Books like Bridgerton

Devil’s Bride

Author: Stephanie Laurens

Year: 1998

Genre: Historical Romance

More info: Cynsters #1

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

The first book is my favorite in the Cynster series as Devil has to woo Honoria after being found in a compromising position with her. If I recall, it involved hunkering down in a wooden shack during a storm where a couple out for a stroll found them the next day.

They need to marry, but Honoria wants none of that. Devil proceeds to attempt to convince her in some with some moves that live up to his name.

Why Kirsten loves it

Much like the many Bridgerton siblings, Stephanie Laurens’ Cynster series is a set of historical romances about a large brood of Cynster siblings. Each book is about the love story of a different sibling. I love them all!

Find this book in: Best Historical Romance Novels / Books Like Bridgerton

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady

Author: Sabrina Jeffries

Year: 2011

Genre: Historical Romance

More info: The Hellions of Halstead Hall #3

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This pick is another series about wild siblings who refuse to be wed, except this time the Dowager Duchess (aka Gran) is threatening to disinherit the lot of them if they don’t all marry. So one by one, these siblings try to outwit dear old Gran by taking fake fiancés, trying to find unsuitable finances, etc.

This particular book involves a writer with a secret identity who decides to be faux-engaged with the man who inspires her story. It’s totally Lady Featherdown vibes.

Why Kirsten loves it

I love the sibling dynamics on the page in this series. It makes the series so fun!

Everything Forbidden

Author: Jess Michaels

Year: 2009

Genre: Historical Romance

More info: Albright Sisters #1

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

If your favorite part of Bridgerton was the naughty bits, then this is the book for you. The Season is expensive and it was common for other male or female relatives to sponsor poor relations to help their prospects. This is why the heroine in this story offers her, ahem… services, for the duke next door if he will sponsor her sisters.

Why Kirsten loves it

This is a really steamy love story, so it’s not for the faint of heart. Think 50 shades-level shenanigans set in historic England and is perfect for fans of the Bridgerton book series.

Find this book in: Books Like Bridgerton

Ana María and the Fox

Author: Liana De La Rosa

Year: 2023

Genre: Historical Romance

More info: The Luna Sisters #1

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Ana María and her sisters have been sent to London to hide from the conflicts in Mexico. As she tries to adjust to London’s high society, she finds herself enamored with a no-nonsense politician.

Trigger Warnings

Racism

Why Kirsten loves it

Gideon and Ana María’s love story was a breath of fresh air. Typically regency romances don’t address the diverse members of the ton. Witnessing Ana María’s struggles to fit in made me realize how much depth many historical romances set in this time period lack.

It is possible to have a searing love story set in a romanticized time period while still addressing the social issues of the day. I’m looking forward to the rest of the Luna sisters’ love stories.

Find this book in: Books Like Bridgerton / Historical Romance Novels / Books by Female BIPOC Authors

Always Be My Duchess

Author: Amalie Howard

Year: 2022

Genre: Historical Romance

More info: Taming the Dukes #1

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

I have a thing for historical romance books like Bridgerton, so I knew I had to read the first in the Taming the Dukes series that Amalie Howard wrote. Lord Blackstone needs a faux-fiance to secure a land deal, and he stumbles upon the perfect partner in out-of-work ballerina, Geneviève.

Why Kirsten loves it

We all know what happens in faux-dating romances, and yet, it’s still satisfying when the couple falls in love EVERY TIME.

Find this book in: Beach Reads 2023 / Historical Romance Novels / Books Like Bridgerton

Romancing The Duke

Author: Tessa Dare

Year: 2014

Genre: Romance

More info: Castles Ever After 1 of 3

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range:18+

Plot

Tessa Dare’s stories are some of my favorite historical romances. She always finds ways to inject humor into her books. This particular book is the first in a series in which a man dies and leaves a castle to each of our heroines, who are known spinsters.

In this story, Izzy wants to be a writer so retreats to her castle to write her novels. Meanwhile, Ransom shows up at the castle he still believes is rightfully his. Hilarity and romance ensue.

Why Kirsten loves it

I loved this grumpy sunshine romance novel based on Beauty and the Beast and it is another perfect pick for books like Bridgerton. The humor mixed with the romance is the perfect touch.

Find this book in: Forced Proximity Trope Romance Books / Best Historical Romance Novels / Books Like Bridgerton / Grumpy Sunshine Trope Books

My Lady’s Choosing: an Interactive Romance Novel

Author: Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris

Year: 2018

Genre: Romance

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

What is so great about this book is that it can go anywhere you want it to. Choose your adventure…and choose your own man. It’s exactly like those books we all loved as children, except with VERY adult content.😉

Why Kirsten loves it

You can pick as many or as few stories as you want. Personally, I found my happy ending with a Scottish man who was clearly modeled after Jamie Frasier! This is a perfect pick for books like Briderton as well as books like Outlander. If you are looking for steamy romance novels set in Scotland, this is your pick.

Find this book in: Historical Romance Novels / Books Like Bridgerton / Books Like Outlander

To Have and To Hoax

Author: Martha Waters

Year: 2020

Genre: Historical Romance

More info: Named a Best Romance of April (2020) by Goodreads, Popsugar, Bustle, and more!

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

If you loved the Bridgerton book series then you will love this book. Lady Violet Grey and her husband Lord James Audrey fell in love and got married in a whirlwind romance.

Five years later, they barely speak because of “the Argument”. ⁣ When Lady Grey receives a letter that says her husband is unconscious after being thrown from a horse, she rushes to his side only to find him awake and drinking in a tavern. She decides to teach him a lesson. This is one of the best romantic comedy books I have read. ⁣

Why Jackie loves it

The story is a quick-moving battle of wills that will have you simultaneously rooting for the couple and wanting to smack some sense into them. Will they get their second chance at love? ⁣This book will not disappoint.

Find this book in: Second Chance Romance Books / Rom-Com Books / Enemies to Lovers Books

Bronte’s Mistress

Author: Finola Austin

Year: 2020

Genre: Historical Fiction

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This story was fascinating to me because while I don’t condone modern-day infidelity, I understand how women back in the day had limited options. It’s 1843 and Lydia Robinson’s teenage daughters are rebeling against her. Then Branwell Bront shows up to tutor her son and Lydia begins a passionate love affair with him. I loved Lydia and her (selfish) views of the world around her and I felt how hard it must be to be a woman in historic times.⁣

Why Kirsten loves it

I’m a sucker for the classics, but I don’t know much about the authors of the classics I love. Of course, I knew of the Bronte sisters, but I had no idea that they had a brother or that he was a naughty one 😉.⁣ Lydia’s antics were utterly entertaining as were the antics of her children. I was rooting for her the entire time, even when I wanted to slap her and tell her to come to her senses.⁣

Find this book in: Books Like Bridgerton / Fiction Books About Writers / Books About Books / Biographical Fiction Novels

Pride and Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen

Year: 1813

Genre: Classic Romance

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 12+

Plot

We love this classic love story. This love story has everything you could want. Elizabeth Bennet is a smart and stubborn woman who was ahead of her time. With five Bennet girls, one of them must marry well to support the other sisters.

Why Kirsten loves it

There are so many new and wonderful adaptations of this novel, that we did an entire post on it. And you don’t want to miss the other Jane Austen adaptations in the post as well. Austen is a master of romances and this book is the original enemies-to-lovers novel! It’s my favorite of all the Jane Austen books.

Adaptations

If you are a fan of the book you probably have very strong feelings about which adaptation you like more – the 2005 Keira Knightley version or the 1995 version with Colin Firth. Well in 2025, filming started on the lastest adaptation which is becoming a series for Netflix. The cast includes Emma Corrin (Elizabeth Bennet), Jack Lowden (Mr. Darcy), and Olivia Colman (Mrs. Bennet). Rufus Sewell, Freya Mavor, Jamie Demetriou, Daryl McCormack, Rhea Norwood, Siena Kelly, and Louis Partridge are in the supporting cast.

Find this book in: Books About Sisters / Enemies-to-Lovers Books / Jane Austen Books in Order / Grumpy Sunshine Books / Classic Romance Novels / Books Like Bridgerton / Books Becoming Movies

The Davenports

Author: Krystal Marquis

Year: 2023

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Age: 15+

More info: The Davenports #1

Plot

The Davenports is a Gilded Age story about a successful Chicago Black family who made a name for themselves after slavery was abolished. Now the talk of the season, the three Davenport children are all looking for their spouses and trying to buck societal norms in the process!

Be warned! This story ends on a cliffhanger!

Trigger Warnings

Racism, Classism, Slavery

Why Kirsten loves it

What a fun read! I was eager to start a new Historical Fiction romance series and the cover of this one drew me right to it. I was rooting for all the characters and have been eagerly awaiting the second book in the series.

Find this book in: Coming-of-Age Books to Teens / Beach Reads 2023 / YA Historical Fiction / Books like Bridgerton / Fun Books for Teens / Best YA Romance Books

The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Year: 2013

Genre: YA Sci-Fi Romance

More info: The Selection #1

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 12+

Plot

This incredible series is so much fun – think The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor. It’s a reality TV royal match-making contest in a dystopian world. But in this case, the bachelor happens to be the future king. America Singer, our leading lady, is selected against all odds to be a contestant, forcing her to leave behind her love, Aspen.

When America meets Prince Maxon by mistake before the start of the show, she isn’t expecting to be so enamored with him. Should she try to win his heart or stay true to her love for Aspen?

Why Kirsten loves it

I love royal stories, romances, reality TV books, and high drama so this book was made for me! The covers of the series aren’t bad on the eyes either. This series was pure magic and just so fun.

Why Jackie loves it

This is one of my favorite books about royals. It also happens to be the reason that Beyond the Bookends exists, but that is an entirely different story.

Find this book in: Books Like The Selection / Ultimate List of YA Fantasy / Books Like ACOTAR / Books Like the Hunger Games/ YA Dystopian Books / Fun Books for Teens / Best YA Romance Books / Books for 12-year-olds / Reality TV Novels

Reputation

Author: Lex Croucher

Year: 2021

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 14+

Plot

Gossip Girl meets Pride and Prejudice? YES, PLEASE! Georgianna is thrust into the world of the Regency elite in. Lower-class Georgianna is thrust into the elite circle of regency society, and it might just be her downfall.

Trigger Warnings

Rape

Why Kirsten loves it

This bitchy, riotous take on the regency era had me gasping with shock and flipping the pages at the speed of light. I would love to see this story adapted to the big (or small) screen like the Bridgerton book series.

Find this book in: Books Like Bridgerton / YA Historical Fiction

Let’s Make a Scene

Author: Laura Wood

Year: 2025

Genre: Romance

More info: Companion Novel to Under Your Spell

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Cynthia and Jack launched their careers with a movie that became a cult classic. Thirteen years later, the studio wants them to make a sequel. The problem? They cannot stand each other, and their relationship during the first movie was a PR stunt. Now, to make the sequel, they have to rekindle the fake relationship with a film crew following them around! What if they cannot distinguish between real and fake?

Why Kirsten loves it

This romance reminded me of the pr stunts around the filming of Bridgerton. You know, when they put the season’s leads on the red carpet and have them make googly eyes at each other? Well, given that Cynthia and Jack are filming a period romance just like Bridgerton and doing the same thing, it’s not hard to make the stretch. I found it enjoyable – a perfect story to get me through until the next Bridgerton season! Gifted by Atria

Find this book in: Books Like Bridgerton / Celebrity Romance

The Heiress Gets a Duke

Author: Harper St. George

Year: 2021

Genre: Historical Romance

More info: Gilded Age Heiresses #1

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Taking place in the Gilded Age ballrooms of London, this new historical romance series is filled with steamy scenes and the fun exploits of the upper crust. When American heiress, August Crenshaw heads to England at her parent’s insistence, she is reluctant to allow them to force her younger sister to marry unless she’s in love. Meanwhile, Evan, the Duke of Rothschild needs to marry an American heiress to get her dowry to help restore his estates to their former glory, so he very much wants to be in the running for her little sister’s hand.

Why Kirsten loves it

Like most of the rest of the world, I binged Netflix’s Bridgerton on Christmas Day. The regency romantic drama ended and I needed more! I immediately turned to this book to fill my need for a historical romance. It was steamy and funny and I think I have a new favorite historical romance series!

Find this book in: Gilded Age Books / Best Historical Romance Novels / Books Like the Crown / Harper St. George Books in Order / Books like Bridgerton / Books Like Downton Abbey

Bringing Down the Duke

Author: Evie Dunmore

Year: 2019

Genre: Political Romance

More info: Book 1 of 4 from A League of Extraordinary Women

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Evie Dunmore’s debut novel spanned a series of badass women during the Suffragette era. While the story is a romance, don’t let that fool you! You’ll get a history lesson on the suffrage movement in English History as well as a lesson on Estate and Inheritance laws — which were still of utmost importance a few decades later when Downton Abbey takes place.

Annabelle Archer has the scholarship to be one of the first women to study at Oxford. In order to keep it, she must spy on the Duke of Montgomery and try to persuade him to the suffragette’s cause.

Why Kirsten loves it

The chemistry between these two crackled off the page in this romance. If books are up your alley, this book is perfect for you. I loved Dunmore’s portrayal of strong women who stuck to their guns.

Find this book in: Enemies-to-Lovers Books / Books Like The Love Hypothesis / Historical Romance Novels / Books like Bridgerton / Fiction Books About Women in Politics

The Season: A Social History of the Debutante

Author: Kristen Richardson

Year: 2020

Genre: Nonfiction

Age Range: 14+

Plot

I was looking for a non-fiction read when I stumbled across the gorgeous cover of this book. I’m a huge fan of the period romance and have read my fair share of coming-out parties, debutante balls, and other aristocratic functions.

I thought this book would help me understand more about the customs of the monied elite. Books like Bridgerton and like it are filled with references to the rules of society that his book explains.

Why Kirsten loves it

I learned all I would ever need to know on the topic. I found it to be interesting but at times a bit dry, still it gave me a better understanding of the crazy rules.

Find this book in:  Books Like Downton Abbey / Gilded Age Books / Best Nonfiction Books / Books Like Bridgerton