As you pack your bags for summer vacation, you’ll want to save room in your suitcase for these titles. From fan favorites like Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Jodi Picoult to debut authors we can’t wait for you to discover, this season is packed with page-turners that illuminate the past. Dive into the most anticipated historical fiction titles of summer 2024.
The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron (6/4)
A captivating novel based on true events tells the story of Jacquotte Delahaye, a female pirate captain, who elevated herself through the ranks and unexpectedly fell in love. In Santo Domingo, Jacquotte’s world is turned upside down forcing her to run away. Along the way, she joins a group of refugees and meets Teresa. As they journey across the Caribbean as indentured servants to Blackhand, Jacquotte finds solace in Teresa and their bond continues to grow. When Jacquotte finds herself involved in a scheme bigger than she imagined, she’s forced to make a difficult decision. The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is a beautiful exploration of love, friendship, and belonging.
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The Last Twelve Miles by Erika Robuck (6/4)
An entertaining historical fiction novel inspired by two ambitious women during the Prohibition Rum Wars. In Washington, DC, no one would suspect Elizabeth Smith Friedman of being the co-inventor of cryptanalysis but her intelligence helped the US during the Great War and the Coast Guard has recruited her again. Meanwhile, Marie Waite is in the Bahamas and she’s just identified her ticket to the top and settling her family’s debt for good. Inspired by a true story, The Last Twelves Miles is a dynamic showdown between two women committed to proving they can be wives, mothers, and more.
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Four Squares by Bobby Finger (6/18)
Told over a 30 year span, Artie Anderson recounts his life beginning in the 1990s until present day and his gradual loss of freedom and connections. On Artie’s 60th birthday, he learns that the daughter and ex-wife of his former partner are moving. The problem isn’t exactly that they’re moving, it’s that they’re moving across the country and they’re all Artie has. When an unexpected injury occurs, Artie finds himself in GALS, the local LGBTQ senior center, surrounded by people he doesn’t know. What begins as a nightmare turns into a pleasant surprise that emphasizes the importance of community, friendship, and living in the moment.
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What They Said About Luisa by Erika Rummel (6/18)
Told from the perspectives of those who encounter Luisa Abrego of Seville comes the story of a courageous woman. Luisa is an enslaved woman carrying the child of her enslaver who is set free upon his death. Forced to leave her child behind, Luisa marries a white man and joins his voyage to the unconquered land that would later be known as Mexico.
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Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams (6/25)
From the author of The Summer Wives comes a captivating novel filled with lost love and family secrets. Following two women and spanning decades and continents, readers embark on a journey of second chances, class dynamics, and difficult decisions. In New England 2022, Mallory Dunner received a phone call that forever changed her life. Her ten-year old son, Sam, had been airlifted from summer camp and now needs a kidney transplant. With little options, long buried secrets must come to light to save her son’s life.
In Cairo 1951, Hannah Ainsworth is a Hungarian refugee married to a wealthy British diplomat. Unexpectedly swept away by a hotel manager in an intense love affair, Hannah finds herself pregnant and forced to make a sacrifice that will have lasting impact for generations.
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The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce
Alice Jones wants her own happily ever after and Leonard “Kip” Rhinelander could be that and more. Kip is the heir to his family’s real estate fortune and when Alice and Kip secretly wed, he stands to lose it all if he doesn’t get the marriage annulled. Rumors swirl around Alice and her questionable ancestry leaving her both heartbroken and determined to claim the life she desperately desires.
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The Disappeared by Rebecca J. Sanford (7/30)
Beginning during Argentina’s Dirty War and spanning three decades, The Disappeared tells the harrowing story of the many women and children whose lives were torn apart under a rising military dictatorship. Lorena Ledesma and her husband are kidnapped in the middle of the night leaving their two-year-old son to be raised by his grandmother and American adoptee, Rachel Sprague discovers she has a biological brother living in another country. Exploring identity, family secrets, and untold truths, readers will embark on a journey as a grandmother and American adoptee search for answers that could unravel their lives and expose the truth Argentina’s government tried desperately to bury.
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The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (8/6)
The author of Mexican Gothic is back with a tantalizing historical fiction novel that is bound to become a favorite. In the 1950s, the most sought after role is Princess Salome, the legendary woman whose story has inspired artists everywhere. When Vera Larios, an unknown actress, lands the big role other actresses cannot contain their disbelief and envy, especially Nancy Hartley. For Nancy, this role could breathe life back into her dying career. In Golden Age Hollywood jealousy, gossip, and scandal make for an unforgettable tragedy.
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The Thirteenth Husband by Greer Macallister (8/6)
Inspired by the life of heiress, Aimee Crocker, comes an entertaining historical fiction novel filled with drama, glam, and romance. When Aimee’s father dies, she’s left with millions of dollars to create a life of her own and break a few hearts along the way.
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A Pair of Wings by Carole Hopson (8/20)
Inspired by the life of Bessie Coleman, A Pair of Wings is an enthralling piece about a young woman who challenged the status quo and paved her own way. In 1920, Black women were not trained to fly in America but things are different in Europe. Bessie sets her sights on the open air and learns spellbinding stunts that become her signature. While life feels lighter in the air, the weight of the world threatens to bring her down.
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By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult (8/20)
Jodi Picoult fans are in for a treat with this captivating dual perspective novel spanning decades. In 1581, Emilia Bassano enjoys the perks of being Lord Chamberlain’s mistress, particularly the theater. With aspirations of seeing her own work on the stage but understanding the limitations of being a woman, Emilia pays a man to use his name but the sacrifice is far greater. In present-day, Melina Green has written a piece inspired by Emilia Bassano but the sacrifices Melina must make to achieve success aren’t all that different from centuries ago.
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There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak (8/20)
A beautiful historical fiction intertwining the lives of three characters examining the Epic of Gilgamesh and the transcendence of water.
In 1840 London, Arthur is born near the River Thames. With an alcoholic father and a mother with a mental health condition, Arthur escapes through his vivid imagination and memory. His creativity leads him to an apprentice at a leading publisher where one specific book catches his eye: Nineveh and Its Remains.
In 2014 Turkey, Narin, a ten-year-old girl, gets diagnosed with a rare disorder that will lead to hearing loss. Before that time comes, her grandmother is determined to baptize her in a sacred Iraqi temple. But with the increasing presence of ISIS and the destruction of ancestral lands along the Tigris, it may not be possible.
In 2018 London, Zaleekah is a divorcee and hydrologist, who is living in a houseboat on the Thames. Experiencing dark times and feeling isolated, Zaleekah is convinced there’s nothing left for her in this world, until she comes across a book about her homeland.
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