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108 New Romance Recommendations for (Nearly) Every Kind of Reader
With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, it’s that magical season when people’s thoughts turn to love and romance…and also to the romance genre! While we think romances make for great reading year-round, it's undeniable that some readers go hunting for them especially now.
Well, we're here to help, with this specially curated guide to romance for (nearly) every kind of reader. Yes, even those who think they might not be romance readers at all! On offer, you'll find some classic tropes, sustained subgenres, and wacky premises from new arrivals to the genre and old flames alike. The idea is to help you find something new, or exciting, or just plain great.
The 108 books featured in the categories below are relatively recent, published within the last few years or upcoming later in 2024. We hope that you find the categorizations useful…or at least entertaining. Click on the book cover images for more details about each book, add any good new leads to your Want to Read shelf, and feel free to let us know what kind of romance reader YOU are in the comments section below.
I go weak in the knees for second-chance romance
I love a romance where the complication is TIME ITSELF
I'd like to read a historical romance NOT set in Regency or Victorian England
OK, but don't leave us Regency/Victorian romance readers hanging!
I'm a sucker for a contemporary Jane Austen retelling!
Falling in love for the first time is THE BEST—show me some of this year's debut romances!
Is there a Himbo Hall of Fame?
I'm really into neighbors who bang
Give me some great marriage-of-convenience plots
And don't forget about those of us who love fake dating!
Show me some protagonists in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond, please!
Whisper in my ear about forbidden love…
Oh hi, dark romance
Reality-TV romances really get to me
![The [Fake] Dating Game](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1689346240l/146610841._SY475_.jpg)
I'm ready to dip a toe into romantasy and spicy paranormal…
Can you recommend some romantic literary fiction?
I love young love! Show me some great YA reads.
Have a great romance recommendation? Be sure to share it with your fellow readers in the comments below.
Check out more romance coverage here:
Check out more romance coverage here:
Comments Showing 51-100 of 149 (149 new)
message 51:
by
Ash
(new)
Feb 06, 2024 08:23AM
I love how there are some of my kind of taste in every type lol. I can't wait to pick some up <3 xoxo
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Lyra wrote: "Aw, how about a category for poly romances? I will gladly make a love triangle sacrifice to the trope gods in exchange!"I will help you!
Sarah wrote: "Would love to also see a list of closed-door romances in the future!"I second this request!
Dani wrote: "shocked that they put "Credence" on this list considering the amount of SA on page in it. I understand the appeal of a "dark romance" but this book I think has extremely problematic depictions for ..."Just because you don’t like it, doesn’t mean it is “problematic “
Anyone know of a good bully romance ("enemies to lovers", but would prefer a college/uni setting)? New to the genre and would really appreciate some recommendations!
can you add clean romance or romantasies pls?
Caroline wrote: "Can we have Dystopian romance recommendations?"PLEASE! Especially YA ones. Matched is AMAZING
Sarah wrote: "Would love to also see a list of closed-door romances in the future!"YES! I totally agree.
Dani wrote: "shocked that they put "Credence" on this list considering the amount of SA on page in it. I understand the appeal of a "dark romance" but this book I think has extremely problematic depictions for ..."I can’t keep up with all the acronyms so looked at the book description to see what you were talking about… O.o I would never have guessed anyone would be interested in reading such a thing but, okay, I am totally against censorship, but I really don’t think romance is the appropriate category.
My favorite romance is A Gentleman's Position (but read the first two also excellent books in the series first) by K.J. Charles.
Love the breathe! Request for an enemies to lovers section and a list based on spicyness level!
could you also add some middle grade romance themed books ??
you missed 'To Hate Adam Connor' by Elle Maise in the "I'm really into neighbors who bang"... just saying C:
I would like to see a spice rating on here! It would benefit readers who want closed door AND those looking for smut ;)
Honestly, as long as it’s a slow burn. I’m all in for it!
Maja wrote: "the covers... why are they ALL so horribleeee ahhh"Maja wrote: "the covers... why are they ALL so horribleeee ahhh"
AMEN!!!
Lene wrote: "Lamar wrote: "Is it just me, or is there only one male author on this list?"There are five unequivocally male authors on this list (Matt Cain, Timothy Janovsky, Alexis Hall, TJ Klune, and Max Gla..."
Alexis Hall uses all pronouns so I wouldn't call them unequivocally male. But thumbs up on the rest!
Maja wrote: "the covers... why are they ALL so horribleeee ahhh"A million times, yes. Truly awful.
What about sweet / non-spicy romances?
Came here to say this. The more sandpapery, the better!Emilia wrote: "What about enemies to lovers romance pleaseeee"
Emilia wrote: "What about enemies to lovers romance pleaseeee"
Where the hell is Abby Jimenez? You left the GOAT author off this list?No way... Read Part Of Your World. Yours Truly. @GoodReads Who even are you? You missed the best RomCom author...It's the hill I'll die on...I said it. #iykyk 😅🤷♀️😁
Caroline wrote: "Can we have Dystopian romance recommendations?"Yes, please!!!!
My debut, Love & Chickens, releases on 27 February! Good for fans of Pride and Prejudice, Ali Hazelwood, and (obviously) chickens. Has low spice content but is technically still open door.
Erin wrote: "Dani wrote: "shocked that they put "Credence" on this list considering the amount of SA on page in it. I understand the appeal of a "dark romance" but this book I think has extremely problematic de..."I haven't touched the Society of Gentlemen series yet, but I really enjoyed all the other books of K.J. Charles I read. My most read author last year, I definitely recommend her books personally, if one is into m/m historical (sometimes a bit of fantasy) romances.
I'm always looking for good romantic suspense and sports romances!
Maja wrote: "the covers... why are they ALL so horribleeee ahhh"I know, right? 😂 The cartoon cover trend was cute for like 2 seconds, and now I can't wait for it to die.
The greatest romance of all is the Captive Prince trilogy and nothing can top the angst and the deep, deep, ACHING, slow burn. If someone has recommendations (other than Dark Rise, of course, I read it and I loved it!) I would welcome some :D
Please add enemies-to-loversIf not for me for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth
Although not the main audience, they should really create a section that might appeal to guys!
Maja wrote: "the covers... why are they ALL so horribleeee ahhh"Maja wrote: "the covers... why are they ALL so horribleeee ahhh"
That's what I was thinking too!
Marina wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Can we have Dystopian romance recommendations?"Need to add that ASAP
Would it be possible to have a list of romance books to have no smut in them?
Closed door / clean romances would be a great add too! (I'm assuming the YAs are likely clean, but it'd be nice to have them with adults instead of teens.)
Also, let's not forget contemporary clean/closed door romances that are usually Christian perspective: like: Authentically, Izzy and Dear Henry, Love Edith!
Melanie wrote: "Maybe next time a section with minimal spice? I usually avoid the genre because of that. Lately I've read a few that I quite enjoyed though that weren't spicy and I'd love to know of more like that!"Exactly! I wholeheartedly concur. Try Dear Henry, Love Edith and Authentically, Izzy!
Megan wrote: "A clean/cleaner romance section would be appreciated."Definitely! Was disappointed there wasn't a section for closed door romance. Give Authentically, Izzy and Dear Henry, Love Edith a try!
Hannah:) wrote: "Christian romance and clean romance!"Agreed! Try books by Pepper Basham and Kristy Cambron. I love The Butterfly and the Violin and Authentically, Izzy.
Sarah wrote: "Would love to also see a list of closed-door romances in the future!"me too!
Maja wrote: "the covers... why are they ALL so horribleeee ahhh"Agreed! Very off-putting X(
Please tell me why you all allow the reviewer to give more than a synopsis of the book?
Sarah wrote: "Would love to also see a list of closed-door romances in the future!"
SAME!
SAME!
I appreciate the books with the older protags!!!
Lamar wrote: "Is it just me, or is there only one male author on this list?"male authors arent very romantical < /3
