,

Best historical fiction novels set in the United States from pre-colonial times to recent times.
1

by
4.26 avg rating — 6,989,323 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
2

by
4.47 avg rating — 3,053,137 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
3

by
4.31 avg rating — 1,263,517 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
4

by
4.03 avg rating — 1,008,093 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
5

by
4.33 avg rating — 92,870 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
6

by
4.59 avg rating — 257,896 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
7

by
3.89 avg rating — 251,145 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
8

by
3.44 avg rating — 929,961 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
9

by
3.83 avg rating — 1,345,811 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
10

by
3.70 avg rating — 51,837 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
11

by
4.24 avg rating — 306,587 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
12

by
4.23 avg rating — 23,657 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
13

by
4.06 avg rating — 182,667 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
14

by
3.86 avg rating — 72,727 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
15

by
3.93 avg rating — 134,599 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
16

by
4.31 avg rating — 282,159 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
17

by
4.09 avg rating — 10,773 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
17

by
4.11 avg rating — 1,713,120 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
19

by
4.03 avg rating — 161,302 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
20

by
3.90 avg rating — 47,194 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
21

by
3.30 avg rating — 110,939 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
22

by
4.28 avg rating — 761,910 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
23

by
4.58 avg rating — 69 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
24

by
4.35 avg rating — 678,642 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
25

by
4.15 avg rating — 13,217 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
25

by
3.91 avg rating — 137,588 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
27

by
3.98 avg rating — 500,588 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
28

by
3.86 avg rating — 195,654 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
29

by
4.09 avg rating — 37,787 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
30

by
4.25 avg rating — 18,433 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
31

by
3.90 avg rating — 130,930 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
32

by
4.21 avg rating — 288,233 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
33

by
4.20 avg rating — 467,679 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
34

by
4.24 avg rating — 62,561 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
35

by
4.10 avg rating — 1,362,195 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
36

by
3.90 avg rating — 945 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
37

by
3.89 avg rating — 40,334 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
38

by
4.01 avg rating — 21,613 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
39

by
4.18 avg rating — 93,700 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
40

by
4.23 avg rating — 10,562 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
41

by
4.41 avg rating — 1,352 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
42

by
3.76 avg rating — 8,914 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
43

by
3.35 avg rating — 93 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
43

by
3.46 avg rating — 343 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
45

by
4.17 avg rating — 54 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
46

by
4.26 avg rating — 45,282 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
47

by
3.85 avg rating — 2,489 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
48

by
3.93 avg rating — 94,427 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
49

by
4.17 avg rating — 75,832 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
49

by
3.78 avg rating — 156,142 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
51

by
4.26 avg rating — 1,689 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
52

by
4.01 avg rating — 5,858 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
53

by
4.40 avg rating — 470,567 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
54

by
3.96 avg rating — 15,309 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
55

by
4.32 avg rating — 31 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
56

by
3.97 avg rating — 6,506 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
57

by
4.39 avg rating — 716 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
58

by
3.70 avg rating — 103,295 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
58

by
4.02 avg rating — 179,599 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
60

by
3.85 avg rating — 149,514 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
61

by
4.40 avg rating — 1,005 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
61

by
3.79 avg rating — 37,707 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
63

by
3.83 avg rating — 37,377 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
63

by
4.10 avg rating — 75,877 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
65

by
3.95 avg rating — 26,642 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
66

by
4.13 avg rating — 310,325 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
66

by
4.33 avg rating — 7,907 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
68

by
3.81 avg rating — 7,439 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
69

by
4.21 avg rating — 62,694 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
70

by
4.04 avg rating — 30,788 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
71

by
4.25 avg rating — 9,911 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
3.86 avg rating — 7 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
4.54 avg rating — 153 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
4.21 avg rating — 52,901 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
4.01 avg rating — 13,491 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
4.50 avg rating — 12 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
4.32 avg rating — 75 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
78

by
3.89 avg rating — 587 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
78

by
4.17 avg rating — 133 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
80

by
3.69 avg rating — 1,944 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
81

by
4.17 avg rating — 12 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
82

by
4.07 avg rating — 1,448 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
82

by
3.86 avg rating — 569 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
84

by
3.79 avg rating — 1,893 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
85

by
3.75 avg rating — 893 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
86

by
3.81 avg rating — 4,656 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
87

by
3.73 avg rating — 16,541 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
88

by
4.13 avg rating — 132,350 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
89

by
3.89 avg rating — 2,008 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
90

by
3.90 avg rating — 2,885,270 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
91

by
4.19 avg rating — 3,230 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
92

by
3.81 avg rating — 2,271 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
93

by
4.19 avg rating — 1,897,665 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
94

by
3.68 avg rating — 23,642 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
95

by
3.74 avg rating — 144,443 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
96

by
3.83 avg rating — 75,400 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
97

by
4.14 avg rating — 25,970 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
98

by
3.90 avg rating — 2,856 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
99

by
3.83 avg rating — 89,583 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
100

by
3.88 avg rating — 64,402 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
455 books · 347 voters · list created October 28th, 2010 by deleted user.
71 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


fran 2181 books
45 friends
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3388 books
851 friends
Sara 610 books
84 friends
Nicolle 1066 books
425 friends
Bebe 225 books
0 friends
Bianca 3 books
18 friends
Jude 10285 books
113 friends
Renee 523 books
113 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads Don't believe The Grapes of Wrath is historical fiction.


message 2: by Melodie (new)

Melodie Ramone I just wanted to make a quick note to say that the book I wrote, After Forever Ends, isn't American Historical Fiction, as it takes place in Wales. I absolutely appreciate all the votes and I love everybody who thought highly enough of AFE to vote for it, but I don't want anybody to be misled who hasn't read it. And that being said...happy reading! Xx


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads Y'all want me to remove that one?


message 4: by Melodie (last edited Jun 22, 2013 11:35AM) (new)

Melodie Ramone Sure, if you are able. Like I said, I appreciate it being voted for, but it doesn't belong here. I' don't want anybody to pick up the book and be disappointed. And it's really not fair to the authors in the genre :)


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads No problem. It should be gone now.


message 6: by Melodie (new)

Melodie Ramone Thank you!


message 7: by Mary (new)

Mary I am officially shunning American Girl because the company funds abortion!


message 8: by J. (new)

J. Trott A lot of these books are older books that were written as basically contemporary such as "The Grapes of Wrath" and "The Bluest Eye". Even though they are good I can't vote for them. I found this list looking for historical fiction.


BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) J. wrote: "A lot of these books are older books that were written as basically contemporary such as "The Grapes of Wrath" and "The Bluest Eye". ..."

I'd been wondering about those two myself as well.


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads I wouldn't call them historical fiction, either. (They were contemporary with when they were written.)

Should I remove them?


message 11: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Aug 17, 2018 07:50AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Booklovinglady wrote: "J. wrote: "A lot of these books are older books that were written as basically contemporary such as "The Grapes of Wrath" and "The Bluest Eye". ..."

I'd been wondering about those two myself as well."


Seems more and more titles are creeping in that personally I do not consider historical fiction, as they were written during the time their story is set in (or shortly afterwards)...


message 12: by Dara S. (new)

Dara S. I would not call Where the Crawdads Sing historical fiction. It is a wonderful book and takes place in the past, but not historical fiction.


message 13: by Shannon (new)

Shannon Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "I wouldn't call them historical fiction, either. (They were contemporary with when they were written.)

Should I remove them?"


Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "I wouldn't call them historical fiction, either. (They were contemporary with when they were written.)

Should I remove them?"

Any book that takes place before you were born, and also teaches a person anything that happened in the past should be on the list. I did not live thru the great depression, so Grapes of Wrath takes me to that historical time.


back to top



Related News

Here at Goodreads World Headquarters, we sort through a lot of books each month. Our monthly Readers’ Most Anticipated Books feature is exactly...

Anyone can add books to this list.