,

The best historical romance books I've read.
1

by
4.26 avg rating — 1,156,396 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
2

by
4.20 avg rating — 99,375 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
3

by
4.31 avg rating — 1,258,175 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
4

by
3.80 avg rating — 692,722 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
5

by
4.11 avg rating — 39,033 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
6

by
3.99 avg rating — 486,843 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
7

by
4.16 avg rating — 47,574 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
8

by
4.20 avg rating — 56,374 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
9

by
4.07 avg rating — 41,263 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
10

by
3.88 avg rating — 429,066 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
11

by
4.30 avg rating — 31,603 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
12

by
4.22 avg rating — 70,640 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
13

by
4.06 avg rating — 81,047 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
14

by
4.09 avg rating — 73,256 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
15

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 87,729 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
16

by
4.04 avg rating — 48,061 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
17

by
4.04 avg rating — 40,457 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
18

by
3.98 avg rating — 262,068 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
19

by
4.25 avg rating — 56,647 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
20

by
4.33 avg rating — 29,770 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
21

by
4.33 avg rating — 38,509 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
22

by
4.09 avg rating — 514,040 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
23

by
4.23 avg rating — 34,860 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
24

by
4.15 avg rating — 50,493 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
25

by
4.03 avg rating — 47,470 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
26

by
4.13 avg rating — 20,385 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
27

by
4.16 avg rating — 37,978 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
28

by
4.16 avg rating — 2,113,628 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
29

by
4.14 avg rating — 47,961 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
30

by
4.07 avg rating — 60,366 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
31

by
3.94 avg rating — 412,095 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
32

by
4.13 avg rating — 23,535 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
33

by
4.06 avg rating — 23,822 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
34

by
4.20 avg rating — 53,837 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
35

by
4.34 avg rating — 386,015 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
36

by
3.93 avg rating — 31,852 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
37

by
4.39 avg rating — 331,426 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
38

by
4.20 avg rating — 38,553 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
39

by
3.95 avg rating — 24,960 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
40

by
4.17 avg rating — 28,885 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
41

by
4.22 avg rating — 32,393 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
42

by
4.26 avg rating — 30,241 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
43

by
4.06 avg rating — 17,726 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
44

by
3.94 avg rating — 33,731 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
45

by
3.97 avg rating — 214,649 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
46

by
3.69 avg rating — 302,132 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
47

by
4.29 avg rating — 95,099 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
48

by
4.21 avg rating — 24,343 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
49

by
4.02 avg rating — 61,368 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
50

by
4.20 avg rating — 13,214 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
51

by
4.19 avg rating — 10,962 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
52

by
4.16 avg rating — 13,259 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
53

by
4.07 avg rating — 141,871 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
54

by
4.17 avg rating — 36,385 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
55

by
4.20 avg rating — 24,977 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
56

by
4.04 avg rating — 20,678 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
57

by
4.14 avg rating — 17,896 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
58

by
4.17 avg rating — 21,136 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
59

by
4.04 avg rating — 26,984 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
60

by
4.15 avg rating — 183,804 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
61

by
3.76 avg rating — 25,913 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
62

by
4.11 avg rating — 9,974 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
63

by
4.36 avg rating — 269,626 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
64

by
4.10 avg rating — 21,810 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
65

by
4.17 avg rating — 23,994 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
66

by
4.18 avg rating — 25,694 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
67

by
4.11 avg rating — 19,968 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
68

by
4.06 avg rating — 30,923 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
68

by
4.23 avg rating — 17,509 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
70

by
3.86 avg rating — 51,299 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
71

by
4.08 avg rating — 39,632 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
72

by
4.02 avg rating — 23,584 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
73

by
4.14 avg rating — 17,616 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
74

by
4.02 avg rating — 14,955 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
75

by
3.98 avg rating — 16,645 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
76

by
4.65 avg rating — 71 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
77

by
4.21 avg rating — 35,896 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
78

by
4.12 avg rating — 12,414 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
79

by
4.44 avg rating — 192,081 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
80

by
4.05 avg rating — 19,750 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
81

by
4.26 avg rating — 227,360 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
82

by
4.11 avg rating — 15,153 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
83

by
4.10 avg rating — 18,421 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
84

by
3.95 avg rating — 23,025 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
85

by
3.90 avg rating — 24,582 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
86

by
4.08 avg rating — 14,090 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
87

by
4.15 avg rating — 18,361 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
88

by
4.15 avg rating — 16,969 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
89

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11,618 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
90

by
3.77 avg rating — 14,585 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
91

by
4.10 avg rating — 22,944 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
92

by
4.44 avg rating — 166,067 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
93

by
4.05 avg rating — 17,675 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
94

by
4.02 avg rating — 22,278 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
95

by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 12,892 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
96

by
4.06 avg rating — 17,180 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
97

by
4.10 avg rating — 12,204 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
98

by
4.02 avg rating — 10,714 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
99

by
4.06 avg rating — 10,373 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
100

by
4.26 avg rating — 5,770 ratings
Rate this book
Clear rating
1,973 books · 2,158 voters · list created August 10th, 2008 by Suvi (votes) .
256 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Suvi 2340 books
7 friends
Barbara 3833 books
29 friends
Kathrynn 1629 books
46 friends
Cindy 10741 books
159 friends
Jessica 116 books
309 friends
new_user 1560 books
193 friends
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads 3386 books
851 friends
Sandra 889 books
69 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-30 of 30 (30 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Anna (new)

Anna I think that For the Roses by Julie Garwood needs to be added to this list. As do all the Cynsters by Stephanie Laurens, all the Sherbrooke Bride books by Catherine Coulter, and all the Julia Quinn books about the Bridgertons. And lots of others. I think I'll have to do my own list.


message 2: by Anna (new)

Anna From one Anna to another . . . I agree with you! I love the Sherbrooke series; so funny and adventurous. And every one of the Bridgerton siblings was lovable and had a great story. Especially Eloise and Colin--their stories are my top 2, but I love them all.


message 3: by Henryetta (new)

Henryetta Do the voters ever read the list titles or categories? How could 13 people vote for Eclipse by Stephenie Myers? Historical--really? What century or decade was the setting? I liked the Twilight series, but can someone please remove it from this list.


message 4: by Alexa (new)

Alexa Henryetta wrote: "Do the voters ever read the list titles or categories? How could 13 people vote for Eclipse by Stephenie Myers? Historical--really? What century or decade was the setting? I liked the Twilight s..."

I was reading the list and I saw it too. Historical romance? I mean, REALLY? Seriously, people.


message 5: by Cryselle (new)

Cryselle Have no idea why books from Bronte and Austen are on this list either -- they aren't historical romance. Good books, but utterly contemporary when they were written. They belong on a classics shelf.


message 6: by Julie (new)

Julie S. That is strange that people would call Eclipse historical fiction. The Twilight books were published not that long ago...


message 7: by Henryetta (new)

Henryetta Historical fiction tells a story that is SET IN THE PAST--not necessarly published in the past. Since all of the "Twilight" books are set in present day--as noted by the cars the characters drive--they can NOT be historical fiction. What is or is not considered "historical" is discussed in the comments of "Best Historical Fiction".


message 8: by Danna (new)

Danna Wow, I think you got some great books in here, personally, I have a complete reading list for holidays-time, thank you! According to the voting of some people ("users") I know online, I learn that the books you included on this list are incredible, and I would like to thank you for this, so Thanks A Lot!
I gonna vote now, for the book that I do know. Gone with the Wind, which is amazing, and the Jane Austin, the first book on the list, for now, anyway.


message 9: by Danna (new)

Danna Cryselle wrote: "Have no idea why books from Bronte and Austen are on this list either -- they aren't historical romance. Good books, but utterly contemporary when they were written. They belong on a classics shelf."

Austen? Come on, she is The author of historical romance :)


message 10: by Valerie (new)

Valerie Kite Bronte is historical from our current viewpoint.


message 11: by Diane (new)

Diane Diana Gabaldon and Barbara Erskine for me all the way...


message 12: by Siasiam (new)

Siasiam can anyone tell me abuout this site?? am new here..can we read online here????


message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Siasiam wrote: "can anyone tell me abuout this site?? am new here..can we read online here????"

Not really, this is more to give you an idea about what you might want to read.


message 14: by Hanae (new)

Hanae I've removed the Twilight books from the list - the people who added it or voted for it clearly hadn't read the list description.


message 15: by Hanae (new)

Hanae "The Odyssey" is gone from the list, as well as the books that were added twice or were listed under a wrong title.


message 16: by [deleted user] (new)

Hanae wrote: ""The Odyssey" is gone from the list, as well as the books that were added twice or were listed under a wrong title."

Thanks, I appreciate it when a librarian cleans up these lists.


message 17: by Hanae (new)

Hanae let me know if there's anything else you'd like me to remove. I'd be glad to help.


message 18: by Dede (new)

Dede Jojo I read a lot of romance books I love reading


message 19: by Dede (new)

Dede Jojo I am new her if any one recommend any books plz do


message 20: by Mochaspresso (new)

Mochaspresso Technically, historical fiction means a fictional story that is set in the past (any time in the past..not necessarily "long, long ago") and is usually centered around a historical event. Austen and Bronte aren't technically historical fiction because they aren't centered around historical events. Not in the same, clear way that "Gone With the Wind" and Gabaldon's "Outlander" are. Quite a few books on this list don't belong.


message 21: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jun 30, 2013 02:39PM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) I've seen quite a number of books on this list I personally wouldn't consider a 'historical romance' but that might be a matter of opinion :-) Anne Frank's diary, however, is definitely not a historical romance and will be removed.


message 22: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre are not historical fiction. They were written about the time periods they were written during. If that's all it takes for something to be historical, I'm sure we'll eventually have to have Eclipse re-added to this list. ;)


message 23: by Greselley (new)

Greselley I can't believe Dreaming of you is only in no. 10 spot!!! This is so bad.


message 24: by Emily (new)

Emily I would add The Conquerer (sp?) by Brenda Joyce


message 25: by Shanna (new)

Shanna Rampersad Anna wrote: "I think that For the Roses by Julie Garwood needs to be added to this list. As do all the Cynsters by Stephanie Laurens, all the Sherbrooke Bride books by Catherine Coulter, and all the Julia Quinn..."

yes,I totally agree


message 26: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Aug 15, 2020 01:39AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Henryetta wrote: "Historical fiction tells a story that is SET IN THE PAST--..."

In my opinion, historical fiction means it is not set when it was first publishsed. For instance, Pride and Prejudice is not historical fiction, as it was set in the time it was written. It needs to be set in the past (50 years or more, or such).


BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Elizabeth wrote: "Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre are not historical fiction. They were written about the time periods they were written during...."

I agree...


BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Cryselle wrote: "Have no idea why books from Bronte and Austen are on this list either -- they aren't historical romance. Good books, but utterly contemporary when they were written. They belong on a classics shelf."

I totally agree...


message 29: by Midniteillusion (new)

Midniteillusion Can A Cedar Cove Christmas (Cedar Cove, #8.5) be removed? It's a contemporary.


message 30: by Sam (new)

Sam Other than Heyer ), the top 100 of this list is full of popular authors I strenuously avoid. Hmm, guess I should look for another list.


back to top



Related News

Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day, according to early...

Anyone can add books to this list.