Bridgerton-Like Books: 10 Beautiful Reads Like Bridgerton

Last updated on April 28th, 2024 at 11:31 am

If you’ve watched the highly popular and most talked about Bridgerton on Netflix and as a consequence read the books on which it is based, and are now looking for similar books to satisfy your craving, then check out these just as amazing (if not more) historical romance books that are guaranteed to more than satisfy your yearning.

A Few Things to Know

I read and love historical romance books before I came to do the same with contemporary ones.

Just like Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series, most of these books are part of a series, too, so you’ll have more amazing books to look forward to after you finish one.

Related Readings:

• Enemies to Lovers Books So Swoony You Can’t Put Down
• The Best Fantasy Books You Absolutely Have to Read

Lastly, all these books are written by amazing and talented authors. They have different writing styles, but everyone wrote captivating and riveting stories that many love.

So we hope you’ll find your next favorite book among these gems.

This post may contain affiliate links that may earn us a commission, at no additional cost to you, if you buy via them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see our Disclosure for more info.

Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught

Judith McNaught wrote beautiful and captivating stories of love that would make you feel a wide range of emotions: happy, sad, ecstatic, outraged, swooning, sighing—but in the end, you’ll feel like you’ve lived with the characters in the book. Most of her historicals were set during England’s Regency era, except for one that was set during the medieval period.

If you’re new to her, the best place to start would probably be Whitney, My Love. It’s the first in a Regency series that tells the love story of Whitney, a young debutante, and Lord Clayton Westmoreland, the Duke of Claymore, who were arranged to be married. The story is more complex than that, though, because there’s also deception, distrust and hate. But then there’s forgiveness and a beautiful, everlasting love as well.

Ms. McNaught’s sole medieval book is some sort of a prequel to Whitney, My Love as it’s the story of Clayton Westmoreland’s ancestor.

Also, just like in the Bridgerton series, Ms. McNaught’s books feature other characters from her other books, so you’ll be seeing more of Whitney and the Duke in later books as well.

The Wallflower Series by Lisa Kleypas

Another excellent historical romance author is Lisa Kleypas. Just like Bridgerton, her historicals are set during the Regency period, too. 

I recommend starting with The Wallflower series, which is amazing. It covers six books and tells the love stories of ladies who were wallflowers—the unpopular debutantes who were passed over at balls and parties, and relegated to the walls because they were considered not to be beautiful or interesting enough to merit the attention of gentlemen.

I love The Wallflower series because not only are the romances swoony, but the friendships between the main female leads as well as the main male leads are beautiful, and such friendship goals.

Love by Numbers Series by Sarah MacLean

Sarah MacLean is another historical romance author you should add to your list. She writes engaging stories with unique plots and (just like Julia Quinn’s the Bridgerton) witty dialogues that would make you smile and warm your heart.

Some of my favorites from her are Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart and Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, which is both from the Love By Numbers series.

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase is one of the most beautiful historical romance books ever written. It has well-written characters who share amazing chemistry and there’s constant sexual tension throughout the book.

It’s the story of Sebastian, the notorious Marquess of Dain and Jessica Trent, who were thrown into an unexpected marriage because of interesting circumstances. Each comes from a different upbringing, so one has to learn to trust the other, while the other has to learn to patiently coax out that trust. It’s one passionate story of love that you’d surely love as much as you did the Bridgerton.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashely is something different yet beautiful and amazing just the same.

It’s the story of two flawed individuals who found acceptance and love from each other. Lord Ian Mackenzie suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. Back then, though, they didn’t know about Asperger’s Syndrome yet and just thought that he was crazy. Beth Ackerley was a widow about to get married again. When they meet, Ian helps Beth out of what could have been a disastrous marriage. That was the start of a lovely romance. 

Ian was endearing and his love for Beth was just so heartwarming. Beth was just the perfect strong partner for him who loved him just the way he was. Don’t miss this incredible read.

Related Article: The Best Books Set in Paris: 10 Riveting Reads

Mary Balogh

Mary Balogh is one of my favorite historical romance authors. She writes beautiful romance and her prose is dazzling. She’s penned many beautiful historical romance books and there are many to choose from. I have a lot of favorites from her, but the two that stand out are The Secret Pearl and A Matter of Class.

The Secret Pearl is about a down-on-her-luck heroine who was forced to sell her body for one night to a Duke to survive. She meets the Duke again when she starts to work for him. It’s a moving and beautiful tale of two sad people who found much-deserved happiness and love in each other.

A Matter of Class is one of the most unique and clever books I’ve read. The way Mary Balogh presented the story was different but amazing and I loved it.

The main leads in this story come from feuding families. The hero is from a wealthy but non-noble family, while the heroine is from nobility but her family is in heavy debt and she has been ruined. They were arranged to be married, but then not everything is what it seems.

This was an amazing read and I’m sure you’re going to love it, too.

Gaelen Foley

Gaelen Foley writes intriguing stories with rich plots. Her romance is also beautiful and heartwarming. A great place to start with her books is the Ascension Trilogy or Knight Miscellany series.

The Ascension Trilogy covers three love stories set in the fictional kingdom of Ascension. Some of the characters in each book are royalty. Aside from romance, there is also action, intrigue, and suspense, all of which make the plot more interesting.

The Knight Miscellany series tells the love story of each of the Knight siblings, members of England’s nobility. It starts with The Duke, the love story of Robert Knight, the Duke of Hawkscliffe, who falls in love with a courtesan. It’s a wonderful love story with fascinating characters. You’ll also get to take a closer look at the inner workings of English society at that time in this book.

What I Did For A Duke by Julie Anne Long

What I Did For A Duke by Julie Anne Long is a character-driven historical romance that’s written in the author’s eloquent, almost flawless prose. The illustration and imagery used by Ms. Long bring the setting and the story to life, while the dialogues are quick-witted and absorbing. Just like Daphne and Simon in Bridgerton, the hero and heroine share strong chemistry, making the romance believable and swoon-worthy.

The story is about a Duke who seeks revenge against the brother of the heroine by using the latter. That didn’t go according to plan, of course, as the two fell in love.

Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale

Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm is simply one of the best, most stunning, and moving historical romance books ever written. It would make you feel a whole gamut of emotions that would culminate in you sighing with happiness at the end.

The hero was a Duke who suffered from a stroke. But back then, they didn’t know yet what that was so they thought he was just insane and so placed him in a mental asylum. The heroine was a Quaker who was devoted to God and to living a moral, simple life without the material things of this world. They were worlds apart, socially and morally.

By some stroke of luck, the heroine whom he met briefly before, became his caregiver in the asylum. She found out, however, that he wasn’t really insane and helped him escape the asylum. Thus began an incredible, beautiful, and notable love story.

Passion by Lisa Valdez

Passion by Lisa Valdez is as sensual as it is a touching love story of individuals who deserve love in their lives. 

Our heroine is Passion, a widow who just got out of mourning, while Mark, the hero, is an Earl who had closed off his heart to the world. Their first meeting was passionate and although they didn’t know each other at that time, they had an intense encounter. Several trysts followed, which added suspense to the multilayered story. There is scheming, betrayal, and more drama that all came together to make this book such a riveting and entertaining read.

Final Thoughts

We hope these books will satisfy your craving for Bridgerton. Let us know how you like them!

If you like this post, don’t forget to share it with others or save it for later.

Follow me on:

Instagram ・ Facebook ・ Pinterest ・ Twitter ・Bloglovin