How to Read Bethany Bennett's Regency Romances
Bethany Bennett has quickly built a reputation in the historical romance community for writing Regency tales that perfectly balance historical atmosphere with modern, progressive sensibilities. Her characters are self-reliant, her heroes are deeply supportive partners, and her plots are filled with sharp banter and sizzling chemistry. Currently, Bennett's books are organized into two primary series: the completed Misfits of Mayfair trilogy and the ongoing Bluestocking Booksellers series. While each novel features a self-contained love story with a satisfying happily-ever-after, reading them in order lets you appreciate the recurring characters and evolving friendships to the fullest.
The Misfits of Mayfair Series
This is the series that put Bethany Bennett on the romance map. The series features unconventional lords and ladies who defy the rigid expectations of Regency London's high society, finding love under the most unexpected circumstances.
1. Any Rogue Will Do (2020)
Bennett’s sparkling debut novel kicks off the series with Lady Charlotte "Lottie" Wentworth and Ethan, Lord Amesbury. Years after a youthful mistake ruined Lottie’s reputation and sent Ethan away, Ethan returns to London as a wealthy lord who unexpectedly inherited his title. To avoid an unwanted marriage forced by her family, Lottie enters into a fake engagement with Ethan—the very man who caused her ruin. The book uses the fake relationship and second-chance romance tropes to deliver a story filled with redemption, emotional growth, and stellar wit.
2. West End Earl (2021)
The second book shifts focus to a disguise trope mixed with class differences. Ophelia Hardwick has spent a decade disguised as a man, working as a highly efficient land steward to escape her dangerous, murderous uncle. When her employer, Calvin, the Earl of Carlyle, discovers her true identity, their professional relationship morphs into a forbidden affair. Calvin is determined to protect Ophelia from her past, while Ophelia must decide if she can trust him with both her safety and her heart.
3. Dukes Do It Better (2022)
The trilogy wraps up with Lady Emma Hardwick’s story. Emma is a single mother who has spent years guarding a secret to protect her young son. When her private journal containing her deepest secrets is stolen, she must team up with Captain Malachi Harlow, the Duke of Trenton, to track it down. Emma and Malachi share a passionate history from a single night years prior, and their forced cooperation reignites their old flame as they race against a blackmail threat.
The Bluestocking Booksellers Series
After wrapping up her debut trilogy, Bennett launched a new series focused on working-class and intellectual women who are connected to a family-owned bookstore in London. This series highlights female friendships, working heroines, and intellectual pursuits alongside romance.
1. Good Duke Gone Wild (2024)
The first book introduces Caroline Danvers, a bookstore clerk and appraiser who secretly writes spicy romance novels under a pen name. She is hired by Dorian Whitaker, the Duke of Holland, to catalogue his late wife's library. When Caroline accidentally bases the hero of her next scandalous novel on the grumpy Duke himself, she must work to keep her secret safe. As they uncover letters detailing the late duchess's secret affair, the Duke and the bookseller find themselves falling into a passionate romance of their own.
2. My Best Friend's Earl (2025)
The second installment follows Constance Martin, a bold bookseller who values adventure and chaos. When her best friend Althea asks for help to break off an arranged engagement to Oliver Vincent, the Earl of Southwyn, Constance happily steps in as a "matchbreaker." However, Oliver’s rigid, duty-bound lifestyle clashes beautifully with Constance’s impulsive nature, and the two find themselves fighting a powerful, mutual attraction instead of each other.
Complete Publication List
To help you track your reading, here are Bethany Bennett's books listed in chronological order of their publication:
- Any Rogue Will Do (Misfits of Mayfair, Book 1) — 2020
- West End Earl (Misfits of Mayfair, Book 2) — 2021
- Dukes Do It Better (Misfits of Mayfair, Book 3) — 2022
- Good Duke Gone Wild (Bluestocking Booksellers, Book 1) — 2024
- My Best Friend's Earl (Bluestocking Booksellers, Book 2) — 2025
Where to Start and Reading Order Caveats
For the best reading experience, start at the very beginning with Any Rogue Will Do. Although the Misfits of Mayfair and Bluestocking Booksellers series are set in separate corners of Regency society and can be enjoyed independently of each other, starting with Bennett's debut introduces you to her signature blend of humor, steam, and feminist themes. Within each series, it is highly recommended to read the books in order, as the characters are friends or family members who frequently reappear in subsequent volumes to offer advice, tease the protagonists, or advance minor subplots.
Charity Anthologies
In addition to her full-length novels, Bethany Bennett has contributed short fiction to limited-run charity anthologies. Most notably, she was one of the contributors to Sunflower Season (2022), a historical romance collection created to raise humanitarian relief funds for Ukraine. These anthologies are separate from her main series continuity and are not required reading to understand her main books, though they highlight her involvement in the romance writing community.
What to Know Before You Start
If you are new to Bethany Bennett, expect Regency romances that feel fresh and modern despite their historical setting. Her books feature strong, self-reliant heroines who refuse to sit idly by while men decide their fates, and the heroes are notable for their respect and support of the heroines' independence. The romance ranges from sweet banter to moderately steamy scenes, making them perfect for fans of authors like Tessa Dare or Evie Dunmore.