The 20 Best Books Like Edenbrooke (Top Regency Romance)

Edenbrooke is the charming debut novel of Julianne Donaldson, an American author. Since the book’s release, countless readers have fallen in love with this regency romance that takes place in the quaint English countryside. It tells the story of young Marianne Daventry, a seventeen-year-old who visits her twin sister Cecily at a magnificent estate named Edenbrooke.

The 20 Best Books Like Edenbrooke (Top Regency Romance)

At Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that life gets much more interesting (and more complicated) once she meets the dashingly handsome Philip. She also realizes she has a lot to learn when it comes to matters of the heart and that life in a fairy-tale setting isn’t as simple as it appears.

If you’ve already read Edenbrooke, you’re probably like many of the book’s fans across the world and don’t want the story to end. While you’re waiting for the author to spin more tales in the series, there are plenty of other books you can read in the meantime.

(If you haven’t had a chance to dive into this story yet, you can purchase Edenbrooke here.)

Here are 20 recommendations for books that have loveable characters, sweet romances, and picturesque settings.

List of Books Like Edenbrooke

Heir to Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Heir to Edenbrooke

We’ll start with the obvious follow-up to Edenbrooke: its prequel novelette, Heir to Edenbrooke. There’s no reason to despair once you reach the last page of Edenbrooke. To many fans’ joy, Julianne Donaldson has written a 46-page story that gives readers a closer look into Philip Wyndham’s background.

That means readers can spend a few more hours wandering the Edenbrooke estate and learning more about Philip and the role he faces as the unexpected (and reluctant) heir of the property.

Readers can find Heir to Edenbrooke here.

Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden

Seeking Persephone

Sarah M. Eden has won a ton of awards for her books, including the “Best of State” Gold Medal for fiction and AML’s “2013 Novel of the Year.” Her novel Persephone, published in 2008, is the first in her four-part Lancaster Family series.

In this story, the main character, Persephone Lancaster, is somewhat reminiscent of Belle from Beauty of the Beast after her family falls on hard times.

Although she’s not exactly imprisoned in a castle the way Belle is, Persephone’s just as reluctant to wed the ornery Duke of Kielder. Neither is she thrilled to live with him in his imposing castle, but she agrees so she can help her family overcome their financial issues. Over time, however, Persephone realizes the Duke may not be as cold-hearted as he seems…

Seeking Persephone is available in paperback.

Miss Minerva’s Pirate Mishap by Maggie Dallen

Miss Minerva's Pirate Mishap: A Sweet Regency Romance (Bluestocking Battalion Book 1)

Marriage is a huge theme in virtually every regency romance novel. The planning and calculation that characters go through to choose the perfect marriage partner is just one reason this genre is so popular with readers.

Minerva, the main character in this book, finds herself playing a balancing act as she tries to maintain her image as a sea captain’s dutiful daughter while finding herself falling head over heels for Marcus, a mysterious pirate that wants her help.

This unlikely romance checks all the boxes for a cozy, charming reading.

Miss Minerva’s Pirate Mishap is the first book in the Bluestocking Battalion series, a five-part collection of regency romance tales. 

Lady Ludmilla’s Accidental Letter by Sofi Laporte

Lady Ludmilla's Accidental Letter (Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues)

Who doesn’t love a romance that involves a few classic mix-ups that create a comedy of errors? Laporte’s Lady Ludmilla’s Accidental Letter has plenty of them to go around.

The book begins with Lady Ludmilla “Lu” Windermere, a spinster at the ripe old age of 28 who lives a quiet, unassuming life.

After her attempts to reach an old friend by letter are misdirected, she winds up with an unexpected pen pal, Adrian “Addy” St. Addington. It’s not long before she begins to develop feelings for this mysterious stranger. There’s just one problem: She’s never met him.

Wanting to find out who the man behind the letter really is, Lu investigates his true identity. To her surprise, he’s a womanizer infamous for his unsavory habits throughout London. Or is he?

Read Lady Ludmilla’s Accidental Letter here.

The Social Tutor by Sally Britton

The Social Tutor: A Regency Romance

Regency romances are chock full of social customs and expectations, and readers are well accustomed to these intricate matters. But what happens when a young woman ready to make her London debut doesn’t know the ins and outs of polite society? Christine Devon faces this predicament in The Social Tutor.

To prevent a failed debut as her older sister experienced a few years before, Christine concocts a plan with her neighbor Thomas. She will pay him to teach her social etiquette since he’s just returned from traveling abroad.

Thomas, struggling to save his family’s estate, agrees. Christine and Thomas’ many afternoons together lead to a blossoming romance, but what will Christine’s strict father think of such a relationship?

You can purchase a copy of the book through this link.

The Bittersweet Bride by Vanessa Riley

The Bittersweet Bride (Advertisements for Love)

After her husband passes away, Theodosia “Theo” Cecil finds herself a widow. She sets out on a mission to find a new husband to help care for her son.

After posting an advertisement in a newspaper, she’s unexpectedly reunited with a long-lost love, Ewan Fitzwilliam, the very man she believed was dead. Theo must work through her subsequent feelings of abandonment at the same time Ewan must also try to forget certain things from the past.

The Bittersweet Bride is the first book in the Advertisements for Love series.

More Than a Companion by Rose Pearson

More than a Companion: A Regency Romance (Ladies on their Own: Governesses and Companions Book 1)

Being at her selfish aunt’s beck and call is not Honora Gregory’s idea of fun. Yet she agrees to be her companion to please the father she adores. Unfortunately, Honora doesn’t have any time to herself, which means it’s next to impossible to form a relationship with a suitor.

When her aunt gives her just one day to find the man of her dreams, Honora finds herself focusing on a man that she never thought would catch her eye: Robert, the Earl of Crampton.

Buy your copy of More Than a Companion here.

A Duke of a Time by Tamara Gill

A Duke of a Time (The Wayward Woodvilles)

Another perfect enemies-to-lovers pick, A Duke of a Time features a pair of seemingly mismatched characters that learn there’s more to each other than meets the eye. Hailey Woodville enjoys living with her father on his estate and getting to know all the workers there.

However, there’s one worker, Greyson Everett, that can’t seem to do anything right. As the heir to the Derby estate, he’s not too accustomed to manual labor yet has no choice, as his family has cut him off financially.

Despite their different social situations and disdain for one another, Hailey and Greyson can’t help but stay all too close to one another.

A Duke of a Time is a must-read for readers who love a regency romance with characters that are tempted to break free from societal expectations.

A Deal with the Earl by Sadie Bosque

A Deal with the Earl: Historical romance novel (Necessary Arrangements)

If you enjoy a bit more “spice” in your regency romances, check out A Deal with the Earl, the first book of the Necessary Arrangements series by Sadie Bosque. While not quite as “clean” as Edenbrooke, this novel tells a riveting tale of characters in the midst of a love triangle.

Julie has been in love with John for as long as she can remember. Her overbearing father refuses to let her marry him and instead, essentially forces her into a marriage with Robert, an earl. Julie uses her quick wit to convince Robert that their marriage can be one of convenience.

Robert, no longer interested in the idea of finding love, agrees to the plan. This perfect setup backfires, however, when both Julie and Robert begin to realize they’re interested in having more than a platonic marriage.

You can find A Deal with the Earl on Amazon.

The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan

The Duke Who Didn't (Wedgeford Trials)

While The Duke Who Didn’t takes place toward the end of the nineteenth century, lovers of the regency romance genre won’t want to miss this beloved book by Courtney Milan.

Long ago, Chloe Fong fell in love with Jeremy Yu, her charming childhood sweetheart. Unfortunately for Chloe, Jeremy never seems to be able to settle down and be serious, and she remains oblivious to how much he cares for her. When she tells him he needs to become more serious, he disappears, only to resurface years later.

With his return comes many revelations, including the fact that Jeremy Yu is actually Jeremy Wentworth, a duke.

The Duke Who Didn’t is available on Kindle, as an audiobook, and in paperback.

Lakeshire Park by Megan Walker

Lakeshire Park (Proper Romance Regency)

Few things were more frightening to an early nineteenth-century Englishwoman than being left destitute and unmarried. Amelia Moore and her sister find themselves in this perilous situation in Lakeshire Park.

With their stepfather close to death, Amelia is determined to kindle a flame between Ronald and her sister, hoping to forge a relationship that will provide financial security for her sister. And a party, Amelia decides, is the perfect place to hatch her plan.

Unfortunately, another guest is out to marry off his sister to Ronald: Peter Wood. Fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope will enjoy this regency romance by Megan Walker. Booklist calls Lakeshire Park an “immersive drama of the lesser nobility.”

Lakeshire Park is available in the following formats: Kindle, audiobook, paperback, and audio CD.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility (Oxford World's Classics)

What regency romance book list would be complete without a Jane Austen mention? The queen of regency romance, Austen paved the way for many authors to come. Sense and Sensibility is her first work and introduces us to the Dashwood women, characters who have intrigued readers for centuries.

After Mr. Dashwood dies, Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters are forced to live in a small home on a relative’s property. Elinore and Marianne become entangled in romances that they hope will improve their financial circumstances and help them find lasting love.

Still published over 200 years after its debut, this famous classic can be found here.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

Maid of Fairbourne Hall

Julie Klassen is one of the biggest names in romance, and her novels never disappoint. The Maid of Fairbourne Hall re-envisions the classic regency scenario: a young woman, Margaret Macy, doesn’t want to marry the man she’s expected to.

What does she do? Margaret reinvents herself as a maid to earn her keep until she can access her anticipated inheritance money. There’s just one problem: She finds herself working at the home of a man she once scorned. From her lowly position, Margaret gains insight into the man’s true character and finds out he just might be a better person than she thought.

You can order The Maid of Fairbourne Hall through this link

Prelude for a Lord by Camille Elliot

Prelude for a Lord

If you love main characters with strong, independent spirits, you’ll want to dive into Camille Elliot’s Prelude for a Lord. In this story, Alethea goes against society’s expectations by playing the violin, a traditionally male instrument.

Her unique spirit alienates her from some of her family. At a relative’s home, she forms an unlikely friendship with Lord Dommick, a returned soldier battling his own demons who just so happens to share a passion for the violin.

This tormented (and handsome) man becomes Alethea’s support system as she tries to elude a dangerous villain who is willing to do just about anything to get her violin.

Readers can enjoy Prelude for a Lord as an e-book or paperback.

A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter

A Noble Masquerade

Love triangles are a classic trope in any romance. Kristi Ann Hunter breathes fresh life into this old plot device in A Noble Masquerade. The novel’s main character, Miranda, has experienced a few failed debut seasons and feels a sense of dread about becoming a spinster. 

To cope with her worries, she discusses her struggles in letters she never intends to send. These letters are addressed to a duke, an old friend her brother has spoken of, but whom she’s never met.

Meanwhile, another one of her brother’s acquaintances, Marlow, also catches her eye. When Marlow accidentally mails Miranda’s letters, things quickly get much more complicated.

You can find A Noble Masquerade here.

Danse de la Folie by Sherwood Smith

Danse de la Folie

Do you enjoy romances that come with plenty of laughs? Fall in love with Danse de la Folie, a novel by Sherwood Smith. Known for her fantasy and science fiction works such as Crown Duel and Inda, Smith has tried her hand at regency romances and has been met with great success.

In this story, Clarissa Harlowe becomes entangled in a romance with St. Tarval, a smuggler, and forms a friendship with his sister, Kitty. One of Clarissa’s relatives falls in love with Kitty, but she has other plans. Complications (and hilarity) ensue.

Use this link to purchase Danse de la Folie on Amazon.

Indiscretion by Jude Morgan

Indiscretion: A Novel

As a result of her father’s mishandling of the family’s money, Caroline “Caro” Fortune becomes a companion for Mrs. Catling, a family friend. Caro quickly attracts the attention of several suitors, but she finds it difficult to determine the intentions of each.

Navigating love is never easy, as Caro soon finds. Witty dialogue makes this book a must-read for Edenbrooke fans, as well as lovers of Jane Austen novels.

You can find Indiscretion here.

The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd

The Heiress of Winterwood (Whispers On The Moors)

Sarah E. Ladd’s name is pretty much synonymous with regency romance novels. Die-hard fans of the genre have plenty of her books to choose from, including The Letter from Briarton Park, The Light at Wyndcliff, and A Stranger at Fellsworth.

If you’re new to Ladd’s works, The Heiress of Winterwood is a great introduction to the author’s writing. Set against the quintessential English moors, the book tells the story of Amelia Barrett, a wealthy woman who must care for her dear friend’s baby after the friend dies.

After marrying the child’s father, Amelia and her new husband, Graham, are heartbroken when the baby is abducted, and a ransom letter is left behind.

This captivating regency romance is available on Kindle, as an audiobook, in paperback, and on audio CD. You can order it here.

The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd

The Governess of Penwythe Hall (The Cornwall Novels)

Another book by Sarah E. Ladd, The Governess of Penwythe Hall features a strong-willed woman named Cordelia “Delia” Greythorne. She’s the governess of five children who finds herself in a difficult situation when their father passes away.

After promising to accompany the children to their new guardian’s home, Delia realizes she must confront her troubled past. Fortunately, Jac, the children’s uncle, is there to help her along the way.

Add The Governess of Penwythe Hall to your TBR list and get ready to be transported to the charming estate of Penwythe Hall.

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

Blackmoore (Proper Romance)

The last book on our list is written by the Edenbrooke author herself, Julianne Donaldson. Blackmoore follows the story of Kate Worthington, a young woman filled with wanderlust who is set on traveling to India.

Her mother requires her to consider three marriage proposals and reject them before she can follow her dream and move to India. Manipulated by her family, Kate does her best to meet the demands her mother has set.

She heads to the Blackmoore estate in search of a proposal. Supporting her along the way is an old friend, Henry Delafield who is always there to help.

You can find Blackmoore at most major bookstores and on Amazon.

FAQs

What should I read after Edenbrooke?

After you finish Edenbrooke, you can read books by other regency romance authors including Georgette Heyer, Sarah E. Ladd, and Julia Quinn.

Is there a sequel to Edenbrooke?

While there’s no sequel to Edenbrooke, Donaldson did write the short prequel Heir to Edenbrooke. As mentioned above, this story describes Philip Wyndham’s life before he meets Marianne.

What are the most popular regency romance books?

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)
2. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (1811)
3. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (2000)
4. A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean (2012)
5. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (2002)
6. The Duke Is Mine by Eloisa James (2012)
7. When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn (2004)
8. The Duke and the Lady in Red by Lorraine Heath (2012)
9. The Beauty Bride by Claire Delacroix (2006)
10. It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas (2000)

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Krista Watson