4 Wartime Historical Fiction Picks From Reese's Book Club To Add To Your TBR

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Reese's Book Club picks rarely disappoint, and there's something for everyone on the list. From touching memoirs to rom-coms that make you laugh out loud, Reese Witherspoon knows how to curate great reads for her fans. And, those who are into historical fiction are in luck, as there are plenty of those — no surprise, since that's what Witherspoon loves delving into. "I've said it once and I'll say it again ... I LOVE historical fiction. It might be my favorite genre but shhh don't tell the others," she shared on Instagram.

Among the 100+ books from Reese's Book Club, many historical fiction reads are definitely worth picking up, and we've chosen four that center around themes of war. While we're not fond of real-life battles, it's always interesting to do a deep dive into past world conflicts, especially through the lens of a fictional character. If you love a heart-racing plot or are simply a history buff, these are perfect for you to add to your To Be Read list.

World War II is one of the most written-about wars in the fictional landscape, but Kristin Hannah's "The Nightingale" particularly stands out as Reese's Book Club's highest-rated read pick of all time. The historical fiction centers around sisters Vianne and Isabelle, who are living in France during the war with Germany. Vianne's house is invaded by Nazi soldiers, and she is forced to live among them while her husband is away fighting in the war. Meanwhile, a rebellious Isabelle bravely helps the French Resistance under her call name "Nightingale." As the two sisters do what they can for their country, they face punishment and death at the hands of the Nazis while doing all that they can to aid their fellow citizens.

Hannah spoke about what inspired her to write "The Nightingale" in an interview with PBS Books, sharing, "The book does feel like ... quite a step forward, sort of artistically and just conceptually for me. And I really think it's this combination of World War II, which so many people love, and a book about the courage of women." She continued, "One of my sort of pet peeves in life is that women's history is often lost or overlooked or forgotten. And so I think that's part of what's resonating with people so much." Although "The Nightingale" was published in 2015, it remains a fan fave of Reese's Book Club to this day.

"The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron is one of the highest-rated reads from Reese's Book Club, which proves that many love a good wartime novel. Teen Stefania Podgórska is living and working in a Polish city for the Diamants when the country is invaded by the Nazis during World War II. The Diamants, who are Jewish, are taken away, and Podgórska is forced to take care of her young sister alone. When one of the Diamants' sons, Max, shows up at the door asking Podgórska to hide him and other Jewish people, she decides to put her life at risk, all while her house is taken over by Nazi soldiers.

Cameron's historical fiction is a YA pick from the 2020s that even adults can enjoy. One fan shared on Amazon, "I truly feel this book is a 'must read' for everyone. The Holocaust is something that should never be forgotten, and all generations need to learn about the atrocities that happened during WWII as well as the epic acts of heroism of those that dared to go against the Nazi regime. I could not put the book down, and yet did not want it to end." Another wrote, "Gritty heartfelt story. A must-read. We honor those who have suffered so horrifically and thankful for those who survived to tell us their experience so this never happens again. Well worth the read."

If you love a spy novel, "The Alice Network" will have you imagining yourself as Mata Hari during World War 1. Kate Quinn's novel centers around two timelines — one of Charlie St. Clair in 1947 after WWII, and the other of Eve Gardiner during the Great War. As St. Clair is sent off to Switzerland after getting pregnant, she makes a pit stop in London to find out what happened to her cousin Rose, who went missing during the war. St. Clair and Gardiner's paths cross when the 19-year-old enlists the former spy's help to find Rose. During Gardiner's timeline, readers learn how she joined a ring of spies called the Alice Network in 1915, gathering secrets from German soldiers while working at a restaurant. Decades later, her motivation for revenge propels her to help St. Clair, with the two women getting the closure they need.

"The Alice Network" is based on a true story about a real-life group of female spies who obtained info about German Nazi's to help the Allies. Quinn revealed to A Writer of History that when she learned this, she was inspired to create a world around it. "I first came across the historic Alice Network in a fantastic non-fiction book called 'Women Heroes of WWI' by Kathryn J. Atwood, and was astounded that I'd never heard of this spy network or its brave operatives before. It was a story that begged to be told," she declared.

Fans of "Doctor Zhivago" will love how author Lara Prescott weaved Boris Pasternak's real-life history surrounding his once-banned book during the Cold War into her novel, "The Secrets We Kept." Reese Witherspoon's September 2019 pick tells the story of an American typist-turned-spy for the CIA named Irina, who is tasked with distributing "Doctor Zhivago" around the world in order to undermine the Soviet Union. There to help is seasoned spy Sally Forrester, who takes Irina under her wing. Meanwhile, in the USSR, Pasternak's lover Olga Ivinskaya, whom Lara was based on, is caught in the crosshairs of the USSR for her ties with the acclaimed poet. As romantic boundaries, as well as patriotic loyalties, are crossed, "The Secrets We Kept" is a thrilling novel with elements of true historical events.

Readers love the many elements of "The Secrets We Kept," with one Goodreads reviewer writing, "This is one of those rare books, a historic and finely-crafted page-turner about the power of the written word that will leave you contemplating such topics as equality, sexuality, censorship, the freedom of the press and how books have the power to change lives — all topics that are still as relevant, if not more, today." Another shared, "Picture 'Mad Men' set in the early days of the CIA with an equal dose of historical fiction at the sunset of Stalin's reign over the Soviet Union. I found both sections highly engaging and couldn't flip the pages fast enough."