This post was originally published in February 2022. It has been updated with the best underrated romance books to read and the ones that lived up to the hype!
Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by the sheer number of times you’ve seen booktok or bookstagram recommend the same 10 romance books to read!
I don’t know about you, but I certainly get a little drained when I’m scrolling through social media and only seeing the same books over and over again. This isn’t just the case for romance – it happens just as often in the fantasy genre, I can assure you – but I wanted to try a little experiment, so to speak. In this post I’ll be doing a few things:
Sharing my thoughts on the most-hyped books and basically telling you whether I think they’re worth the praise or not (and why).
Recommending similar books that possibly deserve a little more love.
Telling you about some underrated romance books that absolutely need to be read because they’re guaranteed to bring you so much joy.
My hope in this post isn’t to bash the popular books (because let’s be honest, some of them are great and they’re just not to my taste – and others actually did live up to the hype) but instead, to introduce you to new favorites and some excellent authors that really deserve all the praise!
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I’ll be breaking these romance books down into a few different categories to make it a little easier to digest.
First, we’ll start with popular romance books that deserve the hype, then we’ll move on to popular romance books I didn’t love (and what to read instead). After that, we’ll have underrated romance books to read next!
You can click on the book to be redirected to the synopsis (and my review) and I’ll also include links to shop in the drop-down descriptions. Make sure to follow along on The StoryGraph so you never miss my reviews as they go live – and if you want more aesthetic coffee and book photos, check out my bookstagram.
Romance Books That Deserve the Hype
The Flatshare
by Beth O’Leary
Synopsis
Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…
Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.
But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…
Why I Liked This Book
I couldn’t rave about this book more if I tried. It was my re-introduction to adult romance after years of not touching the genre and purely reading fantasy. It’s absolutely precious. It’s the ultimate “only one bed” trope book. There’s fantastic depth to it that’s wholly unexpected but written so well and the characters are very lovable. You can’t help but root for them!
Lovelight Farms (Lovelight Farms #1)
by B.K. Borison
Synopsis
Where the lovelight gleams β¦
A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloomβs dreams.
In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm sheβs loved since she was a kid, she enters a contest with instafamous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, she might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. Thereβs just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on the application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only β¦ there is no boyfriend.
Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just came home for some hot chocolate, and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process.
Lovelight Farms is a romantic comedy featuring a handsome, freckled data analyst, a messy, optimistic Christmas tree farm owner, and a small town with the best hazelnut lattes on the east coast. This sweet and steamy romance is a holiday happily ever after.
Why I Liked This Book
After over a year of hearing nothing but raves about this holiday romance novel, I finally picked it up in December 2022. I was pleased to find out that the raves were right! It’s the cutest friends-to-lovers, fake dating goodness, and perfect to curl up with during the chilly winter months. I loved every second of it!
The Bromance Book Club*
by Lyssa Kay Adams
Synopsis
The first rule of this book club:
You don’t talk about book club.
Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott’s marriage is in major league trouble. Heβs recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, itβs the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes heβs let his pride and fear get the better of him.
Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.
Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.
Why I Liked This Book
*I truly can’t get enough of this entire series, but the first and the fourth are my very favorites!
I didn’t care for the second, Undercover Bromance, which had a star-spangled sex scene. Yes, you did read that right. I also wasn’t the biggest fan of A Very Merry Bromance, but I didn’t hate it. It just felt like it was outside of the series. Aside from those two, I thoroughly recommend the series because it is incredibly unique and fun!
People We Meet on Vacation
by Emily Henry
Synopsis
Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read, a sparkling new novel that will leave you with the warm, hazy afterglow usually reserved for the best vacations.
Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart–she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown–but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.
Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.
Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together–lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.
Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?
Why I Liked This Book
I received an ARC of this book about three months before it was released and adored it. Friends-to-lovers is my favorite trope and it was done really well in this book. I had no clue it would become so popular when it was released, but I can see why! It’s a paaaainfully slow burn that really keeps you on the edge of your seat. Plus, it’s so sweet!
One Last Stop
by Casey McQuiston
Synopsis
For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories donβt exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She canβt imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And thereβs certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures.
But then, thereβs this gorgeous girl on the train.
Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile, showing up in a leather jacket to save Augustβs day when she needed it most. Augustβs subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon, she discovers thereβs one big problem: Jane doesnβt just look like an old school punk rocker. Sheβs literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. Maybe itβs time to start believing in some things, after all.
Casey McQuistonβs One Last Stop is a magical, sexy, big-hearted romance where the impossible becomes possible as August does everything in her power to save the girl lost in time.
Why I Liked This Book
This one was a pleasant surprise for me because I didn’t love RW&RB (more on that further in this post). However, this book had magical realism, sapphic romance, and so many fantastic plot twists. I couldn’t put it down – and Jane is definitely my book girlfriend.
The Friend Zone*
by Abby Jimenez
Synopsis
Kristen Petersen doesn’t do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don’t get her. She’s also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.
Planning her best friend’s wedding is bittersweet for Kristenβespecially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He’s funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he’d be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it’s harder and harder to keep him at arm’s length.
The Friend Zone will have you laughing one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass.
Why I Liked This Book
*I recommend this entire series!
Okay, so if I’m really, really honest – TFZ isn’t even my favorite book in this series (that’s tied three ways between Life’s Too Short, Part of Your World, and Yours Truly), but I do enjoy it! Abby Jimenez certainly knows how to combine emotional depth with sweet romance and lots of laughs. At this point, I definitely consider her an auto-buy author!
The Heart Principle (The Kiss Quotient #3)
by Helen Hoang
Synopsis
When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: Sheβs going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.
Thatβs where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sexβhe accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she herself has just started to understand. However, when tragedy strikes Annaβs family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.
Why I Liked This Book
Yep, I went straight to the third book in the series for this because I feel like it’s almost as hyped as The Kiss Quotient (which is the first). But there’s a good reason for that: it’s phenomenal. As is the case in all of Helen Hoang’s books, there’s incredible autism representation, lots of great spice, and plenty of moments that will make you want to weep. This one, in particular, had me sobbing over my coffee pour while I was taking photos one day – and I loved every minute of it.
Beach Read
by Emily Henry
Synopsis
A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.
Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.
Theyβre polar opposites.
In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, theyβre living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writerβs block.
Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. Sheβll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and heβll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.
Why I Liked This Book
This was the first book I read by Emily Henry, and while it didn’t totally snag my attention at first, it certainly pulled me in the longer I read it. While I’m not a fan of enemies-to-lovers, this one did a great job with the trope and it didn’t feel toxic to me in the slightest. Plus, it was a great look into the life of an author! I have a reread planned for this year now that I own a physical copy (I listened to the audiobook the first time around).
Delilah Green Doesn’t Care (Bright Falls #1)
by Ashley Herring Blake
Synopsis
A clever and steamy queer romantic comedy about taking chances and accepting loveβwith all its complicationsβby debut author Ashley Herring Blake.
Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Fallsβnothing is there for her but memories of a lonely childhood where she was little more than a burden to her cold and distant stepfamily. Her life is in New York, with her photography career finally gaining steam and her bed never empty. Sure, itβs a different woman every night, but thatβs just fine with her.
When Delilahβs estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding with a guilt trip and a five-figure check, Delilah finds herself back in the godforsaken town that she used to call home. She plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astridβs stuck-up besties, and decides that maybe thereβs some fun (and a little retribution) to be had in Bright Falls, after all.
Having raised her eleven-year-old daughter mostly on her own while dealing with her unreliable ex and running a bookstore, Claire Sutherland depends upon a life without surprises. And Delilah Green is an unwelcome surpriseβ¦at first. Though theyβve known each other for years, they donβt really know each otherβso Claire is unsettled when Delilah figures out exactly what buttons to push. When theyβre forced together during a gauntlet of wedding preparationsβincluding a plot to save Astrid from her horrible fiancΓ©βClaire isnβt sure she has the strength to resist Delilahβs charms. Even worse, sheβs starting to think she doesnβt want toβ¦
Why I Liked This Book
Hello, I’m in love with this wonderful, witty queer novel. It’s genuinely one of the cutest I’ve ever read. Forbidden love, grump and sunshine, single mom, and oodles of spicy-sweet goodness.
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book since I read it at the beginning of 2022. It’s that good.
Tweet Cute
by Emma Lord
Synopsis
A fresh, irresistible rom-com from debut author Emma Lord about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected.
Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming — mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.
Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.
All’s fair in love and cheese — that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life — on an anonymous chat app Jack built.
As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate — people on the internet are shipping them — their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.
Why I Liked This Book
Another enemies-to-lovers that actually made it into my favorites list, but that’s probably because they’re more like rivals than anything else… and they don’t even realize they’re rivals until after they’ve begun to fall for each other. OOF. Plus, there’s lots of talk about grilled cheese, which is one of my top food choices, so that’s a bonus.
Weather Girl
by rachel lynn solomon
Synopsis
A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with unforecasted results in this charming romantic comedy from the author of The Ex Talk.
Ari Abrams has always been fascinated by the weather, and she loves almost everything about her job as a TV meteorologist. Her boss, legendary Seattle weatherwoman Torrance Hale, is too distracted by her tempestuous relationship with her ex-husband, the stationβs news director, to give Ari the mentorship she wants. Ari, who runs on sunshine and optimism, is at her witsβ end. The only person who seems to understand how she feels is sweet but reserved sports reporter Russell Barringer.
In the aftermath of a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell decide to team up to solve their bossesβ relationship issues. Between secret gifts and double dates, they start nudging their bosses back together. But their well-meaning meddling backfires when the real chemistry builds between Ari and Russell.
Working closely with Russell means allowing him to get to know parts of herself that Ari keeps hidden from everyone. Will he be able to embrace her dark clouds as well as her clear skies?
Why I Liked This Book
I don’t have a single bad thing to say about this book. It was so sweet, inclusive, and just wonderfully written. My previous experience with Solomon’s writing hadn’t been great, so I had low expectations for this one, but I was blown away. The plot was creative, the romance was precious, and I highly recommend reading it right away!
The Charm Offensive
by Alison Cochrun
Synopsis
In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedyβreminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watchβan awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.
Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So itβs no wonder then that heβs spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchiseβs history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star. Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesnβt believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, heβs a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, heβs cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off. As Dev fights to get Charlie to open up to the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, theyβll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.
Why I Liked This Book
This quickly became one of my favorite romances when I read it in 2022. It made me laugh (out loud, hard) and it made me cry. I felt seen and understood. I adored all the characters and their very unique personalities.
It’s lighthearted but also has amazing depth and it’s definitely the kind of book that I’ll pick up for countless rereads for years to come!
One Italian Summer
by Rebecca Serle
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling author of the βheartwarming, heartbreaking, and hard to put downβ (Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author) modern classic In Five Years returns with a moving and unforgettable exploration of the powerful bond between mother and daughter set on the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.
When Katyβs mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasnβt just Katyβs mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town Carol spent the summer right before she met Katyβs father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.
But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her motherβs spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.
And then Carol appearsβin the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesnβt understand what is happening, or howβall she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.
Rebecca Serleβs next great love story is here, and this time itβs between a mother and a daughter. With her signature βheartbreaking, redemptive, and authenticβ (Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author) prose, Serle has crafted a transcendent novel about how we move on after loss, and how the people we love never truly leave us.
Why I Liked This Book
I predicted that this would be hyped after I read the ARC (and then reread it when I got the audiobook just two months later). I was right! It definitely gained a lot of popularity after it was released.
It’s a fantastic magical realism that deals with grief, and coming-of-age (at 29), and has a gorgeous, atmospheric setting in Italy.
Popular Romance Books I Didn’t Love (and What to Read Instead)
You’ve Reached Sam
by Dustin Thao
Synopsis
If I Stay meets Your Name in Dustin Thao’s You’ve Reached Sam, a heartfelt novel about love and loss and what it means to say goodbye.
How do you move forward when everything you love in on the line?
Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned outβmove out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend a summer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes. Desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls Samβs cellphone just to listen to his voicemail. And Sam picks up the phone.
What would you do if you had a second chance at goodbye?
Filled with a diverse cast of characters, the heartache of first love and loss, and the kind of friends that can get you through anything, plus a touch of magic, You’ve Reached Sam will make an instant connection with anyone looking for a big emotional romance of a read.
Why I Disiked This Book
Everyone and their mother claimed this book would make me sob. Spoiler alert: I never even felt a twinge of emotion. I even took to Instagram to ask if I was missing something because not only did I not cry, but I genuinely disliked the characters as well. They didn’t make me feel for them, they only made me angry. I would love to say it was a disconnect because of the age group, but that’s definitely not the case because there are plenty of “sad YA” books that I love. So, this one just fell flat.
What to read instead: Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
It Happened One Summer
by Tessa Bailey
Synopsis
Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who’s cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town… where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong.
Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar… in Washington.
Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather–and the hot, grumpy local–that she’s more than a pretty face.
Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan–and this town full of memories–may have already caught her heart.
Why I Disliked This Book
Boy, oh boy, I wasn’t prepared for this book. I picked it up because people said that it’s perfect for Schitt’s Creek fans, which I certainly am. It was supposed to be loosely based on Alexis and Mutt’s relationship. To some degree, I can see that. But the primary focus of the book was sex. The characters were super shallow, unlikable, and possessive. And the spice scenes literally made me gag. I was so nauseated by not only the sheer amount of smut in the book but by the sexual acts themselves. This book just made me feel gross.
What to read instead: The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler
The Love Hypothesis
by Ali Hazelwood
Synopsis
When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one womanβs carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.
As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesnβt believe in lasting romantic relationshipsβbut her best friend does, and thatβs what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.
That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professorβand well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanfordβs reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Oliveβs career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyieldingβ¦six-pack abs.
Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.
Why I Disliked This Book
Can I be perfectly honest with you, reader friend? When I first read this book, I gave it 4 stars – purely because I felt bad giving it less due to the hype. I shouldn’t have done that, because it wasn’t an accurate representation of how I felt. To me, this is a 3-star book. Very generic and truly nothing special at all. Do you know what I remember about it? He’s tall. Freakishly tall. She’s small. So small it’s unnatural. That’s about it. The descriptions of their sizes took up so much of the book that I remember hardly anything else.
What to read instead: The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
Red, White & Royal Blue
by Casey McQuiston
Synopsis
What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?
When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, geniusβhis image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.
Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue proves: true love isn’t always diplomatic.
Why I Disliked This Book
This book was a big nope for me. I’ve already established my dislike for enemies-to-lovers, but this one took it to a whole other level and it felt much more like the toxic, bully love that I absolutely loathe. There’s so much “hatred” between the characters that even their spicy scenes revolve around it and just made me feel so icky. Plus, the aforementioned spice scenes also seemed to serve no purpose. They didn’t further the story, they were just dirty. Nothing wrong with spice – I’m all for it, but it needs to add to the story, not just be there for nothing.
What to read instead: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Get a Life, Chloe Brown
by Talia Hibbert
Synopsis
A witty, hilarious romantic comedy about a woman who’s tired of being “boring” and recruits her mysterious, sexy neighbor to help her experience new things—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne, Jasmine Guillory, and Helen Hoang
Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost–but not quite–dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items?
- Enjoy a drunken night out.
- Ride a motorcycle.
- Go camping.
- Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.
- Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.
- And… do something bad.
But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.
Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit.
But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior…
Why I Disliked This Book
I have a chronic illness. I work from home due to it. I wanted so badly to relate with Chloe because we had similarities. Instead, I resented her. I’m sure that not every spoonie feels the same way I do, but I really couldn’t connect. However, I enjoyed the other two books in the series and would even say that Take a Hint, Dani Brown is one of my favorites.
What to read instead: Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating
by Christina Lauren
Synopsis
Most men can’t handle Hazel. With the energy of a toddler and the mouth of a sailor, they’re often too timid to recognize her heart of gold. International bestselling author Christina Lauren tells the story of two people who are definitely not dating, no matter how often they end up in bed together.
Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take-and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.
Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met-when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes-to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.
Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them…right?
Why I Disliked This Book
I went back through my reviews to find what I wrote about this book and had virtually nothing written down. It must have just really not stood out to me because otherwise, I would have had a lot to say. I just rated it 2 stars and moved on with my life. It’s a bummer because it’s friends-to-lovers, which is my favorite trope, but I just didn’t like it.
What to read instead: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
The Hating Game*
by Sally Thorne
Synopsis
Sheβs charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual.
Trapped in a shared office together 40 (OK, 50 or 60) hours a week, theyβve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. Thereβs the Staring Game. The Mirror Game. The HR Game. Lucy canβt let Joshua beat her at anythingβespecially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.
If Lucy wins this game, sheβll be Joshuaβs boss. If she loses, sheβll resign. So why is she suddenly having steamy dreams about Joshua, and dressing for work like sheβs got a hot date? After a perfectly innocent elevator ride ends with an earth-shattering kiss, Lucy starts to wonder whether sheβs got Joshua Templeman all wrong.
Maybe Lucy Hutton doesnβt hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesnβt hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.
Why I Disliked This Book
*This was my first ever adult romance book and when I first read it, I loved it. But over the years, I’ve grown more and more uneasy with it.
I really dislike enemies-to-lovers now and don’t enjoy office romance much, plus now that I look at it, I find the spice to be very cringy. After reading (and hating) Sally’s other two books, I just realized this one isn’t for me anymore. No hate, just no real love either.
What to read instead: The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
American Royals
by Katharine McGee
Synopsis
What if America had a royal family? If you can’t get enough of Harry and Meghan or Kate and William, meet American princesses Beatrice and Samantha. Crazy Rich Asians meets The Crown. Perfect for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue and The Royal We
Two princesses vying for the ultimate crown.
Two girls vying for the prince’s heart.
This is the story of the American royals.
When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne. Like most royal families, the Washingtons have an heir and a spare. A future monarch and a backup battery. Each child knows exactly what is expected of them. But these aren’t just any royals. They’re American.
As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America’s first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she’s breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn’t care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there’s Samantha’s twin, Prince Jefferson. If he’d been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart.
The duty. The intrigue. The Crown. New York Times bestselling author Katharine McGee imagines an alternate version of the modern world, one where the glittering age of monarchies has not yet faded–and where love is still powerful enough to change the course of history.
The lives of the American royal family will hook you in the very first pages and never let go. Relatable, believable, fantastical, aspirational, and completely addictive. –Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars and Perfectionists series
Why I Disliked This Book
I wanted to like these books so dang much and I actually did enjoy the first one alright. There was a lot of drama and it was an interesting plot – but the sequel ruined absolutely everything for me. No one ended up with who they should’ve been with, the drama became the only focus, things seemed “too perfect” at the end (despite no one winding up with who they should’ve) and I was just so mad. Maybe finishing the series could change my mind, but I’m not convinced. I do love the author’s other series, The Thousandth Floor, which gave me Gossip Girl meets Divergent vibes. Very unique.
What to read instead: Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
The Unhoneymooners
by Christina Lauren
Synopsis
For two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime–maybe even love–in this romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Roomies.
Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky twin: from inexplicable mishaps to a recent layoff, her life seems to be almost comically jinxed. By contrast, her sister Ami is an eternal champion . . . she even managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a slew of contests. Unfortunately for Olive, the only thing worse than constant bad luck is having to spend the wedding day with the best man (and her nemesis), Ethan Thomas.
Olive braces herself for wedding hell, determined to put on a brave face, but when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. Suddenly there’s a free honeymoon up for grabs, and Olive will be damned if Ethan gets to enjoy paradise solo.
Agreeing to a temporary truce, the pair head for Maui. After all, ten days of bliss is worth having to assume the role of loving newlyweds, right? But the weird thing is . . . Olive doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, the more she pretends to be the luckiest woman alive, the more it feels like she might be.
With Christina Lauren’s “uniquely hilarious and touching voice” (Entertainment Weekly), The Unhoneymooners is a romance for anyone who has ever felt unlucky in love.
Why I Disliked This Book
This was the first Christina Lauren book I read and I just couldn’t get into it. First of all, it starts out in a really disgusting manner (and you shouldn’t read if you have any aversion to descriptions of being sick to your stomach) and from there, it just focuses entirely on enemies-to-lovers trope that really is mostly enemies with a quick change to lovers super close to the end of the book. The only part I remember liking was the epilogue – oops.
What to read instead: Shipped by Angie Hockman
Underrated Romance Books to Read Now
Amelia Unabridged
by Ashley Schumacher
Synopsis
Sparks fly between two teens as they grapple with grief, love, and the future in this unforgettable debut novel sure to entice fans of Jandy Nelson and Jennifer E. Smith
Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. They’re the books that brought her and her best friend Jenna together after Amelia’s father left and her family imploded. So when Amelia and Jenna get the opportunity to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, Amelia is ecstatic. It’s the perfect way to start off their last summer before college.
In a heartbeat, everything goes horribly wrong. When Jenna gets a chance to meet the author and Amelia doesn’t, the two have a blowout fight like they’ve never experienced. And before Amelia has a chance to mend things, Jenna is killed in a freak car accident. Grief-stricken, and without her best friend to guide her, Amelia questions everything she had planned for the future.
When a mysterious, rare edition of the Orman Chronicles arrives, Amelia is convinced that it somehow came from Jenna. Tracking the book to an obscure but enchanting bookstore in Michigan, Amelia is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the enigmatic and handsome N. E. Endsley himself, the reason for Amelia’s and Jenna’s fight and perhaps the clue to what Jenna wanted to tell her all along.
Ashley Schumacher’s devastating and beautiful debut, Amelia Unabridged, is about finding hope and strength within yourself, and maybe, just maybe, falling in love while you do it.
Why I Liked This Book
The first thing you need to know about this book is that it is filled with imagination. As a reader, it’s such fun to read about the wild things that other readers notice. That feeling bonds you to a book. Reading this was like looking into my own head – in a good way. It deals with loss and grief, panic attacks, young love, and coming-of-age. It’s wonderfully written and deserves way more attention. I think everyone should read it!
Read it if you like: Everything, Everything – Nicola Yoon
How Sweet It Is
by Dylan Newton
Synopsis
Event planner Kate Sweet is famous for creating the perfect happily-ever-after moment for her clientsβ dream weddings. So how is it that her best friend has roped her into planning a bestselling horror writerβs book launch extravaganza? But the second Kate meetsβor rather, accidentally maimsβthe drop-dead-hot Drake Matthews, her well-ordered life quickly transforms into an absolute nightmare.
Drake Matthews is tired of the spotlight and tired of his reputation as the Knight of Nightmares. He’s really a nice guy! But heβs not prepared for Kate, a fearless agent of chaos in steel-tipped stilettos, or for that sweet sting of attraction he feels for her. Sheβs inspiring him to take his writing in a whole new directionβone that no one expects. Because now Kate and Drake are changing up the rules, and this plot twist might just surprise everyone . . . including themselves.
Why I Liked This Book
The queen of happily ever afters meets the knight of nightmares in this grump-and-sunshine book. I couldn’t put it down! It’s perfect to read during the autumn season, with all the cozy Halloween vibes in the story. Plus, it’s got a fantastic cast of secondary characters (who will be getting their own companion novels in the future)!
Read it if you like: Beach Read – Emily Henry
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
by Abbi Waxman
Synopsis
The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.
When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They’re allβor mostly allβexcited to meet her! She’ll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It’s a disaster! And as if that wasn’t enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn’t he realize what a terrible idea that is?
Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)
It’s time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn’t convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It’s going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.
Why I Liked This Book
THIS BOOK! I will continue screaming about it from the rooftops until everyone has read it because it just makes me feel so incredibly seen. An anxious, redheaded bookworm with a cat (who talks back)? Yes, please. I can’t recommend this sweet story enough – along with literally everything else Abbi Waxman has written.
Read it if you like: The Bromance Book Club – Lyssa Kay Adams
Waiting for Tom Hanks
by Kerri Winfrey
Synopsis
A rom-com-obsessed romantic waiting for her perfect leading man learns that life doesnβt always go according to a script in this delightfully charming and funny novel.
Annie Cassidy dreams of being the next Nora Ephron. She spends her days writing screenplays, rewatching Sleepless in Seattle, and waiting for her movie-perfect meet-cute. If she could just find her own Tom Hanksβa man whoβs sweet, sensitive, and possibly owns a houseboatβher problems would disappear and her life would be perfect. But Tom Hanks is nowhere in sight.
When a movie starts filming in her neighborhood and Annie gets a job on set, it seems like a sign. Then Annie meets the lead actor, Drew Danforth, a cocky prankster who couldnβt be less like Tom Hanks if he tried. Their meet-cute is more of a meet-fail, but soon Annie finds herself sharing some classic rom-com moments with Drew. Her Tom Hanks canβt be an actor whoβs leaving town in a matter of days… can he?
Why I Liked This Book
If you grew up watching 90’s romance movies, you will absolutely love this book. The sequel got a bit of hype, but for some reason, this one is rarely talked about? Well, that needs to change because it is so sweet. There are some truly fantastic references to my favorites (like While You Were Sleeping) and the following companion novels are also wonderful (though the first remains my favorite).
Read it if you like: Nora Ephron movies π
Our Stop
by Laura Jane Williams
Synopsis
Nadia gets the 7.30 train every morning without fail. Well, except if she oversleeps or wakes up at her friend Emmaβs after too much wine.
Daniel really does get the 7.30 train every morning, which is easy because he hasnβt been able to sleep properly since his dad died.
One morning, Nadiaβs eye catches sight of a post in the daily paper:
To the cute girl with the coffee stains on her dress. Iβm the guy whoβs always standing near the doorsβ¦ Drink sometime?
So begins a not-quite-romance of near-misses, true love, and the power of the written word.
Why I Liked This Book
I’ve truthfully never read a book quite like this one. It’s a “take a chance” kind of romance and it made my heart pitter-patter. In my review, I said that it was like a mash-up of You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle, which made me so happy. Plus, if you enjoy audiobooks, you should absolutely snag it in that format because the narrator is amazing!
Read it if you like: One Day in December – Josie Silver
The Boyfriend Project
by Farrah Rochon
Synopsis
Samiah Brooks never thought she would be “that” girl. But a live tweet of a horrific date just revealed the painful truth: she’s been catfished by a three-timing jerk of a boyfriend. Suddenly Samiah — along with his two other “girlfriends,” London and Taylor — have gone viral online. Now the three new besties are making a pact to spend the next six months investing in themselves. No men and no dating.
For once Samiah is putting herself first, and that includes finally developing the app she’s always dreamed of creating. Which is the exact moment she meets the deliciously sexy Daniel Collins at work. What are the chances? But is Daniel really boyfriend material or is he maybe just a little too good to be true?
Why I Liked This Book
Okay, so if you’ve read my notes about every book up til this point, you would have seen me say that office romances aren’t my favorite. Well, this is an exception, because it is adorable. There’s also a ton of girl power (in fact, I love the emphasis on friendships in this book) and the protagonist is an absolute boss. Oh, oh! And if you enjoy this one, you’ll love the sequel, The Dating Playbook, just as much (I might have even loved it more)!
Read it if you like: The Ex Talk – Rachel Lynn Solomon
One To Watch
by Kate Stayman-London
Synopsis
Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers–and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates The kiss-off rejections The surprising amount of guys named Chad But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show. Since when is being a size zero a prerequisite for getting engaged on television?
Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition–under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She’s in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That’s it.
But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She’s in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, wickedly observant debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men–and herself–for a chance to live happily ever after.
Why I Liked This Book
Please don’t hate me for saying this, but I hate The Bachelor franchise. It just isn’t my cup of tea. So, when someone recommended this book to me about a reality dating show, I thought, “no way!” But friends, I loved it. I couldn’t stop listening. It was like watching the behind-the-scenes about an incredible, plus-size fashion blogger on the show. I loved every single second of the story!
Read it if you like: The Bachelor franchise π
Tokyo Ever After
by Emiko Jean
Synopsis
The Princess Diaries meets Crazy Rich Asians in Emiko Jeanβs Tokyo Ever After, the irresistible story of an ordinary Japanese-American girl who discovers that her father is the Crown Prince of Japan!
Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit inβit isnβt easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, itβs always been Izumiβor Izzy, because βItβs easier this wayββand her mom against the world. But then Izumi discovers a clue to her previously unknown fatherβs identityβ¦and heβs none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess.
In a whirlwind, Izumi travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isnβt all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight.
Izumi soon finds herself caught between worlds, and between versions of herselfβback home, she was never βAmericanβ enough, and in Japan, she must prove sheβs βJapaneseβ enough. Will Izumi crumble under the weight of the crown, or will she live out her fairy tale, happily ever after?
Why I Liked This Book
If someone were to ask me how many times I’ve watched The Princess Diaries in my life, I wouldn’t be able to give them a number. It was my favorite movie all through my teenage years! So, when I heard this book was like a mix of that film and Crazy Rich Asians, I knew I had to read it. It’s the forbidden love/bodyguard trope and it will make you absolutely swoon. Like, multiple times. It’s so flipping good and I’m counting down the days until the release of the sequel!
Read it if you like: Crazy Rich Asians – Kevin Kwan
Full Flight
by Ashley Schumacher
Synopsis
Ashley Schumacherβs Full Flight is about how first love shapes usβeven after itβs gone.
Everyone else in the tiny town of Enfield, Texas, calls fall football season, but for the forty-three members of the Fighting Enfield Marching Band, itβs contest season. And for new saxophonist Anna James, itβs her first chance to prove herself as the great musician sheβs trying hard to be.
When sheβs assigned a duet with mellophone player Weston Ryan, the boy her small-minded town thinks of as nothing but trouble, sheβs equal parts thrilled and intimidated. But as he helps her with the duet, and she sees the smile he seems to save just for her, she canβt help but feel like sheβs helping him with something too.
When her strict parents find out sheβs been secretly seeing him and keep them apart, Anna and Weston learn what it truly means to fight for something they love. With the marching contest nearing and the two falling hard for one another, the unthinkable happens, and Anna is left grappling for a way forward without Weston.
Why I Liked This Book
Someone, please pass me the tissues. This book had me sobbing. Like, actual snotty tears. When I first began reading it, I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it because it had a tinge of insta-love, which isn’t always my cup of tea. But as I continued reading, it transformed into a story that I couldn’t put down. And when it ended, I still didn’t want to put it down. I wanted to start it all over again. Yep, I wanted to put myself through snotty-teared torture once more because it was that good. Ashley Schumacher can always take my money, I swear.
Read it if you like: The Fault in Our Stars – John Green
The Lucky Escape
by Laura Jane Williams
Synopsis
ONE CANCELLED WEDDING
When the day finally comes for Annie to marry Alexander, the last thing she expects is to be left standing at the altar. She was so sure he was Mr Right. Now, she has no idea how she could have got it so wrong.
ONE UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER
After a chance meeting with Paddy, an old friend who reminds her of who she used to be, Annie takes a vow of her own: sheβll say yes to every opportunity that comes her way from now on.
ONE SPARE TICKET FOR THE HONEYMOON
Could a spontaneous trip with Paddy be the way to mend Annieβs heart? Sheβs about to find out as she embarks on her honeymoon β with a man whoβs not her husbandβ¦
Why I Liked This Book
Have you ever seen Runaway Bride? Well, in this book, the groom is the runaway, and then the bride still goes on her honeymoon… but with another man! Sounds scandalous, right? It’s less so than you might think. Instead, it’s laugh-out-loud funny, with totally swoony moments, and an almost awkward friends-to-lovers romance that’s beyond adorable. This is such a perfect beach read.
Read it if you like: Wedding Night – Sophie Kinsella
Instructions for Dancing*
by Nicola Yoon
Synopsis
Evie Thomas doesn’t believe in love anymore. Especially after the strangest thing occurs one otherwise ordinary afternoon: She witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began . . . and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually.
As Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she finds herself at La Brea Dance Studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X. X is everything that Evie is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. His philosophy is to say yes to everything–including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he’s only just met.
Falling for X is definitely not what Evie had in mind. If her visions of heartbreak have taught her anything, it’s that no one escapes love unscathed. But as she and X dance around and toward each other, Evie is forced to question all she thought she knew about life and love. In the end, is love worth the risk?
Why I Liked This Book
*After this was an option for Book of the Month, I thought for sure it would become super hyped, but I rarely see it anywhere. This shocked me since Nicola’s other two books are pretty popular, so this is me trying to hype it up. Her books are excellent and will make you cry!
Read it if you like: Opposite of Always – Justin A. Reynolds
Well Met*
by Jen DeLuca
Synopsis
All’s faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author Jen DeLuca.
Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?
The faire is Simon’s family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn’t have time for Emily’s lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she’s in her revealing wench’s costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they’re portraying?
This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can’t seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek.
Why I Liked This Book
*This one seems like it’s popular in some circles, but I don’t see it very often at all online. It’s got a renaissance faire, so many popular tropes, and really excellent spicy scenes that actually further the plot rather than exist just for the sake of existing.
Read it if you like: You Deserve Each Other – Sarah Hogle
So tell me, what are some fluffy, contemporary romance books that you think I should read next?
pin for later
There are books from both sides that I’ve really enjoyed, but there are a few on the list that I haven’t heard of (which are now added to my TBR list). You know what author’s books I really don’t think are that great, and yet Booktok and bookstagram hypes them up? Colleen Hoover’s! I know some people are obsessed with her, but I don’t really care for her style of writing! Great post xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
As previously mentioned, romance is typically not my genre of choice. I definitely appreciate your honest reviews of the books you didn’t enjoy! You Should See Me in a Crown sounds like a fun book and One Italian Summer is absolutely going on my list. Not only do I LOVE Positano and the Amalfi Coast, but a love story between a mother and daughter sounds wonderful. Tokyo Ever After is another one I’m super interested in! Thank you for sharing π
I love how you have laid out this post! There are lots of books I want to read on your underrated list, like How Sweet It Is, Our Stop and Instructions For Dancing x
Wow this is an amazing post! I LOVE how your writing is constructed and laid out. I love reading but tend to lean more to the self help category. Iβve been wanting to explore a new genre and youβve listed quite a few to check out. I love romantic movies so Iβm not sure why Iβve never looked into romance books. Will do now!
I’ve only read a few of these because regular romance isn’t typically my favorite genre. I did really love People We Meet on Vacation! American Royals was okay, but boring and so much like Gossip Girl. Waiting on Tom Hanks was also just okay for me. I think I like to watch rom-coms more than read them.
But I LOVE Fantasy romance. I guess I need a good amount of slaying enemies and romance to hold my attention. Haha.
Great post! Iβve loved and been disappointed by books in all your categories Stephanie! Iβm a big Emily Henry fan I also loved One To Watch which Iβm glad youβve included! Thanks for sharing.
I have not read many of these books but I love reading romance books. I definitely need to check them out to develop an opinion on them. thank you for sharing these books.
What a great list! Iβve heard wonderful things about In Five Years and People We Meet on Vacation. Iβm happy to hear you enjoyed them and that they live up to the hype! Itβs always great to get another opinion, besides the rave that we see on social media. Thanks for sharing!
I am currently loving Flat Share so I agree with that. The others have come up a lot on booktok and you have made me have second thoughts about a few.
Oo, so many amazing books packed in here! Normally I am not a romance book fan, but I see so many stories where the relationships are too hard to pass up. When it comes to hype books, I generally never read ’em. The books you did not love, therefor, were of the most interest to me.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for these recommendations! Although I wasn’t a fan of The Flatshare at ALL. I’ve heard loads of good things about the Chloe Brown book/s and I picked up One Last Stop from the library the last time I went, so I’m looking forward to reading that xx
Oh, I was sad to see some books I love in your didn’t love list but I also did see books I didn’t vibe with in your first list of books that live up to the hype. In the end, it does come down to personal preference. I won’t try recommending specific books because our tastes are pretty different but I do suggest trying Beverly Jenkins’s books! I recently read Tempest and now want no heroine less awesome than Regan.
Such an interesting take on so many popular books. Most of the books in your lists are on my tbr and its so helpful for me that you categorized the books with reasons. I’ll definitely be referencing this list in future before buying the books. Thanks for sharing!
There’s a few on the hate list I absolutely loved, haha! Really enjoyed Chloe Brown (the author is amazing at representation across the series), The Hating Game, and The Unhoneymooners – I think the last the most since it was the least cringe-worthy which is too common in romance reads. Interesting post!
GREAT POST! I love how detailed you are and the fact that you included additional reads for those that weren’tt so great. American royals has been on my list but I think The Thousandth Floor sounds up my alley! Also wanting to read People We Meet on Vacation!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
My sister is a huge fan of romance novels. I have seen her reading a lot of these titles–in all these lists. I am going to send this list to her!
Definitely one of my favorite posts of yours. I agree with you on seriously so many. I like the love hypothesis but didn’t LOVE it the way everyone else did .Same with beach read.
Amazing list! Iβve read a few and thereβs definitely some titles Iβve been curious about so its great to get your take on them. I have to admit, I couldnβt get through People We Met on Vacation & gave up on itβ I just donβt get the hype.
Ooh so happy to see a few of my favorites on here too! Admittedly, I respectfully disagree about Beach Read. I found it to be just okay, (though not a bad read), but considering the hype around it, I found it a bit disappointing. Still, I agree with you on a LOT of the others!
It makes me sad when people don’t like The Love Hypothesis, because it’s the first romance book I’ve read that accurately represented me as an asexual person. I think it’s got really progressive asexual representation and I don’t see it mentioned enough. But to each their own! We all have our own tastes and that’s okay. Another underrated romance for me is How to Fail at Flirting. I just loved it so much!
I’m so glad you found a book that you feel accurately represents your identity. That’s amazing! And of course, to each their own. I wanted to love it so, so much, it just wasn’t my cup of tea – and that’s okay. It definitely didn’t have anything to do with the representation, that’s for sure! I’ll have to check out How to Fail at Flirting π And I’d be SO curious about your thoughts on books like Loveless by Alice Oseman, The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow, and The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun – which all had Aspec rep!
Great list! I’ve read several of these, and I’m really enjoying the American Royals series in particular. Tweet Cute and One Last Stop are on my TBR, so hopefully I’ll get to it soon! Thanks for sharing!
ngl, as i read through the list of books you approve of, i was happy with every book haha. and for the books you didnβt like (that iβve read), your reasoning makes sense! also, not everyoneβs taste is the same. i am really glad to see that you enjoyed Lovelight Farms haha.
I couldn’t get into The Hating Game and You’ve Reached Sam either!
Ooof I have common books all over the place; I also enjoyed One last stop! But on the contrary, I also loved the love hypothesis & currently loving love on the brain too.
Thereβs also a bunch of books I wanna read in all three categories! I had almost bought Our stop, but decided not too as iβve read mainly negative reviews ..
Stephanie!!! Where is Funny Feelings?! Lol!! Lovelight Farms is on my list after your rec, but since it’s been picked up by a traditional publisher I have to wait to read it until re-publication; there are none for sale anywhere at the moment.
Ah! I was stuck with that one! On the one hand, I think it’s somewhat underrated (in comparison to like Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez) but on the other hand, I’ve been seeing it a LOT on Lemon8 lately, which is where all the “cool kids” seem to be haha. So maybe it’s more popular than I thought? Either way, I couldn’t find the right way to add it to this post haha. You know I love it though!!!