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I can’t speak for everyone, but one of the most daunting things, especially when I was just coming out of a book slump, was having to read an extra-long book.
And I’m not discounting the fact that I do have agency – that is, I can actually just stop the book wherever I get tired – but I don’t like reading an incomplete story.
In this post, I am listing some short historical fiction books below 300 pages that I think everyone will enjoy.
I have read all the books on this list, and I can tell you for sure that they are all special and so interesting in their own way.
1. The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict
This book pulls back the curtain on a woman we don’t hear enough about – Mitza Maric, Albert Einstein’s first wife.
Mitza was a brilliant physicist with a sharp mind and big dreams.
But in a world where men take center stage, her genius is overshadowed by her famous husband.
The book explores her life, her contributions to science (which might have been more than history remembers), and the sacrifices she made for love.
It’s both inspiring and heartbreaking – perfect if you love stories about strong women who deserved more recognition than they got.
2. The Blue Fox by Sjón
This one is like stepping into an old, eerie fairy tale set in the cold, rugged landscapes of Iceland in 1883.
It follows a priest on a hunt for a rare blue fox, a kind-hearted naturalist, and a young woman with Down syndrome whose past is full of secrets.
Their fates slowly intertwine in ways that feel almost magical.
The writing is lyrical and atmospheric – it’s the kind of book you read slowly, savoring every word.
If you like stories that feel like myths wrapped in mystery, you’ll love this.
3. The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
In a tiny Irish village, an 11-year-old girl named Anna is said to have survived for months without eating.
Nurse Lib Wright is sent to observe her, expecting to expose a fraud.
But the more time she spends with Anna, the more she questions what’s real.
Is this a miracle, a trick, or something much darker?
This book is both a slow-burning mystery and an emotional exploration of faith, science, and how far we’ll go to protect a child.
It keeps you guessing while pulling at your heartstrings.
4. The Curse of the Flores Women by Angélica Lopes
Alice Ribeiro has always been a fighter, standing up against injustice in Brazil, but she never expected to battle a family curse.
When she inherits a lace veil, she starts uncovering the hidden history of the Flores women – seven generations of strong, independent women who were shunned by their town.
With no men to rely on, they built their lives through the art of lacemaking, only to face new challenges.
This novel beautifully explores family, resilience, and the secrets passed down through generations.
And it’s about finding strength in the past to shape the future.
5. Bibliolepsy by Gina Apostol
This book is for book lovers who understand the feeling of getting lost in a story but here, it’s taken to another level.
Set in the Philippines in the 1980s, during the final years of the Marcos dictatorship, it follows Primi, a woman obsessed with books (and the authors who write them).
She wants love, she wants escape, and she wants revolution but mostly, she wants to live in a world shaped by words.
It’s witty, sharp, and filled with literary passion.
If you’ve ever felt like books could save your life, you’ll relate to this one.
6. Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
Lillian Boxfish is 85 years old, and on New Year’s Eve in 1984, she decides to take a walk through Manhattan.
As she strolls through the city, she reflects on her extraordinary life – her rise as the highest-paid woman in advertising, her struggles with love and mental health, and all the changes she’s seen over the years.
It’s a love letter to New York, but also to resilience, independence, and living life on your own terms.
Lillian is witty, sharp, and impossible not to love. If you enjoy books about remarkable women, this is a must-read.
7. The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
We all know the story of Odysseus, but what about Penelope?
Margaret Atwood flips the script and lets Penelope, the wife who waited 20 years for her husband’s return, tell her side of the story.
She’s clever, funny, and has a few things to say about what really happened while Odysseus was off having adventures.
And she’s joined by the ghosts of her twelve maids, who were executed when he got back.
It’s a fresh, feminist take on a classic myth, so it’s perfect for anyone who loves retellings that challenge old narratives.
8. Stolen Beauty by Laurie Lico Albanese
This is a sweeping, emotional story about two Jewish women – Adele Bloch-Bauer in 1900s Vienna, who becomes the muse for painter Gustav Klimt, and her niece Maria, who must fight to survive when the Nazis take over Austria decades later.
Their lives are connected by Klimt’s famous painting, “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I,” which was nearly lost to history.
If you love historical fiction that blends art, love, and resilience, this book is full of heartache and strength.
9. At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop
This book is intense.
It follows Alfa Ndiaye, a Senegalese soldier fighting for France in World War I, whose best friend is fatally wounded in battle.
When Alfa refuses to give him a mercy killing, guilt consumes him, and he starts hunting enemy soldiers in a way that terrifies even his own comrades.
It’s a dark, poetic, and haunting look at war, trauma, and the fine line between heroism and madness.
If you’re looking for something powerful and unforgettable, this one will stay with you.
10. Becoming Bonnie by Jenni L. Walsh
We all know about Bonnie and Clyde, but this book gives us a peek at Bonnie before she became an outlaw.
Bonnelyn Parker is a good girl with big dreams – she wants to rise above poverty, get an education, and marry her boyfriend.
But life has other plans. When she starts working at a speakeasy, she’s drawn into a thrilling, dangerous world that eventually leads her to Clyde Barrow.
It’s a fun, fast-paced, and immersive look at how an ordinary girl became part of one of history’s most infamous duos.
11. Karolina’s Twins by Ronald H. Balson
Inspired by true events, this is the story of Lena, an elderly Holocaust survivor searching for two lost sisters from her past.
As she recounts her experiences in Nazi-occupied Poland, she reveals a secret she’s held onto for decades.
The story unfolds as both a legal drama (her son is trying to control her life) and a deeply personal journey of survival, love, and resilience.
If you love books about untold stories from history, this one is gripping and heartbreaking in the best way.
12. A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline
This is a beautifully written story about Christina Olson, the woman who inspired Andrew Wyeth’s famous painting Christina’s World.
Born with an illness that limits her mobility, Christina spends her life on her family’s farm, isolated but fiercely independent.
When Wyeth arrives and begins painting her, their friendship changes both of them in unexpected ways.
The book explores art, loneliness, and the quiet strength of a woman who refuses to be defined by her circumstances.
If you love books that bring paintings to life, this one is stunning.
13. The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo by Zen Cho
Jade Yeo is a writer in 1920s London, and she’s sharp, independent, and not afraid to speak her mind.
When she writes a scathing review of a famous author’s book, he’s more intrigued than offended and suddenly, she’s caught up in a whirlwind of romance, freedom, and tough choices.
It’s witty, charming, and full of heart, perfect for anyone who loves stories about women carving out their own paths.
Plus, it’s short, so it’s the most perfect weekend read.
Which of the books on this list do you think you’ll give a chance? Let me know in the comment section below!
And if you want more historical fiction book recommendations, check out this lovely post about the best historical fiction romance books that everyone needs to read.
