Queer Historical Romance

Queer stories with good representation of periodic romances.

Updated November 7, 2025
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The care and feeding of waspish widows
Waite, Olivia
Paper Book
When Agatha Griffin finds a colony of bees in her warehouse, it's the not-so-perfect ending to a not-so-perfect week. Busy trying to keep her printing business afloat amidst rising taxes and the suppression of radical printers like her son, the last thing the widow wants is to be...
Don't want you like a best friend : a novel
Alban, Emma R.
Audiobook
Fingersmith
Waters, Sarah
Paper Book
The Handmaiden, a film adaptation of Fingersmith, directed by Park Chan-wook and starring Kim Tae-Ri, is now available. Sue Trinder is an orphan, left as an infant in the care of Mrs. Sucksby, a "baby farmer," who raised her with unusual tenderness, as if Sue were...
Fried green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Flagg, Fannie.
Paper Book
Folksy and fresh, endearing and affecting, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is a now-classic novel about two women: Evelyn, who's in the sad slump of middle age, and gray-headed Mrs. Threadgoode, who's telling her life story. Her tale includes two more women--the irrepressibly...
A gentleman never keeps score
Sebastian, Cat
Paper Book
If you haven't read Cat Sebastian, what are you waiting for?"--Lorraine Heath, New York Times bestselling author   Once beloved by London's fashionable elite, Hartley Sedgwick has become a recluse after a spate of salacious gossip exposed his most-private secrets. Rarely...
The gentleman's book of vices
Everlee, Jess
Paper Book
Is their real-life love story doomed to be a tragedy, or can they rewrite the ending? London, 1883 Finely dressed and finely drunk, Charlie Price is a man dedicated to his vices. Chief among them is his explicit novel collection, though...
The gentleman's guide to vice and virtue
Lee, Mackenzi
Paper Book
A Kirkus Prize nominee and Stonewall Honor winner with 5 starred reviews! A New York Times bestseller! Named one of the best books of 2017 by NPR and the New York Public Library! "The queer teen historical you didn't know was missing from your life."--Teen...
Gwen & Art are not in love
Croucher, Lex
Ebook
An Instant New York Times Bestseller! "A total, rollicking delight. Gwen & Art gave me the same cheeky, swoony, giddy, irresistible high of the first time I saw A Knight's Tale. Lex Croucher is one of my favorite romcom authors, and they should be yours...
The hellion's waltz
Waite, Olivia
Paper Book
It's not a crime to steal a heart...  Sophie Roseingrave hates nothing more than a swindler. After her family lost their piano shop to a con man in London, they're trying to start fresh in a new town. Her father is convinced Carrisford is an upright and...
An island princess starts a scandal
Herrera, Adriana (Romance author)
Audiobook
A lady for a duke
Hall, Alexis J.
Paper Book
From the bestselling author of Husband Material comes a lush, sweeping queer historical romance where sparks fly between childhood friends after a life-changing separation--perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Evie Dunmore, and Lisa Kleypas!​ When Viola Carroll...
Last night at the Telegraph Club
Lo, Malinda
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD AND STONEWALL BOOK AWARD * From acclaimed author Malinda Lo comes a gripping, tender coming-of-age novel exploring identity, queerness, and historical upheaval set in San Francisco's Chinatown during the 1950s. ...
Learned by heart
Donoghue, Emma
Ebook
"A wrenching love story" (Chris Bohjalian, The Washington Post) based on the true story of two girls who fall secretly, deeply, and dangerously in love at boarding school in 19th century York, from the bestselling author of Room and The Wonder. Drawing on years of...
The librarian of burned books : a novel
Labuskes, Brianna
Paper Book
For fans of The Rose Code and The Paris Library, The Librarian of Burned Books is a captivating WWII-era novel about the intertwined fates of three women who believe in the power of books to triumph over the very darkest moments of war.  Berlin...
Like a love story
Nazemian, Abdi
Paper Book
Stonewall Honor Book * A Time Magazine Best YA Book of All Time "A book for warriors, divas, artists, queens, individuals, activists, trend setters, and anyone searching for the courage to be themselves."--Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and...
Most ardently : a Pride & Prejudice remix
Novoa, Gabe Cole
Ebook
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A STONEWALL HONOR BOOK A trans boy searches for a future--and a romance--in which he can live and love openly as himself in this heartwrenching YA reimagining of Pride & Prejudice, perfect for fans of Bridgerton and Gwen...
The perfect crimes of Marian Hayes : a novel
Sebastian, Cat
Paper Book
Cat Sebastian returns to Georgian London with a stunning tale of a reluctant criminal and the thief who cannot help but love her. Marian Hayes, the Duchess of Clare, just shot her husband. Of course, the evil, murderous man deserved what was coming to him, but...
The perks of loving a wallflower
Ridley, Erica
Paper Book
Fans of Bridgerton will love this "delightful" Regency romp (Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author​) named one of the best romances of the year by Entertainment Weekly. As a master of disguise, Thomasina Wynchester can be a...
The price of salt
Highsmith, Patricia
Paper Book
A chance encounter between two lonely women leads to a passionate romance in this lesbian cult classic. Therese, a struggling young sales clerk, and Carol, a homemaker in the midst of a bitter divorce, abandon their oppressive daily routines for the freedom of the open road, where their love can...
The queer principles of Kit Webb : a novel
Sebastian, Cat
Paper Book
"The Queer Principles of Kit Webb kept me up all night! I simply couldn't put it down."-- Tessa Dare, New York Times bestselling author "Sharp, smart, and oh-so-swoony, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb reminds me that Cat Sebastian is an author...
The safekeep : a novel
Wouden, Yael van der
Ebook
* SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 BOOKER PRIZE * * WINNER OF THE NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD FOR DEBUT FICTION * * WINNER OF THE 2025 WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION * Shortlisted for the 2025 Dylan Thomas Prize and Aspen Words Literary Prize * A Best Book...
Something fabulous
Hall, Alexis J.
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author of Boyfriend Material comes a delightfully witty romance featuring a reserved duke who's betrothed to one twin and hopelessly enamoured of the other. Valentine Layton, the Duke of Malvern, has twin problems: literally. It was always his father...
We could be so good : a novel
Sebastian, Cat
Ebook
A New York Times Notable Book of 2023 A New York Times Books Review Best Romances of 2023 pick * Apple Books' Best Books of the Month * Amazon Best Books of the Month Editor's Pick, Romance * An NPR "Books We Love" * Library Journal Romance Pick of the Month * LibraryReads Hall of Fame:...
The world and all that it holds
Hemon, Aleksandar
Paper Book
The World and All That It Holds--in all its hilarious, heartbreaking, erotic, philosophical glory--showcases Aleksandar Hemon's celebrated talent at its pinnacle. It is a grand, tender, sweeping story that spans decades and continents. It cements Hemon as one of the boldest voices in...

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