Outlander
Diana Gabaldon · Book 1 of 10 in Outlander
Spice 4/5 · SpicyA WWII nurse falls through standing stones into 1743 Scotland and is forced to marry Jamie Fraser. Big, epic, steamy.
- Marriage of convenience
- Forbidden love
- Virgin hero
Subgenre
Historical romance books
Dukes, ballrooms, corsets and scandal. Regency, Victorian, Highlander and more. 10 books so far, including Outlander, The Duke and I and A Lady for a Duke.
Spice
The Duke and I
Julia Quinn · Book 1 of 8 in Bridgertons
Spice 3/5 · SteamyA duke who never wants to marry and a Bridgerton who needs suitors. Fake courtship, very real feelings.
- Fake dating
- Regency
The Viscount Who Loved Me
Julia Quinn · Book 2 of 8 in Bridgertons
Spice 3/5 · SteamyAnthony Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield: enemies to lovers, a bee and the fan-favourite season.
- Enemies to lovers
- Marriage of convenience
- Regency
Devil in Winter
Lisa Kleypas · Book 3 of 4 in Wallflowers
Spice 4/5 · SpicyA shy wallflower proposes a marriage of convenience to the most notorious rake in England. Readable alone.
- Marriage of convenience
- He falls first
- Bad boy
Romancing Mister Bridgerton
Julia Quinn · Book 4 of 8 in Bridgertons
Spice 3/5 · SteamyPenelope and Colin: years of unrequited love and a big gossip-column secret.
- Friends to lovers
- Secret identity
- Regency
A Lady for a Duke
Alexis Hall
Spice 3/5 · SteamyA trans woman who let the world think she died at Waterloo, and the best friend who never stopped grieving her.
- Friends to lovers
- Hurt / comfort
- Regency
A Marvellous Light
Freya Marske · Book 1 of 3 in The Last Binding
Spice 4/5 · SpicyEdwardian England, a hidden magical world and a bumbling civil servant cursed by mistake. Charming and very steamy.
- Opposites attract
- Forced proximity
- Grumpy hero
A Week to Be Wicked
Tessa Dare · Book 2 of 5 in Spindle Cove
Spice 4/5 · SpicyA geologist and a rakish lord fake an elopement to Scotland. Fossils and banter.
- Road trip / vacation
- Opposites attract
- Smart / nerdy heroine
Bringing Down the Duke
Evie Dunmore · Book 1 in A League of Extraordinary Women
Spice 3/5 · SteamyA suffragist at Oxford and the duke she is trying to recruit to her cause. Smart and slow.
- Opposites attract
- Smart / nerdy heroine
- Victorian
Romancing the Duke
Tessa Dare · Book 1 of 4 in Castles Ever After
Spice 3/5 · SteamyShe inherits a castle that comes with a grumpy, blind duke who refuses to leave. Delightful.
- Beauty and the Beast
- Grumpy hero
- Disability rep
Popular tropes in historical
Historical: FAQ
What are the best historical books?
Reader favourites include Outlander by Diana Gabaldon; The Duke and I by Julia Quinn; A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall; A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske; Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore. Use the spice filter above to narrow it to your heat level.
What are the spiciest historical books?
For explicit historical romance, try Outlander by Diana Gabaldon; A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske. These are rated 4 or 5 out of 5 on our spice scale.
Are there standalone historical books?
If you do not want to commit to a series, try A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall.