Historical fiction doesn’t have to mean that a book is set decades and decades ago. I am painfully aware that books set during my childhood are now considered historical fiction. (Just like hearing songs I loved in high school on the oldies station these days. Ouch.) To a 20-year-old, a book set in the 1980s is definitely historical fiction for them, since they weren’t alive to experience it. On this list, you’ll find amazing historical novels set during the start of the AIDS crisis, the American Civil War, the Jazz Age, and more. Whether you are 20 or 120, there are books on this list for everyone to love! For more suggestions of books to read if you love historical fiction, check out underrated historical novels, 50 of the best historical fiction books, and some of the most popular historical fiction of 2022.
