For the Love of Fictional Textbooks
Illustration by Sydney Hanson
As a lover of all things fictional, I fear it is my sovereign duty to suggest five of my favorite historical fiction novels. Each selection is set in a different time and location, but all are centrally women's stories. Like many readers, I crave books that move me, teach me, and above all, engage me. So it's no surprise that I enjoy YA, witty romance, and the occasional fantasy novel. Trust me, I understand the desire for fiction that is interesting and well-written without being intellectually draining. So with that said, I urge you to give historical fiction a chance—you might be surprised by how immersive, moving, and accessible it can be.
As a preface, it’s important to acknowledge that no matter how well-researched, historical fiction will never be one hundred percent accurate. It is still fiction, shaped by authors who, no matter how diligent, did not live through the events they depict. I encourage you to approach this genre with both curiosity and a critical eye. These books offer only a small glimpse into particular cultures, places, and female experiences. I hope you’ll see these recommendations not as a complete map, but as a starting point.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women— Lisa See
Set in 16th-century China, the novel follows "Lady Tan," a female doctor navigating medical cases, Confucian (the dominant ethical system in China) gender expectations as a noble, and her personal relationships. It is structured in four parts, each representing a stage in a woman’s life: Milk Days (childhood before puberty, when a girl is not yet considered marriageable), Hair-Pinning Days (beginning at age 15, marked by pinned hair to signify readiness for marriage), Rice-and-Salt Days (the longest phase, covering marriage, motherhood, and domestic responsibilities), and Sitting and Waiting (the final stage, when a woman awaits death). The novel was inspired by Tan Yunxian, a historical figure and physician who authored one of the first medical casebooks focused on women’s health.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about fleshed out, realistic female protagonists, whose narratives are not centered around male love interests but rather friendship and duty. As a protagonist, Tan stands out because despite being a formidable and intelligent character, she does not behave unrealistically for her historical context. As a reader you become attached to her accomplishments because she navigates 16th century China like a noble woman born in 16th c. China rather than a 21st century individual acting out of time.
The Frozen River—Ariel Lawhon
Set in Maine in 1789, The Frozen River follows 54-year-old midwife Martha Ballard through her diary entries. The novel is a fictionalized depiction of the real Martha Ballard, who wrote herself into history by meticulously journaling every day for thirty years. Today, her diaries are primary source accounts of what life was like for women on the American frontier, both medically and domestically. As a midwife, Martha is allowed to testify in court as a credible
authority on paternity, a rare privilege for women at the time. She becomes entangled in a murder investigation as she uses her position to advocate for other women.
What I loved about this novel is that you could technically argue the story is plot-driven—the mystery is genuinely engaging and unfolds steadily—but because it’s told through Martha’s diary entries (and don't worry, it doesn’t feel disjointed), the novel still feels very character-driven. Both the plot and the character work are huge strengths of the book. The writing is concise yet rich with detail, and often emotional. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to start reading historical fiction, especially fans of Kristin Hannah’s novels.
Pachinko — Min Jin Lee
Pachinko is one of those books that everyone should read at least once. The novel follows one Korean family across four generations. Spanning 80 years, it depicts the treatment of Korean immigrants in Japan as well as the Japanese occupation of Korea. At the center of the family is Sunja, who, after becoming pregnant and abandoned by her lover, accepts the marriage proposal of a chronically ill minister and moves with him to Osaka. Over the course of her long life, Sunja suffers immensely. As a reader, you watch her endure hardships so viscerally that when she perseveres, you feel her strength through the page. Each character is so thoughtfully created that even when they are flawed or make choices that hurt others, you understand their motivations as consequences of their own circumstances.
At first, the writing style might feel a little jarring because it’s told through a third-person omniscient narration. As a result, even minor characters are fully fleshed out—their personalities and histories carefully explored—which at first may seem like detours from the main narrative. However, this style ultimately strengthens the story. It makes the world feel alive and
interconnected, where plot armor doesn’t exist and every individual you meet is treated with depth and care. Truly this novel explores the meaning of sacrifice in such a deliberate and thoughtful way. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to experience beautiful prose, get a little heartbroken, and truly step into the lives of one unforgettable family.
A Thousand Splendid Suns — Khaled Hosseini
“A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn't like a mother's womb. It won't bleed. It won't stretch to make room for you” (Hosseini 26).
Set in Afghanistan from the 1960s to the early 2000s, A Thousand Splendid Suns portrays the lives of two women, Mariam and Laila, whose paths intertwined through war, loss, and the shared oppression of living under an abusive husband. At fifteen, Mariam is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed, a man thirty years her senior. Two decades later, Laila is forced into Rasheed’s household after political unrest and personal tragedy. Through their evolving bond, the novel explores themes of love, sacrifice, and resilience against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history.
The novel does not shy away from depicting brutality; reading it was, at times, devastating. Yet Mariam and Laila are written with such empathy that even the most difficult passages feel necessary to confront. As characters, Mariam and Laila stand out because they are undeniably strong, yet they are changed by their circumstances and don’t suffer unscathed. I believe that everyone should read this novel because it is both beautifully crafted and profoundly moving. That said, it addresses difficult subjects that demand serious engagement from readers. Although A Thousand Splendid Suns was published nearly twenty years ago and is set primarily fifty years in the past, readers must approach the novel with empathy and a dual perspective. It
should be read both as a portrait of the historical period it depicts and as a reflection of contemporary struggles, recognizing that the experiences of Mariam and Laila are not confined to the past.
The Nightingale—Kristin Hannah
Set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, The Nightingale is, above all, the story of two sisters: Isabelle and Vianne. Each navigates survival, resistance, and heroism in vastly different ways. While the pacing is a bit slow at the start, it accelerates as the characters make increasingly decisive choices. Isabelle in particular stood out to me; when you meet her, she feels like a teenage girl you have likely encountered before: defiant, lost, passionate, and naive. She isn’t an extraordinary "chosen one" character, but rather someone searching for purpose, desperate to devote herself to a cause. At times, this hunger for direction makes her impulsive and frustrating, but you come to see how her determination matures into a powerful symbol of resistance. The narrative does not shy away from portraying the risks the women take, emphasizing that resistance is neither easy nor inevitable.
I recommend this book to everyone as an introduction to what historical fiction as a genre can offer. The prose is easy to understand without sacrificing emotional depth. The best comparison would be how Suzanne Collins conveys layers of meaning in The Hunger Games while still writing in a style that is accessible. I found The Nightingale to be beautiful, haunting, and, frankly, devastating. From this list, it is the best introduction to historical fiction.
If any of these books catch your interest, I strongly encourage you to give them a try. While I can’t (and won’t) force my recommendations on anyone, I can say with confidence that these novels are engaging, compelling, and informative without ever feeling like assigned readings. What unites them is their central focus on women. These are stories of navigating life within the unique constraints of history, knowledge, and circumstance. I hope you read these books, encounter interesting characters, and learn to view history as a lived experience.