Queer Historical Romance

Queer stories with good representation of periodic romances.

Updated November 7, 2025
Rochester Public Library RPL Staff
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Queer Historical Romance

Queer stories with good representation of periodic romances.

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I Am You
Redel, Victoria
Paper Book
This "lush, sexy, absorbing novel" of historical fiction "brings to life two artists who are inextricably linked in passion and competition" (Melissa Febos, bestselling author of Girlhood) A "captivating" lesbian romance set in the "wonderfully atmospheric" art world of 1600s...
Don't want you like a best friend : a novel
Alban, Emma R.
Paper Book
A swoon-worthy debut queer Victorian romance in which two debutantes distract themselves from having to seek husbands by setting up their widowed parents, and instead find their perfect match in each other--the lesbian Bridgerton/Parent Trap you never knew you needed! Gwen has a brilliant...
Escaping Mr. Rochester
McKinney, L. L.
Paper Book
In this fresh reimagining of Charlotte Brontë's classic novel by acclaimed author L. L. McKinney, Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason must save each other from the horrifying machinations of Mr. Rochester in this intrigue-filled, empowering young adult romance. Jane Eyre has no...
Fingersmith
Waters, Sarah
Paper Book
From the author of the New York Times Notable Book Tipping the Velvet and the award-winning Affinity: a spellbinding, twisting tale of a great swindle, of fortunes and hearts won and lost, set in Victorian London among a family of thieves. Sue Trinder is an orphan, left as an infant in the care of...
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
Ebook
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...
A gentleman's gentleman
Alexander, T. J.
Paper Book
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER * From the acclaimed author of Chef's Kiss, a groundbreaking trans Regency romance that's both delightfully witty and refreshingly iconoclastic. "A Gentleman's Gentleman is a thoroughly charming confection of a romance. If you're looking...
The gentleman's guide to vice and virtue
Lee, Mackenzi
Paper Book
Henry "Monty" Montague was born to be a gentleman, but even the finest boarding schools in England haven't been able to tame his roguish passions--not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men. But as Monty...
Gwen & Art are not in love
Croucher, Lex
Paper Book
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...
ISLAND PRINCESS STARTS A SCANDAL
HERRERA, ADRIANA
Paper Book
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER! "Adriana Herrera is once again here to upend any outdated notions of historical romance." --Entertainment Weekly One last summer.  For Manuela del Carmen Caceres Galvan, the invitation to show her...
It takes two to tumble
Sebastian, Cat
Ebook
"Sebastian proves she is a new force to be reckoned with in historical romances."--Booklist Some of Ben Sedgwick's favorite things: Helping his poor parishioners Baby animals Shamelessly flirting with the handsome Captain Phillip Dacre  <...
Ladies in Hating
Vasti, Alexandra
Paper Book
A pair of Gothic novelists trade rivalry for love in this swoony, steamy, sapphic Regency by USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti. Celebrated authoress Lady Georgiana Cleeve has achieved fame and fortune. Unfortunately, she's also acquired an enemy: the...
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...
Lady like : a novel
Lee, Mackenzi
Paper Book
Two women set their sights on marrying the same duke, but instead of becoming enemies, they find themselves falling in love--though not with him. "My new favorite romance author."--Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series ...
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
Paper Book
"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...
A little light mischief
Sebastian, Cat
Ebook
A seductive thief Lady's maid Molly Wilkins is done with thieving--and cheating and stabbing and all the rest of it. She's determined to keep her hands to herself, so she really shouldn't be tempted to seduce her employer's prim and proper companion, Alice. But how can she resist when...
Most ardently : a Pride & Prejudice remix
Novoa, Gabe Cole
Paper Book
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...
Mutual interest : a novel
Wolfgang-Smith, Olivia
Paper Book
An enthralling, dishy novel about ambition, sexuality, and the rise of a capitalist empire in post-Gilded Age New York. "Hernan Diaz's Trust but make it gay? Narrated in the sly-eyed style of Plain Bad Heroines? I am absolutely...
Not for the faint of heart
Croucher, Lex
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Lex Croucher comes a queer historical YA romance, with all the swoons, laughs, and heart-pounding moments you'd expect from a story about the granddaughter of Robin Hood and the girl she's accidentally kidnapped. 'You aren't...
The other March sisters
Epstein, Linda
Paper Book
Giving all the "Little Women" the stories they deserve at last, this imaginative historical novel and companion to the much-loved classic draws Meg, Beth, and Amy March from behind the shadow of Jo - Louisa May Alcott's alter-ego and the "author" of Little Women - as vibrant and...
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...
Carol
Highsmith, Patricia
Paper Book
Now a major motion picture. Patricia Highsmith's story of romantic obsession may be one of the most important, but still largely unrecognized, novels of the twentieth century. First published in 1952 and touted as "the novel of a love that society forbids," the book soon became a cult...
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
Paper Book
* 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...
The secret lives of country gentlemen
Charles, KJ
Paper Book
Abandoned by his father, Gareth Inglis grew up lonely, prickly, and well-used to disappointment. Still, he longs for a connection. When he meets a charming stranger, he falls head over heels-until everything goes wrong and he's left alone again. Then Gareth's father dies, turning the shabby London...
A shore thing
Lowell, Joanna
Paper Book
Former painter and unreformed rake Kit Griffith is forging a new life in Cornwall, choosing freedom over an identity that didn't fit. He knew that leaving his Sisterhood of women artists might mean forfeiting artistic community forever. He didn't realize he would lose his ability to paint altogether...
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...
Two rogues make a right
Sebastian, Cat
Paper Book
Will Sedgwick can't believe that after months of searching for his oldest friend, Martin Easterbrook is found hiding in an attic like a gothic nightmare. Intent on nursing Martin back to health, Will kindly kidnaps him and takes him to the countryside to recover, well away from the...
We could be so good : a novel
Sebastian, Cat
Paper Book
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:...
Worth a fortune
Ledel, Sam
Paper Book
In the aftermath of the Second World War, Harriet Browning has thrived as the heiress to a lumber fortune, living lavishly among New York's elite. Her father's death reveals unexpected financial woes, and Harriet is left to face a sudden, harsh reality. Ava Clark threw herself into the...
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