Hot Histories: Summer-Set Historical Fiction You Don’t Want to Miss

Summer, 1818. Kitty Talbot is in need of a fortune. Or, rather, a husband who has one. With just weeks until she and her sisters are made homeless, Kitty heads to London to find a suitor. It is there that she meets Lord Radcliffe, a man equally as determined to thwart Kitty’s plans as she is to make them succeed.

Sassy, spirited and simply swoon-worthy, this book is Jane Austen with a dynamic and modern flare. Kitty is a feisty and fabulous heroine and I loved the sharp and witty banter between her and Lord Radcliffe. A glorious historical romance, this should be on everyone’s summer reading list.

Florence is mourning the loss of her grandmother and her marriage when she comes across vintage dress patterns from the 1960s that contain mementos from her Great Aunt Nancy’s European adventure. But Flo has never heard of Nancy before. Why did her family keep her a secret? And why did she seem to vanish after her trip?

Florence decides to solve the mystery, embarking on a pilgrimage that takes her from Brighton and Hove to Paris, Antibes, Capri, Venice and Tuscany, following in Nancy’s footsteps and making each dress as she goes.

Riveting and uplifting, this gorgeous debut encapsulates the essence of summer.

Sultry, evocative and alluring, The Heatwave is a scorching summer read full of dark family secrets. Sylvie and her 14-year-old daughter, Emma, return to La Reverie, Sylvie’s family home in the south of France. It’s the first time they’ve returned since the death of Sylvie’s oldest daughter, Elodie, a tragedy that is shrouded in mystery. But the house feels haunted, echoes of the truth living in its walls like a ghost and Elodie’s presence seems to be getting stronger. As Emma begins to ask questions, Sylvie is scared she’s starting to remember and her family will be shattered once again.

This exquisite debut is one of my top reads of 2025. Set in New Zealand in 1985 it follows Alix, who has arrived at the beach with her family for their annual summer holiday. But her parents are distracted and her sister is more interested in boys, leaving Alix feeling alone until she meets Kahu who tells her about a young girl who went missing from the area two years ago. They decide to investigate, uncovering secrets they wish they’d never found.

Nostalgic, moving and achingly human, this gorgeous slice of life story packs a strong emotional punch. An ideal summer read for those who like a bit of mystery in their historical fiction.

Cornwall, 1935, Agnes arrives at Hedone House, the sanatorium that will be her new home after her recent marriage to Dr Christian. But this isn’t your average sanatorium. Picturesque and luxurious, there is no expense spared and the champagne flows as freely as the medication. They cater to the creative elite and provide groundbreaking tuberculosis treatment. But this utopia is brimming with secrets and Agnes begins to hear whispers about past patients, a possible cure, and discovers shocking secrets that put her in danger.

Atmospheric, beguiling and hauntingly beautiful, this was one of my favourite books of 2024.

Taking place in the sweltering summer of 1970, we follow 15-year-old Fern as she arrives at Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida. Here, she meets girls from all walks of life who are in the same shameful position as she is and have been sent there to live out their pregnancy before surrendering their babies for adoption.

Every minute detail of the girls’ lives is strictly controlled: from the food they eat to how they spend their time. But then Fern meets Miss Parcae, a librarian, who gives her a book about witchcraft. For the first time, the girls have power in their own hands. But it comes at a price that is far steeper than any of them imagined.

Unsettling, uncomfortable and deeply relevant, this book has stayed with me ever since I first cracked the spine.