BookTok: The best historical fiction recommendations

The best books are those that can transport us to an entirely different place or time, and no genre represents this quite as well as historical fiction.

BookTok holds a significant number of worthwhile historical fiction recommendations.
BookTok holds a significant number of worthwhile historical fiction recommendations.  © Unsplash/@jasonhk1920

Though not as popular as fantasy or romance, historical fiction still holds a significant space within the reader community of TikTok, known as BookTok.

The most popular recommendations in the genre show the vastly different storylines and themes that these kinds of books can include.

From the glamour of Old Hollywood to tense battles in the Scottish highlands, you won't want to miss these BookTok-approved historical fiction reads!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the most popular recommendations on BookTok.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the most popular recommendations on BookTok.  © screenshot/Instagram/@prideandpatronus

With over 200 million views of its hashtag on TikTok, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo may just be BookTok's most-recommended book. Thankfully, it lives up to the hype!

The novel follows fictional actor Evelyn Hugo from the beginning of her career in the 1950s through the course of her life as she navigates love, loss, and everything in between.

Basking the dizzying glamour of Old Hollywood, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one historical fiction read you'll never forget.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale is a beautifully-written historical fiction novel set during World World II.
The Nightingale is a beautifully-written historical fiction novel set during World World II.  © screenshot/Instagram/@theruggedbookshelf

Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale is set in France during World World II and follows two sisters in their fight for survival under German occupation.

The narrative is framed through the recollections of a woman in 1995, giving the story a poignant depth that underscores the book's themes of memory and the lasting impact of love.

Hannah's epic historical fiction novel is perfectly written and will, in fact, emotionally destroy you, but we promise you won't want to skip this one.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

All the Light We Cannot See was awarded the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
All the Light We Cannot See was awarded the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.  © screenshot/Instagram/@youreinabookcult

This Pulitzer Prize-winning read is renowned across the book world, but BookTok has sung its praises as well.

Doerr's All The Light We Cannot See is set amid World War II. The book follows the parallel stories of a French girl named Marie-Laure and a German boy named Werner.

This read will tug at your heartstrings as it contemplates profound questions about morality, memory, and meaning.

With complex and engaging characters and beautiful writing, Doerr's novel is a must-read for all fans of historical fiction.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Daisy Jones & The Six follows a fictional rock n' roll band in the 1970s and 1980s.
Daisy Jones & The Six follows a fictional rock n' roll band in the 1970s and 1980s.  © screenshot/Instagram/@readuntilthelastpage

Daisy Jones & The Six follows the blueprint Reid created with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with another complex and empowering female lead.

The novel, which is written as a documentary of the fictional band, describes Daisy Jones' road to fame as she crosses paths with The Six, an up-and-coming rock group led by the effortlessly cool Billy Dunne.

When Daisy joins the band, the drama that ensues as the group experiences the highs and lows of fame will have you hooked until the very end.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series currently has nine installments.
Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series currently has nine installments.  © screenshot/Instagram/@fiction.coffee.photo.addiction

Outlander seamlessly blends elements of fantasy with a story that taps into the best elements of historical fiction.

This epic time-traveling tale follows an English nurse named Claire who visits Scotland on a trip with her husband Frank after the end of World War II.

When Claire accidentally travels back through time thanks to the magical standing stones of Craigh na Dun, she finds herself in 1743 Scotland amid the clash between Highlanders and British redcoats.

Outlander is perfect for fans of the historical fiction genre with a heartfelt and captivating story that spans several decades and countries.

Happy reading!

Cover photo: Unsplash/@jasonhk1920

More on TikTok: