Nothing compares to a great romance book. Romance books are always available to take you on the ultimate emotional roller coaster journey, regardless of whether you’re on a team, enemies-to-lovers or friends-to-lovers, or you’re just searching for something gooey and enjoyable to read. And 2022 has already shown to be a significant year for love stories, with both established authors like Tessa Bailey releasing eagerly anticipated sequels and up-and-comers like Ava Wilder making significant debuts. Interested in discovering some new books to love?
Best Romantic Books 2023
If you’re a fan of romantic literature, there are many great books to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a steamy romance or a heart-wrenching love story, there’s something for every reader. From timeless classics to contemporary bestsellers, romantic literature can transport readers to different worlds and eras and leave them feeling inspired and hopeful.
One of the great things about romantic literature is that it can take many forms. From historical romances set in different eras to contemporary love stories set in our modern world to fantasy and science fiction with a romantic twist, there is a wide variety of options to choose from.
Another great aspect of romantic literature is that it can appeal to readers of all ages. From young adult novels that explore first love to more mature stories about second chances and rekindled love, romantic literature has something to offer everyone.
Reading the best romantic books can be a great way to escape from the stresses of everyday life and experience the joys and heartbreaks of love from the safety of your own home. It can also be a way to gain a new perspective on love and relationships and inspiration for your own romantic pursuits.
In conclusion, there are countless best romantic books to choose from if you’re in the mood for a good love story. Whether you’re looking for a classic romance or a contemporary bestseller, there’s a romantic book out there that’s perfect for you. So, take a break from your daily routine and lose yourself in the pages of a great romantic novel.
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
This charming, geeky, yet emotionally complex read from author Talia Hibbert sits at the crossroads of romance and YA novels. It centers on Bradley, a star student-athlete, Celene, a rising social media influencer with a conspiracy-theory TikTok account, and their long-running misunderstanding.
Paid together during a survival course in the woods with full scholarships on the line, these adversaries are forced to work together to overcome their difficulties. Thankfully, along the way, they begin to recognize the other’s redeeming qualities (and cuteness).
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: On a bitterly cold day in December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and spots Sadie Green among the throngs of people waiting on the platform. He addresses her by name. She pretends she hasn’t heard him for a moment, but then she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will catapult them to stardom.
These childhood friends borrow money, beg for favors, and have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo, before even graduating from college. The world is theirs overnight. Sam and Sadie, who are only twenty-five years old, are brilliant, successful, and wealthy, but these qualities will not protect them from their own creative ambitions or heart betrayals.
Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow spans thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond. It examines the multifaceted nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and our need to connect: to be loved and to love.
It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a peaceful co-parenting routine when she runs into her first love, Atlas, for the second time. After nearly two years apart, she is overjoyed that time is finally on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her out on a date.
Her excitement is quickly dampened by the realization that, even though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will despise being in the lives of his ex-wife and daughter.
It Starts with Us picks up right where the epilogue for the “gripping, pulse-pounding” (Sarah Pekkanen, author of Perfect Neighbors) bestselling phenomenon It Ends with Us left off, switching between Lily and Atlas’ perspectives. It demonstrates that “no one delivers an emotional read like Colleen Hoover,” revealing more about Atlas’s past and following Lily as she embraces a second chance at true love while navigating a jealous ex-husband (Anna Todd, New York Times bestselling author).
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
It may be redundant to call this romance novel a bookish read, but it feels especially appropriate when we’re talking about two publishing rivals.
Nora Stephens is a literary agent who is familiar with all of the tropes of every rom-com out there… so she knows she’ll never be cast in one. And Charlie Lastra is a book editor who helps meet-cutes come to life on the page but uses a red pen in every situation he encounters in real life. Come to Book Lovers for the irresistibly snappy banter and sexual tension, but stay for the unexpectedly heartfelt connection.
Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
They say you have to take the bitter with the sweet, but Delilah Green has discovered that it also works the other way around. Delilah is dreading returning to her despised hometown to photograph her stepsister’s wedding until she runs into Claire Sutherland. Claire, one of the bridesmaids, is dealing with grief, single parenthood, and balancing work and life… so Delilah’s arrival after years apart completely throws her off.
Although free-spirited Delilah and homebody Claire make an unlikely couple, their relationship quickly evolves into the loving support they both didn’t realize they needed.
Meet Cute Club by Jack Harbon
Jordan Collins does not require a man. What he needs is for his favorite author to release another one of her sexy supernatural novels and for more people to join the romance book club, which he fears is losing steam. He also needs the new employee at his local bookstore to stop mocking him for reading books aimed at “grandmas.”
He doesn’t need that same employee, Rex Bailey, to walk into his living room and ask to join Meet Cute Club. Despite his initial thoughts, such as laughing in his face and telling him to kick rocks, Jordan decides that if he wants this club to thrive, he can’t turn away any new members.
Not even Rex, who manages to be both annoyingly obnoxious and breathtakingly handsome. As Jordan and Rex work together to resurrect the club, Jordan realizes that Rex may not be the arrogant troll he portrays himself to be and that, like everything else in life, he is wrong to judge a book by its cover.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Celestial and Roy, newlyweds, represent both the New South and the American Dream. She is an artist on the verge of a promising career, and he is a young executive. But just as they become accustomed to their shared life, they are torn apart by events neither could have foreseen. Roy is detained and given a 12-year prison term for a crime Celestial is certain he didn’t commit.
Celestial, who prides herself on being extremely independent, feels abandoned and disoriented but seeks solace in Andre, a friend from her youth who served as best man at their wedding. She is unable to cling to the love that has served as her foundation as Roy’s time in jail progresses. Five years later, Roy’s sentence is unexpectedly reversed, and he heads back to Atlanta prepared to carry on with their relationship.
This passionate love story offers a tremendously illuminating glimpse into the hearts and minds of three individuals simultaneously connected and divided by forces outside their control. A masterwork of narrative, An American Marriage offers a personal glimpse into the lives of those who must face their pasts while looking forward—with both hope and pain—to the future.
99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
A global survey of men has been conducted by Darcy Barrett. She has traveled the globe and is confident that no one compares to Tom Valeska, whose only shortcoming is that Jamie, Darcy’s twin brother, was the one to first notice him and identify him as his lifelong closest friend. Tom is off limits and, 99% of the time, faithful to her brother despite Darcy’s best attempts. The result of meeting her ideal partner at age eight and reaching the pinnacle of her photography profession at age twenty is that she has had to develop the ability to accept good enough ever since.
When Darcy and Jamie inherit their grandmother’s run-down home, they are given strict instructions to restore it to its former splendor and sell the property. When the renovations begin, Darcy intends to be in an aisle seat halfway across the world, but before she can flee, she sees a familiar face on her porch: an expert house flipper. Tom has come; he is carrying power tools, and, for the first time in almost a decade, he is single.
Suddenly, Darcy is debating staying to prevent her sibling from destroying the cottage’s natural charm with his taste in grey and chrome. She’s not staying because of her new business partner’s skimpy t-shirts or his picture-perfect face, which has her picking up her camera once more. Soon, sparks start to fly, but the problem is not with the wiring. One percent of Tom’s heart may no longer be sufficient for Darcy; it turns out. She is modifying her strategy this time. Tom Valeska will become almost entirely hers.
Bridgerton: The Duke & I by Julia Quinn
Yes, that steamy Netflix show is based on a romance novel. Set in Regency-era, high-society England, Daphne Bridgerton’s reputation is jeopardized, while the Duke of Hastings, the promiscuous Simon Basset, is inundated with marriage proposals.
To play the court’s gossipy game, the two join forces and stage their love affair in order to elevate Daphne in the public eye and permanently remove the duke from the market. But, with their undeniable chemistry and feisty jabs at each other, could this phony romance become real?
Final Words
In conclusion, romantic literature is a wonderful way to escape into a world of love, hope, and inspiration. Whether you’re looking for a steamy romance or a heart-wrenching love story, there’s something for every reader. From timeless classics to contemporary bestsellers, romantic literature can transport you to different worlds and eras, leaving you feeling inspired and hopeful. It can also be a great way to gain a new perspective on love and relationships and inspiration for your own romantic pursuits. So, if you’re in the mood for a good love story, take a break from your daily routine and indulge in the pages of a great romantic book. It’s a great investment for your emotional well-being and for a good time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best romantic books to read?
The best romantic books to read depend on your personal preferences and interests. Some popular romantic books include classics like “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte, and “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks, as well as contemporary bestsellers like “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green, “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes and “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger.
Do romantic books have to have a happy ending?
Not all romantic books have happy endings; some may have tragic ends. Some books explore the complexities and difficulties of love and relationships and may not have a traditional happy ending.
Can men read romantic books?
Absolutely! Romantic literature is not limited to a specific gender, and many men also enjoy reading romantic books.
Are romantic books only for young adults?
No, romantic literature appeals to readers of all ages, from young adult novels that explore first love to more mature stories about second chances and rekindled love.
How do I find the perfect romantic book for me?
You can find the perfect romantic book for you by exploring different genres, authors, and recommendations from friends or book clubs. You can also check out reviews and ratings from other readers to get a sense of what you might enjoy.