Looking for the best historical fiction books to read in 2025? Whether you’re a die-hard fan of war-time love stories, old-school drama, or sweeping generational sagas, we’ve got you covered. These aren’t just your grandma’s paperbacks—we’re talking best sellers, modern masterpieces, and the best historical fiction books of all time that still hold up. Ready to time travel (without the TSA line)? Let’s go!
Table of Contents
Toggle14. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles – Best Historical Fiction Book Ever Set in One Hotel
Why You Should Read It:
Because a decades-long house arrest somehow becomes the most charming, wise, and surprisingly adventurous tale you’ll read this year.
Pros:
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Witty, elegant prose
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Deeply human character arc
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Perfect for fans of slow-burn, philosophical reads
Cons:
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Pacing can feel leisurely (like the Count himself)
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Less plot, more vibe
Book Review:
Imagine being sentenced to house arrest in a luxury hotel… for the rest of your life. Sounds awful, right? Not when you’re Count Alexander Rostov, the charming protagonist of A Gentleman in Moscow. Set against the backdrop of post-revolutionary Russia, this novel is essentially a literary waltz—graceful, layered, and deeply reflective. Towles crafts a world inside the Metropol Hotel where politics, poetry, friendship, and fine wine coalesce into a moving portrait of resilience.
Over decades, Rostov loses his freedom but gains a new understanding of purpose. He fathers a child (in a nontraditional sense), mentors misfits, and manages to serve perfect cocktails along the way. This book doesn’t race; it saunters. But by the end, you’ll feel like you’ve lived a whole life in those gilded halls. It’s a testament to how the smallest spaces can still hold great meaning, and how one man can live freely—even when confined.
13. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – Best Historical Fiction Book for Exploring Identity
Why You Should Read It:
Because race, identity, and family secrets are still the most urgent conversations we’re having—and this book handles them with grace and grit.
Pros:
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Powerful themes of race and identity
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Multi-generational narrative
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Emotional and thought-provoking
Cons:
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Nonlinear structure may confuse some readers
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Not your typical historical fiction (and that’s a good thing)
Book Review:
In The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett spins a gripping story of twin sisters who run away from a small Southern town—only for one to later “vanish” by passing as white. The novel isn’t just about race; it’s about the choices we make to survive, and the identities we either inherit or reinvent. Spanning from the 1950s to the 1990s, this is a sweeping yet intimate portrayal of family, betrayal, and the ripple effects of generational trauma.
What sets this book apart is how seamlessly it moves between timelines and perspectives, painting complex, flawed characters with compassion. Bennett’s writing is clean, crisp, and incredibly effective. The emotional tension builds slowly, but once it clicks, you won’t be able to look away. This is the kind of historical fiction that doesn’t wear a powdered wig—it’s modern, raw, and necessary. If you’re looking for a novel that challenges norms while still delivering a page-turning plot, this one is not to be missed.
12. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón – Best Historical Mystery Fiction Book
Why You Should Read It:
Because it’s a love letter to books wrapped in a mystery inside a gothic noir burrito.
Pros:
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Incredible atmosphere
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Book-lover’s dream plot
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Intricate mystery
Cons:
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Dense storytelling
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Minor characters occasionally blend together
Book Review:
Step into postwar Barcelona, where a boy named Daniel finds a mysterious novel called The Shadow of the Wind—only to discover that someone is destroying every copy of every book the author ever wrote. Intrigued? Good. Because this literary mystery is about to pull you down a rabbit hole of secrets, revenge, love, and fate.
Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s storytelling is rich with atmosphere and tinged with gothic beauty. The Cemetery of Forgotten Books alone is reason enough to read this. But beyond that, the plot is intricately woven, with multiple timelines and a cast of morally murky characters. It’s dark, romantic, and soaked in the kind of literary drama that makes you want to underline every other sentence.
This is historical fiction for the romantics, the readers, the dreamers, and the mystery solvers. And let’s face it—any book that starts with a secret library is already winning. It may be long, but like a good meal, every bite is worth savoring.
11. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell – Best Shakespeare-Inspired Historical Fiction Book Ever
Why You Should Read It:
Because Shakespeare may have written Hamlet, but Maggie O’Farrell gave Hamnet a soul—and it hits different post-pandemic.
Pros:
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Poetic, heart-wrenching writing
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Rich historical atmosphere
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Gives voice to the voiceless
Cons:
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Light on action, heavy on emotion
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Not about Shakespeare, but kind of is
Book Review:
Alright, let’s clear this up: Hamnet is not a Shakespeare fanfic. It’s better. It’s a beautifully imagined look at the Bard’s unnamed wife (here named Agnes, because she deserves more than “Shakespeare’s wife”) and their son Hamnet, who died young and possibly inspired Hamlet. Yes, it’s a literary tragedy, but with O’Farrell at the helm, it’s also luminous, lyrical, and packed with emotional gut punches.
Set in plague-era England (yep, that old chestnut), this novel doesn’t lean on historical spectacle. Instead, it zooms in on the small, sacred moments of family life—grief, love, and all the stuff Shakespeare somehow forgot to put in his plays. O’Farrell’s prose feels like a gentle spell: haunting, rhythmic, and quietly explosive. It’s the kind of book that sneaks up on your feelings and sucker-punches your tear ducts. If you’ve ever wanted to give voice to the background characters of history, this one’s for you.
10. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles – Best Historical Fiction Book for Book Lovers
Why You Should Read It:
Because it’s about librarians fighting Nazis with literature. That’s the kind of energy we need in 2025.
Pros:
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Bookish heroine goals
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Dual timeline with heart
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Based on a true story!
Cons:
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Gentle pacing
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Not for readers seeking intense action
Book Review:
Books + Resistance = a big YES from us. The Paris Library takes place during WWII and follows Odile, a Parisian librarian who joins the resistance in her own quiet, Dewey Decimal way. She hides books, shares banned ideas, and risks her life—all from behind a reference desk. Then, in the 1980s, a lonely teen in Montana uncovers Odile’s hidden past. Dual timelines, secrets, and unexpected friendships ensue.
This isn’t a bang-bang war novel. It’s more of a whisper-that-changes-lives kind of story. If you’ve ever found sanctuary in a library (or just love the smell of old paperbacks), this book will feel like coming home. It’s gentle but never dull, and its message about courage in quiet corners is powerful. And let’s be real—who doesn’t want to imagine librarians as low-key superheroes?
9. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn – Best WWII Historical Fiction Book to Read in 2025
Why You Should Read It:
Because it’s like Hidden Figures meets Spy Girls—but British, and with more codebreaking.
Pros:
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Feminist espionage
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Juicy secrets and high stakes
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Strong, flawed female leads
Cons:
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A lot of names and acronyms to track
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Slightly soap opera vibes at times (which we kind of love)
Book Review:
Want to feel both smart and emotionally wrecked? Read The Rose Code. Set in WWII-era Bletchley Park (aka nerd central), this novel follows three brilliant women working as codebreakers while navigating love, betrayal, and wartime secrets. Oh, and one of them may—or may not—be a traitor. Cue the drama.
Kate Quinn knows how to write women who could punch you in the face and then recite poetry. The story jumps between timelines: the height of the war and the royal wedding of 1947, where the trio reunites to unravel a mystery that could ruin lives. It’s tense, twisty, and full of gasp-out-loud moments.
Don’t be surprised if you start Googling Enigma machines at 2 a.m. This one’s for the fans of smart women, secret codes, and WWII fiction with just the right amount of sass.
8. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett – Best Historical Fiction Book Ever for Medieval Nerds
Why You Should Read It:
Because cathedrals, chaos, and cutthroat ambition are more fun than you’d think.
Pros:
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Epic in every sense
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Political intrigue + romance + architecture
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Deeply immersive
Cons:
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It’s… long. Like, really long.
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Can get a bit graphic in places
Book Review:
You don’t have to be into medieval architecture to love The Pillars of the Earth—but by page 200, you might start caring a little too much about flying buttresses. This 1,000-page epic follows masons, monks, and mischief-makers in 12th-century England as they attempt to build a cathedral amidst political upheaval, famine, and very dramatic love affairs.
Ken Follett manages to turn stone-laying into a high-stakes, page-turning saga. The villains are chef’s kiss despicable, the good guys are flawed but lovable, and the stakes feel genuinely biblical. It’s part Game of Thrones, part historical soap opera, and part architecture fanboy dream.
Yes, it’s a commitment. But once you’re in, you’re in. You’ll root for a cathedral like it’s your home team. So if you’ve got the patience for a slow-burn with big payoffs, this book will transport you like a medieval Uber (horse-drawn, of course).
7. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee – Best Multigenerational Historical Saga
Why You Should Read It:
Because it’s an emotional marathon through four generations, three countries, and about a million life lessons.
Pros:
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Sweeping, ambitious storytelling
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Explores identity, class, and resilience
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Characters you’ll grieve like family
Cons:
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Slow build
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Emotionally intense (hydrate accordingly)
Book Review:
Strap in for a ride through history, heartbreak, and more bowls of rice than you can count. Pachinko begins in early 1900s Korea and spans nearly a century, following one family’s relentless fight for dignity and survival as they’re displaced to Japan. Spoiler: it’s not an easy road.
Min Jin Lee doesn’t write caricatures—she writes people. Beautiful, complicated, stubborn, vulnerable people who make choices that will make you cheer, cry, or whisper, “Nooo, don’t do it!” out loud at 1 a.m. Themes like colonization, generational trauma, and assimilation weave seamlessly into a plot that never feels preachy, just devastatingly real.
And the title? It refers to a popular Japanese game, but metaphorically, it’s about chance—the cruel randomness of fate. Every decision in this novel echoes through generations, like a stone dropped in deep water. If you love historical fiction that’s tender, epic, and quietly radical, Pachinko will wreck you in the best way.
6. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Glamorous Historical Fiction Bestseller
Why You Should Read It:
Because it’s Old Hollywood, sapphic secrets, and scandal wrapped in Chanel.
Pros:
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Irresistibly bingeable
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Queer rep in a historical lens
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Full of jaw-dropping reveals
Cons:
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Some emotional manipulation (but it works)
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Evelyn is not always likable—and that’s kind of the point
Book Review:
Imagine if Elizabeth Taylor had a lovechild with Marilyn Monroe, then told you her entire life story over a bottle of whiskey. That’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The plot follows a reclusive Hollywood icon finally spilling the tea to an unknown journalist, and let’s just say: bring snacks. This thing is juicy.
But don’t let the tabloid-style title fool you—this book is more than a glitzy confessional. Beneath the scandal and emerald-green gowns is a deep story about identity, ambition, and loving the people you’re not allowed to. Evelyn is magnetic and flawed, and every chapter peels back another layer of her perfectly curated facade.
Taylor Jenkins Reid nails the vintage vibes without making the past feel dusty. If you’re looking for historical fiction with all the feels, high fashion, and a touch of heartbreak, Evelyn Hugo will absolutely wreck your emotional infrastructure—and you’ll thank her for it.
5. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris – Best Seller That Breaks and Heals You
Why You Should Read It:
Because it’s a true story of love found in the darkest place imaginable—and somehow, it gives you hope.
Pros:
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Based on a real survivor’s story
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Short, powerful, and unforgettable
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Shows the endurance of love and humanity
Cons:
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Not stylistically complex
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Can feel emotionally manipulative for some readers
Book Review:
This is one of those stories that makes you say, “Wait, this really happened?” And then you sit very still and think about it for a while. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who survives Auschwitz by becoming the camp’s tattooist—inking numbers on fellow prisoners. That alone is enough to make your heart sink. But then, he falls in love with Gita, a fellow prisoner, and suddenly, hope blooms in the bleakest of places.
The writing is simple, almost sparse, but it works. The power isn’t in literary flourishes—it’s in the raw, gut-wrenching honesty. Morris doesn’t shy away from the horrors, but she never lets the brutality overshadow the love story at its core.
Is it a romantic fairy tale? No. It’s love under unimaginable circumstances. But if you’re the kind of reader who finds light in the darkest of places, this one will move you to tears—and maybe even to hope.
4. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn – Best Historical Spy Fiction Book Ever
Why You Should Read It:
Because girl spies, revenge, and a dash of gin make for an absolutely delicious read.
Pros:
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Dual timelines that actually work
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Female friendships and espionage
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Fast-paced and emotionally satisfying
Cons:
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Some plot twists feel a little too tidy
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A few modern touches in dialogue may irk purists
Book Review:
Welcome to espionage with attitude. The Alice Network brings us a killer combo of WWI and post-WWII drama through two whip-smart women: Eve, a former spy haunted by her past, and Charlie, a pregnant American socialite searching for her cousin. Sounds like an unlikely team? Oh, just wait.
Kate Quinn’s dual-timeline structure flips seamlessly between Eve’s gritty life as a spy in the “Alice Network” and Charlie’s post-war mission to find the truth. What connects them? Betrayal. Secrets. And a lot of whiskey.
The spy parts are the highlight—tense, dangerous, and often surprisingly funny. Eve is not your average heroine; she’s sharp, broken, and refuses to play nice. And Charlie? A delightful mess. Their road trip through postwar Europe is packed with heart, sass, and plot twists.
This one’s for fans of historical fiction who like their heroines capable of stabbing bad men in the throat and looking fabulous while doing it. 10/10 would join their network.
3. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – Best Seller and Pulitzer-Winning Must-Read
Why You Should Read It:
Because it’s beautifully written, painfully human, and proves that even in war, light finds a way in.
Pros:
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Gorgeous, poetic prose
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Dual perspectives done right
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You’ll cry, and you’ll thank it for the privilege
Cons:
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Non-linear storytelling may confuse some
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Emotional devastation: high risk, high reward
Book Review:
This isn’t just a book—it’s an experience, like being emotionally mugged by a poet. All the Light We Cannot See follows Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German boy with a knack for radios, as their lives slowly orbit toward one another in the chaos of WWII.
Doerr’s writing is basically literary music—his sentences hum. The chapters are short but hit hard, like poetic grenades. He doesn’t just describe war; he illuminates the quiet moments between explosions. A dropped loaf of bread. The sound of a broadcast. A key hidden in a miniature house. It’s all achingly beautiful.
This Pulitzer-winning masterpiece reminds us that there are always small moments of grace, even in humanity’s darkest hours. Read it for the plot, stay for the prose, and keep tissues nearby. You’re going to need them.
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – Best Historical Fiction Book of All Time (With Death as Narrator)
Why You Should Read It:
Because when Death tells you a story about Nazi Germany, you listen—and sob.
Pros:
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Unique narration (Death has jokes and feelings)
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Profound take on war, loss, and literature
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Inventive, unforgettable writing
Cons:
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Stylistically quirky—some may not vibe with it
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You will be emotionally compromised for days
Book Review:
Death narrates this one—and honestly, he’s kind of a softie. The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel, a young girl living in Nazi Germany who finds solace in stealing books and learning to read during a time when words are weaponized. As she navigates life with her foster family and befriends a hidden Jewish man, she discovers that stories can be both shields and swords.
Zusak’s prose dances between lyrical and brutal. It’s not just sad—it’s meaningful sad. Like, the kind that leaves you staring at a wall afterward, rethinking your entire life. And Death? Surprisingly philosophical and weirdly funny. You won’t forget him.
This is a book about the power of words, which is pretty meta since it uses words to punch you right in the soul. If you want something haunting, profound, and unlike anything else you’ve read, this is it.
1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah – Best Historical Fiction Book Ever for WWII Drama
Why You Should Read It:
Because it’s the ultimate story of sisterhood, sacrifice, and survival—and it absolutely wrecks.
Pros:
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Devastatingly good storytelling
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Fierce female leads
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Hits all the emotional notes
Cons:
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Brutal and emotionally intense
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You may require post-book therapy
Book Review:
If you only read one historical fiction book in 2025, make it The Nightingale. It’s a masterclass in emotional storytelling—Kristin Hannah takes the horrors of Nazi-occupied France and filters them through the lens of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, who respond to war in very different ways. One becomes a quiet protector, hiding Jewish children. The other joins the French Resistance, risking her life for freedom.
This book doesn’t just show war—it makes you feel it. Not the big battles, but the quiet, domestic kind of heroism: sharing a loaf of bread, saying goodbye too many times, waiting for footsteps that might bring death. Hannah’s writing is heartbreakingly immersive—you’ll swear you lived through it yourself.
It’s not subtle, but that’s the point. It grabs you by the soul and doesn’t let go. If you’re a fan of character-driven drama, tear-streaked pages, and unflinching truths about what women endured during WWII, then The Nightingale will earn its spot as the number one book on your shelf—and in your heart.
Conclusion: Timeless Stories for Modern Readers
Historical fiction isn’t just about dates and dusty archives—it’s about people. It’s about love letters smuggled during wars, whispered secrets between queens and courtiers, and the kind of resilience that leaves you breathless. The 14 best historical fiction books to read in 2025 prove that the past still has a lot to say. Whether you’re into epic sagas, WWII drama, or a splash of scandal between pages, these stories offer a passport to lives and moments that shaped the world.
So, if you’re tired of doomscrolling and want to time-travel somewhere with better costumes and juicier plot twists, crack open one of these best sellers. They’re more than just books—they’re beautifully written bridges to the past, with lessons that still hit home. Who says history has to be boring?