Romance comes in all forms within the pages of novels, and stories both pure and passionate have made an imprint on us here at Bookstr. Read on to discover the sizzling chemistry, yearning-filled slow burns, and everlasting devotions of our favorite romances.
Xeni: A Marriage of Inconvenience by Rebekah Weatherspoon
My current favorite romance is Xeni: A Marriage of Inconvenience by Rebekah Weatherspoon. I love the chemistry between Xeni and Mason and their reserved nature about being forced to marry each other so that they can each inherit a share of Xeni’s aunt’s estate. Xeni is a take-charge heroine, while Mason is sweet and gentle, and their attraction to each other was immediate. I think I found the book as part of an online list that was featured for a specific trope. Four out of five on the spicy scale.
Cassandra Fushia, Editorial
The Siren by Kiera Cass and Lights Out by Navessa Allen
My favorite romance novels are The Siren by Kiera Cass and Lights Out by Navessa Allen. The Siren is just breathtaking. The way Kiera Cass writes romance is something I’ll always aspire to. It’s dreamy, modern, and full of longing. It’s a beautiful take on fated lovers and forbidden love, wrapped in unique mythology and swoon-worthy tragedy. If you want to believe in magical love again, this is your book. On the other hand, Lights Out is pure fun. Spicy and hilarious! The chemistry is unreal with every situation and you can’t help but want to read more. The author writes smut like it’s an art form, but never loses sight of the emotional core. I actually think the sequel (Caught Up) is even stronger, so there’s something to look forward to once you’re hooked.
Alecander Seiler, Social
Skip and Loafer by Misaki Takamatsu
My favorite romance is the manga (hey, graphic novels count!) Skip and Loafer by Misaki Takamatsu. It’s a slice-of-life romance between Mitsumi, an enthusiastic high achiever, and Sousuke, a laid-back people pleaser. I love their relationship: although they admire each other’s differences, it’s those same differences that create rifts in their bond and make it hard for them to always understand each other. It’s that sense of occasional friction that makes Skip and Loafer feel so grounded, and it’s complemented by a cast of three-dimensional characters who accurately capture the teenage experience: their flaws and difficulties navigating relationships make them truly feel like kids who have a lot of growing to do. The simple yet pleasant art style always stuck out to me when I visited the bookstore, and I’m really glad I picked it up. Skip and Loafer is earnest, relatable, and a joy to read.
Ethan Cunanan, Social
You Between The Lines by Katie Naymon
My most recent obsession with a romance book happened when I read You Between The Lines by Katie Naymon. It contains the enemies-to-lovers trope, as it is a novel set in a graduate school writing program that reunites the heroine, Leigh, with a high school classmate who criticized her work, William. I’m already a big fan of enemies-to-lovers as a trope and romances set in an academic setting, but I was even more excited to read this one, as the main characters were from northeast Ohio, the area I live in. What I didn’t expect was to become so invested in each character’s family dynamics and absolutely fall head over heels in love with William. When you look up the word yearning in the dictionary, I’m pretty sure he’s the whole definition. If you’re not sold yet, just know that some of Leigh and William’s romance blooms through poetry annotations and critiques. Their slow burn had me unable to put the book down, but the beautiful pacing and payoff were well worth the wait. Bonus points for Katie Naymon being a debut author!
Lindsey Barnett, Social
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
My all-time favorite romance novel is The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros. The story deals with the military, along with grief, sickness, and, of course, love. Ella, the main female character, recently lost her brother while he was on active duty in the military and is raising her son and sick daughter on her own. She had a pen pal in the military, who we, as the readers, quickly discover was her brother’s best friend, Beckett, or call sign Chaos. When Ella stops receiving letters from Chaos, she assumes he has also passed away. Beckett shows up in the same town where Ella and her brother are from as a promise he made to his best friend to keep his family safe. Ella is unaware that Beckett is Chaos from the letters, despite Ella talking about them to Beckett and expressing her concern for the man who mysteriously stopped writing.
As the novel progresses, we see Ella fall more and more for Beckett, as he is a constant in her life and becomes a part of the family. Her kids accept Beckett and grow to love him, and seeing this family dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the novel. It was an unconventional family, but it solidified the idea that love is what makes a family, not blood. The ending of this novel was the most unexpected thing I have ever read. I was heartbroken yet happy for so many different reasons. This was a fast-paced novel that I seriously never wanted to end. For anyone that wants to laugh and cry uncontrollably, I would definitely recommend!
Nicole Vecchia, Social
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
My favorite romance that will forever have a spot on my bookshelf would have to be The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez. Not only did this novel open up a whole world and other books by Jimenez to me, but it also put me through a rollercoaster of emotions. I sobbed, laughed, and smiled the whole time while reading (and re-reading) it. The book follows Kristen, who has no time for guys in her life, especially while planning her best friend’s wedding. The twist? The guy she accidentally rear-ends turns out to be the best man, and as attraction grows, it becomes harder and harder for Kristen to keep him at arm’s length. It’s a wonderful and perfect debut novel!
Melissa Mittendorff, Outreach & Editorial
The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney
A favorite romance of mine is The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney. The cover caught my attention right away, a lovely, bright shade of orange, perfectly befitting the story within. Notable themes include empowerment, overcoming fear, and the power of love. It’s important to consider the content warnings, although no graphic depictions of trauma are written. During a journey of resilience and healing from her past, Grace, a college student, meets Cal, several years older and the owner of the tattoo parlor she encounters, to decide on a meaningful, emotional tattoo. Not yet knowing Cal is on his own journey, together, they embark on a path of discovery and hope where love slowly blossoms between them. Friends-to-lovers can be so beautiful, and this book perfectly illustrates why.
Amber Burris, Social
Journeys within this list include everything from the fraught and emotional joining of enemies-to-lovers to the sweet development of two friends finding love that’s been alongside them all along. However, these characters find their way to love, and we at Bookstr are with them every step of the way.
Keep the romance recommendations coming from the expert voices of Bookstagram creators here!
Discover more romance titles we’re writing about at Bookstr on our Bookshop Love is in the Air: Contemporary Romance list!
