A complete guide to the best romance books ever published

Told from the perspectives of two very different women in two very different time periods, The Last Letter from Your Lover is a beautifully written romance novel.

In the 1960s, housewife Jennifer Stirling – who suffers from memory loss after she was involved in a car crash – finds an intriguing love letter. Decades later, in the 2000s, journalist Ellie Haworth – who’s struggling with her love life – finds the same letter and begins hunting down Jennifer to find out who wrote her such a loving letter…

Henry DeTamble, a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably, and Clare Abshire, his wife, navigate the complexities of love across time and space in this thought-provoking tale.

The innovative narrative structure and poignant exploration of love, loss, and destiny make The Time Traveler’s Wife a compelling and unforgettable read.

Many would classify Confessions of a Shopaholic – originally published as The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic – as a comedy. And yes, it is ridiculously funny but at the book’s core is an enemies to lovers tale between Becky Bloomwood and Luke Brandon.

The chemistry between Becky and Luke leaps off the pages; trust me, you’ll devour the book just so you can find out whether or not they end up together.

Somehow In Five Years manages to be both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The book follows Dannie Kohan, a Type-A Manhattan lawyer who is right on track for her five-year plan – in just one day, she gets an interview for her dream job and her long-time boyfriend asks her to marry him.

But the next morning, Dannie wakes up five years later – in a different apartment, with a different engagement ring and a different man in her bed. After a very confusing hour, Dannie suddenly jerks back to her life but is now left wondering whether it was a dream or real… And if it was real, how did her life change so drastically in just five years?

I could praise this book endlessly. Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo decides she’s finally ready to spill all of the sordid details of her life – and, more importantly, her seven notorious marriages. To everyone’s surprise though, Evelyn chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique to write up the story.

Evelyn invites Monique to her luxurious apartment and takes her (and the reader) back to the glamorous 1950s and begins recounting her various love affairs. I won’t say much more, as it’s best to go into this book blind, but please trust me when I say this is seriously one of the best romance books you’ll ever read.

If you’re looking for a romance novel that you can literally read within one or two sittings, Beach Read is a perfect option. The book follows January, a romance novelist who has serious writer’s block but needs to produce a new book by the end of the summer.

In an attempt to write the book, January travels to a small beach town, where she discovers her neighbour Gus is a snobby true crime writer, who also has writer’s block and needs to write a book by the end of the summer. Ultimately, the two agree to a bet: they swap genres and whoever gets published first wins.

Written in epistolary structure, Where Rainbows End is told through the various letters, emails and texts Rosie Dunne and Alex Stewart have written to each other over the years. Through the childhood friends’ correspondence, a tale of friendship, love and heartbreak shines through.

The film Love, Rosie that stars Lily Collins and Sam Claflin was based on this book and both are well worth your time; I recommend reading the book first though!

Stream Love, Rosie now on BINGE with a 7-day free trial. Subscribe here.

This book inspired one of the greatest rom-coms of all time, so surely it’s not surprising to learn that it’s a great romance book. The book follows Bridget Jones, a 30-something-year-old woman who’s unhappily navigating singledom.

Bridget is just dying to get married but when she suddenly gets involved with two men – her charming boss Daniel Cleaver and her pompous childhood friend Mark Darcy – she’s not sure who to choose… Witty and still somewhat relatable 28 years after its release, Bridget Jones’s Diary is a must-read.

Who doesn’t love a slow-burn romance book? The Hating Game follows Lucy Hutton who works at a publishing company. Her colleague Joshua Templeman is her arch nemesis.

But when Lucy and Josh are suddenly up for the same promotion, she gets to know him and realises maybe he isn’t so bad after all… This book inspired the film of the same name that stars Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell; I recommend both!

Where the Crawdads Sing is a beautifully written book. It may technically be classified as a coming-of-age murder mystery, but there are many elements of romance in there.

For starters, it features tales of romance in the traditional sense – the protagonist Kya experiences relationships with two men in her youth. But Where the Crawdads Sing is also a love letter to nature. The love Kya has for the marsh, the sea and animals is the real romance at the centre of the story – and it’s exquisite.

Liane Moriarty is the best-selling author behind Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, Apples Never Fall and The Last Anniversary – all of which were turned into television series. Of course, Liane specialises in the mystery genre but she’s pretty darn good at romance too.

The Hypnotist’s Love Story follows Ellen O’Farrell; a woman who’s just met the perfect guy. Well, perfect if you ignore the fact that he has a stalker. Told from the perspectives of both Ellen and the stalker, this will be one of the most intriguing romance books you’ll ever read.

This book does follow the classic ‘fake dating’ trope but it does it well, which is why it’s a must-read! Boyfriend Material follows Luc O’Donnell – the son of a very famous musician. Luc has a bad reputation and is constantly hounded by the paparazzi because of it.

And so, in an attempt to appear respectable again, Luc asks Oliver Blackwood – a handsome, successful and scandal-free barrister – to pretend to be his boyfriend.

Franny Doyle, the protagonist of In a New York Minute, is having a seriously bad day. She was laid off from her job and when her favourite dress got caught in the subway doors, it ripped – meaning she flashed her underwear to countless strangers.

Luckily, a handsome stranger offered her his jacket so she could cover up… Sometimes there’s nothing better than a romance book that features a serendipitous meet-cute! But will Franny come across her knight-in-shining-armour again?

Do you love the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan film You’ve Got Mail? If so, To Sir, with Love is like a modern retelling in book form – you’re welcome!

The story follows Gracie Cooper, a cheerful young woman who’s trying to save her late father’s champagne shop from being turned into a parking garage by the egotistical Sebastian Andrews. To deal with the stress, Gracie turns to a blind dating app and begins falling for a match named ‘Sir’… But little does she know, she’s already met Sir in real life (and hates him).

The Flatshare has a somewhat unrealistic premise but if you suspend your disbelief in the first few chapters, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most wholesome love stories ever written.

The book follows Tiffy and Leon. Tiffy works during the day and suddenly needs a cheap apartment. Leon works nights and is in desperate need of extra cash. And so, Leon lives in his one-bedroom apartment while Tiffy’s at work and Tiffy lives there in the evenings…

Love, Theoretically is a witty romantic comedy set in the world of academia. The book follows Elsie Hannaway, a theoretical physicist, who is forced to collaborate on a project with Jack Smith, a fellow scientist but her polar opposite.

As Elsie navigates working with Jack, she slowly learns that emotions can’t always be quantified…

A charming romance novel, The Seven Year Slip explores the magic of second chances and the twists of fate. The story follows Margot Wilde and Blake O’Neill, who, after accidentally swapping their lucky coins seven years ago, find their lives intertwined in unexpected ways.

Set against a backdrop of missed opportunities and serendipitous encounters, The Seven Year Slip is ultimately a heartfelt narrative about love, destiny, and the power of a simple coin.

Alexis Montgomery, a successful doctor from a prestigious family, suddenly finds herself falling for Daniel Grant, a younger man living a simpler life in a small town far removed from her high-society world.

Torn between her and her family’s world and Daniel’s, what will she choose? A tale that explores how hard it can be to actually follow your heart, Part of Your World is a definite must-read.