Dukes, wallflowers, spies and scandal: historical romances that never go out of style
In short
The best historical romance books include The Duke and I by Julia Quinn, Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas, Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore, The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare and The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite. Together they span Regency and Victorian romance across M/F, F/F and M/M love stories.
Every book on this list is a published romance in the EIKNA catalog set in a historical period, mostly the Regency and Victorian eras. We selected titles using catalog genre data and editorial review, favoring influential, well-loved books and a mix of authors, pairings and heat levels. Books are listed in editor's order, not ranked.
by Julia Quinn
Best for: Bridgerton fans
Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings agree to a pretend courtship to keep suitors and matchmaking mamas away, and fall for each other for real. The Regency favorite behind the Bridgerton phenomenon.
by Loretta Chase · 1995
Best for: A genre classic
Jessica Trent sets out to rescue her brother from the infamous Marquess of Dain, and their battle of wills becomes one of the most beloved clashes in the genre. Witty, fierce and often named the best historical romance ever written.
by Lisa Kleypas · 2006
Best for: Reformed rake
Shy heiress Evie proposes a marriage of convenience to Sebastian, London's most notorious rake, to escape her cruel family. A Victorian romance about a scoundrel undone by love.
by Evie Dunmore · 2019
Best for: Feminist heroines
Oxford suffragist Annabelle needs the support of the Duke of Montgomery for her cause, and he is the last man who should want her. A clever, feminist Victorian romance with real stakes.
by Tessa Dare · 2017
Best for: Marriage of convenience
Seamstress Emma agrees to a practical marriage with a scarred, reclusive duke who needs an heir. A funny, warm-hearted Regency marriage of convenience full of banter.
Best for: Brooding gaming-hell hero
Penelope needs a husband after a broken engagement, and her childhood friend Michael, now a ruthless gaming-hell owner, needs her to win back his lands. A dark-edged, swoony Regency romance.
by Olivia Waite
Best for: Sapphic Regency
Astronomer Lucy agrees to translate a French scientific text for the widowed Catherine, and the two women find a love that changes both their lives. A tender, intelligent sapphic Regency romance.
by Alexis Hall · 2022
Best for: M/M Regency comedy
When the Duke of Malvern's planned bride runs off, he chases after her with her flamboyant twin brother Bonaventure, and falls for the wrong twin. A sparkling, very funny M/M Regency romp.
by Beverly Jenkins · 2016
Best for: Historical Western
In 1870 Virginia City, Nevada, cook Eddy Carmichael falls for Rhine Fontaine, a successful businessman who is secretly passing as white. A rich, moving Western romance from a legend of the genre.
Best for: Sweet and clean
Julia is rejected by Mr. Malcolm, who judges every potential wife against a list, so she recruits her friend Selina to give him a taste of his own medicine. A charming, sweet Regency comedy of manners.
This is an editor-reviewed reading list. Bibliographic details (title, author, cover, publication year, genre) come from reliable catalog metadata. Editorial claims (heat, trope, mood, reader-fit) are shown only when a book has human-approved intelligence; where absent, only catalog metadata is presented.
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