I have read a lot of books this year, almost 130, and historical fiction is one of my favourite categories. I couldn’t even narrow it down to a favourite THREE for the year, but I did manage a top FOUR! I gave all of these books 9.5 out of 10, so loved them all … You can find my full reviews for them on my blog here.
So, in no particular order…
A Child for the Reich by Andie Newton was a recent read, but one I expect to remember for a long time. It tells the story of a Czech woman whose daughter is stolen for her looks and intended to give to a good Nazi family to raise. It’s a novel, but the history behind it is fascinating and this kind of thing did happen. Beautifully written and great memorable characters.
The Witch’s Tree by Elena Collins (who also writes as Judy Leigh) was a stunning read and although I read it back in May, it has stayed in my head as a wonderful book, a timeslip story featuring two strong women from different times. I look forward to more of her work coming out in 2023. Highly recommended.
I read The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken in May too and this is another powerful story which especially resonates in this year when present day Ukraine has been through so much. Again, I learned a lot about true history while being absorbed in a wonderful fictional tale. A poignant and emotional read.
I read The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan in March and again, it has stayed with me. A lighter read than the previous three, but I loved the wartime setting and as soon as I saw the tagline describing it as Bake Off in WWII, I knew it was a must read! Again it features amazing characters that jump off the page and into your heart and I have since bought more of her books.
So there you have it, my favourite historical fiction books of 2022. What are yours?
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