Novels Based on Real People

One of the Pop Sugar reading challenges this year is “A novel based on a real person” and if you don’t love historical fiction, this may be a little harder for you. However, let me make some recommendations. Stalking Jack the Ripper is a YA murder mystery take on the iconic case. My Lady Jane is a hysterical fantastical romp through a nine day reign not so well-documented in the history books. Beautiful Fools and Z take iconic authors and make them characters themselves and the Perfect Nanny is a domestic thriller ripped straight from the headlines. Check out my complete list below for more ideas on how to fulfill this challenge. I’ll be reading Fatal Throne, a collection of stories by Henry VIII’s six wives, because I can’t get enough Tudor fiction.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel–Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell

So Great a Prince by Lauren Johnson–Henry VIII

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory–Anne and Mary Boleyn

Fatal Throne by Schwartz and Wade–Henry VIII’s six wives

See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt–Lizzie Borden

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalsco–Jack the Ripper

The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani–Yoselyn Ortega

Tru & Nelle by G Neri–Truman Capote and Harper Lee

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand et al–Lady Jane Grey

Another Woman’s Husband by Gill Paul–Wallis Simpson

Alex & Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz–Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler

Hamilton & Peggy by LM Elliott-Peggy Schuyler