Reading Recommendations

If You Like Historical Romance

01/15/26 If You Like, Romance

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.

Historical Romance Authors

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: Bodies in the Library
Date & Time: Tuesday, August 18, 6:00pm
Location: Central Library
Description: Calling all murder mystery fans! Whether you love the puzzle of a traditional mystery or the drama of a police procedural, join us in the Indianapolis Special Collections Room every third Tuesday of the month from 6-7 p.m. for a new book club highlighting all things murderous and mysterious.
No Registration Required.

Event: Quiet Library: a Book Club
Date & Time: Wednesday, August 19, 3:00pm
Location: Spades Park Branch
Description: Bring whatever you are reading and join us at Spades Park for a quiet time to relax and read uninterrupted.
No Registration Required.

Event: Clues & Coffee
Date & Time: Thursday, August 20, 11:00am
Location: Community Location
Description: A monthly book club that meets to discuss cozy mysteries! Meets every 3rd Thursday at Normal Coffee from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
No Registration Required.

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.

Tags If You Like, Romance