EPISODE · Apr 23, 2026 · 1H 11M
Must-Read Historical Fiction for Your TBR Right Now
from Book Lounge by Libby · host Book Lounge by Libby
Looking for your next great historical fiction read? Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark, host of the Book Gang Podcast, to share standout historical fiction recommendations to add to your TBR. From immersive, character-driven stories to sweeping narratives that bring the past to life, this episode highlights books that will stick with you long after the final page. Amy brings her expertise in discovering buzzy and noteworthy titles, while Joe adds a few picks of his own—including one unexpected curveball. Whether you’re a longtime historical fiction reader or just looking for a place to start, this episode is packed with compelling recommendations across time periods and styles. Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel! Book recommendations: Amy’s Picks: The Half Life - Rachel Beanland Scandalous Women - Gill Paul The Final Revival of Opal and Nev - Dawnie Walton The Foursome - Christina Baker Kline Happy Land - Dolen Perkins-Valdez Joe’s Picks: Let's Call Her Barbie – Renée Rosen Disco Witches of Fire Island – Blair Fell The Hounding – Xenobe Purvis Dead Eleven – Jimmy Juliano Silver Nitrate – Silvia Moreno-Garcia Flung out of Space – Grace Ellis & Hannah Templer Stage Dreams – Melanie Gillman The Legend of Auntie Po – Shing Yin Khor Parallel – Matthias Lehmann Who’s in this episode: Amy Allen Clark, Book Gang Podcast – links Articles referenced: https://bookriot.com/what-makes-a-book-historical-fiction/ https://celadonbooks.com/what-is-historical-fiction/ https://historicalnovelsociety.org/defining-the-genre-2/ Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:53 Hello to Amy! 00:01:30 What is Historical Fiction, and what defines it? 00:04:28 Amy’s thoughts on Historical Fiction 00:12:11 Historical Fiction Recommendations 01:07:28 Outro Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode! Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog! We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram! Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Looking for your next great historical fiction read? Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark, host of the Book Gang Podcast, to share standout historical fiction recommendations to add to your TBR. From immersive, character-driven stories to sweeping narratives that bring the past to life, this episode highlights books that will stick with you long after the final page. Amy brings her expertise in discovering buzzy and noteworthy titles, while Joe adds a few picks of his own—including one unexpected curveball. Whether you’re a longtime historical fiction reader or just looking for a place to start, this episode is packed with compelling recommendations across time periods and styles. Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel! Book recommendations: Amy’s Picks: The Half Life - Rachel Beanland Scandalous Women - Gill Paul The Final Revival of Opal and Nev - Dawnie Walton The Foursome - Christina Baker Kline Happy Land - Dolen Perkins-Valdez Joe’s Picks: Let's Call Her Barbie – Renée Rosen Disco Witches of Fire Island – Blair Fell The Hounding – Xenobe Purvis Dead Eleven – Jimmy Juliano Silver Nitrate – Silvia Moreno-Garcia Flung out of Space – Grace Ellis & Hannah Templer Stage Dreams – Melanie Gillman The Legend of Auntie Po – Shing Yin Khor Parallel – Matthias Lehmann Who’s in this episode: Amy Allen Clark, Book Gang Podcast – links Articles referenced: https://bookriot.com/what-makes-a-book-historical-fiction/ https://celadonbooks.com/what-is-historical-fiction/ https://historicalnovelsociety.org/defining-the-genre-2/ Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:53 Hello to Amy! 00:01:30 What is Historical Fiction, and what defines it? 00:04:28 Amy’s thoughts on Historical Fiction 00:12:11 Historical Fiction Recommendations 01:07:28 Outro Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode! Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog! We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram! Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Must-Read Historical Fiction for Your TBR Right Now
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