Light a scented candle, plate up your most decadent sweet treat, slip into something silky and turn up the heat with some of the best romance novels of all time. Our extremely opinionated list features both can’t-miss classics (If you haven’t read Pride and Prejudice , can you even call yourself a romance fan?) and brand-new reads that will soon become your new favorite, there’s something for every kind of reader.
Whether you salivate over historical fiction rich with the fluttering hearts of yesteryear, paranormal romance that proves you don’t need flesh and blood to spice things up, rom-coms that pair hilarious hijinks with steamier stuff or the kind of stories that make you blush (and hide the cover) on public transit, we’ve got a romance book for you.
And if you think romance is just for bored housewives picking up a bodice-ripper at the grocery store checkout counter, think again. The romance realm has a lot of romance-plus-other to offer that might surprise you — although we’d never knock those fluffy, flirty grocery store standards either. Alongside the hot and heavy love stories that categorize the genre, many of our favorite romances also feature heart-racing adventure, LGBTQ+ love stories and lyrical prose that keep us breathless right through the final page.
1. With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson (2023)
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From the author of the hit Love in the Time of Serial Killers comes the perfect workplace romance for fans of a certain mouse-centric theme park. Lauren is a serious bookkeeper at a theme park where it’s always winter, which doesn’t get quite the crowds as its more famous counterparts. Asa is her fun-loving coworker who’s always trying to spice things up around the office. Of course, their boss asks them to team up on a project. And naturally, sparks fly. Read to find out the rest.
2. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (2019)
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After a health scare, Chloe Brown makes a list of things to do to help her “get a life,” including doing something bad. Naughty doesn’t come naturally to good-girl Chloe, so she enlists the help of rough-and-tumble handyman Red. But what she finds is more than meets the eye, in this first in an absolutely devour-able series.
3. Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland (2023)
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Sage Flores has been running from her ability to commune with plants ever since her sister passed away. But after she’s forced to return to her hometown and slips back into her old life — including reconnecting with a high school flame who broke her heart — she can’t deny her gift or her family any longer. You could cut the tension here with a knife, or should we say, a pair of gardening shears.
4. Happy Place by Emily Henry (2023)
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Harriet and Wyn’s friend group has spent languorous summer days at the same Maine house for a decade, so when it goes up for sale, they’re determined to soak up one last week of memories. There’s just one problem: Harriet and Wyn haven’t told their crew they’re no longer engaged, so they’re stuck sharing a room to keep up the charade. But is it all really just for show, or are sparks flying?
5. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (2023)
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Rival physicists. Fake dating. Real love? Hazelwood’s trio of STEM romances that sees her characters spar on both professional and personal fronts are definitely not homework. Did somebody leave a bunsen burner on, or are things heating up in here?
6. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (2012)
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Look, we understand that a retelling of The Iliad sounds more like history class than a romantic read, but pick this one up and get ready to eat your words. It’s an action-packed epic with one heck of a love story that will change the way you look at the classic tale forever.
7. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (2023)
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If the title doesn’t get your attention and you’ve somehow missed Sittenfeld’s other star-tier books, the sizzling plot will do it. This one’s about a late-night comedy writer who falls for a pop star with a rep for dating knockouts, which she definitely is not. If you’ve ever shipped Saturday Night Live stars, this one’s for you.
8. Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
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Sports fans know how emotional a high-stakes game can get. Add actual romance into the mix, and all we can say is just remember to hydrate. This heartstring-tugger is all about missed connections, tarnished golden boys and the darkness that can lie beneath the most glittering exteriors.
9. The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston (2022)
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Florence is a romance ghostwriter who no longer believes in love, which is kind of a problem for her career. But then, she returns home to bury her beloved father and finds a ghost (yes, an actual ghost) who might just change her mind.
10. The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory (2018)
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You really can’t go wrong with any of Jasmine Guillory’s fun, romantic romps, but this sporty love story is especially great. Freelance writer Nik’s boyfriend proposes at a Dodger’s game, and the dude can’t even spell her name right. She says no (obviously), and the video goes viral. Handsome doctor Carlos sweeps her away from the frenzy, but he can’t possibly be the real deal. Or can he?
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11. St. Martin’s Griffin Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (2019)
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One of my most recommented read in 2019! What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales? McQuiston has earned their place in the canon of contemporary romance, and this sexy royals romance is one of the reasons. Ever wonder what would happen if, say, a Kennedy fell in love with a Windsor? With this book, you don’t have to.
12. Call Me by Your Name by Andre Aciman (2017)
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You may have already seen the film starring Timothee Chalamet, but this steamy love story between two young men in the Italian Riviera is worth a read either way. Pro tip: Grab a juicy peach before you crack the spine. Just trust us.
Romantic Books Review 
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