8 Winter Historical Fiction Books to Cozy Up With—Drama, Romance and Snowy Settings Await!
Filled with snow-kissed scenes and rich history, these must-reads will transport you back in time!
Snowy landscapes, icy air, cozy evenings spent at home…winter always provides a picture-perfect setting. Many readers even insist it’s the best of all seasons for snuggling up with a good book. In fact, for countless bibliophiles, pairing reads with the current season often adds an extra layer of enjoyment. And if you’re looking for books that complement the season and provide a truly immersive escape, winter historical fiction books are the perfect choice. Between the atmospheric bygone settings and cozy historical details, winter-set historical fiction books enhance the frosty ambiance outside your window and transport you back in time. Here, 8 winter must-reads set in the past—they’re sure to captivate from page one!
Want to experience a whimsical historical fairy tale set in the snowy wilderness? Pick up The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, which one reader described as “so deeply atmospheric you can almost feel the cold air on your skin as you’re reading.” For those in the mood for a book that weaves history with mystery, we suggest The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. This bestselling novel based on a real midwife transports readers to wintry Maine in 1789 and follows a remarkable woman.
Continue scrolling for all of our must-read winter book recommendations, then pour a cup of cocoa and enjoy the escape!
‘Homecoming’ by Kate Morton
Kate Morton is the New York Times bestselling author of The Clockmaker’s Daughter, and Homecoming delivers another sweeping story that spans continents and generations. When journalist Jess is called home to Australia to care for her grandmother, she comes across a book chronicling a gruesome murder that occurred on Christmas Eve in 1959. Though she remembers the tragedy, Jess is shocked to find a connection between her family and those who were murdered. She makes it her mission to solve the cold case.
What readers are saying: “If I’d known the size of the book before I agreed to read it with a group, I probably would have passed—as I’m not a big fan of really, chunky books. However, despite being 628 pages, it was such a good read. It’s beautifully written, perfectly capturing the bleak London winter and the fragrant, coastal Australia. It’s powerful, emotional and I loved it.”
‘The Frozen River’ by Ariel Lawhon
Inspired by real-life Revolution-era diarist and midwife Martha Ballard, this novel is set in the winter of 1789. When the body of one of the most respected men in Hallowell, Maine, is found in a frozen river, Martha is called in to investigate. Relying on her medical knowledge as a healer and the diaries she keeps about the goings-on in her village, she begins to unearth the truth behind an unspeakable crime. Now, Martha must overcome secrets and lies to solve the case. A tense yet tender story about a remarkable woman meant to be remembered.
What readers are saying: “When starting this book, the reader immediately feels part of the community and is invested in Martha’s life and the lives of the vulnerable women she assists. This well-researched novel is a five-star read for me and one of my favorites so far this year. The action never stops. Make sure you read the author’s extensive notes at the end of the book. You will miss out on the real story if you don’t!”
‘The Bear and the Nightingale’ by Katherine Arden
Magical, memorable and magnetic, this Cinderella retelling has more than 200,000 ratings and counting on GoodReads—and was touted as a remarkable debut novel when it was published in 2017. In their remote town where winter lasts all year long, Vasilisa—aka Vasya—and her siblings are accustomed to the daily frigid temperatures and snowdrifts. Their constant joy is sitting around the fire listening to ancient fairytales, especially the one about Frost, the winter demon with bright blue eyes. But when their father brings home a new wife, she forbids Vasya and her siblings from learning about the ghosts from their past. As her stepmother becomes more cruel and otherworldly danger descends, young Vasya might be the only one who can stop it.
What readers are saying: “‘Enchanting’ is really the only way to describe this historical fantasy. This was the type of story that makes you want to go back to being a child who unconditionally believed in magic and wishes and the possibility of all things. I will be picking this up again come winter, cozily bundled up near a fire with a cup of hot chocolate because this book is the sort of magical warmth and comfort that everyone deserves during the coldest of times.”
‘Winter Garden’ by Kristin Hannah
Complex characters, meaningful mother-daughter moments and powerful prose abound in Kristin Hannah’s dual-timeline novel set in modern-day Alaska and 1941 Leningrad. After spending years apart, sisters Meredith and Nina Whitson reunite when they learn their father is dying. As they gather around his deathbed, alongside their cold and disapproving mother, Anya, he makes them promise to learn their mother’s story—from start to finish. As children, their mother would tell them the same Russian fairytale over and over again. What is the real story and what is the truth surrounding their mother’s past? A breathtaking story of love, loss and forgiveness.
What readers are saying: “Winter Garden was such an incredible story of a woman’s journey through life as a Russian under the control of Stalin. A heartwarming story filled with mystery, intrigue and a page-turning plot.”
‘The Forest of Vanishing Stars’ by Kristin Harmel
This rich coming-of-age story penned by bestselling author Kristin Harmel transports readers to 1941 Europe. Yona was stolen from her wealthy German parents as a baby and raised in the rural wilderness of Eastern Europe. For the next 20 years, Yona lives with an old woman and is taught everything from how to speak languages to how to survive on her own. In 1941, the old woman passes away, and Yona soon meets Jews fleeing the Nazis. Suddenly, she’s faced with the horrifying knowledge of what is happening in the outside world and the innate calling that she is meant to help. When Yona finds herself living in the forest and dealing with the harsh elements, she vows to teach these new friends about survival—and in turn, she is taught how to open her heart.
What readers are saying: “When I’m looking for a change of scenery but I don’t have any travel plans, I always reach for a novel—and this stirring coming-of-age story transported me to 1941 Europe,” says Melissa D’Agnese, FIRST Senior Editor. “Inspiring, suspenseful, hopeful and based on true events, this incredible story drew me in from the start.”
‘The Diamond Eye’ by Kate Quinn
Bestselling author Kate Quinn captures readers’ hearts again with this stunning WWII novel. Set in 1937, in Kyiv, Ukraine, college student Mila Pavlichenko only cares about two things: her job at the library and her son. But when Hitler decides to invade both Russia and Ukraine, Mila must step up and defend her homeland. She transforms from a studious girl to an elusive sniper known as Lady Death. Now everyone knows her name, and Mila is sent to Washington, D.C., on a goodwill tour, where she befriends Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. But will her traumatizing past get in the way of her potential happiness?
What readers are saying: “This story was a nice blend of fact and fiction and I enjoyed the detailed, chilling winter setting in Kiev. The storyline gave much insight to what war is like on the frontline.”
‘The Winter Guest’ by Pam Jenoff
In a small, snow-covered Polish village, the threat of Nazi invasion looms large for twins Helena and Ruth. They’re just trying to stay safe…then Helena finds a wounded American paratrooper on the border of their mountain town. She brings Sam—a Jew—back to the house to hide. But before long, Helena’s concern for the American grows into something much deeper. What follows is a story of bravery, betrayals and a chain of events that will echo across continents and decades.
What readers are saying: “The Winter Guest is the kind of book you find yourself sneaking peeks at under your desk when you should be working, all because you simply cannot let the characters go. Now finished with the story I actually miss the characters! I cannot wait to read more by Pam Jenoff—her writing is exceptional!”
‘Once Upon a Wardrobe’ by Patti Callahan
From the New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Savannah comes this dazzling story about the bond between siblings and the magic of stories. Set during wintertime in 1950s England, Megan Devonshire (Megs) is studying mathematics at Oxford University. One day her 8-year-old brother asks her if the world of Narnia is real. Logical Meg assures him the story is fiction, but he begs her to ask the author of the just-released The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Meg gathers the courage to ask the author—who is a professor at her school. Soon, she finds herself having tea with C.S. Lewis and his own brother Warnie. A story that blends fact and fiction and is a tribute to story lovers or anyone who has ever wanted to know more about the magical land of Narnia.
What readers are saying: “C.S. Lewis created pure magic as he walked us through that wardrobe door and into Narnia. Callahan Henry taps into that magic to give us this nostalgic story of family, hope and love. The author’s messaging resonated with me: there is great power in both family bonds and the written word. This book would be best enjoyed under a cozy blanket with a hot cuppa…even better if snow flurries are forecast!”
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