The separate worlds of men and women were much stronger than they are now before women began working outside the home in all of the social classes and the kinds of work that women did began to overlap more often with the labor of men. 

Also, the prohibitions on men being alone with a single women have eased a great deal over time in at least the Western world. 

This is what makes historical romances featuring the friends to lovers theme especially sweet to me. Over coming the barrier to remain friends from childhood , coming into friendship as as adults, or becoming friends before lovers makes for a great love story in any era.

Here are some of my favorite Friends to Lovers Romances historical style!

1. Courting Miss Hattie, Runabout  and Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi

2. Lord Carew's Bride and The Famous Heroine by Mary Balogh 

3. A Most Unconventional Match by Julia Justiss

4. Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O'Connell 

5. What Happens in London, When He Was Wicked and The Duke and I 

 by Julia Quinn 

6. The Lord Next Door  by Gayle Callen 

7. The Last Man In Town by Susan Kay Law

8. Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James

9. Again the Magic  and Seduce Me At Sunrise  by Lisa Kleypas 

10. The Ladies' Man and Sweet Lullaby by Lorraine Heath 

What are your favorites?

If you would like to vote for the best of the best, go to the Goodreads list: 

Best Friends to Lovers Historical Romance.