Top new historical-fiction books in July 2023
Last updated:
July 31, 2023
July 2023 featuring new releases by Colson Whitehead, Lyssa Kay Adams, Kelly Rimmer, Patrick deWitt, Erin A. Craig, Colin Walsh, Diana Gabaldon, Eloisa James, Sujata Massey, Santa Montefiore and many more.
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Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
Colson Whitehead continues his Harlem saga in a novel that summons 1970s New York in all its seedy glory.It's 1971. Trash piles up on the streets, crime is at an all-time high, the city is careening towards bankruptcy, and a shooting war has broken out between the NYPD and the Black Liberation Army...historical-fiction · fiction · literary-fiction · mystery · crime · contemporary · poc-author · urban · family · thriller -
![Courting the Countess by Lyssa Kay Adams]()
Courting the Countess by Lyssa Kay Adams
A historical romance companion novel to The Bromance Book Club series, which the members read in the first book of the series. For publication in summer 2023... -
![The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer]()
The Paris Agent by Kelly Rimmer
"Kelly Rimmer always delivers a poignant story.” —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in LondonA family's innocent search for answers brings a long-forgotten, twenty-five-year-old mystery to light, in the riveting new novel from the bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say...historical-fiction · fiction · ww2 · historical · drama · mystery · espionage · cold-war · family · friendship -
![The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt]()
The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt
From bestselling and award-winning author Patrick deWitt comes the story of Bob Comet, a man who has lived his life through and for literature, unaware that his own experience is a poignant and affecting narrative in itself. Bob Comet is a retired librarian passing his solitary days surrounded by books and small comforts in a mint-colored house in Portland, Oregon...fiction · historical-fiction · contemporary · literary-fiction · humor · audiobook · friendship · satire · book · adult -
![House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig]()
House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig
A modern masterpiece, this is a classic Gothic thriller-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig, about doomed love, menacing ambition, and the ghosts that haunt us forever.In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed...fantasy · young-adult · horror · gothic · retellings · fiction · paranormal · mystery · ghosts · romance -
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![Kala by Colin Walsh]()
Kala by Colin Walsh
A gripping literary page-turner from a rising Irish talent in which former friends, estranged for twenty years, reckon with the terrifying events of the summer that changed their lives.In the seaside village of Kinlough, on Ireland’s west coast, three old friends meet for the first time in years...europe · british-isles · ireland · mystery · fiction · crime · literary-fiction · audiobook · suspense · contemporary -
![Untitled Outlander Prequel by Diana Gabaldon]()
Untitled Outlander Prequel by Diana Gabaldon
Diana Gabaldon has stated on her website that she is planning a prequel to Outlander...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · time-travel · fantasy · historical · sci-fi · paranormal · book · adult -
![Not That Duke by Eloisa James]()
Not That Duke by Eloisa James
The Duke of Huntington has no interest in an eccentric redhead who frowns at him over her spectacles…until he realizes that she is the only possible duchess for him. A new enemies-to-lovers romance by New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James... -
![The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey]()
The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey
Bombay’s only female solicitor, Perveen Mistry, grapples with class divisions, sexism, and complex family dynamics as she seeks justice for a mistreated young woman in this thrilling fourth installment in Sujata Massey’s Agatha and Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning series.Bombay, 1920s...mystery · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · feminism · poc-author · 20th-century · cozy · female-mc · law-enforcement -
![Wait for Me: The captivating new novel from the Sunday Times bestseller by Santa Montefiore]()
Wait for Me: The captivating new novel from the Sunday Times bestseller by Santa Montefiore
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of An Italian Girl in Brooklyn comes a captivating new novel of enduring love and devastating secrets, based on a true story.'Nobody does epic romance like Santa Montefiore' JOJO MOYESRupert promised he was going to come back. All Florence had to do was wait...romance · historical-fiction · fiction · audiobook · ww2 · paranormal · historical · 20th-century · book · adult -
![Counting Lost Stars by Kim van Alkemade]()
Counting Lost Stars by Kim van Alkemade
New York Times bestselling author of Orphan #8, Kim van Alkemade returns with a gripping and poignant historical saga in which an unmarried college student who's given up her baby for adoption helps a Dutch Holocaust survivor search for his lost mother...fiction · historical-fiction · historical · female-mc · lgbtq · ww2 · literary-fiction · 20th-century · book · adult -
fantasy · historical-fiction · fiction · outlaws · historical · young-adult · action-adventure · book
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![Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald]()
Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald
To hell with love, this goddess has other plans...Thousands of years ago, the gods told a lie: how Persephone was a pawn in the politics of other gods. How Hades kidnapped Persephone to be his bride. How her mother, Demeter, was so distraught she caused the Earth to start dying.The real story is much more interesting.Persephone wasn't taken to hell: she jumped...romance · fantasy · myths · young-adult · retellings · fiction · historical-fiction · enemies-to-lovers · feminism · magic -
![Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burke]()
Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burke
From American master James Lee Burke comes a novel set in Civil War-era Louisiana as the South transforms and a brilliant cast of characters – enslaved and free women, plantation gentry, and battle-weary Confederate and Union soldiers – are caught in the maelstromIn the fall of 1863, the Union army is in control of the Mississippi river... -
![A Lady's Guide to Scandal: A Novel by Sophie Irwin]()
A Lady's Guide to Scandal: A Novel by Sophie Irwin
Internationally bestselling author Sophie Irwin brings us another fresh, witty take on a romantic escape led by a deeply lovable heroine determined to start living on her own termsWhen shy Miss Eliza Balfour married the austere Earl of Somerset, twenty years her senior, it was the match of the season--no matter that he was not the husband Eliza would have chosen... -
![How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long]()
How to Tame a Wild Rogue by Julie Anne Long
"I am in awe of her talent."— Julia Quinn In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s thrilling new romance in the Palace of Rogues series, an infamous privateer’s limits are put to the test when he’s trapped during a raging tempest with a prickly female at the Grand Palace on the Thames. He clawed his way up from the gutters of St. Giles to the top of a shadowy empire...romance · historical · historical-fiction · industrial-era · regency · outlaws · fiction · fake-relationship · forced-proximity · wlw -
classics · historical · 20th-century · historical-fiction · human-nature · fiction · book · literary · adult
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![Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong]()
Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
#1 New York Times bestselling YA author Chloe Gong’s adult epic fantasy debut, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, is a fiery collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games.Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin will flock to its capital twin cities, San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games...romance · fantasy · retellings · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · young-adult · sci-fi · poc-mc · high-fantasy -
![The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos]()
The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos
In the tradition of Craig Johnson and C. J. Box, Bruce Borgos's The Bitter Past begins a compelling series set in the high desert of Nevada featuring Sheriff Porter Beck…Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, north of Las Vegas. Born and raised there, he left to join the Army, where he worked in Intelligence, deep in the shadows in far off places...mystery · fiction · suspense · crime · espionage · audiobook · historical-fiction · law-enforcement · police-procedural · thriller -
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![One Kiss Alone by Nichole Van]()
One Kiss Alone by Nichole Van
Ethan Penn-Leith is the most renowned poet of his day—his likeness so widely recognized, he is regularly accosted by adoring admirers. Everyone wants something from him—his time, words, charm, torn bits of his kilt . . . Everyone, that is, but Lady Allegra Gilbert.Twin sister to the authoritarian Duke of Kendall, Lady Allegra fights for freedom from her brother’s iron-gripped control...europe · british-isles · united-kingdom · scotland · romance · historical-fiction · industrial-era · victorian · historical · fiction -
![Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall]()
Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall
A young noblewoman must pair up with a rumoured witch to ward off a curse.It is the year 1814 and life for a young lady of good breeding has many difficulties. There are balls to attend, fashions to follow, marriages to consider and, of course, the tiny complication of existing in a world swarming with fairy spirits, interfering deities, and actual straight-up sorcerers...romance · fantasy · historical-fiction · lgbtq · historical · wlw · fiction · lesbian-mc · witches-wizards · magical-realism -
![A Stroke of Good Fortune by Jennie Goutet]()
A Stroke of Good Fortune by Jennie Goutet
She is waiting to be loved for the very first time. He is waiting to love her. But someone is going to make sure that never happens.Widowed Arabella Northwick went from the home of a father who didn’t love her to the home of a husband who didn’t love her...romance · industrial-era · regency · historical-fiction · historical · audiobook · fiction · kind-mc · suspense · arranged-marriage -
![The Rules of Matchmaking by Rebecca Connolly]()
The Rules of Matchmaking by Rebecca Connolly
Jane Richards is not interested in marriage at the moment, nor is she particularly concerned about it. The Season is an opportunity to be out and about, to engage with others, and to experience all that life, and London, have to offer. A house party to a castle in the Cotswolds isn't exactly what she had intended, but her curiosity gets the better of her, and she accepts...romance · industrial-era · regency · historical-fiction · historical · religion · spirituality · fiction · book · adult -
![The Judas Blossom by Stephen Aryan]()
The Judas Blossom by Stephen Aryan
An imaginative and sprawling epic fantasy reimagining of the Mongol Empire's invasion of Persia, following the lives and treacherous journeys of four key figures in the heart of war.1260, Persia: Due to the efforts of the great Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire covers a vast portion of the known world...fantasy · historical-fiction · fiction · historical · epic · lgbtq · military · romantic-love · action-adventure · violent-conflict -
![The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec]()
The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec
The lives of two women—one desperate only to save her missing sister, the other a witch destined to become queen of Norway—intertwine in this spellbinding, powerful novel of Viking Age history and myth from the acclaimed author of The Witch’s Heart...europe · scandinavia · fantasy · historical-fiction · myths · historical · fiction · retellings · witches-wizards · medieval -
![Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia]()
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau and Mexican Gothic comes a fabulous meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film--and awakens one woman's hidden powers.Montserrat has always been overlooked...horror · historical-fiction · fiction · mystery · historical · fantasy · magical-realism · poc-author · latinx-mc · gothic -
![Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch]()
Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch
A glittering debut novel set in the golden age of Hollywood, following a former actress whose new career in gossip journalism grants her more power on the page than she ever commanded in front of the camera.As character actress Edie O'Dare finishes the final year of her contract with FWM Studios, the clock is ticking for her to find a new gig after an undistinguished stint in the pictures...historical-fiction · fiction · historical · lgbtq · literary-fiction · audiobook · womens-fiction · mystery · season-summer · female-mc -
![A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess Everlee]()
A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess Everlee
Jess Everlee follows up her sparkling debut The Gentleman's Book of Vices with this charming queer historical romp, in which two lifelong best friends find romance as they join forces to save the one place where they can truly be themselves. London, 1885 David Forester and Noah Clarke have been best friends since boarding school...romance · historical · historical-fiction · lgbtq · mlm · fiction · audiobook · friends-to-lovers · found-family · industrial-era -
![A Good House for Children by Kate Collins]()
A Good House for Children by Kate Collins
Once upon a time Orla was: a woman, a painter, a lover. Now she is a mother and a wife, and when her husband Nick suggests that their city apartment has grown too small for their lives, she agrees, in part because she does agree, and in part because she is too tired to think about what she really does want...horror · gothic · fiction · mystery · historical-fiction · suspense · historical · spooky · haunted-places · paranormal -
![The Shadow Earl by Stella Riley]()
The Shadow Earl by Stella Riley
B.R.A.G. Medallion Honouree and 2023 Global Book Awards Silver Medallist.At the end of his Grand Tour, somewhere between Athens and Constantinople, Christian Selwyn, the young Earl of Hazelmere, vanished - seemingly without a trace.Time passes. In London, his uncle and cousin move into his home … while his unofficial fiancée, Sophia, is left desolate and in limbo...romance · historical · industrial-era · georgian · historical-fiction · action-adventure · regency · audiobook · crime · friendship -
![Say Yes to the Princess: A Novel by Charis Michaels]()
Say Yes to the Princess: A Novel by Charis Michaels
The first book in this USA Today bestselling author’s delicious new Hidden Royals series, in which a princess in exile searches for her lost brother—and falls for the devastatingly charming scoundrel sent to thwart her. A hidden princess… Princess Regine Elise Adelaide d’Orleans is no longer a princess, but she’s also no commoner...romance · historical · royalty · historical-fiction · fiction · female-mc · industrial-era · regency · medieval · literary-fiction -
![The Heiress Swap by Maddison Michaels]()
The Heiress Swap by Maddison Michaels
Evie Jenkins didn’t know what she was thinking by agreeing to switch places with her American heiress cousin. After all, she’s naught but a poor―and usually quite sensible ―companion. All she has to do is spend six weeks among London society, pretending to be an heiress…and ensure that absolutely under no circumstances does she accept any proposals of marriage...romance · historical-fiction · industrial-era · victorian · fiction · regency · historical · book · adult -
classics · literary-fiction · human-nature · historical · romantic-love · historical-fiction · fiction · book · literary · adult
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![The Blackthorn Queen by Melanie Karsak]()
The Blackthorn Queen by Melanie Karsak
Britain, AD 38, Princess Cartimandua—Carti—of the Brigantes tribe faces an uncertain future when her father’s sudden death ignites turmoil. Suspicion falls on the Crow People of the Votadini tribe, straining the fragile peace between the factions. But they’re not the only ones bearing a grudge. A tangled web of political games soon unfolds...historical-fiction · fantasy · retellings · royalty · fiction · ancient-civilization · historical · book · adult -
![Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley]()
Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley
Acclaimed historical novelist Vanessa Riley is back with another novel based on the life of an extraordinary Black woman from history: Haiti's Queen Marie-Louise Coidavid, who escaped a coup in Haiti to set up her own royal court in Italy during the Regency era, where she became a popular member of royal European society...romance · historical-fiction · historical · fiction · poc-mc · poc-author · feminism · female-mc · black-mc · family -
![The Duchess Effect by Tracey Livesay]()
The Duchess Effect by Tracey Livesay
Tracey Livesay returns in this seriously sexy sequel to American Royalty, following Duchess and Prince Jameson as they strive to turn their romance into a relationship, beneath the relentless glare of the spotlight...romance · fiction · contemporary · royalty · industrial-era · regency · historical-fiction · poc-mc · humor · book -
![The Stablemaster's Heart by Sarah Honey]()
The Stablemaster's Heart by Sarah Honey
Mother Jones has spent his life working hard, running the royal stables at Lilleforth, and watching on fondly as those around him fall in love and lust.But nobody, man or woman, has ever stoked that fire for him—right until the new royal groom barrels into his life. Vasily is all sunshine smiles, golden hair and laughter...romance · mlm · fantasy · lgbtq · historical · age-gap · royalty · friends-to-lovers · multi-pov · alternate-universe -
![Stealing a Duke's Kiss: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Tiffany Baton]()
Stealing a Duke's Kiss: A Historical Regency Romance Novel by Tiffany Baton
“I am struck by Cupid’s arrow… with the wrong person.”Between love and writing, Lady Deborah has chosen the latter. So as a sworn spinster, she never expected to kiss a gentleman. Yet she has no other choice if she is to distract the man that is about to ruin her brother’s happiness.Duke Henry values propriety more than anything...romance · historical-fiction · industrial-era · regency · fiction · religion · historical · young-adult · victorian · spirituality -
![The Housekeepers by Alex Hay]()
The Housekeepers by Alex Hay
The night of London's grandest ball, a bold group of women downstairs launch a daring revenge heist against Mayfair society in this dazzling historical novel about power, gender, and class“Rollicking fun and entirely original... Anyone who relishes a good party gone wrong will devour this.”—Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost ApothecaryMrs. King is no ordinary housekeeper...europe · british-isles · united-kingdom · england · urban · historical-fiction · historical · mystery · fiction · suspense -
![The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer]()
The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer
For readers of Margaret Atwood and Hilary Mantel, an immersive literary debut inspired by historical events—a deadly witch hunt in 17th-century England—that claimed many innocent lives. East Anglia, 1645. Martha Hallybread, a midwife, healer, and servant, has lived peacefully for more than four decades in her beloved coastal village of Cleftwater...europe · british-isles · united-kingdom · england · historical-fiction · fiction · fantasy · historical · witches-wizards · feminism
