Not surprisingly, Netflix's hit "Bridgerton" (open in new tab) has paved the way for diverse representation in television period dramas. The show's creative team, led by media mogul Shonda Rhimes, based on Julia Quinn's novel series, changed the cast of characters, originally Caucasian, to include a variety of races and ethnicities, with British-Zimbabwean actor Lije-Jean Page in season one, British-Indian actress Simone Ashley (opens in new tab) starred in Season 2.

Of course, romance fiction fans have been reading novels with diverse characters long before "The Bridgeman" hit the screen. Beloved authors have been writing these heroes and heroines for years, taking readers on an enthralling journey with both contemporary (opens in new tab) and historical plots. Here are some must-reads for "Bridgton" fans, historical romances featuring POC and LGBTQ+ characters.