Opposites attract is one of the tried-and-true tropes in historical romance novels. Two people who approach life from very different attitudes are attracted to each other, but can they possibly have a happy ending when they are so fundamentally different from each other?

Sometimes opposites-attract intersects with enemies-to-lovers, while there are also plenty of romances with opposites who are attracted to each other without hating each other. Either way, the trope always sets up for a fun read. 

With that in mind, here are 12 essential historical romance novels for you to read if you love the opposites-attract trope:

Opposites Attract in Historical Romance Novels

Proper English by KJ Charles

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.11

The opposites:

Pat is not quite shy, but she doesn’t love socializing, and she is a great shot with the rifle. Fenella is frothy, frivolous, and has no idea how to shoot a gun. When they are thrown together in a murder mystery, can they enjoy each other, let alone trust each other?

A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare

Average Goodreads rating: 3.88

The opposites:

Kate Taylor loves children, people, puppies, and is generally optimistic about the world. Corporal Thorne is moody, quiet, and suspicious of people’s motivations. When her potential long-lost family shows up, he lies to protect her and claims to be her fiance - but can they even stand to be together for half a day?

Unveiled by Courtney Milan

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.86

The opposites:

Margaret is Blue Blood, no matter that her parents’ marriage has been declared bigamous, and she is determined to preserve the tradition of her family. Ash is self-educated, egalitarian, and on a mission to upend that same family tradition. Is there any world in which they can be happy together?

The Soldier’s Scoundrel by Cat Sebastian

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.01

The opposites:

Oliver is returning to English society after time in the army, and he respects nothing more than Law and Order. Jack Turner has zero faith in Law and Order; he makes his own rules to exact justice on behalf of victims ignored by the system. Considering they see the world from such opposite stances, will they ever get along, let alone fall in love?

Accidentally Compromising a Duke by Stacy Reid

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.99

The opposites:

Adeline is driven, friendly, and vivacious. Edmond is brooding, cold, and forbidding. She wants children. He doesn’t. Can they find a happy ending?

Born to Be Wilde by Eloisa James

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.00

The opposites:

Lavinia is frivolous, friendly, and running out of money. Parth is conservative, disapproving, and very rich. Is there any hope they can find happiness together?

A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.15

The opposites:

Cassandra is caring, self-sacrificing, warm, and focused on emotions. Jeremy is very smart, but very in his own head. With these two, it is a question of whether they can even communicate, let alone find a happily ever after!

Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.01

The opposites:

Martin is sickly, upper-class (and therefore helpless), and lonely. Will is poor, independent, and lives a full life with lots of friends. He is more than happy to care for Martin in his illness, but is there much hope for their love when they are so very different from each other?

A Lady of Persuasion by Tessa Dare

Average Goodreads rating: 3.39

The opposites:

Bel is recently arrived to London from the West Indies, where she was instilled with a strong sense of responsibility and bettering the world. Toby is a wealthy peer who is doing absolutely nothing with the power into which he was born. As they are increasingly attracted to each other, can they live up to the promises they make each other about change?

To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt

Average Goodreads rating: 3.74

The opposites:

Emeline is a bastion of good society, hired by wealthy families to guide their daughters through the London social season. She believes in luxury and good manners. Samuel Hartley not only comes from the American colonies, but he insists on doing such things as running in the streets and wearing moccasins everywhere he goes. He is so much her opposite that she almost doesn’t agree to help him, so what are the chances of them finding a future together?

Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare

Average Goodreads rating: 4.04

The opposites:

Some of the opposition here is class dynamics. Pauline Simms is as working-class as it gets when Griffin, the duke, recruits her to be trained by his mother as his wife. Pauline is honest, hard-working, and strategic. Griffin, meanwhile, is indirect in communication and basically attempting not to feel any emotions ever. They both agree the goal is to not end up together, so it doesn’t matter that they have nothing in common, right?

Waiting for a Scot Like You by Eva Leigh

Average Goodreads rating: 3.81

The opposites:

Lady Beatrice Farris is in her forties, eager to experience about life that she can, and very clear on what she wants from the future. Duncan McCameron is in his early thirties, conservative, and lost. They disapprove of each other’s attitude towards life, so can they get along for a road trip (much less fall in love)?

BONUS: The Viscount Without Virtue by Me

The opposites:

Max is a Tory. Ellen is a radical Whig. Max is urbane and experienced. Ellen has barely ever left Northfield Hall. If they have nothing in common, there is no danger of them falling in love, right?