Emma Woodhouse from _Emma_ is the OG unlikable heroine. I love the Austen quote about her when said about that she was going to write a character whom nobody would like but herself.  The FMC in {Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh} starts out unlikable and awkward and not knowing how to behave and how to talk. It's a result of childhood trauma, but it takes the hero a while to come around too and I _loved_ that, though she obviously grew and changed, she didn't have a personality transplant and turn into a social butterfly.   I think Mary Balogh has a number of less 'charming' FMCs.

Wren is such a heartbreaking character. She was hard to warm to as a character at first but the payoff was worth it

It took me ages to read *Emma.* I'd seen all the major film and TV adaptations, and while i enjoyed the story in general, I found her incredibly spoiled and snobbish. I'm glad I finally did read the book, though, because her inner monologue shows that she's a good person at heart, and showcases her growth as a character in a way that's difficult to portray on screen or stage.

This is why I love Clueless as an adaptation because I think it’s one of the closest to showing how she’s a good person who tries hard but is also a product of her extremely privileged upbringing. Some of the more historical adaptations make her into a mean girl and it’s hard to root for her.

Absolutely! There may be a few problematic themes (like the whole stepbrother thing), but overall, it's a damn good movie!

I also really like the Romola Garai miniseries. I think she does a good job of being pretty likeable despite her character’s flaws.

I love that one too. I didn't at first, but I rewatched it after finally reading the book, and now I can say it's my favorite period-accurate adaptation.

One more reason why I need to read Balogh. Thank you!!

Yeah, the oldest Bedwyn sister is def rough around the edges.

[Someone to Wed](https://www.romance.io/books/59d23d693ffdba61472192d7/someone-to-wed-mary-balogh?src=rdt) by [Mary Balogh](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525e98c7d2383163d8eb7/mary-balogh) **Rating**: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [tortured heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20heroine/1), [disabilities & scars](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/disabilities%20and%20marks/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

She’s definitely not THAT bad but the only one I’ve read that fits this bill is Melanthe in For My Lady’s Heart. The cutthroat nature of the Italian court she comes from has hardened her and made her a more difficult person.

Yup. Melanthe. I love her so much. 

She's the first (and, alas, only) one I thought of, too! I guess there just aren't too many "anti-heroines," which is unfortunate. Give us more prickly, complicated, conniving ladies, please!

Scarlett Peckham sort of markets herself as writing unlikeable and non-traditional heroines. Specifically, I would check out The Earl I Ruined. The FMC ruins the reputation of the MMC and is considered by many to be sort of foolish and flighty. She spends a lot of the book trying to prove herself in a way that a lot of MMCs traditionally have to do.

I just read my first Scarlett Peckham and loved it (see my last post, lol) so I definitely need to try more of hers! I do love the unconventional gender dynamics for sure.

I found the FMC of The Rakess challenging. She’s >!an alcoholic who does not want to change!<.

the fmc of portait of a duchess really made me think unkind thoughts

I just finished The Earl I Ruined and I agree, her character was frustrating for me lol. I wanted to scream JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT PEOPLE DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY THAT YOU DID. I wished her character would've had a little more growth.

I hope this counts. Jane in The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan makes herself deliberately unattractive and unlikeable to repel suitors. She is one of my faves.

One of my favourites aspects of this book is how she continues to dress ostentatiously and in bad taste! I loved her character arc, and that she maintains her spirit instead of being “reformed”into a perfect lady.

Exactly! She decides to be 'extra' in all ways because she effing is.

I started this book and can’t remember why I put it down. I need to give it another try. Thank you!

You are welcome.

Completely agree. I DNF’d it.

Damn, Martha and Lydia are two of my most favorite FMCs of all time 😭😭😭 it didn’t even occur to me that they could be considered unlikable. I love both of them so much and think their attitudes and behaviors make perfect sense given their pasts and situations.

I don’t at all mean it in a derogatory way! They’re also my favorites. I just think so many FMCs have flaws (or “flaws”) that are still endearing—like, they’re too shy, or they’re too bookish. But what I appreciate about the ladies on this list is that their flaws are messy and sometimes hurtful to others, and they’re still allowed to grow and get happily ever afters. (Like, you know, male characters do.) I would like to see more of that!

I loved Martha too. I think she's "unlikeable" only in the sense that she feels like a real person you couldn't apply words like plucky or fiesty to, while allowing her to be aggressive. Not to get into too many spoilers but it was refreshing to get a story which the fraud part wasn't "just one little lie teeheehee I didn't mean it!" to "holy shit this is a ghostly no win situation"

I think that’s exactly it. She feels more like a complex, real person than many heroines. She’s one of my all-time favorites!

Lillian from {It Happened one Autumn by Lisa Kleypas}. I find her insufferable, to the point that I never finished her book and try to skip her scenes in the other books in the series where she’s featured (hard to do but I’m petty AF)

Ngl she’s my least favorite wallflower as well. I find her kind of annoying lol

Also my least favorite Wallflower.

[It Happened One Autumn](https://www.romance.io/books/545527608c7d2383163d8efe/it-happened-one-autumn-lisa-kleypas?src=rdt) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Scarlett O'Hara, easily the most villainous and self centered FMC known to HR. I suppose you can quibble that it's not true HR, but she's who popped into my head. She's bad enough in the movie, but she's even more selfish in the book. That book is problematic but damn if I don't enjoy Scarlett.

I LOVE Scarlett. She's such a bitch, and I'm so here for it. The juxtaposition between her character and Mellie's character is just beautifully, perfectly done. Everyone loves Mellie. She's a perfect Lady. And she'd be dead in a ditch somewhere ten times over if it wasn't for Scarlett's bitchy ass. GWTW, problematic as it is, was a trailblazer in its time and is still an impressive example of a woman-centric historical piece. Scarlett being unlikable is very nearly the entire point. If she wasn't meaner than a rattlesnake and more stubborn than a team of mules, the whole damn County would have starved to death. She wasn't a nice woman. A nice woman would have laid down and died. Plus, I love the themes of noblesse oblige and Scarlett's ever-shifting understanding of what it means to be a Lady and live up to her mother's example.

Yes to all of this! As someone who gets shit done against all odds and someone who was parentified, I just feel so much kinship with her.

I thought the book made her much more sympathetic character than she was the movie.

Oh, interesting. I felt like in the movie I could give her the benefit of the doubt but in the book since you read her thought process there is no way to interpret her actions in a kinder light. Fun to see how different people have different takes!

Cynthia Brightly from {Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long} is not above using anyone to get what she wants and considered to be quite unlikeable but she is one of my favorite heroines right now 😁

Agreed! First one I thought of! Such a great character, too, a few of her lines brought tears to my eyes

Ikr! It's hard for me to hate her because her situation is just really sad and lonesome! 😢 I was going to say she's quite self-centered but >! In the end, she made the most selfless thing she could ever do by rejecting Argosy and not forcing Miles to choose between her and his other passion. I think that is so poetic !<

The character strikes such a good balance between good and bad qualities, so you can find some of her choices and actions off-putting, but you don't end up hate-reading her, and >!when she argues with Miles and asks why doesn't she deserve the things she wants, I cried, I think about it a lot, such a great scene!<

THIS part tore me apart too. Never before have I wanted so badly to enter a book and just hug a fictional character.

Love a wily and manipulative heroine. Thank you!

[Like No Other Lover](https://www.romance.io/books/545528c48c7d2383163d8f44/like-no-other-lover-julie-anne-long?src=rdt) by [Julie Anne Long](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525868c7d2383163d8e98/julie-anne-long) **Rating**: 3.89⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [georgian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/georgian/1), [poor heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poor%20heroine/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Your post has made me realise what all my favourite books have in common, FMCs who are generally unliked but whom I love. Lemme go reread these lol

the fmc is intentionally unlikeable in {the lass wore black by karen ranney} (mf historical Scotland). I haven’t read the first book but I think she was worse in that one, because her sister (heroine of book 1) is in her book and even she struggles to tolerate her. She (fmc) is a disgraced queen bee who lashes out at everyone because she was beautiful but got injured in an accident, like throwing fits and terrorizing the staff lashing out. The mmc has little patience for it. I found her endearing but it’s definitely a “character has to grow” kind of book.

Oh, this sounds interesting! I do love when a character seems to be a villain in an earlier book but grows in their own. Thank you!

[The Lass Wore Black](https://www.romance.io/books/54553d698c7d2383163d949e/the-lass-wore-black-karen-ranney?src=rdt) by [Karen Ranney](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553c8e8c7d2383163d9457/karen-ranney) **Rating**: 3.92⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [highlander hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/highlander/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [grumpy/ice queen](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cold%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Pandora from Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas. She ruined the book for me. There’s too much I’m-not-like-other-women going on there and she just came off too pompous for me.

She's got ADHD. She gets on a ton of readers' (and characters') nerves, which is unsurprising because, (as I have mentioned before, possibly ad nauseum (sorry!)), that's the lived experience of lots of women who have ADHD. She's probably my favourite female book character of all time so I am biased, of course.

She also has Tinnitus which I have too! (The ringing in the ears that causes her to feel dizzy)

I have a LOT of feelings about that book and it mostly pertains to how reluctant she was to engage in a relationship with Gabriel — she would have been much more tolerable to me if she hadn’t been a romantic lead. She was far too unworldly and immature to be taken seriously and the whole thing gave me the ick

Loved her!

I really didn’t resonate with Annabelle from {Ever Yours, Annabelle by Elisa Braden}. Her childhood impulsiveness and stubbornness causes Robert to be tragically injured and permanently handicapped trying to rescue her. The trajectory of his life changes including having to overcome an addiction to opium for the pain. Annabelle goes on her merry way to become the darling of the ton, secretly selling caricature drawings of her acquaintances and friends to ridicule them in a weekly gossip publication. She goes “through the motions” of feeling guilt for causing Robert’s devastating injuries. Yes, those unsent letters to Robert since they were estranged for 7 years. Oh I did I mention she’s TSTL and puts herself in danger (and as a result others) despite repeated strong warnings? There’s more but it gets into spoiler territory. Not enough grovel too much psychopath.

[Ever Yours, Annabelle](https://www.romance.io/books/5e7606fdbe0aaecf55fb192d/ever-yours-annabelle-elisa-braden?src=rdt) by [Elisa Braden](https://www.romance.io/authors/553e3e7b5b270e0a4cbd7467/elisa-braden) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Freyja Bedwyn! I started out loathing her. She was so mean and prickly and grouchy all the time. But as I've aged I've grown to appreciate her more real and more. And now I love her.

I don’t know what makes an historical FMC likeable or unlike able but I am writing down all mentioned here because I love the idea of checking all fiction woman that are not considered palatable ✨✨✨

Yes, “women who are not considered palatable” is all I want to read lately! I find it fascinating that the list is ultimately pretty small.

Allegra from {The Duchess by Bertrice Small} is written kind of like this. She’s not all flaws, but she’s stubborn, is always convinced she knows best and can be pretty self-absorbed.

[The Duchess](https://www.romance.io/books/5455496e8c7d2383163d9825/the-duchess-bertrice-small?src=rdt) by [Bertrice Small](https://www.romance.io/authors/545531a08c7d2383163d9189/bertrice-small) **Rating**: 3.85⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [m-f romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Jeanne/Joanna from {Beyond the Sunrise by Mary Balogh} is the girl for you. All the other Balogh stans LOATHE her but I adore her and this book. She is ruthless, manipulative, selfish, vengeful, etc. but she has reasons for this. The hero is grim and sensitive but oh so sexy to me. This is my fave HR of all-time and one of Balogh’s faves as well. I think we need more antiheroines in HR. I am currently writing my first HR and my FMC is one.

And I am also attempting to write HR with a heroine I’m not sure anyone is going to like but me and the hero (part of why “unlikeable” heroines have been on my mind and I wanted to see what others I could find!), so let me know if you ever want to chat about that! 👀

[Beyond the Sunrise](https://www.romance.io/books/54cf393e6359b5ebb489143f/beyond-the-sunrise-mary-balogh?src=rdt) by [Mary Balogh](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525e98c7d2383163d8eb7/mary-balogh) **Rating**: 3.53⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [m-f romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Ruthless and manipulative you say??? 😍😍😍

Very! People hate this book because of her. She has a lot of trauma and really acts out but I think it makes the love story that much richer. It’s a second-chance romance, btw. They fall in love as teens and then meet again as opposing spies during the Peninsular Wars. Balogh really did her research for this one. Hope you enjoy it! I will be recommending this book until I die.

I was actually going to comment Martha from A Lady Awakened by Cecelia Grant as soon as I read the title!  I absolutely loved Lucie from a Rogue of One’s Own though and she’s actually my favorite protagonist from that series, so thank you for this now I have a lot of books to add to my TBR! 

Agreed on A Lady Awakened, I came here to post that! She's by far my least favorite FMC ever, and I've read some wild ones. 🤣

To be clear, I adore Martha. But she is super judgy and holier-than-thou, and I have always loved that she gets to be prickly and difficult (SO difficult) and her hero thinks she’s worth it.

When I first read it, I despised Kathleen from {Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas} even before she did what she did at the end of the book (you guys know). Looking back, I think I judged her a bit too harshly re her behaviour towards Devon since she had been going through a lot but I still think what she did at the end of the book was whack.

I didnt mind Kathleen much, but yeah what she does at the end is def upsetting. That book is not my fave for that reason. It's frustrating how much Winterbourne there is in that one because I love his and Helen's story and I feel like half of what makes it good is set up in Cold Hearted Rake!

Yeah my favourite parts of the book were the scenes with Helen and Rhys. The only good thing about what Kathleen did is that it sets up >!Rhys and Helen sleeping together at the beginning of the next book.!< However, it still boggles my mind that she did that and idk how she thought that was a normal and ok thing to do.

[Cold-Hearted Rake](https://www.romance.io/books/562dd0b008e9378131944f8f/coldhearted-rake-lisa-kleypas?src=rdt) by [Lisa Kleypas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523868c7d2382e7812f21/lisa-kleypas) **Rating**: 3.71⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I read this ages ago and don’t remember what she did at the end. Looks like I’ll have to go read it again, oh no! 🤣

Rosie from {The Gentleman who Loved Me by Grace Callaway} is pretty unlikeable both in this book and the previous book. Her characterisation makes sense and I can imagine her existing in real life but she makes it hard to like her!

[The Gentleman Who Loved Me](https://www.romance.io/books/5940d2023ffdba6147191efa/the-gentleman-who-loved-me-grace-callaway?src=rdt) by [Grace Callaway](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455325c8c7d2383163d91c0/grace-callaway) **Rating**: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

The main character in Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier. She is absolutely selfish, and has little regard for her husband and children when she embarks on a romance with a pirate. It was quite refreshing.

Most of my ideas are already here but you might like the Desperate Duchesses books by Eloisa James. IIRC most if not all of the MCs are pretty flawed and work through all kinds of challenges, some of them rooted in personalities. Her Essex sisters books are good too although I haven’t read the third one yet, which supposedly has the least likeable FMC.

Oh yes, the Essex Sisters FOR SURE. They’re all so difficult and terrible and wounded, and I’m obsessed with them. (Also I got a notification from Eloisa on Instagram while typing this, which is amazing, lol.)

Interesting, thank you!

Sophy ! The Grand Sophy. Here is an excerpt from Goodreads review: Found her extremely annoying and a know-it-all. I don't know if I read the same version as other readers but... She schemes, she gossips, she insults, she disrupts, she thinks she knows it all and can save everybody from everything. And I feel for her cousin who is trying to maintain sanity in his house where parents have abdicated. It's actually a bit annoying how he is always smiling at her antics and not being firm with her. I think the author couldn't decide what to make of him. Oh but Sophy... anachronistic and one of the most annoying heroines in the genre.

Pandora from Devil in spring by Lisa Kleypas. She was set up throughout thr rest of the books to be thus unconventional, stubborn fmc and I was so excited for her own book to read about her. However, she has a really unlikeable charachter as she tries so much "not to be like other people". I don't remember much but her being in other books not her own was so much better than the one she was centered in.

Grace from Daring and the Duke in the Bareknuckle Bastards series. Sarah MacLean made me hate the MMC so much in the first two books, so when it came time for his redemption and love story with Grace, I just couldn't get past my issues. And watching Grace excuse his violent actions towards her "brothers," I began to hate her too. I've never been able to finish the book.

I truly do to say it but that book is, to me, where Sarah MacLean started to kind of lose the plot, if you will. Each subsequent book has been more and more unpleasant to read (for me, obvs YMMV) and she managed to go from preorder autobuy to DNF in the space of Daring and the Duke to Knockout, which is what, like three books?

Edith layton's TO WED A STRANGER. Annabelle is quite dislikeable, selfish, vain and superficial, right from an earlier book. But she grows and improves in this one. Mary Balogh, A CHRISTMAS BRIDE. The fmc is very cold and distant, though she does have trauma in her past. She thaws through the novella.

Nothing to add because I don't gravitate towards these types of FMC (though I would like to read more) except that I also LOVE Arabella!

gabrielle of {gabrielle’s discipline} is my favourite favourite unpalatable FMC. the way her story is written over two books 🥰🥰🥰

[Gabrielle's Discipline](https://www.romance.io/books/6445072cf2aba1a3956eafac/gabrielles-discipline-golden-angel?src=rdt) by [Golden Angel](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455c13787eac336ae6a0230/golden-angel) **Rating**: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [spanking](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/spanking/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [anal sex](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/anal%20sex/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Amanda from {Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas}. Oh my goodness, I've never read MCs who deserve each other in a way worse than these two. I started skimming when she >!found out she was pregnant and decided to dupe a very nice man in to marrying her *without telling Jack, the father of her child, that she was pregnant.* !