Anna Godbersen has mastered the art of young adult historical fiction, sweeping readers away with the opulence, scandal, and forbidden romance of America's Gilded Age and Roaring Twenties in series like The Luxe and Bright Young Things. Her novels are beloved for their intricate social webs, high-stakes drama, and glamorous settings.
If you're searching for more stories filled with societal secrets, lavish lifestyles, and captivating heroines, you'll love these 15 authors.
These authors specialize in the same turn-of-the-century New York society that Godbersen brought to life, focusing on the clash between old money, new money, and the intricate rules of the elite.
Joanna Shupe is a master of Gilded Age romance, setting her stories right in the heart of the glamorous and cutthroat world of 19th-century Manhattan. Her novels are filled with powerful tycoons, ambitious heroines, and steamy romances that defy social convention, perfectly capturing the spirit of progress and scandal of the era.
A great place to start is The Rogue of Fifth Avenue, where a determined lawyer from a respectable family clashes with the illegitimate son of a railroad magnate.
Beatriz Williams excels at weaving tales of secrets and scandals among the wealthy elite across different historical periods. Her novels often feature strong, witty female protagonists navigating complex family dynamics and romantic entanglements against a backdrop of immense privilege and social pressure, much like the heroines in Godbersen's books.
Her novel A Hundred Summers is a perfect entry point, exploring lost love and long-buried secrets in a glamorous 1930s New England summer community.
While her stories span various decades, Fiona Davis shares Godbersen's talent for using iconic New York City locations as a vibrant backdrop for drama and mystery. She brings the city's history to life through the stories of women connected to famous landmarks, blending historical detail with compelling personal narratives of ambition and intrigue.
For a taste of Gilded Age glamour, try The Masterpiece, which alternates between the 1920s and 1970s at Grand Central Terminal.
Daisy Goodwin's historical fiction often explores the fascinating collision of American new money and British aristocracy. If you enjoyed the themes of social climbing and strategic marriages in The Luxe, Goodwin’s work will be a perfect fit. She expertly details the cultural differences and personal sacrifices involved in these transatlantic alliances.
Her novel The American Heiress follows a wealthy American woman who marries an English duke, only to find that love and status are a dangerous game.
If you were captivated by the flappers, speakeasies, and rebellious spirit of Bright Young Things, these authors will transport you back to the Jazz Age.
Jillian Larkin's entire "Flappers" series is dedicated to the clandestine world of the Roaring Twenties. She captures the exhilarating freedom and underlying danger of the era, focusing on young women who defy expectations by frequenting speakeasies, challenging social norms, and forging their own paths. The series is packed with secrets, glamour, and drama.
Start with the first book, Vixen, which introduces a trio of girls navigating the thrilling and perilous nightlife of Jazz Age Chicago.
Therese Anne Fowler is known for her biographical fiction about iconic historical women, and she brilliantly captures the essence of the 1920s. Her writing dives deep into the psychology of her characters, exploring their ambitions and the societal constraints they fought against, making her a great choice for readers who love character-driven historicals.
Her breakout novel, Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, is a dazzling and heartbreaking look at the quintessential flapper and the tumultuous world she inhabited.
While often set against the backdrop of Cuban history, Chanel Cleeton's novels deliver the same sweeping romance, high-stakes family secrets, and luxurious atmosphere that Godbersen fans crave. Her stories feature glamorous settings and passionate characters caught between worlds, duty, and desire.
Read Next Year in Havana for a story of lost love and revolution that echoes with timeless glamour and passion.
These YA authors blend history with romance, high-concept plots, and royal drama, making them perfect for readers who love the genre-defining style of Godbersen.
Kiera Cass creates worlds that feel both historical and fantastical, centered on romance, class division, and the pressures of royalty. Her ability to craft an addictive story about a young woman caught in a high-stakes competition for a prince's heart will strongly appeal to readers who love the romantic drama and societal hierarchies in Godbersen’s books.
Her wildly popular series begins with The Selection, a dystopian romance often described as "The Bachelor meets Cinderella."
Katharine McGee writes "what-if" historical fiction that reimagines American society with a royal family. Her books are filled with the modern equivalent of the Gilded Age's social maneuvering, complete with paparazzi, state dinners, and scandalous secrets. It’s a perfect modern take on the high-society drama Godbersen is known for.
Dive into American Royals, which follows the lives and loves of the Washingtons, America's royal family.
Renée Ahdieh is known for writing lush, atmospheric historical fantasies. While some of her work includes supernatural elements, her strength lies in creating opulent settings and passionate, complex relationships that will resonate with Godbersen fans. Her detailed descriptions of fashion, food, and decor create an immersive reading experience.
Check out The Beautiful, a lavish and dark romance set in 19th-century New Orleans, filled with secrets and forbidden love.
Evie Dunmore writes smart, witty historical romances that feature intelligent heroines fighting for their rights in Victorian England. If you appreciate the way Godbersen’s characters subtly challenge societal expectations, you'll love Dunmore’s focus on the early suffragist movement, which she expertly blends with swoon-worthy romance and sharp social commentary.
Her debut novel, Bringing Down the Duke, is a delightful story of a brilliant but poor student clashing with a cold, powerful duke.
If what you love most is the teen drama—the secrets, lies, and social warfare—these contemporary authors provide the same addictive quality in a modern setting.
Before The Luxe, there was Gossip Girl. Cecily von Ziegesar is the architect of the modern teen high-society drama. Her novels offer a contemporary look at the lives of Manhattan's wealthiest teenagers, complete with designer clothes, exclusive parties, and scandalous secrets exposed by an anonymous blogger. It’s the Gilded Age drama retold for the 21st century.
The iconic series begins with Gossip Girl, an unfiltered glimpse into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite.
While her books are contemporary thrillers, Sara Shepard is a master of crafting intricate plots built on secrets and lies among a tight-knit group of friends. If the suspense of who knows what and the constant threat of exposure in Godbersen's novels kept you on the edge of your seat, Shepard's fast-paced, mystery-driven storytelling will have the same effect.
Her most famous series starts with Pretty Little Liars, where four friends are haunted by the secrets they thought were buried with their friend Alison.
For readers ready to graduate to adult historical fiction, Kate Quinn offers meticulously researched novels centered on remarkable women. While her settings are often focused on the World Wars, she shares Godbersen's talent for creating propulsive narratives driven by secrets, rebellion, and complex female friendships.
A great introduction is The Alice Network, a gripping story of female spies during World War I.
Jennifer Donnelly is a celebrated author of YA and adult historical fiction. She is known for her beautiful prose and deeply researched, character-driven stories that often highlight the struggles and triumphs of young women in challenging historical circumstances. Her work offers a more literary but equally compelling alternative to Godbersen.
Her award-winning novel A Northern Light is a stunning historical mystery based on a real-life murder in the Adirondacks in 1906.