and her brother Matteo, who operate a clandestine network to rescue Allied troops and others. When one fateful mistake puts Lily and her whole family in deadly danger, Hannah will pay any price necessary to save her family, even if it means doing the unthinkable.

Release date: Feb. 7

79
"The House of Eve" by Sadeqa Johnson
amazon.com

"The House of Eve" by Sadeqa Johnson

Set in the early 1950s, "The House of Eve" by Sadeqa Johnson traces the intersecting stories of Ruby and Eleanor, two ambitious young Black women fighting to achieve their dreams. Ruby has grown up in poverty and with a negligent mother, but she's on track to be the first in her family to attend college — until a forbidden affair threatens everything. Eleanor attends Howard University with big ambitions, then falls in love with William, whose family is among the ranks of the wealthy Black elite and wary of outsiders. Despite their odds, Eleanor and Ruby will do all they can to set their lives on the paths they dream of, not the ones laid out for them.

Release date: Feb. 7

80
"The Librarian of Burned Books" by Brianna Labuskes
amazon.com

"The Librarian of Burned Books" by Brianna Labuskes

In "The Librarian of Burned Books" by Brianna Labuskes, three women's lives entwine as they uniquely fight World War II: through books. They're an American author drawn to 1930s Berlin, a German woman who escapes to Paris, and an American fighting against censorship of paperbacks sent to soldiers overseas. Spanning over a decade, their stories come together in a tale about censorship, knowledge, and who controls what is shared. It's a powerful — and timely — tale of the power that the written word can have, which is the very reason those words are so often banned throughout history.

Release date: Feb. 21

81
"The Woman With the Cure" by Lynn Cullen
amazon.com

"The Woman With the Cure" by Lynn Cullen

In mid-century America, the virus that strikes fear among everyone is polio, and scientists worldwide are racing to find a vaccine. Lynn Cullen's "The Woman with the Cure" is based on one true story from this scientific race: the life and work of Dorothy Horstmann, who works alongside the world's greatest minds to find a way to stop this deadly disease. Dorothy makes the game-changing discovery that polio is present in the bloodstream. Still, despite her talent and dedication, she struggles to be taken seriously in the male-dominated scientific world. When she is asked to verify a competitor's work, Dorothy must decide if she is willing to be left in the shadows if it means finding a cure.

Release date: Feb. 21

82
"The Porcelain Moon" by Janie Chang
amazon.com

"The Porcelain Moon" by Janie Chang

In "The Porcelain Moon," Janie Chang explores a lesser-known aspect of World War I in Europe: the tens of thousands of Chinese workers brought to Europe as laborers while European citizens were fighting the war. Pauline Deng runs away from her uncle's home in Paris to escape an arranged marriage in Shanghai, and she seeks the help of her cousin, Theo, a translator working among Chinese laborers, in France. In need of a place to stay, she winds up staying with Camille, a French woman planning to escape from an abusive marriage and end a doomed affair. Soon, however, Pauline uncovers Camille's deepest secret, and both women's lives are sent down a dangerous path.

Release date: Feb. 21

83
"Marvelous" by Molly Greeley
amazon.com

"Marvelous" by Molly Greeley

If you like your historical fiction to have a touch of romance, then "Marvelous" by Molly Greeley is for you. The novel traces the origins of the "Beauty and the Beast" fairytale to Renaissance-era France, where Pedro, a boy with a condition that causes him to grow hair all over his body, is kidnapped and taken to the glamorous court of Catherine de Medici, Queen of France. As he grows into a young man, Catherine decides it would be amusing to find him a bride, which she does: Catherine, the daughter of an impoverished merchant who sells his daughter to the queen in exchange for his debts. Catherine and Pedro are forced to wed, but they might find in one another a true safe haven in the dangerous place that is the royal court.

Release date: Feb. 28

84
"Time's Undoing" by Cheryl A. Head
amazon.com

"Time's Undoing" by Cheryl A. Head

A sweeping, generational tale, "Time's Undoing" by Cheryl A. Head alternates between 1929 and 2019. In 1929, Robert, a Black carpenter, moves with his family to Birmingham for a promising job — but his success soon draws dangerous attention. Nearly a century later, his great-granddaughter Meghan is a journalist based in Detroit and has grown up with tales of his mysterious disappearance and murder. Spurred by her curiosity and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, Meghan decides to travel to Birmingham to look for answers about what really happened. Her investigation might bring her the resolution she seeks, but it also may put her life in danger.

Release date: Feb. 28

85
"River Sing Me Home" By Eleanor Shearer
amazon.com

"River Sing Me Home" By Eleanor Shearer

Eleanor Shearer's "River Sing Me Home" is a powerful depiction of the aftermath of slavery and one woman's odyssey to learn what has happened to her children. Although the British Empire outlaws slavery in 1834, the master at the plantation where Rachel has been enslaved announces that they all are now "apprentices" — and still not free to leave. Rachel instead makes the dangerous decision to flee, traveling through the Caribbean with a single mission in mind: find out what became of her five children who were taken from her and sold. Their stories unfold along with hers as Rachel pursues the dream of reuniting her family, or at least finally having answers.

Release date: Jan. 31

86
"The Mitford Affair" by Marie Benedict
amazon.com

"The Mitford Affair" by Marie Benedict

Think the Kardashians are the most dramatic, scandalous family you've seen? Meet the Mitfords, the real-life inspiration behind Marie Benedict's "The Mitford Affair." In the years leading up to World War II, the glamorous Mitford sisters are the talk of high society. Nancy Mitford, a novelist, soon becomes alarmed at the actions of two of her sisters: one divorces her rich and powerful husband to marry a leader of the British fascist movement, and another, infatuated with Hitler, travels to Germany to ingratiate herself into his inner circle. When Nancy learns the true extent of her sisters' choices, she's faced with a dangerous choice to either betray her family or betray her country.

Release date: Jan. 17

87
"The Davenports" by Krystal Marquis
amazon.com

"The Davenports" by Krystal Marquis

"The Davenports" by Krystal Marquis offers a little bit of everything: coming-of-age YA, romance, and a historical look at an underdiscussed part of American history. In the early 20th century, the Davenport family is among a handful of wealthy, elite Black families, having made a fortune in the carriage business. However, they still face prejudices, both big and small every day. Now it's the younger generation's turn to find their place, look for love, and deal with the conflicting expectations that society places upon them.

Release date: Jan. 31