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

~Spring~ into the past with these new books!

1. The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

Union Square Co., elodieharper.com

Release date: March 29

Amara, 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

William Morrow & Company, katequinnauthor.com

Release date: March 29

Based 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

Carolrhoda Lab, goodreads.com

Release date: April 5

When 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

Atria Books, marthawaters.com

Release date: April 5

The 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

Flat Iron Books, Mary Inhea Kang / Via us.macmillan.com

Release date: April 5

Around 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

Doubleday Books, bonniegarmus.com

Release date: April 5

Elizabeth 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, "Dinner at Six" and Elizabeth's scientific approach to cooking turn out to be a hit among housewives. It's certainly not what she envisioned for herself, but at least she has Calvin, the father of her child and famous chemist, and Walter, a do-gooder journalist, on her side. But in an age of rampant sexism, Elizabeth faces struggles at every corner. A kicky debut, this book tackles feminism, resilience, and rationalism in a fun and refreshing way.

Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

7. Atomic Anna by Rachel Barenbaum

Grand Central Publishing, rachelbarenbaum.com

Release date: April 5

A 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

Harper Collins, Photograph by Orlando Gonzalez / Via dahlmallanosfigueroa.com

Release date: April 12

Reminiscent 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

Berkley Hardcover, Photo by Norman E. Jones Photography / Via dolenperkinsvaldez.com

Release date: April 12

Inspired 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

Berkley Hardcover, isabelcanas.com

Release date: May 3

An 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

Riverhead Books, Pascal Perich / Via hernandiaz.net

Release date: May 3

The 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

Tor/Forge, nghivo.com

Release date: May 10

Vo weaves a spellbinding tale that blends old Hollywood glamour with dark magic in her latest. Luli Wei — a name she "borrowed" from her sister — is an aspiring actor when she manages to nab a spot on a big studio through blackmail. For a Chinese-American woman, the only roles available are monsters, roles that Luli falls headfirst into. After all, she'd rather be a monster than a mere maid. But the monsters aren't just movie magic and Luli soon learns that Hollywood runs on blood agreements and sacrifice. Is she willing to become a monster to stay on top?

Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

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

William Morrow, karen-white.com

Release date: May 17

This 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 "Lucky" Sprague feels out of place in Newport after fleeing Italy with her grandmother. As the cameras roll, the three women's secrets — and those of Sprague Hall — threaten to come out.

Get it from Bookshop or a bookstore near you via Indiebound.

14. A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

HQN | Trade Paperback, adrianaherreraromance.com

Release date: May 31

A 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?