Bookworm Cottage Style

The hold that WWII novels have on me is something else. When I’m in the mood to get lost in a book, a page-turning story about women in the resistance is probably my favorite genre. Here are some historical fiction WWII novels that have stood out to me. As always, I’ve read and would recommend all of these. 

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (2021; 624 pages)  // This is a page-turning WWII novel about the friendship between three women who worked together at Bletchley Park cracking codes during the war. (Remember the Benedict Cumberbatch movie ‘The Imitation Game’ about Alan Turing? Same setting.) When one of the girls is accused of being a traitor for the enemy, the girls come together after the war to crack one more code and uncover what really happened during the war. This book suspenseful (who can you trust?) and adventurous all around a great story to immerse yourself in.

The Time In Between by Maria Duenas (2009; 615 pages) // This book was a bestseller in Spain before it was translated into English, and the story was also made into a Spanish language TV series in 2013. After heartbreak and betrayal, Sira turns to her sewing skills to support herself during the war. Soon she finds herself sewing clothes for Nazi officers’ wives and acting as a spy for the allies reporting what she overhears in her shop. This book is sweeping and adventurous and a great story to get lost in.

The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden (2016; 352 pages)  // If you’ve overdone it on female-centered stories about European women in the resistance and are looking for something original and underreported, this story inspired by the African American experience in wartime Germany is a must-read. This story is about Harlan, a Black jazz musician from Harlem whose career takes him to the stage in Montmartre Paris, performing his music in the Paris jazz scene. When Paris falls to the Nazis, Harlan  finds himself imprisoned in a concentration camp. The story is suspenseful, richly layered, and at times, quite heartbreaking. If you enjoy WWII novels or novels about the Great Migration or the Harlem Renaissance, I highly recommend this book.

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris (2019; 448 pages)  // This is another book that breathes fresh air into the WWII historical fiction category, as the story centers  the experience of internment camps and anti-Japanese discrimination in the US. The supporting characters are beautifully developed as the author weaves in themes of forgiveness, family, love, and empathy.

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester (2020; 496 pages)  // 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, and family drama. A fun page-turner!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (2015; 448 pages) // This is one of the most popular WWII novels, and for a good reason. Focused on two sisters in the French Resistance, The Nightingale is such a beautiful story about family, sacrifices, love, and hope.

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer (2019; 448 pages) // This dual-timeline story (split between 1940s Poland and modern day USA) has an incredibly compelling plot. Fans of The Nightingale will enjoy this book too.

Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea (2023; 407 pages) // This is a great WWII story about the unbreakable bonds of female friendship inspired by the author’s mother’s experience serving in “donut dollies” in the Red Cross. I also enjoyed reading the author’s note at the end to learn more about which details and characters were inspired by real-life. 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (2008; 291 pages) // This is a cozy book written as a series of letters between a writer in London and a man in Guernsey, who along with his neighbors was part of an eccentric book club of sorts while their island was occupied by the Germans. It is a warm, feel good story about connection and the power of words during times of hardship. I have not yet seen the Netflix adaptation, but apparently it has good reviews!