Lady Whistledown’s 10 Best Regency Romance Novels
Dear Readers,
I must confess, while I have been thoroughly entertained by this year’s social season, I fear each season always ends more quickly than I desire. So, desperate times call for desperate measures, and if you’re like me, you’re craving books similar to the wit, desire, and drama provided by the Bridgertons. If you’ve found yourself devouring their drama as quickly as it comes, then you simply must read these other Regency romances to get you out of your Bridgerton hangover and extend your foray into the season’s madness.
In some ways, Hugh reminds me of Simon. The last thing he wants in the entire world is a wife. Although they have their different motivations, both of their marital hesitations stem from parental trauma. However, I must admit, I found myself laughing quite a bit while reading Hugh’s story in Never Fall for Your Fiancée, much more than I laughed while watching Simon and Daphne’s romance unfold. There’s nothing that brings me more joy than a meddlesome matchmaking mother and two young people trying to fake their feelings but finding that those feelings aren’t quite as fake as they thought.
Now, we all know that a big part of the social season is finding a match that will benefit each partner’s social standing. A true challenge, I dare say. In fact, it’s what once brought an end to Caroline’s (Caro’s) relationship with Valentine (Val) the first time around. Caro didn’t quite live up to standards with her flippant attitude towards the social hierarchy. A good second chance romance will always hit me right in the heart, and these two as unlikely allies trying to solve the disappearance of a mutual friend certainly had me riveted in An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire.
Speaking of social order, Bringing Down the Duke is perfect for fans of Eloise, the spunky, independent Bridgerton who wants to pave her own path. Except, in this case, Annabelle is the center of the drama as she works to recruit high-standing men to join the women’s suffrage movement in order to keep her scholarship as one of the first female students at the University of Oxford. Her strong will and conniving brain are focused on one man in particular: Sebastian Devereaux, the Duke of Montgomery. The hitch? He is equally strong-willed, and they find themselves locked in a battle of rising passions.
Finding the perfect match is often much more complex than coy flirtations with a fan or dancing across a ballroom floor. Sometimes these matches fizzle out as the years carry on, leaving couples distant and estranged, and you’ll find that in the case of Lady Violet Grey and Lord James Audley, their love story took a tumble after an argument left them cold and detached. I must say, their romance is a unique one that I have enjoyed hearing about in To Have and to Hoax as the two attempt to drive the other crazy through feigning illness and other methods of manipulation. The private affairs of married couples are rarely aired, so I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading their second chance romance.
When searching for the perfect partner, it’s only natural that one might compile a list of traits and qualities they desire in a person. However, we all know someone who sets their sights on a slightly unattainable list. I’ve found that the Honorable Mr. Jeremy Malcolm has done exactly that in Mr. Malcolm’s List, and unfortunately for him, the ladies he’s snubbed have grown to dislike him and plot their revenge. Selina, the daughter of a vicar, comes to town to visit her friend in a conspiracy against Mr. Malcolm. Full of scheming and drama, this is exactly the love story I adore watching unfold during the social season.
It’s not uncommon for every season to have at least one wallflower hanging around, and in the case of The Duchess War, this wallflower also happens to have scandal in her past after her previous romp in the spotlight. It was so scandalous, in fact, that Miss Minerva Lane had to change her name to escape it. When the Duke of Clermont, Mr. Robert Blaiswell, comes to town, he sees straight through her wallflower persona. I was absolutely delighted to learn of their pursuits to expose the other’s secrets and the resulting romance that unfolded.
The season couldn’t be complete without a pair of childhood sweethearts getting their second chance romance. The Duke I Once Knew tells the story of Abigail’s romance with the boy next door who broke her heart all those years ago. I’ve loved reading about her adventures as a governess for an absentee employer who hasn’t returned in fifteen years. Imagine her surprise (and my delight) when the Duke of Rothwell, Maxwell Bryce, returns to his estate only to find the girl from next door, his childhood love, working for him.
I couldn’t help but clutch my pearls and fan myself with this steamy romance between Imogen Bates, the daughter of a vicar, and Peregrine Butler, whose world was rocked when he found out he was illegitimate and no longer the rightful heir to the dukedom. This season, the shadow of past childhood hurts and present revenge plots gone astray have brought their romance in The Duke Goes Down. Imogen’s plan to keep Peregrine away from a profitable marriage develops into a scandalous affair unfit for a proper lady, but a little bit of spice always keeps the social season entertaining.
You must know, Falling Into Bed with a Duke can lead to racy relationships and complicated emotions, but when one Miss Minerva Dodger chooses spinsterhood after six failed seasons, that’s just what the unconventional lady chooses to do. I must confess, the entertainment provided from her masqueraded forays with the Duke of Ashebury is worth the deviation from our normal affairs during the social season. I cannot wait to see if the Duke will be able to woo her outside their masked trysts.
Our final romance of the day is The Good Girl’s (Celeste’s) Guide to Rakes (Kieran). Kieran’s father has given him the ultimatum of finding a respectable wife if he wants an inheritance, and Celeste is tired of being practically perfect in every way. The two team up to help each other break free, Celeste introducing Kieran to her social circle, and Kieran taking Celeste out to places unfit for a proper lady. They think they’re so sneaky, but they will be found out, and their midnight adventures are certain to lead to growing feelings as they spend more time in each other’s company.
As we conclude our social season, we must not fret, for we have romance aplenty in so many delightful books. Even when things have calmed down, there are plenty of options for drama, wit, and flirtatious ventures. I do hope you enjoy my recommendations full of scandal and courtship, and I shall see you next season.
Sincerely,
Lady Whistledown