No matter how many historical fiction books you read, there are always more incredible books waiting to be read. And that is why we will be looking at Goodreads’ Award Winning historical fiction novels to help find you your next book to read!
When people think of award winning novels, they don’t often think about Goodreads. But they should because these are novels voted by fans and they are the ones who decide which novel is the best of the year.
If that sounds like a popularity contest, then you aren’t wrong. Often times, popular authors or books win it over books that should have won it. No award is perfect and there will always be people that are going to be mad that their favorite book didn’t win.
I do hold the Goodreads awards in high regard because they are my fellow readers. In fact, I often visit the Goodreads awards and nominations list to find my next read. And it hasn’t let me down. You can see the full list of Goodreads award winning historical fiction novels below!
Goodreads’ Award Winning Historical Fiction Novels
- The Women by Kristin Hannah
- Weyward by Emilia Hart
- Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
- The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The 2024 winner of the annual award was The Women by Kristin Hannah. If you haven’t read this novel, then you read to right away because it is an incredible book and it is a story everyone needs to hear. Hannah tells the little known story of women who served in Vietnam whose contributions and time served wasn’t considered the same as men who served as men.
Hannah’s work sheds light on an important event that few people even think about and give the women that served in Vietnam the credit and recognition that they deserve. I think this was a good pick by fans and it is a tossup between this novel and James by Everett Percival as the best historical fiction book of 2024.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead won the Goodreads award in 2016 and had stiff competition. It went up against one of my favorite novels A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I would recommend both to readers but The Underground Railroad deserved the award.
One of the earlier historical fiction novels that I remember reading and falling in love with was All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This is storytelling at its finest and made me a fan of historical fiction books.
I know that that many historical fiction books focus on World War II and that can feel like a lot at times. But this is one that stands above the rest and Doerr makes this novel feel like poetry with his beautiful writing style. Even though you know where the novel is heading, you are eagerly waiting for the climax and it pays off.
Conclusion
These are the Goodreads’ award winning historical fiction novels worth reading and to add to your reading list. It may be a popularity contest but it does get the winner right most of the time. And if you need a new book to read, then this is where you should go. Happy reading!
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What happened to books 2-4 on the list?
All the Light You Cannot See remains, for me, one of the most overrated historical novels I have ever read. As a reader with a deep interest in WWII – and having visited St. Mail – I wanted so much to like it. Gradually, my affection for it eroded and – while I did not dislike it – simply shifted to completing my read as a duty with full disappointment.
Please read my historical novel happening during and after WWII. Contra Spem Spero tells a story of separation, love, sex trafficking, and quest for rule of law and justice in Ukraine. Nadia means hope.
How can you leave out the Stationary Shop and/or the Lion Women of Tehran (paperback coming Aug 3)?!
While Kristen Hannah did a great job describing the trama of the Vietnam War on the women who served, it was a work of fiction. I recommend You Don’t Belong Here by Elizabeth Becker. It is a true story of three female reporters of the Vietnam War.
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