The England's Sweethearts Series in Order

About the England's Sweethearts series

Series Premise

At its core, England’s Sweethearts revolves around unconventional individuals navigating the strict hierarchies of Regency England while pursuing love that defies expectation. The series uses familiar romance setups—false identities, anonymous correspondence, scandal, and class divides—but reshapes them through heroines who are often working-class, intellectually independent, or socially marginal, and heroes who are caught between duty and desire.

A defining thread across the series is the tension between who society demands a person to be and who they truly are. Whether through impersonation schemes or secret pen-pal relationships, the central romances grow from deception that gradually transforms into genuine emotional connection. These narrative devices allow Parish to explore vulnerability: characters reveal their truest selves only when they believe they are unseen or misunderstood.

The world itself is interconnected, with families, siblings, and social circles overlapping, giving the series a cohesive feel. Romantic arcs may focus on different couples, but the emotional continuity lies in the shared environment and recurring cast.

Main Characters

Although each installment centers on a new romantic pairing, several characters and families form the backbone of the series.



Adelaide Rosebourne

A defining heroine of the series, Adelaide is a lady’s maid thrust into an aristocratic role through impersonation. Her wit, practicality, and emotional warmth set the tone for the type of heroine Parish favors: capable, resourceful, and quietly rebellious. Her storyline introduces the theme of identity as performance, as she navigates both deception and unexpected love.



Rhett Montgomery

Rhett embodies the classic “charming rogue” archetype, but with emotional depth. Initially portrayed as irresponsible and rakish, he reveals a strong moral core and capacity for growth. His dynamic with Adelaide highlights the series’ fondness for opposites-attract relationships and mutual transformation.



The Montgomery Family

The Montgomery siblings—particularly the duke and his extended relations—serve as a central connective thread. Their relationships, responsibilities, and interpersonal tensions ripple across the series, offering continuity and setting up future romances. The family dynamic also provides humor and emotional grounding.



Eleanor Wright

A later protagonist, Eleanor represents another variation of Parish’s heroine: skilled, independent, and professionally driven. As a compositor navigating a changing industry, she reflects themes of progress and disruption. Her story introduces a different kind of intimacy—anonymous correspondence—that emphasizes emotional connection before physical recognition.



Peter Montgomery

Another member of the Montgomery family, Peter exemplifies the dutiful aristocrat struggling to reconcile innovation, financial pressure, and personal longing. His storyline deepens the series’ exploration of responsibility versus authenticity.



Supporting & Recurring Characters

Setting

The series is set in Regency-era England, primarily within London society and its surrounding locales. Ballrooms, townhouses, estates, and bustling urban trades—such as printing presses—create a vivid social landscape.



Parish’s version of Regency England feels both traditional and slightly modernized in sensibility. While the rigid class system and etiquette remain intact, the narrative frequently dips into less glamorous corners of society: working environments, behind-the-scenes labor, and the lives of those who serve or support the aristocracy.



This duality—between glittering social events and the realities beneath them—reinforces the series’ focus on hidden identities and blurred class boundaries.

Tone & Themes

The tone of the series strikes a careful balance between playful romantic comedy and emotional sincerity. There is a noticeable lightness in the banter, absurd situations, and occasional farcical setups—such as impersonating a fiancée or unknowingly corresponding with a romantic rival. Yet beneath this humor lies a deeper emotional current.

Key themes include:

- Identity and self-invention – Characters frequently adopt disguises or conceal truths, forcing them to confront who they are beneath social performance.
- Class and social mobility – Heroines in particular often come from outside the aristocracy, challenging traditional power dynamics in Regency romance.
- Love versus duty – Aristocratic expectations clash with personal desire, especially for male leads bound by inheritance and legacy.
- Communication and misunderstanding – Letters, secrets, and assumptions drive both conflict and intimacy.

The emotional tone is ultimately optimistic. Even when characters face deception, financial strain, or social ruin, the narrative leans toward hope, growth, and the idea that love can be transformative rather than merely convenient.

England’s Sweethearts is, at heart, a series about seeing—and being seen—clearly. Beneath disguises, letters, and societal masks, Parish crafts stories where love emerges not from perfection, but from recognition of another person’s true self. The series thrives on contrast: between class and individuality, duty and desire, illusion and honesty.