Best Ever Contemporary Romance Books
Vote for the all-time best contemporary romance novel.


**** a contemporary romance being a full length novel set in modern times that is almost entirely focused on the romance.

(i.e. it's NOT a romantic suspense, historical romance or a paranormal romance, etc!)

1 Bet Me
by
3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 34,535 ratings
2 Can You Keep a Secret?
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3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 121,826 ratings
3 The Notebook
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3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 583,843 ratings
4 Match Me If You Can (Chicag...
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4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 16,671 ratings
5 Nobody's Baby But Mine (Chi...
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4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 12,179 ratings
6 It Had to Be You (Chicago S...
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4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 19,488 ratings
7 Natural Born Charmer (Chica...
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4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 12,790 ratings
8 Smooth Talking Stranger (Tr...
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4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 avg rating — 15,241 ratings
9 Kiss an Angel
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4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 avg rating — 12,328 ratings
10 Blue-Eyed Devil (Travises, #2)
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4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 avg rating — 12,619 ratings
11 Just the Sexiest Man Alive
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3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 16,280 ratings
12 This Heart of Mine (Chicago...
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4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 10,683 ratings
13 Sugar Daddy (Travises, #1)
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4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 15,497 ratings
14 Something Borrowed (Darcy &...
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3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 avg rating — 222,394 ratings
15 Welcome to Temptation (Demp...
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3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 avg rating — 16,635 ratings
16 Paradise (Second Opportunit...
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4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 avg rating — 11,638 ratings
17 Something About You (FBI / ...
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3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 22,046 ratings
18 Practice Makes Perfect
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4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 avg rating — 10,608 ratings
19 A Walk to Remember
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4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 219,454 ratings
20 Dream a Little Dream (Chica...
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4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 avg rating — 11,881 ratings
21 Ain't She Sweet
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3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 avg rating — 8,471 ratings
22 See Jane Score (Chinooks Ho...
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4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 10,165 ratings
23 Heaven, Texas (Chicago Star...
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4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 11,997 ratings
24 The Undomestic Goddess
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3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 avg rating — 93,599 ratings
25 Beautiful Disaster (Beautif...
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4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 avg rating — 122,129 ratings
26 Perfect (Second Opportuniti...
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4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 avg rating — 9,498 ratings
27 Remember Me?
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3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 avg rating — 86,822 ratings
28 Dear John
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3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 185,773 ratings
29 Vision in White (Bride Quar...
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4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 55,290 ratings
30 The Time Traveler's Wife
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3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 693,028 ratings
31 P.S. I Love You
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3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 112,560 ratings
32 Perfect Chemistry (Perfect ...
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4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 75,614 ratings
33 Anyone But You
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3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 avg rating — 11,664 ratings
34 Mr. Perfect
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4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 12,580 ratings
35 The Last Song
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4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 avg rating — 176,649 ratings
36 A Lot Like Love (FBI / US A...
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4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 10,490 ratings
37 Manhunting
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3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 avg rating — 8,025 ratings
38 Faking It (Dempseys #2)
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3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 avg rating — 9,521 ratings
39 The Truth About Forever
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4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 avg rating — 89,007 ratings
40 Agnes and the Hitman
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3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 10,251 ratings
41 Truly Madly Yours (Truly, I...
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3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 5,468 ratings
42 Bridget Jones's Diary (Brid...
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3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 avg rating — 393,449 ratings
43 Simply Irresistible (Chinoo...
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3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 avg rating — 8,306 ratings
44 Bed of Roses (Bride Quartet...
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4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 24,004 ratings
45 Just Listen
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4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 avg rating — 88,958 ratings
46 What I Did for Love (Wynett...
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3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 avg rating — 8,108 ratings
47 Confessions of a Shopaholic...
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3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 avg rating — 309,587 ratings
48 Crazy For You
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3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 avg rating — 9,436 ratings
49 Lady Be Good (Wynette, Texa...
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3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 6,605 ratings
50 Sea Swept (Chesapeake Bay S...
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4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 avg rating — 26,506 ratings
51 After the Night
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4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 avg rating — 7,154 ratings
52 Virgin River (Virgin River,...
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4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 7,989 ratings
53 Anna and the French Kiss (A...
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4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 avg rating — 56,025 ratings
54 Just One of the Guys
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3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 avg rating — 6,431 ratings
55 Jewels of the Sun (Gallaghe...
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4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 avg rating — 27,156 ratings
56 Not Another Bad Date (Write...
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3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 5,194 ratings
57 Dance Upon the Air (Three S...
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4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 29,145 ratings
58 Savor the Moment (Bride Qua...
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4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 22,229 ratings
59 Breathing Room
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3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 avg rating — 5,436 ratings
60 Born in Fire (Born In Trilo...
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4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 29,994 ratings
61 Message in a Bottle
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3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 avg rating — 96,399 ratings
62 Flat-Out Sexy (Fast Track, #1)
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4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 avg rating — 6,686 ratings
63 Simply Irresistible (Lucky ...
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3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 11,136 ratings
64 The Choice
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3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 avg rating — 56,162 ratings
65 The Wedding
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3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 78,760 ratings
66 Rising Tides (Chesapeake Ba...
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4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 avg rating — 14,254 ratings
67 Too Good to Be True
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3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 7,462 ratings
68 Truly, Madly, Deeply
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3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 1,057 ratings
69 Inner Harbor (Chesapeake Ba...
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4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 avg rating — 14,552 ratings
70 Fast Women
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3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 7,902 ratings
71 Chesapeake Blue (Chesapeake...
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4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 avg rating — 14,728 ratings
72 Sex, Lies, and Online Datin...
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3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 5,128 ratings
73 He Loves Lucy
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3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 avg rating — 4,217 ratings
74 The Trouble With Valentine'...
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3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 avg rating — 5,146 ratings
75 To Live and Love In L.A.
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4.53 of 5 stars 4.53 avg rating — 83 ratings
76 Love Story (Love Story, #1)
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3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 avg rating — 23,670 ratings
77 Mackenzie's Mountain (Macke...
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4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 avg rating — 5,898 ratings
78 Along for the Ride
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4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 avg rating — 68,630 ratings
79 Tell Me Lies
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3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 avg rating — 7,586 ratings
80 Charlie All Night
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3.58 of 5 stars 3.58 avg rating — 5,685 ratings
81 Tangled Up In You (Truly, I...
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3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 4,999 ratings
82 The Bachelor (Chandler Brot...
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3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 avg rating — 4,077 ratings
82 Shelter Mountain (Virgin Ri...
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4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 avg rating — 6,142 ratings
84 A Bend in the Road
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3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 avg rating — 66,816 ratings
85 Talk Me Down (Tumble Creek,...
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3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 avg rating — 5,501 ratings
86 I'm In No Mood For Love  (W...
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3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 4,408 ratings
87 Getting Rid of Bradley
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3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 avg rating — 7,341 ratings
88 Whispering Rock (Virgin Riv...
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4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 avg rating — 4,656 ratings
89 Call Me Irresistible (Wynet...
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4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 7,950 ratings
90 Delicious (Buchanans, #1)
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3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 3,517 ratings
91 Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty...
by
3.6 of 5 stars 3.60 avg rating — 517,395 ratings
92 Strange Bedpersons
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3.44 of 5 stars 3.44 avg rating — 5,049 ratings
93 Accidentally Yours
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3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 2,569 ratings
94 Say No To Joe? (Visitation,...
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4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 avg rating — 2,632 ratings
95 Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty S...
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3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 248,306 ratings
96 Causing Havoc (SBC Fighters...
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4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 3,748 ratings
97 Happy Ever After (Bride Qua...
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4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 avg rating — 21,277 ratings
98 Catch a Mate
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3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 2,640 ratings
99 The Playboy (Chandler Broth...
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3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 3,309 ratings
100 Hot Stuff (Hot Zone #1)
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3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 avg rating — 3,864 ratings
1,767 books · 4,047 voters · list created June 23rd, 2008 by Isis FG (votes) .
 · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 500 seconds.


Isis FG
Isis FG
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calicheri
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MK (Consultant, Corporal Therapist)
MK (Consultant, Corporal Therapist)
1866 books
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Heather
Heather
315 books
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Comments (showing 1-39 of 39) (39 new)

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message 1: by Eckhard (new)

Eckhard My novel "My Landlady the Lobotomist" would fit into that category. Plus it plays with the conventions of the great works of German romantic literature! I'd vote for my own novel on this one. My Landlady the Lobotomist. Curtis's would be the only other one on the list that even looks literary. And I don't think romance precludes literary merit.


message 2: by paul (new)

paul Don't read/like romance novels; voted strictly on the basis of what my patrons seem to like -- likewise on where they appeared on your list!


message 3: by Carol (last edited Oct 29, 2008 08:33pm) (new)

Carol I'm sure your book would be better suited to a superlative in another category. Romance these days (in American lit) usually connotes chicklit. How about most inventive reformation of romance in defiance of the banality of romance in American fiction?


message 4: by Paul (new)

Paul I haven't read a romance novel in years. Having said that, my favorite romance/history book of all time was and still is "Gone With The Wind". IMO,it is a must read of anyone who likes romance novels, and it takes place during a very interesting time period of American history - the Civil War.


message 5: by Tamela (new)

Tamela Quijas My novel, Dante's Lady, would fit in this category! It's recently been nominated on the P&E polls in the romance genre.


message 6: by Cam (new)

Cam There are some books I think that aren't on the list and should be but it's a pretty good range I'd say.


message 7: by Nahid (new)

Nahid Rachlin Haven't read any of the books, sorry. Nahid Rachlin


message 8: by C. Lee (new)

C. Lee McKenzie I'm sort of out of the loop on romance books. Maybe I should try to read one of those, so I'll have something to say. Sorry. Ask me about biographies or historical fiction. Sci-fi as well.


message 9: by Angele (new)

Angele Lolita is a strange inclusion for this list--a serious anti-romance novel, a novel of "abnormal" sensual obsession and intrigue, once considered so shocking that it was banned. This is why I chose it.


message 10: by Anna (new)

Anna For the Roses is a really good book but its historical romance not contemporary.


message 11: by Mohammad (new)

Mohammad Khan.ch. dears,




Very nice books are my best friends and my soul as well. yours, khan.waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!peace to all.""


message 12: by Joseph (new)

Joseph "best EVER contemporary"? That seems like a big contradiction.


message 13: by Hazel (new)

Hazel Lolita? I don't think Nabokov would agree.


message 14: by Nisha (new)

Nisha I didn't read contemporary until I stumbled on Susan Elizabeth Phillip's books. She's currently my idol. There's just a lot of "Bestselling Authors" who can't write. By some god-forsaken reason, their editors let them publish it and the American public actually buys this. How embarrassing!


message 15: by Maree (new)

Maree Wow 12 Jennifer Crusie's. All time favorite!!!


message 16: by Fiona (new)

Fiona McGier My series of contemporary romances is called The Reyes Family Romances, dealing with the romances of the various members of a large Hispanic family. "Never Too Old For The Game Of Love", "Recipe For Love", and "Love By Design" are available now. My personal favorite, "Analysis of Love" will be published in February. I write about strong female characters who are not looking for love, but who can't resist a good-looking man who makes their toes curl. Sparks fly, and good sex leads to real romance. That's what I look for in contemporary romance.


message 17: by Lynda (new)

Lynda Coker The Ocean Between, would fit into this list. With strong characters and a story that lingers in your heart long after you finished the last page, it's a suggested read.


message 18: by Miriam (new)

Miriam I think Kingdom of Dreams is a historical.


message 19: by Ceci (new)

Ceci Hi!!! We careful that are a few books in this list that are historical instead of contemporary. I don't know how the process to erase a book from a list is so i'm letting you know! :)


message 20: by [deleted user] (new)

Paul wrote: "I haven't read a romance novel in years. Having said that, my favorite romance/history book of all time was and still is "Gone With The Wind". IMO,it is a must read of anyone who like..."

Oh, I agree and didn't see it on this list, where is it? Most of the stuff here is drivel IMO.


message 21: by [deleted user] (new)

Angele wrote: "Lolita is a strange inclusion for this list--a serious anti-romance novel, a novel of "abnormal" sensual obsession and intrigue, once considered so shocking that it was banned. This is why I chose..."

You make me want to read it. I only saw the movie when I was 13.


message 22: by Miriam (new)

Miriam "Gone With The Wind". IMO,it is a must read of anyone who like..."

Oh, I agree and didn't see it on this list, where is it? Most of the stuff here is drivel IMO.


Gone With the Wind is not contemporary; it is set during the American Civil War.


message 23: by [deleted user] (new)

Miriam wrote: ""Gone With The Wind". IMO,it is a must read of anyone who like..."

Oh, I agree and didn't see it on this list, where is it? Most of the stuff here is drivel IMO.

Gone With the Wind is not contemp..."


I added it as Pride and Prejudice is also here and not contemporary and also The Thorn Birds. So why not Gone with the Wind? At least it is really good and very romantic.
You will have to go way down the list to vote for it tho since it is now at the bottom. I guess some people are intimated by the length?


message 25: by ValHallaGirl (new)

ValHallaGirl Some of these aren't contemporary.


✿ℎazℯℓ✿ ^ sooo true. But thank you for the list guys.. i'm trying to read them, as they are recommended to be best ones. =)


message 27: by Ismail (new)

Ismail Sheikh Truly Madly Deeply by Faraaz Kazi


message 28: by Mara (new)

Mara Pride and Prejudice is a contemporary romance?


Michelle the Romance Witch theres quite of few on here that shouldnt be... paranormals and historicals alike


message 30: by Kuna (new)

Kuna Separate beds by LaVyrle Spencer and It had to be you by Susan Elizabeth Philips remain the all time favourites.


message 31: by Duchess Nicole (new)

Duchess Nicole I love this genre! To each his own. If you don't like it, don't comment (or vote). What's the point?

Great list! I'm trying to work my way around it one way or the other. I just started reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and was pleasantly surprised.


message 32: by Carol (new)

Carol Chan HOW CAN ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS NOT BE ON HERE?! sorry


message 33: by Goalmaster1089 (new)

Goalmaster1089 "Best Ever" has to be the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, hands down.:D


message 34: by Goalmaster1089 (new)

Goalmaster1089 I also love most anything by Lora Leigh.:D


message 35: by Julie (new)

Julie There are tons of historical romances listed here, isn't there some way to remove them?


message 36: by Hanae (new)

Hanae I'm on it.


message 37: by Jessica (new)

Jessica I'm a huge sucker for contemporary romance novels!


message 38: by Khate (new)

Khate hi..i need help..

i am looking for a specific book, and it was so stupid of me to forget the title and the name of the author, and i hope someone here could help me..

--the plot goes something like this: a man is searching for a mother for his somewhat unwanted child(someone he will not fall in love with) and his secretary seems to be the perfect candidate. they both agreed that the secretary will take care of the child and will stop from working. (the father is so unattached to the child because the child's birthmother(child is born from a one-night-stand incident) is so messed up and killed herself in an accident after revealing that she is not sure as to whether he is really the child's father or not)<--with this issue, the secretary/wife tries her best to soften the heart of the man towards the child..

..well, the ending: they fell inlove with each other, found out that the man is indeed the real father of the child/daughter..and that the man and the secretary are having a child of their own.


--sorry ,i'm not really good at this..but i hope someone here has read the book and would be able to help me find the tittle or the author.. :D


message 39: by Kimberly (new)

Kimberly Blackburn Many of my favorite authors are represented here. Want a great contempo romantic series with memorable characters? Read Robyn Carr's Virgin River series, in order if possible. Outstanding!


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