Hannah's favorite reads revealed

Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds, has given five historical fiction books five-star ratings on Goodreads. Her picks span different eras and storytelling styles.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Set in the early 1960s, this bestseller follows Elizabeth Zott, the only female scientist at a research institute. After tragedy strikes, she reinvents herself as the host of a cooking show and becomes a feminist icon.

“Lessons in Chemistry is not simply a book; it's a celebration of women's empowerment, the pursuit of dreams and the courage to redefine societal norms.”

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

A dual-timeline novel about Marian Graves, who survives a 1914 shipwreck and becomes obsessed with flying around the globe. A century later, an actress researches Marian's mysterious final flight.

“Marian is an exquisitely drawn character and her story is fascinating. The plot, the descriptions, the forward momentum of the story sucked me in and held me fast.”

11/23/63 by Stephen King

This nearly 900-page epic sends a Maine teacher through a portal to 1958 with a mission to prevent JFK's assassination. He falls in love and grapples with whether changing history is worth the cost.

“11/22/63 is one of my favorite books. This book took me back to that time in history. I felt like I was a time traveler just like the main character.”

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in a Moscow hotel in 1922. Using wit and observation, he navigates life under the new Russian regime while confined to the Metropol.

“This book was the first of his that I read and I was blown away by the voice, the story, the setting.”

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owels

A number one New York Times bestseller about Kya, abandoned in North Carolina wetlands as a child. When a young man dies, she becomes the prime suspect and must face a world that has always rejected her.

“This astonishing debut is a beautiful and haunting novel that packs a powerful punch. It's the first novel in a long time that made me cry.”

Female empowerment through science

Lessons in Chemistry celebrates women breaking barriers in male-dominated fields. Elizabeth Zott's journey from researcher to cooking show host shows how women can redefine success on their own terms.

Adventure across time and space

Great Circle and 11/23/63 both explore what drives people to pursue impossible dreams. Whether flying around the world or changing history, these characters risk everything for their missions.

Survival and resilience themes

A Gentleman in Moscow and Where the Crawdads Sing both feature protagonists isolated from society. They must use intelligence and inner strength to survive in worlds that have rejected them.

Why Hannah loves these books

Hannah praises the immersive worlds, complex characters, and emotional depth in these novels. Each book offers readers a chance to escape into different eras and experience transformative stories.