14 New Historical Fiction Books You'll Want To Pick Up This Spring

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1.The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

Release date: March 29Amara, sold by her mother to a vile brothel owner, is a she-wolf (another title for enslaved prostitutes). In 76 AD Pompeii, women like Amara and her fellow she-wolves are voiceless, often ignored — or worse — by the rest of society. Amara hasn’t given up on the potential for freedom, but freedom, especially in these ancient times, always comes with a cost. This raw and honest perspective on an underlooked group of historical women shows the brutal realities of ancient life and the impact of female friendship in the midst of harrowing times. Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

2.The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Release date: March 29Based on the real story of a legendary female sniper in the Soviet army during World War II, Quinn’s latest novel follows Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Ukrainian bookworm, student, and mother who ends up with the nickname “Lady Death” thanks to her sharpshooting skills. We follow her throughout the war as she struggles against misogynistic military culture and even visits the US, where she befriends Eleanor Roosevelt. A captivating and refreshing view on a much-written about time period that any historical fiction fan will love.Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

3.Gold Mountain by Betty G. Yee

Release date: April 5When 15-year-old Tam Ling Fan's twin brother dies of influenza, and her father is falsely imprisoned for treason, her family expects her to fulfill her duties as a woman: enter an advantageous marriage that will help save her Baba. But Ling Fan instead flees to California, disguised as her brother, to work on the new railroad. Navigating xenophobia, mental and physical strain, and gender identity, Ling Fan hopes to earn enough to save her father her way. A story of grit and determination, this is a fascinating read about a girl who sets her own path.Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

4.To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters

Release date: April 5The third book in The Regency Vows series follows Lady Emily Turner, who's suffered through six seasons in a row as an unmarried debutante. Her father's large debts are scaring away all her prospects — except the slimy owner of a gambling hall. Meanwhile, Lord Julian Belfry runs a scandalous theater — the kind of place men take their mistresses, not their wives. When Emily and Julian meet, they realize marriage might be convenient for both of them, but the newlyweds quickly realize feelings can be quite inconvenient. Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

5.Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

Release date: April 5Around the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Daiyu is kidnapped from her home in China and smuggled to a San Francisco brothel. This begins her harrowing journey as she attempts to find her place in 1880s America, an unforgiving place, especially for a young Chinese girl. But Daiyu's namesake — a tragic figure from an 18-century tale — keeps her company, sometimes even helping her along the way. A thoroughly researched historical novel with a hint of poetic magic, this novel of self-discovery is as moving as it is hard to put down.Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

6.Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Release date: April 5Elizabeth Zott is a highly capable scientist...or she was until an out-of-wedlock pregnancy (taboo in the 1960s) forces her out of the lab and into hosting a cooking show. Surprisingly,

7.Atomic Anna by Rachel Barenbaum

Release date: April 5A book that rips through time as easily as it does your heart, Atomic Anna follows three generations of women as they grapple with the ethics of changing the past. In 1986 Chernobyl, nuclear scientist, Anna Berkova, is asleep when the meltdown begins, but her life is saved when she's thrown through time to 1992 Armenia where she discovers her estranged daughter on the brink of death. This flings Anna on a journey further in time, on a mission to save the granddaughter she's never met. Full of breath-holding tension and fraught family dynamics, this sci-fi/historical genre-bender is a must-read.Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

8.A Woman of Endurance by Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa

Release date: April 12Reminiscent of Toni Morrison's Beloved, this is a haunting story of the Puerto Rican slave trade that shines a light into a dark corner of history. Keera — now named Pola — has been kidnapped to the island to serve on a cruel plantation, breeding new slaves almost constantly. She desperately escapes only to find herself stumbling upon another plantation and into a warm community of slaves who are offered some semblance of freedom. As Pola regains both her health and her Yoruba spirit, we see her blossom amidst tragedy.Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

9.Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Release date: April 12Inspired by terrible and true history, this novel follows Black nurse, Civil Townsend, in post-segregation Alabama. She's just started a job at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, where she wants to champion female bodily autonomy. But when her first task involves two young, Black children, Civil starts to become suspicious. And when the truth comes out, none of their lives will ever be the same. Told in dual timelines, we see Civil's struggle play out in real-time while also getting insight from her future self in 2016.Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

10.The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

Release date: May 3An intoxicatingly dark novel that feels like Mexican Gothic and Rebecca had a baby. After Beatriz's father is killed in Mexico’s War of Independence, she married a mysterious widower so that she and her mother could escape to his estate. But immediately Beatriz feels something is off about Hacienda San Isidro, from the housekeeper's alarming chalk glyphs to Beatriz's violent dreams. She starts to believe her husband's first wife is haunting the estate and teams up with a local Mestizo priest to exorcise the house.Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

11.Trust by Hernan Diaz

Release date: May 3The 1920s might be a buzzy time, but everyone still knows about Benjamin and Helen Rask: Wall Street tycoon and daughter of aristocrats, respectively. This power couple has risen like foam to the top of the decade's most affluent and elite — but at what cost? This is the story-within-a-story at the heart of Trust, a uniquely layered novel that proves every story has another side...and another...and another... Each page peels back another mystery, making for an utterly riveting read.Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

12.Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

Release date: May 10Vo weaves a spellbinding tale that blends old Hollywood glamour with dark magic in her latest. Luli Wei — a name she

13.The Lost Summers of Newport by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

Release date: May 17This triple POV novel comes from the minds of three historical fiction powerhouses, so you know it's going to delight. In present day, Andie has landed a dream job on a show renovating historic homes like Newport's Sprague Hall, but runs into trouble with its stubborn heiress owner. In 1899, Ellen Daniels gives singing lessons to Miss Maybelle Sprague, poised to marry an Italian heir. And in 1958, Lucia

14.A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

Release date: May 31A romp-filled and refreshingly diverse historical romance that follows Luz Alana Heith-Benzan and her rum business. After her father's death, Luz Alana learns her trust fund is being withheld until she marries. Determined to do it alone, she leaves Santo Domingo for Paris in hopes of expanding her business. But men aren't interested in working with a woman, especially a woman of color. Except for the Scottish Earl of Darnick, who is a bit too charming — and helpful — for Luz Alana's liking. A marriage of convenience, steamy love scenes, and a heartfelt romance all lie within the pages of this sparkling first in a new series.Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

Which book are you most excited for?