8 Must Read Historical Fiction Novels Set During WW2

You had to know this one was coming. In my last book round-up, I shared my favorite non-WW2 historical fictions and I sort of roasted WW2 historical fiction novels. While the sub-genre is super saturated, there are still some great WW2 novels that are in a league of their own. World War II was a crossroads for the world as we know it and it’s not surprising that there is so many inspiring stories of courageous men and women that fearlessly stood up to evil. These are the 9 WW2 novels that either come highly recommended to me or ones that I’ve read and rated 5 beautiful and shiny stars. Happy reading!

The Nightingale

The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France.

The Things We Cannot Say

The Things We Cannot Say is an unshakable reminder of the devastation when truth is silenced…and how it can take a lifetime to find our voice before we learn to trust it.

The Book of Lost Names

A young woman with a talent for forgery helps hundreds of Jewish children flee the Nazis in this unforgettable historical novel.

The Paris Dressmaker

Based on true accounts of how Parisiennes resisted the Nazi occupation in World War II—from fashion houses to the city streets—comes a story of two courageous women who risked everything to fight an evil they couldn’t abide.

The Paris Secret

An unforgettable historical novel about a secret collection of Dior gowns that ties back to the first female pilots of WWII and a heartbreaking story of love and sacrifice.

Lilac Girls

Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this remarkable debut novel reveals the power of unsung women to change history in their quest for love, freedom, and second chances.

The Socialite

When an English socialite embarks on a dangerous journey to save her sister from the Nazis, glamour, romance, and espionage collide.

RELATED: 18 Historical Fiction Novels To Add To Your TBR (That Aren’t About World War II)

Tattooist of Auschwitz

This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity.

The Rose Code

A heart-stopping World War II story of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over.

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