5 Historical Fiction Novels Set in the United States

I love historical fiction. (Are you surprised? No. Hmm ... you know me well.) Even as an avid reader of this genre, though, I typically imagine tales of the Tudors or stories of Holocaust victims when I hear the term "historical fiction," and I often forget how many great historical fiction books take place in my very own country: the United States. Therefore, today I bring you:

5. Kansas & New York, 1922: The Literary Junkies chose The Chaperone as our January book this year, and though I didn't absolutely love the story, the author was very effective at achieving what historical fiction novels are supposed to do (in my opinion): share a perspective characteristic to that time period and make me, as the reader, consider what my beliefs would have been if I had lived in that time and place.

4. Mississippi, 1955: So you've already read The Help, and you're itching for another tragically beautiful story about race relations in the American South? Look no further than The Sweetest Hallelujah, but let me warn you: If you thought The Help was a tearjerker, this might not be the book for you.

3. Texas, 1963: 11/22/63 is a story of time travel, so it really spans the years 1958 to 2011 and several states in between, but the crux of the story takes place in Texas during the years leading up to J.F.K.'s assassination on November 22, 1963. It's an interesting take on historical fiction, and if it weren't so long of a book, I think the story itself warrants more than the three stars I gave it.

2. North Carolina, 1929: I just started reading Serena this week, so I don't have much to say about it review-wise, but it is being adapted into (yet another) movie starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, so that's saying something, right?

1. Louisiana, 1950: I have blogged about this book before and I will blog about it again: Out of the Easy was easily one of the best books I read in all of 2013, and one I recommend to readers with all different types of preferences.

What is your favorite era or place to read about? Have you read any of the above books? Do you know of any other American historical fiction novels I should add to my TBR list?

Linking up with Darci, April, Christina and Natasha for FIVE on Friday, and Clare for Five Things Friday!