‘One Tree Hill’ Star Bethany Joy Recommends 3 Books Set in the Past that She Loves (Exclusive)
The actress-turned-author shares the books that inspired her while writing her debut novel
Key Takeaways
- Bethany Joy Lenz shares three books she enjoyed while writing her debut novel.
- Her recommendations include Amor Towles' ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ and an Erik Larson book.
- Nina de Gramont's ‘Peregrine Hill’ is an upcoming novel about family, power and women's rights.
If you were to ask One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz what’s on her nightstand, she’d tell you she’s reading “a lot at the same time.” She’d also admit that she doesn’t typically read a lot of historical fiction—that is, until she started writing her debut novel, The Betrayal of Cora Wexford. Now the actress and author is sharing all sorts of historical book recommendations. Here, a look at a few books she has loved.
‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ by Amor Towles
Beginning in 1922, this novel follows Count Alexander Rostov after he is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol hotel in Moscow, which is right across the street from the Kremlin. During his time there, the Count meets plenty of interesting people, including an actress and a child. He also experiences some of the most important events in Russia’s history while trapped inside the gorgeous hotel walls, forcing him to re-evaluate everything he thought he knew about his country and himself. A detailed historical fiction novel that spans more than 30 years.
What Bethany says: “While I was writing this book, I was reading A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, which I just adore. His writing is so brilliant and beautiful.”
What other readers are saying: “This brilliant gem of a book is so deserving of all the accolades it has received. Its exploration of human behavior and our never-ending drive to find happiness and purpose, no matter the circumstances, is so uplifting and enchanting. The best books steal a part of our hearts and remain with us long after they are read. I only wish I had discovered it that much sooner.”
‘The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America’ by Erik Larson
From bestselling author Erik Larson comes a thrilling and moving true-crime tale. Told through dual points of view, the story follows architect Daniel Hudson Burnham, who is building the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, and Henry H. Holmes, a charming young doctor with a deadly secret: Unbeknownst to the public, Holmes has constructed a “World’s Fair Hotel” just outside the fairgrounds. It has a hidden crematorium and gas chamber, and Holmes plans to use it to lure fair visitors to their deaths. As the fair draws huge crowds, Holmes uses it to lure unsuspecting victims to their deaths.
What Bethany says: “[I was also reading] The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson [while I was writing my book], which I also really love.”
What other readers are saying: “The use of alternating the chapters between the main characters helped to drive the suspense and pulse of the story. It was riveting and definitely not boring. The amount of research put into this writing project is evident from the copious notes at the end of the book. I definitely recommend this Erik Larson work of nonfiction.”
‘Peregrine Hill’ by Nina de Gramont
Set in 1902 New York City, this novel tells the story of a widow named Isabelle, who is desperate to provide for her 18-year-old daughter Mariah and her elderly mother. To do that, she plans to marry John Whitten, one of New York’s wealthiest men, only to learn that he’s actually interested in her daughter and will do whatever it takes to make the union happen. After the wedding, Isabelle and her family move into John’s house and befriend a maid named Hetty, who might just be the key to getting them out of John’s clutches. What follows is a battle of bravery, strength, friendship and family. (Out November 10, 2026)
What Bethany says: “I just finished that, and that’s coming out soon. I got a galley and it’s wonderful.”
What Goodreads users are saying: “Peregrine Hill is an evocative historical novel that explores family, survival, power, sacrifice and women’s struggle for self-determination against the richly drawn backdrop of Gilded Age New York. Isabelle Bishop’s desperate attempt to protect the family she has left after devastating personal losses sets the story in motion, but the novel quickly develops into a much more complicated examination of the choices women are forced to make when society places their futures in the hands of powerful men.”
Be sure to pick up your copy of The Betrayal of Cora Wexford by Bethany Joy Lenz now wherever books are sold.
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