Books Set in the 1950s

by Sadeqa Johnson
Setting: 1950s Philadelphia & Washington, DC
First published 2023

House of Eve alternates perspectives of our main characters in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Ruby’s story is told in first person perspective as she tries to become the first person in her family to attend higher education. However, her plans are threatened when she begins to fall for a Jewish boy.

Eleanor’s story is told from the third person perspective as she arrives in DC with equal parts ambition and secrets. Like Ruby, Eleanor's plans are changed when she falls for a man, William, at Howard University. William is from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents are picky about who is good enough to join them.

While this setup feels like a romance novel, this is a fast-moving historical fiction novel that will take you into a piece of history you may know little about. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end!

The Book Girls Say… The 1953 novel, The Narrows, would also make a great pick this month. The classic novel also illuminates the harsh realities of race and class through two doomed lovers. Author Ann Petry was the first Black woman to sell one million copies of a book, and received a Graduate of Pharmacy degree in 1931 before becoming a writer.

House of Eve is also included on our list of Discussion-Worthy Book Club Books.

by Jennifer Robson
Setting: 1953 London
First published 2023

As the Queen’s coronation approaches, London is ready to celebrate. Coronation Year takes us into the lives of three residents of London’s historic Blue Lion as the historic day approaches.

Edie owns the Blue Lion, and is thrilled that the coronation route will pass her door. The young queen has no idea she’s about to save the business of an equally young hotelier.

Artist James is a war hero, but finds that the world still disdains his Indian ancestry. However, at the Blue Lion, Edie makes him feel at home.

Stella is a photographer and Holocaust survivor with a new position at Picture Weekly magazine. As she learns more about her new profession, she finds a way to honor the past and provide hope for her future.

As threats counter the excitement of the upcoming coronation, Edie and her friends must uncover the truth.

The Book Girls Say… If you’ve enjoyed The Gown from our 1940s book list, grab this new release from the same author! If you enjoy reading about royals, you’ll find both of these books and many more on our list of Books for Fans of The Crown.

by Amor Towles
Setting: Multiple US States, 1954
First published 2021

This novel takes place entirely within ten days in 1954. Eighteen-year-old Emmett has finished his term on a work farm, where he was sent after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The warden drives him home to Nebraska, where he plans to pick up his 8-year-old brother before heading west for a fresh start.

However, Emmett discovers that two friends, Duchess and Wooly, from the work camp have stowed away in the trunk. The three teens and 8-year-old Billy adjust their plans and set out across the country together. The book is told from alternating points of view.

The Book Girls Say… This was voted as one of our reader’s overall favorite books of 2021. But, keep in mind that it’s on the long side at 576 pages, so you may need to allow a bit of extra time!

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
95% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Piper Huguley
Setting: 1953, New York & 1918, Tampa
First Published 2022

This historical fiction tells the true story of Ann Lowe, who was one of the most famous dress designers of the twenties through the sixties. Her story began in Tampa, where she learned to be a seamstress from her mother and grandmother, a former slave.

At only 12, Ann was married to an older, alcoholic, man and saw her dreams slipping away. However, an encounter with a wealthy socialite changed her life forever. She has the opportunity to escape her marriage and earn a living by designing and sewing clothing for Florida's society elite.

By 1953, Ann has a dress shop in New York and is preparing for the society wedding of the decade - Jacqueline Bouvier is marrying John F. Kennedy, Jr. However, less than a week before the wedding, a disaster occurs at her dress shop, and she’s forced to recreate Jackie’s dress, and others, on an impossible timeline.

by Rebecca Skloot
Setting: 1950s, Maryland and Virginia
First published 2010

For more than half a century, scientists knew her only as HeLa, but the full story of Henrietta Lacks deserves to be heard.

When Henrietta fell ill, she was treated in the "colored" ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital. While hospitalized, she had a tissue sample taken, without her consent. Those cells became the first "immortal" human cells grown in culture. Still alive today, the HeLa cells have been used to develop the polio vaccine, discover cancer treatments, advance gene mapping, and much more.

It wasn't until more than 20 years after Henrietta's death that her family learned of her "immortality." With the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the news was devastating to the Lacks family.

The Book Girls' Say... We have both read this one and were blown away by both the science and the story of Henrietta's life and family. It raises so many important lessons about history, as well as ethical scientific questions that persist today.

This book is also featured on our list of Non-Fiction Books About Women in History.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Camille DiMaio
Setting: 1958 Califonia
First Published 2019

Kate feels stuck in her family’s failing restaurant in San Fransisco. She jumps at the chance to escape when her grandfather makes a cryptic plea for her to “find a beautiful stranger”. This search takes her south to the Hotel del Coronado, where the movie Some Like it Hot is being filmed.

When she’s offered a position at the glamorous hotel, it feels like a dream come true. And her life continues to get better as a new romance blossoms. However, the hotel has ghosts from the past, just like Kate. Sixty years earlier, a guest died at the hotel and still haunts the halls. The life of that turn-of-the-century guest and Kate’s present intertwine in surprising ways.

The Book Grils Say... We also have a full list of summer historical fiction novels if you need more summertime vibes on your TBR!

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 5/13/23.

by Fiona Davis
Setting: 1950s, New York City
First published 2019

Playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead aim to put up a Broadway show, and they plan to use the Chelsea Hotel - a hot spot for creatives and artists - to get the ball rolling. But they soon discover that the greatest obstacle to producing a Broadway show isn't the art, but the politics.

This story spans the 1940s-60s, but it's centered around the era of McCarthyism in th 1950s. As the Red Scare is sweeping the country, those in the entertainment industry are in the cross-hairs, and there is pressure to point fingers.

The Book Girls' Say... Fiona Davis is a master of New York City historical fiction. She writes in a way that paints a picture of the visual scenery and the emotion of her characters. You'll step back in time and experience a disturbing era in our country that is rarely talked about today. Thankfully, that history lesson is told through a page-turning novel.

This book is also featured on our list of the Best Fiction Books for Theater Lovers.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Kelly Rimmer
Setting: 1950s & 1930s, Huntsville, Alabama

Inspired by the true events of Operation Paperclip, this historical fiction novel tells the story of the US intelligence program that employed former Nazis in Huntsville, Alabama after WWII.

The story begins in Berlin in 1930. Changing political powers are sweeping through Germany, and Sofie von Meyer Rhodes is married to an academic husband whose work benefits from the ambitions of the newly elected chancellor. Though she and her husband, Jürgen, don’t agree on the social views taking hold in the country, she does see how his work with the rocket program is benefiting them. Soon, however, she realizes that their morality is being challenged and that neutrality has a price.

At the same time, Lizzie Miller is living in the Texas panhandle during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The future looks bleak as their farm dries up. And that’s all before her brother, Henry, is called to Germany to fight in WWII.

Twenty years later in the 1950s, Jürgen is one of the many German scientists who is offered a pardon for their part in WWII in exchange for working on the fledgling space program in the US. Sofie is excited for the fresh start in a new country, but she soon finds that her Huntsville neighbors aren’t as welcoming or forgiving of her family’s past as she’d hoped.

Jürgen's boss at the US space program is Calvin Miller, Lizzie’s husband. This is where the two women’s stories collide. Lizzie and her brother, Henry, hate that German scientists are allowed to work freely in the United States. While Sofie is trying to rebuild a life in Alabama, Lizzie is determined to make it difficult for her.

The Book Girls Say… We were excited to discover this new novel because Australian-born Kelly Rimmer is the author of one of our very favorite WWII historical fiction reads, The Things We Cannot Say.

by Ivan Doig
Setting: Wisconsin & Montana, 1951
First published 2015

Eleven-year-old Donal lives deep in the Montana Rockies with his grandmother. However, when she needs surgery, she decides to send Donal to her sister in Wisconsin. Sadly, Aunt Kate is a tough woman to live with, unlike Gram. And it’s not just Donal that finds her difficult. Her husband, Herman the German, is also getting tired of her tyrannical nature.

When Kate sends Donal back to Montana on the bus, Herman the German decides to travel with him. Along the way, they meet an interesting cast of characters and find themselves in all kinds of misadventures.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
89% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Kim Michele Richardson
Setting: 1953 Kentucky
First Published 2022

While this book can be read as a stand-alone, we recommend reading The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek first.

Honey has been hiding from the law her entire life. She is the daughter of a blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian. When Honey’s parents are both arrested, she takes over her mom’s treacherous packhorse library route, delivering books to the remote hollers of Appalachia.

Honey learns that if she wants to keep bringing books to the families that need them most, she has to fight to keep her place on the route and in the world. As she works, she also learns more about the extraordinary women who run the hills.

by Patricia P. Goodin
Setting: 1952, New York City
First Published 2020

Did you know that Virgina from the unforgettable line “Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus.” went on to become a teacher and the principal at a school within New York General Hospital? In December of 1952, reporter David Lindsey was sent to follow up with the now-adult “Santa Claus Girl”.

After the interview, he learns of a little girl who needs polio treatment with an iron lung, but none are available. A fundraiser is in motion, but it’s a race against time, feasibility, and even a snowstorm.

The Book Girls Say… This novel is based on true events, and readers say it’s a feel-good story, but also a good look at the polio epidemic. Readers who don’t enjoy it as much find the introduction of several side characters confusing or are opposed to swearing in a book with holiday themes.

by Ruta Sepetys
Setting: New Orleans, Louisiana 1950
First published 2013

Despite her rough start to life as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, 17-year-old Josie has big dreams of escaping New Orleans to attend an elite university. However, her careful plans are turned upside down after a mysterious death in the French Quarter. She becomes tangled in the investigation, which will test her conscience, allegiance to her mother, and the madam of Conti Street.

Like the author's other historical fiction, you’ll find a strong female character trying to make the best of a difficult situation and a great supporting cast. As you read, you’ll be transported to 1950s New Orleans.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Marjan Kamali
Setting: 1953, Tehran, Iran
First published 2019

Set against the backdrop of the Iranian Coup, Roya, an idealistic teenage girl finds a literary oasis in the neighborhood book and stationery shop.

The owner introduces her to his favorite customer, the handsome Rumi, who has a passion for justice and poetry. The two fall in love, but are separated on the eve of their marriage. Finally, they are reunited sixty years later when both are living in America. Together they discover the truth of what really happened all those years ago in the town square.

The Book Girls Say... If you are interested in reading more books set in Iran and surrounding countries, check out our complete list of Books Set in the Middle East.

This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 5/13/23.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Natalie Jenner
Setting: 1950 London
First Published 2022

Set in post-war London, The Bloomsbury Girls focuses on an old-fashioned bookstore, which has been run by men for a hundred years. However, by 1950, the world is changing in many ways.

Three of the shop girls, Vivien, Grace, and Evie have their own big dreams that are intersected by fascinating interactions with famous literary figures. As they work in the shop, they plot out a future bigger than 1950 society generally allows.

The Book Girls Say...If you've read The Jane Austen Society, one of the characters, Evie, takes center stage in Bloomsbury Girls. However, Bloomsbury Girls is not written as a "sequel" and works as a standalone book.

by Elizabeth Letts
Setting: 1954-1956, across the US
First Published 2021

This non-fiction biography sounds more like a fictional tale. In 1954, sixty-three year old Annie Wilkins decided she had to see the Pacific Ocean before she died. The Maine farmer had no remaining relatives, had lost her family farm, and was given two years to live by the doctor.

Instead of resting like the doctor recommended, Annie bought a retired racehorse named Tarzan, put on a pair of men’s Dungarees, and set out from Maine in November. Her only other companion was her dog, Depeche Toi. Annie, Tarzan, and Depeche Toi traveled over 4000 miles with no maps through America’s big cities and small towns. Through the kindness of strangers and her incredible determination, Annie had the adventure of a lifetime.

The Book Girls Say... If you loved the historical fiction novel Finding Dorothy, you may also enjoy this non-fiction book by the same author.

by David Guterson
Setting: 1954, Puget Sound, Washington
First published 1994

When a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, a Japanese American is charged with his murder. Haunted by the memories of the Japanese internment camps during WWII just a decade before, events during the trial make it clear that much more is at stake in this community than one man's guilt or innocence.

The Book Girls Say... This book is on the longer side at 460 pages, but some readers say it feels longer because it's a slower-paced, descriptive read. This novel was also adapted into a 1999 film of the same title starring Ethan Hawke.

If you are interested in reading about the post-Japenese internment camp era from a YA perspective, pick up Nora & Kettle. The novel is described as simultaneously sad and uplifting.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
95% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Setting: 1955-56, Monaco
First published 2019

At the Cannes Film Festival in 1955, Grace Kelly seeks refuge in a small boutique to escape the flash-bulbs of the press. She becomes fast friends with the shop owner, Sophie Duval, and even creates a plan to help Sophie's struggling perfume business.

James Henderson, a British press photographer following Grace Kelly, also likes Sophie. The following year, James is assigned to cover Grace Kelly's wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco. James hopes he'll also have the opportunity to be reunited with Sophie.

This sun-drenched journey along the Cote d'Azur is filled with romance, friendship, and tragedy.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
95% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Louise Erdrich
Setting: North Dakota & Minnesota, 1953
First published 2021

In 1953, a new “emancipation” bill was being considered in the US Congress. However, the Chippewa Council knows that the bill isn’t about freedom; it’s a threat to their rights and land. Thomas is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant near the reservation and serves as a Council member.

Valedictorian Patrice also works at the plant, using all her money to support her mother and brother. Her older sister, Vera, left the reservation to live in Minneapolis, but the family hasn’t heard from her in months. Eventually, she travels to Minnesota, trying to track down Vera.

The lives of Thomas and Patrice interact with many other memorable characters on and off the reservation as they encounter the best and worse of human nature.

The Book Girls Say…This novel is based on the real-life of the author’s grandfather and won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
90% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Julia Kelly
Setting: England 1958
First published 2022

In 1958, the royal family announced that it would be the final year for debutantes to be presented to the queen. Thousands of mothers and daughters sent letters hoping to be included in this last, prestigious tradition of young women coming out into society at Buckingham Palace.

Lily agrees to become a debutante to please her traditional mother and meets two unique friends during the Season of balls of cocktail parties. Leana is perfect on the outside but has a dark streak. Katherine dreams of a career of her own. As the friendships evolve, Lily learns a secret that could destroy her family.

The Book Girls Say…This is a fun pick if you’re interested in the transitional period between the traditional 50s and feminist 60s.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
90% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Chanel Cleeton
Setting: 1958, Havana; 2017, Miami
First published 2018

Growing up in Miami, Marisol heard romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother, Elisa.

In 1958, nineteen-year-old Elisa was a member of Cuba's high society as the daughter of a sugar baron. Her family's position largely shields her from the growing political unrest, at least until she embarks on a forbidden affair.

In 2017, Marisol arrived in Havana for the first time to fulfill her grandmother's dying wish of having her ashes spread in her birth country. Marisol tries to reconcile the contrast of Cuba's timeless beauty with its political climate, all while uncovering the story of her grandmother's past.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Lorraine Hansberry
Setting: 1950s, Chicago
First published 1959

Following the life of one black family on Chicago's south side, this play examines their hopes and aspirations, as well as the struggles of the working class.

"Never before, in the entire history of the American theater, has so much of the truth of black people's lives been seen on the stage," observed James Baldwin shortly before A Raisin in the Sun opened on Broadway in 1959.

The Book Girls' Say... This is one of the most powerful plays you'll ever experience on stage, but this uncut version of Hansberry's landmark work offers even more than you've seen before.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Delia Owens
Setting: North Carolina, 1952 and 1969
First published 2018

Young Kya, who was left to fend for herself in the North Carolina marsh in the 1950s, will steal your heart from the beginning. For two decades, Kya has been known to locals as the "Marsh Girl." She lives away from other humans and has only attended one day of school, but finds companions in nature all around her.

The book has a split timeline between Kya's formative years in the 1950s and an incident in 1969. A handsome boy from town is found dead, and the locals immediately suspect Kya.

The Book Girls Say... If you've already read this one and love it as much as we did, check out our list of Books for Fans of Where the Crawdads Sing.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Amy Sue Nathan
Setting: 1951, Michigan + Present
First published 2020

Betty Stern turned 18 in 1951 and was looking forward to her last summer at her grandparent's Jewish summer resort before heading off to college. She had big dreams of becoming a fashion editor in NYC.

During that life-changing summer, Betty collapses at the end of the beauty pageant, which ends up being the last time the pageant is held. In 2020, a financially-struggling manicurist decides to bring it back. By this time, Betty is in her late 80s, and no one knows she was the last winner or why the pageant ended.

The novel alternates between Betty's life in 1952 and a present-day gathering of her best friends from that summer. It's a great look at societal expectations between the two time periods.

If you love the summer vibes of this book, check out more titles on our list of summer-themed historical fiction.

This book is available with Kindle Unlimited as of 5/13/23.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Karma Brown
Setting: 1950s and current day, New York suburbs
First Published 2020

Alice leaves her publicity career to become a writer and follows her husband to the suburbs of New York. Learning to fill her days in a big, empty house, she comes across a vintage cookbook in the basement. Within the book, she discovers hidden notes left by the home's previous owner, Nellie - a quintessential 1950s housewife. Alice cooks her way through Nellie's recipes, and she starts to uncover clues about her life.

Juxtaposing Alice's life against Nellie's, this is a story of how everything has changed, but in some ways, nothing has changed.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
90% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Malinda Lo
Setting: 1954 San Francisco
First Published 2021

It’s 1954 and the Red Scare has infiltrated the US, including the life of seventeen-year-old Lily who lives in San Fransisco’s Chinatown. Deportation looms over her father, even though he has his hard-earned citizenship.

However, teenage problems don’t stop just because there are larger issues looming. Lily is falling in love for the first time, but is shocked to be attracted to Kathleen. It’s hard enough to be Chinese-American in 1954, to be in love with another girl is unheard of.

The Book Girls Say… This is a YA novel, but adult readers will enjoy it just as much. Reviews say you may need some tissues along the way, especially toward the end.

by Jan Moran
Setting: Napa Valley & Italy 1956
First published 2016

Mother-daughter winemakers Ava and Caterina are as skilled at guarding different family secrets as they are at running the family vineyard. In the 1950s, Caterina’s secret illegitimate child could ruin her chances for a normal life. But, when she receives an inheritance from her grandmother in Italy, she has an opportunity for a new start.

While she’s in Italy, she meets extended family members and begins to unravel mysteries of the past.

The Book Girls Say… This family drama is also part romance and part mystery. Readers are split on how much they enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the character's clothing. If you’re a fashion lover, this is a great bonus!

by Bill Bryson
Setting: 1950s, Iowa
First published 2006

Bill Bryson is famous for his humorous travel writing, but in this nostalgic and hilarious memoir, he reflects on growing up in middle-America in the 1950s in the middle of the baby boomer generation. Using his childhood imaginary super-hero persona to tell his story, he tells his story of growing up in Des Moines, bringing to life his loving but eccentric family.

The Book Girls' Say... If you've never read a Bill Bryson book before, then we'll just warn you that you'll get both a great book and an ab workout from laughing so hard, especially when listening to the audio version with Bryson's deadpan narration.

This book is also featured on our list of Must-Listen Audiobook Memoirs.

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐
90% Would Recommend to a Friend

by Donna Van Liere
Setting: 1950s, Tennessee
First published 2012

Ivorie Walker is only in her early 30s, but she is considered an old maid by those in her Tennessee town. When a feral, dirty-faced boy begins sneaking onto her land to steal food from her garden, she starts on an unlikely path to motherhood.

Every time he flees her garden and heads back into the hills, she has more questions about where he came from and how she can help him. But, as she begins to uncover the answers, she angers many in town who would rather she let secrets stay secret.

The Book Girls Say... Angela's IRL book club read this book a few years ago, and while she through it was just ok, many others in the book club considered it a five-star read! And our readers agree...

Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend