Romance recommendations please

[PrincessFabian]

I am feeling in need of a good romance, my favourites are Emma and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen but I have already read these so many times.

So please recommend your favourite romance.
I prefer historical or fantasy romance, not so keen on contemporary or YA.

I have already read all of Jane Austen, all the Bronte's, all of Georgette Heyer and most books on 'what to read if you like Jane Austen' lists. I sometimes worry that I have already read all the good books

Maybe a bit old fashioned: Catherine Cookson or Mary Stewart.
Tried Outlander?

I have not tried any of those. I have just googled Catherine Cookson and Mary Stewart and the first ones I read about didn't sound great - can you recommend any in particular?
I have always been a bit put off by the length of the Outlander books - are they worth it?

Historical romance isn't really my thing I read some Georgette Hayer and at the end of the book was wondering if anything had actually happened (some just seemed to end in the middle of the story). Cookson & Stewart I remember because they were my mums favourites, its ages since I read either of them. Outlander is ok as a read but as I say I'm a bit jaundiced with these as I'm not really into HR. (and a lot of modern stuff especially YA is bordering on soft porn, if they were for men we'd want them on the top shelf).

The Poldark books by Winston Graham. Set in Regency era Cornwall and so well written. Much better than the TV series. And there are 12 of them..!

Thanks, I have downloaded kindle samples of Outlander and Poldark.
I have also been looking on book tube and Tessa Dare and Julia Quinn were mentioned a few times so I am trying them as well.

I loved the Outlander series - v addictive when you get into them. They are well written - not a fan of the TV show after having read all the books. Enjoy 😊

I start to sound like a broken record on these sort of threads but - Eva Ibbotson.
Not proper literature maybe, but beautifully written, funny (some excellent lines) and just happy-making.

I'd suggest starting with "A Countess Below Stairs" or "Madensky Square".

Katherine by Anya Seton.

Mary Stewart is a terrific writer - my personal favourite is This Rough Magic, but I love all of them.

You could try Elizabeth Peters, both her Amelia Peabody and Vicki Bliss books. Night Train to Memphis is one of my desert island books.

For more straightforward romance try Loretta Chase, start with Lord of Scoundrels, which is very funny.

For fantasy romance maybe Ilona Andrew’s Hidden Legacy novels or the Edge and Inn Keeper series. There is lots of bloodshed, just as a warning, in case that’s not your thing.

A couple of older books: Emma Bull’s War for the Oaks is a wonderful urban fantasy with a subtle love story at the heart. And Barbara Hambly’s Windrose Chronicles.

Jodi Taylor wrote an engaging, standalone regency romance - I’ve forgotten the title.

If you don't mind explicit sex in your romance novels, and you like Georgette Heyer, I'd 100% recommend Band Sinister, by KJ Charles - fabulous Heyer pastiche, and delightful in it's own right.

I've also recently read 'The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics' which is absolutely charming, a lovely historical romance (f/f) and plenty of humour.

For funny, light historical/fantasy romance I'd say you can't beat Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series. Start with Soulless, and if you like it there's plenty more (but if you don't like YA avoid her Finishing School series which is set in the same world but younger & YA in style)

Laura Kinsale for period romances. She is a contemporary writer but nothing like the badly researched, cheesy regency romances that some authors churn out. Not high literature, but well-written, thoughtful and funny in places.

Victoria Clayton - I love her style. Her books are set in recent times but if you like romance with some subtly sharp social commentary (I think that’s what linked her to Austen in my mind) the you might enjoy her books.

You didn’t mention Elizabeth Gaskell. I’d especially recommend Wives and Daughters as having some similar themes to Austen (class and fine social distinctions, romance, female friendships/relationships). If you’re open to non-fiction her Life of Charlotte Brontë is wonderful.

Angela Thirkell for romances that also send up the details of everyday life, mostly written and set in the 30s and 40s.

You have probably exhausted the following authors already, but just in case - Fanny Burney, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Maria Edgeworth and George Eliot.

Have you tried Mary Robinette Kowal, especially her series starting with Glamour In Glass? It's fantasy romance set in a very Austenian world.

My sister loves historical romance!

She talks about

Georgette Hayer
Nadine Millard
Christi Caldwell
Julia Quinn

A Discovery of Witches trilogy, Deborah Harkness. Fantasy, historical and romantic. Brilliantly written too, in my opinion.

I enjoyed A Discovery of Witches, too.