Best Historical Fiction Books Set in Italy (2026): 5 Compared

Readers hunting for the best historical fiction books set in Italy have five options here, from wartime Tuscany to Renaissance Florence and one modern Italian escape. We compared what each listing publishes: author, publisher, publication date, series position and the book description. No reading ages or grade levels are listed for these titles.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Keeper of Lost Art by Morelli	9.7/10	Buy
2	An Italian Secret by Carey	9.7/10	Buy
3	A Tuscan Memory by Petch	9.6/10	Buy
4	Most Beautiful Woman by Palombo	9.6/10	Buy
5	Looking for Clara by Simona	9.5/10	Buy

1

Keeper of Lost Art by Morelli

Laura Morelli·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For readers who want WWII Italy and art history; skip it if war settings are not your thing.

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Pros

• WWII Italy setting with a Tuscan villa, based on true events
• Newest edition here, published April 22, 2025
• Art-history angle with Botticelli's Primavera

Cons

• No page count stated in the listing
• Wartime violence stated in the description
• No reading age or grade level stated

2

An Italian Secret by Carey

Ella Carey·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For fans of dual-timeline WWII stories in Tuscany; skip it if you want lighter stories.

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Pros

• Tuscany 1944 WWII setting
• Reads as a standalone though part of Daughters of Italy
• Published September 22, 2023

Cons

• Wartime violence stated in the description
• No page count stated in the listing
• No reading age or grade level stated

3

A Tuscan Memory by Petch

Angela Petch·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For readers who like emotional family sagas across generations; skip it if you prefer fast-paced plots.

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Pros

• Italy 1923 setting with a dual timeline
• Family story across generations
• Published September 7, 2020

Cons

• Emotional family themes stated in the description
• No page count stated in the listing
• Previously published as Now and Then in Tuscany

4

Most Beautiful Woman by Palombo

Alyssa Palombo·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For art lovers drawn to Renaissance Florence; skip it if you want a modern setting.

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Pros

• 15th century Florence setting
• Botticelli art-history angle
• Published April 25, 2017

Cons

• Romantic themes stated in the description
• No page count stated in the listing
• Oldest edition of the five

5

Looking for Clara by Simona

Simona·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For readers who want a modern Italian escape rather than history; skip it if you came for historical fiction.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 5 in Clara's Story, a clear starting point
• Siena, Italy setting
• Published January 11, 2017

Cons

• Contemporary setting, not historical fiction
• Romantic storyline stated in the description
• No page count stated in the listing

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Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 18 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the five listings states a reading age or grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best historical fiction books set in Italy

Pick the era you want

The Keeper of Lost Art and An Italian Secret are set in WWII Italy, A Tuscan Memory opens in 1923, and The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence goes back to 15th century Florence. Looking for Clara is the outlier: a contemporary story set in Siena. See our historical fiction books about Italy for more settings.

Series or standalone

Looking for Clara is Book 1 of 5 in Clara’s Story, so it starts a commitment. An Italian Secret is part of Daughters of Italy but reads as a standalone, per the listing. The other three are single novels.

Check the edition

Publication dates here run from January 11, 2017 to April 22, 2025, with The Keeper of Lost Art the newest. For a different country, see our historical fiction books set in France.

Before you buy

• Check the publication date on the listing; the newest edition here is April 22, 2025.
• Start a series in order: Looking for Clara is Book 1 of 5 in Clara’s Story.
• None of the five listings states a reading age or grade level, so check the description’s themes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book should I start with?

Start with The Keeper of Lost Art for WWII Italy or A Tuscan Memory for a family saga; both read as standalone novels.

Are any of these part of a series?

Looking for Clara is Book 1 of 5 in Clara’s Story. An Italian Secret is part of Daughters of Italy but reads as a standalone.

Do the listings give a reading age?

No. None of the five listings states a reading age or grade level.

Still deciding? Our top pickKeeper of Lost Art by Morelli

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