The 25 Best Romance Novels

Annika and Jonathan fell hard for one another after they met at chess club while studying at the University of Illinois. Their love seemed like it could withstand anything — until an unexpected tragedy forces them apart.

Now, 10 years later, they're reconnected. Both on different paths with the careers they always dreamed of, Annika and Jonathan need to decide if they should take their second chance at being together before it’s lost.

Lily, who believes she has moved on from her first love, Atlas, meets a gorgeous neurosurgeon, Ryle, who she hits it off with right away. When everything seems to be going smoothly, Atlas reappears, reminding her of the life she left behind. Filled with honest truths about relationships, once you finish this emotional rollercoaster, you'll want to pass it along to everyone you know.

Every Breath focuses on the many sides of love that hold our loyalties, and will leave you satisfied until the last page. 

The story starts when Hope Anderson and Tru Walls cross paths in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Immediately, their connection is electric, but unfathomable. Both at different points in their lives, the feelings that they’ve developed for one another leave them faced with difficult decisions that jeopardize their personal happiness.  

Anna Todd’s After started out as a story written on Wattpad, the popular online writing community. It turned into a phenomenon and got published along with four follow-up novels. The story of Tessa falling for the bad boy, Hardin, while away at school will enthrall any romantic teen.

An Amazon Charts and Washington Post best-seller surrounds the story of Amy Byler who's headed to New York City for a summer to take a much-needed break from her overworked life. After letting loose and taking in all the city has to offer, she meets one particular man who leaves her contemplating if she should stay or go back to all that she left behind in Pennsylvania.

You may better know the Oscar-winning motion picture that's  based off of André Aciman's original novel, but the book has won several awards in its own right, topping the New York Times, USA Today, and Los Angeles Times best-seller lists. 

Call Me By Your Name is about Elio Perlman, who's spending the summer at his parents' house, and the romance that blossoms between him and his family's houseguest. The story will stay with you long after you finish it.

Bri, a founder of a book club, deals with a beautiful woman who won't stop trying to seduce her husband, while Staci bounces back after a divorce and falls in love. 

Meanwhile, Tess (a widow) falls for her handyman (like actually, though) and Charlotte has sworn off romance all together after a brutal divorce. Ava is in denial about her husband's lies, but hangs onto him and her career, and Hanna starts to fall for her daughter's soccer coach after 16 long years of being married to a workaholic. Aside from the incredible sex, these women have one thing in common: They're in a book club together.

The coolest part? This book was written by an actual book club. Authors Kim Sullivan Harwanko, Patty Vrana, Fran Furtado, Denise Panyik-Dale, and Jeanne Ann are all members of Between Friends Book Club.

A New York Times best-seller and Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, this epic story between two star-crossed lovers will tug at your heart strings, just like it did for our associate director of SEO, Erica Murphy.

She says, "Full disclosure: This book doesn’t end the way you’re going to want it to. But it’s beautiful and moving even so. Throughout the entire 300 pages, I was completely engrossed in the story of Lucy and Gabe, all 13 years of it. Both choose to pursue their own careers, which take them worlds away from each other, but they can’t deny the love that still exists between them. 

"The book excited me at times, it made me incredibly frustrated at times, and it warmed my heart at times, too. Make sure you pack tissues if you plan to finish this one in a public place." 

Another spectacular Sarah Dessen novel, Once and for All is a number-one New York Times best-seller centered around Louna, who believes that her chances of finding the one are over when her first love didn't end so well. That is, until Ambrose comes along. Charming chick magnet Ambrose is determined to get what he wants, and what he wants is Louna. Will she realize her second chance at love is right in front of her? 

As Emiline begins to read the book everyone is talking about, a novel by the unknown J. Colby, she becomes drawn to its story about two young lovers who fall for each other and dream of a better life. Noticing too similar a resemblance to her own childhood, she realizes it's about her.

J. Colby is Jase Colby, her best friend and first lover. Furious that he co-opted her past, she must confront him and learn the truth behind his best-selling debut novel. 

An American Marriage was named a top book for 2018 by the likes of Amazon, the New York Times, and NPR (it was even an Oprah's Book Club pick!), so it’s no surprise that our parenting editor Latifah Miles selected it as her favorite romance novel, as well. 

She says, "A love story in the most nontraditional way possible, An American Marriage follows a newlywed couple as they embark on a bright future that is full of possibilities. Their new union seems bright and promising until an unexpected incident derails the couple’s future. 

"An American Marriage is full of twists and turns and made me rethink the meaning of true love and how far you are willing to go for the person you have committed your life to. Where is the boundary between love and personal happiness, and how do we pick up the pieces after everything falls apart? 

"It is far from a traditional love story, but the ending restored my hope that true love will always prevail, even if the path to get there is bumpy." 

This number-one New York Times best-selling series boasts such an enormous following (it has nearly 20,000 reviews on Amazon!) that it was made into its own TV show, so it's no wonder why our executive director Christine Anderson is a total fan.

She says, "I was late to the world of Outlander — and only when I saw news about the TV show being made on Showtime did I buy the books. And wow, was I mad at myself for not listening to friends sooner! It’s a tale of one woman finding love after she’s accidentally traveled through time. Yeah, you read that right. This romance novel is part period piece, part science fiction, a little bit of witchcraft, a whole lot of Scottish history during wartime, and that’s just the first book. 

"You’ll fall in love with Claire as she attempts to navigate an entirely different century and finds love in the unlikeliest of places — and fall head over heels for Jaime, the Scottish soldier who is somehow charming, attractive, and single."

When Rachel falls in love with her best friend Darcy's husband-to-be, her mundane life as a consummate good girl quickly spirals out of control. 

You'll find yourself wanting to hate her after her skewed morals set a good friend's marriage plans awry, but at the same time, can't help but root for their relationship as a steamy affair turns serious.

Prestigiously ranking as a number-one best-seller throughout the U.K., The Versions of Us is a romantic favorite of our own managing editor, Scott Simone.

He says, "If you’re as socially anxious as I am, you’ve definitely looked back on certain moments and thought, ‘What if?’ This book meditates those thoughts exactly through the story of Eva and Jim.

"The story branches from when the pair meets as teenagers at Cambridge (quite randomly, through a bike accident), exploring three different courses their lives could take, depending on a few small decisions. While each path is filled with love and betrayal, sees them together and apart, there’s one constant: A truly magnetic, remarkable bond that entwines the pair throughout their lives."

A New York Times best-seller and adored by many, Eleanor & Park reminds us of what a first love is like and how hard you get pulled under as they face the odds, knowing that it never usually lasts.

This New York Times best-seller is a heartbreaking romance novel that has sold more than five million copies. The story of Louisa Clark, an ordinary girl who takes a job taking care of paraplegic Will Traynor, is one that'll leave you in tears. Be sure to check out the sequel, After You. 

Another favorite from our associate director of SEO Erica Murphy, The Truth About Forever is an unexpected story you can appreciate at any age.

She says, "I’m 28, yet my favorite book is a YA novel. I’ve read this book probably once a year since I first discovered it when I was around 16 years old. Each time, I discover new phrases, new things about the characters, and new reasons to love it even more. 

"The story follows a high school girl who has just had a major tragedy happen to her family. In trying to be strong for everyone else around her, she shuts down. It takes a new job working for a catering company — and a new guy — to help her feel like a normal teenager again who’s still allowed to have fun, despite what has happened. 

"I was in Berlin recently and had to take a train during peak morning rush hour. As typical on public transportation, I was looking at all the people around me, and one particular woman caught my eye. She was reading The Truth About Forever, which proved to me how great of a book it really is — if Berliners are reading it."  

Whether or not you've seen the hit Netflix movie based on this Jenny Han love story, you'll want to read the book. When all five of Lara Jean Song’s crushes get ahold of the love letters she’s written to them — but for her eyes only — her love life gets out of control.

For those young-and-in-love readers, you'll want to check out Looking for Alaska. Written by the same number-one best-selling author that gave us The Fault in Our Stars, John Green tells a story about Miles Halter, who's heading off to boarding school to experience something new. Soon after he arrives he falls in love with Alaska Young.

Zorie and Lennon are no longer the couple they used to be. They both excel at avoiding each other until a group camping trip goes wrong and they end up alone, forced to work together to make it out of the woods in one piece.

From the same author as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, this New York Times, USA Today, and indie best-seller is another LGBTQ romance story that's full of laughs and heart.

Spending the summer in New York City, Arthur thinks the universe is sending him a sign when he runs into a cute boy named Ben at the post office. 

Seth King's love story is about two closeted college students who want nothing more than the ability to be themselves with the lights on. Honesty is a beautiful depiction of the hardships that some people face when it comes to who they love due to society's norms.

Divided into five chapters — wilting, falling, rooting, rising, and blooming — Kaur's collection is nothing but a celebration of love. Be sure to check out her first collection of poetry, Milk and Honey, a number-one New York Times best-seller. 

Currently the best-selling author alive with more than 800 million copies of her books sold, Danielle Steel knows romance. Her latest book, The Mistress, is about Natasha Leonov's desire to run away and fall in love with Theo Luca, a brilliant painter. Under the protection of the ruthless billionaire, Vladimir Stanislas — who brought her in from the streets to be his mistress — she's anything but free to leave. She'll have to face the choice to stay or risk her safety for the man she loves.

Two executive assistants, Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, who hate each other, are fighting for the same promotion. You'll be laughing out loud all the way till the end as they discover they might not actually hate each other as much as they thought.