Ultimate Romance Books List: Everything You Wanted To Know

Romance is a MASSIVE genre, the most bestselling of all time. It is the largest genre in publishing above all others with over $4 billion dollars in sales (1). There are so many different subgenres, often new readers discover they want to dive into a few of each style before deciding what they love the most.

In this article we are going to break down the most popular books, authors, series and more. You’ll get a window into the themes and flavors, then show off the top titles to help get you started. Let’s dive into this ultimate romance books list and find your next romance to devour.

Table of Contents [CLICK HERE TO OPEN]

Frequently Asked Questions [CLICK HERE TO OPEN]

What are romance books and where do you find them?
What is the best romance book of all time?
How do I find a romance novel?
What is the most read romance book?
What is the best love story of all time?
Which romantic novel is best for beginners
What romance book series should I read?
What new books are coming out in 2022?
Who is the best author 2022?
What is contemporary romance in books?
What are some modern love stories?
What are steamy romance books called?
What books are considered young adults?
What are the most popular YA books right now?
What is the most popular book for young adults?
What is a good fantasy romance book?
What should I read if I like romance mafia?
What is a dark NA romance?
What is the darkest romance book?
What are paranormal romance books?
Who is the best paranormal romance author?
What’s the difference between paranormal romance and fantasy romance?
What are some good paranormal books?
What is romance mystery?
What is a good romance mystery book?
What is suspenseful romance?
What is the best romantic thriller?
What is an historical romance?
Who writes the best historical romance?
What are billionaire romance novels?
What should I read for Valentine’s Day?
What is the best romance manga?
What is a Romcom book?
Where can I read romance stories for free?

What are romance books and where do you find them?

Romance books refer to a type of fictional genre. This genre places primary focus on the romantic love between two people and, in most cases, has a happy ending. You can find romance books in many places. Bookstores, online shops, library, pretty much anywhere!

What is the number one romance novel? What is the best romance book of all time?

Based on sales only? That would be The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller. Although “best” is very subjective, we’ve gathered up our pick of the top 60. Click here to check out our favorites! In fact, if you want to discover our picks for the top romance authors, click here!

Here Are The Top 10 Romance Books According to Sales:

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Love Story by Erich Segal
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Fear of Flying by Erica Jong
Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James

How do I find a romance novel?

There are many places that you can find romance novels to read. If you prefer physical copies of books then you can pick them up in your local independent bookstore or bookstore chains in shopping centres. You can also get paperbacks or hardbacks delivered direct to your door from online sellers such as Barnes and Noble or Amazon. If you like to read on an electronic device such as smartphone, Kindle, Nook or tablet then you can download books from Barnes and Noble, Amazon or Kobo, amongst many other online retailers. You can also borrow both physical and ebooks from most libraries.

What is the most read romance book?

The most read romance book is Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin.

What is a good romantic novel to read

There are so many romantic novels out there, it can be hard to know where to begin. But some good romantic novels that we would recommend are as follows:

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
Pride & Prejudice – Jane Austen
It Ends With Us – Colleen Hoover
The Notebook – Nicolas Sparks
Me Before You – Jojo Moyes
Red, White & Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston
Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
The Duke And I – Julia Quinn
The Princess Bride – William Goldman

What is the best love story of all time?

There have been many great love stories throughout time. Here’s our picks for some of the best love stories of all time:

Romeo And Juliet – Romeo And Juliet, William Shakespeare
Eleanor And Park – Eleanor & Park, Rainbow Rowell
Westley And Buttercup – The Princess Bride, William Goldman
Scarlett And Rhett – Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy – Pride And Prejudice, Jane Austen
Emma and Mr. Knightley – Emma, Jane Austen
Jane and Mr. Rochester – Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
Anne Elliott And Frederick Wentworth – Persuasion, Jane Austen
Anne And Gilbert – Anne Of Green Gables, L. M. Montgomery
Katherine And Heathcliff – Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte

Which romantic novel is best for beginners?

The following romantic novels would be a good starting point for beginners:

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green
Eleanor & Park – Rainbow Rowell
Love Story – Erich Segal
The Wish – Nicholas Sparks
Emma – Jane Austen
Slammed – Colleen Hoover
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
Pride & Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Unhoneymooners – Christina Lauren
Everything, Everything – Nicola Yoon

What romance book series should I read?

There are so many amazing book series to choose from, but here’s our pick of our favorite series ever:

The Wallflower Series – Lisa Kleypas
Bridgerton Series – Julia Quinn
Lucky Harbor Series – Jill Shalvis
On Dublin Street Series – Samantha Young
Crossfire Series – Sylvia Day
Girl Meets Duke – Tessa Dare
50 Shades Of Grey – EL James
Cedar Cove Series – Debbie Macomber
The Wedding Date – Jasmine Guillory
The Beautiful Series – Christina Lauren

What new books are coming out in 2022?

There are plenty of amazing new romance books coming out this year from our favorite authors. Here’s our top ten that we can’t wait for in 2022.

By The Book – Jasmine Guillory
Nightwork – Nora Roberts
The Hotel Nantucket – Elin Hilderbrand
Sugar & Salt – Susan Wiggs
It Starts With Us – Colleen Hoover
Runaway – Ivy Smoak
Drop Dead Gorgeous – Rachel Gibson
Something Wilder – Christina Lauren
The Boardwalk Bookshop – Susan Mallery
Out of the Clear Blue Sky – Kristin Higgins

Click To Read The Best Romance Books 2022 – The Hottest Books Of The Year

Who is the best author 2022?

There are many fantastic authors releasing books in 2022, here’s our top ten pick of the very best:

Danielle Steel
Nora Roberts
Elin Hilderbrand
Debbie Macomber
Colleen Hoover
Susan Mallery
Christina Lauren
Jasmine Guillory
Mia Sosa
Robyn Carr

Romance Books List: Meet The Best Books In The Most Popular Sub-Categories!

Contemporary Romance

What is contemporary romance in books? What defines contemporary romance?

Contemporary romance is the biggest subgenre of romance books. Contemporary romance refers to books that are set in the same period as it was written by the author. Typically contemporary romance will reflect the conventions of the time in which the novel is written, usually giving the books a fresh, modern feel.

What are some modern love stories?

If you are looking for modern contemporary romance love stories then you can’t go far wrong with the following picks:

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Read by Emily Henry
The Worst Best Man – Mia Sosa
When Katie Met Cassidy – Camille Perri
Fangirl – Rainbow Rowell
The Kiss Quotient – Helen Hoang
Red, White & Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston

Click For 30 Flirty And Fabulous Contemporary Romance Novels

Hot Romance Books

What are steamy romance books called?

Steamy romance books are often called “erotica”. These books are often identified by the development of a romantic relationship through sex. The most famous example of this genre is 50 Shades by E. L. James. And if you think you would enjoy that, here is our list of top books like 50 Shades of Grey!

These are the steamiest and hottest erotic romance novels – with endless passion and countless trysts to fulfill your darkest fantasies. Our top 10 hottest books are:

Born in Fire by Nora Roberts
Bared to You by Sylvia Day
The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorens
On Dublin Street by Samantha Young
Collide by Gail McHugh
Gentleman Sinner – Jodi Ellen Malpas
Temptation – Ivy Smoak
Story Of O – Pauline Réage
Call Me By Your Name – Andre Aciman
Wicked Ties – Shayla Black

Explore Hot Romance: 40 Steamy Must Reads

Romance Books For Teenagers (also known as Young Adult (YA) YA Romance)

romance books list romance books for teens

romance books list romance books for young adults

What books are considered young adults?

Aimed for 12-18 year olds, the Young Adult genre often explores themes of friendship, first love, relationships, and identity. And even though the target audience is teenagers, a lot of adults still enjoy this genre as well.

What are the most popular YA books right now?

Some of the more classic YA books never go out of style and maintain their popularity through the generations. And of course there are always new and fresh releases. Here are some YA books that are popular right now:

Ophelia After All – Racquel Marie
These Deadly Games – Diana Urban
Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions – Navdeep Singh Dhillon
Akata Woman – Nnedi Okorafor
Flirting with Fate – JC Cervantes

What is the most popular book for young adults?

There are many popular young adult books available. Here are some of the most popular top picks:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
Opposite of Always by Justin Reynolds
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

35 Romance Books For Teens To Swoon Over
Romance Books For Young Adults – Perfect Valentine’s Reads

Fantasy Romance Books

Fantasy romance books combines the romance genre with fantasy elements. So instead of your average human romance, these novels tend to involve magic or mythical creatures.

What is a good fantasy romance book?

There are so many haunting fantasy romance books out there, where do you even begin? The following suggestions will be a good start:

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
A Ruin Of Roses – K.F. Breene
A Touch of Darkness – Scarlett St. Clair
Hush, Hush – Becca Fitzpatrick
The Cruel Prince – Holly Black
City of Bones – Cassandra Clare

Mafia Romance Books

What is Mafia romance books?

Mafia romance books include some crazy bad boy characters and some dangerous forbidden love romances. Typically the men in Mafia romance books are portrayed as tough alpha males that are sharply dressed and dangerous. But they always have a soft spot deep inside when it comes to the right woman. Then they become fierce protectors.

What genre is mafia books?

Mafia books can come in a variety of genres. They can be crime novels, such as The Godfather by Mario Puzo. They can also be non fiction, telling true life stories of the mafia world. And of course there are Mafia romance novels aplenty.

What should I read if I like romance mafia?

If you like romance mafia then you will love the following picks in this genre:

Bound By Honor by Cora Reilly
Ruthless People by J.J. McAvoy
Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly
King of Diamonds by Renee Rose
Lucian by Bethany-Kris
The Sweetest Oblivion – Danielle Lori
The Professional – Kresley Cole
Raze – Tillie Cole
Sempre – J.M. Darhower
Crow’s Row – Julie Hockley

32 Steamy Mafia Romance Books You Need To Read

Dark Romance Books

Dark Romance books are romances that have much darker themes than the average novel. These are edgier, dirtier titles that aren’t for the light of heart. Typical themes will be enemy to lovers, bully romance or captive and captor romance.

What is a dark NA romance?

NA refers to New Adult romance (also known as college romance), which is romance for people who have gone past the Young Adult genre and are looking for something a little more mature but still with younger characters than some adult novels. So dark NA romance would be these New Adult books that have a darker theme, typically enemies to lovers or bully romance.

What is the darkest romance book?

There are dark romance novels aplenty available. Here’s our top picks of some of the very darkest:

Wanderlust by Skye Warren
His by Aubrey Dark
Rebel by Callie Heart
Crow by A. Zavarelli
Monster in His Eyes by J.M. Darhower
Verity – Colleen Hoover
Twist Me – Anna Zaires
Buttons And Lace – Penelope Sky
King – TM Frazier
Whispers And Roars – K Webster

21 Twisted Dark Romance Novels To Get Your Pulse Racing

Paranormal Romance Books

What are paranormal romance books?

Vampires, werewolves, angels, demons. All of these beings from your craziest fantasies come to life in paranormal romance books.

Who is the best paranormal romance author?

There are so many amazing paranormal romance authors it would be hard to choose the best but here’s our top then picks:

JR Ward
Kresley Cole
Nalini Singh
Gena Showalter
Charlaine Harris
Jeaniene Frost
Laurell K Hamilton
Larissa Ione
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Lara Adrian

What’s the difference between paranormal romance and fantasy romance?

Paranormal romance will tend to involve more “monsters” such as vampires and werewolves. Whereas fantasy will revolve around more magical creatures or humans with magical abilities.

What are some good paranormal books?

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
The Darkest Night – Gena Showalter
Slave to Sensation- Nalini Singh
Dark Lover – JR Ward
Halfway to the Grave – Jeaniene Frost
The Warlord Wants Forever – Kresley Cole

50 Paranormal Romance Books For You To Devour

Mystery Romance Books

What is romance mystery?

In these mystery romance books, the mystery and its solution are key parts of the narrative. The romance is the extra addition that brings the stories to life. So if you prefer a bit more depth to your romance then this may be your genre.

What is a good romance mystery book?

Here’s our top ten picks of the best romance mystery books:

Verity by Coleen Hoover
Untraceable by Laura Griffin
Naked In Death by JD Robb
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Mr Perfect by Linda Howard
The Obsession – Nora Roberts
Don’t Look Now – Mary Burton
The Shark – Mary Burton
Layla – Colleen Hoover
When All The Girls Have Gone – Jayne Ann Krentz

Chilling Mystery With Romance Books That You Need To Read

Thriller Romance Books

romance books list romantic thriller books

What is suspenseful romance? Can a thriller have romance?

Suspenseful romance or thriller romance are books that will have crime or suspense focus but also with romance involved. So if you prefer a bit more drama with your romance then these may be the books for you.

What is the best romantic thriller?

Check out our top ten best romantic thrillers:

It Ends With Us by Coleen Hoover
The Witness by Nora Roberts
Shadow Woman by Linda Howard
Devil’s Lair by Anna Zaires
A Madness Of Sunshine by Nalini Singh
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann
Hideaway by Nora Roberts
Closer Than You Think by Karen Rose
Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh

Intense Romantic Thriller Books That Will Give You Chills

Sports Romance Books

A newcomer to the list of romance, sports romance typically involves hotty, sweaty, sporty, ripped guys. Typically they will feature sports such as American football, baseball or hockey. Most often these books will be set in college and also have a new adult vibe.

Check out our choice of the top ten sports romance books:

Love In The Red Zone by Love Belvin
Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
The Locker Room by Meghan Quinn
Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis
The Mistake by Elle Kennedy
This Heart Of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan
Simply Irresistible by Rachel Gibson
I Dare You by Ilsa Madden-Mills
The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan

25 Top Scoring Sexy Sports Romance Books

College Romance Books

College Romance Books can also be known as New Adult Books. These books are romance for people who have gone past the Young Adult genre and are looking for something a little more mature but still with younger characters than some adult novels. Typically these books will be set in colleges (as the name may have already suggested!)

Here’s our top ten College Romance Books:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
How to Date a Douchebag by Sara Ney
Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
After by Anna Todd
The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen
Jock Rules by Sara Ney
The Score by Elle Kennedy
The Studying Hours: How to Date a Douchebag by Sara Ney
The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen
All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

25 College Romance Books That Really Make The Grade

Historical Romance Books

What is an historical romance?

This is a broad genre of romance but will generally refer to books that are set in the past. This is an eternally popular category of romance with a great many classic and new authors writing in this genre.

Who writes the best historical romance?

There are a great many amazing historical romance authors. From the classics to more modern writers who write in the historical romance genre. Here’s our pick for the best historical romance authors:

Jane Austen
Emily Bronte
Charlotte Bronte
Lisa Kleypas
Julia Quinn
Alyssa Cole
Tessa Dare
Diana Gabaldon
Colleen McCullough
Julie Garwood

And as for the best historical romance books here’s our choices:

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Emma by Jane Austen
The Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas
The Duke And I by Julia Quinn
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Honor’s Splendor by Julie Garwood
An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole

30 Best Historical Romance Books To Whisk You Back In Time

Billionaire Romance Books

What are billionaire romance novels?

Billionaire romance novels are books that involve a rich, usually handsome man. The man can either be rich of his own making, such as an SEO or have inherited wealth. But they are usually ready to sweep the female of their dreams off their feet.

Our picks of the best in the genre are as follows:

The Exiled Prince by Jeana E. Mann
Naked by Raine Miller
Craving by Helen Hardt
Scoring the Billionaire by Max Monroe
The Villain by LJ Shen
Scoring the Billionaire by Max Monroe
Fixed On You by Laurelin Paige
50 Shades Of Grey – EL James
Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren
Bared To You by Sylvia Day

20 Best Billionaire Bad Boys Books

Christmas Romance Books

Because the holidays are a HUGE time for love. These magical novels have all the sparkle of Christmas with a huge dollop of added romance. Perfect for snuggling up under a blanket next to the fire and getting lost in the magic of Christmas romance.

Here’s our best Christmas romance books:

The Twelve Dates Of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
Mrs Miracle by Debbie Macomber
A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
Keep Me Warm At Christmas by Brenda Novak
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
Dear Santa by Debbie Macomber
A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas
A Fairytale Christmas by Susan Wiggs
The Christmas Wedding Guest by Susan Mallery

35 Christmas Romance Books To Fall In Love With This Festive Season

Valentines Day Romance Books

romance books list valentine's day books

What other holiday is more perfect for romance reading than Valentine’s Day! Who needs the hassle of dates and going out when you can snuggle up with a sweet or steamy romance read.

What should I read for Valentine’s Day?

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri
Vision in White by Nora Roberts
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
The Trouble With Valentine’s Day by Rachel Gibson
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
The Wish by Nicholas Sparks
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Valentine’s Day Books 50 Sweet And Steamy Romantic Reads

Romance Manga

Romance manga, or more commonly known in Japan as shoujo manga, are comics that focus primarily on romantic relationships.

What is romance manga called?

Romance manga can be known as Shoujo Manga.

What is the best romance manga?

Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Orange by Ichigo Takano
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun by Izumi Tsubaki
Your Name by Makoto Shinkai
Your Lie in April by Naoshi Arakawa
Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku by Fujita
Toradora! by Yuyuko Takemiya
Horimiya by Hero
Say ‘I Love You’ by Kanae Hazuki

Best Romance Manga To Captivate And Enthral You

Funny Romance Books

What is a Romcom book?

With a more comedic take on the genre, funny romance books offer readers laughs and cheerful moments throughout. And at the end, there’s still a happily ever after.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Can You Keep A Secret by Sophie Kinsella
Roomies by Christina Lauren
Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot
Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

25 Fantastically Funny Romance Books

Free Romance Books

Where can I read romance stories for free? Where can I read a book for free online?

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References:

1: Romance Industry Sales Figures https://theithacan.org/columns/column-romance-literature-takes-over-bestsellers-lists/