Historical romance did not die in 2025. It just stopped getting the spotlight. This year I read historical romances that were funny, chaotic, tender, political, and yes, occasionally unhinged in the exact way I want my escapism to be. Dukes in disguise. American heiresses who are over it. A courtesan with amnesia. Time travel Jane Austen meta-nerdiness. A crumbling inn that turns into chaos. And that Lisa Kleypas emotional alchemy that makes you forget you were only planning to read one chapter and then finish the whole book in one sitting. If you have been feeling like you never see historical romance recommended anymore, it is not because the books are not there. They are. They are just not always the ones getting pushed the hardest, so reader recs matter more than ever. Which is why I made my ranked list of the best historical romance books I read in 2025 and also filmed the full breakdown over on YouTube so you can hear exactly what worked for me, what surprised me, and what I would tell you to start with depending on your mood. LTKselfcare LTKmorningroutine LTKFindsUnder50