If you enjoy reading books by Andra Watkins then you might also like the following authors:
Susanna Kearsley is an author known for weaving historical fiction with a touch of romance and mystery. One of her books, “The Winter Sea,” follows a writer named Carrie McClelland as she uncovers the story of her ancestor while researching a novel set in 18th-century Scotland.
As she spends time in a small coastal village, Carrie starts experiencing strange memories that feel more real than fiction. The book moves between her present-day discoveries and the life of her ancestor, creating a fascinating connection between the two timelines.
It’s a story that combines history, personal ties, and unexpected twists.
Kate Morton writes stories that weave together family secrets and mysteries from the past. Her book, “The Forgotten Garden,” follows Cassandra, who inherits a house in England from her grandmother.
As Cassandra explores the house, she uncovers a forgotten, overgrown garden and discovers a link between her family and a little girl abandoned on a ship a century earlier.
The story shifts between timelines, revealing long-buried truths, complicated relationships, and the impact of choices made generations ago. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to keep turning the pages to figure out the connections.
Diana Gabaldon is an author known for weaving historical fiction with strong storytelling. Her book “Outlander” introduces Claire Randall, a British nurse from the 1940s who is suddenly transported to 18th-century Scotland.
There, she finds herself caught between two lives and two loves, navigating the dangers of a world far harsher than her own. The story blends historical events with vivid settings and unforgettable characters. It’s a book that pulls you into the past and doesn’t let go.
Paula McLain writes stories that focus on fascinating women from history. Her book, “The Paris Wife,” tells the story of Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway’s first wife.
It takes you into their world during the 1920s, showing their life in Paris when they were part of a circle of artists and writers.
It captures the challenges of their marriage and the temptations and struggles Hadley faced as she tried to hold her own in a world dominated by her husband’s growing fame. McLain brings Hadley’s voice to life with vivid emotions and rich details about that time period.
Julian Fellowes is a storyteller known for his rich attention to character and societal dynamics. His novel “Snobs” follows Edith Lavery, a middle-class woman who marries into the British aristocracy.
The story explores her struggle to fit into the rigid expectations of her new life, touching on themes of ambition and social class. Fellowes writes with sharp insight into human behavior while keeping the drama engaging and full of twists.
If you enjoy stories with personal conflicts set against vivid social backdrops, this could catch your interest.
Kristin Hannah is a storyteller known for writing heartfelt novels that explore relationships and personal growth. In her book “The Nightingale,” she takes readers to World War II-era France, where two sisters face the trials of war in very different ways.
One becomes involved in the resistance, working to save lives and fight back, while the other struggles to protect her daughter under the watchful eyes of occupying forces.
The story weaves tension and emotion as it shows the choices people make to survive and help others during dangerous times.
Rachel Hore is a British author known for her engaging historical novels. One of her well-loved books, “The Glass Painter’s Daughter,” follows Fran, who returns to her family’s stained-glass shop after her father falls ill.
She uncovers a mysterious old notebook linked to the shop, which leads her to secrets about love and loss that have echoed through generations. The mix of family drama and a glimpse into the world of stained-glass restoration makes this story an intriguing journey.
Lauren Willig is known for writing historical novels with rich characters and engaging plots. One of her books, “The Secret History of the Pink Carnation,” takes readers into the world of spies during the Napoleonic wars.
It follows Eloise Kelly, a modern-day graduate student, as she uncovers secrets from the past about a daring English spy known only as the Pink Carnation.
The story blends humor, romance, and intrigue while alternating between Eloise’s quest in the present day and the spy’s exploits in historical France and England.
Ken Follett writes sweeping historical novels that unfold across vivid settings and rich time periods.
In his book “The Pillars of the Earth,” he tells the story of a stonemason named Tom who dreams of building a grand cathedral in a fictional English town during the 12th century.
The story weaves together the lives of builders, nobility, and clergy in a way that makes the power struggles and ambitions of the time feel alive. It’s a tale of resilience, ambition, and how ordinary people can shape monumental legacies.
If you enjoy stories about characters overcoming obstacles while tied to great historical moments, Follett’s work might be worth exploring.
Elizabeth Kostova is an author known for weaving history and mystery into her novels. In her book “The Historian,” a young woman uncovers an old set of letters hidden in her father’s library.
These letters hint at a dark secret tied to the legend of Vlad the Impaler, the real-life figure behind Dracula. As she reads, she discovers clues that lead her across Europe on a journey filled with forgotten monasteries, ancient books, and ominous warnings.
While the story unfolds, it shifts between her search and her father’s own investigation years earlier, painting a vivid picture of danger and obsession. It’s a tale that feels rich with atmosphere and a love for history.
Erika Robuck writes historical fiction with a strong focus on real-life figures and emotional storytelling. In her book “Hemingway’s Girl,” she introduces Mariella Bennet, a young woman working for Ernest Hemingway in Key West during the 1930s.
As Mariella navigates her feelings for both Hemingway and a World War I veteran, the backdrop of the era’s struggles adds depth and drama. Robuck creates vivid characters and blends history with heartfelt personal stories.
Fiona Davis is known for writing historical fiction set in iconic New York City landmarks. Her book “The Dollhouse” focuses on the Barbizon Hotel for Women, a real place where young women lived while chasing their dreams in the mid-20th century.
The story alternates between the 1950s and modern times, following a journalist who uncovers a decades-old mystery tied to one of the hotel’s former residents. It’s packed with rich details about life in the city during that era, including the aspirations and struggles of women.
Lynn Cullen is an author who brings historical settings to life with vivid characters and emotional depth. In her book “Mrs. Poe,” she explores the tangled lives of Edgar Allan Poe, his wife Virginia, and poet Frances Osgood.
Set in 1840s New York City, the story follows Osgood as she becomes drawn to Poe’s brilliance, which leads to a complicated and dangerous bond. The novel captures the atmosphere of the city and the shifting dynamics of these historical figures with a sense of intimacy and drama.
Amor Towles is a storyteller who loves creating vivid worlds that transport readers to another time and place. His novel, “A Gentleman in Moscow,” takes you to 1920s Russia and introduces you to Count Alexander Rostov, a man sentenced to house arrest in a grand hotel.
Despite never leaving the building, Rostov’s life unfolds in fascinating ways, with unexpected friendships and moments of discovery that show how much life can still hold, even in confinement.
Towles has a knack for turning ordinary settings into places filled with meaning and life.
Martha Hall Kelly is known for her ability to weave historical events into moving narratives. Her debut novel, “Lilac Girls,” is set during World War II and follows the lives of three women from very different backgrounds.
One of them, Caroline Ferriday, works at the French consulate in New York, while another, Kasia, is a Polish teenager caught up in the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp.
Their lives intersect in ways that reveal both the brutality of the war and the resilience of the human spirit. The book is inspired by real people and shines a light on stories that are often overlooked.