Romance Authors’ Favorite Romance Novels

“Probably one of the most quintessential love stories, it would be a disservice to my fourteen-year-old self if I didn’t include this classic. Full of dreamy romance, biting humor, and giants with hearts of gold, I aspire to someday write a love interest half as competent and love-drunk as Westley.”

“Good books are the ones that make you pause even weeks after you’ve finished them, and The Bear and the Nightingale is one of those books. Lyrically lush and heart-rending, I often go back to reread my favorite passages.”

“Spooky season can not be completely without mention of one of my recent favorites. A doctor who falls in love with a (seemingly) much younger hottie? A fresh twist on [spoiler]? If Die for Me isn’t on your October TBR yet, you’re missing out!”

“This cozy, small town sapphic sports romance about a single mum and a rugby coach is the ultimate comfort read. The found family, the humour, and the heartfelt romance will all have you giggling and kicking your feet, but it also features difficult mental health rep that means a lot to me. This one is a six star read.”

“The only thing better than a groveling MMC is a badass FMC who won’t let him off the hook. This entire series of spicy romcoms about three camgirl besties who live in Washington DC is so fresh and fun, but I especially love Cora & Everett’s story because she thinks it’s enemies to lovers while he’s mentally planning their wedding. Best of both worlds!”

“Another Washington DC romance! What is in the water over there? This one is set in an alternate world with a Black woman president, and the plot is full of drama, glamour and mystery – but the romance at its centre is so grounded and emotional. This book is like if The Great Gatsby and a Shonda Rimes show had a baby, and that baby was an emotional Black romance novel. A must-read!”

“This novel will always have a special place in my heart. Not only are Stella and Michael equally endearing and so easy to root for, but this was the first novel that encouraged me to try writing adult contemporary romance too. I don’t know if I’d be on my current career path if it weren’t for Helen Hoang!”

“Beverly Jenkins is one of my favorite writers, and Indigo is objectively a perfect novel, in my opinion! Beverly Jenkins expertly balances steam and swoonworthy romance while also seamlessly incorporating an impactful storyline about free Black people who bravely assisted in the Underground Railroad.”

“I reread this book every year, and I truly think it’s a masterclass in plot, characterization, and chemistry. Literally all the elements that create a singular romance novel. There is nothing like this book! It’s like lightning in a bottle.”

“This was it, the book that launched my romance readership (and my fake dating obsession)! I love this sexy and funny and tender book so much.”

“I had no idea I wanted a sapphic retelling of While You Were Sleeping until I read this book. All the charm and coziness you could ask for!”

“I said I was done with Pride & Prejudice retellings until I read this one and fell in love. Messy and hot and deeply romantic.”

“If there are no Jimmy Ferris fans left, then I must be dead. This is an assistant/rock star romance and you all know I LOVE a damaged hero. And whew, is Jimmy damaged. No one does the “I need to drive you away because you deserve better than me,” move quite like Jimmy. But Lena is strong and smart, and she’s the one person capable of standing up to the pampered rock star. These two have a fantastic push-pull dynamic that I adore.”

“Honestly, it’s hard to put just ONE KJ Charles book on any list of favorites because everything KJ writes is God-tier. But The Magpie Lord is the one I return to most often—and it’s perfect for those autumnal, mystical, Halloween-y vibes. Lucien and Stephen are at odds from the very start, and their interactions are hilarious, full of snark, and seriously hot. This book remains on my keeper shelf.”

“This Victorian, Parisian-set story is one I find myself thinking about often, especially in today’s political climate. I love an FMC who pushes boundaries and fights to right society’s wrongs, and Aurora is one of the best examples I’ve ever read. A physician running a secret clinic providing healthcare (including abortions) to women, she’s unwavering in her cause—even when a big, sexy, brand-new duke falls desperately in love with her. I want every romance to be just as smart, meaningful, and hot as this one.”

“Brilliant and captivating, with a seamless blend of paranormal and historical elements, this is one of those books I find myself thinking of regularly. The setting and atmosphere are exquisitely done, and Ricki and Ezra’s romance is one for the ages.”

“This is one of the best contemporary series I’ve read in recent years. Hilarious and sexy, with a super strong voice. When a trio of cam girls meets three rich boys who are as close as brothers, you can’t help but fall in love with these two friend groups as they all fall in love with each other.”

“This was the book that made me a romance reader. A friend put it in my hands when I was fifteen years old and probably changed the course of my life. The found family, the drama, the emotions, the romance! I read it countless times through my teens, and when I revisited it a couple years ago, it was such a nostalgic experience.”

“Sherry Thomas is the queen of angst. She’s singular in her command of beautiful prose and the intricate and strategic way she builds a romance that takes you on a complete emotional journey. I so admire the patience she displays in writing this friends-to-lovers marriage of convenience where each of the main characters hurt one another deeply but never because they’re bad people with ill intent.”

“This is one of the books that really influenced me as a writer. Charlotte Stein writes very close focus on the couple and weaves physical intimacy and emotional intimacy together in a way that’s breathtaking. She also gives us such a perfect Himbo hero in Tate: pure of heart, strong of body, goofy AF.”

“Talia Hibbert simultaneously gives us a zany paranormal plot—what if a huntress was the Fated Mate of a werewolf, a species she’s sworn to exterminate—along with a fresh and subversive look.”

“I read this book back in October 2023 and I have not stopped thinking about it since. Love, murder, more family drama than one can handle, so much doing it, and the most cathartic third act I’ve read in ages. EVERYONE gets what’s coming to them and it’s delicious, double HEAs included.”

“Jeannie Lin transports you to the Tang Dynasty and lays out one of the most sweeping, emotional romances I’ve ever read. I’ve never been so happy for two characters to kiss. Also I cried a lot.”

“Oliveria’s take on the Omegaverse is a refreshing, yet harrowing look at the impact of surviving sex trafficking and reproductive abuse at the hands of someone who is supposed to love and protect you. Even with such heavy subject matter, the story is heartwarming and very sexy.”

“When it comes to authentic voices in romance, Adib Khorram never disappoints! A lush and intoxicating journey through Italy, It Had to Be Him combines so many of my favorites: second chance, old crushes, a hot single dad, finding love in your thirties, and discovering the you that you were meant to be. This love story is overflowing with heat and heart.”

“There’s something irresistible about a collegiate romance involving team sports. Garza Villa explores the complexity of identity while reminding readers no one’s journey has to look like anyone else’s. Add in a hilarious found family and some truly lip-biting spice, and I promise you’ll fall as hard for Gabi and Vale as I did!”

“A love story perfect for the bookish romantics, The Neighbor Favor is a charming comfort read. Forest brings a modern, fresh spin to You’ve Got Mail that had me giggling and swooning page after page. It’s the kind of romance that reminds me that, no matter where I am in life, there will be someone who sees—and wants—me as I am.”

“This book stomped my whole heart into a bloody & obsessed pulp. The entire thing is highlighted on my Kindle. (And what I feel for Aleksandr Petrov is pathologically unhealthy.)” — Sierra Simone

“This book gave me such a severe hangover that I had to swear off romance books for a few weeks and read something without—gasp!—even a romantic subplot. That said, no regrets. I’m still thinking about this one, and am chomping at the bit for Anna’s follow up.” —Julie Murphy

“This rivals-to-lovers tale nearly had me booking a plane ticket to New York to go look for Ofosua (and Cole) to see if they were looking for a third in this hot Pride and Prejudice reboot. Sexy, sharp, and absolutely dripping with glamour.” —Sierra Simone

“Nana Malone can write one hell of a romance, but what really gets me every time is her banter and Gold Coast Dilemma delivers big time. If I had to ask one author to write my life story as a romance novel, I’d choose Nana hands down. (Besides, she’d make me out to be way, way more clever and sexy than I actually am.” —Julie Murphy

“We love morally gray heroes in romance, but Thomas gives us something even better—both characters are morally gray, and absolutely perfect for each other. Also contains the single sexiest moment with a walking stick I’ve ever read.” —Sierra Simone

“True story: Sierra told me that we couldn’t be friends anymore if I didn’t read this book. And now, having read The Luckiest Lady in London, I can tell you that she was being totally reasonable. Sherry Thomas had me gasping and kicking my feet nonstop. The tension between these two—my God.” —Julie Murphy

“I’ve been re-reading this book for years. This boyfriend-for-hire rom-com always leaves me kicking my feet. From the rich and engaging characters to the perfectly constructed sexual tension, it’s perfect. I read this book when I want to fall in love with romance all over again.”

“Do you love a slow burn? I mean crock pot slow? Mariana Zapata is the queen of the slow burn for good reason—I adore how this book takes you from the beginning of a relationship through the ups and downs, allowing you to fall in love with the characters right alongside them. This is another re-read for me—I adore the way the sweet moments link up to real-world issues in women’s athletics and then slide into undeniable chemistry. It’s one of my all-time faves.”

“Kennedy Ryan is one of the best authors of our generation and the Kingmaker duology (because just buy The Rebel King at the same time you grab this one) leaves me on the edge of my seat and fanning myself no matter how many times I’ve read it. From a sweeping timeline to the jam-packed action scenes to the scorching love scenes, this book is everything you want in a romantic suspense. Kennedy’s research and attention to culture, place, and emotion is unmatched.”

“This is the ultimate second-chance romance with the very best desperate yearning. Captain Wentworth is a dashing naval hero of humble origins, who was once engaged to under-appreciated Anne Elliott. It is clear from the start that these characters cared for one another deeply, but were torn apart by the opinion of others. I love how awkward and painful their journey back to each other is.
Which makes it all the more satisfying when Captain Wentworth leaves Anne a note proclaiming ‘You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope…’ and begs her to confess her true feelings. Who wouldn’t run to a man after reading that?”

“This has a special place in my heart because it was the first adult romance I ever read—I stole it from my mum’s stack of romance books and fell in love with the genre forever. Defy Not the Heart is a medieval marriage of convenience full of adventure and passion, and
has Fabio on the cover in purple tights! This book had thirteen-year-old me transfixed from the first page to the last. Lady Reina is kidnapped by knight Ranulf, because he’s been paid to deliver this wealthy heiress to another Lord’s bed. But Reina (despite being furious at his deceit) decides to tempt Ranulf with an offer he can’t refuse, and suggests he marry her instead to protect her lands and people. There is so much to love about this book: the ridiculous height difference, the dashes of humour, and the fact the heroine gets wrapped up in a carpet and then tries to escape his camp on horseback in only her shift! But what I love most is how both characters overcome their past struggles and try to be better people for each other, and that’s what makes a brilliant romance in my humble opinion.”

“Lucy and Josh are complete opposites, who are competing for the same job and hate each other…or do they? This rom-com has everything you could want: spice, yearning, and bucketfuls of humour. I love the unreliable narrator of Lucy, who is in so much denial about her feelings for Josh that it’s hilarious to watch her do mental gymnastics to justify her behaviour. Josh is sexy as hell, and their banter is top of the class. This is the one book I always recommend when someone asks me for a feel-good romance.”

“Indigo is the blueprint for what’s possible when the rich cultural history of Black Americans is treated with honesty and respect in a genre known for escapism. This epic love story between two Underground Railroad conductors is steamy and romantic, while also touching on obscure aspects of Black history that are often overlooked. I’m so grateful this book exists.”

“Thirsty reads like filthy poetry, but also features characters who don’t always get a happy ending in romance. Sal is a former gangster recently released from prison, and his journey towards redemption and love with the single mom next door is sweet, sexy, and ultimately satisfying to read.”

“It’s hard to choose a single Nikki Payne book to recommend, but this one has a special place in my heart. Sex, Lies, and Sensibility is a fresh take on the Jane Austen novel, featuring Nikki’s trademark humor, heat, and messy drama (Nora’s viral video scandal will make your jaw drop). There’s so much voice and cultural specificity in this retelling of a beloved classic.”

“This romance about the first nonbinary contestant on a competitive cooking show falling in love with another contestant is my favorite book of all time. Every so often, I’m afraid I’m overhyping it; then I reread and it’s even better than I remember.”

“Ruby Barrett writes books that are quietly tender and deliciously sexy, and The Friendship Study is my favorite of hers. It’s about how hard it is to make friends as an adult–and also about being too horny to make good decisions.”

“This novella rewired my brain. An epistolary science fiction romance between enemy agents? If that doesn’t sound enticing enough, the writing is so beautiful as to be life-changing.”