9 Queer Historical Fiction Books To Celebrate Pride Month—Swoony Romance and Mystery Await!
From Regency ballrooms to ancient Greece, these love stories celebrate courage, passion and joy!
Key Takeaways
- Queer historical fiction brings LGBTQ+ love stories to life across different eras.
- Authors like Cat Sebastian and KJ Charles are leading voices in queer historical romance.
- These books celebrate Pride Month with romance, mystery and the triumph of love across history.
From the glittering ballrooms of the Regency era to the opulence of the Edwardian era, there’s something undeniably enchanting about love stories set in the past. Here at Woman’s World, we adore all historical romance and for Pride Month, we’re shining a spotlight on 9 unforgettable queer historical romances.
Each of these stories delivers all the longing, forbidden attraction and hard-won happy endings readers love, while also exploring the unique challenges and triumphs of queer characters throughout history. In general, historical romance has a long, well, history of excluding marginalized groups of people, but in recent years that’s changed. Enter bestselling author Cat Sebastian, who has written more than 20 books and is beloved for her award-winning queer historical romance novels.
“I wanted to write myself into the genre I love. Historical romance is my comfort reading and I kept thinking that I’d like it even more if I saw more queer representation,” she said in an interview with The Washington Independent. “Also, there’s this tendency, mainly among straight people, to assume that if they haven’t heard of queer people throughout history, then it must be either because queer people didn’t exist or because they were miserable. In my stories, I want to populate the past, albeit a fictional version, with people who get left out of a lot of traditional narratives.”
Whether you’re drawn to aristocrats falling in love in secret, mysteries unfolding in post WWII Germany or epic romances that span continents and decades, we have something for everyone—including a wonderful mid-18th century romance by Sebastian! Here, 9 excellent LGBTQ+ books to enjoy during Pride Month.
‘The Queer Principles of Kit Webb’ by Cat Sebastian
Sharp banter? Check! Historically accurate 18th-century England setting? Check! Swoony, steamy romance? Double check! The story follows reformed highwayman Kit Webb, who \ owns a coffee shop and only sometimes misses the rush of thievery. But he’s drawn back into a world of intrigue when Percy, Lord Holland, seeks his help retrieving a valuable book that could save a dear friend. Though Kit refuses to take part in the heist himself, he agrees to teach the sheltered aristocrat the art of thievery—and their lessons quickly spark an undeniable attraction. Fans of opposites-attract love stories will adore this irresistible read by Sebastian!
What readers are saying: “Oh, what a lovely, fun, sparkly and healing romance novel. I loved the wit and style of this 18th century romance, full of all the dash and verve you’d hope for when one hero is a fabulous dandy of an aristocrat and the other is an ex-highwayman getting talked into ‘One Last Job,’ but also I just loved the essential kindness and warmth that infused this whole story with so much tenderness.”
‘Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend’ by Emma R. Alban
If you love The Parent Trap and Bridgerton, you’ll flip for this dreamy debut novel by Emma R. Alban. Set in the Victorian era, Beth has only one London debutante season to find a wealthy husband—or she and her mother will be on the streets. Meanwhile, Gwen is on her fourth season with no intention of finding a husband. As the only daughter of an earl, she’s financially set anyway. Before long, Beth and Gwen hatch a plan to set up their widowed parents—so they can both avoid marriage. But before long unexpected desires arise between them.
What readers are saying: “I love gay historical fiction books! This book was so cute and had so much heart! This book is set in the 1800s in high society. Love the historical fiction element and how it explored such a heartbreaking and complex time period for a sapphic romance. This made me swoon and cry and root for the characters to get a happily ever after.”
‘Copper Script’ by KJ Charles
Set in 1920s post-WWI England, Copper Script centers on detective Sergeant Aaron Fowler of the Metropolitan Police department. One day, he encounters a graphologist who can accurately pinpoint people’s personalities—and lives—by looking at their handwriting. Aaron’s main goal? Find out exactly how this trick is done, which means spending time with the intriguing Joel Wildsmith. What follows is a story filled with adventure, mystery and romance.
What readers are saying: “There is something so engaging in the way KJ Charles writes. The characters are fully formed, the plot draws you in, there’s a sense of tension and the pacing never feels sluggish, it’s clever. There are often charming doses of levity to help lighten the tension, and his characters are witty. I am drawn to stories about magical realism, and I wouldn’t say that’s what this is—but there’s a hint of it— there is no explanation for why Joel can do what he does, so maybe I just choose to attribute it to a little bit of magic.”
‘My Dear Henry’ by Kalynn Bayron
Readers who enjoy intriguing twists on classic stories featuring moody Victorian London settings will love Kalynn Bayron’s My Dear Henry. In this YA retelling of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, readers are transported to 1885, where they meet Gabriel Utterson. Gabriel is searching for answers after his estranged best friend, Henry Jekyll, cuts off all contact. His investigation leads him to the mysterious Hyde, a magnetic stranger whose connection to Henry only deepens the mystery—and stirs unexpected feelings. Bayron’s compelling take on this classic tale breathes new life into the original story’s long-debated queer subtext.
What readers are saying: “I’ve always found the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to be particularly fascinating, but Bayron delivered the queer, Black gothic retelling that I didn’t know that I desperately needed.”
‘The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting’ by KJ Charles
In KJ Charles’ The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting, a fortune hunter named Robin Loxleigh meets a gruff baronet named Sir John Hartlebury. Robin may have charmed John’s family and everyone else during the ball season, but John sees right through Robin’s carefully crafted façade. What begins as mutual suspicion evolves into an unexpectedly tender connection as both men learn there’s more to the other than first impressions suggest. A delightful tale of redemption that proves even the most notorious rogues deserve a happily ever after!
What readers are saying: “The romance was absolute perfection. You read about certain characters and you want the world for them and Robin and Hart deserved every goodness the world had to offer. Words of affirmations are my love language and the way these two communicated, after they got over their animosity and assumptions, warmed my heart up differently. The acceptance, the understanding, the vulnerability…my emotions could not handle it!”
‘The Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller
If you’ve spent any time on BookTok, chances are you’ve seen readers passionately recommending—or sobbing over—this beloved modern classic with more than 1 million reviews on GoodReads. First published in 2011, The Song of Achilles reimagines the Greek myth of Achilles and Patroclus. The story traces their deep friendship and romance against the backdrop of the Trojan War. Today, 15 years after its release, Madeline Miller’s revered novel is still one of the most talked-about books on social media—for excellent reason!
What readers are saying: “A new take on The Iliad, written by a high school classics teacher — how could I not read this? The Song of Achilles retells the story of Greece’s greatest hero from the point of view of his best friend Patroclus. The big twist: Madeline Miller casts the story as a romance between Achilles and Patroclus. While staying true to Greek legends and the works of Homer, Miller creatively and convincingly fills in the blanks, giving Patroclus a back story that makes perfect sense, and tracing the friendship, and eventual romance, between the two young men in a way that casts a new light on the human side of the Trojan War.”
‘Something Fabulous ‘by Alexis Hall
Alexis Hall is well-known for his witty, swoony and laugh-out-loud LGBTQ+ rom-coms, like the hit bestseller Boyfriend Material. And 2022’s Regency-set Something Fabulous delivers all his signature charm. Valentine Layton, the Duke of Malvern, has twin problems: literally. His father always wanted him to marry Miss Arabella Tarleton. But Arabella has dreams of romance beyond just a marriage of convenience and flees after the proposal. Enter Arabella’s twin brother, Mr. Bonaventure “Bonny” Tarleton. Valentine is insistent on chasing after Arabella and Bonny is along for the ride. But as tensions rise and feelings surface, Valentine must ask himself: which Tarleton should he be pursuing?
What readers are saying: “The romance is sweet and honest. Val has never been in love nor a relationship, needing a strong connection to feel sexual and romantic about someone. Bonny is a golden retriever puppy of a man, playful and honest. He’s been half in love with Val since childhood but doesn’t think he has a chance since Val is betrothed to his twin sister. Their banter is sweet and also funny. There are some real slapstick situations but also moments of real tenderness.”
‘Maurice’ by EM Forster
Originally published in 1971, EM Forster’s Maurice—which was adapted into a cult-favorite film in 1987 starring James Wilby and Hugh Grant—covers themes of unrequited love, class rules and friendship. But what makes this classic novel even more fascinating is that Forster completed it in 1914. He knew his tale of same-sex love would end his career, so he requested it be published posthumously.
The story follows a young man named Maurice on his journey of self-discovery in Edwardian England. Facing strict societal rules in school, Maurice navigates a suppressed romance, heartbreak and class divides before finding personal freedom and love. Well, what did EM Forster have to say about the novel’s beautiful ending? “A happy ending was imperative,” he said. “I shouldn’t have bothered to write otherwise. I was determined that in fiction anyway two men should fall in love and remain in it for the ever that fiction allows…’”
What readers are saying: “5 stars! When this book was written, in 1913 and 1914, this seemed almost ridiculous, that two men could fall in love, and not marry, and be happy. Forster wrote this novel almost to challenge that idea. This book could not even be published until after his death, in 1971, and was then incredibly controversial. This book made me feel like I believe in love again”.
‘The Huntress’ by Kate Quinn
When fellow bestselling author Kristin Hannah read The Huntress by Kate Quinn she called it “a powerful novel about unusual women facing sometimes insurmountable odds with grace, grit, love and tenacity.” Quinn’s novel centers on the fearless Nina Markova, who always dreamed of flying. Then, the Nazis attack the Soviet Union and she joins the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment. But when she’s stranded behind enemy lines, she becomes the target of a Nazi murderess known as the Huntress. As multiple timelines unfold, this story told from multiple perspectives is as powerful as it is unforgettable.
What readers are saying: “One of my favorite parts of the book was the queer representation…I was completely enthralled with this book’s sapphic content. The relationship was sweet and real, multifaceted and heartbreaking. Even amidst a dark and tension-filled story, it felt incredible to get lost in a head-over-heels tale of love between two women!”
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