Love When He Was Wicked? Readers share 42 books like When He Was Wicked...

By Julia Quinn,

Here are 42 books that When He Was Wicked fans have personally recommended if you like When He Was Wicked. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Book cover of The Hating Game

Mia Page Author Of Bookishly Ever After

From my list on bookish romance novels.

Why am I passionate about this?

I worked in a bookshop for three years in Washington, DC, and it was the best job Iā€™ve ever had. Thereā€™s nothing like being around books all day and working with colleagues who love them just as much as you do. Iā€™ve also worked in publishing, and loved that as well. So itā€™s no surprise that, like a lot of avid bookworms, I love reading about bookish environmentsā€”and writing about them, too.

Mia's book list on bookish romance novels

Mia Page Why did Mia love this book?

The chemistry between the two leads in this rom-com is sizzlingā€“and as a writer of rom-coms myself, Iā€™m jealous of Sally Thorneā€™s talent!

Set in a publishing company, this enemies-to-lovers story brims with sexual tension from the off, and watching it unfold is a masterclass in how to write a romance that will keep readers hooked.

By Sally Thorne,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked The Hating Game as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Debut author Sally Thorne bursts on the scene with a hilarious and sexy workplace comedy all about that thin, fine line between hate and love. Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome. 2) A person's undoing 3) Joshua Templeman Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She's charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual. Trapped in a shared office together fortyā€¦


Book cover of The Summer I Turned Pretty

Alison Rose Greenberg Author Of Maybe Once, Maybe Twice

From my list on summertime romance.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a romance and rom-com writer, summer love stories are my favorite to read. We change during the summer monthsā€”our schedules are less rigorous, we get out and see the world, we can be a little reckless with our decisions because everything feels temporary, and we show the world a more relaxed side of ourselves. In cuffing season, we attach ourselves to another person to get through the cold months with a warm body by our side. Meanwhile, in summertime, we donā€™t feel burdened to get through it with another person. But the night swimming and salt air romance allows surprising love stories to ignite. 

Alison's book list on summertime romance

Alison Rose Greenberg Why did Alison love this book?

Iā€™m a sucker for YA and love triangles, and the love triangle between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah is one for the ages!

Watching Belly come alive in Cousins is such a delight, and from the moment both boys see Belly emerge from the car that summer, I couldnā€™t put the book down. Bellyā€™s crush on Conrad delivers such good teenage pining. 

By Jenny Han,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Summer I Turned Pretty as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

The Summer I Turned Pretty is now a major new TV series on Amazon Prime!

From the author of Netflix's smash-hit movie To All The Boys I've Loved Before, this is the perfect funny summer romance for fans of The Kissing Booth and Holly Bourne.

One girl. Two boys. And the summer that changed everything . . .

Every year Isabel spends a perfect summer at her favourite place in the world - the Fisher family's beach house. It has everything a girl could want: a swimming pool, a private stretch of sandy beach... and two (very cute) boys:

Unavailable,ā€¦


Book cover of Again the Magic

Katherine Grace Author Of Just a Fling

From my list on second-chance romance.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve been reading romance novels since I was way too young to be reading romances and I love the romance genre. Iā€™m a fan of many tropes, but second-chance romance is one of my favorites and it is the main trope in my debut novel, Just a Fling. When I read romance, I want to read stories that make my heart break and then stitch it back together. Second-chance romances do that because they capture the essence of hope and forgiveness. They give readers the opportunity to experience the beauty and power of forgiveness and to believe in the transformative power of love.

Katherine's book list on second-chance romance

Katherine Grace Why did Katherine love this book?

Again the Magic, by historical queen Lisa Kleypas, is a gorgeous historical romance that'll transport you to another time and place while tearing your heart out.

Aline Marsden and John McKenna are childhood friends who reconnect after years apart and realize they've been in love all along. There's tons of drama, including societal pressure and family expectations, but their chemistry is off the charts.

It has Kleypas' gorgeous writing, swoon-worthy romance, and plenty of tension.

By Lisa Kleypas,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Again the Magic as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

She gave him her innocence . . .

Lady Aline Marsden was brought up to marry a man of her own class, but from the moment she meets John McKenna, she risks everything to be with him.

He gave her his heart

Although their love is forbidden, McKenna's passion for the beautiful Aline is too compelling to deny.

When their secret is discovered, their world is shattered. McKenna is forced to leave forever, unaware that the only reason Aline has given him up is to save him.

Now McKenna has returned, a powerful man determined to take revenge against theā€¦


If you love When He Was Wicked...

Ad

Book cover of Sea Change

Sea Change by Darlene Marshall,

David Fletcher needs a surgeon, stat! But when he captures a British merchantman in the Caribbean, what he gets is Charley Alcott, an apprentice physician barely old enough to shave. Needs must, and Captain Fletcher takes the prisoner back aboard his ship with orders to do his best or heā€™llā€¦

Book cover of One Day in December

Jacqueline Friedland Author Of That's Not a Thing

From my list on contemporary romance set in Manhattan.

Why am I passionate about this?

As someone whoā€™s been born and raised in and around the suburbs of Manhattan, I have a love-hate relationship with the city. I crave the excitement it offers but then gets frustrated by its drawbacks- the crowds, the dirt, the noise, the expense, the pressure. But then you crack open the pages of a romance story, and the allure of Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs is undeniable. Anything is possible in New York City.

Jacqueline's book list on contemporary romance set in Manhattan

Jacqueline Friedland Why did Jacqueline love this book?

I live a very busy life with four children, two dogs, an awesome husband, and a career of my own. If a book doesnā€™t pull me in right from the start, I tend to give up on it fairly quickly. This book sucks you in right away and keeps you turning the pages with fervor. Itā€™s a complicated story about friendship, romance, and a young woman who thinks she has everything figured out, until she doesnā€™t, but then she does, and then she doesnā€™t. You get the gist.

By Josie Silver,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked One Day in December as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?


#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ā€¢ ā€œGet ready to be swept up in a whirlwind romance. It absolutely charmed me.ā€ā€”Reese Witherspoon (A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick)

ā€œThe perfect book to get lost in . . . Josie Silverā€™s characters sneak their way into your heart and stay.ā€ā€”Jill Santopolo, author of The Light We Lost

Two people. Ten chances. One unforgettable love story.

Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn't exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Theirā€¦


Book cover of The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

C.J. Connolly Author Of The Love of Her Lives

From my list on magic-realism romance for your otherworldly feels.

Why am I passionate about this?

The stars aligned to ignite my passion for magic-realism romance after a few things had happened. 1) I got heavily into the idea of the multiverse and alternate realities in high school, having been inspired by my physics teacher. 2) I read and fell in love with The Time Travelerā€™s Wife (see list!). 3) I binge-watched the incredible sci-fi show Fringe, which deals with parallel universes and time jumps. 4) I decided to write my first multiverse romance, inspired by all the above factors and more besides. Since then, Iā€™ve focused most of my reading on romantic novels, with those that share a magic realism twist being auto-readsā€”of course!

C.J.'s book list on magic-realism romance for your otherworldly feels

C.J. Connolly Why did C.J. love this book?

This book is everything a magic-realism romance should beā€”captivating, romantic, ethereal, and satisfying. As a total sucker for parallel worlds, I love the alternate-reality element of this novel. Each night, our protagonist Lydia has lifelike dreams of an alternate path in which her boyfriend Freddie didnā€™t just die in a tragic accident. The potent pills her doctor prescribed to help her sleep after his death are taking her into this magical dream world in which she would much rather live than reality. 

I love how this seemingly ideal dream world is juxtaposed with the reality Lydia is forced to live while awake and her gradual awakening from grief into a new world of love. Itā€™s moving, tender, sweet, and totally dreamyā€”literally! 

By Josie Silver,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Two Lives of Lydia Bird as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Two lives. Two loves. One impossible choice. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Reeseā€™s Book Club Pick One Day in December . . .
 
ā€œI read The Two Lives of Lydia Bird in a single sitting. What a beautiful, emotional gift Josie Silver has given us.ā€ā€”Jodi Picoult

Written with Josie Silverā€™s trademark warmth and wit, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird is a powerful and thrilling love story about the what-ifs that arise at lifeā€™s crossroads, and what happens when one woman is given a miraculous chance to answer them.
 
Lydia and Freddie. Freddie and Lydia.ā€¦


Book cover of Passion

S.M. Harlow Author Of The Lover of The Opera

From my list on to fall in love with historical romance.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve been in love with HR novels ever since my parents took me to a bookstore when I was fifteen, where for the first time, I stepped into an aisle filled with romance. It was love at first sight, as I searched for that one book that called to me. After finishing that book, my world had changed. Now, seventeen years later, as a published author for both New Age and Historical Romance, I still feverishly read romance books to continue feeding that internal flame of love and passion I still have for Historical Romance. I hope you enjoy the books on this list as much as I have.

S.M.'s book list on to fall in love with historical romance

S.M. Harlow Why did S.M. love this book?

Passion is a highly intense and passionate novel that transports you away from the traditional HR to a whole new world of an exotic and steamy love affair. The characters flourish together from hot-blooded lovers to hopelessly in love. This book carries all that you would hope to find in a historical romance, from lust, obsession, longing, and love with a happy conclusion. If youā€™re looking for all the qualities, and then some, in a historical romance, then this book will get you there! Truly unforgettable! I read this over a decade ago, and I still remember it fondly! But honestly, because of all the sensual sex scenes!

By Lisa Valdez,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Passion as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In her second year of mourning, lovely, young widow Passion Elizabeth Dare never dreamed she would be with a man againā€”and certainly not a complete stranger.

But amidst the crowds of London's Crystal Palace, Passion finds herself discreetly, yet insistently, pursued by a sensual gentleman who awakens her long-supressed desires. After a loveless marriage of restrained propriety, Passion abandons herself to true bliss for the first time.

Intoxicated by his encounter with the beautiful stranger, Mark Randolph Hawkmore, Earl of Langley, cannot wait to see her again. As a series of rapturous rendezvous follows, he and his mystery lover findā€¦


If you love Julia Quinn...

Ad

Book cover of The Sailor Without a Sweetheart

The Sailor Without a Sweetheart by Katherine Grant,

Enjoy this Persuasion-inspired historical romance!

Six years ago, Amy decided *not* to elope with Captain Nate Preston. Now, he is back in the neighborhood, and he is shocked to discover that Amy is unmarried. Even more surprising, she is clearly battling some unnamed illness. Thrown together by circumstances outside theirā€¦

Book cover of Saving Jake

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy Author Of At Face Value

From my list on the lessons learned by triumphant heroes.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™m the daughter of an Army drill sergeant, widow of an Air Force veteran, granddaughter, niece, and cousin to veterans who served during both World Wars, in Vietnam, and beyond. I am a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. One of my grandfathers suffered from PTSD and Iā€™ll never forget a moment in my childhood when during a family picnic to welcome home my cousin from Vietnam, a car backfired in the street, and he dived under a picnic table for cover since days earlier heā€™d been in a war zone. Iā€™ve visited VA hospitals where bitter veterans taunted each other for being a ā€œcrippleā€ and broke my heart.

Lee Ann's book list on the lessons learned by triumphant heroes

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy Why did Lee Ann love this book?

Saving Jake made me cry in places and warmed my heart in others. Sharon Sala (one of my favorite authors) handled this troubled veteranā€™s homecoming with skill and accuracy.

As Jake returns to his hometown to heal, he also finds love and a way to triumph over a bully from his past. I have a soft spot for veterans with PTSD because my late grandfather, Claude Roberts, suffered from it, long before it had a name or diagnosis. It made his life more difficult than should have been necessary, but he still loved his little granddaughter, ā€œthe kidā€ as he called me, very much.

Saving Jake made me cry in places and warmed my heart in others. Sharon Sala (one of my favorite authors) handled this troubled veteranā€™s homecoming with skill and accuracy. As Jake returns to his hometown to heal, he also finds love and a way to triumphā€¦

By Sharon Sala,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Saving Jake as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A USA Today Bestseller!

"Sharon Sala is a consummate storyteller. Her skills shine in her Blessings, Georgia series. If you can stop reading then you're a better woman than me."ā€•DEBBIE MACOMBER, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

Welcome to Blessings, Georgia, the best small town in the South!

There is always hope as long as you can come home

After eight years in the Marines, Jacob Lorde returns to Blessings, Georgia, with no plans other than to hole up in his empty house and heal what's left of his soul. But with a charming next door neighbor and a townā€¦


Book cover of Who I Am with You

Myra Johnson Author Of The Soft Whisper of Roses

From my list on Christian true-to-life women dealing with life.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™m a native of Texas who loves bluebonnets, big skies, and barbecue! With 25+ books in print, I write about imperfect characters who discover their inner strength as they lean on God and learn to trust each other and themselves. Iā€™m fascinated by the dynamics of personalities and relationships, as well as the backstories that made the individuals who they are now. If youā€™re looking for stories of true-to-life characters growing deeper in faith while dealing with all the messiness human relationships entail, here are some novels you may enjoy.

Myra's book list on Christian true-to-life women dealing with life

Myra Johnson Why did Myra love this book?

This novel is beautifully written, a gentle, faith-filled love story with characters I couldnā€™t help but care about from the start. Recently widowed and expecting a baby, Jessica is struggling with the tragic loss of her husband and daughterā€”and the secret knowledge of her late husbandā€™s betrayal. Her new next-door neighbor, Ridley, has his own secrets, which is why heā€™s attempting to keep a low profile in this small-town setting. I loved watching their friendship evolve into something more and how their faith grew as they dealt with the difficulties they faced. And as a lifelong animal lover, I have to say I was especially fond of Ridleyā€™s dog, Kris, who played the perfect little matchmaker!

By Robin Lee Hatcher,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Who I Am with You as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

For these two broken hearts, the first step toward love will be a huge leap of faith.

Jessica Mason isn't looking for love when she meets Ridley Chesterfield. Instead she is still reeling from the tragic, unexpected loss of her husband and daughter-and awaiting the arrival of her unborn child. Harboring the secret of her husband's betrayal, her pain is deeper than anyone knows.

Ridley Chesterfield is hiding out in Hope Springs, Idaho, avoiding a political scandal and the barrage of false media headlines that have tarnished his good name. The last thing Ridley wants is a relationship-but when fateā€¦


Book cover of Varina Palladino's Jersey Italian Love Story

Elizabeth Amber Love Author Of Full Body Manslaughter: A Farrah Wethers Mystery

From my list on women starting over.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve spent my life recreating myself as many times as Madonna. If things arenā€™t working, I move on to something new. Iā€™ll go to classes, learn something else, change careers, and struggle the whole way as I look for pieces of life that fit the puzzle of me. It takes me a lot longer to read so when I try to diversify my bookshelf and donā€™t always stick to my genre (as the professionals tell an author to do). What I ā€œstick toā€ is finding female characters who struggle and want to give up, but somehow, something deep inside them makes them move forward one step at a time.

Elizabeth's book list on women starting over

Elizabeth Amber Love Why did Elizabeth love this book?

This isnā€™t a mystery, but Varina Palladinoā€™s Jersey Italian Love Story instantly became my new favorite book.

First of all, itā€™s close to home for me. Iā€™m a Jersey Girl and my grandmother married into an Italian family. The food, the colloquialisms, the (loud) holiday feasts ā€“ itā€™s all there.

This book has an interesting presentation as well. Each chapter begins with a few words of Jersey-Italian pidgin, traces the origins from Italian, and gives an example of how to use it properly.

Varina is a grandma who has worked herself to the bone running a gourmet food store even after her husband died. All she wants to do is take the little bit of money sheā€™s managed to save and take one vacation to France. Her mother, her kids, the grandkids ā€“ everyone always needs her for something. There is a happy ending and a beautiful epilogue.

By Terri-Lynne DeFino,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Varina Palladino's Jersey Italian Love Story as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Varina Palladino's Jersey Italian Love Story is fun and funny, wonderfully exuberant, and incredibly wise. These endearing characters-their voices and stories- will be with me for a long time to come. I didn't want to say good-bye." -Jill McCorkle, New York Times bestselling author of Hieroglyphics

An utterly delightful and surprising family drama-think Moonstruck and My Big Fat Greek Wedding set in New Jersey-about a boisterous, complicated Italian family determined to help their widowed mother find a new boyfriend.

Lively widow Varina Paladino has lived in the same house in Wyldale, New Jersey, her entire life. The town might beā€¦


If you love When He Was Wicked...

Ad

Book cover of Wilde Wagers

Wilde Wagers by Elizabeth Caulfield Felt,

In this historical farce, Oscar Wilde wagers that actress Olivia Snow can fool a group of country bumpkins into believing she is Genevieve Lamb, the wealthy beauty of the recent Season. The weekend will prove a challenge for the old-fashioned actress and Genevieve's handsome and old-fashioned brother Philip who vowsā€¦

Book cover of Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover

Lorraine Heath Author Of The Return of the Duke

From my list on historical romances with adventurous women.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the bestselling author of more than 46 romance novels. I love history, enjoy research, and am always looking for little-known facts to make my stories more authentic. Some of those facts have revealed that women in the 19th century often took on occupations, hobbies, or causes that challenged them and sometimes placed them in danger. Although seldom acknowledged as such, women in the 19th century were a force to be reckoned with, although their contributions were often overlooked. But through reading personal accounts, letters of the time, biographies, and nonfiction accounts about various womenā€™s roles, I have gained a greater appreciation for how daring women have been throughout history.

Lorraine's book list on historical romances with adventurous women

Lorraine Heath Why did Lorraine love this book?

Little is more adventurous than a woman who owns a gambling hell, who has forged a path to success, and dares Society to judge her. I love Sarahā€™s depth of characterization and how she infuses her characters with a background and motivations that make their actions, even the questionable ones, understandable and believable. I find she always takes an insurmountable conflict and uses it to drive the characters toward change. I so admire Sarahā€™s ability to carry me on a journey that always ends with a sigh of satisfaction, and often a few tears.

By Sarah MacLean,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Fabulous' Eloisa James
'Smart, sexy, and always romantic' Julia Quinn
'For a smart, witty and passionate historical romance, I recommend anything by Sarah MacLean' Lisa Kleypas

RITA Award winning author, Sarah MacLean, reveals the identity of The Fallen Angel's final scoundrel in the spectacular conclusion to her Rules of Scoundrels series . . .

By day, she is Lady Georgiana, sister to a duke, ruined before her first season in the worst kind of scandal. But the truth is far more shocking-in London's darkest corners, she is Chase, the mysterious, unknown founder of the city's most legendary gaming hell. Forā€¦


Book cover of The Hating Game
Book cover of The Summer I Turned Pretty
Book cover of Again the Magic

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

2,007

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in romantic love, widows, and Scotland?

Romantic Love 957 books
Widows 87 books
Scotland 348 books