Must-Read Historical Fiction Books for Every Book Lover

It is impossible to hide my love for historical fiction. Time and time again, this genre pulls me in, reminding me why it remains one of the most powerful ways to experience history through storytelling. That is why we are back with another must-read list—this time highlighting historical fiction novels every book lover should read.

While historical fiction may not officially be my favorite genre, it consistently ranks near the top. Many of my all-time favorite books live in this category, and for good reason. The best historical fiction doesn’t just recreate the past—it reshapes how we understand it, blending emotional storytelling with real moments in history.

Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to read an incredible range of historical fiction novels, from timeless classics to newer releases that offer fresh perspectives on familiar eras. No matter the time period, this genre continues to surprise me with stories that feel both intimate and expansive.

In this article, I am sharing five historical fiction books that I believe every reader should experience at least once. These are novels that stayed with me long after I turned the final page, and I think they will resonate with many other readers as well.

You can find the full list of must-read historical fiction books below.

Must-Read Historical Fiction Books

• The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 
• The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
• The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
• James by Percival Everett

The Sympathizer

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and ended up being named of the 30 best books of the year by The New York Times. The Vietnam War is one that is often ignored and forgotten but it has shaped the lives of millions of people. And they have story to tell.

The novel is set in 1975 and the following years and takes place in Vietnam and Los Angeles. The protagonist is unnamed and is a half-Vietnamese, half-French undercover communist agent. He was sent to the United States as a kid to be educated and has a firm understanding of both American and Vietnamese values. 

Throughout the book, the unnamed protagonist tells us his story and being a double agent, trying to survive in the U.S in the 1970’s. His job requires him to be close to the General and report to his bosses even after the fall of Saigon.

It is a story about identity, love, survival, and what it means to live thousands of miles away from home follows and is a breath of fresh air as written by Viet Thanh Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American professor. Novels like these are why the Pulitzer Prize Award was created and why I love reading the winners and nominations.

The Book Thief

One of the books that I reread all the time is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It is one of my favorite books and I still can’t get over how good it is. That it sold over 17 million copies since its publication in 2005 should be no surprise.

The novel tells the story of a young girl named Liesel Meminger and it takes place in Nazi, Germany during World War II. Death is the narrator and that one decision changes the way the reader experiences the novel.

Ultimately, the novel is about love, reading, writing, and life and death. Everyone is going to take away something different from this book and that is what makes it special. For me, it was the strength and morality of the characters, love overcoming fear and doing what’s right no matter what.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

If you haven’t read a novel by James McBride, then you are missing out on one of the most gifted writers out there. And the one book by him you need to check out is The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. It is a novel about community and it is a feel good novel that is told in the best way possible.

Moshe and Chona Ludlow are asked to hide a young Black deaf boy named Dodo from authorities for fear of him being taken away. What ensues is a community coming together to protect a boy against a racist system. But protecting him from the authorities is much easier said than done.

The Nickel Boys

Whitehead is an amazing writer that won the Pulitzer Prize multiple times, making him one of four authors to do so. And Nickel Boys is a novel that deserved the Pulitzer Prize. The novel is completely different from his previous winner but just as good.

Elwood Curtis is a young black boy who is wrongly sentenced to Nickel Academy, a juvenile reform school that is supposed to turn them straight. But the school takes advantage of they boys and is filled with racism and abuse and surviving to see the next day is not guaranteed.

This novel is based on actual events and if it wasn’t for this novel, few people would know about this horrible event. Like many tragedies, it was buried and forgotten but people like Whitehead know how powerful a story can be. You will be angry and shocked and throughout it all, you will appreciate what Whitehead was able to accomplish with this novel.

James

I have read a ton of incurable books this year and one book that has stayed with me since I read the first page is James by Percival Everett. The novel went on to win the National Book Award for Fiction, and the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

James is a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and gives James the voice he always deserved. Everett tells us of James story and from his point of view and it is an amazing and well written novel.

James is a slave in Hannibal, Missouri and tries to take care of all the slaves at the plantation. But one day, James discovers that he is going to be sold soon and separated from his family. He has no plans to go along with this and instead runs away. But he is discovered by Huckleberry Finn who is also planning to run away.

Conclusion

These are the must-read historical fiction books for every book lover! The list includes new and older novels that fans and critics both loved. Reading each book was an amazing experience and I wish I could read them again for the first time.

All five of these novels are books I still think about often. If you haven’t read any of these novels, then you are in for a treat. And you can always read more books by these incredible authors. What historical fiction books would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!

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