What do Daisy Jones & The Six, The Nightingale, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Song of Achilles all have in common? They’re all beautiful bestselling works of historical fiction—and they each found a powerful second wave of popularity thanks to BookTok, the bookish corner of TikTok with a knack for propelling books to bestseller lists. While spicy romances, romantasy and thrillers often dominate the BookTok conversation, historical fiction has quietly become one of the platform’s most popular genres.
Here at Woman’s World, we previously reported that 2026 was shaping up to be a standout year for buzzy new historical fiction—and it’s true! With releases from celebrated authors like Maggie O’Farrell and M.L. Stedman (the minds behind Hamnet and The Light Between Oceans), our TBRs are already filling up. But we’re equally excited about the wide variety of new under-the-radar historical fiction books coming in 2026 from excellent writers you may not be familiar with yet—and we have a feeling BookTok will adore these titles once they discover them! Here, we gathered up 7 new and upcoming historical fiction books that deliver sweeping stories of unforgettable heroines set across bygone eras.
Keep reading to discover all of our new historical fiction book picks that we forecast will be all over BookTok—and bestseller lists—this winter! Happy reading!
‘Fire Sword & Sea’ by Vanessa O’Reilly
William Morrow
Epic journeys, Caribbean settings, rich prose…Vanessa Riley’s latest novel, Fire Sword & Sea, has it all. Based on the life of the legendary 17th-century pirate Jacquotte Delehaye, the story centers on Jacquotte, the mixed-race daughter of a rich tavern owner. She dreams of joining the seafarers—then she falls in love with a pirate. After he abandons her, she assumes a secret identity and sets sail for 20 years of danger, love and high-stakes adventure.
What readers are saying: “Fire Sword and Sea by Vanessa Riley is a deeply researched, poignant, atmospheric dive into the life of the pirate Jacquotte Delahaye. It’s perfect for historical fiction lovers who want a gritty, yet vibrantly, realistic look at the 17th-century Caribbean.”
‘When We Were Brilliant’ by Lynn Cullen
Berkley
Blending fact and fiction, Lynn Cullen’s new novel dazzles from the start. In 1952, Norma Jeane Baker dreams up the persona of Marilyn Monroe. She meets photographer Eve Arnold and asks her to collaborate—she thinks they “might create something brilliant.” As they work together during the prime of Hollywood’s Golden Era, Marilyn rises to fame and both women’s lives are irrevocably changed forever.
What readers are saying: “When We Were Brilliant was a riveting experience. The background of that mid-century modern glow, the epic icons that are identifiable of that era, along with the struggles that both women face which would only later help to pave the way for the women who have come after them, really made this book a must-read experience. It was five-stars for me!”
‘With Love From Harlem’ by ReShonda Tate
William Morrow
ReShonda Tate won hearts with her 2024 book, The Queen of Sugar Hill, and her 2026 novel is another historical fiction gem. The story—about a beloved real-life jazz performer—takes readers to 1943 Harlem. Jazz prodigy, film star and civil rights trailblazer Hazel Scott rises to fame as she begins an affair with politician Adam Clayton Powell Jr. As lives collide, Hazel must choose between love and ambition.
What readers are saying: “ReShonda Tate brings Hazel to life as more than a prodigy or a symbol. She is ambitious, tender, defiant and deeply aware of what it costs to be a Black woman who refuses to shrink. From Harlem stages to Hollywood sets, Hazel’s journey is shaped by her insistence on owning both her artistry and her voice, even when the world demanded silence.”
‘Family Drama’ by Rebecca Fallon
Simon & Schuster
Lovely prose and poignant moments fill the pages of Rebecca Fallon’s debut novel, Family Drama. In 1997, 7-year-old twins attend their mother, Susan’s, funeral at sea. Fifteen years earlier, soap opera star Susan Bliss falls for Alcott—a brainy professor. Soon, she’s splitting her time between glitzy L.A. and New England, where her young family lives. Intertwined timelines follow, exploring themes of love, legacy and ambition. (Out February 3, 2026)
What early readers are saying: “Wow. This was a hell of a debut novel. “Family Drama” follows the lives of soap star Susie Byrne, her stoic husband Al, and their twins Viola and Sebastian. In it, we experience the way Susie and Al attempt to balance their marriage and individual dreams, navigate death and grief, and confront choices that leave significant ripples in the lives of their children and those around them. We follow Viola and Sebastian as their own grief and processing surrounding their mother’s premature death causes family conflict, motivates decisions, and deeply affects their own relationships. Rebecca Fallon did an amazing job crafting dynamic, flawed, lovable characters. Past and present were woven beautifully without feeling trite or too on-the-nose. Her commentary on love, life and legacy felt thought-provoking and impactful. I loved this one!”
‘The Fourth Princess’ by Janie Chang
William Morrow
Family secrets and betrayals take center stage in Janie Chang’s chilling novel, The Fourth Princess. In 1911 Shanghai, Lisan Liu is thrilled to land a secretarial job with Caroline Stanton, a wealthy American who is the new mistress of Lennox Manor. Caroline is getting used to her new life in China with her husband. As the Manor’s eerie history comes to life and new villains surface, each woman is forced to face her own past. (Out February 10, 2022)
What early readers are saying: “This is my first time reading a novel written by Janie Chang! I’m glad I took the chance picking up this advanced copy. I will say that 2026 is becoming a very good year for fiction. This novel is set in China in the year 1911—a couple of years before the start of the Great War. This haunting, propulsive story tells the journey of two women from vastly different backgrounds who start to experience hauntings from the house itself but also from their own past. This was impossible to put down!”
‘The Star Society’ by Gabriella Saab
Harper Muse
Golden-Age Hollywood charm? Check! Unforgettable heroines? Check! Post-war espionage laced with secrets? Double check! The Star Society by Gabriella Saab—inspired by the life of Audrey Hepburn—enchants from the start. In 1946, rising movie star Ada Worthington-Fox leaves war-torn Holland for Hollywood. But when Ingrid, the twin sister she thought was dead, returns, a journey of justice and survival begins.
What readers are saying: “Glamour, secrets, and intrigue shine throughout The Star Society. It’s a richly atmospheric, fast-moving novel with a dual timeline that captures the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood alongside the dark days of the Dutch Resistance during the Nazi occupation. The story also vividly evokes the fear and paranoia of the post–World War II Communist witch hunts. What I loved most, though, were the richly drawn characters—especially the two sisters at the heart of the story. Intelligent, strong, and brave, their relationship feels authentic and complex, with a powerful, unbreakable bond between them.”
‘Meet the Newmans’ by Jennifer Niven
Flatiron Books
Fans of Lessons in Chemistry will love Meet the Newmans by bestselling author Jennifer Niven. In this 1960s-set tale, Dinah Newman, her husband Del and their sons, Guy and Shep, star in a TV show based on their actual lives. But when an accident leaves Del unable to write the finale, Dinah hires a female writer, who helps her realize their ‘perfect’ TV life is out of touch—and that she can do something to change that.
What readers are saying: “This is such a fun, yet thought-provoking novel. The characters are fully fleshed out and the reader becomes invested in them. The political landscape of the 1960s, love, loss and women’s rights are threaded into the novel without being preachy. I do agree that this is reminiscent of Lessons in Chemistry meets Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing style. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR.”
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