Here are six 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. Also, browse our If You Like Contemporary Romance reading recommendations.
1. Read an award winner.
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 with category awards for Romance, Gay Romance and Lesbian Romance.
- For audiobook listeners try out the Audie Award winners in the Romance category.
2. Borrow e-books, downloadable audiobooks, or movies.
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 IndyPL library card. If you have never borrowed from OverDrive before, both OverDrive app directions and OverDrive browser directions are available as well as an OverDrive video tutorial and Overdrive Support. If you have never borrowed from Kanopy before, try these Kanopy directions.
Need more 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.
3. Get reading recommendations from IndyPL staff.
The Gilded Age
In United States history, the Gilded Age was an era extending roughly from 1877 to 1900. It was a time of rapid economic growth, especially in the Northern and Western United States. As American wages grew much higher than those in Europe, especially for skilled workers, and industrialization demanded an ever-increasing unskilled labor force, the period saw an influx of millions of European immigrants. The fiction and mystery books listed here are all set in that time period.
- Bi Historical Romances – IndyPL_SarahS
- Enemies-to-Lovers Historical Romance to Read in Honor of Bridgerton’s Second Season – IndyPL_RachelNW
- Historical Romance Featuring Characters of Color – IndyPL_RachelNW
4. Use your IndyPL Library card to login to Novelist Plus.
Use your IndyPL Library card to login to Novelist Plus. On Novelist Plus you’ll find historical romance reading recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning historical romance books. Once you login with your IndyPL library card, choose the “Romance” category from the list on the left which includes choices like “Regency Rogues,” “Victorian Days,” “Men in Kilts,” and more. Click on a book to read a brief description, see a star rating, or choose “Check Availability” to see if the book is available to borrow from IndyPL.
5. Subscribe to the romance newsletter from NextReads.
Subscribe to NextReads to receive romance reading recommendation in your inbox monthly. Book suggestions are linked to our catalog for easy requesting. It’s FREE! See a sample issue. Subscribe to NextReads!
6. Make a selection from these 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
Find a book discussion near you!
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: WitLITS Book Discussion Group
- Date & Time: Friday, September 22, 10:00am
- Location: Spades Park Branch
- Description: A read aloud group exploring classic literature in a group reading.
- No Registration Required.
- Event: Adult Book Discussion at Nora
- Date & Time: Monday, September 25, 5:30pm
- Location: Nora Branch
- Description: Join us for a discussion of “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman. Adults are invited to join us in this monthly book discussion.
- Register Here
- Event: All Things True Crime Online Book Discussion
- Date & Time: Monday, September 25, 6:00pm
- Location: Online
- Description: Join us as we discuss all things true crime. This month we will discuss “Hell’s Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men” by Harold Schechter.
- Register Here