Last year marked 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen, one of the world’s most celebrated authors. Her enduring popularity was reflected in numerous events, from exhibitions to festivals, and even a special six-part podcast series. These celebrations highlighted Austen’s lasting cultural impact. However, while Austen is widely recognized today, many other female novelists of her time—who were also commercially successful—have been largely forgotten. Among them are Scottish writers Susan Ferrier and Mary Brunton, whose works were once popular but are now rarely read. Ferrier and Brunton wrote during the Regency era, a time of great literary activity in Britain. Their novels, particularly their first works, Marriage and Self-Control, were well-received and widely read in their time. These books focused on themes of propriety and social expectations, but they also experimented with narrative style and structure. Recent seasons of the popular Netflix series Bridgerton have sparked renewed interest in Regency-era Scotland, especially as the show's fifth season is now in production. This growing cultural fascination makes it an ideal time to revisit the literary contributions of Scottish women like Ferrier and Brunton. Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, was a major center of literary culture during the Regency period. It rivaled London as a hub for writers and publishers, largely due to the influence of author Walter Scott. His historical novels, such as Waverley, helped popularize Scottish culture and inspired a wave of Scottish-themed literature, including works by Brunton and Ferrier. Ferrier, who was born in Edinburgh in 1782, was closely connected to the city’s literary circles. She was a friend of Scott and wrote novels that reflected the lively and sometimes satirical tone of Edinburgh society. Ferrier is often compared to Austen, a label that has both helped and hindered her legacy. Like Austen, Ferrier's novels were initially published anonymously, and her work was once linked to Austen’s by critics. However, this comparison has sometimes led to her being overlooked as a unique and original voice. Ferrier’s novels, while similar in themes to Austen’s, also offer sharp social commentary and humor, often highlighting the differences between Scottish and English culture. Meanwhile, Brunton’s novels, which dealt with serious issues like sexual harassment and divorce, were also ahead of their time, though they were more constrained in tone than Ferrier’s. Both women left a significant mark on the literary world of their era, even if they are now largely forgotten.