Set in different time periods around the world, these novels make for the perfect immersive read
If you are looking for the quickest way to teleport, these historical fiction titles with compelling stories might do the trick.
The Kennedy Girl
By Julia Bryan Thomas
Mia dreams of building a wardrobe like that of her style icon Jackie Kennedy. As the fashion cultures of New York, Paris and Milan begin to make an impression on American women in the 1960s, the 19-year-old orphan, who relies solely on her bakery job to cover day-to-day expenses, realises she cannot afford nice clothing or accessories. Thus, when a mysterious stranger offers her a modelling contract with the esteemed House of Rousseau in Paris, she jumps at the opportunity with a one-way ticket in hand. As her career soars, Mia becomes entangled in the dangerous world of espionage. Like her idol, she is now dramatically involved in fashion and politics.
Harlem Rhapsody
By Victoria Christopher Murray
While history remembers key writers such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston and Claude McKay from the Harlem Renaissance, this gripping novel puts the spotlight on forgotten legend Jessie Redmon Fauset, who also played a crucial role in the artistic movement. From working as a high school teacher in Washington DC, Jessie arrives in Harlem to realise her lifelong dream of becoming a literary editor. She is the first Black woman to hold this position at The Crisis, a distinguished magazine for African Americans. Murray highlights her efforts to provide young creatives a platform and take the publication to greater heights, alongside her love affair with the company’s founder, who makes a significant impact in the story as well as Jessie’s life.
The Lotus Shoes
By Jane Yang
In 1800s China, having bound feet (also known as golden lilies) was a cruel cosmetic practice among women from rich and respectable families as it was symbolic of beauty and wealth. In her debut fiction, Yang explores this custom, based on real-life stories from her paternal grandmother and own research, from a dual perspective. Little Flower is raised in a poor yet loving household — and had her feet bound by her mother — while Linjing grows up in a progressive family that does not abide by this tradition. Fate brings them together when the former is sold to the latter’s clan as a ‘muizai’ (a domestic servant in an affluent unit). Their tales are built on the themes of femininity, womanhood and resilience.
The Great Mann
By Kyra Davis Lurie
It is 1945, and soldier Charlie Trammell disembarks at a train station in Los Angeles from Bastogne and swiftly makes his way to Sugar Hill district, home to many of the Black elite. Here, he discovers a life brimming with opportunity, from a promising career at an insurance firm to the potential of an unforgettable romance and extravagant parties hosted by James “Reaper” Mann. A fresh retelling of the beloved classic The Great Gatsby, The Great Mann presents a fascinating tale about wealth, class and the complexities of Black identity, told from the unique perspective of a young man who has just
returned from a gruelling war.
The Blackbirds of St Giles
By Lila Cain
The author takes readers on a dark and dangerous journey set in the late 18th century, featuring two enslaved siblings who narrowly escape the brutal horrors of Jamaican sugarcane plantations. Following the incident, Daniel fights for the British in the American War of Independence and is promised freedom and inheritance. But when he and sister Pearl arrive on the murky streets of London, they are met with the harsh truth: No one can vouch for them and they now have to make friends with strangers and poverty. Highlighting the issue of racism, betrayal and bravery, this page-turner is a story of the constant struggle to survive.
When Sleeping Women Wake
By Emma Pei Yin
When Sleeping Women Wake follows the story of three protagonists — a mother, her daughter and their maid — forced to undertake a journey of survival during WWII. When the Japanese invade Shanghai, the wealthy Tang family settles in Hong Kong, believing it to be protected by the British. But when the Japanese begin their occupation of the Crown colony, Mingzhu, Qiang and Biyu are coerced to work for the enemy or perform laborious tasks in factories until an encounter with the East River Column resistance group separates them. Through these characters, the author explores how ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things in the face of adversity.
No. 10 Doyers Street
By Radha Vatsal
Set in the dark aisles of New York’s Chinatown in 1907, this book is about a female journalist from India trying to find her place in the cut-throat world of tabloids, underscoring themes of perseverance and integrity. As such, Archana Morley is always on the lookout for isolated, untold stories. One that catches her attention is news about gangster Mock Duck, who has been arrested for murder. She is completely invested in the investigation, choosing to report on events sometimes against the wishes of her editor. Her end goal is to reveal the truth, and her tenacity takes her from gritty alleys to backroom politics and beyond.
The Stolen Queen
By Fiona Davis
The Stolen Queen features a dual-timeline narrative, alternating between 1936 Egypt and 1978 New York. Charlotte Cross lands an opportunity in 1936 to join an archaeological mission in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings before tragedy strikes. Fast-forward to 1978, she has become an associate curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. There, 18-year-old Annie Jenkins, who is working for a former Vogue fashion editor, is organising the Met Gala to showcase Egyptian artefacts. The characters converge when a priceless treasure goes missing during the event. Now, Charlotte has to face the demons of her past as the two team up to search for the missing antiquity.
This article first appeared on June 30, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
