Best Western Books

Discover the best Western books for free with Freebooksy digital ebooks! If you enjoy reading historical fiction stories set in the Wild West, we can help you find exciting books from new authors to read. Browse and sign up to receive a daily email on our large selection of the latest and best Western books today.

What are Western books?

Western books are a genre of literature that focuses on stories set in the American Old West from the late eighteenth century to the end of the nineteenth century. These novels concentrate on the experiences of cowboys, outlaws, and settlers. They explore the Western frontier and navigate the challenges and experiences of society at that time. Western books were most popular in the 1960s but quickly lost their appeal as the genre became oversaturated. Fortunately, there are still great Western authors emerging today, providing new and exciting novels for you to read.

Fall in Love with a Cowboy in These Western Romance Books

Fall In Love With A Cowboy In These Western Romance Books

What Makes a Book Western?

There are familiar characters and themes throughout Western literature that define the genre. The setting of Western books is nearly always the Wild West in the late 1800s or 1900s. Additionally, you’ll notice similar characters and scenes throughout most of the best Western books. Cowboys, criminals and outlaws, sheriffs, Native Americans, and Western settlers find their way into these stories. They often live in small towns with saloons, ranches, and railways and travel through the wildness on horseback. Of course, there is sure to be a conflict with all of these different types of characters, often leading to shootouts, duels, and the never-ending search for revenge.

Interesting Facts About Western Books

Western books were the inspiration for multiple films, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, when the genre was the most popular in Hollywood. In fact, in the 1950s, Hollywood released more Western films than all other genres combined. It was during this time that actors like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood became household names in Hollywood. Many of the movies took their inspiration from the best Western books of the time, including the novel The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales by Forrest Carter, which became one of Eastwood’s most famous films. However, the extreme focus on the Western genre exhausted viewers, and the rise of Western books and films fell together in the 70s. 

Find New Best Western Books to Read

Although the Western genre saw its most fame in the 1960s, that doesn’t mean there aren’t authors writing great Western stories today. Contemporary Western novels are finding their way on the shelves, and readers like you can be the first to read them when you sign up to get free ebooks delivered to your inbox. Graced with all the popular characters, new Western books are filled with adventures from the Wild West. You can browse Freebooksy today to find new Western books and series about cowboys, outlaws, and the sheriff who tries to keep order in the town. Be sure to follow Freebooksy on social media to connect with other Western book lovers and find new #bookrecommendations and #freebooks from #freebooksy.