There’s nothing wrong with spicy romance. But sometimes, that’s not what we feel like picking up, whether it’s due to personal preference, age, or just a reading mood. Plenty of romance books fit this bill, but it’s just a matter of finding them. So, here’s a list to act as a starting point to help you discover the right romantic read without all the spice. Read on for 10 great recs to add to your TBR.
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
The gods are warring once more after sleeping for centuries, but all Iris Winnow wants to do is keep her family together. Her mother suffers from addiction, and her brother has vanished from the front lines — her best option now is to get the Oath Gazette columnist promotion. To ease her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother that she slips under her wardrobe — letters that somehow instead reach Roman Kitt, her aloof but attractive newspaper rival. He anonymously responds to her letters, creating a connection that Iris carries everywhere: including on the battlefield. She will fight for her brother, for love, and for the fate of all humans.
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Evie Sage’s employment status is vital to her ailing family. So, when a brush up with Rennedawn’s greatest Villain ends in a job offer, she has to accept. It’s not perfect, especially as she becomes attracted to her scary, hot-headed boss. But as she gets used to the unusual — and icky — sides of the job, she realizes that someone is trying to take her boss, and the entire empire, out. Now, not only does she have to worry about fighting her attraction, but she also has to destroy his enemies. It’s hard finding a good job after all.
Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
Marianne Daventry is desperate to escape the boring town of Bath and an unwanted, persistent suitor. So, when her twin, Cecily, invites Marianne to join her at a huge country mansion, she takes it. Marianne wants to relax and enjoy the countryside while her sister gets the attractive heir of Edenbrooke, but things don’t quite go as planned. She gets adventure, romance, and enough drama to make her head spin. Will Marianne be able to calm her treacherous heart, or will she be swept up by a mysterious stranger?
The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
Roman Velasco is a successful artist who has women, fame, money, and anything he could want. However, nobody but his new assistant, Grace Moore, knows the truth of how little he has. His demons haunt him and echo in his empty mansion, and the only way he can cope is by masquerading as Bird, a famous but unknown graffiti artist. Not even Grace knows — after all, this secret could ruin his life. But Grace has demons of her own, ones that made her never put love over her dreams again. These two are drawn together, as if their broken pieces make them whole again, but everything doesn’t go so smoothly for them.
I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang
Sadie Wen is the valedictorian, school captain, and a “pleasure to have in class.” She’s practically perfect, and she has a secret method to keep up her image: email drafts. She would never want to hurt someone’s feelings, so she types up what she thinks and never sends them. Her worst drafts are reserved for Julius Gong, her infuriating co-captain, whom she hasn’t gotten along with since they were kids. But one day, Sadie’s emails are accidentally sent out, and everything changes. Now, everyone knows what she thinks, and they tell her their feelings too. But there’s one person who starts appreciating the real her: Julius.
The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery
Valency has spent twenty-nine years trying to keep a low profile and make her overbearing mother happy. She’s never experienced romance and has accepted her fate as an old maid. Her only escape in life is through books, specifically by John Foster, her favorite author, and she is comforted by the dreams she has of the blue castle he describes. However, when she gets some terrible medical news, she wants to change her life. Will she ever be free, and will she get to find real happiness and love?
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
Naomi Westfield has a perfect fiancé in Nicholas Rose: he remembers her takeout orders, is part of the upper class, and holds doors open for her. They’ve never fought before, and they’re planning an extravagant wedding that’s three months away. And she hates it all. She wants to leave, but she can’t. The first to end their engagement has to pay the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi realizes that Nicholas has similar feelings, arguments erupt between them, where they both try to make the other give up. But as time goes by, they start being themselves. And, eventually, they start having fun with each other.
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Charlie Spring, a timid and sweet high schooler, sits down next to Nick Nelson, a member of the school’s rugby team, one morning. This results in a warm and close friendship, and Charlie slowly catches feelings. But he thinks he doesn’t have a chance, so he doesn’t do anything. However, Nick is also having a hard time with his feelings. As the friends go through high school together, they start to understand the surprising and wonderful ways that love works.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Seventeen-year-old Madeline Whittier is allergic to the world — meaning she can’t leave her house. The only faces she sees are her mom’s and nurse Carla’s. But one day, people move into the house next door, and she’s immediately captivated by Olly, a boy her age. Despite her illness, she knows she’s going to love him. She also knows that this is going to change everything.
The Upside of Falling by Alex Light
Becca Hart doesn’t believe in love. However, when her best friend teases her for never dating, Becca lies about seeing someone. Brett Wells, a popular football captain, overhears and decides to step in. It’s a win-win: people will stop nagging him about getting into a relationship over focusing on his future, and Becca’s lie becomes true. Being a couple is hard since they barely know each other, but they realize they have much in common. Becca is still picking up the pieces from when her world was destroyed years ago, and Brett is barely holding his together. The line between fake and real blurs, and they start to wonder if this fake love might be real after all.
And there you have it! A reading list to help you navigate the world of non-spicy romances. There’s so many amazing romance books out there to discover, and this is only a drop in the bucket. Happy reading!
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