Reese Witherspoon’s 8 Favorite Historical Fiction Books: ‘I Just Tore Through This—I Read It Twice!’
From WWII France to 1950s America, these page-turners celebrate unforgettable women overcoming the odds
Key Takeaways
- Reese's Book Club has sold more than 23 million print copies since launching in 2017.
- Historical fiction is Reese’s favorite genre—she loves stories featuring strong female leads.
- These 8 book picks span from 1920s England to 1950s America and beyond.
Since its launch in 2017, Reese Witherspoon’s book club has become a literary powerhouse, selling more than 23 million print copies in 2023. Reese was first inspired to start it due to a deep love of reading, but she also specifically wanted to share women-centered stories. She began unveiling monthly releases—and the result was astounding! Nearly a decade later, many of Reese’s Book Club picks, like Big Little Lies and Where The Crawdads Sing, spend months—or even years—on bestseller lists and are adapted for the big and small screen via her production company Hello Sunshine.
In an interview with The New York Times, Reese said she caught “the reading bug” early from her grandmother, Dorothea Draper Witherspoon, who shaped her into a book enthusiast. Dorothea was a first grade teacher with a penchant for Danielle Steel romances. But when it comes to favorite genres, Reese favors historical fiction. “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again—I love historical fiction,” Reese shared on Instagram. “It might be my favorite genre but shhh don’t tell the others.” Here at Woman’s World, we agree! There’s just something special about following unforgettable heroines to bygone eras as they navigate hardships and find hope against all odds.
Keep scrolling for 8 of Reese’s favorite historical fiction books—all named Reese’s Book Club picks, of course! Whether you’re in the mood for dual-timeline mysteries set in the deep South during the 1950s or suspense-filled tales set in 1920s England, every single one of these stories enchants from page one!
‘The Nightingale’ by Kristin Hannah
This sweeping historical fiction novel by bestselling author Kristin Hannah is not only a Reese favorite—it’s a global reader favorite! Set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied France during World War II, the story follows sisters Vianne and Isabelle. During this perilous time period, the sisters’ paths to survival are very different. While Vianne fights to protect her home and family, Isabelle is drawn into the dangerous world of the French Resistance.
What Reese says: “It’s so heartwrenching, it’s so dramatic—like you’re holding your breath in certain sequences. But it’s really an often untold story of a woman’s experience of war and the struggle to survive. And we get to see the beauty of the sisterhood between these two women, the resilience that they have and there’s also a love story in there too—it’s a fascinating novel.”
‘House of Eve’ by Sadeqa Johnson
Themes of race, class and identity meld in Sadeqa Johnson’s House of Eve. Set in 1950s America, the richly layered story follows two young Black women whose lives are shaped by ambition, societal expectations and the difficult choices surrounding love and motherhood. In Philadelphia, 15-year-old Ruby has dreams of higher education and a future beyond her circumstances. Meanwhile, Eleanor, a student at Howard University, strives to secure a place within Washington D.C.’s Black elite. As their journeys unfold, each woman must make sacrifices in pursuit of opportunity.
What Reese says: “This is about two fascinating characters, Ruby and Eleanor, and their lives intersect in the most wonderful and unlikely way. I was completely surprised by the ending—and it was just so beautifully told and written!”
‘Broken Country’ by Clare Leslie Hall
This dual-timeline historical mystery by Clare Leslie Hall takes place in 1968 and 1955. Beth and her hardworking husband, Frank, spend their days tending to their farm in a rural English village. But when her brother-in-law shoots a dog attacking their sheep, Beth has no idea this moment will alter the course of their lives. The dog belonged to novelist Gabriel Wolfe—Beth’s first love, who broke her heart ages ago. As she’s pulled back into Gabriel’s orbit, tensions arise, old feelings surface and secrets are revealed. Can Beth choose between the woman she once was and the woman she is today?
What Reese says: “I read it in one sitting. I was on an airplane and I just cried so hard,” Witherspoon told People. “It touched this really essential human part of me that I think is very universal: this idea of your first love being lost, and then this opportunity to find that true love one more time and have one more opportunity.”
‘The Giver of Stars’ by Jojo Moyes
This is a book about books for the ages! Set in Depression-era Kentucky, Jojo Moyes’ The Giver of Stars is inspired by the true story of the Packhorse Librarians. Seeking escape from a restrictive life in England, Alice Wright finds purpose delivering books through the rugged Appalachian mountains alongside an independent group of women led by the fearless Margery. A story of friendship, love, resilience and the transformative power of literacy in a divided America.
What Reese says: “From the minute I picked up this book, I could not put it down. It’s one of those books that you just tear through. I can’t think of a better book to read this month than “The Giver of Stars” by Jojo Moyes. I’ve been a huge Jojo Moyes fan for years – her characters are so compelling and y’all know how much I love historical fiction!”
‘The Christie Affair’ by Nina Gramot
When The Christie Affair was named a Reese’s Book Club Pick in 2022, the club said it “sizzles from the first sentence.” The story, inspired by true events, takes place in 1925 and follows Miss Nan O’Dea, who infiltrated her way into the world of legendary author Agatha Christie—who famously went missing for 11 days—and her husband, Archie. What follows is a story of betrayal and revenge that asks the question: How far will someone go in the name of love?
What Reese says: “True crime aficionados…this book is for you! This novel covers the 11 days in 1926 when famed novelist Agatha Christie went missing. That’s right, an unexpected mix of historical fiction and romance, heartbreak and revenge based on true happenings…but here’s the twist, it’s told through the perspective of her husband’s mistress! I found myself bingeing this book in one sitting.”
‘Where The Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens
In this global bestseller, which was also turned into a blockbuster film starring Daisy Edgar Jones, readers are transported to the marshlands of North Carolina in the 1950s. This tale follows Kya Clark, a young girl abandoned in the . While surviving alone, she becomes a self-taught naturalist while also facing town scrutiny and prejudice. As Kya experiences young love and betrayal, she somehow becomes the prime suspect in a 1969 murder case.
What Reese says: “Have you ever read a book where you didn’t want it to end…That’s how I feel about this book. I can’t even express how much I love this book! It’s about a young woman named Kya, who’s left to raise herself in the marshes of North Carolina when her family abandons her at a young age. There is so much to her story—romance, mystery, and a murder—and it takes place in the breathtaking backdrop of the South. I didn’t want this story to end!
‘The Downstairs Girl’ by Stacey Lee
This sharp, stirring young adult historical novel set in post–Civil War Atlanta centers on 17-year-old Jo Kuan, a Chinese American maid living in the divided South. By night, Jo secretly becomes the outspoken voice behind an advice column that challenges the era’s rigid views on race, class and gender. As her words ignite controversy and a search for her identity ramps up, Jo is drawn into a dangerous journey to uncover the truth about her own past.
What Reese says: “The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee is clever, poignant and funny. It’s a bold portrait of a young Chinese-American woman named Jo who is faced with adversity and the realities of intersectionality in her community.”
‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & The Six is a forever-favorite among millions of readers—Woman’s World editors included! The story offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a fictional 1970s rock band whose meteoric rise ends in sudden collapse at the height of fame. Told through a gripping oral-history format, the novel captures the chaos of stardom, the creative tension between elusive frontwoman Daisy Jones and intense frontman Billy Dunne—and their undeniable chemistry. Sexy, nostalgic and emotionally charged, it’s a story about music, creative soulmates and obsessions.
What Reese says: An incredible rock band in the 70s and their meteoric rise to international fame…It’s un-put-downable. I just tore through this book and I read it twice! The book centers on the meteoric rise of a rock band in the ‘70s and its lead singers, Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne, whose connection is as electric as the music they make together. It’s sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, people!”
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