If you’ve watched the Bridgerton series on Netflix and then gone to the NYPL catalog to look for all the other books in the series by Julia Quinn, you may have noticed something—HOLDS. Like, a lot of them. Do not be discouraged! Fellow romance reader Kate Fais (and YA Librarian) and I have got you covered. Go ahead and put your name on the lists for all the Bridgerton books you want but, in the meantime, Kate and I have put together a list of books you can enjoy and indulge in while you wait.

Our list includes books set in Regency- and Victorian-era England plus, for good measure, Gilded Age New York. We have more sexy, brooding dukes then you will know what to do with (or will you...?), plus a lot of rakes and rogues too—all of whom will ultimately fulfill your every need first, listen to you and validate you (while shirtless!).

If you are just dipping back into the historical romance genre or are exploring the genre for the first time, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. The romance genre is officially defined as having a romantic relationship at the center of the plot and a happy/optimistic HEA (happily ever after) at the end. And, while they are set in a historical time period they're not exactly “historical fiction” and the endings are rarely—if ever—in question. The journey is the who, what, where and why of the story.

2. The genre reflects the society of the time it is written. So remember this when reading a romance novel written in the '90s, the early '00s and the mid-20th century (there are two!). The romance, tropes and character archetypes are timeless. Some of the plot lines and dialogue—not so much. But we still love them!

3. Romance is personal. What brings joy to one reader or escape for another is not always the same. Kate and I have gathered our favorites, full of our favorite romantic tropes and archetypes but that doesn’t mean they will be to everyone’s taste nor will the love scene descriptions and heat levels be.... (ahem). If a romance isn’t fun for you (because reading romance should be fun!)—move on - there are plenty to choose from on this list.

4. Just because a book is part of a series does not mean it has to be read in order. Unless it's suggested, you can mix and match and read out of order to your heart's content. In romance there's very little fear of spoilers because we know how they end!

This list is full of old and new favorite romance books and series and iconic romance authors whose every book Kate and I love. And, because I am indecisive, there are a lot of them. Most are available as e-books (through SimplyE and/or OverDrive), but you’ll also find e-audio books and of course, hard copies that you can check-out from our grab-and-go library locations.

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn (The Bevelstokes#1)

For Miranda, it all starts with a childhood crush on her best friend’s eldest brother Turner when he’s kind to her. Miranda is eminently more sensible than her friend Olivia, EXCEPT when it comes to Turner. Turner, after a miserable marriage, is an emotional wrecking ball especially when it comes to Miranda. A complicated love story that involves library makeout sessions, society balls, a house party, a convenient, fully furnished hunting lodge in a rainstorm and several trips to Scotland. It would all be much less complicated if they just talked to each other(!)—but where’s the fun in that? Like the Bridgerton series, it showcases bickering siblings and sparkling dialogue.

Her Night with the Duke by Diana Quincy (Clandestine Affairs #1)

On a stormy night, on a lonely road in 1813, two strangers arrive at an inn. The Duke of Huntington is travelling incognito to meet a prospective fiance and Leela, a young widow, is on her way to see her beloved stepdaughter. A mutual fierce attraction has them deciding to have a one-night-only affair and then they’ll never see each other again. Little do they know, they are travelling to the same place to see the same person (!) dun, dun, dun! When I say this is hot, I mean crazy H-O-T HOT! In addition to all that hotness, Quincy brings in layers by having the heroine be of Middle Eastern descent, a fiercely independent traveler and writer and uncompromising in her career goals. To get her, the Duke definitely has to up his game. This got a lot of starred reviews and made many "Best of 2020" lists. It is the first in a series featuring heroines and heroes of Middle Eastern descent.

The Brothers Sinister series by Courtney Milan

Journey with us to the 1860s, where Courtney Milan’s steamy The Brothers Sinister series takes place. Engaging, full of very delightful love scenes, Milan’s books are some of the best I’ve read, and she presents a very multicultural United Kingdom. Start with The Duchess War, and if you’re craving more, immediately request The Heiress Effect, The Countess Conspiracy, and The Suffragette Scandal. Oh, and don’t worry—none of the brothers are truly sinister, they’re just left-handed.  —Kate Fais

 

 

The Duke, the Lady and a Baby by Vanessa Riley (Rogues and Remarkable Women #1)

A groundbreaking, new series featuring West Indian heiresses fighting for their rights and place in society. After questioning her husband’s mysterious suicide, Patience Jordan gets sent to Bedlam and loses everything including her son, who is sent to live with a guardian—wounded military hero The Duke of Repington. Patience gets herself hired on as her son’s nanny and romance ensues. Formidable, fierce heroine? Check! Repressed, rogue hero who’s really just a bowl of mush? Check! Super adorable baby? Check and check! 

 

 

Jo Beverley (author)

There was a time in my life when I stopped reading historical romance (what was I thinking??) but it is Jo Beverley that brought back my love of the genre. Her Company of Rogues Regency-set series, about a group of friends who bonded while fighting off bullies in boarding school, is full of complicated romances, dastardly villains, strong-willed heroines that can rescue themselves and rakes with hearts of gold. Best of all, they always have to Scooby Gang it to solve a mystery, win the girl and to vanquish both villains and posh society snobs. In An Unwilling Bride, a son of a duke (or so he thinks!) discovers that he is the illegitimate product of an affair by his mother and he must find and marry the heretofore unknown daughter of his father's affair to save the family line—it will take all of the Rogues to help these opposites fall in love and get hitched. I love this series so much I wrote a previous blog post about it. The author also has the Georgian-set Malloren series about a sprawling, complicated aristocratic family and their many adjacent branches (that includes pirates and other untrustworthy rogues)—all ruled over by the Marquess of Rothgar. Favorite Rogue titles include An Arranged Marriage, Forbidden and The Devil’s Heiress. (an all time favorite). Favorite Malloren titles are Devilish, Winter Fire and The Secret Wedding.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley (Mackenzies & McBrides #1)

This book broke ground when it debuted in 2011 by featuring an autistic hero. Ian Mackenzie was thought to be “mad” by his parents and was locked up in an asylum when he was only a child. When they die and his eldest brother inherits the title, the first thing he does is retrieve Ian and have him come live with the family. Now Ian is just seen as “eccentric” and slightly mad with all his obsessions and compulsions—most women in society avoid him but not Beth. Beth, new to high society, finds Ian to be kind and sweet and his single touch makes her shiver with anticipation. This is one of the most romantic couples in the genre —swoon —and it has an incredibly hot scene in a carriage to look forward to! If you love family sagas, the Mackenzies argue and fight and protect each other fiercely through 12 more books! Enjoy!

To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters

Are you looking for: Witty banter? Engaging romantic comedy that’ll have you cheering on the characters? Screwball comedy? Check check check. Martha Waters is an author to WATCH. Her newest book, To Love and to Loathe is due to publish in April, and I gobbled up the advance reader copy. This title, and her debut, To Have and To Hoax, is quite decidedly set during the Regency period, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be texting the friend who recommended the title to you just yelling about how much you love it. —Kate Fais

 

 

 

Sarah MacLean (author)

Sarah MacLean burst onto the scene about ten years ago with Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Love by  Numbers #1) with a voluptuous wallflower who’s ready to grab life by the horns and asks the most notorious rake she knows to be her teacher and partner and much to the surprise of both of them, he accepts. Since then she’s gone on to write many wonderful, award winning books and series including Rules of Scoundrels (starts with A Rogue by Any Other Name) about a group of rebel aristocrats who are princes of the London underworld and the Scandal & Scoundrel  series ( starts with A Rogue not Taken) gives a TMZ spin to historical romance. In the just wrapped Bareknuckle Bastards series, a duke’s abandoned bastards find success and riches on the streets of London. In the last book of the series, Daring and the Duke, the Duke’s chosen, bastard heir Ewan goes in search of the woman he betrayed long ago but can’t forget. Maclean is a new queen of the genre and any one of her books will bring joy. She also has a can’t miss romancelandia podcast, Fated Mates.

All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne (Devil You Know #2)

Thanks to a complicated backstory, Cecilia Teague now lives a double life as an educated, proper lady while also running the most notorious, London gaming establishment. This puts her in the direct sights of the handsome and imposing Scot, Lord Chief Justice of the High Court, Cassius Gerard Ramsay, who is set on investigating the owner of said gambling den. What are the odds this kind hearted, fiercely independent female breaks through this grumpy Scot’s defenses and turns his ruthless, ambitious heart to mush? I’d take those odds.

 

 

 

The Most Eligible Lord in London by Ella Quinn (The Lords of London #1)

Lady Adeline Wivenly had no intention of complicating her first London season or going anywhere near one of society’s most infamous rakes, Lord Frederick Littleton (aka Fritz). However, when she overhears a plot to trick him into marriage, well, not even a rogue deserves that kind of deception. Incorrigible flirt Lord Fritz has spent enough time around the wrong women to know when he’s met the right one—if only Adeline would agree! A delightful, quick charmer of a read.

 

 

 

Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig

Set during the Napoleonic Wars, this series starts with The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, as two English cousins, Amy and Jane, arrive in Paris in 1803 to take in Parisian society such as it is, with one of them having aspirations to join the British spy network of the Purple Genetian. Instead of British spies though they meet the very handsome and very grumpy Lord Richard Selwyck. With the Scarlet Pimpernel as a jumping off point, Willig has created a series of twelve wildly romantic, fun spy adventures for her heroes and heroines (all with lovingly ridiculous flower spy names) that take them from England to France, Ireland to India and finally to Spain and Portugal. There’s even a hilarious and sweet Christmas installment The Mischief of the Mistletoe. In between all the spy stories, is a contemporary rom-com featuring a modern descendant of one of the spies and the American PhD student researching the Carnation spy network. FYI: the series should definitely be read in order!

Cat Sebastian (author)

Lest you think Regency romance is just the straights, enter Cat Sebastian to make sure the LGBTQIA community is not forgotten. In It Takes Two to Tumble (Seducing the Sedgewicks #1) Ben, a country vicar living a quiet life free of temptation, agrees to be the guardian of three hellion children until their sea captain father returns home but when he does, Ben is tempted in more ways than one. In The Ruin of a Rake (The Turner series #3), unrepentant rake and libertine Lord Courtenay must rehabilitate his reputation and asks the most well behaved man of the ton to help do it. Romantic, fun and oh, so angsty, Sebastian manages to find new twists to all your favorite tried and true romantic tropes. Another series, Regency Imposters, features non-binary and trans characters; start with Unmasked by the Marquess.

 

Wilde in Love by Eloisa James (The Wildes of Lindlow Castle #1)

Lord Alaric Wilde, the son of the Duke of Lindlow, is the most celebrated, notorious man in England. Famous for his dangerous adventures, rakish good looks and the plenty of love affairs attached to him. When he returns home, he finds mobs of amorous women following him around and erroneous stories about him filling up the broadsheets. When he escapes to the family castle he finds the very private, very bookish and very witty Miss Willa Ffynche, the only woman immune to his celebrity and charm. The book is pure delight full of bawdy humor and swoon worthy as Alaric tries to capture the attention of the reluctant Willa. James has many, many series under her belt including Fairy Tales, Desperate Duchesses and Essex Sisters. Try When Beauty Tamed the Beast, A Duke of Her Own and Pleasure for Pleasure.

 

A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore (A League of Extraordinary Women #2)

Let’s travel to 1870s England, where Lady Lucie and her band of Oxford suffragettes are about to purchase their own publishing company when her old nemesis, Lord Tristan Ballentine, appears and threatens all their plans. Between Lucie’s fierce determination and Tristan’s irresistible words and smouldering looks a battle of wills ensues and a scandalous bargain is struck—a publishing house for one night in her bed. One of my favorites of 2020, Lucie and Tristan are so perfectly matched and the romance is A+++++. You should also read the first book in the series, Bringing Down the Duke.
 

 

The Bride Behind the Curtain by Darcie Wilde (Regency Makeover #1)

Who doesn’t love a great makeover montage? This fast-paced novel had me gasping for breath because I was alternating between laughing and swooning. Several young ladies, all wallflowers, make a pact to find true love—and do they find it, sometimes, behind a curtain!   —Kate Fais

 

 

 

 

A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant (The Blackshear Family #1)

Newly widowed and desperately trying to protect the estate and servants, the nearby village and her husband’s legacy from the machinations of her malevolent brother-in-law, young Martha Russell comes up with a scandalous and daring plan. If she can prove she is carrying her late husband’s heir then all will be saved. She contracts with the local rake and London exile, Theo Mirkwood, for a month of super secret illicit encounters—for a fee. However, Theo has his own idea of how things should go and soon their bargain of convenience escalates to a battle of wills in the bedroom and beyond. A bit more intense than the usual Regency fare, the Blackshear family series is a great escapist romance full of sexy encounters. You will soon be reaching for the other books in the series: A Gentleman Undone and A Woman Entangled. It’s also worth looking for the Christmas-set prequel novella featuring the eldest brother, A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong. 

Lisa Kleypas

Beloved author Kleypas has many Victorian-era series including family sagas The Ravenels and The Hathaways but interestingly not many feature Dukes or Lords but men who’re self-made tycoons, gypsies, owners of gambling dens and bow street runners. My favorite series might be The Wallflowers, about a group of socially awkward friends (including two Americans) who make a pact to help each other find husbands. In my fave title, The Devil in Winter, to escape her unscrupulous relatives, shyest wallflower Evangeline proposes to society’s most notorious and dangerous rake, Sebastian St. Vincent and much to both their surprise—he accepts. Many of Kleypas’s stories all take place in the same universe and her characters often make cameos in other books and side characters get their own series. Stand out titles include Dreaming of You, It Happened One Autumn, Mine Til Midnight and Love in the Afternoon.

Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh (Union of Rakes series #2)

On social media, the author described the Duke as looking like actor Theo James (Sanditon) and being an alpha everywhere but the bedroom where he’s a submissive. I was like “SOLD!”. The Duke is brought to his knees by a smart, determined farm girl masquerading as a Lady to attract business investors. Add in hot bedroom action and we have a winner ladies and gentlemen! It’s a Cinderella scheme with a fun, sexy twist. Also, read #1 My Fake Rake —one of my faves of 2019!

 

 

 

This Scot of Mine by Sophie Jordan (Rogue Files #4)

Lady Clara tells one lie to get out of an impulsive engagement and suddenly her reputation is in ruins. She flees to Scotland prepared to live the rest of her life as a disgraced spinster but then, of course, she claps eyes on the handsome and powerful Laird Hunt MacLarin and changes her mind—I mean who wouldn’t? Except the handsome Scottish Laird has a curse on his family—which could certainly threaten their future happiness. A romance full smouldering attraction, great humor and an angsty curse! Once you finish you’ll want to immediately put holds on the other series' books: While the Duke Was Sleeping, The Scandal of it All, The Duke Buys a Bride and The Duke’s Stolen Bride.

 

 

Mary Balogh 

Another beloved, prolific author who has many series to her name including many family sagas: The Westcotts, The Huxtables and The Bedwyns and found family, The Survivors Club about five men and one woman who carry the physical and emotional scars of the Napoleonic Wars. There’s plenty of seduction, emotionally broken rogues, daring widows, shocking scandals and strong-willed ingenues. But it’s two of her stand alones that I really love. In A Matter of Class a forced arranged marriage between the rich but untitled Reginald and the scandal-prone Lady Annabelle brings with it dark secrets, deception and a thoroughly satisfying ending. A Christmas Promise—one of my all time favorites—starts with another class crossing arranged marriage between a resentful Lord and a daughter of a merchant but it's all the branches of the new family enjoying a snowy, country house holiday that brings all the joy you’d want all year round. Other stand out titles include, At Last Comes Love, The Proposal and Only a Kiss. 

Ten Things I Hate About a Duke by Loretta Chase (Difficult Dukes #2)

See if this sounds familiar...Cassandra Pomfret is opinionated, blunt and way too honest for most of society including her exasperated father who, hoping marriage will mend her ways, declares, his younger daughter cannot marry until Cassandra does. Enter the angel-faced rogue, the Duke of Ashmont, who seems to go blithely through life leaving only mayhem and destruction in his wake. Together they just might be each other’s perfect match—if they don’t kill each other first. If you guessed Taming of the Shrew you win! This charming adaptation comes with fun, likeable characters, oodles of sexual tension and a large dose of snark. Also read, The Duke in Shining Armor.

 

 

Any Rogue Will Do by Bethany Bennett (Misfits of Mayfair #1)

Lady Charlotte Wentworth spent her first season the traditional way, being sweet and biddable and all it got her was mockery, derision and on the brink of ruin. So the second time, she’s taking charge of her future. When an unwanted suitor tries to manipulate her into an engagement she decides to create a fake engagement to someone else. Enter the very broody, very Scottish, Ethan,  Lord Amesbury—not exactly a friend—who owes Charlotte a BIG favor. What you may not know about me is that fake romance is probably my favorite romantic trope of all time. It’s always a winner! This has great romantic leads, plenty of humor and a fun collection of misfit characters surrounding them—a real gem.

 

 

A Good Duke is Hard to Find by Christina Britton (Isle of Synne #1)

After being left at the altar for the third time—yes,  jilted THREE times—Lenora Hartley thinks she might be cursed. She heads out of town to get away from her matchmaking papa and all the mean girl gossip and lands on the isolated and picturesque Isle of Synne, off Britain’s northwest coast. Peter Ashford, returns from America, the presumptive heir to a ducal title but with only thing on his mind—revenge against the current Duke who he thinks helped cause his mother’s death. It’s opposites attract as these two angst-ridden souls start their march towards their HEA. A steamy, emotional roller coaster peppered with Norse mythology and gorgeous scenery.

 

 

Tessa Dare

Another favorite author to read is Tessa Dare. She has several series all set in the Regency period, and one series in particular is my favorite: Spindle Cove. Spindle Cove is a place I would love to visit—full of women who are not afraid to speak their minds and follow their passions. Start with A Night to Surrender. If A Night to Surrender isn’t available, dive into any of Tessa’s other series Girls Meets DukeCastles Ever After.You will be utterly enchanted. Favorites include The Duchess Deal , The Governess Game and Romancing the Duke. —Kate Fais

 

 

The Earl Takes a Fancy by Lorraine Heath (Sins for All Seasons, #5)

Fancy Trewlove’s mother's last wish is for her to move up in the world with a noble marriage. She has the education, the perfect manners and her own bookshop—if only some gentleman could overlook her scandalous lineage. For the widowed and reclusive Matthew Sommersby, Earl of Rosemont, the bookshop is his only refuge from the hordes of marriage minded women. There, he can just be plain Matthew with no expectations. Fancy finds herself drawn to the handsome commoner. Oh so many secrets and familial expectations get in the way! The latest in the Trewlove family series. You might want to backtrack to #1, Beyond Scandal and Desire.

 

 

My Kind of Earl by Vivienne Lorret (Mating Habits of Scoundrels #2)

Jane Pickerington only went to the brothel for research for her academic study of scoundrels. She certainly never meant to start a brawl or even rescue the handsome, muscled rake Raven. But, a girl does what she must. When it turns out the stranger also turns out to be a long lost Earl she takes him under her wing to teach him all the proper social niceties. The sexual tension just builds and builds. Raven has a way making the logical and academic Jane lose her train of thought. Romance and mystery combine to make this a page turning read. First in the series is Lord Holt Takes a Bride.

 

 

Joanna Shupe (author)

How about a trip to 1880s New York? Shupe has made a name for herself by setting many of her series  (Knickerbocker Club, The Four Hundred and Uptown Girls) during the Gilded Age and filling them with tycoons, self-made men and spunky women determined to make their own way in the world. In Magnate (Knickerbocker Club #1) Elizabeth Sloane goes to ruthless steel magnate Emmet Cavanaugh for help getting her investing business off the ground but it’s the super hot love scene set during the 1888 blizzard that's sure to melt your heart. In A Daring Arrangement, a British beauty must arrange a fake engagement with the most notorious man in Manhattan to ensure she gets sent home to England (we know how that ends!). In her latest, The Devil of Downtown, gentleman gangster Jack meets his match in uptown do-gooder Justine which is marked by its sizzling hot love scenes and electrifying chemistry. Perfect for fans of the show Peaky Blinders

Seduction by Amanda Quick

The widowed, autocratic, grumpy Viscount of Ravenwood is in need of a wife and after his miserable first marriage he’s looking for a bride that is more malleable and who will obey his every dictate. Twenty-three year old Sophy is not that bride. She has a mind and plans of her own and a whole shelf full of feminist texts such as Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Women. Little does the Viscount realize that his ordered world is about to be completely upended. Throw in some blackmail, dueling and a mystery and you have one my all time favorites that I reread every year. Amanda Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) is a romance legend and this romance of opposites is one of her best.

 

 

Sherbrooke Brides series by Catherine Coulter

Catherine Coulter is pretty popular with her FBI thrillers, but did you know that she also is an excellent Regency romance novelist? Coulter was actually my introduction to romance, and turned me from the teenager who blushed crimson red when shelving romance novels (I worked in a library) to the adult who will now yell about romance novels to anyone she meets (sorry, not sorry). The Sherbrooke Brides series is perfect if you want to fall in love with a family, and see all the siblings marry off and have their own happily ever afters. * Plus: cat racing. CAT RACING. I still don’t know if it was a real sporting event during the Regency period, but I like to live in a world where that was a possibility.* Starts with The Sherbrooke Bride set in the Regency period and ends in 1831 with The Prince of Ravenscar. —Kate Fais

Georgette Heyer (author)

No historical romance list would be complete without the author that started it all. In 1935, Heyer’s Regency Buck was released and a whole new sub-genre of romance was born. Inspired by Austen’s contemporary novels, Heyer wrote historical romance novels set between 1752-1825 that helped create the tropes and archetypes that so many of our favorite romance novels now take inspiration from. Romance readers and authors often say it is the discovery of Georgette Heyer that changed everything for them and created their obsession with the genre.

My favorite is The Grand Sophy. Sophy, a strong-minded, efficient diplomat’s daughter is dropped off at the chaotic, London home of her aunt and her troubled family. She soon takes the family and home under her organized wing much to the annoyance of her eldest, autocratic cousin Charles (who is out of town when she arrives) and his mean girl fiance. Slowly, to the consternation of both of them, Sophy and Charles soon start to fall in love. As I’m writing this, I’m just now remembering they are first cousins(!) which you should just ignore or pretend they’re more distant because it’s a great, funny romance. The book has the classic love/hate bickering I love so much and at times, a British, slamming door farce quality to it. Once read, Sophy will live on in your memory forever. Kate's favorite Heyer novel is Frederica, about an older, spinster sister who brings her younger sister to London to a find husband, only to discover their top prospect, the Marquis of Alverstoke, is completely uninterested—at least in the younger sister... .

Some Helpful Links:

• A Very Helpful Regency World Glossary because what the heck is the ton?
• A Helpful Primer on Popular Romance Tropes to help you define which ones you love and which ones do nothing for you.
• An Interview with author Sarah Maclean where she explains the enduring appeal of the rake character in romance novels.
• NoveList Plus—a great book-recommending database for when even the above list of books, series and favorite authors still isn't enough to slake the historical romance thirst! (For tips on using this resource, check out this blog post: The Librarian's Secret Weapon: NoveList.)

To further satisfy your Bridgerton cravings, shop our curated NYPL Shop Collection, For The Romantic!

---

Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!