Are you the type of person who reads all the prize nominations and picks your next read from the best-of-the-year lists? Then you won’t want to miss these six historical fiction books that the book professionals here at Book Riot have pinned down as the best of the best (so far). There’s an inevitable degree of recency bias on end of the year lists, so I love that Book Riot features a list halfway through the year as well. Not only does it give readers a chance to get a head start on some of the biggest and best books before the end of the year, it also ensures that books published earlier in the year–sometimes more likely to be overlooked on end-of-the-year lists–have a chance to shine.
Now, that’s not to say these books are only first-half-of-the-year good. Don’t be surprised if you see some of these titles again on the big Best Of lists in November and December, too. These books aren’t just great for the first half of 2026, they’re great period. From historical epics to intimate family portraits, these six recommendations from my fellow Rioters and me are some of the best historical fiction books of 2026. Read on so you don’t miss out!
My Picks
Burn Down Master’s House by Clay Cane
Burn Down Master’s House is a standout work of historical fiction that stares unflinchingly back at the horrors of slavery in the United States. Its focus on acts of rebellion and revolution—based on real historical events—is more important than ever in a time when our government is actively trying to whitewash over the real history of this country. This book should be required reading.
A Beast Slinks Toward Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang
This book is fabulism at its finest. In a shifting, dual-timeline, a father and daughter navigate intergenerational trauma, degenerative illness, and the horrors of the Cultural Revolution in China. It’s a haunting read that doesn’t back away from the horrors of history while also relishing in the beauty of Yang’s prose.
Past Tense
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The Johnson Four by Christina Hammonds Reed
In the vein of Daisy Jones and the Six, The Johnson Four follows the rise and fall of a musical group in the 1960s, but with an added touch of fabulism that makes it a truly unique and unforgettable read. More than the music, this is a story of family, of how we help and hurt the ones we love, and how we grow together and apart over the years, sometimes by choice and sometimes without even realizing.
Picks From Other Rioters
The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams
Spending time with the Dupree women was one of the best decisions I made all year. Nikesha Elise Williams’ debut novel is a powerful and deeply satisfying read for any fan of generational sagas and Williams is especially adept at meditating on generational trauma. Through subtle magic and the engrossing stories of the Dupree women dating back to their enslavement, the chapters trace the path of an at-once protective and destructive curse that begat generations of daughters and pivotally touched their lives whether or not it was understood. —S. Zainab Williams
There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood by Rasheed Newson
Screenwriter and producer Rasheed Newson is known for his work on shows like Bel-Air and The Chi. He brings his industry insider knowledge to this dazzling historical novel about queer life in Golden Age Hollywood. It tells the story of Xavier, an up-and-coming Black actor, and Aaron, the studio “fixer” tasked with keeping Xavier in the closet. That becomes much more complicated when Xavier is cast in a biopic as the Navy hero Aaron fell in love with while fighting alongside him in WWII. Newson beautifully blends real historical figures with richly layered fictional characters to create an unforgettable story that I’m already dying to see adapted for the screen. —Susie Dumond
Land by Maggie O’Farrell
When I really need to feel something, I pick up Maggie O’Farrell, knowing I’m not just gonna feel something, but all the things, and likely end up sitting in a pool of my own tears. Set before and after The Great Hunger, this gorgeous historical novel follows a mapmaker and his son as they set out to map the whole of Ireland. It is a story about separation, colonization, resistance, folklore, survival, and the intimacy of our connection to place. The feelings were felt and my heart wrenched open, lushly and beautifully so. —Vanessa Diaz
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