If your quest to bag a ‘big boy’ for cuffing season, as per SZA’s divine guidance, has been hitting lots of bumps, fear not. We’ve all had our share of less-than-ideal dating situations and could use a sprinkle of cheer and encouragement to power through these potentially soul-crushing moments.
Whether you need a good laugh after how badly your dates went in 2023, need a break from the ‘Valentine’s is coming, where’s your boyfriend’ videos that’ve been haunting you on IG, need to fill up your next dateless Friday night, or are ready to embrace being a single queen, there’s a book (or 8) for that!
So below, we present the 15 best romance books that’ll tickle your fancy, and who knows what else? ?
Seven Days In June By Tia Williams, $14.68 – Amazon
From the author of ‘The Perfect Find’ – yes, the movie by Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers – comes another hilarious, romantic, and sexy-as-hell romance book that’s bound to pull at your heartstrings.
When Shane and Eva Mercy (former lovers and best-selling authors) meet unexpectedly at a literary convention, they discover that time hasn’t dulled the intensity of their chemistry. If anything, the fire between them burns hotter than ever.
As they cautiously try to reconnect and understand why things went awry, life twists and turns seem determined to get in the way. Will Eva and Shane’s love story withstand the challenges, or is it destined to go up in flames?
Find out more here.
Love In Color By Bolu Babalola, $20.09 – Amazon
Love stories by and about marginalized women, where the heroines are strong and sure? Yes, please!
Internationally acclaimed romance novelist Bolu Babalola retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology with remarkable new detail and vivacity.
With an eye towards decolonizing tropes in Africa’s favorite tales of love, Babalola has created captivating stories that traverse across continents, genres, and perspectives.
Fangirl Down By Tessa Bailey, $30 – Amazon
If you need a good laugh, this romance book is for you, hun. Tessa’s latest creation kicks off an exciting series featuring grumpy professional athletes and their beautiful, sunshine-devotee love interests.
In Fangirl Down, Josephine Doyle (our heroine of the day) goes from a parasocial relationship to the employee of her favorite golfer. Because let’s be honest, what’s romance without a healthy dose of conflict?
Book Lovers By Emily Henry, $18.49 – Amazon
One summer…two rivals…a plot twist they didn’t see coming…
Nora Stephens, a literary agent, is spending her summer away in Sunshine Falls, but instead of picnics in meadows or run-ins with a Hallmark-approved handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, she keeps running into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding edition from back n the city.
When they’re thrown together repeatedly – in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow – they discover that the stories they’ve written about themselves (and each other) are quickly unraveling. It’s one of the best romance books of the decade.
The Fake Boyfriend Fiasco By Talia Hibbert, $12 – Amazon
How about a raucous romcom? Wealthy, successful, and internationally beloved, no woman has ever rejected football legend Nik Christou – until a tattooed goddess blows his mind and captures his heart with one kiss.
Disdainful of love and distrustful of men, Aria Granger’s tongue is as sharp as her cat-eye liner. She knows from experience that Nik, like every other smoking-hot himbo with oceans of cash, is too good to be true – so she’s determined to send the walking temptation packing.
Fortunately (or alarmingly), Nik has a fool-proof plan to win his woman… What could possibly go wrong? Find out here…
How To Find A Princess Romance Book By Alyssa Cole, $19 – Amazon
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Alyssa Cole’s Runaway Royals romance book is a queer Anastasia retelling featuring Makeda Hicks, a long-lost princess who finds love with a sleek and sexy investigator Beznaria Chetchevaliere tasked with tracking her down.
Faced with a threat to her nana’s livelihood, Makeda agrees to return home, sparking a transatlantic adventure with Bez, a crew of lovable weirdos, a fake marriage, and one-bed hijinks on the high seas.
But when they finally make it to Ibarania, Makeda realizes there’s more at risk than cash and the crown. Will Makeda rise to the challenge, and can their love conquer all trials?
Love In The Time Of Serial Killers By Alicia Thompson, $12.32 – Amazon
PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh, a true crime aficionado, has to go back home after her father’s death and run into her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, who she low-key believes is a serial killer (he might dress business casual by day, but at night, man’s clearly up to something.
It’s not that long before Phoebe realizes Sam might be something even scarier – a genuinely…click here to learn more.
How To Hack A Heartbreak By Kristin Rockaway, $37.95 – Amazon
If you’ve been frustrated by dating apps and friend hookups, you’ll love this romance book where Mel Strickland decides to launch one of her own apps that calls out all the assholes and Tinder Swindlers – JerkAlert.
But after it becomes an overnight success, Mel must figure out whether or not to go public about developing the app or hide her secret forever.
Highly Unsuspicious And Unfairly Cute By Talia Hibbert, $15 – Amazon
Another Talia Hibbert romance book classic!
Celine Bangura is a conspiracy-theory-obsessed content creator. Bradley Graeme is a clean-cut athlete. When the two rivals sign up for the same survival course in the woods, they are forced to test each other’s ability to survive the great outdoors and maybe worse—each other.
It Happened One Summer By Tessa Bailey, $42.26 – Amazon
Don’t let its sweet cover fool you – this romance book by #BookTok-beloved author Tessa Bailey is certifiably spicy and treasured by every ECT member.
The heroine, Piper Bellinger, is based on Alexis Rose of Schitt’s Creek – she’s a fashionable wild child, but whenever she gets out of control, Piper lands in trouble, forcing her stepdad to ship her and her sister off to DC to learn some decency.
When Piper meets the mega-hot fisherman, she’s determined to prove she can rough it in Westport. Although the two are complete opposites, Piper wonders if the glamorous life she knew is what she really wants.
Read Between The Lines By Rachel Lacey, $7.19 – Amazon
Trying to make it work after getting Las Vegas hitched is risky enough. Add a judgmental world to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster, or if you’re Grace Porter, a chance to read this romance book and find out!
If you love this, you’ll also appreciate the works of Victoria Blue with her all-time bestselling romance book Accepting Agatha ($16).
Buy Yourself The F*cking Lillie By Tara Schuster, $14.27 – Amazon
TV executive Tara Schuster gets brutally honest in this witty self-love book about growing up – whether you’re in your 20s or 60s – and learning to show yourself much-needed love and appreciation in a non-throw-up-in-the-mouth-kind-of-way.
She shares her non-negotiable daily rituals that helped her re-parent herself and become a ninja of self-love.
How To Marry Keanu Reeves In 90 Days By K.M Jackson, $21 – Amazon
If you need a laugh-out-loud romance book to help you take your mind off the heartbreak, you need to get this read ASAP.
Desperate to convince the world’s perfect boyfriend and ‘forever bachelor’ to call off his wedding, Bethany Lu Carlisle and her ride-or-die BFF Truman Erikson take on a wild road trip to search for the elusive Keanu so that she can fulfill her dream of meeting her forever crush and confess her undying love.
From NY to LA, Lu and Tru get into all sorts of sticky situations. Will Lu find Keanu and convince him to ditch his bride? Or will she discover the true love that’s been by her side all along?
In A Not-So-Perfect World By Neely Tubati Alexander, $30 – Amazon
A hot neighbor guy, a near-stranger, wants you to pose as his beau to make his ex jealous…in Turks and Caicos? Sounds dreamy.
If only Sloane Copper, the heroine of this brilliantly-written romance book, hadn’t accidentally promised her boss she wouldn’t get knocked off her professional path by potential love interests.
So, can Sloane figure out how to move past this heartbreak, land the role of her dreams, and avoid falling for this delicious hunk? The zombie apocalypse would be simpler to solve.
Twisted Love By Ana Huang, $10.59 – Amazon
From NY Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation Ana Huant comes a contemporary bother’s BFF/grump sunshine romance book of the century. And no, we’re not being dramatic.
This diverse series is the first of four romance books, and it features a steamy romance between Alex Volkov (a devil blessed with the face of an angel) and his BFF’s sister, Ava Chen (a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t recall).
They’re complete opposites, but for some reason, the two can’t resist their steamy attraction to each other, even if it means risking everything they hold dear.
