New Historical Fiction Books I Can’t Wait to Read!

There are so many wonderful new books being published in 2022. Here are fifteen new historical fiction books that I am excited to read. What new books are you looking forward to reading this year?

The Last Dance of the Debutante by Julia Kelly

(Published January 4, 2022)

1958 will be the last year that debutantes will be presented at court to Queen Elizabeth. Mothers are scrambling to get their daughters on the list.

“Kelly’s descriptions of the glamorous, though long nights, are captivating. The pressure these young women feel to impress and make the right match is exhausting, and Kelly evokes compassion for her characters. The story is full of allure, society scandals, and the determination for these young women to eschew the dying traditions of the time.” —Booklist

The Lives of Diamond Bessie by Jody Hadlock

(April 5, 2022)

Pregnant out of wedlock, sixteen-year-old Annie Moore is sent to live at a convent for fallen women. When the nuns take her baby, Annie escapes, determined to find a way to be reunited with her daughter. But few rights or opportunities are available to a woman in the 1860s, and after failing to find a respectable job, Annie resorts to prostitution in order to survive. (Amazon)

Mrs. England by Stacey Halls

(April 12m 2022)

Simmering with slow-burning menace, Mrs. England is a portrait of an Edwardian marriage, an enthralling tale of men and women, power and control, courage, truth and the very darkest deception”. (Amazon)

I received an advanced reading copy of this book and it is really good, so far.

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

As a lover of classic Hollywood films, I am really looking forward to reading this book.

(May 10th, 2022)

“Siren Queen offers up an enthralling exploration of an outsider achieving stardom on her own terms, in a fantastical Hollywood where the monsters are real and the magic of the silver screen illuminates every page. “ (Amazon)

Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner

(May 17, 2022)

“Natalie Jenner, the internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society, returns with a compelling and heartwarming story of post-war London, a century-old bookstore, and three women determined to find their way in a fast-changing world in Bloomsbury Girls. “ (Amazon)

Sister Stardust by Jane Green(April 5, 2022)

I received an advanced copy of this book and can’t wait to start reading it.

“Chock-full of vibrant historical details about London and Morocco in the 1960s, Green’s first foray into historical fiction does not disappoint…Green portrays the scenery and atmosphere so vividly that readers will be instantly transported. The descriptions of Marrakech, with its bright colors and beautiful architecture, present an especial sensory delight…A provocative story about youth culture during the 1960s, overflowing with sex, drugs, and rock and roll.”—Kirkus Reviews

The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale

(April 26, 2022)

“An exciting novel based on the fearless reporter Nellie Bly, who would stop at nothing to expose injustices against women in early 19th century New York, even at the risk of her own life and freedom”. (Amazon)

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki

(February 15, 2022)

“…Bestselling and acclaimed author Allison Pataki has crafted an intimate portrait of a larger-than-life woman, a powerful story of one woman falling in love with her own voice and embracing her own power while shaping history in the process.” (Amazon)

The Manhattan Girls: A Novel of Dorothy Parker and Her Friends by Gill Paul

(August 16, 2022)

“It’s a 1920s version of Sex and the City, as Dorothy Parker—one of the wittiest women who ever wielded a pen—and her three friends navigate life, love, and careers in New York City. Perfect for fans of Fiona Davis, Beatriz Williams, and Renée Rosen. ” (Amazon)

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

(January 25, 2022)

“Davis embellishes the real lives of the Frick family and Audrey Munson, a sculptors’ muse, in a tale that will thrill fans of Anna Pitoniak and Karen Harper. She also jumps skillfully between the Roaring Twenties and the Swinging Sixties as another model explores the Frick Collection decades later. Davis’ insider’s perspective on the esteemed Frick family gives equal weight to those who kept the family afloat.”
—Booklist

The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian

(May 10, 2022)

“A luxurious African safari turns deadly for a Hollywood starlet and her entourage in this riveting historical thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant.” (Amazon)

Hotel Portofino by J. P. O’Connell

I have just received an advanced copy of this book and can’t wait to start reading it!

Soon to be a PBS series, this historical drama about a British family who move to Italy and open a high end hotel on the Italian Riviera during the Roaring Twenties looks like a winner!

On Gin Lane by Brooke Lea Foster

(May 31, 2022)

After her fiancé whisks her off to the glistening shores of Southampton in June of 1957, one young socialite begins to realize that her glamorous summer is giving her everything—except what she really wants—in this new novel from the author of Summer Darlings, “one terrific summer read” (Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

Last Dance on the Starlight Pier by Sarah Bird

Set during the Great Depression, Last Dance on the Starlight Pier is an unforgettable novel about one woman—and a nation—struggling to be reborn from the ashes. (Edelweiss+)

Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare