2 Historical Fiction Books You Might Have Missed

by Donna Huber

I've been catching up on some of the books I missed earlier in the year. I recently read two really good historical fiction books set during times and places that I don't usually read.

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Follow Me to Africa by Penny Haw

February 2025; Sourcebooks Landmark; Sourcebooks Landmark
audio, ebook, print (304 pages); biographical fiction

This is a dual-timeline novel. The "present day" timeline is 1983, and the other time is the 1930s. Both timelines take place primarily in Africa. I loved how the 1930s timeline with a young Mary Leakey mirrors Grace's experiences in 1983. 

I didn't know the name Mary Leakey before picking up this book, but she was a real paleontologist who made some remarkable finds in Africa. Grace is a completely fictional character but she is very relatable as a young adult who is on the cusp of adulthood but isn't sure what to do with her life. Particularly since she spent the last year or so caring for her ailing mother alone and is now grieving her mother's death.

I really liked how the two stories weaved together, and both parts were interesting. I loved the cheetah, Lisa. And though there is an animal involved in the story, there are no sad animal moments. 

I was glad that I started this on the weekend were I could read most of it in one day. I was really sucked into the story and I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to be right there with Mary and Grace. I enjoyed the setting and Mary's story of a young female paleontologist. I found it to be a relaxing read.

This is the first novel I've read by Penny Haw, but I will definitely keep her name on my list of authors to read. 

Buy Follow Me to Africa at Amazon

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner

March 2025; Berkley; 978-0593332863
audio, ebook, print (352 pages); historical fiction

This is the third book I've read by Susan Meissner. Each one has involved a different era, but always features interesting female characters.

A Map to Paradise is set during the Red Scare of the 1950s and one of the lead characters is a young actress who has been blacklisted though she has no communist ties. She just had the unfortunate happenstance to star alongside a male actor who did have some possible communist ties. Back then (actually, probably still happens), studios liked for it to seem like their lead actress and actor were a real-life couple. While Melanie is hiding out in Malibu, she meets a reclusive screenwriter and his sister-in-law/caretaker. 

June seems like your typical 1950s housewife, but she is a lot more than that. She was married to Elwood's brother, but was in love with Elwood the entire time. After Elwood's car accident that made him a recluse, June and her husband moved in with Elwood. It is basically the only home she has known as an adult.

The third female character is Ava. She is a displaced refugee. She is of German descent but was born and lived in Russia (in an annexed region that had once been part of Germany). When WWII broke out, she became stateless as the Germans viewed her family as Russian and the Russians viewed them as German.

The main theme of the book is displacement and what is "home".  Each woman deals with her displacement (or potential displacement) differently, but each method comes at a cost. 

It is interesting that there are very few male characters in this book. Actually, there are very few characters outside of the three women. It is a very tightly focused story, though it is expanded as we get each woman's backstory.

It took me a little bit to warm up to the characters. As their stories unfolded, I became more attached to them. I think this novel was more subtle and nuanced than Meissner's previous novels that I've read. It is an enjoyable read. 

This would be another great book to read while relaxing. There is just a touch of tension as we worry whether the women's secrets will be found out, but it isn't like a thriller. 

This would be a great book to read with your girlfriends or a book club. 

Buy A Map to Paradise at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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