As a queer woman, I was ecstatic to hear that Bridgerton season 5 will focus on the blossoming romance between Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Sterling. Dearest reader, it's about time that WLW love stories got the chance to shine in the Netflix Regency-era franchise.
In Julia Quinn's popular Bridgerton books, however, Francesca is heterosexual, just like every other dalliance in the series. But there are plenty of other historical romance novels that deliver LGBTQ+ representation in the form of unlikely courtships, kismet connections, and, of course, forbidden love. We consider these period pieces certified page-turners because they transport the reader to centuries ago—meaning the historical accuracy will tap one interest, and the restraint that adds to their eroticism will intrigue another. Simply put: It’s fun to imagine secretly grazing fingertips in packed ballrooms and ripping open corsets by the firelight. (I’m more than happy to never deal with a chamber pot, though.)
