15 Best Books Historical Novel Reviews 2025 Top Picks
We searched Amazon for the best books historical novel fans can enjoy, with gripping tales, lively characters, and unforgettable moments from history.
We know the hunt for great books historical novel picks can be tough! Our list of the 15 best books historical novel based book’s focuses on stories that whisk you away to another era, with characters you want to cheer for (or sometimes throw a scone at). We look for page-turners that teach us something, make us laugh, and maybe even ugly cry a little. Whether you love big sweeping landscapes, secrets from the past, or romance that crosses time, these books historical novel choices have something for every new reader looking to fall into history. Get ready for heart, humor, and some surprises along the way!
On this list:
- All the Light We Cannot See
- The Book Thief
- The Nightingale
- Wolf Hall
- A Gentleman in Moscow
- The Pillars of the Earth
- The Shadow of the Wind
- The Other Boleyn Girl
- The Tattooist of Auschwitz
- Outlander
- The Alice Network
- Homegoing
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
- The Book of Longings
- War and Peace
15 All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
We picked this for how it weaves two stories—one a blind French girl, the other a German boy—during WWII. Trust us, it’s hard to put down, and we didn’t even try. The writing’s pretty, the history’s real, and you’ll care about the characters.
14 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This one is about a girl in Nazi Germany who steals books. The twist? Death narrates. Creepy, but in a good way. We liked the emotional punch and the smart look at hope in hard times.
13 The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
If you want a books historical novel about sisters during WWII France, this is your jam. We cried. Twice. It’s got action and heart and makes you think why people do brave stuff.
12 Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Thomas Cromwell isn’t usually the hero, but here, he’s the guy you want to root for. Mantel makes Tudor England feel close enough to touch (or at least smell).
11 A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
A guy gets stuck in a fancy hotel in Russia for decades, and somehow, it’s not boring at all. We loved the quirky humor and the hero’s style.
10 The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Big book, big drama. It’s about building a cathedral in medieval England with a lot of action, politics, and love. It made us want to build something, maybe some LEGO.
9 The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Weird, spooky, and set in old Barcelona. There’s a hidden library and twists that made us gasp. This books historical novel is for the mystery lovers.
8 The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Tudor gossip at its juiciest. This one’s about Anne Boleyn’s sister, Mary, and court drama that makes modern reality TV look tame. We learned a lot and gossiped more.
7 The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Based on a true story, this books historical novel tells of love and grit in a very dark place. We found it sad but hopeful, a page-turner that shows humanity never quits.
6 Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Time travel, kilts, and romance! This one sent us to Scotland, and we almost wanted to wear a kilt ourselves. It’s super fun and pretty steamy.
5 The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Women spies in two world wars—what else do you want? This one’s a real thrill, and we found the friendship inspiring. It gets gritty but keeps you reading.
4 Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Two sisters, two continents, many generations. This books historical novel packs a punch about slavery and its ripple effects. We ended up thinking about it for days. Heavy but worth it.
3 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Long name, lovely book. It’s about letters, friendship, and books on a war-torn island. We laughed, got hungry, and wanted to write letters ourselves.
2 The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Imagine if Jesus had a wife. This bold books historical novel asks brave questions and gives a smart, caring heroine. We had deep talks after reading this one.
1 War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Alright, we saved the big one for last. Why? It’s epic, huge, and the gold star for books historical novel lovers. Family, war, peace, romance—it’s got everything. We won’t lie, it took us a while to finish (maybe more than one summer). But when we got to the end, we felt like we climbed a mountain or at least a big hill. Tolstoy puts you in Russia and lets you see both war and tea parties up close. The characters are so real, we wished some were our friends. Some parts dragged, but the payoff is worth it if you stick with it. For anyone wanting the best books historical novel, this classic is a must, if you have the stamina and like your history served with drama.
