Best Books About Mistresses

Mistresses provoke reactions of both adulation and scorn. Vote for your favorite fiction and nonfiction books about these controversial women here.

Looking for inspiration? Devour these five juicy books about the allure of the "other woman" from
Alison Weir, the historian who wrote Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings. See her picks here!

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden 4.16 avg rating — 2,054,566 ratings score: 28,494, and 288 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Other Boleyn Girl (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #9) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 505,179 ratings score: 19,428, and 197 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Katherine by Anya Seton 4.20 avg rating — 34,498 ratings score: 9,391, and 95 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 19,193 ratings score: 8,688, and 89 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 4.31 avg rating — 1,243,420 ratings score: 8,458, and 87 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy 3.84 avg rating — 292,747 ratings score: 7,006, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert 3.70 avg rating — 352,240 ratings score: 6,810, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 3.44 avg rating — 889,778 ratings score: 6,713, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 4.15 avg rating — 2,199,994 ratings score: 5,486, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 4.10 avg rating — 883,730 ratings score: 5,284, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell (Goodreads Author) 3.79 avg rating — 1,851 ratings score: 4,672, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 2,201,550 ratings score: 4,625, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge by Eleanor Herman (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 8,163 ratings score: 4,301, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber 3.89 avg rating — 44,323 ratings score: 4,060, and 42 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles 3.88 avg rating — 54,220 ratings score: 3,850, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Mistress of Rome (The Empress of Rome, #1) by Kate Quinn (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 27,419 ratings score: 3,076, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 3.93 avg rating — 5,550,243 ratings score: 3,003, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and His Scandalous Duchess by Alison Weir 3.85 avg rating — 5,614 ratings score: 2,852, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir 3.98 avg rating — 13,990 ratings score: 2,825, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Courtesan by Diane Haeger (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 2,281 ratings score: 2,735, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Virgin's Lover (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #13) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 56,266 ratings score: 2,698, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Reader by Bernhard Schlink 3.78 avg rating — 220,618 ratings score: 2,661, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 3,847 ratings score: 2,587, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos 4.06 avg rating — 55,764 ratings score: 2,555, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King by Antonia Fraser 3.87 avg rating — 7,925 ratings score: 2,411, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Last Boleyn by Karen Harper 4.06 avg rating — 10,745 ratings score: 2,283, and 24 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence 3.50 avg rating — 131,322 ratings score: 2,122, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Concubine by Norah Lofts 3.97 avg rating — 3,197 ratings score: 1,976, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser 3.77 avg rating — 40,860 ratings score: 1,908, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Goldsmith's Wife by Jean Plaidy 3.89 avg rating — 638 ratings score: 1,905, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The King's Mistress by Emma Campion (Goodreads Author) 3.87 avg rating — 3,309 ratings score: 1,895, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Bridget Jones’s Diary (Bridget Jones, #1) by Helen Fielding (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 1,002,351 ratings score: 1,881, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 3.88 avg rating — 892,718 ratings score: 1,831, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant 3.79 avg rating — 25,668 ratings score: 1,817, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas fils 4.04 avg rating — 56,046 ratings score: 1,803, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Time of Singing (William Marshal, #4; Bigod, #1) by Elizabeth Chadwick (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 3,754 ratings score: 1,778, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1) by Marion Zimmer Bradley 4.13 avg rating — 209,744 ratings score: 1,753, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The French Mistress by Susan Holloway Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 667 ratings score: 1,749, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Pleasure Palace (Secrets of the Tudor Court, #1) by Kate Emerson 3.68 avg rating — 4,278 ratings score: 1,749, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Mary Anne by Daphne du Maurier 3.44 avg rating — 2,760 ratings score: 1,686, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann 3.85 avg rating — 72,574 ratings score: 1,609, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Exit the Actress by Priya Parmar (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 1,639 ratings score: 1,548, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton 3.97 avg rating — 184,049 ratings score: 1,548, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Nana by Émile Zola 3.84 avg rating — 26,265 ratings score: 1,490, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Royal Affairs: A Lusty Romp Through the Extramarital Adventures That Rocked the British Monarchy by Leslie Carroll (Goodreads Author) 3.89 avg rating — 895 ratings score: 1,481, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Rivals in the Tudor Court (Tudor Court #2) by D.L. Bogdan 3.82 avg rating — 702 ratings score: 1,477, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Mary Boleyn: The Mistress of Kings by Alison Weir 3.76 avg rating — 10,323 ratings score: 1,338, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Nell Gwyn: Mistress to a King by Charles Beauclerk (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 582 ratings score: 1,326, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Madame de Pompadour: Mistress of France by Christine Pevitt 3.86 avg rating — 588 ratings score: 1,270, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Perfect Royal Mistress by Diane Haeger (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 1,696 ratings score: 1,264, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England by Alison Weir 3.76 avg rating — 7,789 ratings score: 1,251, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Royal Harlot by Susan Holloway Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 1,734 ratings score: 1,221, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	History Of Mistresses by Elizabeth Abbott (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 401 ratings score: 1,202, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Orange Grove by Kate Murdoch (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 125 ratings score: 1,200, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Love and the Art of War by Dinah Lee Küng (Goodreads Author) 3.44 avg rating — 57 ratings score: 1,195, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Between Two Queens (Secrets of the Tudor Court, #2) by Kate Emerson 3.81 avg rating — 2,583 ratings score: 1,150, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	The King's Favorite by Susan Holloway Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 650 ratings score: 1,141, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Mistress of the Art of Death (Mistress of the Art of Death, #1) by Ariana Franklin 3.93 avg rating — 40,421 ratings score: 1,100, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Athénaïs by Lisa Hilton 3.79 avg rating — 905 ratings score: 1,093, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Under Their Skin by Dinah Lee Küng (Goodreads Author) 3.14 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 1,090, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Secret Wife of Louis XIV: Françoise d'Aubigné, Madame de Maintenon by Veronica Buckley 3.83 avg rating — 386 ratings score: 1,084, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham 3.97 avg rating — 48,660 ratings score: 1,050, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Serpent and the Moon: Two Rivals for the Love of a Renaissance King by Princess Michael of Kent 3.74 avg rating — 509 ratings score: 1,002, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV by Anne Somerset 3.69 avg rating — 763 ratings score: 975, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	By Royal Decree (Secrets of the Tudor Court, #3) by Kate Emerson 3.81 avg rating — 1,115 ratings score: 974, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Countess and the King: A Novel of the Countess of Dorchester and King James II by Susan Holloway Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 1,066 ratings score: 935, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV by Karleen Koen (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 2,918 ratings score: 920, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Madame de Pompadour by Nancy Mitford 3.86 avg rating — 2,021 ratings score: 917, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Ulysses by James Joyce 3.76 avg rating — 132,702 ratings score: 906, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Mary Boleyn: The True Story of Henry VIII's Mistress by Josephine Wilkinson 4.10 avg rating — 3,409 ratings score: 857, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	At the King's Pleasure (Secrets of the Tudor Court, #4 ) by Kate Emerson 3.89 avg rating — 677 ratings score: 849, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Queen's Rival (In the Court of Henry VIII, #3) by Diane Haeger (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 2,577 ratings score: 836, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy 3.83 avg rating — 73,761 ratings score: 798, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	The End of the Affair by Graham Greene 3.90 avg rating — 67,269 ratings score: 773, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain 3.77 avg rating — 45,756 ratings score: 757, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) by Kami Garcia (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 611,484 ratings score: 754, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Madame du Barry: The Wages of Beauty by Joan Haslip 3.90 avg rating — 239 ratings score: 743, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Secret Bride (In The Court of Henry VIII, #1) by Diane Haeger (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 4,424 ratings score: 734, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	The Secret Wife of King George IV by Diane Haeger (Goodreads Author) 3.72 avg rating — 468 ratings score: 726, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	One Day by David Nicholls 3.86 avg rating — 384,627 ratings score: 724, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	Loving Frank by Nancy Horan 3.77 avg rating — 100,166 ratings score: 709, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Painted Ladies: Women At The Court Of Charles II by Catherine MacLeod 4.52 avg rating — 25 ratings score: 674, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	The Other Tudors: Henry VIII's Mistresses and Bastards by Philippa Jones 3.73 avg rating — 2,744 ratings score: 662, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	A Murderous Procession (Mistress of the Art of Death, #4) by Ariana Franklin 4.13 avg rating — 8,024 ratings score: 654, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	The King's Women by Dinah Lampitt 3.78 avg rating — 284 ratings score: 651, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Roxana by Daniel Defoe 3.41 avg rating — 5,516 ratings score: 645, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga 3.77 avg rating — 197,371 ratings score: 640, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Crucible by Arthur Miller 3.61 avg rating — 437,859 ratings score: 626, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	The Child from the Sea, Part 1 of 2 by Elizabeth Goudge 4.12 avg rating — 40 ratings score: 607, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	The Mistresses of Henry VIII by Kelly Hart 4.04 avg rating — 2,254 ratings score: 602, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Sarah Churchill: Duchess of Marlborough: The Queen's Favourite by Ophelia Field 3.63 avg rating — 569 ratings score: 594, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Dune (Dune, #1) by Frank Herbert 4.28 avg rating — 1,507,028 ratings score: 594, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Emma Hamilton by Norah Lofts 3.69 avg rating — 114 ratings score: 577, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	The Duke (Knight Miscellany, #1) by Gaelen Foley (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11,430 ratings score: 575, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Rival to the Queen by Carolly Erickson 3.71 avg rating — 2,270 ratings score: 573, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Petals on the Wind (Dollanganger, #2) by V.C. Andrews 3.82 avg rating — 69,660 ratings score: 572, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Murder Most Royal (Tudor Saga, #5) by Jean Plaidy 4.02 avg rating — 4,137 ratings score: 551, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	The King's Way by Françoise Chandernagor 4.21 avg rating — 518 ratings score: 527, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	All the King's Ladies by Janice Law (Goodreads Author) 3.50 avg rating — 10 ratings score: 491, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Salt on our skin by Benoîte Groult 3.70 avg rating — 3,751 ratings score: 486, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

← Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next →

444 books · 722 voters · list created October 5th, 2011 by Jessica (votes) .

Tags: historical-fiction, history, literary-classics, literary-fiction, royal-history, women-nonfiction, womens-history, womens-studies

164 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (722)

Jessica 1396 books
354 friends

Nancy 10 books
0 friends

Wally 940 books
10 friends

Susan 53 books
116 friends

Kerem 30 books
0 friends

Sara 27 books
90 friends

Karen 2451 books
82 friends

Rachael 629 books
44 friends

More voters…

Post a comment »
Comments Showing 1-41 of 41 (41 new)

date

newest »

message 1: by Mido (new)

Oct 07, 2011 07:39PM

nice books

reply | flag

message 2: by Kalyan (new)

Oct 11, 2011 06:25AM

reply | flag

message 3: by Pat (new)

Oct 12, 2011 01:01AM

Looks to me like there is a little manipulation going on regarding "The Darling Strumpet". GR people with -0- books and -0- friends voting this book the best book about mistresses? Lets play fair.

reply | flag

message 4: by Misfit (new)

Oct 12, 2011 01:16AM

Pat wrote: "Looks to me like there is a little manipulation going on regarding "The Darling Strumpet". GR people with -0- books and -0- friends voting this book the best book about mistresses? Lets play fair."

What's this Pat? You smelling socks again? :D

reply | flag

message 5: by Pat (new)

Oct 12, 2011 01:27AM

;oX

reply | flag

message 6: by Molly (new)

Oct 14, 2011 05:19PM

why is eat pray love on here? Also Crimson Petel and the White is MUST on here...I'm a little floored that it wasn't already on the list...

reply | flag

message 7: by Misfit (new)

Oct 14, 2011 05:56PM

Molly wrote: "why is eat pray love on here? Also Crimson Petel and the White is MUST on here...I'm a little floored that it wasn't already on the list..."

I think someone's been adding some books here that don't fit the criteria. Where's Susannah, she's good at fixing them.

reply | flag

message 8: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 14, 2011 07:23PM

You could add Crimson Petal and the White.

I'll remove Eat Pray Love. Anything else that doesn't look kosher?

reply | flag

message 9: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 14, 2011 07:34PM

Removed for not being about mistresses:

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating And Get More Done in Less Time
Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind
Eat, Pray, Love
The Power of Simplicity

Anything else I need to get?

reply | flag

message 10: by Misfit (new)

Oct 14, 2011 07:52PM

Hard to tell what Quán Gò Đi Lên is about, but considering it was voted in by the same person who voted in the other *wrong* books I'd take a guess that it doesn't fit. I think Life of Pi is about a boy and a tiger.

reply | flag

message 11: by Moppet (last edited Oct 27, 2011 10:49PM) (new)

Oct 27, 2011 10:48PM

Books I have read and don't think should be on this list:
Northanger Abbey
The Grand Sophy
Gone with the Wind

Books I haven't read but really doubt should be on this list:
The Crucible and Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller
Life of Pi
The Twilight graphic novel

Thinking of starting another list: Books Which Get Onto Every Single List Whether They Are Relevant Or Not

I'll start it off with Eat Pray Love and everything Twilight.

reply | flag

message 12: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Oct 27, 2011 11:48PM

There's already a "books that appear on every list" list! I believe Twilight was winning it when I last checked.

reply | flag

message 13: by Wealhtheow (new)

Nov 06, 2011 06:00PM

An affair that's ended badly is a central plot point in the Crucible (a man's ex-mistress/lover accuses his wife of witchcraft), so it may belong on this List.
In Death of a Salesman, a big plot twist is the (retroactive) discovery of an affair, so it may also belong on this list (although I wouldn't really argue that it should, since it just *contains* a mistress rather than is *about* a mistress).

reply | flag

message 14: by Jan (new)

Nov 17, 2011 04:49PM

In Northanger Abbey a side-character ends up being a mistress, and it's fairly important to the development of the plot, as far as I recall.

reply | flag

message 15: by Wealhtheow (new)

Nov 17, 2011 05:46PM

I dunno that I'd call Isabella anyone's mistress. To me, "mistress" implies that either she's supported by or in a longish (non-marital) relationship with someone. (view spoiler)

reply | flag

message 16: by Moppet (new)

Nov 17, 2011 11:39PM

I had the impression that (view spoiler)

reply | flag

message 17: by Joshua (new)

Nov 18, 2011 03:41AM

very nice!

reply | flag

message 18: by Lily (new)

Dec 19, 2011 02:22AM

The list was good however, there were not enough modern books.

reply | flag

message 19: by Kirsten (new)

Jun 26, 2013 08:38PM

reply | flag

message 20: by Kirsten (new)

Jun 26, 2013 08:41PM

Also, can someone explain why Beautiful Creatures is on this list? I can't figure that one out.

And The Crucible definitely belongs on this list, as the primary subplot of the story involves an angry spurned mistress.

reply | flag

message 21: by Laura (new)

Jul 05, 2013 01:00AM

"Kimmie and Todoke ..." =appears to be another one harnesses to be removed from this list.

reply | flag

message 22: by Tiffany (new)

May 09, 2014 04:05AM

So many books on here I want to read, so little money.

reply | flag

message 23: by Barb (new)

May 12, 2015 02:55AM

Tiffany wrote: "So many books on here I want to read, so little money."

Try the library...

reply | flag

message 24: by Ann (new)

May 27, 2015 05:26PM

So many great books wish we could read for free.we need to come up with a monthly fee like $9.99 for the month also offer free books,i'm just saying.

reply | flag

message 25: by Ann (new)

May 27, 2015 05:28PM

So many books i have read that i would like to read over.

reply | flag

message 26: by ~☆~Autumn NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) (new)

Sep 01, 2015 04:32AM

Moppet wrote: "Books I have read and don't think should be on this list:
Northanger Abbey
The Grand Sophy
Gone with the Wind

I agree as who is the mistress in Gone with the Wind? I think it should be removed.

reply | flag

message 27: by ~☆~Autumn NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) (new)

Sep 01, 2015 04:37AM

I looked up mistress as my definition was different.

Mistress (lover), a woman, other than the spouse, with whom a married individual has a continuing sexual relationship;

reply | flag

message 28: by Clare (last edited Jul 27, 2016 08:51PM) (new)

Jul 27, 2016 08:50PM

I don't believe the books in the 'Mistress of the Art of Death' series belong here. They do not refer to the courtesan type of mistress.

reply | flag

message 29: by Melissa (new)

Feb 12, 2017 08:35AM

The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark #1) by Kresley Cole

There is no mistress in book.

reply | flag

message 30: by Charles (new)

Sep 03, 2017 02:57AM

Mistresses of today are more intuitive with what men are looking for in today's world. Author's such as Scarlet Steele, or Misstress Benay are some of the current wave of authors that are more in tune with what strong women want and which seems to be a reversel of roles in both women and males. Most subjects are on Femdom, Male Chastity, Cuckolding, Male Discipline, BDSM, which I admit I am also very interested in and don't see any books by them or other authors that also reflect the same subject matter plus other authors that also write very similar in subject matter as mentioned above.

reply | flag

message 31: by Charles (new)

Sep 03, 2017 03:01AM

Lily wrote: "The list was good however, there were not enough modern books."
So very true and my point exactly.

reply | flag

message 32: by Charles (new)

Sep 03, 2017 03:10AM

Wealhtheow wrote: "I dunno that I'd call Isabella anyone's mistress. To me, "mistress" implies that either she's supported by or in a longish (non-marital) relationship with someone. [spoilers removed]"
There again in today's world the meaning of Mistress has a totally different meaning then in yesterday's world. In today's world a Mistress is not a kept woman any longer, but more like a Dominatrix in the liberated world of Feminism and Femdom.

reply | flag

message 33: by Juliet (new)

Sep 20, 2017 04:20AM

Why is Ripple on here, because unless I'm mistaken there isn't a mistress in that book?

reply | flag

message 34: by Juliet (new)

Jan 31, 2019 12:32AM

Lily wrote: "The list was good however, there were not enough modern books."

I know 1920's isn't exactly "modern" but "A Certain Age" features a middle aged society woman and her boy toy. Plus, her husband is totally ok with her having affairs.

reply | flag

message 35: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Sep 14, 2019 09:34AM) (new)

Sep 14, 2019 09:33AM

Was Jane Eyre (#9) someone's mistress? I must have missed something... But then again, it's ages since I've read the book.

reply | flag

message 36: by Misfit (new)

Sep 14, 2019 06:04PM

Booklovinglady wrote: "Was Jane Eyre (#9) someone's mistress? I must have missed something... But then again, it's ages since I've read the book."

Not that I can recall.

reply | flag

message 37: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Sep 14, 2019 10:30PM

Misfit wrote: "Not that I can recall."

As I said, me neither 😉

reply | flag

message 38: by Juliet (new)

Sep 15, 2019 02:32PM

Booklovinglady wrote: "Was Jane Eyre (#9) someone's mistress? I must have missed something... But then again, it's ages since I've read the book."
Technically Rochester is married to another woman, so yes. Albeit Jane doesn't know she's "the other woman" and leaves once she finds out.

reply | flag

message 39: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Sep 16, 2019 07:55AM

Juliet wrote: "Technically Rochester is married to another woman, so yes. Albeit Jane doesn't know she's "the other woman" and leaves once she finds out...."

I didn't think anything 'happened' between Rochester and Jane?

reply | flag

message 40: by Juliet (new)

Sep 16, 2019 11:08AM

Booklovinglady wrote: "Juliet wrote: "Technically Rochester is married to another woman, so yes. Albeit Jane doesn't know she's "the other woman" and leaves once she finds out...."

I didn't think anything 'happened' bet..."
Well he did flirt with her, and propose marriage when he was already married himself. Though like I said, Jane left once she found out.

reply | flag

message 41: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Sep 16, 2019 12:02PM) (new)

Sep 16, 2019 11:53AM

Juliet wrote: "Well he did flirt with her, and propose marriage when he was already married himself. Though like I said, Jane left once she found out. ..."

My definition of 'mistress' is when a sexual act happens (on a regular basis). It is good to know though (it's a relief really 😁) that my memory is intact because I didn't miss anything in Jane Eyre 😃

reply | flag