Goodreads' Top 15 Most Read Historical Fiction Books Of 2026 (So Far), Ranked By Reviews

Historical fiction has a unique ability to transport us back to a halcyon (or not so halcyon) time. It can make us yearn for simpler days or grateful for the luxuries we have now, entwining fact with fiction to teach us about important moments. It also reminds us that the world is constantly changing; and during a year when the future seems extremely uncertain, it's understandable why readers are reaching for them, more than ever.

If Reese's Book Club's multiple historical fiction picks aren't enough to convince you of the genre's popularity, take a look at Goodreads' list of the Most Read Books Worldwide This Year (at the time of writing) or Goodreads' list of the Most Read Books of the Reading Challenge (so far) and you'll notice readers have been consuming a serious amount of historical fiction.

Which novels set in the past are readers loving in 2026 though? We found out. We combed through Goodsreads' list of historical fiction books and created a top 15 by ranking them according their star rating out of 5.0 (at the time of writing). We also took into consideration Goodreads user reviews to find out why readers enjoyed them.

At the time of writing, "The Mad Wife" by Meagan Church has a Goodreads score of 3.84. Set in the 1950s, the story centers on Lulu Mayfield, who wants to be the quintessential traditional housewife. But when the Mayfields welcome their second child and a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in nearby, Lulu begins to spiral. Though on the surface Bitsy seems perfectly polished, Lulu experiences some dark revelations about her that make her question everything she thought she knew.

"A compelling blend of historical fiction, women's fiction and psychological suspense," One Goodreads user wrote, praising Church over the book's major plot twist. Another claimed the historical aspect was one of the most interesting factors, writing, "I was fascinated by how husbands treated their wives, and how fathers interacted with their children, and how beauty standards were back then."

Boasting a 3.89 score at the time of writing, the classic "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë has proven a popular read in 2026, likely thanks to the Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi movie of the same name. Set in the 1800s, the story follows Heathcliff and Catherine go from lovers to exes. However, Heathcliff can't control his jealousy when Catherine embarks on a romance with one of his enemies, and becomes hellbent on destroying the relationship of the woman he once loved.

"This is historical fiction done in the Romantic style, with both a stress on the unbridled expression of the characters' emotions," wrote one Goodreads user. "The novel is a profoundly haunting experience of a book, one that I am sure will dog my thoughts for a very, very long time," wrote another. And if you're looking for more, these books completely reimagined "Wuthering Heights."

"The God of the Woods" by Liz Moore is one of Goodreads' most read mystery and thriller books of 2026, with an average score of 4.09 at the time of writing. It takes readers to a panicked time in 1975 when 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar disappears from the campgrounds owned by her family. To complicate matters further, her brother went missing over a decade ago under equally mysterious circumstances. This sparks a desperate race against time to find the teen and work out why two Van Leer children vanished.

Although primarily classified as a thriller, the novel's setting alternates between the 1960s and 1970s, offering readers a glimpse into family life at the time. One Goodreads user stated, "This is a great combination of historical fiction, mystery, crime thriller, and women's fiction with multiple perspectives taking us on a tour through time zones, wandering around the minds of very different characters, seeing the world from their points of view." Another wrote in their four-star review of one of the highest rated reads from Raegan Revord's book club, "This is historical fiction and mystery/suspense rolled into one long, slow burn of a book. I think the author did the multiple timelines flawlessly." The book won Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller at the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards.

With a 4.10 Goodreads score at the time of writing, "Buckeye" by Patrick Ryan takes readers to the end of World War II when Cal Jenkins meets Margaret Salt. Cal's wife Becky uses her magical powers to communicate with the dead to contact Margaret's husband, Felix, who spent much of the war at sea. With that life changing interaction, the group become deeply intwined in each other's lives for generations to come.

"Often amusing (Cal's WWI veteran father could have come right out of a Richard Russo novel), sometimes suspenseful, always interesting in the historical details of the time, and by turns heartbreaking and hopeful," shared one impressed reader of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction. Another wrote of the story, which stretches multiple decades and was one of Read With Jenna's 2025 Book Club picks, "It's historical fiction at its finest."

Maggie O'Farrell's "Hamnet" is based on William Shakespeare's classic "Hamnet" and a 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction. It's set in 1580 and told from the perspective of Agnes, the mom of Hamlet, before she becomes a mom and wife. The emotional novel follows her journey through life, including the tragic death of her musical prodigy son. It has a 4.20 Goodreads score at the time of writing and was turned into a movie in 2025, which may explain its surge in popularity in 2026.

In one Goodreads review, a reader wrote, "It's written beautifully and descriptively." They added of O'Farrell's references to Shakespeare and his family, "Not much is known about any of them yet Maggie O'Farrell brings them to life with her vivid imagination and meticulous writing." Another review read, "O'Farrell's writing style is a lyrical dreamscape." And if you've been sucked in by her work, O'Farrell has several other books that aren't "Hamnet" to dive into.

Readers are introduced to Ryan and Lillian Bright in "The Bright Years" by Sarah Damoff. The newlyweds recently became parents to Georgette, but both have been keeping major secrets. While Ryan has hidden his alcohol addiction, Lillian never told Ryan that she has a son. Georgette grows up in the dysfunctional environment but is determined to distance herself from her parents. But all that changes when she meets her mom's firstborn. The book, a 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction, transcends several decades (with most happening between the '80s and '00s) and has a 4.22 Goodreads score at the time of writing.

One Goodreads users praised how Damoff anchored the book by linking it to real life historical events. "[They] added color and depth to the passing of time for the fictional Bright family," they wrote. A second shared a similar sentiment, writing, "I enjoyed the small, quirky moments of the kids being kids as well as the historical, pop culture moments – all of which gave the book more life and believability."

"Broken Country" by Clare Leslie Hall successfully broke the top 10 on our countdown thanks to its average score of 4.26 at the time of writing. Our protagonist Beth is married to Frank, but their seemingly picture-perfect life together is drastically disrupted when Beth is suddenly reunited with her ex, Gabriel Wolfe. He's in town with his young son, who bares a lot of similarities to Beth's late son. As the two become reacquainted, Beth is majorly torn over her past and present. The book, set in the '50s and '60s, was nominated for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards in the Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction category.

A Goodreads user highlighted how deeply emotional the book (one of Reese's Book Club's most heartbreaking reads) is, while praising its historical romance themes. "'Broken Country' is both genre bending and fast paced. Historical fiction. Mystery. Romance. This book, these characters, and their heartbreaking story will stay with me for a long time to come!" wrote another.

Taylor Jenkins Reid's "Atmosphere" has a 4.31 Goodreads score at the time of writing. The Goodreads Choice Awards 2025 winner for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction takes us back to the 1980s for the story of Joan Goodwin. She joins NASA's space shuttle program and starts training alongside her fellow hopeful astronauts, who are quite the eclectic group. Amid the friendships they develop as they're tested to their limits, Goodwin finds herself enveloped in a sapphic romance during a time being openly LGBTQ+ wasn't so accepted.

One Goodreads user gushed of one of the best fiction books of 2025, "If you enjoy character-rich historical fiction, diversity, an exploration of sexual identity and women's struggles for acceptance in the field of science, and a fascinating look at the workings of NASA and the space program in the 80's, TJR has delivered an excellent choice!" Another reviewer stated, "Overall, this was a beautiful blend of history, character, ambition, and heart."

With a Goodreads score at the time of writing of 4.37, it's little surprise "The Frozen River" by Ariel Lawhon was nominated for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction. The period mystery follows Martha Ballard, a life and death expert in the late 18th century who's called into action when a man is found frozen in a local river. She soon finds the man was accused of rape months earlier — and she's convinced it was murder. But when no one else believes her, she has to do some serious sleuthing to get to the truth.

"'The Frozen River' is an example of historical fiction at its finest. I love books that not only educate me but evoke emotion and are thought provoking. This book did all three perfectly," one Goodreads user wrote of the 1789-set book. A second reader wrote, "Whether you enjoy historical fiction, mysteries, or a bit of romance, you're sure to enjoy this book."

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid has a 4.39 Goodreads score at the time of writing and was nominated at the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards in the Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction category. Evelyn Hugo is a former Hollywood star looking to lift the lid on her career in a tell-all biography, and she's tapped journalist Monique Grant for the job. Evelyn takes Monique on a journey through her life, beginning in the '50s, and doesn't spare many details about career — or seven rocky marriages. But as Evelyn re-lives decades of her life, Monique realizes they have a connection she had no idea about, and it soon becomes clear why Evelyn was so intent on having her tell her story.

"As a historical fiction novel, it combines the charisma and beauty of Hollywood with the modern New York writer's mind," stated one Goodreads reviewer. "It's brilliant! It's unputdownable, addictive, heartfelt time travel in Hollywood," read another Goodreads review.

"James" by Percival Everett cracked the top five thanks to its 4.41 score at the time of writing. The novel was nominated at the 2024 Goodreads Choice Award for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction and is a reimagining of the classic "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain. James (aka Jim) is a slave in the 1860s who runs away after learning he's about to be sold to a new owner and shipped away from his family. On the run, he meets Huck, who's also run away from home and faked his own death in an attempt to escape his dad's abuse. The two form a close bond.

Some readers suggested reading "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" first, while another highlighted how much research Everett had seemingly done into the historical events touched on in the book. Another shared, "'James' will likely stand as a timeless work of Black American fiction; a touching and poetic work of historical fiction that reminds us of the US's rancid history."

"The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah landed in fourth place with a 4.46 Goodreads average score at the time of writing. In 1974, we meet Ernt Allbright, who's returning home from the Vietnam war. He moves his family, including his 13-year-old daughter Leni, to Alaska for an off-the-grid life. At first, their move to the harsher climes goes well. But when winter rolls in, things change quickly and drastically. Haunted by his war days, Ernt experiences a mental health crisis, leaving Leni and her mom in great peril. 

A Goodreads reviewer compared the novel (which ranked highly amongst Kristin Hannah's beloved historical fiction books and won in the Historical Fiction category at the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards) to a horror because of the impending doom that looms over Leni and her mom. "I am utterly emotionally wrung out. I have felt every emotion a human body is capable of feeling while reading this book," they wrote. Another noted that while the novel is a top historical fiction story, it transcends genres. "It is also a thriller, a mystery, a suspense story and a romance. It starts slowly and builds like a great symphony to a crescendo which does not let go of you," they wrote. If you're looking for more from Hannah, she's also the author of the top rated historical fiction pick from Read with Jenna's book club.

"The Women" by Kristin Hannah has an impressive 4.58 score on Goodreads at the time of writing and won at the 2024 Goodreads Choice Award for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction. Frances "Frankie" McGrath is tired of her sheltered life and the misogynistic ideals laid out for her, so, in 1965, she decides to join the the Vietnam war as a nurse. But war is harsher than she ever imagined. Amid the daily horrors, she begins to question every facet of her life. Being in Vietnam is far from the end of her nightmare, though. When she returns home, she realizes not many people are sympathetic to her trauma, nor grateful for her sacrifice.

"I can honestly say that I learned more about the men and women in Vietnam from this book than any other historical book that I have read," noted one Goodreads reviewer, who gave the book five stars. Another wrote, "While this book is historical fiction, it is obvious that it is well researched, and many things are true." They added, "Kristin Hannah is my go-to historical fiction author, and for good reason, her books are fabulous, and this one is no different."

Narrowly missing the top spot is Kathryn Stockett's "The Calamity Club," with a 4.61 Goodreads score at the time of writing. It's the story of three down-on-their-luck women whose lives unsuspectingly intertwine during the Great Depression. There's 11-year-old orphan Meg, Birdie, who's on a mission to remind her rich sister of her existence, and the brash Charlie, who's hit some seriously hard times. The trio decide to join forces and form The Calamity Club, through which they're determined to get their lives back on track — no matter what the cost.

One Goodreads reader said in a five-star review, "The writing totally transports you to the time period. It was so vivid, and the level of detail felt so well researched and imperative to the story." Wrote another, "This historical novel is both engaging and horrifying as it reveals the cruel beliefs in Mississippi's past, and explains the rigid mind-set of contemporary politics & culture. However, throughout history, the theme of women helping other women gave the story conflict, suspense, and lots of humor." When you've finished "The Calamity Club," these are the gipping historical fiction books to read next.

"The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah takes the stop spot on our rundown thanks to its highly impressive 4.65 Goodreads score at the time of writing. The story takes place in France at the start of World War II. Vianne, a teacher, is separated from her husband who goes off to war as Nazis take over their small French village. The home Vianne shares with her daughter gets captured by the invaders, leading them to make heart-wrenching decisions just to stay alive. We also meet Vianne's sister Isabelle, who joins the Resistance after being betrayed by the man she loves.

"The story draws on some of the real historical events, and vividly portrays the atmosphere, mood, and life at that time in history with such elegant prose and [skillfull] story telling," one Goodreads user wrote of the book, which was Goodreads Choice Awards 2015 winner for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction and one of the highest rated Reese's Book Club picks of all time. "Her careful attention to detail along with a gorgeous turn of phrase creates a gut-wrenching story that haunts readers long after the last sentence. In other words, this is exactly what a historical novel should do," gushed a second.

To be considered for our list of Goodreads' top 15 most read historical fiction books of 2026 (so far), each book had to be included on Most Read Books This Year list (worldwide) and/or Goodreads' Readers' Most Read Books of the Reading Challenge (So Far) list, published in June 2026. Historical fiction had to be listed as one of its primary genres on its Goodreads landing page, and each was ranked in accordance to its Goodreads user-given rating out of 5.0 at the time of writing. We also took into account Goodreads user reviews to find out what made each so popular.