Historical Fiction February 2026 |
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| The Bookbinder's Secret by A.D. BellIn this "stellar debut" (Publishers Weekly), apprentice bookbinder Lily Delaney works at her widowed father's failing bookshop in 1901 Oxford, England. After a customer gives her a burned book, she finds a cryptic 50-year-old love letter hidden in the binding that speaks of murder. Drawn into the mystery, Lily looks for other books by the obscure author, discovering she's not the only one after them. Read-alike: Jess Armstrong's Ruby Vaughn mysteries, starting with The Curse of Penryth Hall. |
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| Sharpe's Storm by Bernard CornwellAmid brutal winter conditions in 1813 France, Major Richard Sharpe is ordered to keep Rear Admiral Sir Joel Chase safe, as Chase has plans that may finally defeat Napoleon. But Sharpe's task is made difficult by Chase's extreme confidence and thirst for battle. This is the latest in the long-running Sharpe series, which started in the 1980s and spawned the popular TV series starring Sean Bean. For fans of: thrilling adventures that beautifully blend history and fiction. |
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| Daughter of Genoa by Kat DevereauxAlone and with her home destroyed, Anna is helped by Father Vittorio, a Jesuit priest who is part of a secret group helping Jewish people escape World War II-era Italy. A talented forger, Anna, who's Jewish, makes fake documents and meets the group's leader, whom she falls for. This is "one of the best works of World War II historical fiction published in recent years," raves Library Journal. For fans of: Joseph O'Connor's My Father's House. |
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| Canticle by Janet Rich EdwardsSet in medieval Bruges, this atmospheric debut follows devout teenager Aleys as she runs away from home to avoid an arranged marriage and joins a group of secular women supporting the church. Her time there isn't without incident, however, as corrupt religious officials abound and others are suspicious of her ability to read books and her supernatural healing talent. For fans of: Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken; Matrix by Lauren Groff. |
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| The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie GodfreyTwelve-year-old Miv is panicking. Life has been complicated since her mom got sick, and now her dad is talking about wanting to move their family away from the town Miv has lived in her whole life--because of the murders. Young women are dying, everyone is afraid, and no one knows who the culprit might be.But as far as Miv is concerned, leaving Yorkshire and her best friend Sharon simply isn't an option, no matter the dangers lurking round their way, or the strangeness at home that started the day Miv's mum stopped talking. Perhaps if she could solve the case of the disappearing women, they could stay after all? |
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| Rules of the Heart by Janice HadlowAt 33, Lady Harriet Bessborough is unhappily married and the mother of four. So when she's pursued by a charming younger man, she begins an affair. This isn't unusual in her circle, but she must follow the rules: don't embarrass your husband, be discrete, and don't fall in love. The affair lasts for years, but Harriet doesn't follow the last rule, resulting in heartbreak. For fans of: well-researched historical novels starring real people; leisurely paced, emotional tales of love. |
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Meet the Newmans by Jennifer NivenFor two decades, Del and Dinah Newman and their sons, Guy and Shep, have ruled television as America's Favorite Family. Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch them play flawless versions of themselves. But now it's 1964, and the Newmans' perfection feels woefully out of touch. Ratings are in free fall, as are the Newmans themselves. Read alike: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.
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| With Love from Harlem by ReShonda TateIn 1943 Harlem, beloved jazz pianist Hazel Scott is at the top of her game, performing in front of Langston Hughes and others, when she meets married pastor and councilman Adam Clayton Powell Jr., leading to an exhilarating and tumultuous relationship that changes the course of her life. For fans of: well-researched biographical novels starring Black artists; Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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