The Best Historical Fiction of Summer 2024
By Angela Erickson for BookBub
June 12, 2024
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With the summer heat comes summer reading! There are so many great new books to be read this season, and if you’re a historical fiction lover, have we got a treat for you. Featuring everything from adventure, romance, mystery, and drama in all different eras, check out our list of some of the best historical fiction books coming in summer 2024.
The Secret Keeper of Main Street
Kate Quinn calls The Secret Keeper of Main Street “a pure delight from start to finish!” In 1954, Black dressmaker Bailey Dowery works for her Oklahoma town’s elite. She has a secret: When she touches someone’s skin, she can sense their hopes, doubts, and even futures. Bailey tries to stay out of her customers’ business, but when she catches a glimpse of bride-to-be Elsa Grimes’s terrible future after her society wedding, she’s determined to help the young woman.
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Lake County
Addie Anne Buckley can’t wait to leave Florida for a trip to California to visit her dazzling Aunt Jean, otherwise known to the rest of the world as Hollywood starlet Marilyn Monroe. But instead of being supportive, Addie’s boyfriend, Truitt, gives her an ultimatum: Stay in their small town and marry him, or risk losing him forever. When Addie chooses to follow her own dreams of stardom in California, Truitt makes a foolish mistake involving the Tampa mafia… and lands them both in grave danger.
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All the Summers In Between
Margot’s wealthy family is the type that visits the Hamptons during the summers, while Thea’s family is made up of working-class locals — but having seasonal jobs together at a record store quickly builds a strong link between the two girls. One summer night in 1967 will change everything, as a devastating event leads the friends into a decade of estrangement. When Margot unexpectedly reappears, Thea is torn between treasuring their fond memories and wondering if she can ever fully trust Margot again.
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The Coast Road
Collette Crowley has announced her plans to divorce her husband in 1994 County Donegal, leading him to vindictively refuse to let her see her beloved children. When Collette recruits neighbor Izzy Keaveney as a mediator, Izzy’s own closest relationships will be tested by tragedy and complications. “Propelled by a gripping narrative and powerfully drawn characters. The Coast Road makes for compulsive reading,” says actor and author Gabriel Byrne.
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The Last Twelve Miles: A Novel
With the Prohibition movement in full swing, codebreaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman is the Coast Guard’s pride and joy as she cracks secret messages and combats the illicit rum trade. Down in the Caribbean, Marie Waite has risen in the ranks to become the region’s top rumrunner, and her successful enterprise has caught the attention of the American intelligence agencies. Two brilliant women face the task of besting the other in this fascinating new novel based on a real story.
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The Comfort of Ghosts
Iconic psychologist and investigator Maisie Dobbs faces one last mystery in this finale of a bestselling series by Jaqueline Winspear. In 1945 London, Maisie stumbles upon four teenage orphans and a wounded veteran who are squatting in an unoccupied Belgravia mansion — a group that has a mysterious link to her own late husband. As Maisie searches for answers in the sorrows of the past, she — and all of England — look forward tentatively to a new and brighter future after the war.
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The Queen’s Faithful Companion
Like the rest of the world, Princess Elizabeth of York is shocked when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicates the throne and her father is crowned King George VI. As she navigates this unexpected new role as heir apparent, her relationships with people like dog keeper Hanna Penwyck and pets like Susan the Corgi provide a way to keep Elizabeth grounded. “This irresistible novel — anchored by the real-life dog who went on to be the matriarch of 14 generations of royal corgis — is a must-read,” says author Kristin Harmel.
Release date: June 11
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Familiaris
If you enjoyed The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, you’ll be thrilled to get your hands on the brand-new follow-up novel about the history of the Sawtelle family. In 1919, deep in the woods of Wisconsin, newlyweds John and Mary Sawtelle stake out a new and adventurous life for themselves and their three dogs. But turning their dreams into reality brings many more challenges than they ever could have imagined.
Release date: June 11
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The Glassmaker
The author of Girl With a Peal Earring returns with a new sweeping tale. Fifteenth-century Venice is known for its celebration of the fine arts, and the delicate craft of glassblowing is no exception. Orsola Rosso’s family have perfected their work for generations, although she is not allowed to practice the art herself as a woman. When her father dies, Orsola must learn his trade in secret to ensure that the family — and its legacy — will continue to thrive.
Release date: June 18
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Let Us March On
Historical fiction readers will love this behind-the-scenes look into America’s past featuring a spirited, courageous activist who helped change the course of our history. Lizzie McDuffie and her husband first came to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s White House as a maid and valet, but quickly both became invaluable to the whole family. Soon, Lizzie becomes an advocate for the rights of the Black community all across the US.
Release date: June 18
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Jackie
Jackie’s story didn’t begin when she married President John F. Kennedy… and her worldwide legacy continued to grow long after his death. “This meticulously researched and lyrically written portrait of Jackie will appeal not only to baby boomers who experienced the historic events of her life but also to anyone who appreciates intimate novels about women’s hearts, minds, and souls,” says Library Journal.
Release date: June 18
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Shanghai: A Novel
The horrors of Kristallnacht in 1938 forces many European Jews to flee Nazi atrocities, but emigrating to new countries proves difficult for many. One port that doesn’t require complicated entry visas is Shanghai, and resistance worker Daniel Lohr leaps at the chance to escape into the East. But he soon discovers that the dazzling city is full of temptations and dangers for residents and newcomers alike.
Release date: June 25
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Husbands & Lovers
Mallory Dunne has been fighting for three years to find a kidney donor for her son after a near-fatal poisoning from toxic mushrooms. Little does she know that her search will converge with her own family’s history in 1950s Cairo, where Hungarian refugee Hannah finds herself pregnant and torn between her love for two different men. Marie Benedict says this book “takes readers on a page-turning ride encompassing intoxicating youthful romance, forbidden wartime love, betrayal, espionage, life-eroding secrets, and a mother’s boundless love for her child.”
Release date: June 25
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Masquerade
The Warlord of Yorùbáland has conquered 15th-century Timbuktu in West Africa, and female blacksmith Òdòdó is captured as the spoils of war — and claimed as his wife. She is thrown into the upper echelons of his society with those who hold all the power and influence, but her new husband’s enemies lurk around every corner. Òdòdó must battle mightily in the name of self-preservation to cultivate her own band of loyal followers if she’s to survive in this new place.
Release date: July 2
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The Lion Women of Tehran
When her father unexpected dies in 1950s Tehran, young Ellie and her mother are left with no choice but to move to a smaller home downtown. The blossoming of a friendship with a kind and friendly girl named Homa brings purpose back to Ellie’s life… but when Ellie and her mother get the opportunity to return to their upscale lives, the girls lose touch. When they reunite years later, the bonds of their younger days have frayed — and a betrayal threatens to sever the two women irrevocably.
Release date: July 2
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The Briar Club
Make sure to add this captivating new novel from beloved author Kate Quinn to your summer reading list! When mysterious widow Grace arrives at an all-women boardinghouse in 1950s Washington, DC, she forges unlikely friendships with her eccentric group of neighbors, bonding with policeman’s daughter Nora, ex-baseball player Beatrice, proper English lady Fliss, and unruly pro-McCarthy Arlene. But Grace is hiding a dark secret that might change all their lives…
Release date: July 9
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The Bright Sword
In this brilliant retelling of the Arthurian legend by the author of The Magicians, Collum is a young knight who desperately wants to join the Round Table. Nothing is as he expected when he reaches Camelot; King Arthur has just died, and only a few of the knights have survived. But with help from Merlin’s assistant, Nimue, the knights vow to band together to rebuild Britain and protect it from enemies new and old.
Release date: July 16
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Maria
Tasked with the assignment of creating a musical based on a the life of a former nun named Maria von Trapp who fled Austria with her family to escape the Nazi regime, Oscar Hammerstein knows audiences will be intrigued. But when he takes certain liberties in crafting the story’s retelling, an indignant Maria herself shows up at his door to correct the inaccuracies. ”Michelle Moran has delivered a gem of a novel, rich in historic detail, page-turning pacing, and lyrical, lush storytelling,” says author Allison Pataki.
Release date: July 30
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The Days I Loved You Most
Having fallen in love in 1941 New England, Evelyn and Joseph now have 60 years’ worth of memories over their years together. When Evelyn is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Joseph knows he can’t live without her. The couple decides to end their own lives together, but first they set out to spend one more year revisiting their past and taking ownership of the end of their story.
Release date: July 30
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The Rose Arbor
In London in the late 1960s, obituary writer Liz Houghton gets wind of the mysterious vanishing of a young girl… and writing the newspaper article about her could lead to Liz’s big break. But as she and her best friend, officer Marisa, investigate, they discover tragic stories of other girls from 20 years earlier. Could the disappearances and murders have something to do with the covert military activities at the nearby abandoned village of Tydeham?
Release date: August 6
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In a League of Her Own
Discover the little-known world of the only woman in the the Baseball Hall of Fame! When Effa Manlay’s husband buys a baseball team, he appoints her the manager. Suddenly, she’s no longer a civil rights champion in Harlem, but struggling to stay afloat in an all boys’ club. And yet she will persevere — and turn the Newark Eagles into the Negro Leagues Champions of 1946.
Release dat: August 6
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Behind Every Good Man: A Novel
In this hilarious novel by the author of Don’t Forget to Write, 1960s DC housewife Beverly Diamond finds her husband Larry cheating and vows to make him pay through the nose. His career as a senatorial campaign manager is heating up, but Beverly’s own political know-how might be the secret weapon Larry’s rival needs to win. Beverly enjoys working for the handsome candidate — but how far will she go for revenge and power… or for romance?
Release date: August 6
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The Seventh Veil of Salome
The hottest movie on the horizon in Hollywood’s Golden Age is the upcoming blockbuster film about Salome, the biblical princess who danced for John the Baptist’s beheading. When ingenue Vera Larios gets the lead role, veteran actress Nancy Hartley’s envy will push her to great lengths to assert her own dominance in the ruthless world of fame. Woven between the 20th-century timeline is also that of the young Salome herself, caught between her infatuation with the prophet and the whims of her wicked stepfather, King Herod.
Release date: August 6
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Our Narrow Hiding Places
Fans of All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale won’t want to miss this new historical novel! When Will has problems in his marriage, he seeks answers to family secrets from his grandmother, Mieke. Mieke delves into her past living in Nazi–occupied Holland in the final years of the war — and reflects on what it was like surviving the Hunger Winter on the Dutch coastline…
Release Date: August 13
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Peggy
Leslie Jamison and Rebecca Godfrey
Fourteen-year-old Peggy Guggenheim’s life is changed forever when her father dies in the sinking of the Titanic. Though she knows she will grieve his memory for the rest of her life, she is determined to share their mutual passion for art with the world. In her quest, Peggy will battle sexism and anti-Semitism as she becomes an iconic, independent woman and world-renowned art collector. Jenny Offill says, “Godfrey brilliantly resurrects the avant-garde adventurer Peggy Guggenheim as a feminist icon for our times.”
Release date: August 13
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The Paris Gown
Claire, Gina, and Margot haven’t seen each other in years, but when they’re reunited in 1955 Paris, the old friends find their futures intertwined. Claire wants to be a Michelin-starred chef, Gina is a journalist who dreams of being an author, and socialite Margot is working at Dior under a false name. When Claire’s neighbor leaves her a Dior gown, the three women are confused — but it might just change their lives…
Release date: August 20
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