Looking for historical romance novellas that hit hard and fast, with no time wasted on fluff? Maybe you’re in a reading slump and want something short, swoony, and full of heart. Or maybe you just want to feel something again between deadlines and doomscrolling. Either way, these historical romance novellas serve heat, tension, and happily-ever-afters in bite-sized form. Let’s dig in.
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Why Historical Romance Novellas Deserve a Spot on Your Shelf
Novellas get a bad rep for being short. But honestly? That’s kind of the point. They’re the perfect palate cleanser between long series. You can devour one in a single evening and walk away emotionally wrecked or deliciously satisfied. These stories don’t meander. They crash into your heart and demand attention.
So if you’ve been sleeping on historical romance novellas, this list is your wake-up call.
Meet Me at the Anvil by Kate Prior
A runaway bride. A best man who’s secretly obsessed. A fainting goat named Tragedy.
Diane is used to being treated like she’s fragile, but after her fiancé publicly mocks her with a fainting goat gift? She’s done playing nice. What she doesn’t expect is for Liam, the best man (and cousin to her fiancé), to run away with her. Regency chaos ensues: think secret erotic sketches, tea garden trysts, and carriage theft.
Perfect for readers who want clever, quirky, and wildly hot.
Grab Meet Me at the Anvil on Amazon
In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation by Alexandra Vasti
London’s most scandalous debutante + her brother’s best friend + a race to stop a runaway wedding = tension for days.
Margo Halifax is a menace, in the best way. She lights up balls, causes drama, and doesn’t care what the ton thinks. But when her twin sister elopes with a walking red flag, she ropes in uptight solicitor Henry to help chase them down. What she doesn’t know? Henry’s been in love with her for seven years. Cue: rainstorms, forced cuddling, and a slow-burn confession that will ruin you.
You’ll laugh, blush, and possibly scream.
Grab In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation on Amazon or watch our review of In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation
The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan
A determined governess. A ruthless fixer. And a fight for justice that turns into something deeper.
Hugo Marshall is known as the Wolf of Clermont, a man who does the Duke’s dirty work without question. But when he’s ordered to silence Serena Barton, a woman seeking justice after a powerful man wrongs her, things get complicated. Serena refuses to back down. And Hugo? He starts to wonder if maybe he’s on the wrong side.
A quietly powerful novella with sharp edges, emotional payoff, and a love story that builds from mutual respect.
Grab The Governess Affair on Amazon or read our review of The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan
Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare
She’s meant to marry a lord. But she’s burning for the blacksmith.
Diana Highwood is the polished belle of Spindle Cove, expected to land a nobleman. But sparks fly, literally and figuratively, when she crosses paths with Aaron Dawes, the village blacksmith. Their flirtation becomes a full-blown firestorm in this steamy novella that proves sometimes the most stable hands belong to the man who wields the hammer.
A low-angst, high-heat, class-difference romance that hits in all the right places.
Grab Beauty and the Blacksmith on Amazon or read our review of Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare
The Chasing of Eleanor Vane by Sierra Simone
She ran from her fiancé. She didn’t expect to be chased by his uncle.
Lady Eleanor Vane bolts rather than marry a terrible man, but it’s the Duke of Jarrell, her almost-uncle-in-law, who finds her. What follows is a breathless pursuit filled with stolen moments and temptation that neither of them can resist. This novella is lush, forbidden, and dripping in that signature Sierra Simone decadence.
A must-read for fans of powerful men, taboo setups, and prose that melts on the page.
Grab The Chasing of Eleanor Vane on Amazon
Kiss the Rake Hello by Tracy Sumner
A widowed countess walks into a bar (okay, not really), and asks her childhood enemy for one night.
Alexandra wants one thing: to feel something again. Cortland DeWitt, her childhood nemesis turned rake, wants nothing to do with romance. But when they collide at a house party, years of hate turn into hours of passion. Add in the fact that she’s older, wiser, and completely unbothered? Chef’s kiss.
An enemies-to-lovers novella that’s sharp, emotional, and sexy as hell.
Grab Kiss the Rake Hello on Amazon or watch our review of Kiss the Rake Hello
Craving More?
Grab one (or all six) historical romance novellas, cozy up, and let yourself fall headfirst into a historical whirlwind. And if you’re looking for more, we have much more historical romance books for you to discover.
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