Looking for an unforgettable collection of books similar to The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah? As an award-winning author and longtime blogger, I know how powerful stories can open conversations about difficult topics, such as the challenges strong women faced in historical contexts or the complicated sister relationship in many families.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than a dozen of my favorites in the roundup below. Whether you’re looking for WWII historical novels, stories about sisters, or heroic women in historical context, I’m confident you’ll find something new to read here.
The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
Why It’s like the nightingale
Heroic women in historical context (WWII)
What it’s about
An enterprising teen in Nazi Germany is drawn into a mystery about a girl in a blue coat who is missing.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“When things come to an end in a way you didn't expect, in a way you never could have imagined, do they really come to an end? Does it mean you should keep searching, for better answers, for ones that don't keep you up at night? Or does it mean it's time to make peace?” ― Monica Hesse from The Girl in the Blue Coat
The Girl in the Blue Coat hooked me from the very beginning. It's a historical mystery, set in Amsterdam during WWII, and the protagonist is a teenage girl who trades black market goods to support her family. One of her clients asks her to help find a missing Jewish girl. Hanneke is good at finding things, but this isn't her kind of thing.
Still, she is drawn into the mystery and can't help herself from searching. As the pages unfold, we learn about Hanneke's lost love, meet new friends, and see her grow as a person.
Sometimes, young Hanneke seems bratty, singularly focused, and unfeeling, but at the same time, her instincts have helped her stay alive this far. If you enjoyed The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, I think you will love this one too.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Why It’s like the nightingale
Historic women in historical context (WWII)
What it’s about
Inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff (the greatest maritime disaster in history), a group of refugees fleeing the Nazis find their lives intertwined by fate and horror.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I wept because i had no shoes, until i met a man who had no feet.” ― Ruta Sepetys from Salt to the Sea
Going in, I had no idea what this book was about, except that lots of people were reading it and it won awards. For sure, I had no prior knowledge of the historical event at its heart.
The multiple viewpoints and short scenes took a while to hook me. I didn’t like Alfred from the beginning, but the stories of the others pulled me in, the secondary characters as well as the main ones. All of them had compelling secrets. I wanted everyone in the group to escape, to be the handful of refugees to survive that horrific war.
Graphic details created a vivid backdrop. I could see the horses entombed in the ice with the people. I could see the starving cow, its udders burst in the cold. The dead and dying. War.
If The Nightingale left you breathless, you will love Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys.
The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess
Why It’s like the nightingale
Complex sister relationships
What it’s about
A grieving teen investigates the mystery surrounding her anorexic sister's suspicious and tragic accident.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It’s easier to think about food and the physical pain inside my body from not eating than the other pain of not having Kat. My sister would totally understand this. She would. As long as I’m connecting to her this way—our familiar, hungry old way—she’s with me.” ― Khristina Chess from The Delinquent Hero
For readers who loved the complex and tragic sister relationship in The Nightingale, The Delinquent Hero offers a similar, raw exploration of sisterhood, eating disorders, and devastating loss. If you’ve ever lost someone you love, this gripping YA novel speaks directly to the grief of saying goodbye.
At its core is Molly, desperate for answers after her older sister, Kat, lands in the hospital. Something is suspicious. The investigation unfolds in real time, peeling back layers of secrets, regrets, and the painful bond they’ve always shared. For Molly, reconnecting with Kat means slipping into their old patterns—the kind that consume and starve in equal measure.
"I'm not very hungry. I am, and I'm not. I am hollow, but this feeling seems less about food and more about Kat. At any rate, I do not want to eat."
What makes The Delinquent Hero truly unforgettable is its heart-wrenching puzzle—not just unraveling what happened that night, but understanding Kat herself. This novel doesn’t just tell a story; it forces you to feel every ache, every unanswered question, every regret, every desperate search for why.
I wholeheartedly recommend this lovely and memorable sister story. If The Nightingale left you in tears, The Delinquent Hero is an absolute must-read. You won’t be sorry!
Purge by Sofi Oksanen
Why It’s like the nightingale
Strong women in historical context
What it’s about
Set against the Soviet occupation of Estonia during WWII, a powerful and epic historical story about two women and how their lives are intertwined by human trafficking.
Why I Love It - Book Review
"The only thing left alive was the shame." ― Sofi Oksanen from Purge
I picked up Purge to add to my list of YA books about human trafficking, but this novel is pure literature, a stunning international masterpiece that spans decades of history, generations of pain, and dark twisted family secrets.
Set in Estonia and bouncing between 1941 and 1992, two protagonists tell their tales in a long and dizzying narrative that weaves between present terror and past horror. These women are bound to each other in multiple ways. Their mutual distrust them unreliable narrators, so that only the reader really only has the full picture, and sometimes even that picture is murky.
As I think back on each of these women's experiences, I see so many parallels in what happened to each, even though the details are very different on the surface. For example, both are raped. Both are silenced. Both are shamed. One is betrayed. One is a betrayer.
This is the kind of epic novel that I can think about for a long time and even read again. I missed things and know that I would see even more in a second reading because the book is so sweeping and full of such meaningful symbolism and detail.
If you loved The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and want another sweeping historical novel, be sure to add Purge to your TBR pile.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Why It’s like the nightingale
Heroic young woman in historical context (WWII)
What it’s about
A young girl in Nazi Germany befriends the Jewish man her parents are sheltering in the basement.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I am haunted by humans.” ― Markus Zusak from The Book Thief
No list of historical novels like The Nightingale would be complete without including The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. How could you have missed this one? It has been at the top of the best seller lists for years—and with good reason!
In this historical novel set in Nazi Germany, we meet a young foster girl named Liesel. She’s an orphan. She loves books. She and her foster parents are sheltering a Jewish man in their basement. He also likes to read.
The writing is lovely. Zusak paints Liesel’s world of poverty, anxiety, fear, and grief in shades of stark contrasts. He is both a poet and a novelist.
What a wonderful, heartbreaking, haunting, and gripping story! It makes you really ask deep questions. It’s so beautiful. It’s transformational. It’s the reason why I love books.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Why It’s like the nightingale
Heroic women in historical context
What it’s about
Set in New England during the early days of America, a midwife finds herself in the middle of solving a rape and murder.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It’s an unimaginative accusation and one that I am frankly tired of hearing. Witchcraft. As though there is no other explanation for a woman who excels at her work.”― Ariel Lawhon from The Frozen River
What a wonderful book! Historical fiction isn't my usual genre, but the cover and the accolades for "The Frozen River" made me give it a try.
On a high level, this mystery is about a midwife named Martha Ballard. The body of an accused rapist is found frozen in the river, and after examination, Martha says that the victim was murdered. She becomes a key witness in a trial for the woman who was raped because she treated the woman's wounds after the assault. The other accused man is a judge.
This novel has many layers. Beyond the mystery, there is the social commentary on women, family, sexual assault, and society during early days of America in New England. Paul Revere is mentioned as a friend of the family. The author depicts a rich setting of cold winter, warm homes and hearts, young love and pre-marital relationships, and the early court system. I couldn't put it down.
Fans of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah will love this one.
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Why It’s like the nightingale
Historical context & breadth of genre
What it’s about
Set in New England around the time of the American Revolution, a heroic young girl fights for freedom after the death of her owner.
Why I Love It - Book Review
I have read several of Laurie Halse Anderson's books, and I found this one to be ambitious, compelling, and heartfelt. I learned things about slavery during the American revolutionary war that were new since most literature I've consumed has been during the later period of the civil war. The author’s research into the book made it rich and come alive.
Readers who liked The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah will love this amazing historical YA book about class difference, race, and slavery in early American history to your reading list. In fact, Laurie Halse Anderson is such a great author that she’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s all-around amazing!
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Why It’s like the nightingale
Identity & coming of age in historical context
What it’s about
A classic literary novel about a young girl growing up in New York at the turn of the century.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“If there was only one tree like that in the world, you would think it was beautiful. But because there are so many, you just can't see how beautiful it really is.” ― Betty Smith, quote from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
I first heard about this book from Oprah Winfrey and picked it up during the book club years. A classic YA novel published in 1943, before YA was really “a thing,” A Tree Grows in Brooklyn tells the story of a poor young girl growing up in Brooklyn, a child of struggling immigrant parents.
This classic historical YA book about immigration, class, and poverty, and Francie, has remained with me for decades. There’s a reason why this novel has stood the test of time. If you liked The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, you’ll devour this one.
We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler
Why It’s like the nightingale
Family relationships in historical context
What it’s about
A girl runs away and joins the circus in 1965, and decades later, her granddaughter follows a parallel path.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“The show must go on, even when it's not the show you expected to be in.” ― Lisa Felder, quote from We Walked the Sky
Fiedler's multi-generational novel really captured and held my interest. Two parallel stories are running: the grandmother, Victoria, is a 16-year-old who runs away and joins the circus in 1965, and her granddaughter, Callie, is a teen who has followed in her circus footsteps, but now finds herself in a new place.
There are mysteries to unravel and friendships to develop. I loved all the circus lore and animals and characters. Really, it was an enchanting story. I want to read more by this author.
When compiling the list of amazing historical novels like The Nightingale, be sure to add this one.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Why It’s like the nightingale
Another great novel by Kristin Hannah!! Strong women in male-dominated environments and historical context
What it’s about
A young woman enlists as a nurse in Vietnam, where life teaches her the harshest lessons, both before and after the war.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn't quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words. We were there.“― Kristin Hannah from The Women
I learned so much from this beautiful novel! Frankie is a well-crafted character who is immensely sympathetic, even when she begins her really self-destructive spiral during PTSD. Maybe even more so because of everything she went through. She and the other women are fierce, loyal, compassionate, and inspirational.
One image that sticks with me is the army regulation "uniform" with high heels that Frankie arrives in Vietnam wearing. Another is the way Americans spit on her when she returned home at the end of her tour. Another is the way the Veterans hospitals kept turning her away.
This is my second Kristin Hannah, and I loved it as much as The Nightingale. Kristin Hannah has an impressive catalog of titles, and I'll be going back for more!
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Why It’s like the nightingale
Another great novel by Kristin Hannah!! Heroic women in historic context
What it’s about
Set in America during the great depression and dust bowl, a woman faces sorrow, poverty, and the struggle to survive with her children.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Courage is fear you ignore.” ― Kristin Hannah from The Four Winds
In Texas 1921, a sickly, ugly young-ish (25) woman named Elsa sneaks out of her house and meets a young man, and this tryst leads to an epic life journey as a farmer’s wife during the dust bowl in the 1930s. Famine and health eventually drive her and her children to California in search of work, food, and stability. But California is no paradise for the migrant workers who end up there.
It sounds easy enough, but The Four Winds is an epic novel that reminded me of Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath in the way it portrayed the brutal hardships of the depression and drought that destroyed so many lives. I loved Elsa’s grit and hopefulness despite so many things working against her. I loved how she turned her mother-in-law’s initial antagonism into real love and family kinship. I loved her friendship with other women at the migrant camp, as well as her second chance at love.
As with all of Kristin Hannah’s novels, I learned some unexpected things about this time period through Elsa’s story. For example, the most severe dust storms were black blizzards of grit and dirt that blocked the sun, permeated everything, and even caused “dust pneumonia.” Imagine!
Wonderful book. Great read. Pick it up today!
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
Why It’s like the nightingale
Complex sister relationships
What it’s about
A prequel to popular We Were Liars shows that the Sinclairs have been liars from the beginning.
Why I Love It - Book Review
"They're doing just as I asked them to. As we Sinclairs always do. Pretending. Lying. Trying to have a good time.” ― E. Lockhart from Family of Liars
Lockhart's prequel to We Were Liars does not disappoint! The narrator, Carrie, tells the story of the summer of the boys' visit to the island, but long before those events, there are ominous hints of what is to come. In her early teen years, for example, Carrie's father insists on a surgery to break her jaw, and an infection sets in.
But Carrie bends to his will. She is a "credit to the family."
This novel has some brilliant symbolism, a few great twists, some predictable story-lines, and other unexpected turns. I finished in 4 days because the pages turned fast and furious. I had to know the secrets these liars were keeping.
The pages are full of great details about summertime on the island. The lemon hunt was very vivid, as well as the details about clothing, food, and the picnic table. Lockhart painted a vivid sense of place, siblings, and privilege.
Family of Liars definitely one of my favorite books about sisters!
Other Books You’ll Devour If You Liked The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
If you’re looking for other books like The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, Goodreads also offers a great book list: Readers Who Enjoyed The Nightingale. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads.
Author Bio
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Hollow Beauty, her book about eating disorders, was named a finalist in the Next Generation India Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, and adventure.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
