I don’t like it much personally bc I haven’t discovered an author yet who puts the history on the same footing as the romance. In this day and age, correct history matters. That said, I won’t give anyone who likes it any grief. 😀
I was obsessed with consuming history content growing up. And then watching Pride and Prejudice 2005 at age 12 wired my brain, and that was it for me 😂
I’m a nerd, I like learning random little historical tidbits I otherwise wouldn’t have known while I swoon 😂 ….also love the fashion and gentlemanly manners 🪭🎩
I grew up reading historical romance and it's still the type of romance I read the most. Why? I love history, the descriptions of everything from the homes to the clothes and because it's of a different time, I have an easier time suspending disbelief.
I've always loved period pieces and the deeply restrictive yet passionate duality of the Regency era in particular makes for some fascinating and delicious tension. I started with Austin and Gaskell (North & South) then made the jump once I started reading romance more seriously.
I used to read Sunfire romance (the ones with the girls’ names as the title) back in elementary/ms and I loved the historical setting. I still like feeling removed from the place/time and the stakes seem higher than in contemp
im afraid of getting bored and putting down something that ive already set out to read, which is generally why im a bit apprehensive about trying out new genres. i like historical romance when its one of the plotlines and not the sole focus though, so maybe i just havent found the right book yet.
I think most of all, I love how they end with the hope for a brighter future, even if said future (present time) is severely lacking. But I will carry that hope with me.
Complete, unmitigated escapism. I can disappear from the complexities of modern life to a simple time. I love the history (Ms. Bev is excellent at that). I love small moments like hand touches (without gloves!!!) and using first names (Mimi Matthews is great at that). 🥰
I have to say this. Unrelated but related at the same time. This year I discovered Amish nomance novels is a thing. Me and my mom just dying laughing over the thought alone.
“Elijah churned the butter…his arms glistening in the morning rays.”
😭😂💀💀💀
I can do it on occasion, but it feels like homework or non-fiction (which I do like, but not when I want a romance) so I find contemporary to be easier to escape into. I also prefer rom-com and fluffy romance over serious romance so that may also be a factor.
A few! I really liked An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole so maybe I need to go with more American historicals. And Pride and Prejudice is always a favorite.
I read Regency era romance for the escape it provides from the real world. I want to visit a world full of pretty things and tea parties in order to temporarily forget this hellscape we are all trapped in.
honestly for the escapism. The world building, tension, and romance. Living in a different world for a little. It holds nostalgia for me too now since its what really got me into the Romance genre a long long time ago. 😂
Because historically society is the barrier, or even a villain, instead of just two people being kind of ridiculous (at least in the fluffier, low trigger ones I prefer)
Historicals tend to embrace the “go big or go home” emotions—big, dramatic feelings and high stakes and melodrama—that I love in a romance. It creates enough of a sense of separation from “real life” that I feel like writers are more willing to go bonkers with it.
And of course some of the best authors also teach you amazing and fascinating and moving things about history while giving you all those feelings! Which is just really cool.
I like a good romance with a minimum of angst, humor, & strong MCs. I used to read mainly contemporary but contemporary romance has become so angsty. Plus I hate dual first person POV. Give me 3rd person omnipotent or 1st person singular. I mainly stick to historical now.
Too much is dictated by social constraints in historical. I prefer stories in which the heroine flips the bastard the bird then get on a plane to Belize and take up with the bronzed and toned pool boy.
I love history, I love romance, and the two together...magic 😍 I also like the escapist appeal as some others have mentioned. I wanna get as far away from this timeline as possible 😆
I do! Not exclusively, but I really enjoy particular authors, especially Julie Anne Long, Tessa Dare, Ms. Bev, Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas, Adriana Herrera and (I'm forgetting someone important--help!)...
Just realized I didn't answer the question. I like thinking about the similarities and differences between now and historicals in terms of issues the characters face.
And some of these authors make me laugh and tug my heart and just write gorgeously.
I like getting a view into a time, place, & people outside of my reality. But give me the fantasy of history not the horrible reality! Drama in contemps can make me dislike the characters for being dumb whereas histrom it can be baked into "the times" even if the characters are still being dumb.
I write contemporary and when I’m drafting, I need to avoid my own genre or I’ll start mimicking. Gowns and gloves and carriages and chaperones gives me all the swoons and less chance I’ll tumble into someone else’s style
I do *very* occasionally, but usually because somebody recommends it to me as a really strongly crafted romance, not specifically for the historical part. Most recently it was a few of Cat Sebastian’s books, especially We Could Be So Good.
I’m a huge period drama fan so I turned to reading historical romance to get similar world building, historical society discussion and hidden histories in book form. Finding more Black and POC hist rom authors in recent years has really enriched my enjoyment of the genre.
Not too much into history or romance, really, so the genre never intrigued me. I'm more into made-up worlds and stories focused on twisty plots. I do like a character focus as well, though more with friendships and family.
My 💜 of it took me by surprise, because my first foray into romance was contemporary, which is also what I write. But once I started reading historicals, I was hooked. I like learning about the history of the setting & how setting influences the plot—often setting is as important as the characters!
It provides a different level of escapism these days for me. Also, I find it to be more romantic and the stakes are higher. It’s plot driven but also has really great character development and can also bring the steam, depending on the author. It’s just a good time all around.
I’ve read one in the last few years and I LOVED it. The only reason I haven’t read any more is because I am drowning in my reading list.
I enjoyed it because I love romance and needed something different. I’d been reading lots of contemporary and fantasy. The historical aspect added another layer.
My mom raised me on period pieces. I love a good American Historical and so me medieval and highlanders thrown in there. I’ll do regency from certain authors.
I read HR because I love the pure fantasy of being transported to a completely different time and place. Especially after the events of November 5.
I don’t have to suspend disbelief as I have to with fairies, dragons, or vampires. Although I do find it hard to believe there’s so many Dukes.
I used to, much less so now. I think it gave me a buffer from the toxic behaviors I hate in het romance–that I could say to myself, "It's because it's the past."
As a kid, I learned a lot about history, reproductive rights, culture, romance, and the importance of consent. It was often all wrapped up on well crafted stories too.
My favorite novel, Wuthering Heights, is among other things a romance, yet I avoid the Romance section of book stores because I assume those books will be too focused on the given genre at the expense of weaving a richer, more heterogeneous tapestry of theme and tone. But maybe I’m just prejudiced!
I think a historical setting can be fantastic and really immersive if done correctly. However there are many instances we're the characters are just super unrealistic to the era, like in The Phoenix Bride.
I used to read it almost exclusively but then the genre got oversaturated. Too many poor quality books sent me into the arms of another genre. Eventually I'll be back.
i’m a big fan of 3rd person past tense, and it seems to have really fallen out of favor in current contemporary romance. i think less than 1/3 of the contemporaries i’ve read this year have been in 3rd person? to me it feels a lot more immersive than 1st person pov (which i do still read and enjoy)
other than that i agree with a lot of what other people are saying. higher stakes, interesting world building, and escapism. i also just love a good cowboy 😭
I love to escape into the different time periods and settings of histroms! I’m always learning something new, visiting somewhere new—I know I probably wouldn’t have lasted a minute but it’s fun to imagine the clothes, the great halls, the highland treks, etc! The sexy stakes just always hit for me.
I picked up a book called everlasting by Kathleen Woodwiss & excited to start it, but I’m scared of heartbreak 😭 I hate when bad stuff happens to sweet people in books
A lot of historical romance feels too “cozy” or low stakes. I have enjoyed some historical fantasy stories because there’s more action to it. Although, I’ve never loved the “slice of life” genre in anything
I didn’t read historical romance until someone recommended a book set to me, and then I just added that genre into my ever expanding rotation of yearly reading. What keeps drawing me back is the same answer for any book genre: the knowledge, emotions, world(s), ways, adventure and so much more.
I was hooked on historicals by Anya Seton's "Green Darkness." Social mores throughout time fascinate me, including courtship rituals. It's interesting to see how authors deal with these matters. Whether characters follow or flout the rules tells me a lot about them -- including the ones in my books.
I struggle with historical romance because I like diversity in my romantic leads, and diverse historical romance is typically either deeply tragic or wildly ahistorical. But when I find one that's done well, I love it!
I love historical fiction. History fascinates me and a great writer researches the time period so well that I have to remind myself I’m reading fiction!
Descriptions of the clothes, the house parties, the theatre trips etc. Sometimes I’m also in the mood for “sweeping” romance. Also, I’m a sucker for an Earl 😂
I read historical romances because I already love historical fiction and romance books separately! I also love learning history at the same time as enjoying great banter. There’s something comforting about seeing people fall in love during times that didn’t really encourage marriage for love.
I like reading about history in general, but there are two major turn-offs for me:
1. Lack of research into the culture. This manifests in historically inaccurate clothing most of all, but also social interactions, cuisine, architecture, etc.
2. Heroes/heroines that own slaves. Not sympathetic.
Jenkins is in my TBR list! I have only ever heard highly positive things about her works. Gonna see what I can find in my library catalog. I haven’t heard of Vanessa Riley but I’ll look into her! Thanks!
Lots of reasons but specifically right now — There’s a separation that allows me to engage with really fraught scenarios and emotions in a way I find too stressful and irritating in contemporary romance. I also just really prefer third person prose.
I didn't read historicals for the longest time. Now I enjoyed them just as any other subgenre. I like discovering facets of history that I don't know much about.
I fell in love with historical fiction when I was about.... um... 8? Or 9? But when I switched to books for adults in my teenage years, it was a bit of a disaster (exploding wax babies, anyone? goat sex?) (we're not talking about sex between goats). As a result I stopped reading historical novels.
And then in late 1999, I picked up Stephanie Laurens' A Rake's Vow at an international bookshop in Frankfurt - and was completely blown away: A story set in the past! WITH A HAPPY ENDING!!!! AND NO GOAT SEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And thus, I was hooked. 😊
These days, I find it difficult to read (I've been in a massive reading slump since the beginning of the pandemic), so I make do with Chinese costume dramas.
i read historical in other genres but find it much harder to reach for in the romance genre for the ridiculous reason that it personally stresses me out thinking about the lack of birth control and the different level of hygiene.
I read Where Dreams Begin & Indigo the same week at 12 so historicals are my romance homebase. I love the "edutainment" & high stakes. I love the deeply researched & immersive experience. I love how it's just far enough removed to clearly see parallels to present day.
HEAs are possible in every era
I read so many historicals as my intro to romance reading that it’s hard for me to be intrigued by it anymore. Every now and then I’ll see a rec and give it a try but it ends up being “ok” not great.
Currently I’m back to almost exclusively reading historical romances. A big part is the escapism. I also like the different yet slightly familiar setting, and potentially learning things. (Actually like 😅 a *lot* of things 💯❤️)
#rombktalk
I am so serious when I say it takes me out of reality more - I have contemporary romance books and authors I love, but right now I just don’t want to think about my current “real world.”
Huge fan of historical romance by good authors that do their research and base around true events and real people. Some of my favorites are set during World War I and II eras.
I don’t read any romance centered books because I don’t relate to people falling in love. I do like books about heartbreak though, or love that is hard and painful and ultimately fails. Sure that says a lot about me 😭 💙📚 #blackbooksky
I started with historical, and read more contemporary now. (My mom was anti-contemporary, tho she and my dad were Barbara Cartland/gothic lifers.) But I will follow an author I like almost anywhere, and I enjoy how historical can subvert expectations re: gender, sexuality, class, etc.
I like reading historical fiction occasionally but I'm not into romance because I get enough heterosexual people falling in love in real life without having to read about it.
You should try KJ Charles. There are many others who write about gay and other queer people in Romance, but I think that would be a great starting place
I like the challenges inherent to the romance genre, but prefer a distraction from modern challenges. I particularly like when authors explore the homosocial milieu / ‘romantic friendships’ / ‘Boston marriages’ and other social conventions that no longer exist.
For me I think it’s that there’s a lot of societal stuff that resonates, but it’s removed enough to be an escape: I have a hard time with contemp feeling true to life because cultural references and slang and whatnot IMMEDIATELY take me out of the story. With historical, my brain can set that aside.
But it’s hard, obviously, because colonialism and slavery in real life ALSO underpin that 18th and 19th century wealth that makes the suspension of disbelief possible?
I got into it when I was 11/12 with Johanna Lindsey and I’ve just been here vibing for 18 years lol. I think the fact that books were an escape for me fed it, bc historical romance world is so different than our reality. But I also love history and have some fun trying to justify the weird premises
Please don’t hate on me. I know this sounds weird but I feel like I’m drawn to historical fiction that may pertain to a past life. There are certain eras that draw me in 😳
It's a grumpy/sunshine relationship for me, with the appeal of fairytales& 'simpler' times, women fighting& navigating strict gender roles & power imbalances (look how far we've come/still have to go/may face again), horror, joy and fascination as women shape and are shaped by the stories we share
I was a history major back in the day and I love the immersive quality of reading about other times and places. I have changed what kind of HR I read. Preferring working class, queer and POC as MCs more than ever.
😅 I just read a rural slice of life book. Apparently it was so accurate re: just “general farming” readers who lived in such areas contacted the author and were like “!!!”
😬😅 it was a translated novel called Song DingXiang which was just the heroine’s name (the original title would be like… DingXiang of the Song Family). Sadly the story itself was mediocre and the translation just ok/good not great so I wouldn’t recommend it. There are so many other better books 😅🫠
🫠 probably important to note for basically the past year I’ve been entirely reading (translated) Chinese historical romance novels.
It has been *quite* the journey.
I really went hard on the escapism. 😇
Yeah I’ve read (or tried) 280+ of them in the past 13 months 😅 say 50 of them were audiobooks that still would be 230. Granted I DNF’d a bunch too - but lol the translations are there. Say we cut out the bad/machine ones I’d say at least 100 and I mean I “just started” and have only read historicals
The immersiveness is so much of what I love. I think it's more easier in contemp to rely on shared assumptions/experiences to build settings/the world in the reader's mind. And it works! We do create details in our minds. But histrom often feels better constructed to me bc it's actually on the page.
If I did read a historical romance, there would need to be a lot of historical events happening like the French Revolution or something. But then my rule about romance books in general is that they need something more interesting than just the romance of the main characters.
History has always fascinated me. Especially social history. I enjoy the story unfolding in historical romance and seeing characters created in a past world. It's like I have an opportunity to sort of touch the past, even if it's not a great time in history.
It feels more escapist than contemporary romance. The world that historicals exist in is so completely unrecognizable that it might as well be fantasy, I find it easier to get lost when I'm not fighting the realism of the familiar.
I love the high stakes conflicts. I love the men who aren't cinnamon rolls and have a ways to go before they earn their HEA. I love the banana pants plots. Then there's the pining, gaaaahhhhh!
I like the build up. Not to say modern romance doesn’t have it but historical romance makes you “use your words” to say things that shouldn’t be said or alluded to and when they are I swoon.
I really want to read more histrom but the struggle to get into histrom is too great.
you know I like reading dark romance and I feel like the bodice rippers of old might be sometime that could scratch that itch too BUT the head hopping and old timey writing style really puts me off 🥲
Do you also dislike the tendency to be written from 3rd person past in general, or do you have a stronger preference for 1st person single or dual pov?
I prefer 1st person (either single or dual) but I don’t mind 3rd person past as long as it’s limited POV.
I think I’ve just used to more modern day writing styles with more dialogue than flowery descriptions since I started reading again starting with YA then contemporary romance.
I actually find Unforgivable by Joanna Chambers and the Girl Meets Duke series by Tessa Dare the easiest to read and I just want more of that but darker lol
I could do audiobooks but it turns out there’s a lot of popular histrom narrators I don’t like listening to so that makes it harder.
I enjoy the learning about the time periods and the specialized historical topics histrom writers often orient stories around. Also sometimes I just don’t want modern cultural references that feel very specifically dated or quickly outdated (in relation to “today”).
Also they’re sometimes easier to jump into (once you know the era pretty well). Half the stakes are already established. When I’m exhausted and need escape the most, histrom is my first choice, because it requires less mental work - sort of like rewatching an old show.
Agree that Regency England is really easy to jump into because the setting is almost a gimme at this point. Some books feel much more authentic, and some feel like a vague literary memory of Regency England. It helps if they have enough worldbuilding to sell the setting.
I'm into history, but I don't read hist roms anymore. Why? Because of presentism. Which I can't stand.
IMHO historical fiction should be true to history. A historical heroine should think, act, & live like a woman of her time & place. Not a modern boss babe.
I started out with jane Austen on the strength of a recommendation. When I found modern historical romance I was hooked. When I found Beverly Jenkins, it was a revelation to see black romance in a historical context. I’ve been hooked ever since. #historicalromance
I definitely had a phase of reading it when I was a teen and in my early 20s. I eventually went back to fantasy. I need to branch out for my authors. Do you have any favourites?
World building, usually more in depth character development, the tension, I also enjoy it because unlike mysteries I don’t know the complete ending (other than maybe it has a happy ending)
I love it and I think it's because it feels like sneaky learning. Vicarious historical rabbit holes. Also, I find that I don't connect to the humanity of contemporary characters as readily, perhaps because I"m surrounded by modern people and so can't suspend disbelief and fall into story as easily.
I read it because I love being transported. Historical settings are more rigid with social norms, more perilous. So paradoxically, historical is quite freeing to read. Heroines seem more incredible when they are dealing with historical standards. More brave. And that gives me hope.
There was a used bookstore on my way home from school. They sold Barbara Cartland books for like ¢25/book. I ended up with over a hundred of them which then led me to Jane Austen and other regency romances which then led me to other historical romances.
It was the first romance subgenre I picked up as a teen, so I guess I just never stopped. Now I like mixing it in with contemporary, and I stick with it because the yearning is always so so good (bonus points if I learn a little history too)
It’s by women, for women, with a female POV. Discovered historicals during the pandemic with The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare. It was on a list of funny books rec’d by WAPO. Diving into the past helps me deal with the present. The worse things are, the further back I go. Reading medieval now.
At first I wasn't interested but it feels so much different bc the stakes are higher yet everything also feels innocent (even tho the characters never really are)
I love history in general, so historical romances were the first I read back in junior high. Julie Garwood, Jude Deveraux, and Judith McNaught were the authors I loved in jr high and HS. But as a reader now, I enjoy that it’s easily so high stakes. And pretty dresses. 😄
At first, I wanted to study discrepancies between fact and fiction. However, finding stories like Outlander, with both fact and fiction, allowed for escapism while also introducing you to historical topics. As a historian, I love seeing historical interest in popular media.
Time period romance works cause it’s so far from modern times it allows me to have that temporary escape from my own reality, and most days I DESPERATELY need that
I read a wide variety of historical fiction when I was a kid/teen and nowadays I love the random tidbits of history I learn from well-researched historical romance.
Also, @danaflo.bsky.social showed me P&P 1995 for the first time when I was 12 and I'm just constantly seeking that feeling again!
I have learned more accurate history from historical romances than I have from any history books. I love a well researched historical romance with realistic characters with real emotions and conundrums.
I once wrote a paper ”In Defence of the Historical Romance.”
I have a tried a couple of times with Beverly Jenkins I just can't get into it. I am more a contemporary romance girlie like Christina C. Jones, Alexandria House, Alexandra Warren, Kennedy Ryan, KC Mills, and of course me!!! #BlackSTEMRomance #MakingSTEMSteamy #M for listen code. https://CarlottaArdell.com
If your still answering back. I'm curious do you mean fiction... Or historical romance based on real lives. As I read that I think I get my own answer. But I like anything based on real stories and history writers that find those stories are fantastic.
I love them, probably for the same reason I read fantasy: the world isn’t mine, so I can leave some of this immediate stress behind and sink into the story.
I have always been fascinated by the ancient civilizations and reading historical romance takes me to a timeline that I've always wanted to explore and has love & romancey vibes to add that extra layer of awe
I don’t read them much anymore but I used to love historical romance for the history of it all. Pretty much all history I’ve ever learned is from historical romance
I used to read a lot more historical romance, and I loved it for the history, always loved that time period, and the places. I don't read it as much now, moved to a paranormal phase, but I still enjoy a good Earl or Pirate at times.
I read historical romance mainly because of the things that hold
people back from love. I like it when people struggle between their sense of honor/propriety and getting what they need as a human being. That’s harder to pull off in a contemporary, where people are usually expected to go for it.
I love that in a historical, anything sexual between the main couple could have consequences if they are caught. The amount of planning they do to have sex gives me the same happiness as a movie when they are planning a heist. Go ahead and plan, I love it. Oops, you got caught! Never gets old.
I enjoy Regency because the setting is a comfortingly familiar backdrop, like a stock secondary world fantasy, against which characters can stand out, rebel or conform. It has inbuilt social rules that provide structure and challenges; there's privilege, but also patriarchy, poverty and traps.
There are stakes and plot points that really only work well in historical romance. Plus it can be a place for very pointed social criticism that, while still relevant, would feel forced in a modern context.
I think it would probably depend on the social issue and the author. Like, I think Cat Sebastian might be a good example of more recent hist rom that mixes social issues with fluffy romance. I also think it gets difficult once you are within living memory of readers
I do but not as much as my go to authors are those that have been writing awhile.
HistRom was my gateway into romance. I began reading romance when HistRom WAS synonymous with romance. So there is a lot of nostalgia for that original feeling.
Ms. Bev got me into historical romance, honestly. I love how she weaves in bits of actual history from that time. I feel like I’m learning and being entertained at the same time.
I do read histrom, but I am fairly picky about it. I think some of my early reading was historical - Jean Plaidy's Young Elizabeth, Young Mary Queen of Scots etc so maybe I imprinted like a duckling? I read a lot of other genre romance too - fantasy (I will not call romantasy), S/F, PNR, sport etc
Because the woman being “modern” is more feminist than the modern women trying to act feminist. The power differentials in modern romance are too much and they make me angry.
In theory, histroms are my favourite. The problem for me has been finding enough of them that feel like historicals instead of contemporaries in dress-up. E.g., Cole's A Hope Divided or Waite's The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows versus the millionth, fluffed-up retread of wallpaper Regencies.
I'm a late comer to enjoying history.
Learning all manner of things about the past has been a hook, but then imagining how people lived and loved (particularly the LGBTQIA+ community) has really grabbed me.
As a kid I devoured Kleypas / Balogh…But as adult, struggle with so many elements that make it awkward to read - unrealistically woke dukes or shady income sources , whether explicitly disclosed or not as slavery or colonisation-related (looking at you, Bridgerton 👀)
Love the escapism. It’s so far from my reality that I can enjoy without over analyzing. Also there are high stakes. Love to see the heartbreak and how it’s going to be put back together. One of my favorite authors is Sherry Thomas.
I’ve always been drawn to stories that are removed from the real world—fantasy and sci fi, but especially ones that mix real-world elements like PNR. Maybe as an anchor to reality, a starting point to escape from? IDK. Histrom has a mixture of different and familiar that I find appealing, I guess.
I enjoy a different time and place. The ones with some actual history woven in like Ms Bev’s, grab me the most. Historical fiction is my other favorite genre.
Historical romance was my gateway to the genre. I've generally been a setting reader (fantasy, historical fiction, other interesting settings). I liked how it held a mirror up to current issues through a different lens.
Personally I find certain tropes more "believable" in historicals, such as fake dating, arranged marriages, weird clauses in dead relatives' wills, etc. Or at least I am more willing to shrug and say, "sure, seems legit" and keep reading
For me, I’ve always liked the ’back in the day stuff’, Little House, Oregon Trail, medieval-ish fairy tales, all that jazz as a kid. So just seemed natural to take my HEA, Disney-esque romance loving into HR books as I got older. Get the ol’ timey stuff, the romance, and the HEA all in one 😁
Ok, since I read 99% exclusively HRs as far as my romance consumption goes, I went off and had an adult beverage and thought some more about it. Basically it, at the most primitive level, pretty much all boils down to horses, and big ol’ dresses, and castles and/or cowboys 😏 Or pirates 😉
In my early twenties (1970s), I read all of Georgette Heyer and loved the stories. For years, I read mysteries. But in retirement, I am enjoying all the modern historical romances that have been written.
Comments
“Elijah churned the butter…his arms glistening in the morning rays.”
😭😂💀💀💀
And some of these authors make me laugh and tug my heart and just write gorgeously.
She writes about “weird” and strong women who find deep love.
I enjoyed it because I love romance and needed something different. I’d been reading lots of contemporary and fantasy. The historical aspect added another layer.
I don’t have to suspend disbelief as I have to with fairies, dragons, or vampires. Although I do find it hard to believe there’s so many Dukes.
It’s easier to “escape” into a different time, with different expectations, customs, and behaviors.
When I’m reading a contemporary romance, I keep wondering if I’d like these people in real life, or if they’d be someone I’d join for Happy Hour.
Love a good Earl.
I'm currently reading Lorraine Heath's "Lord of Wicked Intentions".
1. Lack of research into the culture. This manifests in historically inaccurate clothing most of all, but also social interactions, cuisine, architecture, etc.
2. Heroes/heroines that own slaves. Not sympathetic.
HEAs are possible in every era
#rombktalk
It has been *quite* the journey.
I really went hard on the escapism. 😇
I love the depth of research and the context each relationships brings to events so often reserved for academic articles.
you know I like reading dark romance and I feel like the bodice rippers of old might be sometime that could scratch that itch too BUT the head hopping and old timey writing style really puts me off 🥲
I think I’ve just used to more modern day writing styles with more dialogue than flowery descriptions since I started reading again starting with YA then contemporary romance.
I could do audiobooks but it turns out there’s a lot of popular histrom narrators I don’t like listening to so that makes it harder.
IMHO historical fiction should be true to history. A historical heroine should think, act, & live like a woman of her time & place. Not a modern boss babe.
Whom I can't tolerate in any genre!
Also, @danaflo.bsky.social showed me P&P 1995 for the first time when I was 12 and I'm just constantly seeking that feeling again!
I once wrote a paper ”In Defence of the Historical Romance.”
people back from love. I like it when people struggle between their sense of honor/propriety and getting what they need as a human being. That’s harder to pull off in a contemporary, where people are usually expected to go for it.
HistRom was my gateway into romance. I began reading romance when HistRom WAS synonymous with romance. So there is a lot of nostalgia for that original feeling.
Learning all manner of things about the past has been a hook, but then imagining how people lived and loved (particularly the LGBTQIA+ community) has really grabbed me.
A lot of fiction is about refusal and then what happens after so for historical romance that’s been a fun set of concepts to explore