5 Southern Historical Fiction Books Goodreads Readers Are Loving This Fall—from Jojo Moyes to Harper Lee!
From mountain lore to gripping family sagas, these backlist titles will sweep you away!
Key Takeaways
- These Goodreads-approved Southern historical fiction books offer cozy fall escapes you'll love!
- From Blue Ridge adventures to family sagas, these stories celebrate courage and Southern charm.
- With nearly 600,000 reviews, 'Giver of Stars' is a must-read tale of friendship and resilience.
As the leaves turn to shades of gold, copper and maroon and the air takes on that cool, crisp feeling, there’s nothing quite like curling up beside a window in a comfy chair and diving into a good book. There are a multitude of genres that pair well with fall, but atmospheric historical fiction is definitely one of our favorites. Our recent roundup of books set in the Smoky Mountains left us craving even more stories rooted in Appalachia and the South.
With their lush settings, slower rhythms and sense of nostalgia, these backlist Southern historical fiction books are practically made for cozy fall reading! Here, we hand-picked 5 stories to add to your fall TBR—and every one is highly rated on Goodreads to boot. Keep reading for all of the must-reads!
‘Climbing to the Sun’ by Shelley Burchfield
A seasonal Blue Ridge setting, a 1920s heroine, herbal remedies and a hint of danger? Consider the fall-reading boxes checked! In the fall of 1928, herbalist and healer Callie Beecham makes a living treating patients in her South Carolina town. One day, she’s summoned to Liberia, a freed-slave settlement tucked beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains, to help a woman in childbirth. But her decision to help the community puts her at odds with powerful townspeople determined to uncover her secrets—and silence her for good.
What Goodreads users are saying: “Climbing to the Sun revives the reader’s soul. This divining rod of Southern history will find its place among the classics. Showing us how ‘the veil between this world and the next is fragile.’ Shelley Burchfield’s exquisite and refreshing voice will be remembered long after the last page is read.”
‘The Heart of Bennet Hollow’ by Joanne Bischof Dewitt
An autumnal Pride & Prejudice retelling set in the hills of Appalachia? Say no more. The Heart of Bennet Hollow transports readers to 1904 Virginia where Lizbeth Bennet and her family are struggling to preserve their family’s farm. Lizbeth is determined to find a way to save their treasured land, but when the mine is put up for sale, she knows change is coming. Soon, coal barons descend upon their town to investigate the mine—and one of them is an eligible young man named William Drake. Lizbeth and William’s first meeting leaves Lizbeth with the impression that he’s proud and indifferent. But as they continue to run into one another, feelings change and then a revelation changes everything.
What Goodreads users are saying: “Let me start with the setting because that was arguably my favourite part. I’m not familiar with the Appalachian mountains beyond Christy and a few other novels. But I loved how well it fit into the P&P setting! And more specifically, I loved the whole coal mine angle. Having grown up on Victorian literature, I thoroughly appreciated Drake’s approach to it all, and Lizbeth’s approach to the village. I absolutely loved this story.”
‘Giver of Stars’ by Jojo Moyes
This spellbinding bestseller, based on a true story, celebrates the power of books, knowledge and female friendship—and it has nearly 600,000 incredible reviews on Goodreads! Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve to escape her stifling life in England only to find small-town Kentucky just as…constricting.
When she hears a team of women is needed to deliver books for Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice jumps in. She soon meets Margery and three other women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. What follows is an enthralling, heartbreaking tale about just how far these women will go to bring books to people in need.
What Goodreads users are saying: “I’ve mainly read the Me Before You trilogy and One Plus One, so this novel felt different in comparison to what I was used to from Jojo Moyes. However, she has proven she can write beautifully about different time periods. This novel is perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Ellen Marie Wiseman, as well as anyone who loves a good story. I definitely recommend checking it out for a cozy night in front of a fire this autumn.”
‘The Kitchen House’ by Kathleen Grissom
Spanning two decades, with several pivotal moments unfolding beneath the changing colors of fall, this is a sweeping Southern story perfect for chilly autumn nights. Orphaned Irish immigrant Lavinia arrives at a Virginia tobacco plantation, where she forms a deep bond with the enslaved kitchen workers who become her family. As she grows up and enters the world of the big house, Lavinia finds herself caught between two worlds. When long-buried secrets slowly begin to surface, she’s forced to choose where her loyalties—and her future—lie. Kathleen Grissom’s bestseller is a Goodreads favorite—with more than 300,000 glowing reviews!
What Goodreads users are saying: “Once in a while I happen on such a book, the kind you can’t put down but also that you don’t want to end. I’d been hankering for one and Ms. Grissom delivered! Now I’m rereading it, taking my time, savoring each word, each line, each twist in the plot.”
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee
“It’s fall and his children trotted to and fro around the corner, the day’s woes and triumphs on their faces,” wrote Harper Lee in her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The beloved story, set in the deep South during the 1930s, takes place over multiple seasons—and the story’s turning point occurs during a Halloween pageant. The plot follows the Finch family: Scout, Jem and their widowed father Atticus Finch,a deeply moral lawyer, plus their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley. When Tom Robinson, a local Black man from town, is accused of a terrible crime he didn’t commit, Atticus steps in to fight for justice.
What Goodreads users are saying: “Why is it when I pick up To Kill A Mockingbird, I am visited by a sensory memory? I’m walking home, leaves litter the ground, crunching under my feet. I smell the smoke of fireplaces and think about hot cider and the wind catches and I bundle my coat tighter against me and lift my head to the sky, no clouds, just a stunning blue that hurts my eyes, another deep breath and I have this feeling that all is okay…it must be because there is that one climatic scene on Halloween! I thank Harper Lee for giving me Atticus. I can cuddle up with my cider and pretend that I’m basking in his light.”
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
