Kindred

Kindred follows a young writer, Dana, who jumps back in time to meet her enslaved ancestor in the antebellum South. She's very kind and no-nonsense, and I love how it shapes her relationship w her husband! I think her strength of character is a really big part of why the novel hits like it does.

As far as Octavia Butler goes, I read Kindred earlier this year and cannot stop thinking about it.

Kindred is also a very powerful novel which is sometimes taught.

also Kindred by Octavia Butler slaps hard for this too.

Octavia Butler: Kindred

Octavia E Butler's Kindred and Beloved by Toni Morris are great horror books.

Since OP likes historical fiction, I'd recommend Kindred.

Butler is one of my GOATs. Never have I been disappointed by one of her books. She has this incredibly straight forward prose in which she slowly raises your anxiety and tension.

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Kindred by Octavia Butler. Dressed up as sci-fi time travel, but actually a book about slavery and racism.