Here some tips to help you find your next historical romantic read as well as a convenient clickable list of historical romance authors linked directly to our catalog for placing requests or checking out e-books or audiobooks. You might also find reading suggestions at If You Like Historical Fiction and If You Like Contemporary Romance.
Award Winners
There are a variety of awards given each year for the best in romance writing. Browse the winners from peoples’ choice to the best romance audiobook.
- The Romance Writers of America (RWA) Vivian Award and the Romantic Novelists Association (RNA) Rona Award both recognize excellence in romance writing.
- The Swoon Awards, or “Swoonies” is a reader-based award celebrating the romance community’s favorite romance novels of the year.
- The Emma Awards are the premier award for diversity in romantic literature recognizing excellence in works featuring diverse and multicultural protagonists.
- The Lambda Literary Awards, or “Lammys,” celebrate LGBTQ storytelling.
- For audiobook listeners try out the Audie Award in the Romance category.
e-Books or e-Audiobooks
Use romance lists from OverDrive and Kanopy to find e-books, audiobooks & streaming movies. Here are some short cut links to easily borrow online with your Library card. If you have never borrowed from Libby before, Libby directions and a Libby video tutorial are available, as well as OverDrive Support. If you have never borrowed from Kanopy before, try these Kanopy directions.
Reading Recommendations from Library Staff
Click on a featured booklist to get historical romance reading recommendations. See also If You Like Contemporary Romance or, if you you are looking for more history, try Staff Picks – 2025 Best of Romance.
- Bi Historical Romances
- Black Historical Romance
- Enemies-to-Lovers Historical Romance to Read in Honor of Bridgerton Season 2
- The Gilded Age
- Historical Romance Featuring Characters of Color
- LGBTQ+ Historical Romance
- Tension- Filled Historical Romances to Read in Honor of Bridgerton Season 3
- Time-crossed Lovers
Historical Romance Authors
Jennifer Ashley
Mary Balogh
Lenora Bell
Anna Bennett
Valerie Bowman
Anna Bradley
Linda Broday
Grace Burrowes
Kerrigan Byrne
Christi Caldwell
Candace Camp
K.J. Charles
Alyssa Cole
Tessa Dare
Jude Deveraux
Meredith Duran
Suzanne Enoch
Megan Frampton
Shana Galen
NoveList Plus
Use your Library card to login to NoveList Plus to find recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books.
Romance categories includes choices like “Regency Rogues,” “Victorian Days,” “Men in Kilts,” and more.
NextReads
You can choose to receive recommendations via email from categories including mysteries, audiobooks, urban fiction, graphic novels, biographies, history, kids’ books, Spanish, and so much more. Sign up for as many collection newsletters as you want. It’s FREE! Subscribe to the categories you’d like on NextReads today!
Book Discussions
You are invited to join in one of our many in-person or online book discussions that take place several times each month. In our book discussion groups we read and talk about both fiction and non-fiction books. We express our opinions (both likes and dislikes!) with other avid readers in the city.
- Event: Virtual Author Talk: The Power of Connection
- Date & Time: Tuesday, July 28, 2:00pm
- Location: Online
- Description: Join us in virtual conversation with bestselling author Dr. Marisa Franco, one of the world’s leading experts in human connection. Her book, Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make–And Keep–Friends, explores the science of attachment styles and how they impact our relationships.
- Register Here
- Event: Reader’s Roulette Book Club
- Date & Time: Tuesday, July 28, 6:30pm
- Location: Michigan Road Branch
- Description: You Spin It! We Read It! This Month’s Spin: Cozy. We’ll be reading “The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year” by Ally Carter.
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Popular Media Discussion Group
- Date & Time: Tuesday, July 28, 6:30pm
- Location: Community Location
- Description: We will be discussing anime at this meeting of the Popular Media Discussion Group. We will be meeting at Macizo Restaurant, located at 6335 Intech Commons Dr., Suites C/D, Indianapolis, IN 46278.
- Register Here
Need help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch, and listen on a PC, tablet, or phone.