Top new historical-fiction books in August 2023
Last updated:
August 31, 2023
August 2023 featuring new releases by Ann Patchett, Alice Hoffman, Katharine McGee, Rachael Lippincott, Pip Williams, Melanie Benjamin, Emma Donoghue, Sarah MacLean, Edan Lepucki, Christine Mangan and many more.
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Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake... -
![The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman]()
The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Marriage of Opposites and the Practical Magic series comes an enchanting novel about love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and the enduring magic of books. One brilliant June day when Mia Jacob can no longer see a way to survive, the power of words saves her... -
![Reign by Katharine McGee]()
Reign by Katharine McGee
A queen's life hangs in the balance, and her siblings’ decisions—about what to do, and most of all, who to love—could change the course of history. Romance. Duty. Power...only one can triumph in this stunning conclusion to the New York Times bestselling American Royals series.America's royal family is in shambles... -
![Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott]()
Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott
From the New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Feet Apart and She Gets the Girl comes a fresh and inventive sapphic romantic comedy that’s What If It’s Us meets Bridgerton.What if you found a once-in-a-lifetime love…just not in your lifetime?Audrey Cameron has lost her spark...romance · wlw · lgbtq · young-adult · historical · historical-fiction · fiction · time-travel · lesbian-mc · retellings -
![The Bookbinder by Pip Williams]()
The Bookbinder by Pip Williams
A young British woman working in a book bindery gets a chance to pursue knowledge and love when World War I upends her life--an exquisite novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese's Book Club pick The Dictionary of Lost Words It is 1914, and as the war draws the young men of Britain away to fight, women must keep the nation running...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · war · ww1 · audiobook · 20th-century · literary-fiction · family · female-mc -
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![California Golden by Melanie Benjamin]()
California Golden by Melanie Benjamin
Two sisters navigate the turbulent, euphoric early days of California surf culture in this dazzling saga of ambition, sacrifice, and longing for a family they never had, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator's WifeSouthern California, 1960s: endless sunny days surfing in Malibu, followed by glittering neon nights at Whisky A-Go-Go...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · racism · family · abuse · domestic-drama · literary-fiction · female-mc · book -
![Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue]()
Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue
A heartbreakingly gorgeous novel based on the true story of two girls who fall secretly, deeply, and dangerously in love at boarding school in 19th century York, from the bestselling author of Room and The Wonder...romance · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · lgbtq · wlw · literary-fiction · audiobook · dark-academia · drama -
![Knockout by Sarah MacLean]()
Knockout by Sarah MacLean
New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the next Hell’s Belles novel about a chaotic bluestocking and the buttoned-up detective enlisted to keep her out of trouble (spoiler: She is the trouble)...romance · historical · historical-fiction · fiction · industrial-era · regency · fated-mates · humor · victorian · book -
![Time's Mouth by Edan Lepucki]()
Time's Mouth by Edan Lepucki
From New York Times bestselling author Edan Lepucki comes an enthralling saga about family secrets that grow more powerful with time, set against the magical, dangerous landscape of CaliforniaUrsa possesses a very special gift. She can travel through memory and revisit her past... -
![The Continental Affair by Christine Mangan]()
The Continental Affair by Christine Mangan
With gorgeous prose, European glamour, and an expansive wanderlust, Christine Mangan's The Continental Affair is a daring literary caper that is quick on its feet and delightfully surprising.Meet Henri and Louise. Two strangers, traveling alone, on the train from Belgrade to Istanbul. Except this isn't the first time they have met.It's the 1960s and Louise is running...historical-fiction · fiction · mystery · historical · literary-fiction · audiobook · thriller · crime · heist · anti-hero -
![He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan]()
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
How much would you give to win the world?Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is riding high after her victory that tore southern China from its Mongol masters. Now she burns with a new desire: to seize the throne and crown herself emperor.But Zhu isn’t the only one with imperial ambitions...fantasy · historical-fiction · historical · lgbtq · wlw · fiction · romantic-love · alternate-history · book · adult -
![A Bakery in Paris by Aimie K. Runyan]()
A Bakery in Paris by Aimie K. Runyan
From the author of The School for German Brides, this captivating historical novel set in nineteenth-century and post-World War II Paris follows two fierce women of the same family, generations apart, who find that their futures lie in the four walls of a simple bakery in a tiny corner of Montmartre. 1870: The Prussians are at the city gates, intent to starve Paris into submission...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · ww2 · audiobook · war · drama · family · mystery · 20th-century -
![The Paris Mystery by Kirsty Manning]()
The Paris Mystery by Kirsty Manning
Intrepid reporter Charlotte "Charlie" James arrives in Paris in 1938 eager to make a fresh start, but little does she know the trouble that awaits her...Charlie James is chasing her first big scoop as correspondent for British-based newspaper The Times, and she needs to prove to her boss that she can do this job as well, if not better, than her male counterparts...historical-fiction · mystery · fiction · audiobook · crime · historical · journalism · female-mc · cozy · book -
![The President’s Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood]()
The President’s Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood
The incredible story of the First Lady who clandestinely assumed the presidency, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Engineer's Wife and The War Nurse.Socialite Edith Bolling has been in no hurry to find a new husband since she was widowed, preferring to fill her days with good friends and travel...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · ww1 · audiobook · female-mc · 20th-century · literary-fiction · book · adult -
![Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher]()
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
From USA Today bestselling author T. Kingfisher, Thornhedge is the tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways.There's a princess trapped in a tower. This isn't her story.Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland...romance · fantasy · horror · retellings · fiction · magic · fae · fairy-tale · historical-fiction · myths -
![Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao]()
Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao
Zetian, now ruler of Chang'an, must balance dangerous politics with her quest for revenge in the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow, a blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction...book · disability · dystopia · feminism · fiction · historical · historical-fiction · lgbtq · new-adult · poc-author -
![Perish by LaToya Watkins]()
Perish by LaToya Watkins
Bear it or perish yourself . Those are the words Helen Jean hears that fateful night in her cousin’s outhouse that change the trajectory of her life. Spanning decades, Perish tracks the choices Helen Jean—the matriarch of the Turner family—makes and the way those choices have rippled across generations. We meet four members of the Black Texan Julie B...fiction · historical-fiction · contemporary · literary-fiction · family · audiobook · mystery · poc-author · poc-mc · realistic -
![Miss Morton And The Spirits Of The Underworld by Catherine Lloyd]()
Miss Morton And The Spirits Of The Underworld by Catherine Lloyd
From the author of the critically acclaimed Kurland St. Mary series, this new historical mystery series is “a charming cross between a Regency romance and a well‑constructed detective story” (Kirkus Reviews), and will appeal to fans of Victoria Thompson and Deanna Raybourn...mystery · industrial-era · regency · cozy · historical · historical-fiction · female-mc · fiction · book · adult -
![The Last Masterpiece by Laura Morelli]()
The Last Masterpiece by Laura Morelli
In a race across Nazi-occupied Italy, two women—a German photographer and an American stenographer—hunt for priceless masterpieces looted from the Florentine art collections.In the summer of 1943, Eva Brunner is taking photographs of Nazi-looted art hidden in the salt mines of the Austrian hinterland... -
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![Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig]()
Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
In Teach the Torches to Burn, a breathlessly romantic remix of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet and seventh book in the Remixed Classics series, a queer teen boy discovers first love amid a bloody, centuries-old feud.Verona, Italy. Seventeen-year-old aspiring artist Romeo dreams of a quiet life with someone who loves him just as he is...romance · lgbtq · retellings · young-adult · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · fantasy · mlm · classics -
![An Earl to Remember by Stacy Reid]()
An Earl to Remember by Stacy Reid
A fun, sensual Victorian twist on the romantic comedy Overboard from USA Today bestselling author Stacy Reid...romance · historical-fiction · historical · amnesia · fiction · industrial-era · regency · book · adult -
![A Suitable Arrangement by Martha Keyes]()
A Suitable Arrangement by Martha Keyes
The arrangement may well be suitable, but is it bearable?As the new Earl of Lismore, it is Sandy Duncan’s duty to save both his family and Lochlarren Castle from impending ruin. He has always known he must marry well, but his father’s deathbed revelation of a slew of other debts creates an unexpected urgency to the situation... -
![Tall, Duke, and Scandalous by Amy Rose Bennett]()
Tall, Duke, and Scandalous by Amy Rose Bennett
A debauched duke and a lady with a secret band together in this fresh and sexy Regency romance series from award-winning author Amy Rose BennettMiss Jane Delaney is no stranger to receiving curious glances from strangers, though she wishes it were by virtue of her character and mind and less about the scar on her face... -
![The Enemy at Home by Kevin O'Brien]()
The Enemy at Home by Kevin O'Brien
As World War II rages overseas, a serial killer preys on women working in Seattle’s factories in this provocative blend of vivid, richly detailed historical fiction and taut suspense.1943, Seattle. While raging war reshapes the landscape of Europe, its impact is felt thousands of miles away too...historical-fiction · mystery · fiction · historical · ww2 · suspense · war · serial-killers · audiobook · crime -
![Jezebel by Megan Barnard]()
Jezebel by Megan Barnard
With a bold voice reminiscent of Madeline Miller’s Circe, a stunning reimagining of the story of a fierce princess from Tyre and her infamous legacyJezebel was born into the world howling. She intends to leave it the same way.When Jezebel learns she can’t be a king like her father simply because she’s a girl, she vows never to become someone’s decorative wife, nameless and lost to history...asia · west-asia · lebanon · israel · historical-fiction · myths · fiction · retellings · fantasy · historical -
![Prophet Song by Paul Lynch]()
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
A fearless portrait of a society on the brink as a mother faces a terrible choice, from an internationally award-winning authorOn a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front door to find the GNSB on her step. Two officers from Ireland’s newly formed secret police are here to interrogate her husband, a trade unionist.Ireland is falling apart...fiction · dystopia · literary-fiction · historical-fiction · sci-fi · historical · parenthood · family · book · adult -
![The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin]()
The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London comes a heartwarming story about the power of books to bring us together, inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw.All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina...historical-fiction · fiction · ww2 · historical · war · female-mc · friendship · 20th-century · violent-conflict · book -
![The Dark Edge of Night by Mark Pryor]()
The Dark Edge of Night by Mark Pryor
“Sharp eyed and sharp mouthed police detective”* Henri Lefort, is determined to solve homicides and uncover any German conspiracies threatening France―in Mark Pryor’s newest World War II mystery, The Dark Edge of Night... -
![Evergreen by Naomi Hirahara]()
Evergreen by Naomi Hirahara
A Japanese American nurse's aide navigates the dangers of post-WWII and post-Manzanar life as she attempts to find justice for a broken family in this follow-up to the Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning Clark and Division .It’s been two years since Aki Ito and her family were released from Manzanar detention center and resettled in Chicago with other Japanese Americans...historical-fiction · mystery · fiction · historical · war · politics · audiobook · poc-mc · female-mc · cozy -
![Menewood by Nicola Griffith]()
Menewood by Nicola Griffith
In the much anticipated sequel to Hild, Nicola Griffith's Menewood transports readers back to seventh-century Britain, a land of rival kings and religions poised for epochal change. Hild is no longer the bright child who made a place in Edwin Overking's court with her seemingly supernatural insight...book · british-isles · europe · female-author · fiction · historical · historical-fiction · lgbtq · medieval · royalty -
![The Lost Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Patricia Haverton]()
The Lost Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Patricia Haverton
“I was doomed before I met you.”Crashing his carriage during a hurricane in the middle of nowhere, overworked Duke Samuel finds refuge in the only house he can see. The house of a country Baron, with the most infuriating and beautiful grandaughter…For Eleanor, taking care of her grandfather and brother in the quiet countryside was all she ever wanted...romance · industrial-era · regency · fiction · religion · historical · young-adult · victorian · historical-fiction · spirituality -
![The Peach Seed by Anita Gail Jones]()
The Peach Seed by Anita Gail Jones
Fletcher Dukes and Altovise Benson reunite after decades apart― and a mountain of secrets―in this debut exploring the repercussions of a single choice and how an enduring talisman challenges and holds a family together...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · literary-fiction · audiobook · family · black-mc · poc-mc · book -
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![The Sleeping Soldier by Aster Glenn Gray]()
The Sleeping Soldier by Aster Glenn Gray
After a century-long sleep, a Union soldier wakes up in 1965.Cavalry lieutenant Russell Krause is all at sea in this strange new century of electric lights and automobiles. But he soon acquires a Caleb O’Connor, a kind-hearted, history-loving college student with secrets he’s desperate to hide...romance · historical · mlm · fantasy · historical-fiction · time-travel · lgbtq · paranormal · fiction · friends-to-lovers -
![The African Samurai by Craig Shreve]()
The African Samurai by Craig Shreve
Set in late 16th-century Africa, India, Portugal, and Japan, The African Samurai is a powerful historical novel based on the true story of Yasuke, Japan’s first foreign-born samurai and the only samurai of African descent—for readers of Esi Edugyan and Lawrence Hill.In 1579, a Portuguese trade ship sails into port at Kuchinotsu, Japan, loaded with European wares and weapons...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · literary-fiction · audiobook · early-modern · black-mc · poc-mc · book · adult -
![Marry Me by Midnight by Felicia Grossman]()
Marry Me by Midnight by Felicia Grossman
Author Felicia Grossman—whose “books are powerful and passionate and swoon-inducing!” (Eva Leigh, USA Today bestselling author)—kicks off her new series with an enchanting twist on Cinderella: in which a charming heiress must marry to save her family’s business, but the one man she dreams of is the one man she can’t have.Every love story begins with once upon a time...romance · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · industrial-era · victorian · regency · georgian · fated-mates · retellings -
![Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas]()
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
Vampires and vaqueros face off on the Texas-Mexico border in this supernatural western from the author of The Hacienda.As the daughter of a rancher in 1840s Mexico, Nena knows a thing or two about monsters—her home has long been threatened by tensions with Anglo settlers from the north...north-america · mexico · horror · historical-fiction · vampires · gothic · fantasy · historical · paranormal · fiction -
![Henderson House by Caren Simpson McVicker]()
Henderson House by Caren Simpson McVicker
An enchanting boardinghouse tale of sisters, secrets, and later-in-life romance, Henderson House invites you to pull up a rocking chair and lose yourself in the heartaches and hopes of 1940s Oklahoma.In May 1941, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, hums with talk of spring flowers, fishing derbies, and the growing war in Europe... -
![On Stolen Tides by Kay Lalock]()
On Stolen Tides by Kay Lalock
From escaping an arranged marriage to working with pirates – how much wilder can Lydia's life possibly get?Great Rexone won't stop until they've conquered the Known Isles. Lydia's father – arguably the nation's most respected admiral – is determined to be on top when that happens, even if it includes marrying off his daughter against her will...romance · historical · industrial-era · victorian · lgbtq · historical-fiction · fiction · wlw · book · adult -
![The Forest Keeper's Princess: A Novella by Stephanie Swann]()
The Forest Keeper's Princess: A Novella by Stephanie Swann
Princess Amanda of Eldoria craves adventure beyond the confines of her castle, but little does she know that her wish is about to be granted in the most unexpected way. When an encounter with a reclusive forest guardian, Kael, sweeps her away from her comfortable life, Amanda embarks on a forbidden journey that challenges everything she's ever known...romance · fantasy · paranormal · monsters · contemporary · forbidden-love · fiction · historical-fiction · book · adult
