Books Like Downton Abbey
Have you seen the trailer for the newest Downton Abbey movie? I know it’s the finale of the whole franchise, but I’m eager to see it just the same. Of course, with that coming out soon, I knew it was time to dive into some books like Downton Abbey.
If, like me, you miss the likes of Mary, Cora, Robert, Anna, Bates, Matthew (RIP), Branson, and so many other characters, I hope the books below will bring you comfort, especially after the third film ends.
As you learn about class divides, the benefits, and struggles of being an aristocrat, and how war can change everything, you will be reminded of the social and historical lessons Downton taught us.
The series takes place from the Progressive Era, when the Titanic sank, through WWI, and into the Jazz Age, and it even takes us to the French Riviera! The books like Downton Abbey below are separated by era or subject, so you can pick which books you like the best.
The Best Books Like Downton Abbey
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best Book Set in the Progressive Era
Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George- Jump to Section
Best Book Like Downton Set in WWI
Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig- Jump to Section
Best Book Like Downton Abbey Set in the Jazz Age
Hotel Portofino by J.P. O’Connell- Jump to Section
Books Like Downton About “Downstairs”
Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict – Jump to Section
Best Book Like Downton Society
Our Kind of People by Carol Wallace – Jump to Section
Nonfiction Books Like Downton
The Women of Rothschild by Natalie Livingston- Jump to Section
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Books like Downton Abbey, Set in the Progressive Era
The series starts on the edge of the Progressive and Gilded Age eras. During this time, heiresses from the US moved to England in search of titles, and aristocrats willingly married these heiresses for money — much like Lady Grantham!
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
American Duchess
Author: Karen Harper
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This particular biographical fiction book spans the same time period at Downton Abbey. It too features an American Heiress wed in London society to infuse a ducal estate with much-needed funds.
Unlike Lady Cora, the heroine of this story is a real historical figure. Consuelo Vanderbilt’s wedding to the Duke of Marlborough was considered the wedding of the century at the time, but their marriage left something to be desired.
Why Kirsten loves it
In the story, Consuelo is forced to take up the mantle of duty for her estate and title, and in doing so, she finds her inner strength. I really connected with this powerhouse woman who is responsible for keeping her husband’s family afloat.
Find this book in: Biographical Fiction Novels / Gilded Age Books / Books Like the Crown / Books Like Downton Abbey
The American Heiress
Author: Daisy Goodwin
Year: 2011
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Goodwin’s debut novel about Cora Cash, an American Heiress on the hunt for a titled husband and a big estate. But once she gets everything she wished for, she needs to decide if it’s what she wants after all.
Why Kirsten loves it
When I first saw Downton Abbey, I had to look to see if this was the same Cora from the show. I thought for a brief moment that this book must have been a sort of prequel to the show. I was incorrect, but it is certainly the perfect book for Downton fans today. You can clearly see that Goodwin would go on to great things with this fantastic debut.
Find this book in: The Gilded Age / Books Like Downton Abbey
Books like Downton Abbey Set During WWI
Downton Abbey sees a lot of drama over the years, but season two saw the Crawley family and the Downton staff during WWI. Even with the heavier topic, the plot lines weren’t gruesome or scary, and neither are these books.
Plot
This is an incredible novel about the women of Smith College who went to help French war victims on the war front. The band of 15 women in this novel is based on the 18 real-life heroes of Smith College.
These ladies started from scratch to help those ravaged by war only to have the war come back and destroy the lands around them again. But they never faltered in their quest to help the war-torn villages of women and children impacted by the war.
The book gives a well-rounded feeling of what these women needed to do to save the lands and the people and is an emotional pick from books about friends.
Why Kirsten loves it
This historical fiction is based on real events and had me captivated from the first page. I love the bravery and camaraderie of these amazing women.
Why Jackie loves it
The role of women is so often overlooked and so this story about the women of Smith College was enlightening. I loved the characters and the story, but the fact that it was based on real events of WWI made it even better.
Find this book in: Friendship Books / Books About Sisters and Sisterhood / Books Set in France / Best Book Club Books / Books Like The Alice Network / Ultimate Beach Reads 2021 / Best Books of 2021 / WWI Novels
Last Christmas in Paris
Author: Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Year: 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This book is written entirely in letter form between two friends during WWI. You will fall in love with the characters as they fall for each other. Evie is struggling to find a way to help out during WWI, while Thomas, her brother’s best friend, is struggling with the realities of battle.
Why Kirsten loves it
I just recently started reading WWI books and this one is high on the list. It is such a wonderful holiday book, it truly captures the essence of wartime romance and how love can bloom in the darkest of times.
Find this book in: Best Christmas Books Of All Time/ Books Set in Paris / Epistolary Novels / Best Romance Novels / Christmas Book Club Books / Best Historical Romance Books / WWI Novels
Books Like Downton Abbey Set in the Jazz Era
Towards the end of the series and certainly into the movies, the Jazz Age takes center stage. Defined as the 1920s to early 1930s, these books are for fans of the later years of life at Downton Abbey.
Hotel Portofino
Author: J.P. O’Connell
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Hotel Portofino #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
I was thrilled to have read this charming story of a Hotel in Portofino, Italy, during the years just after WW1.
In it, the new British owners of the Hotel Portofino settle into running a hotel with their adult children. The guests are eccentric, there is a mystery around a piece of stolen art, and some romantic relationships come together and fall apart.
Trigger Warnings
Rape
Why Kirsten loves it
It reminded me of the second Downton Abbey movie in which the Crawleys headed to the south of France for a vacation! It’s got all the family drama I look for in books like these.
Find this book in: Books set in Italy / Hotel Novels / Seaside Books / Books Like Downton Abbey
The Glittering Hour
Author: Iona Grey
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Set in the dual timeline of 1925 and 1936, this story is perfect for fans of Sybil and Branson’s love story. In 1936, Alice is stuck at her stuffy grandparent’s estate while her parents are abroad.
Her mother, Selina, sets her on a treasure hunt through the grounds, to reveal her own childhood adventures. But back in 1925, she’s falling in love with a man that is below her station.
Why Kirsten loves it
This heartbreaking love story is an epic novel worth enjoying over a long weekend.
Find this book in: 1920s Novels / Books like Downton Abbey
Downstairs Books Like Downton Abbey
If the Bates, Mr. Carson, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Patmore, and the rest of the staff are your favorite characters from Downton, these stories are perfect picks for you!
Carnegie’s Maid
Author: Marie Benedict
Year: 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The story revolves around Andrew Carnegie’s housemaid and their fictional relationship. It was fascinating to learn about life in Pittsburg during the 1860s. This story particularly focuses on the different social classes of the American Industrial Revolution.
Trigger Warnings
Classism, Slavery
Why Kirsten loves it
First off look at this COVER! I loved this biographical novel but I’m sad my copy is an ebook because now I think I need to get the hardback version.
Find this book in: Biographical Fiction Novels / Books Like Downton Abbey
Plot
I’m a sucker for a Jane Austen adaptation so I was eager to read this story about the servants at Longbourn, home to the Bennett sisters. It was a love story that definitely focused on the people behind the scenes, without many appearances by the famed characters of Pride and Prejudice.
Why Kirsten likes it
I liked that we got a brief look into Elizabeth’s life as Mrs. Darcy, but I really did enjoy the servants’ stories. I’d recommend this one for fans of Downton Abbey for sure.
Find this book in: Books Like Downton Abbey / Books Like Pride and Prejudice / Classic Book Retellings
The Parting Glass
Author: Gina Marie Guadagnino
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
The Parting Glass takes us from the mansions of park avenue to the streets of Irish New York during the Gilded Age. As the story unfolds Maire, a lady’s maid, hides her love for her employer, the debutant Charlotte, as Charlotte has an illicit affair with Maire’s brother who serves as the stableboy.
Why Kirsten likes it
Easily one of the most unique historical fiction books I’ve read in a while. Class, religion, sexual orientation, and more were all explored. And can I just say thank goodness I didn’t have to wear one of those crazy gowns?
Find this book in: Gilded Age Books / Books like Downton Abbey
Fiction Books like Downton Abbey Society
If you are willing to step outside of Downton Abbey’s period, the stories below are perfect! They all feature aristocratic families and grand estates. One is even written by Julian Fellowes!
Our Kind of People
Author: Carol Wallace
Year: 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
This is a family drama set in gilded age NYC. The family loses and then regains their fortune in transit speculation when their girls are becoming debutantes. There are love stories but it’s really about how society was changing at the time with the old money vs. the newly rich.
Why Kirsten loves it
The author wrote a non-fiction book that was used for reference with Downton so she knows her stuff. I loved it! This Gilded Age book made me remember how much I love to read historical fiction books set in this era.
Find this book in: Gilded Age Books / Books Like Downton Abbey
Belgravia
Author: Julian Fellowes
Year: 2016
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info:New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Set in 1840s London in the newly build Belgravia neighborhood before Waterloo, it tells the story of Sophie Trenchard. Starting at a ball, the story follows the aristocratic class and the newly rich merchants from the industrial era as they work out a new class order.
Trigger Warnings
Infidelity, Death
Why Kirsten loves it
I had to include a Julian Fellowes book on the list. He is the creator of Downton Abbey after all, but deciding which one was considerably harder. I decided to go with Belgravia because it had a little something of everything.
The class divide is strong but breaking, there is a star-crossed romance, a secret 25 years in the keeping, and descriptions that will dazzle the mind. I felt like I was swept into this world and I didn’t want to leave it.
Find this book in: Books like Downton Abbey
The Lake House
Author: Kate Morton
Year: 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Kate Morton’s sweeping novel is set a bit later than Downton Abbey, but the large home and noble family depicted could easily be the Crawleys. This story takes place in 1933 on the night of a Midsummer Eve party when a child goes missing.
Devastated by the loss, the Edevane family pack up their country estate and never returned. 70 years in the future, a local detective stumbles upon the case and figures out exactly what happened that fateful night.
Why Kirsten loves it
As always, Morton’s descriptions transported me into the story. The Edevanes and their estate come alive in this gripping gothic tale told as only Morton could tell it.
Find this book in: Lake Books / Books Like Downton Abbey / Kate Morton Books Ranked
Nonfiction Books Like Downton Abbey
If you are looking to learn more about aristocratic families, customs, or homes, then you might want to explore one of these nonfiction choices. They will help you discern what is fiction and what is more realistic from the show.
Plot
Natalie Livingstone laid out the rise of the Rothschild family through the lens of the women in the family. Each of the women profiled left an indelible mark on their legacy and success.
Why Kirsten loves it
Meticulously researched, and spanning two centuries, this non-fiction book had me yearning to watch Downton Abbey or another period drama to immerse myself in the various eras.
Find this book in: Books Like Downton Abbey / Gilded Age Books / Books like Bridgerton
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
Empty Mansions
Author: Bill Dedman, Paul Clark Newell, Jr.
Year: 2013
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 14+
Plot
The book outlines her life, her struggles, and the people who took advantage of her good nature. I couldn’t put it down! The splendor of her life reads like a soap opera and the photos of her homes included in the book are jawdropping.
Empty Mansions reads like a novel for sure. Huguette Clark’s life was one of opulence and riches, but she died a recluse with a $300 million dollar estate and a vast number of decrepit homes in her portfolio.
Why Kirsten loves it
If it’s the houses in the Gilded Age you are most interested in and it is definitely one of the books that will make you think about it long after you have finished it. It reminds me of the Downton Abbey house or the Russell’s house in The Gilded Age.
Find this book in: Books Like Downton Abbey / Gilded Age Books / Best Nonfiction Books / Thought-Provoking Books
Expert Tip
Downton Abbey is one of the rare television shows that takes place over multiple eras and still retains the essence of the show from season to season. You will love books like Downton Abbey if you love:
- Books about Society and or social commentary
- Books that delve into the lives of the servants in great houses
- Books set in the progressive era
- Books set during WWI
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Downton Abbey Based on a Novel?
Yes and no. The novel, Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle, by The Countess of Carnarvon, was first published in December 2011.
The first episode of Downton Abbey aired in January 2011. So technically, while the show is based on real people, the book was published after the show aired.
Is Downton Abbey a Real Place?
Yes. Downton Abbey is based on Highclere Castle. The current Lady Carnarvon wrote a book detailing life in the castle.
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Epilogue:
Did any of these books like Downton Abbey make it onto your to-read list?
I have to be honest here – I didn’t like Belgravia, and stopped reading it in the middle. It was missing the humanity and charm that including the “downstairs” characters gave Downton, and to tell the truth, I really didn’t care what happened to these characters. However, I’d add to this list, “A Well Behaved Woman” by Therese Anne Fowler, and “The Kennedy Debutante” by Kerri Maher, as well as “The Summer Country” by Lauren Willig. Come to think of it, “Meet Me in Monaco” by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb might also appeal!
I did like Belgravia, but I didn’t like the “downstairs” characters in it. I do agree with most of your other suggestions. They had later timeframes so I considered most but didn’t add them. I haven’t read The Well-behaved Woman yet; but it’s on my list!