Dive into the Rich History of New York City with These 11 Gripping Historical Fiction Novels
By Melissa D'Agnese,
5 hours ago
The glittering stages of Broadway, the scenic views atop the Empire State building, the storied collections of artwork in the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art…New York City is overflowing with rich art, culture and history. Often referred to as The Big Apple or The City That Never Sleeps, New York is known as a place where people go to follow their dreams and make history—and it provides the perfect backdrop for captivating historical novels. Here, we gathered up 10 historical fiction books set in New York City—across many bygone eras—that deliver dazzling plots peppered with well-researched details, simmering drama, high-society intrigue and long-held secrets.
Does stepping foot into 1965 Manhattan and landing an alluring job at Cosmopolitan sound fun? Open up Park Avenue Summer by Renée Rosen. If you’re in the mood to get lost in a story about the Radio City Rockettes in 1950s New York, dive into The Spectacular by bestselling author Fiona Davis—who is beloved by readers for her always-luxurious historical novels set in New York City.
Continue scrolling for all of our compelling, must-read book recommendations!
American actress Jennifer Leighton lives in 1777 British-occupied New York. Her dream: to perform on the acclaimed London stage. Soon, she gets her chance when British general and playwright John Burgoyne takes a romantic interest in her. But their happiness is disrupted when he’s called to fight the war and Jennifer is taken captive by the Brits.
What readers are saying: “I felt the tension of New York as it serves as the center of conflict and turbulence. The power shift, the political standoff, chaos, tides change at a moment’s notice as do allegiances. The theater aspect created dimension, noting how thespians played a role during this time was fascinating…More than a love story, the background sets the tone for adventure, tension with dramatics forming a fetching read.”
This enthralling novel, set in Prohibition-era New York, follows NYPD typist Rose Baker on jazz-fueled outings with her mysterious new colleague, Odalie. Soon, Rose learns Odalie isn’t actually the friend she seems to be. An intriguing page-turner perfect for fans of noir and the roaring twenties!
What readers are saying: “I’ve been on a big noir kick lately. So when I saw this book about the speakeasy world of Prohibiton-era New York, I dove in! While I was reading, I felt like I was transported back to the roaring ’20s, and the surprise ending blew my mind!”
The enchanting glamour of 1965 Manhattan comes alive in this captivating novel, which follows Alice Weiss after she leaves her small Midwest town to chase her big-city dreams. When she lands a job working for the brazen Helen Gurley Brown, the first female editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, nothing could have prepared her for what was next. This Mad Men meets Devil Wears Prada read is as fun as it is fabulous.
What readers are saying: “This book perfectly marries fact and fiction. Miss Rosen’s engaging writing style gave me such a well defined sense of place and time. I felt as though I was completely transported to 1960s NYC. I loved all the little attention to detail, the runs in the stockings, the jewelry, and the smoking, oh the smoking, so much smoking.
This suspenseful, addicting story about four women who marry into a prosperous Italian family takes readers to 1930s New York. Philomena, Amie, Lucy and Petrina all marry into the same Italian family and are godmothers to one another’s children. Set in Greenwich Village, the tale follows each of the women after their husbands leave for war and put them in charge of the family business. As each of the women face their past, they must also grapple with the present as dangerous secrets begin to emerge.
What readers are saying: “I love reading about this time period in New York. I find myself intrigued when reading about the ways that families involved in the mob justify the way they make money and treat individuals with the ways they treat their own family. I loved how this book was so different from other portrayals of the magic of wealth and power from being inside the mob. This is a story of the devastation that life can have on families and the struggle to keep the younger generation from becoming enamored with that lifestyle."
This fictionalized account of the life of Marjorie Post, the heiress to the Post Cereal Company empire, tells the story of C.W. Post’s only child. After her father’s success, Marjorie becomes a high-society wife and mother in New York City, where she raises three daughters. With homes all over the country and an astonishing amount of money, Marjorie marries several times and makes history with her business acumen, which was unheard of for a woman in the 1900s.
What readers are saying: “After seeing Amy Schumer’s brilliant portrayal of Marjorie Post in the Netflix movie Unfrosted, then seeing Marjorie pop up in Apple TV+’s Palm Royale, I just had to read this book about the heiress to the Post Cereal Company empire,” says Patty Bontekoe, Woman’s World Executive Editor. “I loved every minute of this peek into the extravagant life of a very powerful woman. The book spanned Marjorie’s life, from her childhood in the late 1800s up to her death in 1973. The descriptions of her high-society life in New York City were mesmerizing!”
In 1940, after being kicked out of Vassar College, Vivian Morris is sent to live with her Aunt Peg, who owns the Lily Playhouse, a gritty theater in Manhattan. There, Vivian gets an entirely different kind of education, meeting a host of characters that help her discover what she want sin her life and how to get it. Now 95, Vivian looks back on how this shaped her life.
What readers are saying: “Growing up I always wanted to run away to theater life on Broadway and the life that is living in NYC. I studied in New York as an actress but found living in NYC wasn’t for me. Reading this incredible novel dropped me right into the life I always fantasized about as a very little girl. Every single one of these characters came to life in my mind and my heart. It captured the unique and rarified spirit that infects show people. The story was incredibly rich and filled with such a huge rollercoaster of being alive, especially in challenging times around us and who we become by really knowing ourselves and who we become through our choices.”
In this story, readers are first taken to September 1911 on Ellis Island. Here, a nurse named Clara Wood cannot fathom returning to Manhattan where the man she loved fell to his death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Then, while caring for a sick immigrant, she notices a name embroidered onto a scarf he carries. Flash to September 2011. Widow Taryn Michaels is raising her daughter alone and working in a specialty fabric store on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. When an old photograph is featured in a national magazine, Taryn is forced to relive a tragic day—when she lost her husband on 9/11. Soon, Taryn comes face to face with a century-old scarf and this chance encounter may be life-changing.
What readers are saying: “ I enjoyed this book very much! I loved learning more about Ellis Island and the process that takes place as immigrants crossed over to America, and were held at the hospital before they could come into the United States.”
Babe Paley is a member of New York high society and some say she has it all: beauty, jewels, impressive friends, a wealthy husband and stunning homes. But inside, Babe feels lonely and yearns for real connection. Enter the larger-than-life writer and creative genius Truman Capote. Truman entering Manhattan’s social circles sends Babe and her friends into an excited tizzy. What follows is a sparkling, scandalous series of events and a shocking literary scandal that will echo for decades to come.
What readers are saying: “ This was a true pleasure to read. It was delightful to live vicariously in these places and at the time of these uber-wealthy and meticulously formal people steeped in etiquette. Starting at the pinnacle of fashion and glamour, the belle epoch of post-war America, and devolving and naturally succumbing to their humanity, the aging characters are observed through their slow exits. This novel was lovely from start to finish.”
A riveting story about love, sacrifice and following your dreams unfolds in this novel by bestselling author Fiona Davis. In 1956 New York City, 19-year-old Marion should be over the moon. She is about to marry her high school sweetheart and kick off a quiet life in the suburbs. But when she starts to feel trapped, she comes across an opportunity to audition for the Radio City Rockettes—the dazzling precision-dancing troupe—and she jumps at the chance to swap her ordinary future for this exciting opportunity. After landing the job, she falls in love with the work and the glamour. Then, when a bomber attacks the theater, Marion finds herself involved in the investigation.
What readers are saying: "Fiona Davis treats us to an intimate look at the interior of the historic Manhattan landmark within Rockefeller Center: from the Grand Foyer to the Great Stage; the elegant lounges decorated with furniture and carpets designed specifically to complement the theatre’s Art Deco architectural features; the rehearsal halls, dressing rooms, and dormitory for the dancers. Davis does a spectacular job weaving fiction and fact as she includes the frightening true story of the “mad bomber” who terrorized New Yorkers — planting pipe bombs in theaters, terminals, libraries, and in Radio City Music Hall — and eluded police for sixteen years in the 1940s and 50s."
This incredible novel is based on the real-life story of J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene who is hired by J.P. Morgan to curate a collection of books and artwork for his newly built library in 1905. Soon, Belle becomes a key member of New York City’s art and book world. But Belle has a secret. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard—but no one knows this. An extraordinary story about an extraordinary woman.
What readers are saying: "For anyone who enjoys a good story, with subtle intrigue and great imagery, I would suggest this book. I found myself researching some of the art and manuscripts mentioned throughout, and even adding the Pierpont Morgan Library & Museum in New York to my bucket list of places to visit should I ever make it to New York for a lengthy visit. Thank you to the wonderful authors for such an enjoyable and eye-opening novel!"
The bright lights of Broadway, twisted secrets and a handsome musician…this heart-racing page-turner touches on it all. When Lena Aldridge finally makes it to 1920s NYC from London, she decides she’ll do anything to make her dreams of being a Broadway star come true. She gets wrapped up with Will Goodman, a musician who takes her in. But she realizes he may have secrets of his own that could put her in danger.
What readers are saying: “1920s Harlem is vividly brought to life as the setting for Louise Hare's 2nd Canary Club Mystery. The characters are allowed to grow and develop within the structure of a well-plotted mystery. You won't be disappointed.”
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