Best 18 Clean Romance Books: Sweet Not Spicy!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Since its immediate success in 1813, Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work “her own darling child” and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, “as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print.”

The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen’s radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Prepare to be swept into a world of breathless fairy-tale romance, swoonworthy characters, glittering gowns, and fierce intrigue perfect for readers who loved Divergent, Delirium, or The Wrath & the Dawn.

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape a rigid caste system, live in a palace, and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her, and competing for a crown she doesn’t want.

Then America meets Prince Maxon—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Don’t miss The Betrothed, a glittering royal romance sure to captivate Kiera Cass’s legion of loyal readers and lovers of courtly intrigue alike!

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

The friend zone is not the end zone for Bree Camden, who is helplessly in love with her longtime best friend and extremely hot NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. The only problem is that she can’t admit her true feelings, because he clearly sees her as a best friend with no romantic potential, and the last thing Bree wants is to ruin their relationship. But those abs…

Nope! Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for Bree. In any case, she has other things to worry about. After a car accident ended her chance at becoming a professional ballerina, Bree changed paths and now owns her own dance studio, with big dreams to expand it. But one more rent increase could mean the end of the studio entirely.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka “bodyguard”), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.

Jack Stapleton’s a household name—captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.

When Jack’s mom gets sick, he goes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah—against her will and her better judgment—finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, says no one will believe it.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder is a talented mechanic and a cyborg, making her a second-class citizen with a hidden past. She faces disdain from her stepmother and is wrongfully blamed for her stepsister’s sickness. However, her mundane life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Prince Kai. Their encounter thrusts Cinder into the heart of an intergalactic conflict and sparks a forbidden attraction.

As Cinder navigates her complex feelings for Kai, she is torn between duty and her desire for freedom, loyalty and betrayal. To safeguard the future of her world, Cinder must delve into the secrets of her past. This journey is not only about survival but also about discovering her true identity and role in the universe.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Isabella Swan’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn.

Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife — between desire and danger.

Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Luc O’Donnell is tangentially—and reluctantly—famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he’s never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad’s making a comeback, Luc’s back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.

To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship…and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He’s a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he’s never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately, apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.

But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that’s when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don’t ever want to let them go.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Louisa Clark leads a simple life in a small village, complete with a steady boyfriend and a close-knit family. Her world expands when she takes a necessary job caring for Will Traynor, a former high-flier now wheelchair-bound due to an accident. Will’s life before his accident was filled with big deals, extreme sports, and global travel. Adjusting to his new circumstances, he has become cynical and moody.

Despite Will’s challenging demeanor, Lou refuses to coddle him. Over time, his well-being becomes increasingly important to her. When Lou discovers Will’s drastic plans for his future, she becomes determined to convince him that life is still worth living. Their connection deepens, challenging both to confront what it means to truly live and love.

Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

Savannah Cade’s dreams are finally within reach. Claire Donovan, the editor-in-chief of a leading romance publishing company, has asked to see Savannah’s secretly penned manuscript. However, Savannah faces a dilemma: she works as an editor at a company that dismisses romance novels as unworthy, favoring only highbrow literature.

During a staff meeting, Savannah accidentally drops her manuscript, risking exposure to her entire company, including William Pennington, the new boss and son of the CEO who despises romance. In a panic, she hides her manuscript in a secret room.

Returning later, Savannah is shocked to find that someone has discovered her manuscript and left critical notes in the margins. Even more surprising is that Claire Donovan’s feedback mirrors these mysterious annotations. To make matters worse, Claire gives Savannah just six weeks to revise her manuscript before she retires. With no options left, Savannah reluctantly decides to seek help from the elusive critic who found her hidden manuscript.

The Match by Sarah Adams

Having worked for Southern Service Paws for a few years now, I like to think I’m prepared for just about any client meeting under the sun. I am dead wrong.

The day I meet with single dad, Jacob Broaden, about potentially matching his daughter with one of our service dogs, I learn a few valuable lessons.

1) Always set my alarm clock.
2) Single dads are way hotter than I previously thought.
3) It is possible to go from fantasizing about kissing someone to wishing they would be run over by a truck in a matter of two minutes.

Unfortunately, I don’t hold that opinion of him for very long. Not when he shows me a different side of himself—one that’s sweet as maple syrup and hot as apple pie fresh out of the oven. And after a few days of working closely with him and his daughter, he starts looking at me with fire in his eyes, making me dream of something I probably shouldn’t…
A family.

Emma by Jane Austen

Emma, a novel by Jane Austen, is set in the fictional village of Highbury and the nearby estates of Hartfield, Randalls, and Donwell Abbey. It centers on the relationships among people from a few local families. The story explores the social dynamics and matchmaking within this close community. Through the protagonist, Emma Woodhouse, we see the humorous and complex consequences of meddling in others’ lives. Emma’s attempts at matchmaking are well-intentioned but often misguided.

The novel was first published in December 1815, with its title page listing a publication date of 1816. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian–Regency England. Emma is a comedy of manners.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen’s first published novel, presents a classic coming-of-age story featuring two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who are diametrically opposed in temperament. On the surface, Elinor embodies sense, or reason, while Marianne is the epitome of sensibility, or emotion. Yet, as the story unfolds, it becomes evident that both sisters display elements of each characteristic.

Set in southwest England, specifically in the towns of London and Kent, the narrative tracks the sisters as they navigate the complexities of love, romance, and heartbreak. The novel probes the question of whether sense or sensibility is the superior trait. Austen leaves this debate open-ended, raising the possibility that she intended the novel to be ambiguous or suggesting that a balanced temperament might indeed require a blend of both sense and sensibility.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Persuasion is Jane Austen’s last completed novel, published posthumously on December 20, 1817, alongside Northanger Abbey. Although published six months after her death, the title page is dated 1818.

The narrative centres on Anne Elliot, a 27-year-old Englishwoman whose family needs to economize. To reduce their debts, they rent out their home to an Admiral and his wife. Captain Frederick Wentworth, the brother of the Admiral’s wife, was once engaged to Anne in 1806. However, under the influence of her friends and family, Anne ended the engagement. After seven years apart, Anne and Captain Wentworth, both still unmarried, meet again. Their reunion leads to numerous humorous encounters as well as a second, more mature opportunity for love and marriage for Anne.

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.

Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can’t bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.

Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead—if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured—and rejected—three marriage proposals.

Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain sooner rather than later and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There on the wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her heart captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. When an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, Marianne is eager to accept. She looks forward to joining Cecily at a sprawling country estate. Marianne anticipates a relaxing time in the beloved English countryside. Meanwhile, her sister aims to win over the handsome heir of Edenbrooke. However, Marianne soon discovers that even the best-laid plans can go awry.

Marianne’s visit takes a thrilling turn after a terrifying encounter with a highwayman. Following that, a seemingly harmless flirtation pulls her into an unexpected adventure. Her experience is filled with romance and intrigue, keeping her mind constantly racing. Will Marianne be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

At her birth, Ella of Frell receives a foolish fairy’s gift—the “gift” of obedience. Ella must obey any order, whether it’s to hop on one foot for a day and a half, or to chop off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not accept her fate…

Against a bold backdrop of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse forever.

Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden

When Persephone Lancaster receives a marriage proposal from the ill-tempered Duke of Kielder, she refuses—and then reconsiders. The obscene sum of money he’s offering Persephone would save her family from ruin. With her characteristic optimism, she travels to the far reaches of Northumberland to wed a greatly feared stranger.

In a dense forest teeming with wild dogs, the Duke’s castle stands, a stark reflection of the Duke himself—cold and forbidding. Bearing deep scars, both physical and emotional, the Duke has fortified himself against vulnerability. Yet, this armor is tested by his evolving feelings for his new bride, a woman whose gentleness and beauty begin to penetrate his guarded heart.

With caring persistence, Persephone attempts to pierce the Duke’s armour and reach the man beneath. Yet he cannot tolerate such exposure, and his repeated rejections take their toll. But when grave danger arises, the Duke realizes he must face the risk of revealing his true feelings or lose the woman he cannot live without.