Readers who love historical fiction, especially stories set in World War II, often pick up a Kate Quinn book. Her books are known for bringing to life amazing women and plots that really grab you.
If you are searching for authors with a similar approach to historical fiction, here are some writers you might really enjoy.
Books by Kristin Harmel often explore captivating stories from history, especially those from World War II, seen through deeply personal perspectives. Readers who enjoyed Kate Quinn might also appreciate Harmel’s novel “The Book of Lost Names.”
The story follows Eva Traube, a young Jewish artist forced to escape occupied Paris. Eva becomes skilled at forging identity papers to save children from Nazi persecution.
Along the way, she encodes their original names into a secret book, hoping one day to reunite them with their true identities. Decades later, the rediscovery of that hidden volume brings past secrets and sacrifices back into focus.
Harmel combines historical authenticity with moving narratives of courage and survival.
Susanna Kearsley writes historical fiction novels with elements of romance, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural. Her storytelling is clear and inviting, often featuring strong women characters facing challenging choices.
Her novel “The Winter Sea” moves between past and present, set partly in Scotland during the Jacobite rebellion of 1708. Carrie, a historical fiction author, visits Slains Castle for inspiration but soon realizes her writing seems guided by vivid memories from the past.
Carrie becomes emotionally invested in Sophie, an ancestor living in that historical period, whose dramatic choices have a lasting impact on future generations.
If you enjoyed how Kate Quinn blends emotional depth with historical detail, Susanna Kearsley’s “The Winter Sea” could also capture your attention.
Heather Morris is an author known for bringing lesser-known historical moments vividly to life through deeply human storytelling. If you are drawn to Kate Quinn’s immersive historical novels, you might appreciate Morris’s book “The Tattooist of Auschwitz.”
This novel is based on a true story. It follows Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew assigned the heartbreaking job of tattooing identification numbers onto fellow prisoners at Auschwitz.
Even amid horror, Lale finds love, courage, and hope as he connects deeply with fellow prisoner Gita. Morris’s writing pulls readers into the daily struggles and small moments of humanity within the darkest times, offering a story that is powerful, emotional, and unforgettable.
Pam Jenoff is an author you might enjoy if you love the historical drama and strong female characters in Kate Quinn’s novels. In “The Lost Girls of Paris,” Jenoff takes readers to 1946, right after World War II.
Grace Healey stumbles upon an abandoned suitcase in a New York City station filled with photographs of unknown young women. Curious, Grace begins to uncover the stories of these forgotten women who secretly operated as spies behind enemy lines.
Jenoff builds a story around bravery, love, and sacrifice—a narrative that weaves through the hidden roles women played in a war-torn era.
If Kate Quinn’s mix of suspense, history, and compelling relationships appeals to you, Pam Jenoff offers another fascinating journey into the past.
Readers who enjoy Kate Quinn’s historical fiction might find Martha Hall Kelly equally engaging. Kelly’s book “Lilac Girls” tells the stories of three women from very different backgrounds during World War II.
Inspired by real-life events, the novel explores the lives of Caroline Ferriday, a socialite involved in humanitarian aid, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager drawn into resistance activities, and Herta Oberheuser, a German doctor stationed at the Ravensbrück concentration camp.
Through these three women’s eyes, Kelly presents the complexities of bravery, friendship, and survival in the darkest times.
Jennifer Chiaverini is an author historical fiction fans often enjoy if they’ve read Kate Quinn. Chiaverini writes stories that transport readers to different eras, giving life to strong women and significant historical moments.
Her book “Resistance Women” follows Mildred Fish Harnack, an American living in Germany during Hitler’s rise. Mildred, together with a brave group of friends, takes enormous risks to resist the oppressive regime.
The novel captures the danger, courage, and personal sacrifices ordinary people faced confronting extraordinary evil. It’s a gripping story of friendship, bravery, and the hidden heroes of history.
Ariel Lawhon writes historical fiction filled with suspense, strong characters, and intriguing true stories. Fans of Kate Quinn will find similarities in the way Lawhon explores hidden histories and brings real events vividly to life.
For example, Lawhon’s novel “I Was Anastasia” centers around the mysterious fate of the Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov.
Lawhon spins dual narratives—one featuring Anastasia’s desperate struggle amidst the turmoil of revolution, the other following Anna Anderson, a woman who claimed Anastasia’s identity years later.
The two timelines slowly converge, building tension and raising questions about truth, identity, and survival. Readers will find themselves absorbed by the puzzle Lawhon creates out of history’s famous mystery.
Beatriz Williams crafts novels full of strong women, secrets, and world-shifting historical events, perfect if you enjoy Kate Quinn’s vivid historical stories. In “The Secret Life of Violet Grant,” Williams weaves together two timelines.
In 1964, Vivian Schuyler discovers a mysterious suitcase belonging to Violet Grant, her aunt whose life no one mentions in the family.
Violet, a young scientist in 1914 Europe, gets drawn into romance, espionage, and a scandalous mystery that Vivian becomes determined to uncover.
Both clever and emotional, the novel pulls you into two eras, connecting the past and present through family ties and lingering secrets.
Fiona Davis is an author known for historical novels that blend past and present flawlessly, pairing well with Kate Quinn’s storytelling style.
Her book “The Lions of Fifth Avenue” centers around the iconic New York Public Library in two timelines: one in 1913, when Laura Lyons desires more for herself than simply being a wife and mother, leading her to discover the women’s suffrage movement and Greenwich Village bohemia; the other in 1993, when her granddaughter Sadie, a librarian, faces accusations tied to rare book thefts from the library’s collection.
Both stories unfold thoughtfully and offer readers a fascinating look into the hidden corners of a familiar landmark, along with intriguing family secrets.
Fans of Kate Quinn will appreciate Davis’s skillful delivery of vibrant female characters and intricate narrative connections.
Books by Allison Pataki often blend rich historical detail with strong, memorable characters, making her a great pick for readers who enjoy Kate Quinn.
Her novel “The Accidental Empress” takes readers into the royal court of Austria-Hungary and follows Elisabeth “Sisi” of Bavaria, who unexpectedly becomes Empress at sixteen.
Pataki vividly portrays Sisi’s complex relationships, palace intrigues, and personal struggles against rigid traditions at the Habsburg court.
Through her clear storytelling and careful attention to historical accuracy, Pataki immerses readers in the drama and glittering luxury of 19th-century Vienna.
Readers who enjoy Kate Quinn’s absorbing historical tales about strong heroines and dramatic settings may appreciate Natasha Lester’s novels. Lester writes stories set in richly detailed worlds, blending fashion, war, romance, and memorable characters.
Her book “The Paris Seamstress” follows Estella Bissette, a young woman who flees Paris ahead of German occupation during World War II and arrives in New York City determined to make it as a fashion designer.
Decades later, her granddaughter Fabienne will uncover family secrets hidden in Estella’s past. The story moves smoothly between generations, lovers, Parisian glamour, and wartime bravery, providing readers with a sweeping historical narrative and vivid characters.
If you enjoy historical fiction by Kate Quinn, you might also appreciate novels by Tatiana de Rosnay. Her engaging style explores hidden stories from the past through unforgettable characters and powerful emotions.
In “Sarah’s Key,” de Rosnay contrasts the lives of two women connected across generations by a heartbreaking event.
The novel revolves around Sarah, a young Jewish girl during the Vel' d’Hiv Roundup of 1942 in France, and Julia, a journalist six decades later researching that dark chapter.
The book moves elegantly between Paris of the past and present, and unfolds Sarah’s secret with dramatic intensity. De Rosnay captures history’s impact on individual lives, making “Sarah’s Key” impossible to put down.
Books by Lauren Willig often blend historical drama with romance and intrigue, a style that’s appealing to fans of Kate Quinn’s vivid historical storytelling.
Her novel “The Secret History of the Pink Carnation” introduces readers to Eloise Kelly, a modern-day grad student fascinated by spies of the Napoleonic era. Eloise stumbles upon the mysterious identity of the Pink Carnation, England’s most elusive secret spy.
As the narrative shifts between Eloise’s present-day investigations and the adventures of spies during Napoleon’s reign, readers experience a captivating narrative filled with adventure, romance, and clever intrigue.
This blend of historical mystery and engaging romance captures the essence of what readers typically appreciate about Kate Quinn’s work.
Lynn Austin is an author who brings history vividly to life in entertaining and thoughtful novels. If you enjoyed Kate Quinn’s historical drama, you might appreciate Austin’s “Waves of Mercy.”
This story follows two women across different generations as they face heartbreak, identity struggles, and questions of faith.
We meet Geesje, a Dutch immigrant building a new beginning in 19th-century Michigan, and Anna, a young woman from high society Chicago whose search for truth takes her to the same wilderness shores many years later.
Austin weaves their stories together beautifully, giving rich glimpses into immigrant communities and portraying deep emotional journeys with warmth and sensitivity.
Books by Marie Benedict explore the hidden lives of remarkable women from history, similar in tone to author Kate Quinn. In “The Only Woman in the Room,” Benedict introduces actress Hedy Lamarr, whose glamorous Hollywood persona masked her incredible talent as an inventor.
Set during World War II, the novel follows Hedy as she escapes Nazi Europe for America, where she becomes a film star but secretly contributes her intellect to developing groundbreaking technologies.
This book blends historical drama, espionage, and personal courage, offering fresh insights on a woman whose brains and bravery rivaled her beauty.