Rachel is a writer from Arkansas, most at home surrounded by forests and animals much like a Disney Princess. She spends most of her time writing stories and playing around in imaginary worlds. You can follow her writing at rachelbrittain.com. Twitter and Instagram: @rachelsbrittain
Regency romance isn’t all Bridgerton and Pride and Prejudice—despite what the two Austen retellings you’ll find on this list may lead you to believe. Regency romance is a lot more diverse these days, as evidenced in the Bridgerton TV show’s intentional casting and storyline tweaks. So, queer Regency romance is becoming a more and more popular—if still niche—subgenre, and one I want to continue exploring!
Regency romance is often confused with books set during other notable periods of British history, especially the Victorian era, but it features its own distinct time. While the regency of George IV (who served as Regent for his father, King George III) technically only lasted from 1811 to 1820, the Regency period itself has come to have a broader definition, merging with the larger Georgian period and lasting from about 1795 to 1837. For reference, Pride and Prejudice was published anonymously in 1813 but likely first written closer to 1796.
The good news is, beyond knowing approximately when the Regency period is, you don’t really need to know much else. The complicated social norms and stratified class system taken for granted in period works such as Austen’s don’t play a huge role in most Regency romances written today, because these authors are writing from a modern lens for modern readers. Historical accuracy varies wildly—and some authors eschew it altogether—but whatever you need to know historically speaking, you can rest assured your queer Regency romance author will guide you through it.
A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander
This trans Regency romance is one of my favorite books this year, hands down. It’s actually what inspired this whole list. I love seeing authors explore how queer people have existed throughout history, whether they show up in the history books in a way we’d recognize today or not. The relationship Alexander sets up between the notoriously independent Lord Christopher Eden and his new valet, a man seemingly obsessed with following the rules and roles of society, follows a wonderfully slowburn, opposites-attract pattern that I simply swoon for. It’s absolute perfection, and I can’t wait for the sequel, A Lady for All Seasons, coming out next year. Gimme, gimme, gimme!
The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod
Inspired by the Queen of Regency Romance herself, Jane Austen, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet is more a sequel than a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. McLeod’s story fleshes out two characters who are never given their due in the original novel: Mary Bennet and Charlotte Lucas. Now, after the untimely death of her husband, Mr. Collins, Charlotte finds herself at another crossroads in life. Her home is no longer her own, and she’ll have to return to live with her parents soon. But when Mary Bennet comes to visit, the two find they have far more in common than they ever realized. Mary is no longer the awkward girl Charlotte remembers. She’s grown into an intelligent, self-assured young woman who shows Charlotte the pursuit of her own happiness may not be as impossible as she’d always believed.
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Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa
As beloved as Pride and Prejudice is to me, I have mixed feelings about retellings. Often, they lose the charm and novelty of the original, in my opinion. Most Ardently, however, stakes out its own place as a historical romance that plays with the setting and tropes of Pride and Prejudice while establishing its own unique story. It stands on its own more effectively than many retellings do, and invites readers to explore the realities of queer life in the Regency era.
The True Queen by Zen Cho
As an honorary mention, queer Regency romance fans will also love this queer Regency fantasy novel with a strong romance subplot.
Muna is a cursed woman. Not only does she have no memories of her life before, she’s now lost her only sister and must take her place at the Sorcerer Royal’s new magical academy for women. One problem: Muna doesn’t have a lick of magic, and if she can’t convince her teachers and fellow classmates she does, her sister may be lost to Fairy forever. In this companion book to Sorcerer to the Crown, Zen Cho weaves a world of magic into Regency England alongside a wonderful cast of characters.
Because the Regency was a period in Great Britain specifically, it’s not altogether shocking that there are not as many books (especially queer books, in this case) by BIPOC authors that fall into that narrow category. Not shocking, but not great either, considering the long history of the British Empire as a colonizing force and the large population of immigrants in the U.K.
That doesn’t mean I don’t have some thoughts on BIPOC romance authors I’d LOVE to see writing LGBTQ regency romance, though.
I read and adored Alyssa Cole’s Civil War-era romance adventure series, The Loyal League, earlier this year. Between those and her endlessly incredible royal romance books, I can only imagine what a swoony queer Regency romance she would write. The more I think about it, the more I’m really sad I can’t read these nonexistent books.
Talia Hibbert hasn’t written much (or any) historical romance that I know of, but I can just imagine what a fun, spicy Bridgerton-esque queer regency romp the Take a Hint, Dani Brown author would write! Who cares about historical facts when you can be having historical fun?
Adrianna Herrera, author of An Island Princess Starts a Scandal, is an author I could easily imagine writing queer Regency romance. Her Las Leonas series is set in the late 19th century, but that leaves the early part of that century—and the one before it—entirely up for grabs!
That’s quite a few recommendations for you, but if you need even more, you might consider:
English (US) · 