June 23, 2020
Top Ten Tuesday: 10+ Highly Rated and Favorite WW1 and WW11 Reads
*I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday’s 10th Anniversary Celebration: Update an Old Post. Today I’m updating a post that was originally published in April of 2018.
If you’ve clicked over from That Artsy Reader Girl, Welcome! Please look around and enjoy your stay.
I read a lot of histfic and one of my favorite sub-genres is WW1 and WW11 histfic. Listed below are 10 of my highest-rated and favorite histfic reads that have also received high star ratings on Goodreads. In addition, I included some honorable mention because there are more than 10 reads that are memorable to me for various reasons. Not all titles are reviewed because I read them before publishing this blog (in which case I’ve provided the Amazon link). *This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Listed in order of their Goodreads star rating (6/22/20).
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
WW11
My Rating: 4 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.58 Stars
The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke
WW11
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.54 Stars
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
WW11
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.51 Stars
From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon
WW11
My Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.38 Stars
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
WW11
My Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.40 Stars
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
WW11 (YA)
My Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.37 Stars
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
WW11 (YA)
Brief Review Here (scroll down the page)
My Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.36 Stars
Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott
WW11 (YA)
My Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.26 Stars
Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor
WW1
My Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.16 Stars
The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton
WW11
My Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Rating: 4.13 Stars
Runners Up
(other favorites that might have been in my top 10 on a different day…in no particular order)
As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner (WW1 time period)
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Huntress and The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (WW11 time period)
The Baker’s Secret by Stephen P Kiernan
Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon
Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris
The Lieutenant’s Nurse by Sarah Ackerman
The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (MG)
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff
Let’s Discuss!
What are your favorite WW1 or WW11 hisfic reads?
Have you read any of these titles? Which are your favorites?
Happy Reading Bookworms!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection!
Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
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Happy Reading Bookworms!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection!
Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
***Blogs posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price. This money will be used to offset the costs of running a blog and to sponsor giveaways, etc.
Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.
The book covers and author photos are credited to Amazon or an author’s website.
© ReadingLadies.com
Reading Ladies 
What a great choice this week. I also enjoy books from WWI and
WWII
and have tagged 131 on my log so far.
However, from your list, I have read only three:
The Book Thief,
All the Light we Cannot See and The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society.
All of them great.
My TTT.
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Thanks! I’m glad we like some of the same books! I’m hopping over to your TTT now….
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Wait… you haven’t read The Huntress by Kate Quinn? I don’t see it here. If so, you really should – it is better than her Alice Network, in my opinion.
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Yes I have read it and enjoyed it. I’m not sure why I neglected to put it on….maybe because I think of it more as a thriller? Thanks for the reminder…I’ll hop on today and edit!
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The Book Thief is one of my favourite books!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/23/top-ten-tuesday-269/
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Excellent list of book in one of my favorite genres!!n:)
I have read the majority of them and it looks like I have a lot to look forward to!
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I’m happy we’re book twins! 🙌😍
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Indeed!
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The Book Thief was a great story for sure!
My TTT .
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It’s on my lifetime favs list! The movie was well done too! I’m hopping over now to take a look at your TTT….
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So many fantastic books here! The Book Thief is one of my all time favourites! And I love Ruta Sepetys! 😊
My TTT: https://lifewithallthebooks.com/2020/06/23/top-ten-tuesday-ten-more-thought-provoking-quotes-from-books/
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Thanks for commenting! The Book Thief is on my lifetime favs list. The movie was good too! I’m hopping over to your TTT now….
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This list is like gold, Carol. I agree with you about so many and any I haven’t read are way up high on my list!
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Thanks Jennifer! 🙌😍 I’m happy to hear we share so many favorites!
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I actually do not like reading books set during war time, something about them that just screams sadness and tons of tragic stories that makes people cry but I do come across one or two sometimes. I love ‘The book thief’ which is really the only war book that I read that I like and that I remember is set during a war.
Have a lovely day.
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I understand. Some of them are especially difficult reads….but some are lighter and inspirational too! I’m happy to hear we both loved Book Thief! 🙌
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I enjoy historical fiction, but I haven’t read any of these. I might have to look into some of them! Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
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I hope you find one you love! I’m hopping over now to read your post….
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So many great ones on your list. Salt to the Sea is one of my most favorite from this time period. I felt like I learned so much!
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So memorable!
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I love this topic since I’m drawn to historical fiction, especially the WWII period, as well. I”ve read a lot of the books you mentioned, with my favorites being THE NIGHTINGALE, THE BOOK THIEF, and SALT TO THE SEA. Most of the others are on my TBR list somewhere! There’s just something so fascinating about these time periods, isn’t there?
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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Every time I think I’m done with the genre another great one is published. An amazing number of perspectives and angles! I’m glad to know we both love histfic! I’m hopping over to your link now….
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Wow this is such a great list. I now have a few more to add to my wishlist and tbr! I’m a sucker for World War I and II historical fiction! Fabulous blog post Carol!
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Thank you so much! I’m happy to hear I could be helpful! Happy reading and thanks for commenting!
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I still need to read The Nightingale! And I’ve read so many of these, as well. The Soldier’s Wife is one I loved that deserves more attention. ❤ Great topic!
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Thanks Dedra! I’m happy to know we enjoy so many of the same titles!
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From your list I’ve only read The Book Thief, but I have read a lot of WW II books, so now I’ve added to my list! Great post!
Lisa Loves Literature’s TTT
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Thanks! I hope you find some titles you will enjoy! I’m hopping over now to read your post….
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I absolutely love this list. There are only a few that I have not read, but I will definitely be adding them to my TBR on your recommendation.
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Happy reading!
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I’m thrilled you enjoyed Last Train to London! Thanks for the mention! 🙌😍
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