Bookworm Cottage Style

I love when authors find a way to bring together two completely different characters and timelines in unexpected ways. By reader request, I’m sharing my favorite dual-timeline novels. Many of these are historical fiction (one of my favorite genres!), but you’ll also find a little bit of romance, scifi, and contemporary fiction. I used some restraint – there are only 3 WWII novels on the list. 

Real Americans by Rachel Khong (2024; 416 pages)  // This is a thoughtful, propulsive story about family secrets, forgiveness, and ethical boundaries that I devoured within the span of 2 or 3 days. When teenage Nick learns the identity of his father, long-held secrets from his mother, Lily, and her mother, May come to light. Bouncing between the early 2000’s in NYC, present day Seattle, and the 1960’s in China, we get a better sense of the world that May, Lily, and Nick inherited, and their own attempts to not repeat their parents’ mistakes. I loved that the style flirts with magical realism and maybe a hint of scifi, but never quite crosses into those genres. Real Americans is one of those rare books that is equal parts literary and page-turning, and I highly recommend it.

Horse  by Geraldine Brooks (2022; 464 pages) // This captivating historical fiction novel alternates between the history of a Civil War era racehorse and the enslaved Black horse trainer who cared for him, and a present-day art historian who discovers a long-buried painting of the horse more than a century later. I really loved this one – even if you’re not “into horses” this book might surprise you! 

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead (2022; 672 pages) // This book took me a little while to get into but once it all came together… wow! Great Circle is a historical fiction novel about a female pilot growing up during prohibition who ends up flying planes all over the world until her mysterious post-war disappearance, and the present-day Hollywood actress cast to play her in a biopic roughly a century later. The book is kind of a slow burn, but readers who appreciate dual timeline historical fiction and richly layered stories will be rewarded. This book was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and a finalist for the Women’s Prize.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (2021; 640 pages) // By weaving together parallel storylines of characters across medieval Constantinople, present-day Idaho, and a spacecraft in the future, author Anthony Doerr beautifully blurs the lines between historical fiction, scifi, and contemporary fiction, with a subtle nod to fantasy throughout. In the Author’s Note, Doerr writes that this work is “intended as a paean to books,” and his appreciation for literature and the power of storytelling shines through. As the characters each encounter the fantastical story of Cloud Cuckoo Land across time, the story’s impact on their lives, and the characters’ impact on each other’s lives, comes into focus. This is a most unusual, creative, wonderful book — one that captivated me and stayed with me on a much deeper level than Doer’s Pulitzer Prize winning work, All the Light We Cannot See. From a practical standpoint, do not be put off by then lengthy page count. Most chapters are only a couple of pages long, meaning that a significant portion of the book consists of blank back-sides of pages before a new chapter starts. In other words, the book reads quicker than one might expect, even given the complexity of the story.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (2022; 272 pages) // This time-travel sci-fi novel was absolutely lovely! Somewhat reminiscent of Cloud Cuckoo Land, this book follows intersecting stories of people from different points in history, from 1912 Vancouver to a space colony several decades in the future. I found this book to be far more compelling than Station Eleven, the author’s 2014 bestseller. Sea of Tranquility is a short, riveting read that wraps up beautifully, and you’ll want to savor every word. So so so good!

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams (2024; 352 pages) // This is a time-hopping, magical realism romance novel set in Harlem that bounces between modern day and the Harlem Renaissance. After a chance encounter with an elegant older woman, Ricki leaves her family expectations behind and pursues a career in floral design in Harlem, where she meets a handsome, mysterious stranger. Sure, this book it is a bit predictable, but honestly that made it all the cozier. A comforting, captivating read!

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes (2008; 432 pages) // Okay, this might be where I lose you. I read this book probably a decade ago, so perhaps I’m looking back with rose tinted glasses, but I remember really enjoying this dual-timeline romance novel! From what I remember a woman in 1960 wakes up in the hospital with amnesia and finds a note from a stranger asking her to leave her husband. Decades later, a young journalist stumbles upon the note and tries to investigate. Yes, this is a little cheesy, but it’s lovely and suspenseful if you’re into that sort of thing. The Netflix adaption does not do the story justice, IMO. You’re better off sticking to the book on this one.

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer (2019; 448 pages) // Okay now we’re getting to the WWII part of the list! This dual-timeline story (split between 1940s Poland and modern day USA) is perhaps my favorite WWII novel since The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah. Such a compelling plot!

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (2017; 503 pages)  // This story follows a pregnant American young woman named Charlie visiting France in the aftermath of WWII, and a female spy named Eve who served during WWI. Eventually, Eve and Charlie’s paths cross in a search for answers and lost loved ones. Fantastic for any historical fiction fan!

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester (2020; 496 pages)  // When I’m in the mood to get lost in a fun novel, a WWII story about women in the resistance (a la The Nightingale) is probably my favorite genre. The Paris Secret mostly centers around the mystery of what happened to a handful of women during and after the war, and the twists and turns will keep you reading well past your bedtime. The story also includes a bit of romance, designer fashion (I told you this book was written for me), and family drama. No, this book is not super literary. And yes, the cover art does give off major “romance novel at the grocery store checkout” energy. But if you enjoyed The Nightingale and are looking for a delightful page turner to escape with, this is a fun book that you won’t want to put down.