MLM Historical Romance
Yes Pioneer Summer is set in the 80s but I need everyone to read it. Feel free to leave recommendations in the comments, but not Alexis Hall or Emma Denny. I don't like them.
created by SebDoesThings
last updated September, 2026
Comments
Oh great list!! May I suggest adding In Memoriam by Alice Wynn?
I think I have that on my kindle actually!
It’s great! I highly recommend it 😊
Is it okay if there's romance central to the story but the book isn't romance (like The Watchmaker on Filigree Street)? And does it have to be HEA/HEA-adjacent? Any no-go themes/tropes/relationship dynamics?
And, why do you dislike Alexis Hall? I have one of their books on my tbr, Never After, never read any of theirs before so I'm curious👀
(sorry for the onslaught of questions🙈)
No big parameters, just nothing big ew like pedophilia, incest, sexual assault between the main couple. No guidelines on endings. Also i added the "romance" to the title last minute, so it can definitely be on the sidelines. Just should be present in some way.
And i dislike alexis hall based on one book of theirs i read, Something Fabulous. It did have a disclaimer in the beginning that said "almost everyone in this book is queer" and oh boy was that obnoxiously true. Everyone was queer and somehow it was never a secret and no one had any issue and there wasn't any danger to it, it was completely unrealistic. It also felt waaaay too modern and i always hate that in a historical novel. Overall it really should've been fantasy instead, same goes with the Emma Denny one i read (One Night in Hartswood). I read queer historical books for the historical part and all the trouble that brings. I want to see characters make it despite the adversity, and if you just throw all hardship out the window it leeches all the flavour out of the book imo.
Alright, that's really good to know because some of my faves have some dark themes! (And ouf about the Alexis Hall book, the covers do give off that vibe so I was worried about that😞)
Recs: The Half-Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley. Soviet Union 1940s-1960s. Messed up scientist gets sent to an irradiated town that doesn't exist, and comes alive. The book is great on its own, but the audiobook, if you have the chance to listen to it, I strongly recommend.
Brothers of the Wild North Sea by Harper Fox, takes place in the early Middle Ages. After a Viking raid, Caius, a monk, finds a wounded Viking and decides to nurture him back to health. The story follow the two, their relationship, and the dangerous changes forced upon the monastery.
The Arthur Trilogy by Harper Fox, which consists of When I First Met My King, The Dragon's Tale, and The Greenwood and the Grail. Strongly recommend the audiobook which is narrated by Gary Furlong.
I see you've got Wanted, A Gentleman by KJ Charles on here, which is one of two favorites of mine of hers, the other, which is also historical: An Unnatural Vice, Victorian London, an journalist tries to catch a scammer in the act (a spiritualist), which kickstarts a complicated relationship.
The Dove in the Belly by Jim Grimsley, 1970s US, Ben, one of the MCs, is a bit of an ass, and it gets a little toxic, but it's a moving story.
Valery K is on my tbr, i'm very excited for it! Also KJ Charles is my favourite queer historical writer! My favourite is Band Sinister, it's sooooo good! Thanks for the recs!
Making lists is fun, should i do one for mlm fantasy books too? As i was making this one i kept seeing ones that i wanted to add but then remembered they're fantasy
