This post is updated periodically when I find new WWII fiction to recommend.
Like many other readers, I have a fascination with the WWII genre. These stories give me insight into the time period when my grandfather was fighting a war across the world and my grandma was raising children on the home front. These are the times I never asked enough about. Even so, their answers and experiences, had asked all the questions I wish I would have, would be vastly different than those of someone living in occupied France or being bombed in London or experiencing the horrors in Germany and Eastern Europe.
Soon, as this generation leaves us, all we will have left are stories. Thankfully the authors whose books I profile below and others like them have done the daunting amount of work to recreate these experiences. Yes, it may be historical “fiction” but most of these authors spent years researching and interviewing survivors. I learned more about historical events from these books than I ever did in a class.
These stories are not always enjoyable. Parts of them are horrifying. So why put myself through this and why recommend this reading to you? For me it is a way to honor everything that was sacrificed and everyone who was lost. I also enjoy looking for the good and the helpers in the tragedies. It is also self-reflective: What would I have done? How would I have handled that experience or horror? For what it’s worth, after reading all of these books, I have a better understanding of this time period, human nature, and myself.
I will continue adding to this list as I read book in this genre that I recommend.
A WWII Historical Fiction Reading List
I have read (and enjoyed!) all of these books and blogged about most of them (links to past blog posts included below). You can click on the book or the title to purchase from Amazon.
The Ragged Edge of Night (2018)
Read my post on this book here.
The Lost Vintage: A Novel (2018)
I thought this book was about wine but it ended up being about WWII as well! Read my post here.
Manhattan Beach: A Novel (2017)
This book is set in the United States during wartime and has a strong woman character who becomes the first female Naval diver but there is SO MUCH more to this book, which I loved.
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck (2017)
A book about a makeshift family of German women and children who are tied to the resistance as they try to heal and forgive. This is my most recent read of this genre. Read my blog post here.
A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Messner (2017)
This was a WWII read with a twist. Read how in my blog post here.
The Orphan’s Tale: A Novel by Pam Jenoff (2017)
I loved this book about a circus troupe during WWII. Read more in my blog post here.
Lilac Girls: A Novel by Martha Hall Kelly (2016)
From my blog post: “The beautiful book cover projects friendship (three women walking arm in arm) and did not prepare me for the horrors described within its pages, specifically the descriptions of the Ravensbruck concentration camp, the only major concentration camp for women in Germany.”
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave (2016)
This was a engrossing read about “The Blitz,” when London is bombed for 57 consecutive nights during 1940-41. I summarized it in a RELATED POST: Everyone Brave is Forgiven.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (2015)
I loved this book about two sisters living in German-occupied France who moved beyond survival mode to actively aid the resistance movement. My blog post is here: RELATED POST The Nightingale
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (2016)
This book switches among the perspectives of four teenagers as they try to flee Russian occupied territory (one of the perspectives is a Nazi sailor). It is a Young Adult read and not my favorite, but I still found it to be a good refugee perspective and exposes the plight of those hanging their hopes on the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship promising safety and freedom. I recommend it for to those who enjoy YA reads or young adults who want to start in this genre.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusack (2005)
As I look over my list, I realize this book might have affected me the most. I blogged about why it was a favorite here: RELATED POST: The Book Thief is unforgettable. I liked it so much that I just could not watch the movie!
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand (2010)
Note this book actually non-fiction.
This is the most unbelievable-believable story I have ever read. The story of survival of a downed U.S. airman in 1943, it provides a good perspective of the “Pacific theater” of WWII, lacking from most of my other selections.
From Here To Eternity and The Thin Red Line by James Jones (1951)
From Here to Eternity is the first WWII book I ever read…decades ago. I’d like to re-read it because one scene from the end still sticks in my mind. Although this book takes place before America entered the war (the author witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor) it is still a magnificent description of a soldier’s life and a different viewpoint than most of the others on my list. It is the first of a trilogy; I haven’t yet read the other two…I’ve heard the second book The Thin Red Line is excellent. It gives an account of the battle between American and Japanese troops on the island of Guadalcanal.
The Zookeeper’s Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman (2008)
I liked this book and it is a great story of people who did all they could to help others. It reads more like a historical news story rather than a novel, which is different than all the others on this list. I’m looking forward to seeing the movie and plan to write my post after that.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (2014)
I am going to end my list with the Pulitzer-Prize winning bestseller and also my favorite. This masterpiece tells the stories of a blind French girl and a conflicted Nazi-youth, both coming of age in WWII Europe. If you haven’t already read this, save it for last because you may be comparing all others to it!
My thoughts are here: RELATED POST: All the Light we Cannot See, the glorious sea, and Clare de Lune
Still on my list is The Light Between Oceans. Update I have been told and am finding out this book is actually post WWI. Here is my recent post on that book.
What are your favorites here or what would you add to this list?
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Such a great list Leslie and several that I have yet to read! You are right, I did compare All the Light to some others and I personally like Nightingale and Unbroken the best ☺️ Thanks for the list – I’ll definitely be taking it on my next trip to the library!
Thanks, Christy. I’m glad you found it useful. I figured you had probably read more of these than me 🙂
Hi! Great list. I’ve enjoyed a lot of these as well. Just a note, Unbroken is non-fiction and The Light Between Oceans is actually World War I. Have you checked out Code Name Verity? I really like that one as well.
Thanks, Liz. You are correct of course about Unbroken. I will add a disclaimer there; I hate to take it off the list. And I am reading Light Between Oceans right now and am seeing that you are correct there too. I swear I saw this on WWII list somewhere and since I am only half way through I thought maybe it does move into WWII but was kind of hoping not!! (he doesn’t need to deal with that too). Thanks again for reading and the comments.
I’ve read several of these and have almost all the rest on my TO READ list. All the Light We Cannot See was my hands-down favorite – followed closely by The Nightengale.
Angie, thanks for stopping by my blog. I am already looking forward to reading “All The Light…” again someday.
Jodi Picoult’s The Storyteller
A Train In Winter by Caroline Moorehead
And Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de rosnay
Thank you, Alana!! I will check out your suggestions. I had not heard of the others besides the Storyteller and didn’t realize that was WWII.
Yes!! Sarah’s Key is one of my favorites!