Sarah McCoy is the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of the novels The Mapmaker’s Children; The Baker’s Daughter, a 2012 Goodreads Choice Award nominee; and The Time It Snowed in Puerto Rico. She has taught English and writing at Old Dominion University and at the University of Texas at El Paso. She lives with her husband, an orthopedic sports surgeon, and their dog, Gilbert, in North Carolina.
Skylark (2026) Paula McLain "Paula McLain is a story alchemist. In Skylark, she saturates our imaginations with the colorful threads of two distinct timelines. Artfully crafted and poetically rendered, this is the kind of historical fiction I live for - stories where the past acts as a mirror for the modern milieu."
Austen at Sea (2025) Natalie Jenner "Save your money on that Jane Austen Festival and buy this book instead! Jenner has crafted the ultimate literary adventure with historic characters and events so artfully rendered that you'll find yourself wondering if this isn't exactly what happened- or should have. Henrietta and Charlotte, daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice, navigate turbulent legal waters on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean while simultaneously inspiring the women in their path, including those of us reading their story. A novel of remarkable heart. Jane Austen would be proud!"
All That Life Can Afford (2025) Emily Everett "Emily Everett's All That Life Can Afford is a wildly entertaining fish-out-of-water story meets Cinderella fairy tale. Readers will eagerly swim along as her American heroine, Anna, navigates the tempestuous waves and powerful undercurrents of the British upper crust. An effervescent debut chock full of Austenian nods. Swoonworthy!"
The Majority (2023) Elizabeth L Silver "This is Justice Sylvia Olin Bernstein's story but make no mistake, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is hammering her heavenly gavel in approval. The Majority is replete with raw emotional context, perception, and humanity that resonates far beyond the page. Sure to be one of the most unforgettable reads of the year. It already holds that distinction for me."
Cradles of the Reich (2022) Jennifer Coburn "Cradles of the Reich masterfully delves into the warped underbelly of the Nazi's Lebensborn Program for racial engineering. With grace and a deft hand, Jennifer Coburn creates indelible female characters that leave us heart torn. This book kept me breathless from chapter to chapter. I couldn't put it down until the final heroic page."
Searchers in Winter (2021) Owen Pataki "Pataki’s keen attention to historical detail and devotion to his subject matter bring readers directly into the heart and grit of the Napoleonic wars. Searchers in Winter boldly plants two feet in the past and never flinches."
Millicent Glenn's Last Wish (2020) Tori Whitaker "Written with compassion and grace, Tori Whitaker’s Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish is a nuanced debut illuminating the multigenerational strength of love, loss, survival, and the limitless power of family. I dare you to read without shedding a tear. Readers will think on these characters long after turning the last page."
Escaping Dreamland (2020) Charlie Lovett "As a devout childhood reader of adventure series, I can assure you that Charlie Lovett has captured their spirit in this tremendously enjoyable read for adults. Escaping Dreamland combines the whimsy of Lewis Carroll and the daredevil of the Hardy Boys in a story that takes readers through the looking glass of how we see beloved characters, their narratives, and most importantly, ourselves in reflection."
The Paris Hours (2020) Alex George "A journey of memory, The Paris Hours is a sensory feast that had me gobbling pages and dreaming myself into the heyday of Paris prestige. You know a novel is great when you finish reading and wish the fiction could be true history."
Light Changes Everything (2020) Nancy E Turner "Nancy E. Turner (of the wildly popular Sarah Agnes Prine series) returns with her signature warmth and an Aunt Sarah to boot. I dare you not to be charmed by this sweet tale of a woman finding her way at the dawn of a new century. Light Changes Everything illuminates the heart of an American family and highlights its historic glow."
The Summer Country (2019) Lauren Willig "So steeped in Caribbean culture, my hands were sweating while turning the pages. Lauren Willig has ventured to story territory near and dear to my heart. The Summer Country is a daring, meticulously researched narrative of complicated love. A hot summer read for historical fiction fans!"
You, Me, and the Sea (2019) Meg Donohue "Nail-biting secrets, heart-pounding passion, and lush prose hurl this novel to its sweeping conclusion. For readers, like me, who wondered what if for Heathcliff and Catherine, this is a genuine treat."
A Well Behaved Woman (2018) Therese Anne Fowler "Activist, egalitarian, philanthropist, trailblazer--these are the qualities of a historic leader. In A Well-Behaved Woman, Therese Fowler illuminates the leading legacy of American heiress Alva Vanderbilt. Alva's gumption and glamour will resonate with modern women and remind all that history belongs to those who courageously persevere. A sparkling, powerful story that needs to be heard now more than ever."
The Rain Watcher (2018) Tatiana De Rosnay "A ceaseless rain, a brother, a sister, a birthday, a tree--seemingly ordinary things. But Tatiana de Rosnay's expert storytelling proves that within life's ordinary is the power for extraordinary change. A bonfire begins with a spark. A flood with a single drop. In similar fashion, The Rain Watcher will leave you spellbound, transformed, and swept away."
Becoming Mrs. Lewis (2018) Patti Callahan "Becoming Mrs. Lewis illuminates the raw humanity of seeking faith in a distrustful world. We've heard C. S. Lewis's narrative. Here, Callahan keenly demystifies poet Joy Davidman's story and in the telling, shows us the power of a greater love. I was wonderstruck by this novel."
Sold on a Monday (2018) Kristina McMorris "With her signature style, Kristina McMorris once again plucks a devastating heartstring. Readers are transported through time and place to the desperate days of the American Great Depression. A real-life photograph stands as evidence to the heart of this novel: truth revealed, forgiveness found, and a story never to be forgotten."
The Ones We Choose (2018) Julie Clark "This chimera of heart and science skillfully produces an extraordinary breakthrough novel. I love smart fiction with a sharp heroine at the core. Julie Clark has perceptively given us that in The Ones We Choose. A story of mother and son and the ties that bind, right down to the marrow. Trust me, you're going to want to read this."
Nothing Is Forgotten (2018) Peter Golden "Nothing Is Forgotten is a Russian nesting doll of plot twists across continents and decades. This cleverly constructed Cold War tale, based on gripping true events, keeps readers eagerly anticipating what lies at its heart."
Carnegie's Maid (2018) Marie Benedict "Marie Benedict has penned a sensational novel that turns the conventional Cinderella story into an all-American triumph. Young Clara Kelley steps off the boat from Ireland into Andrew Carnegie's affluent world, where invention can transform men and women into whatever they dare to dream."
Secret Sisters (2017) Joy Callaway "A shining example of the power of persistent women united in their aim to reshape history. Secret Sisters is a celebration of those who dared to challenge convention at the risk of expulsion, rejection, and personal loss. Callaway has done a beautiful job bringing to light this little-known story of America's first women's fraternity and so much more."
The Confusion of Languages (2017) Siobhan Fallon "Mesmerizing and devastating. I found myself ignoring everything but the countdown of Jordanian hours and the unraveling mystery central to Fallon's unforgettable novel, in which two military wives must explore a modern-day, cultural labyrinth. An insatiable read that will leave you breathless."
Girl in Disguise (2017) Greer Macallister "All hail a mighty woman in a man's world! Greer Macallister aims her pen at Kate Warne, the first female Pinkerton detective, and hits the mark with this rousing, action-packed adventure."
