Historical Fiction bestsellers

James

A Novel

By: Percival Everett
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
Length: 7 hours 48 minutes

“This is one of those books that I would recommend the audio over the physical book, or experience both! The narrator is so good, it needs to be listened to! It was an interesting take on the Huckleberry Finn story from the viewpoint of the slave Jim, or James as he prefers. Read more

The Fox Wife

A Novel

By: Yangsze Choo
Narrated by: Yangsze Choo
Length: 14 hours 36 minutes

“Yangsze Choo grew up exposed to Chinese, Japanese and Korean folk tales, all of which she weaves expertly into this mystery with romantic touches and a smidgen of magical realism. The heroes of those ancient tales were always men, but not in The Fox Wife. It's such an engaging reading experience, so hard to put down, that you could call it a... Read more

The Song of Achilles

A Novel

By: Madeline Miller
Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
Length: 11 hours 14 minutes

“This is one of the best books I've ever read. Do your heart a favor and read this beautiful, tender, heartbreaking book. Read more

Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist)

By: Min Jin Lee
Narrated by: Sandra Oh & Min Jin Lee
Length: 17 hours 48 minutes

One of the New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century

In this New York Times bestseller, four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family fight to control their destiny in 20th-century Japan–the inspiration for the television series on Apple TV+.

 In the early 1900s, teenaged Sunja, the adored daughter of a crippled fisherman, falls for... Read more

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

A Novel

By: James McBride
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
Length: 12 hours 21 minutes

“This is a humorous, compassionate and insightful novel, and my favorite of 2023 so far! A skeleton found at the bottom of a well, clutching a mezuzah. This is the mystery that McBride puts at the outset of his fabulous new novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. From this opening, McBride populates the world of 1930s Pottstown,... Read more

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

By: V. E. Schwab
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Length: 17 hours 9 minutes

“Epic, beautifully written, heartwarming, and heartbreaking, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a contemplation on life, death, what it means to make your mark on the world, and why we feel it’s important to do so. Addie makes a deal with a demon so she can live her life the way she wants to. But, like most deals, there are strings attached —... Read more

Circe

By: Madeline Miller
Narrated by: Perdita Weeks
Length: 12 hours 8 minutes

“A bold retelling of the Circe episode from Homer's Odyssey that not only captures the interlocking pieces of Greek mythology, but also gives each god, titan, and Grecian a pulsing complexity. Both Circe the book and the character are quiet, sensual and--at times--freewheeling, adventurous, and devastating. Perdita Week's performance here is... Read more

Babel

Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of The Oxford Translators' Revolution

By: R. F. Kuang
Narrated by: Chris Lew Kum Hoi & Billie Fulford-Brown
Length: 21 hours 45 minutes

“Finishing a book like this is equal parts pleasure and pain: pleasure in that reading something as striking and beautiful as this is everything a reader hopes to feel in a book juxtaposed by the pain of something beautiful ending and leaving these characters behind in the pages. There are few books that have brought tears to my eyes (I can still... Read more

The Frozen River: A GMA Book Club Pick

A Novel

By: Ariel Lawhon
Narrated by: Jane Oppenheimer & Ariel Lawhon
Length: 15 hours 5 minutes

“A compelling story and perfect narrating combine to make Frozen River an amazing audiobook! Inspired by a real life midwife delivering babies in the 18th century, this novel combines history and mystery perfectly. Read more

Stone Blind

A Novel

By: Natalie Haynes
Narrated by: Natalie Haynes
Length: 8 hours 39 minutes

“This is not just a book about Medusa, it's about the gods who use her, her gorgon sisters, her killer Perseus...and her head. Haynes grounds these characters in the original mythology so well that that each voice is distinct, every action and mistake preceded by its motivating circumstance, and each monster shown with respect and humanity. It is... Read more

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

A Novel

By: Shannon Chakraborty
Narrated by: Lameece Issaq & Amin El Gamal
Length: 16 hours 59 minutes

“I’ve looked forward to this book for years. I adore Chakraborty’s Daevebad trilogy, and hearing she was working on a new project starring a retired female pirate of the Indian Ocean? I could not contain my excitement. This book blew away every expectation. It was all I hoped it would be and more. It has everything: adventure, magic, and an... Read more

Fledgling

By: Octavia E. Butler
Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo
Length: 12 hours 22 minutes

Shori is a mystery. Found alone in the woods, she appears to be a little black girl with traumatic amnesia and near-fatal wounds. But Shori is a fifty-three-year-old vampire with a ravenous hunger for blood, the lost child of anancient species of near-immortals who live in dark symbiosis with humanity. Genetically modified to be able to walk in... Read more

Don't Want You Like a Best Friend

A Novel

The Mischief & Matchmaking Series: Book #1

By: Emma R. Alban
Narrated by: Mary Jane Wells & Morag Sims
Length: 10 hours 47 minutes

“What a vibrant beginning to a new historical romance series! Full of intrigue, stolen kisses, and London drama, this sweet queer love story follows two women who dare to hope in a world not built for them. Read more

Clear

A Novel

By: Carys Davies
Narrated by: Russ Bain
Length: 3 hours 6 minutes

“This lovely short novel about a vicar told to clear the last tenant farmer from an island in Scotland, and how things go sweetly awry, is a breath of fresh air. Davies tells the story simply yet full of atmosphere. It will delight fans of Claire Keegan! I listened to the audiobook and reveled in narrator Russ Bain's accent. It really is just a... Read more

Mexican Gothic

By: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Narrated by: Frankie Corzo
Length: 10 hours 39 minutes

“This was gothic vibes, horror, murder mystery…I couldn’t look away. I was fascinated by where the story was going. It was a cozy read and yet I was on the edge of my seat making all kinds of wild guesses about what was going on. I loved it. Read it immediately so we can discuss! Read more

The Bright Sword

A Novel of King Arthur

By: Lev Grossman
Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith & Lev Grossman
Length: 23 hours 9 minutes

“You know that feeling when you show up to a party just minutes after all your friends have been killed in an epic battle for the throne of England? Yeah. Hate when that happens. Young Collum arrives in Camelot to finally fulfill his dreams of becoming a knight of the Round Table. Unfortunately, King Arthur’s been dead for weeks, and most... Read more

North Woods

A Novel

By: Daniel Mason
Narrated by: Mark Bramhall, Michael Crouch, Jason Culp, Mark Deakins, Jayne Entwistle, Billie Fulford-Brown, Arthur Morey, George Newbern, Kirsten Potter & Simon Vance
Length: 11 hours 5 minutes

“It's hard to imagine what could be more lovely than this sprawling, constantly evolving, richly textured story of a place in the American Northeast, unless it's Mark Bramhall's gentle and kindly narration of the audio version, supported by an ensemble sharing the odd snippets grafted on to the greater story, in voices ranging from jolly to prim... Read more

Once Upon a River

A Novel

By: Diane Setterfield
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
Length: 16 hours 27 minutes

“Listening to "Once Upon A River" is a magical experience. Not only is the story one that takes you skillfully down different paths of individual character's lives and motivations but also the narrator of the story Juliet Stevenson skillfully envelopes every character's different rhythms with her voice in a wonderful way. I loved this storyline... Read more

The Librarian of Burned Books

A Novel

By: Brianna Labuskes
Narrated by: Caroline Hewitt, Eleanor Caudill & Karissa Vacker
Length: 10 hours 49 minutes

“Once I started listening to the three intertwined storylines of Brianna Labuskes' latest historical novel, it was hard to stop. As a retired AP history teacher, I was impressed not only with the depth of research that went into this novel but also by the introduction of Armed Services Editions of books sent to World War II soldiers and the... Read more

Christmas with the Queen

A Novel

By: Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham, Gary Furlong & Esther Wane
Length: 10 hours 14 minutes

’Tis the season! The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally in the latest heartwarming historical novel from Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, bestselling authors of Last Christmas in Paris, Meet Me in Monaco, and Three Words for Goodbye.December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right... Read more

And Then There Were None

By: Agatha Christie
Narrated by: Hugh Fraser
Length: 5 hours 36 minutes

“From the queen of mysteries comes the inspiration for all of your favorite modern-day remote-location murder mysteries. Ten seemingly unconnected strangers arrive at a remote private island owned by an anonymous millionaire, where they all begin to be murdered one by one. And Then There Were None is perfect for those who dream of donning a... Read more

The Familiar

A Novel

By: Leigh Bardugo
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
Length: 12 hours 57 minutes

“Dark and atmospheric, this rich fantasy steeped in the history of the Inquisition will have you cheering for our prickly heroine. Read more

You Dreamed of Empires

A Novel

By: Álvaro Enrigue
Narrated by: Gabriel Porras
Length: 6 hours 23 minutes

“Hilarious and beautiful. The final days of the Aztec empire as if they were taking place in the boardrooms of today. A poignant satire of colonialism and the evil that lives on in its descendants. Read more

By Any Other Name

A Novel

By: Jodi Picoult
Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown, Laura Benanti, Jodi Picoult, Jayne Entwistle, Andrew Fallaize, Joe Jameson, John Lee, Nicholas Guy Smith, Simon Vance & Steve West
Length: 18 hours 25 minutes

“A delightful diversion from many of Picoult other books, this one being more of a historical fiction novel and a good one at that. Readers who are familiar with Shakespeare will enjoy this book, but you don’t have to know Shakespeare to understand the importance of giving credit where credit is due. Narrator is excellent and makes this book a... Read more

Trust (Pulitzer Prize Winner)

By: Hernan Diaz
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Jonathan Davis, Mozhan Marnò & Orlagh Cassidy
Length: 10 hours 20 minutes

“Who can you trust in the end? This 'brilliant literary puzzle' tells the story of the legendary Wall Street Tycoon Andrew Bevel and his enigmatic wife Mildred. Told in four interlocking parts, Trust is a novel within a novel, the fragmented notes for a ghostwritten memoir that Andrew hopes will set the record straight, the ghostwriter's own... Read more

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

By: Axie Oh
Narrated by: Rosa Escoda
Length: 8 hours 50 minutes

“I absolutely loved this book! It is enchanting, complex, and rich with magic, myths, and the cozy vibes and world of the spirit realm. Korean mythology meets Spirited Away - what more could you want! The story and characters captured my heart. The audiobook is awesome - give it a listen to on Libro.fm! Read more

Lady Tan's Circle of Women

By: Lisa See
Narrated by: Jennifer Lim & Justin Chien
Length: 13 hours 15 minutes

“A beautiful book about the struggle and triumph of women in 15th century China. You will feel love, hate, and anger for the characters in this book! An absolutely stunning historical fiction book! Read more

Horse

A Novel

By: Geraldine Brooks
Narrated by: James Fouhey, Lisa Flanagan, Graham Halstead, Katherine Littrell & Michael Obiora
Length: 14 hours 5 minutes

“Another well researched historical fiction by Brooks. This time she writes about race and horse racing, transporting the reader to the Antebellum South. The book is written from the point of view of several people in the life of the famous race horse and sire named Lexington. We follow his life primarily through the eyes of his enslaved groom... Read more

Black Sun

Between Earth and Sky: Book #1

By: Rebecca Roanhorse
Narrated by: Cara Gee, Nicole Lewis, Kaipo Schwab & Shaun Taylor-Corbett
Length: 12 hours 46 minutes

“October, the month to read mysteries, horror, and suspense... but how about a fantasy novel with a little bit of all of the above? That is definitely my preference and New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Resistance Reborn, Rebecca Roanhorse, wrote just the right book. If you are a fan of fantasy you shouldn't let this one pass. It... Read more

Cloud Cuckoo Land

A Novel

By: Anthony Doerr
Narrated by: Marin Ireland & Simon Jones
Length: 14 hours 51 minutes

“My teenage daughter and I both loved this book. It’s a book for all ages. Fascinating idea for a plot that takes you through time and ends with a twist. There are lots of characters to keep track of at first, but the story settles and maintains your interest. You will love and empathize with all the different people. It is dedicated to... Read more

The Night Circus

A Novel

By: Erin Morgenstern
Narrated by: Jim Dale
Length: 13 hours 38 minutes

“A modern classic and the book that dragged me back into the magical realism genre. I've listened to this book multiple times and still enjoy it on the umpteenth time around. Morgenstern captures that same wonder that you remember from whimsical children's fantasy, but matures it into a complex and emotional tale. Read more

The Poppy War

A Novel

The Poppy War

By: R. F. Kuang
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Length: 19 hours 27 minutes

An AudioFile Magazine Best Audiobook of 2018!A Library Journal, Paste Magazine, and ENTROPY Best Books of 2018 pick!Washington Post ""5 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel of 2018"" pick!A Bustle ""30 Best Fiction Books of 2018"" pick!“I have no doubt this will end up being the best fantasy debut of the year [...] I have absolutely no doubt... Read more

After Oz

By: Gordon McAlpine
Narrated by: Maria Ru-Djen
Length: 7 hours 43 minutes

“A dark, imaginative Wizard of Oz retelling. After a tornado leaves 11-year-old Dorothy missing, she returns with a fantastical tale that leads to her being branded insane by her conservative community. As psychologist Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford investigates, she must uncover whether Dorothy’s story is a delusion or if something more sinister is at... Read more

The Briar Club

A Novel

By: Kate Quinn
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
Length: 15 hours 3 minutes

The New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye and The Rose Code returns with a haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse during the McCarthy era.Washington, DC, 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the... Read more

The Island of Sea Women

A Novel

By: Lisa See
Narrated by: Jennifer Lim
Length: 13 hours 22 minutes

“Off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island is home to generations of haenyo—women who take their living from both land and sea and call the shots in their matriarchal society. Young-sook and Mi-ja are best friends in the 1930s, learning to dive with their all-female collective while their island suffers under Japanese... Read more

Familiaris (Oprah's Book Club)

By: David Wroblewski
Narrated by: Richard Poe
Length: 37 hours 11 minutes

“I feel pressure to read a lot of books, so I don’t often choose a long one. Because I loved The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wroblewski’s 2008 novel about a boy who is nonspeaking whose family raises dogs, I decided to read his new novel, Familiaris. It was worth every second to savor this story of Edgar’s grandparents, Mary and John Sawtelle.... Read more

A Gentleman in Moscow

A Novel

By: Amor Towles
Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith
Length: 17 hours 51 minutes

“I believe A Gentleman In Moscow is without dispute a modern day masterpiece. Towles uses exquisite language to tell the story of Count Rostov, a charming and witty "man of intent", who is confined to a fabulous hotel in Moscow for all his days. But that doesn't stop the count from living a sumptuous and meaningful life and he, in turn, ... Read more

The Nightingale

A Novel

By: Kristin Hannah
Narrated by: Polly Stone
Length: 17 hours 37 minutes

A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK

A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation.

With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War... Read more

Weyward

A Novel

By: Emilia Hart
Narrated by: Aysha Kala, Helen Keeley & Nell Barlow
Length: 10 hours 51 minutes

“This feminist take on a family whose women show an uncanny connection with wild creatures from damsel flies to crows is both stellar historical fiction and an ode to the natural world. Three parallel narratives follow generations of Weyward women, Altha, accused of witchcraft in the 15th century; Violet, living under the cruel control of an... Read more

Lincoln in the Bardo

A Novel

By: George Saunders
Narrated by: George Saunders, Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Carrie Brownstein, Don Cheadle, Lena Dunham, Bill Hader, Kirby Heyborne, Keegan-Michael Key, Julianne Moore, Megan Mullally, Susan Sarandon, Ben Stiller & Various
Length: 7 hours 24 minutes

“Saunders' first novel has a steep entry curve. It's not a novel that reveals itself quickly and easily, but if you give it your attention, if you burrow deep into the book, you'll be eminently rewarded. There is a richness and depth of humanity here. There is the strange and wonderful. There is love and grief and mystery all brought together in... Read more

The Safekeep

By: Yael van der Wouden
Narrated by: Stina Nielsen & Saskia Maarleveld
Length: 9 hours 29 minutes

“A unique gem of a book. I enjoyed it very much and found it full of heart with suspenseful relationship dynamics. Set in Holland in 1961, its themes revolve around cultural loss and forgiveness post WWII and about the universal meaning of home, family, and identity. I thought I was reading one book and then it suddenly and amazingly turned into... Read more

The Starless Sea

A Novel

By: Erin Morgenstern
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman & Various
Length: 18 hours 36 minutes

“What an amazing written and performed tale of love, mystery, and magic. This homage to books and storytelling is like nothing I’ve read... ever. Morgenstern has achieved a wondrous feat that defies measure. Read more

The Reformatory

A Novel

By: Tananarive Due
Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Length: 20 hours 51 minutes

“This was hands down my favorite book of the year! Tananarive Due has written a powerful southern horror novel set in Florida during the Jim Crow era. Twelve year old Robbie Stephens is sent to the segregated Gracetown School for Boys for protecting his sister against the advances of the white son of the most powerful man in town. Not only does... Read more

The Lincoln Highway

A Read with Jenna Pick (A Novel)

By: Amor Towles
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Marin Ireland & Dion Graham
Length: 16 hours 38 minutes

“Loved, loved, LOVED listening to the new Amor Towles book. The story was wonderful, but the readers made it especially enjoyable. Read more

Mr. Dickens and His Carol

A Novel

By: Samantha Silva
Narrated by: Euan Morton
Length: 8 hours 8 minutes

“Full of fantastic period detail and delightful prose, Mr. Dickens and His Carol is a wonderful companion to the enduring holiday classic A Christmas Carol. A month before Christmas, Charles Dickens is informed that his latest serial is a failure and he must produce a holiday story in one month's time or pay back his publishers for their losses.... Read more

Hamnet

By: Maggie O'Farrell
Narrated by: Ell Potter
Length: 12 hours 42 minutes

“Fans of A. S. Byatt, Penelope Fitzgerald, or Barbara Gowdy... are probably really tired of retellings of Shakespeare's life. Why read another? Because it so breathtakingly captures emotion. Because the opening sequence is one of the best expositions and descriptions of Shakespeare's Stratford you'll ever hear. Because the reimagining of... Read more

Not for the Faint of Heart

A Novel

By: Lex Croucher
Narrated by: Kat Griffiths & Olivia Dowd
Length: 11 hours 36 minutes

From New York Times bestselling author Lex Croucher comes a queer historical YA romance, with all the swoons, laughs, and heart-pounding moments you'd expect from a story about the granddaughter of Robin Hood and the girl she's accidentally kidnapped.

‘You aren’t merry,’ Clem said to her captor. ‘And you aren’t all men. So there’s been some... Read more

The Blade Itself

The First Law Trilogy: Book #1

By: Joe Abercrombie
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
Length: 22 hours 15 minutes

The first novel in the First Law Trilogy and debut fantasy novel from New York Times bestseller, Joe Abercrombie.

Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian -- leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies.... Read more

Let Us Descend

A Novel

By: Jesmyn Ward
Narrated by: Jesmyn Ward
Length: 8 hours 12 minutes

“This magical novel illustrates the cruelties of slavery and the indomitable spirit of its protagonist in a descent into the hell of a pre-Civil War Louisiana sugar cane plantation. Read more

The Story Collector

By: Evie Woods
Narrated by: Heather O’Sullivan
Length: 9 hours 26 minutes

An evocative and charming novel full of secrets and mystery, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop In a quiet village in Ireland, a mysterious local myth is about to change everything… One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing... Read more