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50 Romance Books to Read Based on Beloved Favorites
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a reader in possession of a large library must be in want of a new book.
But not just any book will do. We know you've already read the classics and the bestsellers. We're here to help you uncover a hidden gem.
We took a look at books with fewer than 50,000 adds—for context, members have added Pride and Prejudice to their Goodreads shelves more than 3 million times—and selected only ones with a 4.0 or higher average rating. Then we broke down the results into recommendations for fans of Colleen Hoover, Jane Austen, J.R. Ward, E.L. James, and Diana Gabaldon. Add what catches your eye to your Want to Read shelf!
But not just any book will do. We know you've already read the classics and the bestsellers. We're here to help you uncover a hidden gem.
We took a look at books with fewer than 50,000 adds—for context, members have added Pride and Prejudice to their Goodreads shelves more than 3 million times—and selected only ones with a 4.0 or higher average rating. Then we broke down the results into recommendations for fans of Colleen Hoover, Jane Austen, J.R. Ward, E.L. James, and Diana Gabaldon. Add what catches your eye to your Want to Read shelf!
(or contemporary love stories featuring young love and angst)
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What's your favorite underrated love story? Share it with us in the comments!
Check out the complete coverage of Romance Week:
26 of the Hottest Romances of 2019
Legendary Literary Couples Live on in Countless Retellings
The Secret Lives of Romance Authors
Comments Showing 151-200 of 203 (203 new)
Gloria wrote: "Many year's ago I read a book where a woman finds a dress in a trunk and puts it on and goes back in time. I forgot the name and author. I go to a used bookstore and find many old books. I have col..."A couple of people have made suggestions already, but it could also be Second Sight by David Williams, which was made into a movie called The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan.
Love Time Travel, Sci Fi, Light Paranormal (shifters and/or vampres), and Fantasy Romances.
Love Christine Feehan's Dark series, and Shadow Riders series.
The Grip series by Kennedy Ryan!!! There is no competition when you get enthralled in the pages of FLOW, GRIP & STILL..Beyond megical. Truly earth defining...Grip
Awesome story would definitely recommend this to people, I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read some more from this author.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Janet wrote: "Absolutely anything by Betty Neels! She wrote about 140 books and my sister and I have read and reread them so many times they are falling apart!!! Also a tiny book by R.A. MacAvoy called Tea With ..."I love Henrietta's Own Castle, by Neels, as well as Agnes and the Hitman, by Crusie.
Rosie wrote: "This may sound like a weird choice, but for me it's Mary Stewart's Touch Not the Cat. I absolutely adore the psychic connection between the lovers and Stewart keeps the reader in suspense for a bit..."I love "Nine Coaches Waiting" and "The Ivy Tree".
Find my Alistar by T. L. Swan is epic never ending love story, so unique
If anyone is after a historical romance, you need a healthy (or unhealthy, I should say) dose of Lisa Kleypas and Julia Quinn. Lisa Kleypas - Start with the wallflowers, then the hathaways (….) The ravenels are her on-going ones at the moment
Julia Quinn - Start with the bridgetons, then the rokesbys (her ongoing ones at the moment but should really be read second)
I love reading other peoples favourite books. I've read hundreds of books over the last few years. Some of my absolute favourites are as follows, hope someone else out there finds this helpful.Lighthouse Bay - Kimberley Freeman, contemporary romance
Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah, contemporary romance
On Dublin Street Series - Samantha Young, Chick Lit
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid, old Hollywood to present day contemporary fiction
The Old West Series - Beverly Jenkins, historical romance set in the Old West
The Hearts Invisible Furies - John Boyne, Literary fiction set in Ireland 1940's. About the power of the human spirit
Knight Road - Kristin Hannah, starting 1974 spanning 30 years the friendship between two girls.
True Colors - Kristin Hannah, contemporary fiction about sisters, vengeance, rivalry and betrayal
A Different Blue - Amy Harmon, contemporary romance. Teacher student story. Quite spicy in patches.
Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens, fiction/romance/mystery, coming of age story about girl facing very hard times alone and the prejudices she faces against people in town.
The Simple Wild - K A Tucker, Contemporary romance set in Alaska.
Everything Everything - Nicola Yoon, teens fiction/romance. Intriguing story about sick girl and the boy who moved in next door.
The Sun is Also a Star - Nicola Yoon, teen fiction romance, told from perspective of two teenagers, one Korean American boy and Jamaican girl facing deportation from the country.
Find You in the Dark - A Meredith Waters, spicy romance, very raw emotional story. Sequel - Light in the Shadows - A Meredith Waters
The Far Pavillions - M M Kaye, historical romance set in India about heroism, adventure, cruelty survival and love.
The Mystral series - C L Wilson, romance / fantasy. Epic series.
The Alice Network - Kate Quinn, historical fiction/romance, about a female spy in Fance during WW1.
Cake series - J Bengtsson, Romance/sexy, rock star college student story.
Beneath a Scarlet Sky - Mark Sullivan, historical romance, epic tale during Adolf Hitler's rein about Pino helping Jews to escape whilst doing so he falls for a beautiful widow Anna who is six years his senior.
Irin Chronicles series - Elizabeth Hunter, fantasy/romance, an ancient race battles to protect humanity. paranormal romance.
Loving Mr Daniels - Brittainy Cherry, romance, simmering relationship, forbidden soul mates
Mists of the Serengeti - Leylah Attar, fictional romance set against the lush backdrop of the Serengeti. Epic tale.
November 9 - Colleen Hoover, contemporary romance, sexy.
Maybe Someday bk1 (Maybe) - Colleen Hoover, contemporary romance, sexy.
Hopeless Bk1 & Loosing Hope Bk2 - Colleen Hoover, contemporary romance sexy
Full Tilt series - Emma Scott, contemporary romance, sexy
Sign of Love series - Mia Sheridan, contemporary romance sexy
Magdalene series - Kristen Ashley, contemporary romance, mildly sexy
Lilac Girls - Martha Hall Kelly, historical fiction, some romance. Epic tale
Seven series - Dannika Dark, Romance fantasy, sexy
Kulti & The Wall of Winnipeg - Mariana Zapata, both books contemporary romance and sexy.
Caitlin wrote: "It's difficult to tell based off of the covers alone and clicking through all of them will take some time, but are there any queer romances listed here? I'm always disappointed when "romance" just ..."On this list I think only For Real by Alexis Hall and KJ Charles' A Seditious Affair. I read a lot of M/M romance and if that's something you're interested in let me know and I'm happy to share authors and books with you. Also, there are some lists of M/M romance on goodreads that are really helpful.
Wendy wrote: "I love reading other peoples favourite books. I've read hundreds of books over the last few years. Some of my absolute favourites are as follows, hope someone else out there finds this helpful.Li..."
Could you maybe give a little "genre indication" next to your favourite recommendations?
E.g. historical romance, country romance, vampire romance, etc...
Caitlin wrote: "It's difficult to tell based off of the covers alone and clicking through all of them will take some time, but are there any queer romances listed here? I'm always disappointed when "romance" just ..."KJ Charles & Alexis Hall are both m/m romance writers. I would also recommend you check out JL Langley,
Mary Calmes, Aimee Nicole Walker, AR Moler, Lou Harper, Andrew Grey, Nancy M Griffis, Katie Allen, Amber Kell, Josh Lanyon, Charlie Cochet and Tara Lain. Lots of great m/m authors across multiple genres: Romantic Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Law Enforcement Romance, etc.
Beth wrote: "Caitlin wrote: "It's difficult to tell based off of the covers alone and clicking through all of them will take some time, but are there any queer romances listed here? I'm always disappointed when..."KA Mitchell, Sidney Bell, Eden Finley, Roan Parrish and AM Arthur write really good M/M books.
Suchiney wrote: "What about us Monster/alien lovers? Mind you i am not talking about human looking ones."Try Viola Grace. She has several related series set in the same futuristic time and region of space. Very inventive aliens of all colors and physical/psychic abilities, and the humans who leave earth to explore and integrate with other species. Also several other wonderful series. She writes mainly novellas, and I have 170+ of her stories & reread her often.
Hi Beth, i have updated my book list. Hope this helps
AJ wrote: "Krista wrote: "The Winston Brothers Series! I can’t find anything that I love as much."The wait for the rest of the series is agonising!"
I'm so excited that this is a new series to me. It's so nice to find a series that people love that you are new to. I have some PNR series that I have just been introduced through the romanceopoly challenge and I can't put them down. Jeanine Frost is the author.
Gisele wrote: "The Bronze Horseman! And I am looking for something similar if anyone has some recommendations. Thanks"I still haven't found any romance I've loved as much as The Bronze Horseman. :'(
Gisele wrote: "The Bronze Horseman! And I am looking for something similar if anyone has some recommendations. Thanks"The bronze horseman is my favorite book of all time. When I read From sand and ash by amy harmon, it kinda reminded me of the bronze horseman.
Suchiney wrote: "What about us Monster/alien lovers? Mind you i am not talking about human looking ones."Try the Last Hour Gann by Lee R. Smith. It's a long one BUT it's so good.
I see someone asking about Kleypas - Devil in Spring is pretty much my favorite romance, aside from my ol' go-to classics, ones I like for nostalgia, etc.
FullMoonJuly wrote: "Persuasion by Jane Austen! Always overshadowed by Pride and Prejudice, this beautiful tale of love and longing that stands the rest of time is way high up on my list! Cannot even try to count the n..."I agree, a beautiful love story of reawaken love that quietly grows, especailly when Miss Anne Elliot thought all hope of her true love was lost. The elegance of this Jane Austen's novel is a story I often revisit.
This list could use some diversity. I see one book with poc.
M. Robinson writes the most beautiful stories...The good ol' boys series is amazing and complicate me is the first book of the series!
I don't have read yet "a different blue" by Amy Harmon but her writing is amazing! Making faces is one of the most beautiful stories that I have read and recently has been released what the wind knows by her and if you are a fan of outlander you will love that book!
Sherrilyn Kenyon's Night Play, Unleash The Night and Acheron are my favorites. I keep returning to any of the couples in G.A. Aiken's Dragonkin series and Shelly Laurenston's Pride series. Aiken's Chains and Flames should be required reading! WARNING: There is violence and love and laughter, not necessarily in that order.
My favorite book from the past is "Sweet Savage Love" by Rosemary Rogers.
I second this a thousand times!! Awesome book!!
The Lost Wife by Alyson RichmanTissues please. I read this a while back and it has stayed with me. I think of this man often. Beautifully written with an ending like no other. Just beautiful.
Susanne wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Any of Georgette Heyer's Recency books. Witty dialog and wonderful command of language and characterization."Try Venetia. It' not witty witty, but there is a lot of humor hidden. F..."
My favorites are "A Civil Contract", "The Grand Sophy" and "Frederica"!
Diana wrote: "Does anyone know any clean fantasy romance series?"Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series; the series follows Miles from the time he enters Military Academy but Komarr and A Civil Campaign later in the series are romances as is Lord Vorpatril's Alliance.
Wait, how did LH Cosway’s “Painted Faces” get put under 50 Shades? Neither are rich and it’s not erotica. BUT the story *is* incredible and Cosway is one of my favorite authors of one of my favorite series (“Hearts”)
Oh, oh, oh! Another underdog for me would be ‘Transcendence’ by Shay Savage. Sorry, I just had to get that one in there!
Tami wrote: "I second this a thousand times!! Awesome book!!"THE BRONZE HORSEMAN
Diana Gabaldon Outlander, adored that series and read it more than once. For light easy reading and very enjoyable, lets put Lisa Kleypas on the list, start with Secrets of a Summers night. I am going to try lots of your suggestions Also good, Elizabeth Vaughan Warprize. Nalini Singh, a very good writer, her Rock Kiss series, good characters and sexy.
I’m old, but I prefer the old school authors, Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Aola Vandergriff. Jeanne Williams. Love Jude Devereaux. My favorite is Love is a Wild Assualt, by Elithe Hamilton Kirkland. Based on a true story, I read it years ago and never forgot it. It sticks in your heart.
I really liked the suggestions for 'if you loved Colleen Hoovers Hopeless"
LJF wrote: "Emma, no question. Pride and Prejudice is Austen's most well-known novel, but Emma is actually considered her best-written work."I think MrKnightley is a much more romantic character than MrDarcy
Lisa Kleypas, SEP, KA, Linda Howard, Nalini Singh, Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood are my autobuy authors. Any recommendations based on their work?
Two oldies and three hidden gems: Colony by Anne River Siddons; Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher; Margaret from Maine by Joseph Monninger; Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler; The Secret of Raven Point by Jennifer Vanderbes. Fabulous love stories that will stay with you. All are tearjerkers.
By All That Is Sacred by Laura Gilmour Bennett. I read this book forever ago, and a few times since. It is one of my all time favorites.
My favorite is Radiance by Grace Draven. Such a wonderful slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance!
Caitlin wrote: "It's difficult to tell based off of the covers alone and clicking through all of them will take some time, but are there any queer romances listed here? I'm always disappointed when "romance" just ..."Him, For Real, and Among the Living are queer romances. Don't know about the others
Gisele wrote: "The Bronze Horseman! And I am looking for something similar if anyone has some recommendations. Thanks"Try Golden Paradise! The Bronze Horseman is one of my FAVORITE romance books of all time, so when read Golden Paradise, I found a lot of same elements between both books. Hope you like it!!
Kim wrote: "My all time favorite is A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveroux. A wonderful love story with lots of humor."I love ths book!
A very thoughtful list, I'm sure. But it's a tad too straight for my tastes, thanks.
Depending on your definition of clean, I highly recommend The Isles of Glory trilogy by Glenda Larke (The Aware, Gilfeather, The Tainted). It's been a while since I've read them, so my memory may be at fault, but I think that while there were references to sexual relationships, there was nothing descriptive or explicit.
Also, the debut novel by the same author is one of my all-time favourites - Havenstar by Glenda Larke, originally published under the name Glenda Noramly.