Romances That Are YA, But Good for Any Age: Historical Romances

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

When sixteen-year-old orphan Tessa Gray's older brother suddenly vanishes, her search for him leads her into Victorian-era London's dangerous supernatural underworld, and when she discovers that she herself is a Downworlder, she must learn to trust the demon-killing Shadowhunters if she ever wants to learn to control her powers and find her brother.

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Edwardian London, a time of electric lights and long shadows-- with demons waiting in the dark. For years there has been peace in the Shadowhunter world. James and Lucie Herondale have listened to stories of good defeating evil and love conquering all. But everything changes when the Blackthorn and Carstairs families come to London-- along with a remorseless and inescapable plague. James believes he has found love in the mysterious Grace Blackthorn. Cordelia Carstairs is desperate to become a hero, save her family from ruin, and keep her secret love for James hidden. When disaster strikes, dark and incredible powers are revealed-- as well as the true cruel price of being a hero.

Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron

In the Jim Crow South, white supremacy reigns and tensions are high. But Evalene Deschamps has other things to worry about. She has two little sisters to look after, an overworked single mother, and a longtime crush who is finally making a move. On top of all that, Evvie's magic abilities are growing stronger by the day. Her family calls it jubilation--a gift passed down from generations of black women since the time of slavery. And as Evvie's talents waken, something dark comes loose and threatens to resurface...AND when the demons of Evvie's past finally shake free, she must embrace her mighty lineage, and summon the power that lies within her.

Your Heart, My Sky by Margarita Engle

Summer, 1991. The people of Cuba are living in el periodo especial en tiempos de paz - the special period in times of peace. That's what the government insists that this era must be called, but the reality behind these words is starvation. Hunger has made Liana brave: she finds the courage to skip a summer of so-called volunteer farm labor, even though she risks government retribution. Amado also refuses to comply, so he wanders alone, trying to discover rare sources of food. United by a chance encounter, they soon discover that love can feed their souls and hearts - but is it enough to withstand el periodo especial? This story is told in their alternating voices - alongside the perspective of the stray dog that brought them together.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Shanghai, 1926. A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. Juliette Cai, a former flapper, has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang, a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette's first love-- and first betrayal. When gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, there are whispers of a contagion, a madness, of a monster in the shadows. Juliette and Roma must work together, for if they can't stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

In an alternate version of present-day Manhattan, magic is dying, and Esta, a Mageus with a talent for manipulating time, travels back to 1901 to stop the destruction of a book that can possibly restore magic, but in Old New York, Esta must navigate gangs, secret societies, and her feelings for another magician in order to save the future of magic.

For All Time by Shanna Miles

Tamar is a musician, a warrior, a survivor. Fayard is a pioneer, a hustler, a hopeless romantic. Together they have lived a thousand lives, seen the world build itself up from nothing only to tear itself down again in civil war. They have even watched humanity take to the stars. But in each life one thing remains the same: their love, their fight to be together... and they never get to see how their story ends. Tamar and Fayard discover what it will take to break the cycle, will they be able to make the sacrifice?

The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith

Whisked away to Haxahaven Academy for Witches in 1911, seventeen-year-old Frances Hallowell soon finds herself torn between aligning herself with Haxahaven's foes, the Sons of St. Druon, to solve her brother's murder or saving Manhattan and her fellow witches.