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Book Recommendations for Fans of Fiona Davis
If you’ve read your way through Fiona Davis’s whole catalog of New York City-set historical fiction and you’re craving more, you’re in good company. We pulled together our favorite similar authors, plus specific book recommendations tied to her individual novels, whether you loved the library setting of The Lions of Fifth Avenue or the theater world of The Chelsea Girls.
Authors Similar to Fiona Davis
If you appreciate Fiona Davis’s beautifully crafted historical fiction, our top author recommendation is Allison Pataki, especially her novels It Girl and The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post. Both of those include New York City tie-ins, compelling historical storylines, and interesting characters.
Marie Benedict is another great choice, as she writes historical fiction focused on the underappreciated or hidden stories of women who made significant contributions to their fields.
Like Fiona Davis, Camille Di Maio infuses her historical fiction novels with vivid settings and strong female characters.
Book Recommendations for Fans of Fiona Davis
In addition to the authors above, we want to highlight a few specific books we highly recommend for fans of Fiona Davis.
The whole time we were reading Grace of the Empire State by Gemma Tizzard, we thought of Fiona Davis. In the novel, Grace must go undercover, pretending to be her brother, to help build the Empire State Building so her family can survive during the Depression. In addition to the fascinating construction of the building, you’ll find side stories perfect for fans of The Spectacular.
The Jewel of Sugar Hill, the 2027 Fiona Davis release, features Aaron Burr, who you may recognize from Hamilton (or your American History class). For more reading about this time period, visit our Revolutionary Era Reads list.
If you loved the library setting of The Lions of Fifth Avenue, we highly recommend The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. This novel provides great insight into the building and curation of the Morgan Library in New York City. Additionally, it tells the story of a Black woman who became one of the most powerful women in NYC in the early 20th century.
Camille Di Maio’s The Way of Beauty serves as a perfect companion to Fiona Davis’s The Masterpiece. In The Masterpiece, we learn the history of Grand Central and its near destruction in the 1970s. The Way of Beauty fictionalizes the true story of the destruction of another of New York’s great landmarks, Penn Station. The lessons learned from Penn Station’s demolition ultimately helped lead the charge for the preservation of Grand Central.
If you’ve read Fiona Davis’s The Address, you’ll remember the fictionalized portrayal of real-life journalist Nellie Bly, the one who went undercover at the Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum. We were fascinated to learn that Nellie was a real-life journalist. The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale is a historical mystery based on her investigations inside the asylum on Blackwell’s Island.
On the other hand, if your favorite part of The Address was the 1985 storyline about the interior redesign of one of the apartments in The Dakota, you’ll want to check out our list of novels featuring interior designers or our list of novels centered around home renovation.
Fans of the theater, which is featured in Fiona Davis’s The Chelsea Girls, will enjoy City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s a strong female coming-of-age story that reads like a memoir. The main character, Vivian, is sent to live with her Aunt Peg, who runs the Lily Playhouse in 1940s NYC. We also have a complete list of theater fiction books you might want to check out.
The Barbizon Hotel, the setting of Fiona Davis’s The Dollhouse, was also home to Sylvia Plath during her 1953 guest editorship at Mademoiselle, an experience that later inspired portions of The Bell Jar. For a non-fiction look at this famous residence, we recommend The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free. Throughout the book, you’ll learn about some of the women who called the Barbizon home. From Grace Kelly and Liza Minnelli to the Unsinkable Molly Brown, their time at The Barbizon shaped them. And in turn, The Barbizon helped shape the world.
A Holiday-Themed Suggestion
Finally, when you’re in the mood for a holiday story, we highly recommend A Magical New York Christmas by Anita Hughes. Like Davis’s books that feature NYC landmarks, the Plaza Hotel is a character in this story. You’ll learn so much about its history and architecture. Additionally, this holiday novel has a dual timeline with a historical fiction story that introduces readers to the author of the famed Eloise books.
No matter which of these authors or books you pick up next, we hope you find the same love of New York City history and unforgettable women that keeps us coming back to Fiona’s novels. And if one of them becomes a new favorite, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
