Any Philippa Gregory fans?

[BeanieTeen]

I’ve been reading Philippa Gregory novels for years. I’d like to get into another one, there are still loads I haven’t read. But they are so hit and miss! I don’t want to invest myself in a disappointing one.
Some I’ve loved and really been drawn into (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen’s Fool, I quite like the new ‘Tidelands’ series but they are kind of tame and I do miss the ‘old Philippa Gregory’ where sometimes you’d turn a page and think WTF?? Like in Wideacre and The Wise Woman.)
But some have been real snooze fests where it felt like she was just listing events from a first person narrative or the characters have been bland and annoying (The Kingmakers Daughter, The Other Queen) I haven’t read anymore of the Plantagenet series because The Kingmakers Daughter really put me off - are the others any better?
What are your best (that I might try next) and worst (which might leave for now.)

Loved the Wise Woman, Wideacre and The Other Boleyn Girl! But I kinda drifted away from her after that, I boight a couple I couldn’t finish which out me off.

Have you read Anne O’Brien? Very similar style (you can’t tell it’s a different author to Gregory) and I was gripped by some of hers, like Virgin Widow, The Forbidden Queen, etc. Some fascinating historical detail.

I loved her Tudor novels but like you, wasn't keen on the Plantagenet ones.

Other historical fiction I've really enjoyed;
Jennifer Donnelly - Tea Rose trilogy
Kate Furnivall - The Russian Concubine / The Concubine's Secret

My favourite Philippa Gregory one is set in a travelling Victorian(?) dance troupe.

I can’t remember the name though.

I also really enjoyed the one about Katherine Parr - might be The Taming of The Queen.

Meridon? I just finished rereading it, it's my favourite too

I have read The Tea Rose series by Jennifer Donnelly, I loved it!

Will look into Anne O’Brien and Kate Furnivall a try, I haven’t read their books before. And Taming of the Queen.

Thanks all!

Sharon Penman - particularly the Sunne in Splendour. It's marvellous.

There is the Wideacre Trilogy, which in my view is amazing read if read in reverse order as you are just thinking wtf is going on!?!!?

My favourites have been a respectable trade, lady of the rivers, the white queen and the white princess. I stopped reading after the kingmakers daughter.

Innocent traitor by Alison weir is great and like the best Philippa Gregory's

Sharon Penman

I absolutely second this. She was a great writer.

I’m coming at this from the opposite direction from you. I was in the library at the weekend and was looking for the familiar warmth of the Jean Plaidy royal history novels I devoured as a teen. I couldn’t find any so I picked a Philippa Gregory instead - The Red Queen. Definitely try Jean Plaidy, she wrote nearly a hundred titles in this genre.

I loved the Wideacre Trilogy and the Tradescant books. I have a beautiful plant in my garden named after John Tradescant ( Tradescantia )
The Other Boleyn Girl I've read at least 3 times.
Marvellous author 👌

The Wideacre trilogy are some of my favourite books ever.

I also agree with PP that Anne O'brien is similar. I also enjoyed Joanna Hickson and Darcey Bonnett recently.

I am currently listening to the Wideacre trilogy, as it's free for Audible members. Having only read her tamer, later work before, I was a bit WTF 🤣 She's such a great writer though. My favourites are the ones about Elizabeth Woodville and her family.

I love Elizabeth Chadwick.

Have you read lady of the rivers?

My favourite was Earthly Joys.
I believe based roughly on a real man who was a botanist who brought us 'tradescantia' plants, of which I have a few.

Beautiful story.

Also agree that The Lady of the Rivers is one of the best

The White Queen is good. I've just read the Kingmaker's Daughter and I was disappointed. I finished it but it was rather dull. Going to try some more of the Plantagenet series but hoping they're more like the White Queen.