time travel books like outlander for adults

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19 Books Like Outlander: Scottish Time Travel Books for People Who Like Outlander

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Often when a book series gets adapted for TV and becomes popular, it spawns a host of imitations – and renews interest in similar titles that have been around for ages. That's exactly what has happened with the popular Outlander series . Scottish time travel books are hot, and while Outlander is certainly the most popular, it's neither the first nor the only book to tell a story of romance and adventure across time.

If you've exhausted all that the Outlander series has to offer, you may be looking for more like that. Below, we take a look at some of the best and most highly-rated books like Outlander – tales of time travel, romance, and adventure in Scotland.

19 Books Like Outlander: Time Travel Books Set in Scotland

Though you could certainly make the argument that other, non-Scottish time travel books and typical Highland romance novels are great things to add to your post- Outlander reading list, we know there many times when you don't want something “sort of like” what you just had. You want more of the very same type of thing.

So, with this list, we've tried to get as close as humanly possible and stick with ONLY Scottish time travel stories with some element of adventure and romance. The majority of the entries are series rather than single books, so in those cases we've listed the first book to get you started.

Bethany Claire's Morna's Legacy Series

Schoolteacher Brielle Montgomery reluctantly joins her archaologist mother on a dig in Scotland, only to find herself transported 400 years back in time. Suddenly, she's thrust into a life where she's about to marry Eoin Conall, an almost impossibly sexy Scotsman who doesn't like her at all. He's only following through with the marriage because of a promise to his dying father.

When Bri enters the picture, he notices something has changed about his wife-to-be, and it's a good thing. Unfortunately, Bri knows her history and she knows Eoin's entire clan will be slaughtered. Can she protect her new love and save both of their lives?

To date, there are twelve books in this series. You can start with the first below:

Get it : Amazon Kindle | Amazon Print | Audiobook | Bookshop.org (supports independent bookshops)

Claire R. McDougall's Veil of Time

With her marriage over and her son off to school, Maggie takes some time out at a cottage near the ruins of Dunadd. When she awakens, she finds herself wandering the busy village of Dunadd – in the eighth century! She soon finds herself drawn to the handsome Fergus, brother of the king and father to a young girl who looks remarkably like her own late daughter. Torn between two worlds, will she stay with her new love or return to her old life that wasn't much to get excited about?

Veronica Wolff's Highland Series

Lily Hamlin is having a rough time personally, so she decides to go ahead and take that long dreamt-about trip to Scotland. While exploring the Highlands, she wanders through an overgrown maze with an odd stone map…and suddenly finds herself in 1654 Lochaber.

The widowed clan chief Ewen has no need for romance in his life, but when a saucy lass with a weird accent shows up, all bets are off. Though the romance is exciting, Lily soon realises her new life comes with its fair share of danger.

Jessi Gage's Highland Wishes Series

When a single, expectant museum worker wishes on a Scottish artifact, she never expects her wish to come true – until she's magically transported back in time to the middle of the Scottish Highlands during the sixteenth century. There, she meets a poor, handsome bachelor who's known for being too “endowed” under his kilt to ever make a good husband.

Hazel Hunter's Immortal Highlander Series

Kinley's life is not going well. Suffering from PTSD and dealing with the end of her career, it all turns around when she suddenly finds herself in medieval Scotland. There, she meets Lachlan McDonnel, laird to a clan of immortal Highlanders – and the sparks fly.

This series definitely falls on the mature side of things, both in terms of sex and violence. There's also an element of fantasy that extends beyond the time travel part of the story.

Catherine Bybee's MacCoinnich Time Travels Series

Duncan McCoinnich had a simple task: time travel to a twenty-first century Renn Faire, deflower druid virgins, and go home. When feelings develop between modern-day Tara and sixteenth century Duncan, it all gets a lot more complicated.

Jo Barrett's Highlander's Challenge

Tuck is a personal bodyguard, and her latest assignment is certainly one to remember. It involves a kidnapper, an enchanted fountain, and a sixteenth century Highlander who wants nothing more than to lock her up and keep her.

Kim Sakwa's Lairds of the Crest Series

Gwendolyn Reynolds takes a soul-searching trip to Scotland, but when a storm forces her car off the road, she plunges into icy water and comes back up in 1426 Scotland. There, she finds Laird Greylen McGreggor, a man waiting for a woman foretold in prophecy.

Janet Chapman's The Highlander Next Door

This one almost didn't make it on the list because it's a little different from the others. Rather than the heroine travelling back in time, it's the hero who travels forward to modern day Maine.

Maxine Mansfield's Time for a Highlander

History teacher Bethany Anne Anderson is killed on a trip to Scotland – but before she can pass on to the next phase, fate steps in and drops her into the body of twenty-one-year-old Lady Elspeth Frasier in 1643 Scotland. There, she must give a Highland laird an heir before she can move on.

Melissa Mayhue's Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband

In 2007 Denver, Caitlyn Coryell's life is falling apart. When she puts on an antique pendant, a Highland warrior suddenly appears in her bedroom, begging for her help. At his urging, she'll go back in time and marry him, assuming no one kills her first.

Ceci Giltenan's Pocket Watch Chronicles

This series focuses on a young woman who receives a mysterious pocket watch that allows time travel. Each entry in the series features a romance between one person from the modern world and one from some period in Scottish history – but the specifics always vary.

It's also worth noting that unlike many books in this genre, there are no explicit love scenes in these books. If you prefer less heat, definitely give this one a read.

Clover Autrey's Highland Sorcery Series

When a naked, bleeding Highlander appears in her modern-day kitchen, Charity Greves does what any decent herbalist would do – she heals him. What she didn't expect was to be pulled back to the 13th century where her Highlander is being held captive.

Each book in this series focuses on a different couple in a different time travel situation, and this is another series where the heat level is “safe to read with granny”.

Karen Marie Moning's Highlander Series

Hawk is a legendary predator in battle and the bedroom, but no woman has managed to tame him. When a vengeful fairy yanks Adrienne de Simone from modern day Seattle, however, he might just find his perfect match. She's having none of it, but he's determined to win her heart.

Allie Mackay's Ravenscraig Legacy Series

Tour guide Mara McDougall doesn't believe in ghosts – until she meets a handsome Scottish one on a trip to the UK. While this isn't strictly a time travel book, all the books in this series contain links between the past and present with supernatural elements. If you're looking for a slight twist on the genre, you may enjoy these.

Susan Price's Sterkarm Series

After a British corporation invents a time tube with a portal back to sixteenth century Scotland, they send representatives 500 years back in time to deal with a lawless clan of barbarians. Interpreter Andrea soon develops a bond with Per, the handsome son of the clan chieftain, Toorkild – but when tensions rise, she'll be forced to choose sides.

Lynn Kurland's MacLeod Series

In the New York City of 1996, Elizabeth Smith's writing career is stalled – until one day, she begins hearing the voice of a Scottish man calling to her. She thinks she's going crazy until she dozes off in Gramercy Park and wakes up in 14th century Scotland. There, she'll find herself face to face with the man whose voice filled her mind.

Callie Berkham's Time Orb Series

Each book of this series features a heroine transported to a different time and place – with the first novel dropping historian Abby Davis onto an ancient Scottish battleground. There, she'll save the life of a warrior, losing her time orb in the process.

J. Ardian Lee's Son of the Sword

This one's kind of an unusual entry because the protagonist is a man. Dylan Matheson is a relatively normal modern man, but when he picks up a magical broadsword at a Medieval Faire, he's transported to 1713 Scotland where Jacobite revels are fighting English oppression. There, he'll fight for the cause and attempt to win the heart of fair Caitrionagh, daughter of a haughty laird.

What's Your Favourite Scottish Time Travel Book?

Have you read any of these Scottish time travel books? What's your favourite? Do you have other recommendations? Feel free to share them in the comments!

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The 35 Best Books About Time Travel

Here's what to read after you finish Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Gabaldon first published Outlander —the book that would eventually inspire the television series starring Caitriona Balfe as Claire and Sam Heughan as Jamie —in 1991, and the ninth novel in the series, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone , came out in November 2021.

Ahead of the seventh season of Outlander , now's the perfect time (ha) to dive into time travel books. From time traveling romance to alternate realities to murder mysteries, there's something for everyone here.

The Time Traveler's Wife

Any list about time travel books must begin with The Time Traveler's Wife , right? This bestselling novel tells the love story of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who inadvertently travels through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Plot sound familiar? The book was adapted into a 2009 film starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana, and a 2022 TV show starring Theo James and Rose Leslie .

Read more: 20 of the best Time Travel Films Ever Made

A Murder in Time

Kendra Donovan is a rising star at the FBI, until one disastrous raid when half her team is murdered and a mole in the FBI is uncovered. After she recovers from her wounds, she's determined to find the man responsible for the death of her team—yet upon her arrival in England, she stumbles back in time to 1815. Mistaken for a lady's maid, Kendra is forced to quickly adapt to the period as she figures out how to get back to her own timeline. There are five books in the Kendra Donovan series , so if you love a time travel mystery, don't miss these.

Author Octavia Butler is a queen of science fiction, and Kindred is her bestselling novel about time travel. In it, she tells the story of Dana, a Black woman, who is celebrating her 26th birthday in 1976. Abruptly, she's transported back to Maryland, circa 1815, where she's on a plantation and has to save Rufus, the white son of the plantation owner. It's not just a time travel book, but one that expertly weaves in narratives of enslaved people and explores the Antebellum South.

Faye, Faraway

Diana Gabaldon herself called Faye, Faraway "a lovely, deeply moving story of loss and love and memory made real , " so you know it's going to be good. The plot focuses on Faye, a mother of two, who lost her own mother, Jeanie, when she was just 8 years old. When Faye suddenly finds herself transported back in time, she befriends her mother—but doesn't let on who she really is. Eventually, she has to choose between her past and her future.

The Eyre Affair

In this version of Great Britain circa 1985, time travel is routine. Our protagonist is Thursday Next, a literary detective, who is placed on a case when someone begins kidnapping characters from works of literature and plucks Jane Eyre from the pages of Brontë's novel.

Bonus: The Eyre Affair is the first in a seven book series following Thursday.

The River of No Return: A Novel

Lord Nicholas Davenant is about to die in the Napoleonic Wars in 1812, and wakes up 200 years later. But he longs to return back in time to his love, Julia. When he arrives in modern society, a mysterious organization called the Guild tells him "there is no return," until one day, they summon him to London and he learns it's possible to travel back through time. A spy thriller that's also historical romance that's also time travel... Say less.

One Last Stop

Casey McQuiston's second novel ( following Red, White, and Royal blue, which is going to be a major motion picture this summer ) is a queer time-loop romance set on the Q train in New York City, and it's riveting. August is 23, working at a 24-hour diner, and meets a gorgeous, charming girl on the train: Jane. But she can't seem to meet up with her off the Q train—until they figure out Jane is stuck in time from the 1970s. How did she travel through time? Can August get Jane unstuck? Will they live happily ever after!? The questions abound.

What the Wind Knows

Anne Gallagher grew up hearing her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. When she returns to the country to spread his ashes, she is transported back in time to 1921—and is drawn into the struggle for Irish independence. There, she meets Dr. Thomas Smith, and must decide whether or not she should return to her own timeline or stay in the past. As one reviewer wrote on Amazon, What the Wind Knows is a "spectacular time travel journey filled with love and loss."

The Midnight Library: A Novel

Imagine a library with an infinite number of books—each containing an alternate reality about your life. That's the plot of The Midnight Library , where our protagonist Nora Seed enters different versions of her life. She undoes old breakups, follows her dream of becoming a glaciologist, and so much more—but what happens to her original life?

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.: A Novel

In this novel from Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland, magic existed—until 1851. A secret government organization, the Department of Diachronic Operations (or D.O.D.O. for short), is dedicated to bringing magic back, and its members will travel through time to change history to do so. As Kirkus Reviews wrote , the novel "blend[s] time travel with Bourne-worthy skulduggery." It's a delight for any fans of science fiction, with a slow burn romance between military intelligence operator Tristan Lyons and linguist Melisande Stokes.

This Is How You Lose the Time War

Cowritten by two beloved and award-winning sci-fi writers, this epistolary romantic novel tells the story of two time-traveling rivals who fall in love. Agents Red and Blue travel back and forth throughout time, trying to alter universes on behalf of their warring empires—and start to leave each other messages. The messages begin taunting but soon turn flirtatious—and when Red's commander discovers her affection for Blue, they soon embark down a timeline they can't change.

The House on the Strand

Set at an ancient Cornish house called Kilmarth, where Daphne du Maurier lived from 1967, The House on the Strand story follows Dick Young, who has been offered use of Kilmarth by an old college friend, Magnus Lane. Magnus, a biophysicist, is developing a drug that enables people to travel back to the 14th century, and Dick reluctantly agrees to be a test subject. The catch: If you touch anyone, you're transported back to the present. As the story goes on, Dick's visits back to the 1300s become more frequent, and his life back in the modern world becomes unstable.

The Kingdoms

It’s 1898 and there’s a man named Joe, who lives in London, which is, in this alternate historical, a part of the French Empire as in this version of the past, Britain lost the Napoleonic Wars. Joe has gotten off a train from Scotland and cannot remember anything about who he is or where he’s from. He soon returns to his work, and after a few years, he is sent to repair a lighthouse in Eilean Mor in the Outer Hebrides. Joe then finds himself a century earlier, on a British boat with a mysterious captain, fighting the French and hoping for a future that is different than the one he came from. If you're into time travel and queer romance and alternate history, this is for you.

The Future of Another Timeline

In 1992, 17-year-old Beth agrees to help hide the dead body of her friend's abusive boyfriend. The murder sets Beth and her friends on "a path of escalating violence and vengeance" to protect other young women. In 2022, Tess decides to use time travel to fight for change around key moments in history. When Tess believes she's found a way to make an edit to history that actually sticks, she encounters a group of time travelers bent on stopping her at any cost. Tess and Beth's lives intertwine, and war breaks out across the timeline.

Shadow of Night

The sequel to A Discovery of Witches , the plot of Shadow of Night picks up right where the story left off: With Matthew, a vampire, and Diana, a witch, traveling back in time to Elizabethan London to search for an enchanted manuscript. You really need to read the first book before reading Shadow of Night , but the series by Deborah Harkness is a swoony magical romance.

And: It's now a TV show! ( Season one is streaming on Amazon Prime Video .)

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

In The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, the same day happens again and again. Each day, Evelyn Hardcastle is murdered at 11:00 p.m at Blackheath. And each day, our protagonist Aiden Bishop wakes up in the body of a different witness—and tries to solve her murder. He only has eight days, and it's a race against time to solve Evelyn's murder and to escape the time loop.

Recursion: A Novel

In 2018 New York City, detective Barry Sutton fails to talk Ann out of jumping off a building. But before Ann falls to her death, she tells him she is suffering from False Memory Syndrome—a new neurological disease where people are afflicted with memories of lives they never lived. The dissonance between their present and these memories drives them to death. This is best read unspoiled, but it's undoubtedly a time travel story you haven't read before.

On the eve of her wedding day, Shay Garrett looks into her grandmother's antique mirror and faints. When she wakes up, she's in the same house—but in the body of her grandmother, Brandy, as a young woman in 1900. And Brandy awakens in Shay's body in the present day in 1978. It's like Freaky Friday , but with time travel to the Victorian era.

Here and Now and Then

Kin Stewart is a time traveler from 2142, stuck in 1990s suburban San Francisco. A rescue team arrives to bring Kin back to his timeline—but 18 years too late. Does Kin stay with his "new" family, and the life he's built for himself in San Francisco, or does he return to his original timeline? He's stuck between two families—and ultimately, this is a time travel tale about fatherhood.

A Knight in Shining Armor

Originally published in 1989, this romance novel features a present-day heroine and a knight from the 16th century who fall in love. Per the book's description: "Abandoned by a cruel fate, lovely Dougless Montgomery lies weeping upon a cold tombstone in an English church. Suddenly, the most extraordinary man appears. It is Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck…and according to his tombstone he died in 1564. Drawn to his side by a bond so sudden and compelling it overshadows reason, Dougless knows that Nicholas is nothing less than a miracle: a man who does not seek to change her, who finds her perfect, fascinating, just as she is. What Dougless never imagined was how strong the chains are that tie them to the past…or the grand adventure that lay before them."

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma , a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram .

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The 10 best books like outlander to make you swoon.

Whether you’re a history buff or a fan of brawny Scottish rogues, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series has everything you could ever want: mysterious time travel, dramatic political skirmishes, and of course, plenty of bodice-ripping. But if you’ve already torn through Outlander and its sequels (like how Jamie and Claire tear at each other), you might be thinking, what historical romance novels should I read next?

Gabaldon’s shoes are hard to fill, but plenty of authors rise to the challenge. Here are 10 more stellar books like Outlander : full of substance, style, and yes, some pretty steamy scenes.

Psst — if you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great romance books out there to read, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized romance book recommendation  😉

Which romance novel should you read next?

Discover the perfect romance book for you. Takes 30 seconds!

1. At The Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

This book by the Water for Elephants author admittedly starts out less than promising. In the midst of the Second World War, a couple of unlikable Americans have just made their way to Scotland — purportedly to search for Nessie, but really to escape a recent public humiliation. Maddie, our narrator, is a spoiled socialite who’s been dragged across the pond by her husband, a man whose only ambition seems to be drinking himself into a daily stupor.

But as weeks turn into months, Maddie finds herself gradually embraced by her newfound Scottish friends… especially Angus, a bereaved local innkeeper who finds solace in Maddie’s arms. The drama of their affair is heightened by the shadow of the war, with frequent air raids and tense telegrams from the front. Can Maddie and Angus ever be truly together — or will the war and her volatile husband threaten not just their relationship, but their lives?

2. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

If you’re a fan of the time travel element in Outlander , Kearsley is definitely the author for you. This is just one of her many novels to involve a time warp in one way or another — and its effectiveness as a storytelling technique continues to impress, book after book.

The Winter Sea is an especially nuanced take on the going-back-in-time angle. It begins with a historical fiction author (meta!) named Carrie, who wants to write a book about King James II and the Jacobites. But as she begins working, her story comes to life in a way she hadn’t anticipated: namely, in the romance between two of her “characters,” Sophia and John Moray.

They begin “telling” Carrie what happens between them, and things heat up quite a bit in the alternating chapters about their courtship. Carrie’s work flourishes, but as her investment in the characters increases, so does her concern for them. The early eighteenth century was a dangerous time, after all — especially for a man like John, a rebel in his native Scottish land.

3. A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

Ah, the knight in shining armor: an archetypal vision indeed. Though its title may sound a bit cliché, Deveraux’s novel turns conventional time travel romance on its head. For in this book, rather than our modern heroine traveling backward, the dashing historical hero travels forward in time to meet her .

Dougless Montgomery is mourning her failed relationship when her savior appears in the form of a handsome young man — not a knight, as the book’s title would imply, but rather the Earl of Thornwyck, Nicholas Stafford. Of course, what’s really unusual about Nicholas isn’t that he’s a good-looking earl, but that his tombstone indicates he passed away in 1564.

And Nicholas isn’t just there to sweep Dougless into his arms. He’s traveled over 400 years to clear his name, having been falsely accused of treason way back in the sixteenth century. With this mission in mind and each other in heart, Dougless and Nicholas begin a new journey together: an amalgam of past injustice, future vindication, and present passion.

4. Emily and the Scot by Kathryn Smith

Kathryn Smith is one of the most prolific twenty-first-century authors on this list, so it’s likely you’ve read something of hers already! However, the regency-era Emily and the Scot is undoubtedly the best book for Outlander fans (particularly since this Scot is also named Jamie).

In the vein of Scottish feistiness, things kick off with a little antagonism. Emily, an English aristocrat, mistakes the rough-looking Jamie for a servant — when in fact he’s the cousin of a local laird. Their conflicts escalate from there: Jamie thinks Emily is snobby and uptight, while she’s astonished by his lack of manners. Of course, all that’s just a recipe for more chemistry; at one point there’s a scandalous swimming incident that will make fans of the Pride and Prejudice miniseries smile with recognition .

As anyone who’s ever seen a romantic comedy can attest, Jamie and Emily’s dynamic can’t stay acrimonious for long… especially when Emily’s cupid-playing in-laws get involved. Equal parts sweet and tart, this book is the perfect choice for those who want some vintage nineteenth-century lovin’ that’s a little on the lighter side.

5. Rebellion by Nora Roberts

Rebellion ’s setting is almost spookily similar to that of Outlander : this book also takes place in the Scottish Highlands around 1745, deals with the Jacobites, and doesn’t mess around with historical details. This tale of the fiery Serena MacGregor and her (initial) disdain for English lord Brigham Langston is both historically likely and dramatically satisfying.

Naturally, even as Serena scoffs and swipes at Brigham, he’s determined to make her his wife… because what guy doesn’t love being insulted and occasionally injured? But just as Serena finally gets a grip on her feelings, the titular rebellion begins: in addition to that of Serena’s heart, it also refers to the Jacobite rebellion of 1745, in which Brigham is a key player.

Serena may be spirited, but she’s powerless in the face of history. Now, she might forced to lose the man she’s finally come to love so much — and what’s more, she could lose him to violence from her very own people.

6. Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati

This book is an oft-cited favorite of Outlander fans, especially for those who thought the series really picked up when Jamie and Claire moved to America. Interestingly, Into the Wilderness is also somewhat a continuation of The Last of the Mohicans — Nathaniel Bonner, one of Donati’s primary love interests, is the son of Hawkeye and Cora.

Nathaniel is a young man raised among Mohawk Native Americans, aptly known by his tribe as “Between-Two-Lives.” Elizabeth Middleton meets him in 1792, after uprooting her life in England to move to America with her family. Their attraction is immediate but taboo: Elizabeth’s family strongly disapproves, not just because of Nathaniel’s unusual upbringing, but because they’ve already promised Elizabeth to another man.

Elizabeth and Nathaniel become a veritable Romeo and Juliet of the new frontier, and more importantly, they have enough secret love scenes to give Diana Gabaldon a run for her money. This book’s human and historical drama will no doubt keep you on the edge of your seat, rooting for our star-crossed lovers and relishing in the details of an early independent America.

7. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

Let’s jump back to the twentieth century for a bit, shall we? The Bronze Horseman begins on June 22, 1941, the day the Soviet Union enters WWII. Young, naïve Tatiana Metanova is about to turn seventeen when the war crashes into her life and she’s forced to grow up fast.

One day after being sent to buy food, Tatiana meets a Red Army soldier named Alexander, who instantly charms her. He accompanies her back to her house, at which point a devastating truth comes to light: her sister, Dasha, already knows and is in love with Alexander. Not wanting to hurt Dasha, Tatiana endeavors to stay away from their shared infatuation — to no avail. Alexander begins walking her home every day, and the connection between them is undeniable.

But the danger of the war still lurks, coming to a frightful head during the Siege of Leningrad. Suddenly it’s no longer a question of whether Tatiana and Alexander should be together, but whether they will survive long enough to choose. Their romance isn’t just forbidden, but nearly impossible: with stakes like these, any reader is sure to fall hook, line, and sinker for their story.

8. Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

In this steamy (despite the English cold) Victorian-era romance, a gamble takes center stage: Evangeline Jenner bets her husband, handsome playboy Sebastian, that he can’t stay celibate for three months… but if he does, she’ll finally let him sleep with her. They’ve come together through a marriage of convenience, and Evie never expected true attraction to flourish — but even when it does, she’s not going to let Sebastian get off that easily (no pun intended).

As her “deal with the devil” comes closer to being fulfilled, Evie realizes that Sebastian’s philandering habit is far from her biggest problem. A threat from her past soon comes into play, and Sebastian proves himself a worthy husband in defending her. But is his chivalry genuine, or just another trick to get her into bed? And if he really is the devil, could he be taken down by someone even more sinister?

9. The Recruit by Monica McCarty

The Recruit is the sixth in a series of fourteenth-century Scottish romances by McCarty called The Highland Guard — so if you like this one, you’re in luck, because there are thirteen more! However, The Recruit stands out for its unique premise and the particularly ardent affair between the title character, Kenneth, and a young widow called Mary who’s never felt true (ahem) love before she meets him.

In a departure from most of the books on this list, Kenneth and Mary’s relationship is anything but a slow burn: they give into their carnal instincts immediately upon meeting. Though Mary swears it will only be for one night, her feelings for this strong, sharp-tongued man gets the best of her — not least because he reminds her of herself.

But being recruited into the Highland Guard isn’t without its risks. Kenneth and Mary are soon torn apart by his duties to the Guard, as well as his womanizing ways. The odds are stacked against them in every way but one… and of course, it’s that one thing that neither of them can stop thinking about, no matter how hard they try.

10. Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks

Banks’ Highlander-based romance series is even sultrier than McCarty’s, and this riveting second installment does not disappoint. In Highlander Most Wanted we meet Genevieve McInnes and Bowen Montgomery: the former an imprisoned and abused ward at McHugh Keep, the latter a warrior who frees her.

Yet even as Genevieve tries to forget her former life by becoming a nun, she can’t get Bowen out of her head. She’s been privy firsthand to the dangerous desires of men, but now she’s starting to feel some of her own. Luckily, Bowen is patient and gentle in helping Genevieve “forget all that is in the past” with his promises (both verbal and physical) for the future.

Yes, Highlander Most Wanted is probably the most Harlequin-y romance on this list. But we all need a bit of fun from time to time — and Genevieve and Bowen’s relationship is both beautifully handled and a welcome distraction from our (in all likelihood) un-sexy, un-Scottish lives.

 Indeed, all these books provide a measure of escape: both emotional and, as is the case for any well-done historical fiction, almost spiritual in our experience of another time and place.

For the newest and best books in the historical romance genre, check out Reedsy’s historical romance discovery page .

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The 15 Best Books for Fans of Outlander

Time travel, historical fiction and romance – what’s not to love about Outlander ? Whether you’re a fan of the classic book by Diana Gabaldon or bingeing your way through the Starz adaptation, there’s a reason why fans obsess over this unique and heartwrenching love story. If you’re in need of more romantic time travel stories, these are 10 of the best books for fans of Outlander .

At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

Madeline and her husband Ellis have just made a huge mistake that has effectively cut them off from the family’s money. Trying to get back into his father’s good graces, Ellis, his friend Hank and Madeline travel to a remote village in the Scottish Highlands where they believe they will be able to track down the Loch Ness monster – a feat Ellis’s father was never able to accomplish.

Buy the book: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Transcription by Kate Atkinson

At only 18, Juliet Armstrong was thrown into the chaos of World War II . Assigned to a department of MI5, detailing the movements of British Fascist sympathizers, she sees a lot during her days of service. Ten years later, Juliet is sure that she can put her past behind her for good. But then another war begins and suddenly she’s confronted with the ghosts from her past.

A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

Helen Lambert has lived many lives and will continue to due to a curse accidentally put on her as a teenager. After a century of living different lives, she has reached the present day and with her own powers growing over the last 100 years, she may finally have the strength she needs to break the curse for good.

Where or When by Anita Shreve

When Siân Richards receives a letter from her first love, she sees no harm in writing back – both are married and have growing families. But then the two meet again for the first time in 30 years and they find that the passion they had decades ago is still there, sending them into a frantic and dangerous romance that will put everything on the line.

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

In 1912, poet Elspeth has begun an intimate correspondence with a man, David, who loves her work. They write letters to each other and fall in love. But everything changes when World War I begins and David volunteers to be an ambulance driver, leaving Elspeth at home. Almost 30 years later during WWII, a bomb hits Elspeth’s house and she disappears, leaving her daughter behind. Without any answers for her disappearance, her daughter Margaret will have to use the letters from her mother’s past to track her down.

The River of No Return by Bee Ridgway

Just as Lord Nicholas Falcott is about to die on a Napoleonic battlefield, he is transported to 21st-century London where he learns that he is now a part of a secret fraternity of time travelers called The Guild and he will never be able to return to the time he came from. But Nick can’t forget about the woman he left behind in 1815, Julia. Defining the rules of time, Nick and Julia will do whatever it takes to be together again.

Buy the book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

Eva Ward has just lost her sister and leaves Los Angeles to return to the family’s old house in Cornwall, England. The house, filled with memories, also connects her to a man from another time. Confronted with the life she once had, she is stuck between wanting to live in the present day and remembering the past.

Stars Over Clear Lake by Loretta Ellsworth

Lorraine Kindred will never forget the Surf Ballroom where she found her first true love before WWII. When she goes back to the ballroom decades later, Lorraine is forced to confront the secrets from those tragic years and rediscover herself. Set during both the 1940s and present day, Stars Over Clear Lake is a romance worth reading.

A Twist in Time by Julie McElwain

Lady Dover is no stranger to secrets and her past continues to haunt those in the present. This is made even more evident when a new crime lord begins wreaking havoc in London, targeting Kendra’s lover Alec. If Kendra wants to save Alex from this dark force, she’ll have to dig up long-held secrets about Lady Dover.

My One True Highlander by Suzanne Enoch

It’s 1812 and Graeme is a Highlander who has pledged himself to his country. But everything takes a dramatic turn when his younger brothers kidnap their enemy’s sister. Now put in a precarious situation, Graeme knows he can’t hand her over to his clan’s chief without getting her killed. Things get even more complicated when the two begin to fall for one another.

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike

Set against the backdrop of ancient Scotland, the heroine Languoreth, a future queen, is set to marry Rhydderch, son of the High King. But Christianity is poised to become the religion of the country, and her twin brother, a warrior named Lailoken, is training to become the man history knows as Merlin. As Languoreth collides with the handsome Maelgwn, she must balance the needs of her people and her to duty to stand for the Old Way, while fighting for everything she loves.

The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel by Diana Gabaldon

In her first-ever graphic novel, Diana Gabaldon gives a fresh spin on her original and beloved Outlander series. Gorgeously illustrated by Hoang Nguyen, this graphic novel tells Jamie Fraser’s side of the story. Experience Gabaldon’s magical storytelling like never before in The Exile !

Rebel by Beverly Jenkins

First in the  Women Who Dare series, Rebel is about a woman named Valinda Lacy who lives in New Orleans, her mission to help the newly emancipated community thrive. But when Valinda is targeted by thugs, she learns that freedom comes with its dangers. Fleeing for her life, she lands straight in the arms of Captain Drake LeVeq, a man with a personal interest in rebuilding the city. When Valinda’s father insists she returns home to marry a man she doesn’t love, her rebellion begins.

My Lady’s Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris

Find your own happily ever after with this interactive romance novel that lets you choose your own path by following your heart. You are the heroine in this eighteen-century society, and it is the season of courtship. Will you find love with the bantering Sir Benedict Granville, the highlander Captain Angus McTaggart, or will you find love and adventure elsewhere? Read again and again, these intertwining storylines will keep you delightfully guessing.

Kindred by Octavia Butler

If you love historical fiction with a side of time travel, Kindred is the heartfelt and harrowing tale you are looking for. It’s California in 1976 when 26-year-old Dana gets transported through time to Maryland, where she must rescue Rufus, heir to a slaveowner’s plantation, to ensure her own future existence. Dana fights to return to the present as she endures the cruelty of slavery, and the normalization of savagery.

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The 21 best books about time travel, from science fiction classics to time loop romances

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• Time travel is a popular subgenre amongst science fiction readers .
• Authors have used time travel to tell incredible stories, from romances to historic events.
• These are 21 of the best time travel books, from ' Outlander ' to Octavia Butler's ' Kindred .'

Science fiction is a broad and exciting genre with plenty of fun subgenres for readers to explore, such as space operas where readers travel across galaxies or dystopian novels that provide a glimpse at terrifying possible futures. 

One popular science fiction subgenre is time travel, where characters cross time and space using parallel universes, advanced technology, or simply unexplainable magic. Time travel novels let readers imagine the limitless pasts and futures where anything is possible. 

To gather these recommendations, we looked at bestseller lists and popular recommendations from Amazon , Bookshop , and Goodreads . From epic romances to genre-bending classics, here are the best time travel books to take you on a reading adventure through time. 

The best time travel books to read in 2022:

An epic time travel love story.

"Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.19

In this series that inspired a beloved TV show of the same name, Claire Randall and her husband are enjoying a second honeymoon after she returns from serving as a combat nurse in WWII. Their celebration is cut short, however, when Claire suddenly finds herself thrust back through time to 1743 Scotland. An outlander in this strange time, Claire meets a young warrior named James Fraser, whose love tears her heart between two times.

A modern time travel classic

"The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.79

This contemporary time travel novel has quickly become a classic love story between Clare and Henry, who gravitate towards each other despite Henry's Chrono-Displacement Disorder, which causes him to be misplaced through time. Imaginative and original, " The Time Traveler's Wife " uses multiple points of view to tell an emotional story of love, friendship, and the effects of time on both.

A romantic time travel read

"This Is How You Lose the Time War" by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.15

" This Is How You Lose the Time War " is a new, award-winning novel about rival agents Red and Blue who leave each other secret messages as they travel through time, altering history on behalf of their warring home empires. Though the messages begin as playful taunting, they soon become much more in this Queer, sci-fi romance .

A time travel novel from the king of horror

"11/22/63" by Stephen King, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $15

This nearly-1,000 page historical science fiction read is a gripping time travel thriller  — and one of the highest-reviewed Stephen King books . Jake Epping is a high school English teacher who discovers a secret portal to 1958 and is enlisted to go back in time and try to stop the Kennedy assassination, the effects of which can't be known until Jake either succeeds or fails.

A classic time travel tale

"Kindred" by Octavia E. Butler, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $10.39

When Dana, a young, Black writer, is inexplicably thrust backward in time from 1976 to a pre-Civil War Maryland plantation, she's met with the drowning of a young white boy, whom she tries but fails to save. As she continues to drift between the past and present, Dana is accused of murdering the child, meets her ancestors, and is forced into slavery, all while trying to find her way back to the present.

A journey to the Medieval times

"Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $8.27

Beginning in near-future London, time travel technology is used by universities to send historians back in time for research purposes. When Kivrin is sent to the past to experience a Medieval village, everything goes immediately wrong and Kivrin is stuck with no way to return home, a mysterious illness, and disaster coming her way in this page-turning novel that won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards in 1993.

An equally devastating and remarkable time travel novel

"Recursion" by Blake Crouch, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.99

When a technology emerges that allows humans to return and re-experience their most precious and emotional memories, the effects begin to devastate the world as parallel worlds collide, unraveling society and threatening humanity in its entirety. " Recursion " is one of my all-time favorite novels, an undeniable page-turner that completely engrossed countless readers with Blake Crouch's masterful writing.

A non-linear time travel classic

"Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.35

" Slaughterhouse-Five " is an American classic and considered one of the greatest novels of all time . First published in 1969, this science fiction novel follows Billy Pilgrim from childhood through his time as a soldier during World War II,] and beyond as he travels back and forth through time and tells his story with messages about war, post-traumatic stress, life, and love.

A time travel love story

"How to Stop Time" by Matt Haig, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $15.30

Tom Hazard has lived through many centuries but is ready to settle down as a high school history teacher and live a normal life. Because of his condition, he must not fall in love, but when the French teacher at school catches his eye, Tom flashes back through his many lives to help him figure out how to live in the present.

A time loop romance

"One Last Stop" by Casey McQuiston, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $10.25

When cynical August moves to New York City, she doesn't believe in magical love stories, until she meets Jane on the Q train. As August continues to ride the Q train as often as she can to spend time with Jane, the two realize Jane is stuck there on a strange time loop, displaced from the 1970s and in desperate need of August's help to get her unstuck.

An original time travel novel featuring magical realism

"Oona Out of Order" by Margarita Montimore, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $15.99

On New Year's Eve in 1982, Oona Lockhart is minutes away from turning 19 and has a life of opportunities ahead of her, until the clock strikes midnight and Oona wakes up on her 51st birthday. Destined to travel back and forth through time and live her life out of order, Oona must figure out how to navigate life, love, and everything in between.

A holiday-themed time travel read

"In a Holidaze" by Christina Lauren, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.59

This holiday read is a rom-com fan-favorite about Maelyn Jones, who is on her way to the airport after a final family vacation at their beloved Utah cabin when she sees a truck hurtling towards their car. Just before the truck can hit them, Mae wakes up on the airplane headed to the cabin, stuck in a cycle of reliving the trip over and over until she can discover what makes her happy.

A devastating middle-grade time travel read

"The Shape of Thunder" by Jasmine Warga, available at Amazon, $14.49

Cora and Quinn are next-door neighbors and best friends who haven't spoken to each other in a year since a tragedy changed both of their lives forever. When Quinn decides the only way to bridge the distance between them is by going back in time to stop that horrible day from ever happening, the two try to unravel the mysteries of time travel in this middle-grade novel about trauma, loss, and healing.

A time travel graphic novel about true events

"Displacement" by Kiku Hughes, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $16.55

This incredible graphic novel is about Kiku Hughes, who is on vacation in San Francisco when she's abruptly transported back in time to witness the internment camp into which her grandmother was forcibly relocated during World War II. Unsure how or if she will be able to return to the present, Kiku learns her grandmother's true history and begins to see the long-term effects her experiences had on their family and countless other Japanese Americans.

A young adult time loop fantasy novel

"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.79

In this best-selling young adult fantasy book , Jacob Magellan Portman is taken to a remote island off the coast of Wales to deal with his trauma after a horrible family tragedy. Though the home is allegedly haunted by the inhabitants who died on September 3, 1940, Jacob discovers peculiar children stuck in a time loop, cared for by the equally peculiar Miss Peregrine.

A classic time travel story

"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $5.35

On a dark and stormy night, Meg Murry, along with her brother and her friend, set out on a dangerous but extraordinary adventure to rescue her father who mysteriously disappeared. With the help of supernatural friends, the group uses a tesseract to travel through space and time in this 1962 story of love, evil, and purpose.

A young adult novel about time travel and love

"Opposite of Always" by Justin A. Reynolds, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $10.99

Jack and Kate are immediately drawn to each other when they meet at a party and begin to fall in love in the weeks that follow. When Kate tragically dies from a genetic disease, Jack finds himself back at the moment they met, determined to do anything to prevent her death, even if it means hurting others in the process.

A magical time travel manga

"Tokyo Revengers" by Ken Wakui, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.99

Takemichi Hanagaki is stuck in his less-than-thrilling life when he learns his middle school girlfriend, Hinata, has been killed by a villainous gang. When an accident sends him 12 years back in time to middle school, Takemichi is determined to change his life and save Hinata in this time travel manga .

A time travel story of a father and son

"How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe" by Charles Yu, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.69

Charles Yu lives in a science fiction reality, working as a time machine repairman and searching for his father, who invented time travel and has since disappeared. In this heartfelt read , Charles must navigate the universe with his companions to find a moment where he and his father can meet in memory.

A feminist time travel novel

"The Future of Another Timeline" by Annalee Newitz, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $17.47

Told through alternating first-person narratives, this time travel story focuses on two main timelines as Beth finds herself in 1992 with a front-row seat to a murder while Tess is determined to use time travel to fight for a change in 2022. As the two stories intertwine across time, war threatens to destroy time travel in this smart, feminist read .

An irresistible time travel read

"Here and Now and Then" by Mike Chen, available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $14.49

Kin Stewart may seem like an average man but has a secret: He's actually a time-traveling secret agent from the year 2142, stuck in the present ever since a mission failed 18 years ago. When his rescue team finally arrives, Kin is torn between his two families, trying to keep them both, until a risk to his daughter's existence stretches Kin's love across time to save her.

• Main content

Travel Back in Time with These Books Similar to Outlander

Travel Back in Time with These Books Similar to Outlander…

Get ready to lose yourself in a world where past and present collide, where passion knows no bounds, and where love transcends time. If you’re a fan of Outlander, the thrilling historical fiction series by Diana Gabaldon, or its addictive television adaptation, then you know what it’s like to be swept up in a time-traveling romance that will leave you breathless.

But what do you do when you’ve devoured every page and watched every episode? Fear not, fellow time-travel enthusiasts! We’ve scoured the bookshelves to bring you the best books similar to Outlander that will transport you to another time and sweep you off your feet.

From bodice-ripping romances set against the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, to tales of star-crossed lovers navigating the perils of time travel, these books similar to Outlander will leave you breathless and yearning for more. So grab a cup of tea, settle in, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through the centuries.

In Rebellion by Nora Roberts

If you are in a mood for a sweeping historical romance that will transport you back to a time of rebellion, passion, and the clash of cultures, then this is the perfect choice for you. In Rebellion by Nora Roberts, we follow the fiery and independent Serena MacGregor as she navigates the dangerous political landscape of the Scottish Highlands in 1745.

Serena may despise English lord Brigham Langston, but he’s determined to win her heart – even if it means enduring her sharp tongue and occasional punches. However, their love is threatened not only by Serena’s own people but also by the Jacobite rebellion of 1745, in which Brigham is a key player.

As the rebellion heats up, Serena and Brigham find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Will their love be able to withstand the tumultuous times they live in, or will they be forced to choose between love and loyalty?

Rebellion is a thrilling and passionate tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat and one of the best books similar to Outlander. Nora Roberts masterfully weaves together history and romance to create a story that will leave you breathless.

At The Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

No list of Books Similar to Outlander would be complete without mentioning this book. At The Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen, the acclaimed author of Water for Elephants, promises a journey of love, loss, and self-discovery that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

While the premise may seem familiar, don’t be fooled – this book offers a unique and gripping take on the classic wartime romance genre. We follow the story of Maddie, a wealthy American socialite, and her drunken husband, as they journey to Scotland in search of Nessie – but what they find is so much more.

As Maddie becomes entangled in the lives of the locals, she finds herself falling for the charming and handsome innkeeper, Angus. But with the war raging around them, their love is anything but simple. With air raids and telegrams bringing constant reminders of the danger that surrounds them, Maddie and Angus must navigate a treacherous path if they hope to be together.

At The Water’s Edge is a story that will sweep you off your feet and transport you to a time and place where passion and peril walk hand in hand. So why not dive in and experience the magic for yourself?

In Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmol

A heart-wrenching tale of love and loss, spanning two world wars and told entirely through letters sounds interesting, right? In Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole definitely deserves a place on every list of excellent books as well as books similar to Outlander. Here we follow the story of Elspeth, a poet in 1912 who begins a passionate correspondence with a man named David, who loves her work. As they exchange letters, they fall in love, but the outbreak of World War I tears them apart when David volunteers to be an ambulance driver.

Fast forward almost 30 years to WWII, where Elspeth’s daughter Margaret is living in her mother’s home on the Isle of Skye. When a bomb hits the house, Elspeth disappears without a trace, leaving Margaret desperate to find her. The only clues she has are the letters between her mother and David, and Margaret must use them to unravel the mystery of her mother’s past.

As Margaret delves deeper into her mother’s story, she discovers secrets and heartbreak that will change her perception of her mother forever. Letters from Skye is a beautifully written novel that will transport you to a different time and place, and leave you breathless with its poignant storytelling. If you’re looking for a unique and emotionally gripping tale, then add Letters from Skye to your reading list today.

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

Are you ready for a journey through time and memory? The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley is a hauntingly beautiful story that will transport you to the rugged coast of Cornwall, England. After the loss of her sister, Eva Ward returns to the family’s old house, a place filled with memories of their childhood. But as Eva begins to settle back into her old life, she finds herself unexpectedly connected to a man from another time.

As she navigates her grief and the complexities of her newfound connection, Eva must confront the difficult choice between living in the present or getting lost in the past. Susanna Kearsley’s vivid descriptions of the Cornish countryside will transport you to another time and place, and you’ll find yourself caught up in the magic and mystery of this beautiful story.

The Rose Garden is a captivating novel that explores the power of memory and the enduring bonds of love. If you’re looking for a tale that will keep you hooked until the very last page, then add The Rose Garden to your reading list today.

If you loved Outlander’s blend of historical fiction and romance, you won’t want to miss Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati. This captivating novel picks up where The Last of the Mohicans left off, following the adventures of Nathaniel Bonner, the son of Hawkeye and Cora. When Nathaniel meets Elizabeth Middleton, an Englishwoman who has come to America with her family, their attraction is immediate, but their love is forbidden.

Additionally, both books explore the theme of forbidden love, as the main characters fall in love with men who are deemed inappropriate by society. The romances are also set against a backdrop of historical events, with the characters getting caught up in the politics and conflicts of their respective time periods.

Against the backdrop of a young and independent America, this tale of star-crossed lovers is filled with enough drama and secret love scenes to keep you enthralled until the very end. Don’t miss out on this thrilling and sensual historical romance.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

We cannot talk about books similar to Outlander without including this book. If a time-traveling love story that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you on the edge of your seat is more appealing, then you shouldn’t miss this book! Meet Henry and Clare: a couple who fall in love despite an unusual circumstance – Henry is a time traveler who randomly jumps through time, without warning or control. Imagine building a life with someone who disappears without a trace, leaving you behind to wonder when, or even if, they’ll return.

As Henry and Clare navigate the complexities of their relationship, they face challenges that are both unique and universal. What if Henry jumps into a future where he no longer exists, or what if Clare grows old while Henry remains young? These questions and more are explored in a breathtaking and unforgettable story that explores love, loss, and the power of connection.

The Time Traveler’s Wife is a literary masterpiece that will capture your imagination and break your heart in the best possible way. With rich, multi-layered characters and a narrative that spans decades, this book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of true love.

If you would like to discover more about this book, don’t miss our in-depth review of the The Time Traveler’s Wife.

My One True Highlander by Suzanne Enoch

If you’re looking for a thrilling and passionate historical romance novel, look no further than My One True Highlander by Suzanne Enoch. Set in 1812 Scotland, the novel follows Graeme, a loyal Highlander who finds himself in a dangerous situation when his younger brothers kidnap their enemy’s sister.

As a man of honor, Graeme knows he can’t hand the woman over to his clan’s chief without risking her life. So he takes matters into his own hands and decides to keep her safe himself. But as he spends more time with the spirited and beautiful heroine, Graeme finds himself falling under her spell.

Their budding romance is threatened by the ongoing conflict between their clans, but Graeme is determined to protect his love at all costs. My One True Highlander is a tale of loyalty, bravery, and the power of love to conquer all obstacles.

With its vividly drawn characters, lush Scottish setting, and pulse-pounding action, this novel is sure to captivate readers who enjoy historical romance with a dash of adventure. Don’t miss your chance to experience the passion and excitement of My One True Highlander!

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike

Are you ready to be transported to ancient Scotland? Then look no further than The Lost Queen by Signe Pike. This epic historical fiction novel follows the journey of Languoreth, a future queen who is set to marry Rhydderch, son of the High King. But her path to the throne is far from smooth as Christianity threatens to take over the country.

Meanwhile, Languoreth’s twin brother, a warrior named Lailoken, is training to become the legendary Merlin. As the siblings navigate their own paths, they collide with the handsome Maelgwn, leading to a heart-wrenching love triangle.

But this novel is much more than just a love story. It is a tale of courage, strength, and the fight for what is right. Languoreth must balance her duty to her people and her love for Maelgwn, all while standing firm in her commitment to the Old Way.

Pike’s masterful prose transports readers to ancient Scotland, where they can almost feel the wind in their hair and the mist on their skin. The Lost Queen is a unique and engaging read that will leave you breathless with every turn of the page.

So, if you’re looking for an epic tale of love, loyalty, and the power of tradition, don’t miss out on The Lost Queen. It’s a book you won’t soon forget.

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Imagine yourself standing on the rugged coastline of Scotland, the wind whipping through your hair and the sound of waves crashing against the shore in the distance. You’re transported to the early eighteenth century, a dangerous and tumultuous time in Scottish history. This is the world that Susanna Kearsley has crafted in her captivating novel, The Winter Sea.

Kearsley is a master of the time travel genre, and The Winter Sea is no exception. The novel follows the story of Carrie, a historical fiction author who sets out to write a book about King James II and the Jacobites. But as she begins working on her research, her story takes on a life of its own. The characters of Sophia and John Moray come to life, and Carrie finds herself transported back in time, experiencing their romance and struggles firsthand.

As Carrie’s work flourishes, her concern for the characters grows. The early eighteenth century was a dangerous time, especially for someone like John, a rebel in his native Scottish land. Kearsley’s writing immerses you in the characters’ lives and struggles, making you feel as though you’re right there with them.

The Winter Sea is a beautifully nuanced take on time travel, blending historical fiction and romance seamlessly. Kearsley’s writing transports you to another time and place, where you’ll experience the danger and romance of the Jacobite era firsthand.

If you’re a fan of Outlander and enjoy the time travel element, then The Winter Sea is a must-read. Kearsley’s masterful storytelling will keep you hooked until the very last page, and you’ll find yourself wanting more. So grab a cozy blanket, a cup of tea, and prepare to be transported back in time.

Where or When by Anita Shreve

Get ready for a tale of long lost love, temptation, and the dangerous consequences that come with revisiting the past. In Where or When by Anita Shreve, Siân Richards receives a letter from her first love after 30 years of radio silence. What starts as innocent correspondence between old friends quickly spirals into a passionate and illicit affair that threatens to upend their entire lives.

Siân and her former flame are both married with families of their own, but the flame between them is still burning hot. When they finally reunite, they find that the chemistry and passion they shared all those years ago is still very much alive. But with so much at stake, can they resist the temptation and keep their relationship hidden? Or will their dangerous romance destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to build?

Anita Shreve delivers a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Where or When explores the complexities of love, loyalty, and the consequences that come with following your heart, no matter how much time has passed. So why not indulge in a little bit of romance and danger, and pick up a copy of Where or When today?

If you are interested in Books Similar to Outlander, you might also be interested in checking our blog post Time Traveling Through Literature: Best Books to Transport You to Another Era or Timeless Romances You Should Read At Least Once

If you’re a fan of Outlander and are craving more epic historical fiction with romance and adventure, these books similar to Outlander are sure to satisfy your appetite. From time travel to royal intrigues, these novels offer a diverse range of experiences that will transport you to different times and places. Whether you’re looking for a heart-wrenching love story or a thrilling adventure, there’s something for everyone in these books.

So there you have it, Outlander fans! These books are a one-way ticket to adventure, romance, and historical intrigue. Whether you’re a seasoned reader or new to the genre, these novels are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. So what are you waiting for? Jump into these captivating books similar to Outlander and get ready to be transported to another time and place. Trust us, you won’t regret it!

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10 Books Like Outlander to Get You Through the Show’s Hiatus

This post was originally published on A Love So True . It has been reproduced here with permission.

Well, everyone, it’s that time of year again: #Droughtlander is officially upon us.

The third season of  Outlander , Starz’s time-traveling historical drama, came to a close this Sunday—and boy, was it a  ride .  [SPOILERS]  Claire kicked ass as a lady doctor in the 20th century, all the while juggling motherhood and a less-than-stellar marriage. Back in the 1700s, Jamie emerged from the devastation of Culloden to carve a new life for himself as a friend, a father, and a printer. We also saw the best TV reunion ever (don’t fight me on this), ship adventures straight out of  Pirates of the Caribbean , and more bleeding wounds than I care to count.

While we won’t have to wait 20 years for season four, there’s still some time until we see Jamie and Claire again. To help the months fly by, we’re recommending 10 books like  Outlander  that’ll get you through the year-long hiatus.

Clandara By Evelyn Anthony

As in  Dragonfly in Amber ,  Clandara  thrusts you into the heart of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. Our romantic hero, James MacDonald, has done the unthinkable and married Katherine—a member of the Fraser clan, and thus, his sworn enemy. They’ve barely said “I do,” when betrayal rears its angry head, and James must answer the Bonnie Prince’s call to arms. Separated by distance, but bound by their love and patriotism, can Katherine and James reunite before all of Scotland falls apart?

Destiny By Sally Beauman

In the Outlander saga, even ancillary characters get their due, with multiple story arcs supplementing Jamie and Claire’s. Sally Beauman’s historical blockbuster does the same, on an equally grand scale: Though rich in characters and historical detail,  Destiny  is a sweeping (and naughty) love story at its core. When Edouard and Hélène meet in France, they embark on an intoxicating affair that echoes throughout their lives, and the ensuing generations. As they’re met with obstacles and travel across continents, their relationship takes on a Fraser-like intensity that’ll break your heart  and  make your toes curl.

Celia Garth By Gwen Bristow

This  New York Times  bestseller has been compared to  Gone with the Wind , but Gabaldon fans may think of  An Echo in the Bone  or  Written in My Own Heart’s Blood . Set during the American Revolution, the novel’s namesake heroine is a dressmaker-turned-Rebel spy after the British invade her Charleston town. In the employ of notorious militia leader “ Swamp Fox ,” Celia gets a taste of romance and comes into her own as a woman, a lover, and a fighter.

Highland Destiny By Hannah Howell

While trying to rescue a kidnapped clansman from the Beatons, Sir Balfour Murray and his brother are severely wounded. By chance, they meet a healer on the road: the beautiful Maldie Kirklady, who promises to act as their nurse in exchange for their protection. Maldie may seem innocent, but she, like Balfour, is hungry for revenge against the Beaton patriarch. Tied by their shared enemy and a growing passion, the couple vows to destroy their foe side by side … but they’ll only succeed if Maldie’s secrets don’t destroy them first.  Highland Destiny  has all your  Outlander  catnip: a laird with emotional maturity, a healer heroine with a past, and an unlikely romance—all set in the Highlands.

The Highland Series By Amanda Scott

Hailed as “master of the Scottish romance,” Amanda Scott is often credited with creating the subgenre itself ( Romance Reviews Today ). Like Gabaldon, Scott approaches her storytelling with the keen eye of a historian, making Scotland and its colorful past characters in their own right. Her four-book Highland Series is no exception, as enemies become lovers and rebel couples fight to save their heritage—all against the vivid backdrop of historical Scotland.

Into the Wilderness By Sara Donati

In truth, Sara Donati’s Wilderness series is the closest you’ll come to finding an  Outlander  2.0. Donati’s star-crossed lovers bear a lot of similarities to Gabaldon’s: Elizabeth is a headstrong Englishwoman, with career aspirations and radical ideas. Meanwhile, Nathaniel is a tender-hearted outsider—a white man raised by Mohawks—who calls both Jamie and Young Ian to mind. Their romance plays against the backdrop of 18th century America, where territory wars between the colonists and Native Americans still rage. While the series hits all the marks—hot sex, historical details, and multiple generations—the pièces de résistance are Jamie and Claire’s cameos in the first book,   Into the Wilderness .

The Bronze Horseman By Paullina Simons

The Bronze Horseman  is another multi-book love story with a main couple who will set your heart and loins on fire. 17-year-old Tatiana first meets Alexander, a Red Army soldier, just as World War II comes to Russia. As the country buckles beneath a brutal winter and the German’s siege of Leningrad, the pair leans on each other to survive—only to be dogged by tragedy. Not only does Simon’s trilogy dish out some serious heat, it also delivers  Dragonfly in Amber  levels of Feels. Hang around for book two,  Tatiana and Alexander , for a reunion worthy of A. Malcolm’s printshop.

Frenchman’s Creek By Daphne du Maurier

Well-written, sensual, and featuring a host of kickass lady protagonists,  Outlander  readers can’t go wrong with Daphne du Maurier’s historical fiction.  Frenchman’s Creek , in particular, will tickle fans of  Voyager ’s ship shenanigans. Lady Dona’s wild spirit clashes with the strictures of her domestic life. But when a casual morning stroll puts her in the path of pirates, she’s swept off on the adventure she’s been craving—and into the arms of the rugged Jean Benoit de Aubry. Their high-seas, high-stakes romance offers pure escapism for when  Outlander ’s hiatus seems never-ending.

My Name is Mary Sutter By Robin Oliveira

In the latest season of  Outlander , we saw glimpses of Claire’s journey from healer to full-fledged surgeon. But if you’re anything like me, you wanted a little  more.  Luckily, that’s the sort of insight Oliveira’s novel provides. Like Claire in Season 3, the nominal Mary Sutter has a broken heart, a take-no-shit attitude, and an unflagging desire to become a doctor. Under the tutelage of two male surgeons, she begins work at a Civil War hospital, falls in love, and fights for her rightful place in the medical community. It’s a fascinating exploration of women’s evolving roles throughout history, and how ladies like Mary Sutter paved the way for the Dr. Claire Randalls of the world.

The Winter Sea By Susanna Kearsley

Dragonfly in Amber  sees Jamie and Claire Fraser try to thwart—then scure—Bonnie Prince Charlie’s claim to the throne. Susanna Kearsley’s historical novel takes a few steps back, following the previous rebellion led by Charles’ father. The protagonist, a modern-day author named Carrie, hopes to set her next book in this time period. But once she begins to write, she’s plagued by memory-like dreams of her ancestor, Sophia, and it isn’t long before her fiction becomes as vivid as her reality. While Carrie doesn’t time travel back to 1708 Scotland, the vivid flashes between her 20th century life and the distant past achieve the same effect. Throw in some mystery, a love affair with a Scotsman, and a healthy dose of Jacobite history—and you’ve got yourself a perfect antidote for Droughtlander blues.

(book covers courtesy of individual publishers, featured image via Starz)

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9 Books Like Outlander That'll Give You All the Feels

Here's what to read when you're missing Jamie and Claire.

• Photo Credit: Starz

The beauty of the Outlander saga is that it’s not any one thing. Sure, its main heroine travels through standing stones by way of some sci-fi magic. And yes, she does find love with a Scottish super-hunk who has an arsenal of heart-cracking zingers— but it’s also much more than that . 

Throughout the series, the 20th-century Claire Randall and 18th-century Jamie Fraser must grapple with what it means to lose the people you love and how to carry on in the wake of that loss. They also have front-row seats to landmark moments in history—whether that’s the Jacobite Rebellion, the 1968 moon landing, or the American Revolution—all while trying to find their places within it. The fact that they're always down for a quickie is just an added bonus (and bless 'em for it). 

If you've already read the recently released ninth installment of the series— Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone —then you're probably already on the hunt for something to fill that void. Luckily, there are other genre-bending books like Outlander. From sweeping romances to historical epics to time travel adventures (in some cases, all three!), they're the sort of stories that will induce Jamie-Claire levels of feels.

Related: 11 Steamy Historical Romance Novels

Lady of the Glen

By Jennifer Roberson

Catriona “Cat” Campbell is just a young, gangly thing when she first meets Alasdair, the son of a MacDonald chieftain. Despite her awkwardness—and the even more awkward fact that they’re sworn enemies—Dair sees Cat for who she is: the love of his life. But their Romeo-Juliet romance comes at a tumultuous moment in Scotland’s history, as their respective clans act according to their respective loyalties. 

Fun fact: Lady of the Glen focuses on the Massacre of Glencoe—the failed MacDonald uprising in 1692—which partly fueled the 1745 rebellion that separated Jamie and Claire in Dragonfly in Amber .

Where or When

By Anita Shreve

When Charles stumbles across a photo of Sian, his first love-turned-published poet, he decides to send her a letter. Thirty years have done nothing to dull his feelings for her, and it seems that Sian feels similarly. 

She quickly writes back, kicking off a correspondence (and affair) that reaffirms the belief that their love isn't just powerful, it's fated. But both of them have established adult lives—including marriages and children—that their romance could irrevocably destroy. Though perhaps a little darker than Diana Gabaldon’s series, Where or When is a story that will strike a chord with anyone who hasn't fully recovered from the first half of Voyager .

Highland Warrior

By Hannah Howell

If you’re missing Outlander ’s steamy scenes, try Hannah Howell’s Highland Warrior . Fiona is a tomboyish healer who isn’t here for any man’s BS—particularly when it comes to her obsessive suitor. Hoping to avoid an unwanted marriage, she sets out for the Scottish hills, where a series of mishaps leads to a confrontation with Ewan MacFingal. Taking her captive for ransom seems simple at first, but Ewan soon learns that his tiny charge has big claws. 

The love story that ensues isn’t without its roadblocks—there’s the matter of Fiona’s hidden identity, Ewan’s previous heartbreak, and other clan enemies—but, of course, this 15th-century couple does get their happy ever after.

Blue Asylum

By Kathy Hepinstall

The heroine of Blue Asylum could use a few pointers from Claire, who’s a real pro at handling accusations of witchcraft and insanity. After being wrongfully convicted of madness, Iris Dunleavey—and her unladylike opinions—are shipped off to an isolated Florida asylum. Sanibel is a far cry from her gorgeous plantation home, just as her favorite fellow patient—Confederate soldier Ambrose Weller—is nothing like the husband she left behind. 

Set during the Civil War, Blue Asylum has plenty of things for Outlander fans to love: a kickass heroine, an emotional love story, and insight into historic medical philosophies that would fascinate (and totally infuriate) Dr. Claire.

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The Night Mark

By Tiffany Reisz

Newly divorced and still grieving the death of her greatest love, Will, Faye Barlow accepts a photography gig in South Carolina. While on assignment, she becomes enchanted by the legend of the local lighthouse, which has ties to a woman’s long-ago drowning. 

By a stroke of magic, Faye then finds herself inhabiting the body of that very same woman—thrust all the way back to 1921 and into the arms of the lighthouse keeper, Carrick Morgan. Not only does Carrick look exactly like Will, but Faye bears a striking resemblance to the woman Carrick loved and lost so tragically...

Letters from Skye

By Jessica Brockmole

It’s 1912, and 24-year-old poet Elsepth Dunn has never ventured beyond her home in the Isle of Skye. But a fan letter sent by David Graham, an American student, promises to open her world. Their relationship soon leaps off the page, evolving into a real-life romance that is tested by the dangers of World War I. 

Fast forward to 1940, and Elspeth is much older—and a little wiser in the ways of love. Her daughter, Margaret, is now involved with a Royal Air Force pilot, much to Elspeth's unexplained disapproval. The discovery of Elspeth's old letters—and the disappearance of Elspeth herself—puts things into a clearer perspective, inciting other shocking revelations about Margaret's mother's past and her own.

Jessica Brockmole's epistolary novel has not one but two major romantic plots that form an atmospheric, uplifting escape for anyone anxiously awaiting Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone . 

The River of No Return

By Bee Ridgway

Like Outlander , The River of No Return is a fun genre-bender—a historical, time travel romance, an espionage thriller, and a sci-fi driven romp all rolled into one. We begin when Lord Nicholas Falcott, approaching death on the battlefield, is inexplicably pushed from 1815 to the 21st century. Now stuck in the future, he becomes indoctrinated into the Guild, a shadowy organization that helps wayward time travelers adjust to their new surroundings. 

But in an uncharacteristic disregard for the Guild's #1 rule—that a traveller cannot return to his or her own time—they send Nate on a mission back to the 19th century. His quest brings him to Julia Percy, a woman mourning the recent death of her time traveling grandfather. As Julia uncovers her own powers, she must also join Nate on his search for the mysterious "Talisman." Cue lots of intrigue, adventure, and romance.

The Rose Garden

By Susanna Kearsley

When it comes to books like Outlander , Susanna Kearsley should be your go-to girl. The Rose Garden , in particular, shares a lot with your favorite series: After scattering her sister’s ashes in their Cornish stomping grounds, Eva War has strange visions of their childhood estate. But these glimpses of Trelowarth House circa the 18th century aren't mere hallucinations—they're moments in which Eva has unwittingly traveled to the past. 

As she flits back and forth between her time and 1715, her growing love for smuggler Daniel Butler also deepens her involvement in the Jacobite Uprising. Suddenly, Eva is threatened on all sides—from the violence of war to the scorn of nonbelievers—though her greatest enemies are history and time itself.

The Clan of the Cave Bear

By Jean M. Auel

Recently voted one of America’s top 100 books , the Earth's Children series transports readers to a time long before Jamie Fraser ever walked the Scottish Highlands: the Ice Age. It opens when the arrival of Ayla, a sickly Cro-Magnon girl, bewilders a group of Neanderthals. Though her “otherness” is a bone of contention among the clansmen and women, they restore her back to health and raise her as their own. 

The Clan of the Cave Bear launches a wild, six-book journey that sees Ayla transition from girlhood to womanhood, find a passion in medicine and romance, and navigate a treacherous world that doesn’t always accept her differences.

Fans of Outlander books 4-8—when the series turns into a family adventure saga—and Gabaldon’s incorporation of real history will enjoy this epic about love, home, and survival carried by an unforgettable heroine.

Featured still of "Outlander" via Sony Pictures

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The Best Audiobooks for Outlander Fans

If you're looking for more historical romance series or time travel books, you've come to the right place. Here are the top series to listen to after Outlander.

Have you been swept away by the Outlander series , the epic time travel romance spanning eight books (and counting) by Diana Gabaldon ? If you’ve made it through the entire series to date and still want more high-stakes historical adventure, passionate romance, and time-traveling twists, don’t worry—we have some great recommendations for you. While nothing can quite match up to the magic of Claire and Jamie’s love story, these audiobooks like Outlander will capture your imagination and your heart!

Save this list to your Library Collections now.

Into the Dim

Into the Dim Duology by Janet B. Taylor

After a tragic earthquake overseas, Hope Walton thought her mother was lost to her forever. But when she arrives in Scotland for the summer, she discovers the shocking truth: her mother was a time traveler, and she’s stranded in the 13th century. Now, her only hope for rescue is in Hope, who has mere days to travel back in time and find her mother, and then figure out a way back home. Yet, slipping into the past is much more terrifying than Hope could have ever imagined, and it will take all of her wits and courage to survive. This excellent YA duology will appeal to listeners who love the Scottish setting of Outlander, mother-daughter relationships, and, of course, time travel. The books are available exclusively from Audible, and narrated by the incomparable Amanda Ronconi.

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Dana is a 20-something Black woman living with her white husband in 1970s California, when one day, she is yanked back into the past—to antebellum Maryland. She barely has a chance to gather her wits when she saves a white boy from drowning...and then finds herself back in her own time. But this is just the beginning of Dana's troubles. Again and again she's continually transported to the past with no warning, seemingly whenever the same white boy finds his life in peril. And unfortunately for Dana, her stay in the past becomes longer and longer with each journey, meaning she has to keep her head down and survive as a slave— no easy feat for an outspoken contemporary Black woman. This is an incredible novel that doesn’t shy away from the brutality of slavery or the complexities of America’s racial history, all while offering an intriguing time travel mystery. Kim Staunton narrates this audiobook, which will have you on edge trying to figure out Dana’s connection to the past.

Doomsday Book

Oxford Time Travel series by Connie Willis

For epic journeys into the past, definitely pick up this award-winning series by Connie Willis. In the first book, Doomsday Book , Kivrin is an Oxford student who is thrilled at the opportunity to travel back in time to the 14th century and study history up close, by living it. For her, this is the culmination of years of study. Kivrin’s mentor, however, doesn’t share her enthusiasm; instead, Professor Dunworthy is worried about all the things that could go wrong. When an accident leaves Kivrin stranded in the past, Dunworthy desperately tries to rescue her. Separated by centuries, the two find themselves connected in a struggle for survival. The Doomsday Book received both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. You can follow it up with further adventures of the Oxford time traveling department in To Say Nothing of the Dog , Blackout, and All Clear , performed by Hall of Fame narrator Katherine Kellgren.

The Winter Sea

Slains series by Susanna Kearsley

While this series isn’t about time travel per se, it is about contemporary women with strong connections to the past—so strong, in fact, that their ancestral memories and supernatural connections to history have a direct impact on their lives. In The Winter Sea , the Jacobite Rebellion intensifies as Scottish soldiers try to help James Stewart reclaim his crown. In the present day, Carrie is a novelist living in the shadows of the Slains Castle ruins, hoping to write about the rebellion from the point of view of one of her ancestors. But as she writes, the story takes on a different shape than what she planned—and different from what history has told her. What is her subconscious telling her? Does Carrie somehow know the truth about the past—a truth that never made it into any historical record? In The Firebird , Anna has the ability to touch an object and know who owned it in the past. When a small carving arrives in her art gallery, she becomes desperate to know about its namesake, the mythological firebird, leading her on a journey through the past. The incredibly talented Rosalyn Landor and Katherine Kellgren narrate.

Rebellion by Nora Roberts

In this standalone romance in her MacGregors series, Nora Roberts takes listeners to 1745 Scotland, where Serena MacGregor fosters hatred in her heart for the English after they attacked her mother. When her brother’s friend, Englishman Brigham Langston, comes along, Serena thinks he’s no different, despite his loyalty to Scottish causes. But Brigham is enchanted by Serena and wants to prove himself worthy of her family’s respect—and her love. This is one of the entries in Nora Roberts’s long-running series about the MacGregor family and their lives and loves throughout history.

A Murder in Time

Kendra Donovan series by Julie McElwain

If you love books about strong heroines who inadvertently find themselves slipping through time, then pick up A Murder in Time , the first book in the Kendra Donovan series. It follows an FBI agent whose career has hit a speed bump after a mole exposed her team and killed half of her fellow agents. She goes rogue and pursues the assassin in England, where she finds herself running for her life. Darting into an old castle for safety, she slips down a dark passageway and right into 1815. But there’s a good reason that Kendra has arrived in the past—mysteries and murderers abound, and she must use all of her wits to unmask the criminals. Lucy Rayner narrates this four-book series, which combines the drama and time travel of Outlander with the intrigue of murder mysteries. (Look for the fifth book later this year!)

The Jane Austen Project

The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn

Rachel is a doctor in the not-so-distant future, where war and environmental disaster have wreaked havoc on the Earth, and the wealthy have become obsessed with Britain of old. When time travel is perfected, Rachel applies to be one of the travelers to the past. Teamed up with an actor, Liam, she is sent to 1815 London to befriend Henry Austen with the intent of securing an introduction to his sister, Jane. Their ultimate goal is to secure Jane’s trust and steal her unpublished manuscript, The Watsons , along with her letters to her sister. Posing as sister and brother, Rachel and Liam slowly make headway with their mission—but can they really betray their literary icon? And can Rachel resist the temptation to cure a mysterious illness that will claim Jane’s life within a year? This is an excellent, immersive time travel mystery with both a great romance and big philosophical questions, all narrated impeccably by Saskia Maarleveld.

Wild Wicked Scot

The Highland Grooms series by Julia London

If you love Outlander for the passionate romance, then you need to check out The Highland Grooms, a six-book series starring Scottish men who nearly put Jamie to shame! Start with Wild Wicked Scot , about an Englishwoman, Margot. Wed off to Arran McKenzie in a marriage of convenience, Margot spent a short time in a foreign and rugged world before fleeing back to England. But now, as relations between England and Scotland deteriorate, Margot must return to her husband in an attempt to discover his treachery and thwart his nefarious plots. What complicates matters: Margot finds that her husband is far more alluring than she remembered. Derek Perkins narrates all six books in this series, each of which star a different couple set against the beauty of the Scottish Highlands.

Ruby Red series by Kerstin Gier

The ability to time travel runs in Gwyneth’s family, but she has grown up knowing that the gift skipped her and went to her older cousin, Charlotte. And it’s just as well, since Charlotte is far more beautiful and accomplished, and has spent her entire life preparing. But when Gwyneth accidentally falls through time, she learns that she actually has inherited the time travel gene. Before long, she’s teaming up with another time traveler, Gideon, to navigate shifting time periods and figure out why her mother lied about her birth date—and what danger could’ve possibly induced her to mislead her. Marisa Carlin narrates this fun and romantic YA trilogy, translated from German.

The Night Mark

The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz

After her husband dies, Faye is unable to find solace or comfort in her tremendous grief. She takes a job photographing the South Carolina shore because photography is the only thing she has left, and she needs the money. Faye becomes intrigued with the local lore surrounding a lighthouse. One night, she gets too close to the waves and is swept away—to 1921. In a time so different from her own, she inhabits the body of another young woman and finds that the past holds all she has been looking for. For a romantic and emotional time travel story set in the 20th century, this is an excellent pick, narrated by Teri Schnaubelt.

Tirzah Price is a librarian, writer, and contributing editor at Book Riot. If she’s not reading, she’s usually knitting and listening to an audiobook.

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• Sci-fi & Fantasy

50 Great Books Like Outlander

Hopeless romantics don’t have to travel through time to find more heart-melting books like  Outlander . Since Diana Gabaldon debuted the historical romance series in 1991, both readers and other authors have swooned. Audiences were captivated as Claire Randall, a married British Army nurse in World War II, inadvertently traveled back to 18th century Scotland. Readers fell in love with Jamie Fraser, the strapping, ginger Highlander, right along with Claire. More than 25 million copies of the eight-part series have sold in 40 countries worldwide. Ms. Gabaldon also received literary acclaim by winning the RITA Award for Best Romance.

Since 2014, fans have religiously tuned into the TV adaptation  Outlander  on Starz with actors Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan. Between this season’s episodes, you can pick up or download other books like  Outlander .

The historical romance genre has plenty of time-traveling novels to tide you over until Diana Gabaldon’s ninth book is finished. Books like  Outlander  keep readers spellbound with passionate adventures that span centuries and continents. They’re thrilling page-turners that weave timeless love stories from sweet to downright sizzling. Whenever you’re pining for a dreamy escape to the past, make a date with these top 50 books like  Outlander .

#1 – The Lion of Wales

Sarah woodbury.

Starting with  Cold My Heart,  this series takes place in 537 AD during the time of King Arthur. His loyal followers find solace in northern Wales, but are becoming surrounded by Saxon soldiers. Myrddin and Nell, two of the King’s companions and lovers, see a prophetic vision of Arthur’s coming death at the Battle of Camlann. Together, they must fight to change his fate and protect Britain.

#2 – A Bridge Through Time

After her parents’ death, Jane Fielder returns to her home country of England. She visits the grand estate she toured at 14 with her mother. She’s drawn back to a painting of a young man. As Jane caresses the man’s hand, she’s blasted through time to 1803. Here she encounters the real-life version of Jestyn Greywick. Will she choose her former life or follow her heart?

#3 – Gladly Beyond

Nichole van.

Best-selling author Nichole Van tells the story of Claire Raythorn, a young woman anxious to rebuild her life in Florence, Italy. But here she encounters a mysterious, ghostly presence. A man dressed like Mr. Darcy begins appearing in her photos. Somehow Claire is the only person unaffected by Dante D’Angelo’s 200-year curse. As their love blossoms, the couple must face an unknown evil for a lifetime together.

#4 – Everything In Its Time

Eight years ago, Katherine St. Claire thought she’d found her soulmate on holiday in Scotland. She and her handsome stranger shared a passionate night at Duncreag. Yet come morning, he mysteriously vanished. Living in 1467, Iain Mackintosh is haunted by the memory of Katherine’s warmth. His longing drives him back to Duncreag where she suddenly reappears. Can their love survive the 530-year barrier separating them?

#5 – Game of Thrones

George r.r. martin.

Game of Thrones  is among the fantasy books like  Outlander  that have been adapted for television. Set in Westeros, this novel depicts the brutal fights between the Seven Kingdoms. The Hand of the King, Jon Arryn, has died mysteriously. King Robert Baratheon, Prince Joffrey, and the beloved Daenerys Targaryen all journey to Winterfell to reclaim the Iron Throne. But the greatest threat lies beyond the towering Wall.

#6 – Across a Moonswept Moor

Julie moffett.

Julie Moffett’s Prism award-winning tale begins in 1997 as Fiona Chancellor travels to northern Ireland looking for her missing cousin, Faith. A mystical dagger leads her to a stone circle in Beaghmore. Her search suddenly sends her back to the mid-17th century and into a gorgeous man’s arms. Fiona begins falling for the hot-blooded Scot, Ian Maclaren. Can she give up her modern life for love?

#7 – The Fortune Hunter

Daisy goodwin.

Charlotte Baird, a young plain woman, becomes heir to the Lennox fortune at her parents’ death. Much to her Aunt Adelaide’s delight, young suitors start pursuing her. But she can’t ignore her feelings for Bay Middleton, a dashing cavalry officer with no money. Unfortunately, the stunning Empress Elizabeth also has Bay in her sights. Readers will become engrossed in this love triangle set in Victorian England.

#8 – Into the Wilderness

Sara donati.

Set in 1792,  Into the Wilderness  centers on Elizabeth Middleton, a 29-year-old spinster leaving her sheltered life in England. She journeys to live with her father, Alfred, in Upstate New York. Soon she discovers Alfred’s scheme to marry her to Dr. Richard Todd. Elizabeth is instead drawn to Nathaniel Bonner, a rugged Scotsman raised by a Mohawk tribe. But Nathaniel is secretly planning to claim Middleton land for his people.

#9 – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Published in 1950, this novel begins a classic series of books like  Outlander  called  The Chronicles of Narnia.  Here we meet four British siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. They’re sent to Professor Digory Kirke’s house to escape World War II raids. That’s where the children stumble upon a magical portal to Narnia. With talking animal sidekicks, the Pevensies fight to protect Narnia from the White Witch.

#10 – Love Beyond Time

Bethany claire.

Living in present-day Texas, Brielle Montgomery is tired of her mundane life as a kindergarten teacher. So she travels to Scotland with her archeologist mother. Their dig uncovers castle ruins nearly 400 years old. Brielle finds a secret spell room that sends her back through time. Suddenly, she’s living in Conall Castle and married to its handsome Laird. Each day without escape leaves her falling for her new husband.

#11 – The Dark Age

Traci harding.

Beginning  The Ancient Future  trilogy, this fantasy novel follows a 20th-century woman named Tory. A car accident leaves Tory stranded by sacred stones in the English countryside. Unexpectedly, she’s teleported back to the Dark Age. Prince Maelgwyn finds the mysterious, jean-clad woman and accuses her of being a witch. Tory challenges the Prince’s knights to a duel. With her black belt skills, Tory defeats her opponent and wins Maelgwyn’s admiration.

#12 – Rise of a Viking

Sky purington.

Cybil is overjoyed when she inherits a million-dollar oceanfront villa in Maine. Unbeknownst to her, the backyard’s ash tree connects the nine worlds of Norse mythology. She’s soon whisked back to 10th century Scandinavia. Here she meets Heidrek Sigdir, a half-dragon Viking set to claim the throne. The pair share an instant, undeniable connection. Will Heidrek rise up as King or follow his heart to a modern-day woman?

#13 – Mariana

Susanna kearsley.

Julia Beckett has realized her dream of owning the 16th century Wilshire farmhouse she’s long admired. Upon moving into Greywethers, Julia discovers it’s a magical portal though. She finds herself thrust into 17th century British life as Mariana. With each trip, Julia becomes more enthralled and attracted to Richard de Mornay, Crofton Hall’s squire. Soon Mariana’s life starts eclipsing her own and Julia must choose between the past or present.

#14 – Daughter of Time

Sarah Woodbury begins  The After Cilmeri  series by introducing Meg, a modern-day widow coping with the end of her brief, unhappy marriage. Unexpectedly, she slips through time and traverses back to 13th century Wales. Here Meg meets Prince Llywelyn. A prophetic vision allows her to save the Prince’s life from ambush. Unable to deny their attraction, the pair teams up to thwart foes who threaten Wales’ very existence.

#15 – Kushiel’s Legacy

Jacqueline carey.

Kushiel’s Legacy  is a historical fantasy series set in Terre d’Ange around 1,000 years after the Bless Elua’s creation. Phédre, the protagonist, is a young woman born into indentured servitude. Reaching womanhood, she’s sold to a nobleman named Anafiel Delaunay. He becomes the first one to recognize Phédre’s special mission. She’s been chosen by Kushiel’s Dart to save her homeland from conniving traitors.

#16 – To Say Nothing of the Dog

Connie willis.

Hugo Award-winning author Connie Willis writes this comedic tale about Ned Henry, a time traveler. In 2057, Lady Schrapnell has endowed efforts to rebuild the Nazi-blitzed Coventry Cathedral. Ned is sent back to the 1940s for the famed bishop’s bird stump. But when fellow jumper Verity Kindle makes a careless mistake, Ned must venture to the Victorian era to prevent altering history forever.

#17 – The Queen of the Tearling

Erika johansen.

Following an apocalyptic event called the Crossing, the 24th century world has reverted to feudalism. Raised in exile, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Flynn is determined to reclaim her rightful throne for her 19th birthday. Armed with the Queen’s Guard and her magical Tearling sapphire necklace, Kelsea journeys back to the capital. However, she finds her kingdom in perilous danger from the sorceress ruler of neighboring Mortmesne.

#18 – The Mists of Avalon

Marion zimmer bradley.

The Mists of Avalon  is female-centered retelling of Arthurian legend that shares the story of Morgaine, an enchanted Druid priestess with second sight. As King Arthur’s half-sister, Morgaine is intensely loyal to her Celtic homeland. She’s faced with a battle to prevent patriarchal Christianity from destroying Avalon’s pagan lifestyle. But Morgaine becomes torn between her loyalty and unfulfilled love for Lancelet.

#19 – A Discovery of Witches

Deborah harkness.

British historian Diana Bishop leads a carefully ordinary life. That’s until she opens a mystic alchemical manuscript in the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library. Diana unknowingly unleashes a fantastical underworld filled with witches, vampires, and destructive daemons. Among the creatures is Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with ages-old vampire blood. Readers are left spellbound as Diana and Matthew fight to keep the peace.

#20 – Bridge Over Time (Book #1 of Swept Through Time Series)

Brenda hiatt.

Kathryn Monroe, a modern-day socialite, humors her mother by attending a masquerade party at a South Carolina mansion. When passing by a charming grandfather clock, Kathryn suddenly speeds through time to 1825. Meanwhile, Catherine Prescott escapes her trapped 19th-century life and takes Kathryn’s place. The nearly identical women begin falling for men the other had detested. But will fate allow them to find happiness in another life?

#21 – The Forgotten Room

Karen white, lauren willig, and beatriz williams.

Dr. Kate Schuyler is a World War II doctor simply looking for success in the male-dominated field. That’s until the wounded Captain Cooper Ravenal is wheeled into her hospital. She’s inexplicably drawn to the handsome soldier. But then she finds the Captain’s portrait of a woman looking identical to Kate. When searching for answers, Kate uncovers her past connection to Olive Van Alen and Lucy Young.

#22 – The Pocket Watch Chronicles

Ceci giltenan.

Maggie Mitchell, a modern Jersey girl, is left with a broken heart watching her best friend Eliot marry Gertrude. At the wedding, Maggie meets an enchanted elderly woman. She’s given a pocket watch and 60 days to experience another life. Maggie’s suddenly on horseback and galloping into 13th century Scotland. Here she becomes Margaret and is betrothed to the handsome Highlander Logan. What will happen when her time expires?

#23 – Waterfall

Lisa tawn bergren.

Gabriella Bentarrini, the daughter of two famed Etruscan scholars, has spent every summer digging up medieval castles in rural Italy. It’s just another hot, boring day until she touches an ancient tomb wall. Abruptly, Gabi’s transported back to 14th century Tuscany and thrust into a fierce battle. She’s fortunately rescued by a dashing knight-prince, Marcello Forelli. Castello Forelli takes her in, but Gabriella soon finds herself the target of Castello Paratore.

#24 – A Knight in Shining Armor

Jude deveraux.

Set in 1988,  A Knight in Shining Armor  tells the tale of Douglass Montgomery, a young woman vacationing in England with her boyfriend and his spoiled daughter. After a fight, Douglass gets abandoned without a passport. She treks to a nearby church and weeps upon a tombstone. Suddenly, a handsome stranger appears and introduces himself as Nicholas Stafford. But the tombstone says he died 400 years ago!

#25 – Doomsday Book

Another of Connie Willis’ books like  Outlander  is  Doomsday Book.  Taking place in late-21st century England, this 592-page novel centers on Kivrin Engle, a young historian. She asks her boss, Professor James Dunworthy, to send her to Oxford in 1320. Despite warnings, Kivrin traverses back. However, she immediately falls ill with fever and delirium. Badri, the technician arranging her trip, also suddenly collapses. Can they stop the influenza from spreading?

#26 – Wild Swan

Celeste de blasis.

Wild Swan  begins a historical romance trilogy about Alexandria Carrington Falconer and her descendants from 1813 to 1894. After her older sister’s death, Alexandria marries her widower, St. John, to help raise newborn twins. The unlikely pair eventually build a loving marriage and emigrate to America. In the New World, readers follow the love stories of Alex and St. John’s children – Blaine, Morgan, Nigel, and Gincie.

#27 – The Time Traveler’s Wife

Audrey niffenegger.

Audrey Niffenegger’s debut novel introduces Henry DeTamble, a Chicago librarian with a genetic disorder that causes him to erratically time travel. He meets and instantly falls for Clare, a sculptor. They develop a close relationship and marry. Clare yearns for a child, but the Chrono-Impairment results in six miscarriages. Overwhelmed with grief and frustration from Henry’s frequent absences, Clare must determine if their love is worth the wait.

#28 – Intertwine

The  House of Oak  series commences with this novel about Emme Wilde, a young woman who’s unlucky in love. When she finds an old locket, Emme becomes bewitched by the portrait of an unfamiliar man inside. Determined to discover his history, she travels to England. Meanwhile, in 1812, James Knight has given up on love and its Shakesperean drama. But then a mysterious, injured Emme shows up on his estate.

#29 – Legacy

Jeanette baker.

Professor Christina Murray is ecstatic about inheriting her family’s ancestral Scottish home. Upon arriving at Traquair House, she’s welcomed by her breathtaking neighbor, Ian Douglas. As their relationship blooms, Christina dreams of three raven-haired women: Katrine, Jeanne, and Mairi. She discovers they are her ancestors and all fell victim to the house’s mystical curse. Loving Ian might cost Christina her heart and her life.

#30 – True to the Highlander

Barbara longley.

Alethia Goodsky is an ordinary, modern-day woman working at the New York Renaissance Festival. That’s where she meets a mysterious fortune teller who zaps her back to the 15th century. In 1423, Malcolm of clan MacKintosh awakens the lass. Suddenly, Alethia is thrust into bloodthirsty rivalry as Scottish nobles vie for King James’ throne. She’s forced to choose between leaving the violent land and staying true to her Highlander.

#31 – Kindred

Octavia butler.

Kindred  is a widely popular neo-slave narrative about Dana Franklin, a modern African American woman living in California in 1976. While celebrating her 26th birthday with her husband Kevin, a white writer, she’s suddenly snatched. Dana is transported to an antebellum plantation in pre-Civil War Maryland. She’s initially summoned to save Rufus, the son of brutal slave owner Tom Weylin. But Dana keeps being called back and entangled in slavery life.

#32 – The Mesmerist

Pam mccutcheon.

On the night before her wedding, Gina Charles finds her fiancé in a compromising position with the maid of honor. In heartbreak, she flees and seeks solitude at a Victorian hotel in Hope Springs, Virginia. The only problem is her room is haunted. Gina meets Drake Manton, a striking ghost stuck in the afterlife. He convinces Gina to travel back to 1883 in hopes of preventing his fiery death.

#33 – The Midnight Witch

Paula brackston.

Lady Lilith Montgomery, the daughter of the Duke of Radnor, is engaged to England’s most eligible bachelor. Life’s good until everything sours. Her father’s unexpected death leaves her the Head Witch of the Lazarus Coven. Lilith must dust off her necromancy skills and help defeat powerful sorcerers called Sentinels. But then she meets a middle-class artist named Bram. Lilith faces deciding between love and loyalty to her coven.

#34 – The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells

Andrew sean greer.

Andrew Sean Greer’s novel introduces Greta Wells living in 1985 in Greenwich Village. She’s just learned of her beloved twin brother’s death from AIDS. Unable to cope, her psychiatrist suggests undergoing electroshock treatments. Somehow the therapy jolts Greta to different lives. In 1918, she’s a bohemian adulteress having an affair with Leo. In 1941, she’s married to Nathan and raising a son. Which life will she choose?

#35 – Irish Lady

Irish Lady  is another of Jeanette Baker’s books like  Outlander . This romantic tale centers on Meghann McCarthy, a posh lawyer in London. She’s finally left the slums of Belfast behind. However, her former lover Michael needs her help fighting a ludicrous murder charge. Meghann finds herself digging deeper into his case. Suddenly, she’s unraveling a centuries-old mystery. The stakes are rising, but Meghann vows the Irish never give in.

#36 – The Winter Sea

Best-selling author Carrie McClelland has the perfect idea for her next novel. So she rents a cottage in Cruden Bay near Scotland’s famed Slain Castle for research. She’s itching to write about the Jacobite uprising of 1708 when the exiled King James tried to reclaim the crown. But Carrie finds her novel feels more fact than fiction. She discovers she’s channeling ancestral memory and uncovering centuries-old secrets that could destroy her.

#37 – The House on the Strand

Daphne du maurier.

Magnus Lane, a London chemist, has created an enchanting potion that allows time travel back to the 14th century. When staying at his house in Kilmarth, Magnus’ friend Richard drinks the potion. Moments later, he’s teleported to an early Cornish manor. He finds emotional solace with a woman trapped in a loveless marriage. But when he tries to intervene, the terrifying consequences reverberate to the present.

#38 – The Perilous Gard

Elizabeth marie pope.

Awarded the 1975 Newbery Honor, this YA novel takes place in mid-16th century England. Kate Sutton, a lady-in-waiting, inadvertently gets exiled by Queen Mary Tudor. She’s sent to a remote castle called Elvenwood Hall. Upon her arrival, mysterious events lead Kate to discovering an underground kingdom of Fairy Folk. She also meets Christopher Heron and interrupts his plot to sacrifice himself to save his niece Cecily from the Fairy Folk.

#39 – Into the Highlander’s World

Samantha leal.

Samantha Leal’s short story introduces Gwen, a struggling modern-day woman tricked by her cheating boyfriend. Left broke, she’s forced to move into a destitute apartment. Beneath the crumbling floorboards, she discovers an ancient sword. One touch transports her back to Scotland where she meets the stunning Andrew Urquhart, a determined Highlander protecting his clan’s land. Their intense passion makes Gwen wonder if she’s where she always belonged.

#40 – The Immortal Descendants

April white.

Beginning with  Marking Time,  this four-part series of books like  Outlander  revolves around 17-year-old Saira Elian. One day, an old graffiti tag on a London tube station sends Saira back to 19th century Victorian England. Here she meets Archer, a charming young man who explains the existence of Immortals. Saira learns she’s a Descendent of Time right before her mother mysteriously vanishes and the clock starts ticking.

#41 – Lost in the Highlands

Lorraine beaumont.

Lost in the Highlands  is an interactive, time travel romance written by #1 international best-selling author Lorraine Beaumont. Readers will meet Paige Walsh, a present-day woman in North Carolina who’s attending the annual Highland Games on Grandfather Mountain. Here she encounters a Gypsy and wishes to find a hunky Highlander. Somehow her desire comes true and she’s reverted to 12th century Scotland with an entire clan of Highlanders.

#42 – Beautiful Wreck

Larissa brown.

Beautiful Wreck  opens in a bleak 22nd century Ireland that’s built on virtual reality. Ginn, a young programmer, designs role-playing games for wannabe Vikings. But suddenly one of her projects malfunctions and she’s stranded in 10th century Iceland. Ginn is found by Heirik, a Viking clan leader facing a terrible curse. Despite forces rising to separate them, Ginn finds her home in Heirik’s heart.

#43 – Human Croquet

Kate atkinson.

Isobel Fairfax is a typical teenage girl growing up in a 1960s London suburb. Except her parents suddenly vanish, leaving her and her brother Charles with their sour Aunt Vinny. Isobel finds that their ancestral home in Lythe was built upon an original manor that burned in 1605. During her explorations, she’s suddenly caught in a Shakespearean time warp. Isobel unearths shocking past truths that could destroy her family’s future.

#44 – A Dance Through Time

Lynn kurland.

Elizabeth Smith, a writer living in 1996 New York City, finds herself stuck with a stalled career and uncaring fiancé. Her only joy comes from her unpublished romance novels. Until a rugged Scottish warrior starts calling her. She’s transported from a Gramercy Park bench to 1311 outside James MacLeod’s castle. Elizabeth instantly recognizes the voice of the arrogant laird, but can she cross the threshold of his keep?

#45 – Out of Time

Monique martin.

Professor Simon Cross has devoted his scientific career to finding proof of vampires. When an experiment goes awry, Simon and his assistant, Elizabeth West, are teleported to 1920s Manhattan. Here they find immortal demons vying for power and the evidence he’s always wanted. But now the city’s vampiristic kingpin sets his dark sights on Elizabeth. Simon must admit he’s also found the love he never expected.

#46 – Veil of Time

Claire r. mcdougall.

Inspired by books like  Outlander ,  Veil of Time  is about Maggie, a divorced woman retreating to a Scottish cottage. She’s epileptic and relies on medication to cure the seizures. So when she suddenly wakes up in eighth century Dunadd, Maggie blames the drugs. But she’s actually traveled through time and into the arms of Fergus, the King’s brother. As they grow closer, Maggie’s torn between present-day demands and her heart.

#47 – Hemlock

N.j. layouni.

After her worthless ex-boyfriend dumps her, Martha Bigalow escapes to the English Lake District. On a hike, Martha tries crossing ancient stepping stones and falls into a rampant river. She jumps awake in a cave with a shocking attractive stranger named Vadim. Soon Martha discovers she’s left behind the 21st century for medieval Erde. While sidestepping the Evil Earl and his minions, Martha questions whether she can trust her heart with Vadim.

#48 – Beyond the Highland Mist

Karen marie moning.

Karen Marie Moning’s debut novel centers on Hawk, a legendary battlefield warrior. The arrogant Scottish laird never refuses a woman’s touch. But no one’s ever reached his cold heart. That’s until a resentful fairy jolts Adrienne de Simone from present-day Seattle into the medieval Highlands. Despite being coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vows to keep her distance. How long will her resolve hold out?

#49 – Knight Errant

Rodrigo garcia y robertson.

Robyn Stafford, an up-coming American executive, flies to London to surprise her boyfriend for his birthday. Only she’s greeted by his wife. While nursing her heartbreak, Robyn hikes across the Welsh border. Here she stumbles across a handsome knight on horseback. He calls himself Edward Plantagenet and proclaims it’s 1459. Robyn doesn’t buy it until three hostile, armed knights arrive and she’s drawn into the conflict.

#50 – Lady of Hay: Two Women, Eight Hundred Years, and the Destiny They Share

Barbara erskine.

Jo Clifford, a college journalism major, is participating in a research project on hypnotic regression. While hypnotized, she plunges into the life of Matilda, Lady of Hay, in 13th century Wales. She views snippets of Matilda’s loveless marriage and troubled love for Richard. Unfortunately, Jo also sees Matilda’s approaching death after brutal treatment from King John. Can she shake the iron grip of history?

If you’re still harboring a crush on Jamie, step through time with these top 50 books like  Outlander  and start falling for your next book boyfriend.

See also:  Top 50 Books Like Game of Thrones

• 30 Great Small Towns for Book Lovers
• 30 Great Small Colleges for Book Lovers

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Books like Outlander

Enjoyed outlander we’ve scoured the web for book blogs and looked at all of their recommendations for books that are similar to outlander. here are 39 books that you may like if you liked outlander..

40 Best Time Travel Books To Read Right Now (2024)

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Travel back in time with the best time travel books, including engrossing thrillers, romance, contemporary lit, and mind-bending sci-fi.

Table of Contents

Best Time Travel Books

Books about time travel promise to not only transport you across time periods and space – Doctor Who-style – but also tesser you into new dimensions and around the world. Most readers already know about classics like The Time Traveler’s Wife , A Christmas Carol , and The Time Machine .

For romance time travel, grab In A Holidaze or One Last Stop . For contemporary and new time travel books, Haig’s The Midnight Library and Serle’s In Five Years captivated our hearts and minds.

Recursion re-kindled our love for science fiction, and Ruby Red transported us to 18th-century London. Books like Displacement promise intuitive and raw commentary about generational trauma and racism in graphic novel form.

Below, find the best time travel novels across genres for adults and teens, including history, romance, classics, sci-fi, YA, and thrilling fiction. Get ready to travel in the blink of an eye, and be sure to let us know your favorites in the comments. Let’s get started!

Contemporary & Literary Fiction

If you enjoy contemporary and literary fiction filled with strong main characters, these are some of the best books in the time travel genre. Uncover new releases as well as books on the bestseller lists. Of course, we’ll share a few lesser-known gems too.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Would your life change if you had one seemingly real dream or premonition? What if some key facts were missing but you had no idea? Can we change the future?

One of the best books about time travel and friendship, don’t skip In Five Years . In fact, we read this New York City-based novel in half a day. Have the tissue box ready.

Dannie nails an important job interview and is hoping to get engaged. Of course, this is all a part of her perfect 5-year plan. Dannie has arranged every minute of her life ever since her brother died in a drunk driving accident.

On the night of Dannie’s “scheduled” engagement, she falls asleep only to have a vision of herself 5 years into the future in the arms of another man. Did she just time travel or could this be a dream? When Dannie arrives back in 2020, her life goes back to normal. …That is until she meets the man from her dream.

We were expecting In Five Years to be a time travel romance story; however, this is a different type of love and one of the best books about strong friendships .

Read In Five Years : Amazon | Goodreads

Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Translated by Geoffrey Trousselot | We just love Japanese literature . One of the most debated time travel books among our readers – you’ll either love it or hate it – Before the coffee gets cold takes place at a cafe in Tokyo, Japan.

Along with coffee, this 140-year-old, back-alley cafe lets visitors travel back in time. Four visitors at the cafe are hoping to time travel to see someone for the last (or first) time. The way each patron views the cafe says a lot about them. The details and repetition are everything.

True to the title, visits may only last as long as it takes for the coffee to grow cold. If they don’t finish their coffee in time, there are ghostly consequences.

Before the coffee gets cold asks, who would you want to see one last time, and what issues you would confront?

Along with the many rules of time travel, these visitors are warned that the present will not change. Would you still travel back knowing this? Can something, anything, still change – even within you?

The story has a drop of humor with a beautiful message. We shed a tear or two. Discover even more terrific and thought-provoking Japanese fantasy novels here .

Read Before the coffee gets cold : Amazon | Goodreads

If you are looking for the most inspiring take on time travel in books, Haig’s The Midnight Library is it. This is one of those profound stories that make you think more deeply . TWs for pet death (early on) and suicide ideation.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Imagine if you could see your other possible lives and fix your regrets. Would that path be better? Would these changes make you happier?

Set in Bedford, England, and at a library , Nora answers these questions as she intentionally overdoses on pills. Caught in the Midnight Library – a purgatory of sorts – Nora explores books filled with the ways her life could have turned out. She tries on these alternative lives, pursuing different dreams, marrying different people, and realizing that some parts of her root life were not as they seemed on the surface.

Find hope and simplicity in one of the most authentic and heaviest time travel novels on this list. Haig addresses mental health through a new lens that is both beautiful and moving.

With a team full of avid readers and librarians, discover our top selections featuring more books about books .

Read The Midnight Library : Amazon | Goodreads

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

Some of the best time travel books are those with alternate realities, including The Two Lives of Lydia Bird . There are content warnings for prescription pill addiction and more.

Set in England, Lydia and Freddie are planning their marriage when the unthinkable happens. Freddie dies in a car accident on the way to Lydia’s birthday dinner. In a matter of seconds, Lydia’s world falls apart. She isn’t sure how she will survive. When Lydia starts taking magical pink sleeping pills, she enters an alternate universe where Freddie is alive and well.

Caught between her dream world and real life, Lydia must decide if she will give in to her addiction – living in a temporary fantasy world – or give it up completely.

While the repetitive and predictable plot drags a bit – slightly hurting the pacing – the overall story shows emotional growth and the nature of healing after loss. And, as Lydia soon learns via her dreams, no love is perfect. Maybe her future was destined to be different anyway, which is reminiscent of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library .

Read The Two Lives of Lydia Bird Jose Silver : Amazon | Goodreads

The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August by Claire North

If you are looking for more suspenseful books about time travel and like Groundhog Day , check out The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. However, this is not just one day on repeat; instead, this is a lifetime.

Harry August is repeatedly reborn into the same life, retaining his memories each time. No matter what Harry does or says, when he lands on his deathbed, he always returns back to his childhood, again and again. On the verge of his eleventh death, though, a girl changes the course of his life. He must use his accumulated wisdom to prevent catastrophe.

Read The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August : Amazon | Goodreads

An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim

When it comes to time travel books, An Ocean of Minutes is one of the most original takes about time travel’s effects on alternate history.

Polly and Frank are deeply in love in 1981 when a pandemic devastates the planet. By the end of 1981, time travel (invented in this alternate reality in 1993) has been made available.

Because of this invention, individuals can sign on to work for the TimeRaiser corporation in order to escape or save their loved ones in the present. Due to a flaw in the technology, though, they can only transport people for 12 years. This prevents them from stopping the pandemic by just 6 months.

When Frank gets ill, Polly signs up, both agreeing they will meet back up in 1993. Now alone in the future, Polly has to learn to navigate a world she has less than zero preparation for. In this world, she is a time refugee, bonded to TimeRaiser without a physical cent to her name.

Lim uses the time travel mechanic to cleverly explore the subject of immigration, forcing the reader to follow Polly blindly into a world they should know, but don’t. This is what makes An Ocean of Minutes one of the most unique time travel novels on this reading list.

Read An Ocean of Minutes : Amazon | Goodreads

Time Travel In Science Fiction

For fantasy and sci-fi lovers, take a quantum leap into fictional worlds, quantum physics, possible futures, black holes, and endless possibilities. See if you can tell the difference between the real world and new dimensions.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Recursion is one of our all-time favorite time travel books to gift to dads who love sci-fi. Can you tell what we gave our dad for Christmas one year?

In Recursion, no one actually physically time travels – well, sort of. Instead, memories become the time-traveling reality.

Detective Barry Sutton is investigating False Memory Syndrome. Neuroscientist Helena Smith might have the answers he needs. The disease drives people crazy – and to their deaths – by causing them to remember entire lives that aren’t theirs. Or are they!?

All goes to heck when the government gets its hands on this mind-blowing technology. Can Barry and Helena stop this endless loop?

Recursion is also a (2019) Goodreads Best Book for Science Fiction.

Read Recursion : Amazon | Goodreads

This Is How You Lose The War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar 

A Goodreads runner-up for one of the best science fiction novels (of 2019) – and one of the shortest time travel novels on this list – This Is How You Lose The Time War follows two warring time-traveling agents falling in love through a letter exchange.

Red and Blue have nothing in common except that they travel across time and space and are alone. Their growing and forbidden love is punishable by death and their agencies might be onto them.

In a somewhat beautiful yet bizarre story, we watch as Red and Blue slowly fall for each other and confess their love. They engage in playful banter and nicknames. Every shade of red and blue reminds them of each other.

The first half of the novel is a bit abstract. You might wonder what the heck you’ve gotten yourself into. However, once you get your feet planted firmly on the ground of the plot, the story picks up and starts making more sense.

We can’t promise you’ll love or even understand This Is How You Lose The Time War – we aren’t sure we do. However, this is truly one of the most unique sci-fi and LGBTQ+ time travel romance books on this reading list – written by two authors. Also, maybe crack out the dictionary…

Explore even more of the best LGBTQ+ fantasy books to read next.

Read This Is How You Lose The War : Amazon | Goodreads

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

A debut novel, All Our Wrong Todays is both a humorous and entertaining time travel book that speaks to how we become who we are.

In 2016, technology perfected the world for Tom Barren. However, we all know that perfection doesn’t equate to happiness. Barren has lost his girlfriend, and he just happens to own a time machine… Now, Barren has to decide if he wants to keep his new, manipulated future or if he just wants to go back home to his depressing but normal life.

Read All Our Wrong Todays : Amazon | Goodreads

Here And Now And Then by Mike Chen

Imagine getting trapped in time and starting over. That’s exactly what happens to IT worker, Kin Stewart, in one of the bestselling science fiction time travel books, Here And Now And Then .

Stewart has two lives since he is a displaced time-traveling agent stuck in San Francisco in the 1990s. He has a family that knows nothing about his past; or, should we say future. When a rescue team arrives to take him back, Stewart has to decide what he is willing to risk for his new family.

Here And Now And Then is a time travel book filled with emotional depth surrounding themes of bonds, identity, and sacrifice. Find even more books set in San Francisco, California (and more!).

Read Here And Now And Then : Amazon | Goodreads

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe is one of the most unusual books about time travel out there.

Our protagonist Charles Yu lives in a world where time travel exists and is readily available to the average person. And yes, he is named after the author, and yes, it is as meta as it sounds; and yes, this is just the beginning of this speculative fiction time travel book.

Charles Yu’s day job is spent repairing time machines for Time Warner Time. But in his free time, he tries to help the people who use time travel to do so safely and to counsel them if things have gone wrong.

It’s no surprise that Charles’ entire life revolves around time travel since his father invented the technology many years ago. And then he disappeared. In fact, Charles is also trying to find out just what happened to his dad, and where – or when – he’s gone.

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe won’t be for everyone, but it’s one of the best time travel books if you want delightfully meta, fantastically non-linear, and very very weird.

Read How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe : Amazon | Goodreads

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

For beautiful, lyrical time travel novels about found family and love, The Vanished Birds is a must-read.

Nia Imani exists outside of time and space. She travels in and out of the world through a pocket of time with her space crew. They emerge to trade or sell goods every eight months. But eight months for them is 15 years for everyone else.

She has lived this way for hundreds of years. Though she has her crew, and there are people she shares connections with sporadically throughout their lives, she is lonely. And although she barely ages, she watches friends and lovers grow old and die.

One such person is Kaeda, who meets Nia for the first time when he is 7. The next time he sees her, he has aged 15 years, while she is only months older. She continues to come every 15 years of his life, always looking the same.

Then one day a mysterious, mute boy falls from the sky into Nia’s life. His name is Ahro, and there’s something extra special about him. Something that could revolutionize space travel forever. And now there might be people after Ahro who won’t love him the way Nia does.

If you love a character-driven book with exquisite prose – and a few time warps – this is one of the best time travel books for you.

Read The Vanished Birds : Amazon | Goodreads

Night Watch by Terry Pratchett

Night Watch is one of the most fun and thrilling books about time travel. It’s also a bit ridiculous and very very British.

Why can’t policing just be simple? All Sam Vimes wanted to do was capture and arrest a dangerous murderer. But thanks to those damned wizards and their experiments, he and the killer have both been accidentally thrown back in time thirty years.

And to top it off, the man who would have become a mentor to young Sam Vimes in the past has been killed in the process! How’s Vimes going to get this all sorted out?

The City Watch he’s spent years improving is just a bunch of semi-competent volunteers at this point. He’s got no money, no clothes, and no friends. But at least he’s making enemies fast. Can he catch the killer, stop history from not repeating itself, and get home to his family? Oh, and the city’s about to dissolve into civil war. Typical.

Night Watch is perfect if you prefer your time travel books to be fantasy-based.

P.S. There may be mild spoilers for previous books in the Discworld series, but this can be read as a standalone. And if you only ever read one Discworld novel, this is one of the best there is – and so far the only one of the Discworld books with time travel!

Read Night Watch : Amazon | Goodreads

The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz

The Future of Another Timeline is one of the few time travel books to explore history through a feminist lens.

In 1992, Beth – a high school senior – and her friends Heather, Lizzy, and Soojin attend a riot grrl concert with Heather’s boyfriend Scott. But afterward, one of Scott’s not-so-funny sexist jokes gets out of hand and Lizzy accidentally kills him. Now they’re on the run, and the bodies just keep piling up.

Meanwhile, in 2022, Tess is part of a group of women and non-binary people working together to change history. They have the use of five time devices which only allow them to travel backward and back to the present day – but never forwards.

Beth and Tess come from two wildly different times (1992, and 2022, respectively). But, while Beth is busy making history, Tess is quite literally trying to change it. However, both of them want the same thing: a better world. When their worlds collide, will they be able to save each other – and the world?

The Future of Another Timeline is a time travel fiction celebration of feminism and queerness with lots of sci-fi and punk rock thrown in. This is one of the best time travel novels for those who enjoy stellar women making history .

Read The Future of Another Timeline : Amazon | Goodreads

The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley

The Kingdoms is wildly imaginative and sure to enchant fans of time travel books, alternative history stories, and tales about parallel universes.

In 1898 Joe Tournier steps off a train and suddenly can’t remember anything that comes before that moment. The world he now finds himself in is as foreign to him as it is to us: an alternate history/reality where the UK lost the Battle of Trafalgar and is now a French colony.

In this world, the British are kept as slaves. Napoleon is a popular name for pets, and tartan is outlawed. Since Joe arrives on a train from Glasgow speaking English and wearing tartan, there is some speculation he might be from The Saints, a terrorist group based in Edinburgh fighting for freedom.

But all Joe remembers is the fading image of a woman and the name Madeline. Although he is identified by his owner and brought “home,” Joe is determined to find this Madeline. And his resolve is only strengthened when he receives a postcard signed ‘– M’ and dated 90 years in the past.

Discover even more books about Scottish culture, history, and everyday life.

Read The Kingdoms : Amazon | Goodreads

The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley

The Light Brigade is one of the best time travel stories for anyone who loves character-driven tales or books about war and conflict.

As war wages on Mars, the military has devised the perfect soldier to fight on the frontlines: being made of light. The Light Brigade, as they’re called back home, is made up of soldiers who have undergone a procedure that breaks them down into atoms capable of traveling at the speed of light. They are the perfect soldiers, but broken people.

The book follows one such soldier, Dietz, an eager new recruit who is experiencing battle out of sync with everyone else. Because of this, she – and we – see a different reality of the war than the one presented by the Corporate Corps. As Dietz becomes more and more unstuck in time, she becomes more and more unsure of her own sanity and the role she is playing in this war.

Read The Light Brigade : Amazon | Goodreads

The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way

You Look Like Death Volume 1 | Now a popular (and excellent) Netflix TV show, The Umbrella Academy is one of the best time travel books of all time.

One day, forty-seven children are suddenly and inexplicably born to women who were not previously pregnant. Eccentric millionaire Reginald Hargreeves goes around the world buying as many of the surviving children as he possibly can. He is able to get seven.

These children, it turns out, all have superpowers (except, it seems, for the unremarkable Number Seven aka Vanya). They become the crime-fighting group: The Umbrella Academy.

Fast forward several years, and Number Five, whose special power is that he can travel in time a few seconds or minutes per go, has mysteriously appeared after Hargreeves dies. And now he brings warning of an apocalypse – one which he insists none of his siblings will survive.

The Umbrella Academy series currently has three volumes, all packed with tales of time travel, parallel worlds, family drama, and lots of epic battles. We’ve absolutely loved this time travel book series so far; we can’t wait to see what Gerard Way does with future installments.

Discover even more great books with music, musicians, and bands.

Read The Umbrella Academy : Amazon | Goodreads

Historical Fiction

Travel back in time to witness wars and history. See what happens if you try to rewrite the future. Many of these historical fiction books with time travel promise to teach you more.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

We have a plethora of Agatha Christie fans amongst our Uncorked Readers , and Turton’s The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evenlyn Hardcastle is inspired by Christie.

Similar to Levithan’s Every Day , each day, Aiden wakes up in a different body from the guests of the Blackheath Manor. Trapped in a time loop, Aiden must solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder to escape. In the process, he navigates the tangled web of secrets, lies, and interconnected lives of the guests. Can he identify the killer and break the cycle?

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is an award-winning historical thriller and one of the best time travel novels if you enjoy Downton Abbey and Groundhog’s Day . Discover even more great books set at hotels, mansions, and more.

Read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle : Amazon | Goodreads

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Travel back in time to Scotland in one of the most well-known time travel book series (and now TV series) of all time. Outlander is a part of pop culture. A New York Times bestseller and one of the top 10 most loved books according to The Great America Read, get ready to enter Scotland in 1743.

Claire Randall, a former British combat nurse, walks through an ancient circle of stones and is transported into a world of love, death, and war. This is a place of political intrigue, clan conflicts, and romantic entanglements. Claire must navigate the unfamiliar landscape while grappling with her feelings for the dashing Jamie Fraser.

Encounter even more cult-classic books from the ’90s like A Game Of Thrones , which is perfect for fantasy map lovers .

Read Outlander : Amazon | Goodreads

11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King

Written by bestselling author, Stephen King, 11/22/63 is one of the best award-winning time travel books for historical fiction lovers. Set in 1963 when President Kennedy is shot, 11/22/63 begs the question: what if you could go back in time and change history?

Enter Jake Epping in Lisbon Falls, Maine.  Epping asks his students to write about a time that altered the course of their lives. Inspired by one of those haunting essays, Epping enlists to prevent Kennedy’s assassination.  How is this time travel possible? With the discovery of a time portal in a local diner’s storeroom…

11/22/63 is one of the most thrilling and realistic books about time travel, according to both critics and readers.

Read 11/22/63 : Amazon | Goodreads

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

If you are looking for historical fiction novels about time travel that address slavery and racism, be sure to check out Butler’s Kindred. This is also one of the best books published in the 1970s .

One minute Dana is celebrating her birthday in modern-day California. The next, she finds herself in the Antebellum South on a Pre-Civil War Maryland plantation. Dana is expected to save the plantation owner’s son from drowning. Each time Dana finds herself back in this time period as well as the slave quarters, her stays grow longer and longer as well as more dangerous.

Examine the haunting legacy and trauma of slavery across time. For younger readers, there is also a graphic novel adaptation . Discover more books that will transport you to the South .

Read Kindred : Amazon | Goodreads

What The Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

A bestseller and Goodreads top choice book, if you devour historical Irish fiction, What The Wind Knows will transport you to Ireland in the 1920s.

Anne Gallagher heads to Ireland to spread her grandfather’s ashes. Devastated, her grief pulls her into another time. Ireland is on the verge of entering a war, and Anne embraces a case of mistaken identity. She finds herself pulled into Ireland’s fight for Independence at the risk of losing her future life. She also falls for another main character and doctor, Thomas Smith.

What The Wind Knows is one of the best time travel novels that both romance and fantasy readers can appreciate. Witness connections that transcend time.

Read What The Wind Knows : Amazon | Goodreads

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

Known for being one of the best time travel books for thriller lovers, The Shining Girls also has the reputation as the spookiest novel on this reading list.

Kirby Mazrachi is the last shining girl – a girl with a future and so much potential. Harper Curtis is a murderer from the past meant to kill Mazrachi. However, Kirby is not about to easily go out without a fight, leading her on one violent quantum leap through multiple decades.

As Kirby races against time to track down a serial killer and unravel the mysteries of the House, encounter themes of resilience, fate, and the shining spirit that can transcend even the darkest forces.

Read The Shining Girls : Amazon | Goodreads

Time Travel Romance Books

We love a good time-travel romance novel, but we also understand how hard it can be to hold onto love when time is so unstable. From queer love stories set on trains to holiday celebrations, fall in love across time with these books.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

From bestselling author, Casey McQuiston of Red, White, & Royal Blue – one of our favorite LGBTQ+ books for new adults – don’t miss the most-talked-about book (from 2021), One Last Stop.

Twenty-three-year-old August is quite the cynic and living in New York City. Up until now, August has jumped schools and towns as often as you change a pair of socks. August has also never been in a serious relationship and wants to find “her person.” August’s life suddenly changes, though, when she meets a beautiful and mysterious woman on the train.

Jane looks a little…out of date… and for good reason; she’s from the 1970s and trapped in the train’s energy. August wants nothing more than to help Jane leave the train, but does that mean leaving her too?

A feel-good, older coming-of-age story, laugh out loud and be utterly dazzled as you follow love across time and space. You’ll cozy (and drink) up in the parties and community surrounding August. One Last Stop is one of the all-time best LGBTQ+ time travel books – and perfect if you enjoy books that take place on trains .

Read One Last Stop : Amazon | Goodreads

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Time Traveler’s Wife is one the top time travel romance novels – and not just because the story features a librarian . We are so biased.

Henry and Clare have loved each other pretty much forever. Unfortunately, Henry has Chrono-Displacement Disorder, sporadically misplacing him in time. Of course, this time-traveling dilemma makes Clare’s and Henry’s marriage and future together pretty darn interesting.

Grab some Kleenex as they attempt to live normal lives and survive impending devastation. The Time Traveler’s Wife has also been made into a romantic movie classic . Watch even more fantasy movies with romance .

Read The Time Traveler’s Wife : Amazon | Goodreads

In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren

If you are looking for a sweet and sexy holiday rom-com set in Utah, grab In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren.

Mae leaves her family and friend’s Christmas vacation home after drunkenly making out with an old childhood friend. Blame the spiked eggnog. Unfortunately, Mae’s secretly in love with her best friend’s brother, Andrew. On the ride to the airport, Mae wishes for happiness just as a truck hits her parent’s car. 

Mae lands in a time-travel loop where her dreams start coming true.  Is it too good to last?   What happens when she isn’t happy once again? Is she trapped?

For holiday books about time travel, this one is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit if you enjoy movies like Holidates  or  Groundhog’s Day . It’s light with a happy ending – typical of this author duo. We also recommend In A Holidaze if you are looking for Christmas family gathering books – a big request we see here at TUL.

P.S. Did you know that Christina Lauren is a pen name for a writing duo, Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings? Christina Lauren also wrote The Unhoneymooners , which was also hilariously enjoyable and set on an island .

Read In A Holidaze : Amazon | Goodreads

A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

For cozy time travel romance books and a feminist tale set abroad, try A Knight In Shining Armor .

Dougless Montgomery is weeping on top of a tombstone when Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck, appears. Although this armor-clad hunk allegedly died in 1564, he stands before her about to embark on a journey to clear his name. Convicted of treason, Montgomery vows to help her soon-to-be lover find his accuser and set the record straight.

Read A Knight In Shining Armor : Amazon | Goodreads

The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz

Set in South Carolina, if you love lighthouses and beach vibes, you’ll find something enjoyable in the time travel romance, The Night Mark .

After Faye’s husband dies, she cannot move on and recover. Accepting a photographer job in SC, Faye becomes obsessed with the local lighthouse’s myth, The Lady of the Light.

Back in 1921, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter mysteriously drowned. Faye is drawn into a love story that isn’t hers and becomes entangled in a passionate and forbidden love affair.

Read The Night Mark : Amazon | Goodreads

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

Anyone who likes their time travel books to have a magical love story should pick up The Seven Year Slip for their next read. It’s one of our favorite magical realism novels .

When Clementine’s aunt dies, she inherits her fancy New York apartment on the Upper East Side. Although Clementine would really rather have her aunt back and can’t imagine living in her home, she eventually forces herself to move in and inhabit her aunt’s space.

And not long after, she wakes up to discover a strange man in her living room… except it’s not her living room, it’s her aunt’s… from seven years ago. Clementine’s aunt always said her apartment held a touch of magic; sometimes it created time slips that brought two people together when they were at a crossroads.

But what happens when you start to fall for someone stuck seven years in the past? Clementine knows there’s no future together, but she also can’t let go of this link to her aunt.

Like her previous speculative fiction romance, The Dead Romantics , Ashely Poston’s unique time travel tale is full of heartache and grief. However, it will also make you swoon. Basically, this one is a must if you are a fan of time travel romance books.

Read The Seven Year Slip : Amazon | Goodreads

Classic Books

No time travel reading list would be complete without the classics. Below, uncover just a few great time travel novels that started it all.

The End of Eternity by Issac Asimov

The End of Eternity is said to be one of Asimov’s science fiction masterpieces. This is also one of the most spellbinding books about time travel – although some criticize the story for its loopholes.

Harlan is a member of the elite future known as an Eternal. He lives and works in Eternity, which like any good time travel novel, is located separately from time and space.

Harlan makes small changes in the timeline in order to better history. Of course, altering the course of the world is dangerous and comes with repercussions, especially when Harlan falls in love.

Read The End of Eternity : Amazon | Goodreads

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

It goes without saying that Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is one of the most famous and best time travel books for classic lovers – and a literary canon-worthy Christmas novel.

Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy, lonely, and cruel man who truly has no Christmas spirit. Haunted by the ghosts of the past, present, and future, Scrooge must find the ultimate redemption before it’s too late. Does he have a heart?

Find even more classic and contemporary ghost books , including a few unique takes on ghosts.

Read A Christmas Carol : Amazon | Goodreads

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse-Five is a somewhat bizarre time travel book about finding meaning in our sometimes fractured and broken lives. It’s also one of the most popular books published in the ’60s .

Similar to The Time Traveler’s Wife, Billy Pilgrim is “unstuck” in time in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. Drafted into World War II, Pilgrim serves as a Chaplain’s assistant until he is captured by the Germans. He survives the bombing at Dresden and ultimately becomes a married optometrist. Things get a little wild…

Suffering from PTSD, Billy claims that he is kidnapped by aliens in a different dimension. Like most time travel novels, the story is out of order and Billy travels to different parts of his life.

Aliens come in all shapes and sizes; have more alien encounters with this reading list .

Read Slaughterhouse-Five : Amazon | Goodreads

A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain

First published in 1889, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is one of the most popular classic and satirical time travel novels that’s set close to our childhood home. Having grown up in CT close to the old Colt factory, this story makes us smile.

Hank Morgan supervises the gun factory and is knocked unconscious. Upon waking, he finds himself in Britain about to be executed by the Knights of King Arthur’s Round Table in Camelot.

Morgan uses his future knowledge to his advantage, making him a powerful and revered wizard, which unfortunately doesn’t quite save him as he hopes. Not to mention that Morgan tries to introduce modern-day conveniences and luxuries to a time period that isn’t quite ready for them.

Read A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court : Amazon | Goodreads

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

The Time Machine is one of the best frontrunner time travel books of all time. Published in 1895, the Time Traveler recalls his exhausting time travel adventures to incredulous believers. He even disappears in front of them.

Blended with fantasy and science fiction over the course of 800,000 years, the Time Traveler battles “bad guys.” He also loses his time machine, debatably falls in love, and meets the underground dwelling Morlocks.

Read The Time Machine : Amazon | Goodreads

Young Adults Books

For young adults and teens – plus adults who appreciate YA – read the best middle-grade and high school time travel books. We’ve included more time travel graphic novels and manga here too.

Displacement by Kiku Hughes

For historical YA graphic novels , Displacement is one of the must-read books about time travel that will teach young readers about generational trauma, racism, politics, and war.

Follow Kiku, who is displaced in time, back to the period of U.S. Japanese incarceration [internment] camps – essentially glorified prisons – during WW2. Kiku begins learning more about her deceased grandmother’s history, which mirrors the horrid actions under former President Donald Trump. How can Kiku help stop the past from repeating itself, and more so, how can we?

In a simplistic but powerful style of storytelling, Hughes’s emotional YA WW2 book is accessible to young readers. Displacement is also one of the shorter and quicker books with time travel on this list. Find even more LGBT+ graphic novels to read – one of our favorite genres.

Read Displacement : Amazon | Goodreads

The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Changing the past can be pretty tempting. We’ve even seen that The Flash cannot resist. However, altering the course of history can be dangerous…

The first of two YA time travel books, Nix is the daughter of a time traveler. Her dad can sail anywhere on his ship, The Temptation. Her dad has his own temptation, though: to travel back to Honolulu in 1868, the year before her mom dies in childbirth. Nix’s father threatens to possibly erase her life and destroy a relationship with her only friend.

Discover even more great books about maps. Or, travel via armchair with these ship books.

Read The Girl From Everywhere : Amazon | Goodreads

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Translated by Anthea Bell | If you are looking for time travel in books and enjoy YA historical fiction, try Ruby Red , which is the first in the Ruby Red Trilogy.

Gwyneth Shepherd quickly learns that she can easily time travel, unlike her cousin who has been preparing her entire life for the feat. Gwyneth wants to know why such a secret was kept from her. There are so many lies. Gwyneth time travels with the handsome Gideon back and forth between modern-day and 18th-century London to uncover secrets from the past.

Back in our MLIS and library days, Ruby Red was one of our favorite YA time travel books to recommend since so few knew about the series. Just a small warning that this enemies-to-lovers trope is a tad sexist, though. Find books like Ruby Red on our books with red (and more colors) in the title reading list .

Read Ruby Red : Amazon | Goodreads

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A little creepier for young adult time travel novels, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is all about time loops. We’ve only read the first in this eerie series that mixes manipulated vintage photography with a suspenseful and chilling story.

Jacob discovers a decaying orphanage on a mysterious island off the coast of Wales. Known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, the building isn’t exactly abandoned… Jacob runs into peculiar children who might be more than just ghosts.

If you are looking for Kurt Vonnegut-esque time travel books for teenagers, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is for you. Find even more great adult and YA haunted house books to add to your reading list .

Read Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children : Amazon | Goodreads

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

One of the most well-known books about time travel for families – made even more popular by Oprah and Mindy Kaling, A Wrinkle In Time , is the first book in The Time Quintet .

Although a time travel book series for elementary and middle-grade students – and also a 1963 Newbery Medal winner – adults will love the lessons and whimsical sci-fi quality of A Wrinkle In Time.

Meg Murray and her brother, Charles Wallace, go on an adventure in time to find and rescue their father. Their dad disappeared while working for the government on a mysterious tesseract project.

Watch this thrilling time travel adventure mixed with a coming-of-age story and a little girl power, too.

Read A Wrinkle in Time : Amazon | Goodreads

Orange by Ichigo Takano

Translated by Lasse Christian Christiansen and Amber Tamosaitis | This YA sci-fi romance manga is one of the most endearing time travel books you’ll ever read.

On the first day of 11th grade, Naho oversleeps for the first time ever. She also receives a letter that claims to be sent from herself 10 years in the future. The letter tells her both of the two big things that will happen to her that day as proof of sender: she will be late, and there will be a new kid in class named Naruse Kakeru from Tokyo who will sit next to her.

Naho is unsure if she trusts the letter, or whether or not she should heed its warnings – especially since it talks about past regrets and trying to undo them.

Orange is an adorable, but heartbreaking time travel manga that teaches us the meaning of friendship, love, regret, and so much more. If you’re looking for the best books about time travel for teens, Orange is the perfect option (and adults will love it too).

Read Orange : Amazon | Goodreads

If you devour the time travel genre, don’t miss these great movies…

If you enjoy books that take you back in time, you might also appreciate these top movies with time loops . Would you be able to fix past mistakes, fall in love, and you know, maybe not die this time? Find out if these protagonists succeed.

Travel Back In Time With These Reading Lists:

• Best ’90s Books
• Iconic ’80s Books
• Best WWII Historical Fiction

Christine Frascarelli

Dagney McKinney

45 Comments

Hi, nice list but just FYI you have one of the novels named incorrectly: it should be All Our Wrong Todays, not All Our Wrongs Today.

Thanks for letting us know! Every year, this list grows, and sometimes we miss a few mistakes.

The Things Are Bad Series by Paul L Giles is the funniest, most insightful time travel books I’ve ever read. It has everything!

Thanks so much for the review and rec!

Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain is an engrossing time travel book that I enjoyed immensely.

Our readers and contributors are big Diane Chamberlain fans. Thanks!

A huge time travel fan. A great list. Another time travel book recommendation: Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montemore. Wonderful story.

Thank you so much for the kind words and recommendation! We’ll have to check it out.

Great list, thanks. I also love seeing all the recommendations in the comments. I would add the Chronos Files series to your list. And, of course, the film ABOUT TIME, which is fantastic!

Thanks so much for the recommendations. We appreciate it!

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Books like Outlander for Diana Galbadon Fans

If you love the Outlander series, you’ll love these tales of 1700s Scotland, historical romance, and old-world adventure. Find your next obsession on this list perfect for listeners that loved Outlander .

The book series Outlander , its audiobook and TV show adaptations have become extremely popular stories for book lovers and historical romance fans alike. Full of danger, passion, obligations and a rich sense of Scottish history, the story follows events from the Second World War back to the time of the Jacobites, picking up a strong devoted following along the way. Fans looking for the next audiobook or series to fill the Outlander-shaped void, though, need not fret. There is a wide range of time travel romances, Scottish historical fiction, and mixtures of the two to fill the space left by the beloved Outlander series. We've compiled a list of Audible book recommendations any fan of the Outlander series will love.

Into the Dim

Lovers of Outlander will immediately recognize the familiar plot devices of time travel in Scotland that can be found in Into the Dim . This story follows the tale of Hope, who tries to retrieve her mother from the 12th century, where she became trapped after a rogue mission from her time travelling society goes wrong. Into the Dim mixes romance with historical fiction in a Scottish love story full of danger and mystery.

Janet B. Taylor's Into the Dim is the perfect follow-up novel for any Outlander fan looking for that next enticing listen. Into the Dim is also the first in a series - Sparks of Light being the second title, and both audiobooks are narrated by Amanda Ronconi. Ronconi brings the energy and excitement needed to help the story come to life.

Sophia's Secret

The Slains series by Susanna Kearsley is another must-listen historical romance story for anyone looking for a post-Outlander series. Kearsley is a Canadian author and New York Times bestseller in historical fiction and mystery. The first book in the series, Sophia's Secret (previously titled The Winter Sea ) follows an author's journey to an ancient castle in Scotland where she begins to explore her family's history and winds up uncovering a love story that pulls her in.

Fans of Diana Gabaldon will love Susanna Kearsley. Her engaging storylines blend with ancient history in a similar style to the famed Outlander author, making for enthralling tales of love throughout the ages. This audiobook series has three titles, the first of which is narrated by Carolyn Bonnyman whose calm, melodic voice captures the tone of the story perfectly and transports the listener to ancient Scotland.

Doomsday Book

Another excellent series for fans of historical fiction live Outlander is Oxford Time Travel . The first book in the series, Doomsday Book , sees the main character Kivrin becoming lost in the past of a dangerous 14th century Britain. A tale of action, adventure and tension, author Connie Willis expertly parallels the stories of Kivrin in the past, with her mentor firmly placed in the 21st century.

Together these stories weave a dramatic and intense tale both rich in history and action. The series is narrated by various voice artists including Jenny Sterlin, who brings the story to life in her performance of Book 1: Doomsday Book .

Playing the Odds

Nora Roberts is one of the best-known and well-loved authors of romance novels around. She has written more than 200 novels, most of which are romance-based works. Fans that loved the epic love story of Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser will fall head over heels for Roberts' The MacGregors .

Nora Roberts does what she does best, building a world of passion and romance, producing some of the best books of the romance world. The eleven-book series, The MacGregors , kicks off with Playing the Odds and is an excellent introduction to the MacGregor family and their romantic tales. The audiobook series is narrated by Angela Dawe, who adds consistency throughout the entire series.

Into the Wilderness

Another historical fiction title, Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati is a great choice for anyone looking for their next story after Outlander . This story follows an English family who leaves their life in England for a new start on the American frontier in 1792. From there, the tale explores this historical setting by looking at themes of identity, will and passion.

This audiobook is the first in a series of six titles, all part of the Wilderness story. Each audiobook narrated by Kate Reading brings all the variation of character the story needs to come to life for the listener and draw them into the world of Wilderness.

Wild Wicked Scot

Outlander fans will love this romantic tale set in the Scottish highlands. A tale of rule, seduction, trickery and dubious plots, The Highland Grooms series by Julia London is exciting, scandalous and full of the romance and history any good Outlander lover wants. The first title of the series, Wild Wicked Scot sets the stage for the seductive and treacherous tale of English woman Margot Armstrong and her chieftain husband's struggles between political obligation and their inner desires.

This classic romance series features six engaging audiobooks full of lust and love all narrated by Derek Perkins. Perkins adds his experienced voice to these stories in a powerful reading that will capture the interest of any listener.

Ruby Red is another great example of time travel romance and adventure. The series follows Gwenyth Shepherd and Gideon through 18th century London as they navigate history, destiny, and ancestral bonds. Their lives seem to be inexplicably linked, and they are forced to rely on each other more and more as the question of who they can trust - in past or present day.

This trilogy is composed of audiobooks Ruby Red , Sapphire Blue , and Emerald Green which are each narrated by Marisa Calin. She brings her smooth English voice to the story, adapting accents and character voices for a full audio experience that listeners will love to dive into. A fun and engaging listen, the Ruby Red series offers a slightly lighter alternative to fans of Outlander and time travelling sagas of its kind.

The Most Buzzworthy Listens of Spring 2024

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Beyond the Bookends

A Book Blog for Women and Moms who Love to Read

8 Tantalizing Time Travel Romance Books

Star-crossed lovers have nothing on these couples who are separated by time. Time travel romance books are really the epitome of fighting for the one you love. There is nothing more romantic than crossing the boundaries of time to find a way to be with the one you love.

These tantalizing love stories will make you swoon or at least they will make you look at love in a whole new way.

*Time Travel Romance books Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some Books have been gifted. All opinions are our own

Table of Contents

Best Time Travel Romance Books of 2023

The Seven-Year Slip by Ashley Poston

Clementine has had her heart broken one too many times. She has inherited her beloved aunt’s apartment and is constantly mourning her loss. When she comes home one day and finds a man sitting there, she realizes that he exists seven years in the past.

And, the more time they spend together, the more she realizes she is falling for him. But she can never figure out when their paths will collide! This is a fantastic pick if you are looking for romantic comedy books.

Dead Romantics ( GMA Book Club Pick July 2022 ) was one of my favorite books last year and this book did not disappoint! This is such an adorable time travel romance book and is perfect for our ultimate beach reads 2023. I needed to include it in our list of adult fantasy novels as well! And if you are not a fantasy lover, you can definitely call this a magical realism book!

The Deja Glitch by Holly James

Jack has been reliving the same day for months and believes the only way out of this circle is to get Gemma Peters to fall in love with him. The Problem? Gemma has a feeling of deja vu, but she cannot remember Jack and has made a vow not to date musicians again (after her last boyfriend used her).

I had high hopes for this time travel romance and it did not let me down. Do not be worried that you will have to read the same things over and over. This book has a refreshing spin that was utterly enjoyable. Thank you for my gifted copy of this book.

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

Alice Hoffman has a place in our hearts with all of her books, including Practical Magic (one of our favorite series). So it is no surprise that her newest book is on our list of time travel romance books. This is the newest Alice Hoffman book and it is a book lover’s dream come true.

This fantasy is a story of love, heartbreak, and the magic of books. Mia Jacob is on the verge of sinking herself into a river when the book The Scarlet Letter saves her. The words seem to tell her story of growing up in an oppressive cult where contact with the outside world is forbidden and reading books is a heinous crime.

Even more daunting is the inscription on the inside of the book that is inscribed to her. This is a time travel romance book as only Hoffman could do it. I loved the audio version of the book- it brought life and depth to this story.

Best Time Travel Romance Books

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander #1)

How do we love Outlander? We cannot count the ways. There is a reason this is one of my favorite books of all time .

This epic story begins in 1945 when Claire Randall and her husband take a second honeymoon to the Scottish Highlands to celebrate being reunited after the war. When Claire touches one of the standing stones, she is transported to 1743.

This is when the real story begins. In order to stay safe as an English woman in Scotland, she must depend on Jamie Frasier for protection. This book is definitely at the top of our list of best romance novels of all time but you will love it equally if you love historical fiction , magical realism , romance , or witches . This is one of the iconic and epic time travel romance books that has it all and is perfect for a list of books like A Discovery of Witches . It was easy to include this on the best fantasy books for adults as well.

The Time Traveler’s Wife By Audrey Niffenegger

Clare and Henry have an unusual love story. They’ve known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, but got married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry was thirty-one. You see, Henry is an adventurous librarian who inadvertently travels through time.  

Why We Love This Book : I adore how this story explores very real challenges that any couple faces. With the added time travel element, it becomes an unforgettable pick from our list of romance books. The way that they fight for their love gives this book its clear spot on our list of best romance novels of all time. But be warned, this book may emotionally wreck you. Find This Book in Best Time Travel Books Like the Time Traveler’s Wife / Time Travel Books /

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

I absolutely loved Casey’s first book and had very high hopes for this one.

August moves to NYC and into a house filled with weird roommates. When she meets Jane on the subway, sparks fly immediately, and riding the subway becomes the best part of her day. The twist? Jane is displaced from the 1970s and cannot get off the train. As paranormal romance books go, this one is not to be missed.

I enjoyed this book but, I felt that there were some parts that dragged on a bit. It is very hard to find new ways to talk about a relationship that can only take place on the train. I loved the premise of this time travel romance book.

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Do you love Christmas movies? Are you obsessed with Christmas Romance books? Do you need to swoon? ⁣ If you answered yes to any of those questions, stop everything and order In a Holidaze. This is possibly my favorite Christmas novel of all time and was a must for best holiday books. ⁣

I adored Mae and Andrew’s love story. It’s set up like Groundhog’s Day with Mae repeating the same Christmas vacation until she gets it right. Time travel romance at its best. And man… does she get it right.⁣ Peppermint kisses, sexy sledding, snowball fights, Christmas Tree trimming… this book oozes cheer-filled holiday goodness with a few scenes that are steamier than a cup of cocoa.⁣

There is a reason this time travel book made our Best Books of 2020 list! This is an adorable magical realism book and a real must-read.

Some Like It Plaid by Angela Quarles

In this story, our hunky future chieftain leaves 1st century Scotland for 2019 San Francisco to catch himself a wifey, whom he promptly teleports back to Scotland (Druid magic IDK) and shenanigans ensue.

This book set in Scotland is funny, romantic, and totally cute. I loved it! This is one of the time travel romance novels you will want to read again and again.

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

I read this book set in Cornwall in only a few days because I loved it so much.  This is another book that I read this month that is the perfect pick for books like Outlander .

After Eva’s sister dies, she heads back to Cornwall England to find peace and rest.  What she discovers is more than she expects when she finds herself inexplicably back in time.  As her heart begins to feel again, can she find a way to heal her broken heart and find love? This is a wonderful time travel romance book that you will want to read again and again.

A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

This setup of this time travel romance is the same as Outlander but in reverse! In the first part of the book, Douglass accidentally summons an Earl from the 16th century to modern England!

Dougless vowels to help return Nicholas to his own time, but not before trying to help him figure out who framed him for treason in his own era. But when he’s sent back and nothing changes, Dougless needs to head back to his time and try to save his life.

The attention to detail in the 16th century was reminiscent of Diana Gabaldon’s work. It’s a total must-read for fans of Jamie and Claire’s love story. You can find this one on our list of Time Travel Romance Books as well as 29 Books like Outlander for Fans of the Hit Series .

A love story that spans time is an easy pick for the best romance novels of all time

What are your favorite Time Travel Romance Books?

For more books like these, check out our complete list of time travel books.

Ultimate List of Romances

If you love time travel romance books, then this is the list for you! We have this list carefully divided by sub-genre.

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Jackie is the mother of three children and a Speech-Language Pathologist who uses her love of books to create language-based learning opportunities in her speech therapy practice and with her own children. Her 20+ years of experience in regular and special education classrooms ensures the website content is relevant and informative. She started this website with Kirsten to share their passion for literacy with other moms and kids.

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10 Favorite Time Travel Books for Kids

This post may contain affiliate links.

When you think of time travel books, you might not think of children’s books initially. Yes, there are popular adult books like The Time Traveler’s Wife and Outlander, but there are also several middle grade books for kids ages 9 to 12 that include time travel in their historical or science fictional universe.

You might find a portal, a time machine, or even a wormhole in these time travel books for kids. Here are my ten favorite time travel books I think your readers will enjoy, too!

Time Travel Books for Kids

A Wrinkle in Time   by Madeline L’Engle (ages 9 – 12) I’ve read this book so many times, I can’t count — many times with my classes as a read aloud — and every time, it’s just as fantastic. (That doesn’t always happen with books.)  A Wrinkle in Time  is a remarkable, well-written adventure in space that deals with the overarching theme of good vs. evil. Meg and her brother, Charles Wallace, and friend, Calvin, set off to find her scientist father who disappeared while researching Tesseracts.

Pages & Co The Book Wanderers by Anna James, illustrated by Paola Escobar (ages 9 – 12) Tilly is a lonely girl who spends her days at Pages & Co, her grandparents’ bookstore. When two of her favorite book characters arrive, she follows them into their stories and learns she is a bookwander. She suddenly has hope that she can find her missing mom in her mom’s favorite book. But she’s being chased by a sinister underlibrarian. Can she find and save her mom before he stops her? Loosely related to time travel, this book explores universes within fictional worlds. ( Find book club activities and questions for this book on Brightly.)

The Library of Ever  by Zeno Alexander (ages 9 – 12) Lenora steps into a section of the library that suddenly appears under an arch that reads, “ Knowledge is a light. ” There,  she takes a job as a librarian, which begins her marvelous and bizarre adventure  …at the Calendar help desk on the world’s largest globe, conversing with robots and whales and penguins and ants, shrinking and growing, and ultimately fighting bad guys in bowler hats who want censorship, ignorance, and fear.

The Time Museum  by Matthew Loux (GRAPHIC NOVEL)  (ages 9 – 12) Delia interns at the Time Museum, a time travel museum where she and other kids her age compete for a permanent spot with the museum in this sci-fi graphic novel. A sinister time traveler forces the group to work together to stop permanent damage to the world and the time museum. My 11-year-old says this was one of the best time travel books on the list.

Glitch  by Laura Martin  (ages 9 – 12) In this world,  some people have the genetic ability to time travel.  Regan is one of those people. Like all kids with this ability, she’s required to train as a Glitcher so as teens and adults, they’ll be ready to stop the bad guys from interfering with historical events. She gets an illegal message from her future self that she could go to jail for— and start to suspect that things aren’t as they seem. Then, she and her nemesis, another kid called Elliot, get sent to a secret partner program. They’re forced to work together clandestinely to stop a catastrophe that could destroy the entire Glitch program.  Fast-paced, unique, and entertaining!

The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams,  written by Mindy Thompson (ages 9 – 12) In this historical  time-ravel  story,  Poppy’s family’s magical bookshop is open to anyone from any time period if they need it!  But it’s losing its magic. Dark creeps in, influencing the customers with anger and lies. Even worse, Poppy’s brother, Al, in his grief over his best friend’s death in WWII, is taken over by the Dark. And Papa is very sick. Poppy must save both the shop and her brother, but how?  I loved this sweet, exciting, and unique story, and so will anyone who loves bookstores, stories with themes of good vs. evil, family, and awesome heroes.

First State of Being written by Erin Entrada Kelly It’s 1999 and Michael is an anxious and lonely kid in the projects who meets a strange boy named Ridge from the future. Ridge tells Michael and his babysitter that he accidentally used a time travel invention without permission. As they learn more about Ridge, they become very worried when Ridge gets a cold, a germ that doesn’t exist in his time period, and he gets sicker and sicker. How can they help Ridge get home and get help? It’s a unique coming-of-age  story that zips along as you try to imagine yourself in Michael’s or Ridge’s shoes.

The Thrifty Guides Handbooks for Time Travelers   by Jonathan W. Stokes, illustrated by David Sossella (ages 9 – 12) These are irresistible, wildly imaginative romps through history. These books are filled with tongue and cheek hilarity while also being boldly informative about their historical topics, so far  The American Revolution  and  Ancient Rome . If you’re looking for the BEST history books of your life, look no further than  The Thrifty Guides . Kids will love the sarcastic humor, the brilliant illustrations, and all the pertinent historical facts packed into these engaging guidebooks written by Jonathan W. Stokes and illustrated by David Sossella.

The Odyssey and Henry’s Box: The Adventures of Charlie & Baxter  by Sarah J. Aris, illustrated by Sarah Nieves   (ages 7 – 10) Siblings find a robot in their basement and use their coding ability to make it  time travel back to 1849  where they help Henry “Box” Brown ship himself out of slavery. I’m excited to see kids of color in a historical time travel book series!

The Shape of Thunder  by Jasmine Warga (ages 9 – 12) Quinn and Cora used to be best friends, but after a school shooting where Quinn’s older brother killed Cora’s older sister, the two no longer speak. Quinn feels guilty because she saw her brother with the guns and did nothing. She decides to find a wormhole to time travel backward and stop what happened. She invites Cora to help her; Cora, who feels so much regret at her last words to her older sister, and Cora agrees. The two work out their scientific hypothesis while they continue to try to make sense of what happened.  This powerful story beautifully addresses grief, gun violence, friendship, family, and the complexity of love.

Foxheart  by Claire Legrand (ages 9 – 12) In  Foxheart , you’ll find time travel, good vs. evil, friendship and belonging, and a compelling story about a 12-year-old orphan and thief. When her much older self time travels to find her, Quicksilver learns that she’s magical and there is an evil controlling the wolf king. After accepting the truth of her many life-long quests to stop this destructive evil, Quicksilver, along with her dog and a boy named Sly Boots, joins her older self in the past when magic wasn’t persecuted. Now all they must do is the impossible 

Meanwhile   by Jason Shiga (ages 12+) In this award-winning  graphic novel ,   choose your own adventure in a mad scientist’s lab.  Choose between a mind-reading device, a time-travel machine, or the Killitron 3000 for your adventure.

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Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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