Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Walking Around the Classics: Exploring Historical Romance Beyond the Obvious - A Cozy Quarterly Reading Challenge

Hello lovely readers!

We all love the classics — the familiar titles, the comfort reads, the books we return to again and again. But just beyond those well-worn paths, there’s a whole landscape of equally wonderful stories that often get overlooked.

Walking Around the Classics is about staying firmly within the world of classic historical romance (written pre-1950) while gently stepping away from the most obvious choices. It’s an invitation to:
• explore lesser-known works by authors we already love
• discover novels that are rarely the first recommendation
• give time and attention to classics that quietly sit in the background

This challenge isn’t about abandoning favourites — it’s about widening the circle just a little, and seeing what else is out there.

No rigid reading lists, no pressure to keep up. Just curiosity, shared discoveries, and the joy of finding a “new” classic to love.

The Full List of Challenge Themes

These are the 12 themes that make up the Walking Around the Classics challenge. Each year, we’ll select a few of them to use — so even if you don’t read them all now, there’s always something new waiting just around the corner.

• A romance by a famous author that is rarely a first choice
• A romance written by a woman between 1900–1949
• A romance that does not have a famous film or TV adaptation
• A romance written by a woman before 1850
• A romance from a country rarely represented in the group
• A romance published anonymously or under a pseudonym
• A romance written by a lesser-known author
• A romance by an author you’ve never read before
• A romance that is not British
• A romance with low visibility on Goodreads
• A romance written by a woman between 1850–1900
• A romance mentioned or referenced in another literary work

Walking Around the Classics — 2026 Edition

For 2026, we’ll be using four themes, one per quarter, giving everyone plenty of time to read at their own pace.

Quarter 1 (Jan–Mar)
A romance written by a woman before 1850
Quarter 2 (Apr–Jun)
A romance by a famous author that is rarely a first choice
Quarter 3 (Jul–Sep)
A romance that does not have a famous film or TV adaptation
Quarter 4 (Oct–Dec)
A romance from a country rarely represented in the group

How the Challenge Works

Each quarter follows the same cozy rhythm:

Nominations
• Everyone may nominate one book that fits the quarterly theme
• Please share the title, author, and a sentence or two about why you chose it

Voting (BOTM-style)
• Voting is done via a simple Google Form
• One vote per person

Quarterly Pick
• The winning book becomes our Quarterly Pick
• Reading it is encouraged — but never required
• Feeling a little daring? You’re welcome to read the top three most-voted books, at a relaxed pace of one per month during the quarter

Discussions & Vibes

• One discussion thread per quarter
• Spoiler-free thoughts, reading updates, and gentle rambling welcome
• Re-reads allowed, mood-reading encouraged

So grab a blanket, a cup of tea, and a classic you’ve been meaning to try — maybe one you’ve always meant to read but never quite got around to.
Let’s take our time and enjoy walking around the classics together.

As always, feel free to ask questions or share suggestions — this challenge is meant to be fun, flexible, and community-driven.

Happy readings!

Some examples for each theme:

Walking Around the Classics — Book Suggestions by Theme

All books fall within classic historical romance (written pre-1950).

1. A romance written by a woman before 1850
• Northanger Abbey — Jane Austen
• Evelina — Fanny Burney
• Belinda — Maria Edgeworth
• The Old Manor House — Charlotte Smith
• Corinne, or Italy — Madame de Staël

2. A romance written by a woman between 1850–1900
• The Tenant of Wildfell Hall — Anne Brontë
• Shirley — Charlotte Brontë
• Wives and Daughters — Elizabeth Gaskell
• The Mill on the Floss — George Eliot
• He Knew He Was Right — Anthony Trollope

3. A romance written by a woman between 1900–1949
• The Blue Castle — L. M. Montgomery
• The Making of a Marchioness — Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day — Winifred Watson
• Excellent Women — Barbara Pym
• The Shuttle — Frances Hodgson Burnett

4. A romance published anonymously or under a pseudonym
• Jane Eyre — Currer Bell (Charlotte Brontë)
• Middlemarch — George Eliot
• Agnes Grey — Acton Bell (Anne Brontë)
• Adam Bede — George Eliot
• The Scarlet Pimpernel — Baroness Orczy

5. A romance written by a lesser-known author
• The Semi-Attached Couple — Emily Eden
• Phoebe, Junior — Mrs. Oliphant
• East Lynne — Mrs. Henry Wood
• The Constant Nymph — Margaret Kennedy
• Miss Mackenzie — Anthony Trollope

6. A romance that is not British
• Little Women — Louisa May Alcott
• The Age of Innocence — Edith Wharton
• Camille — Alexandre Dumas fils
• Anna Karenina — Leo Tolstoy
• The House of the Seven Gables — Nathaniel Hawthorne

7. A romance by a famous author that is rarely a first choice
• Mansfield Park — Jane Austen
• Villette — Charlotte Brontë
• Shirley — Charlotte Brontë
• The Professor — Charlotte Brontë
• The Abbot’s Ghost — Louisa May Alcott

8. A romance by an author you’ve never read before
• The Rector’s Wife — Mrs. Humphry Ward
• The Card — Arnold Bennett
• The Constant Nymph — Margaret Kennedy
• Miss Buncle’s Book — D. E. Stevenson
• Green Dolphin Street — Elizabeth Goudge

9. A romance that does not have a famous film or TV adaptation
• The Semi-Attached Couple — Emily Eden
• The Shuttle — Frances Hodgson Burnett
• The Making of a Marchioness — Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Phoebe, Junior — Mrs. Oliphant
• Miss Mackenzie — Anthony Trollope

10. A romance with low visibility on Goodreads
• The Old Manor House — Charlotte Smith
• Helen — Maria Edgeworth
• The Heir of Redclyffe — Charlotte Yonge
• The Clever Woman of the Family — Charlotte Yonge
• The Marriage of William Ashe — Mrs. Humphry Ward

11. A romance from a country rarely represented in the group
• Corinne, or Italy — Madame de Staël
• The Betrothed — Alessandro Manzoni
• Quo Vadis — Henryk Sienkiewicz
• Camille — Alexandre Dumas fils
• Anna Karenina — Leo Tolstoy

12. A romance mentioned or referenced in another literary work
• The Mysteries of Udolpho — Ann Radcliffe
• Pamela — Samuel Richardson
• Clarissa — Samuel Richardson
• Evelina — Fanny Burney
• Corinne, or Italy — Madame de Staël

Sandra wrote: "Walking Around the Classics: Exploring Historical Romance Beyond the Obvious - A Cozy Quarterly Reading Challenge

Hello lovely readers!

We all love the classics — the familiar titles, the comfort..."

Sounds fun to me! My sister and mother are doing a literary leaning book club, so definitely in the mood for this!

I've been wanting to read both Evelina or Belinda after reading The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless for university. Evelina has my vote, especially since it influenced Jane Austen.

Great, Christine! You can nominate that book if you choose. I will start the nominations thread on Monday.

I realized just now that we're talking about classical literature. I'm sorry, but that's too challenging for me. I'm sorry!

Irina, I understand. In fact, I'm starting to think the same thing. Classicals aren't my thing either. I wish they would move the cut off date to 1970. I could find some great books from the 60s. Still, I'm going to give this challenge a try. Wish me luck ;)

You can do it, Lauren! I'm cheering you on. (All of you!)

Ummm Sandra... I can't remember. Did I sign up for this one? Can I just be a cheerleader like Irina instead?

Go Lauren! You can do it! 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️

Donna, thank you for the cheerleaders 😂

Yes, of course! It's just if you want to add a bunch of classics to your TBR. I feel, at least for me, that I'm lacking in that department and I thought it was a funny way to check some HR from those lists featuring "The Best 100 Books You Have to Read in Your lifetime" 😀

Thank you, Sandra!

Sandra, thank you explaining it

I vote for 2 in your list Sandra - I don't know much about this era accept for authors like Jane Austen.

First vote is for Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen. I loved the movie but have never read the book.

Second vote is for Belinda - Marie Edgeworth. I hadn't heard of this author before now and I found it fascinating that she came before Jane Austen was an influence for her.

I also struggle with reading classics. I love the stories but often struggle with the words and how they are written. I am keen to try and it may end up that I will do audiobooks for these (which I don't usually like to do!)

Clarissa, you have to nominate in the post created to do that. I have nominated Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and I don't know if someone nominated Belinda, pls check in the post! :)

But this list is just for examples you can nominate however you want :)

Thanks Sandra! will do.

I'm down for Northanger Abbey or Belinda! Upon first glance, NA might be an easier read.

I'll post the voting thread soon! If you want to make more nominations, you can do so until then.