Once upon a time, before Heated Rivalry or Off Campus provided us with our romance fix, we relied on the humble book to immerse ourselves in enchanting love stories where our imaginations could run free.
We’re not just talking about the ‘princess meets prince and they live happily ever after’ old chestnut; we mean love stories packed with ups and downs. The kind that leaves us in tears of both laughter and sadness, while making even the most cynical of cynics believe in love.
This ever-popular genre of books has expanded rapidly to spotlight stories told from LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC perspectives, meaning there’s something for everyone when it comes to romance novels.
Read more: Best new books for your summer holiday reading list
Fans of the BBC’s Sally Rooney adaptations will love the honest and painful account of first love in Normal People, whilst those after a cathartic weep will be left heartbroken after reading In Memoriam, Alice Winn’s searing debut about two First World War soldiers in love in the trenches.
Best romance novels at a glance
Best classic – 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen: £6.64, Amazon.co.uk
Best steamy book – 'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros: £5.48, Amazon.co.uk
Best romantasy – 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas: £4.98, Amazon.co.uk
Best historical romance – ‘In Memoriam’ by Alice Winn: £6, Amazon.co.uk
Best trending romance – 'Heated Rivalry' by Rachel Reid: £5, Amazon.co.uk
For a salacious read on your summer holiday, pack a copy of the cult-favourite A Court of Thorns and Roses or Fourth Wing, both guaranteed Romantasy page-turners. And, of course, no romance novel roundup is complete without the classics, so it’s time to re-read Pride and Prejudice or The Great Gatsby (shake those school associations, as they’re both engrossing).
So, whether you love to get stuck into historical fiction or are after something that’s dominated headlines, I’ve got you sorted with the best romance novels to add to your basket right now.
'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, published by Penguin
The historical blueprint for all contemporary reimaginings of Regency-era romance, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice offers a true glimpse into love and courtship during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The famous story tells the tale of Elizabeth Bennett and her four sisters, following their romantic pursuits as their parents attempt to marry them off.
When Elizabeth meets the enigmatic Mr Darcy at a ball, the Regency-era version of an enemies-to-lovers storyline begins to develop. Austen’s irreverent wit, ebullient emotions and wonderfully full characters ensure it’s a perennially popular novel – and worth ticking off the literary bucket list.
Buy now £6.64, Amazon.co.uk
'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros, published by Piatkus
This best-selling romantasy yarn is a gateway to the genre. Highly addictive and fiery (quite literally, there are dragons involved), the novel follows Violet Sorrengail, a new cadet in Navarre’s brutal Basgiath War College.
Initially slated for the rather tame Scribe quadrant, where cadets are tasked with bookkeeping and writing historical records, Violet is thrust into the Rider’s Quadrant – Basgiath’s most brutal yet revered army sector which demands survival yet does everything possible to prevent it. Violet doesn’t know what’s worse – fighting for her life, or her undeniable attraction to the enemy.
Buy now £5.48, Amazon.co.uk
'Heart The Lover' by Lily King, published Canongate Books
A literary love story for those who don’t usually read romances, Heart The Lover begins with our unnamed narrator at college, where she experiences first love, heartbreak, and friendship in the orbit of fellow students Sam and Yash. But this isn’t your average campus story. Decades later, the protagonist is a successful author and married with two young children. But when an old lover comes calling, she’s sent spiralling back into the past.
Saying anything else would ruin the pure delight of reading the novel – but be prepared to cry. A meditation on the passing of time, coming-of-age and mortality, the literary references throughout give it extra appeal for book lovers. I’ve since read the companion novel,Writers & Lovers, which is just as excellent.
Buy now £7.51, Amazon.co.uk
‘In Memoriam’ by Alice Winn, published by Viking
Beginning in a private boarding school for boys, before taking us to the horror of the trenches during World War One, Alice Winn’s blistering debut is an unforgettable read. We’re first introduced to Gaunt and Ellwood in 1914, when both schoolboys are secretly in love with each other.
Pressured by his mother to enlist in the British army, Gaunt is relieved to run away from his forbidden feelings for his best friend. But when the true terror of the war is revealed to him, he is soon devastated when Ellwood and other classmates follow him to the Western Front.
A love story set against the tragedies of war, Winn’s rousing writing transports you to the trenches, where an entire generation of lost men are brought to vivid life – the characters will stick with you long after the final page.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon.co.uk
'Where the Crawdads Sing' by Delia Owens, published by Corsair
If you’re after a book that’s all at once a story of first love, an ode to nature and a gripping murder mystery, then this is an absolute must-read. Following the life of Kya Clark, also known as ‘Marsh Girl’ to the unwelcoming villagers, this is an emotional rollercoaster of a book that perfectly encapsulates the social and racial divides of 1950s America.
Having always taken care of herself, Kya is apprehensive to let someone else into her protected life, but as two boys offer her the companionship she craves, she lets her guard down. It’s this action that will have consequences far beyond what Kya could have ever imagined.
After you’ve read the book, the film starring Daisy Edgar-Jones is well worth the watch.
Buy now £5.50, Amazon.co.uk
'Normal People' by Sally Rooney, published by Faber & Faber
This is no fairytale novel where boy meets girl, and the rest is history; instead, it’s the real deal when it comes to love. Set in modern-day Ireland, Connell and Marianne couldn’t be more different on paper, but a chance conversation at school leads to a powerful relationship that defines both of their lives for years to come.
Rooney’s writing is delicate and observant, and her book portrays everything that comes with first love – infatuation, jealousy and devastation as well as discussions around class and ethics. Prepare to read this book in a day – you won't be able to put it down.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon
'Heated Rivalry' by Rachel Reid, published by Carina Press
The book that inspired the global obsession, Heated Rivalry is the second title in Rachel Reid’s Gamechanger book series. It follows Canadian golden-boy hockey player Shane Hollander, and rival star Ilya Rozanov, as they battle on the ice while hiding a long-running relationship. Navigating the complications of fame, secrecy and the demands of their sports careers, the enemies-to-lovers storyline has surprising emotional depth.
Buy now £5.00, Amazon.co.uk
'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas, published by Bloomsbury
A ferociously passionate fantasy tale which follows an enemies-to-lovers trope taking place within the mythical lands of Prythian, where faeries and humans live in violent opposition.
Whether you’ve come across A Court of Thorns and Roses via social media platforms such as TikTok, or are simply in the market for a new erotic fantasy series to devour, you’re in the right place. The first of Sarah J Maas’ five-book series, A Court of Thorns and Roses follows the plight of a huntress named Feyre who kills a wolf in an act of survival to feed her family. However, the wolf that Feyre killed was not what it appeared, and her violent act had untold consequences for the young huntress and her people.
For her actions, Feyre is kidnapped and taken away from her family. While held captive by the masked Tamlin, Feyre’s feelings become complex – turning from hatred to lust, as the two lovers attempt to navigate the bloody consequences of their relationship and fight to break an ancient curse.
Buy now £4.98, Amazon.co.uk
'One Day' by David Nicholls, published by Sceptre
David Nicholls’s seminal romance One Day follows Dexter and Emma, who meet on St Swithin’s Day as students at Edinburgh University. Spanning 20 years, the story revisits the duo’s lives on the same date, 15 July.
The novel ticks off all the classic romance tropes (think friends-to-lovers and ‘will they, won’t they’), but the story and characters feel thoroughly believable. Nicholl’s writing keeps you enthralled through all the twists, turns, bittersweet moments and heartache (if you’re familiar with the story, you’ll know the weighty passage I mean). The Netflix adaptation is required watching too.
Buy now £10.44, Amazon.co.uk
'The Other Bennet Sister' by Janice Hadlow, published by Pan
Have you ever wondered what on earth happened to the middle sister of the five Bennet girls? Ranging from unlikable and precocious to delightfully demure, the famous sisters who take centre stage in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice are married off in various ways – except poor Mary, who is roughly 18 at the beginning of the novel, and her younger sister Kitty. While Kitty is deemed intolerable, Mary is consistently and overtly described as ill-humoured and plain.
Janice Hadlow’s novel shows a different side to the misunderstood Mary, an introvert in a family filled with extroverted characters, who appear unloved and unlovable. But just as all hope is lost, could romance perchance be on the cards for our middling sister? The recent BBC adaptation has only boosted love for this brilliant novel.
Buy now £8.00, Amazon.co.uk
'Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' by Taylor Jenkins Reid, published by Simon & Schuster
Evelyn Hugo’s life has been scrutinised by the media for decades, but her reclusive and private nature has kept the press from ever knowing the real woman behind the glamorous and scandalous Hollywood movie actress facade. Until now. Hugo chooses an unknown New York writer to document her story as she tells it, covering everything from long kept secrets, poisonous love, and of course, her seven husbands.
This is an absolutely spell-binding novel that has dramatic consequences for both Evelyn Hugo and journalist Monique Grant. The perfect pool-side read, it’s glamorous, salacious and devastating.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon.co.uk
'The Ministry of Time’ by Kaliane Bradley, published by Sceptre
An addictive sci-fi romantic comedy, Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time is set in the future, where the British government have possession of a time-travel portal. In an undisclosed mission, they’ve brought back five “expats” from history. Among the time travellers is Commander Gore, a 38-year-old Navy officer from the 19th century who was part of Sir John Franklin’s doomed Arctic expedition.
In real life, he died in 1847, but in Bradley’s genre-bending tome, he’s forced to acclimatise to the 21st century, while our nameless narrator, a disaffected civil servant, is assigned as Gore’s “bridge” to help him settle in.
What follows is a part girl-meets-boy (or Victorian-Arctic-explorer) love story and part thriller. Laugh-out-loud funny and a surprising meditation on the climate crisis, it’s above all exciting, fun and a good old-fashioned page-turner that you’ll recommend to all your friends.
Buy now £9.49, Amazon.co.uk
'The Notebook' by Nicholas Sparks, published by Sphere
If there’s a film scene more iconic than Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams’ embrace in the pouring rain, we’re yet to see it. Long before this cult-classic film came the book by Nicholas Sparks that tells the story of childhood lovers Noah and Allie who find a path back to each other despite Allie’s engagement and Noah’s enlistment in the army.
Prepare for your heart to break in this emotional rollercoaster of a book that wonderfully depicts the highs and lows of true love.
Buy now £9.65, Amazon.co.uk
'Call Me By Your Name' by Andre Aciman, published by Atlantic Books
Set against the backdrop of the 1980s Italian Riviera, a young 17-year-old boy sparks an unlikely relationship with a summer guest. The result? Intense desire, forbidden passion and an all-consuming obsession.
Call Me By Your Name is beautifully written; the emotional aspect of the relationship is just as touching and intense as the physical. When it comes to documenting first love, few authors do it as genuinely and heartwarmingly as Andre Aciman.
Buy now £4.99, Amazon.co.uk
'Seven Days in June' by Tia Williams, published by Quercus
How can you trust someone who broke your heart 15 years ago? This is Eva Mercy, an award-winning erotica novelist and single mother’s dilemma when she meets her teenage love Shane Hall at a literary event. Across the next seven days, these two star-crossed lovers reconnect and the chemistry is as electric as you’d imagine.
This modern-day love story is as much about trust and complicated feelings as it is about physical connection and second chances. The hilariously sexy novel is an absolute page-turner with every chapter exuding more love, hope and desire as the last.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon.co.uk
'A Private Man' by Stephanie Sy-Quia, published by Orion
Stephanie Sy-Quia’s beautiful debut novel is inspired by her own grandparents’ unique love story, unfolding between 1950s Rome, 1960s England and 21st-century France. The tender story follows David, a handsome and charming young priest, newly ordained and returning to England, sworn to lifelong celibacy.
Margaret, meanwhile, is reeling from the end of an affair and has found faith later in life. With her feminist views and progressive outlook, she’s drawn to a forward-thinking Catholic school in Rome.
Their lives soon become entangled at a Catholic college in a small English parish, where a meeting of minds turns into something more dangerous. A story of slow-burn romance, but also of hard-won friendship, the novel explores faith, duty and love.
Buy now £14.51, Amazon.co.uk
'Bridgerton Books 1-9 Collection Set' by Julia Quinn, published by
Gossip Girl meets Downton Abbey as England’s upper echelons of society mingle, romance and defend their honour, Bridgerton hit our TV screens during lockdown. It fulfilled a desire we didn’t know existed – salacious Regency-era drama. Fans of the show will be pleased to know that there are eight books in the series that follow each one of the Bridgerton family siblings.
Similar to the show, the book features saucy encounters, witty commentary and heart-warming love stories. If you thought the series was too X-rated, be wary of the book as there’s an abundance of detailed sex scenes that can traverse many pages.
Buy now £43.00, Amazon.co.uk
‘Any Human Heart’ by William Boyd, published by Penguin
I envy you if you’re yet to devour William Boyd’s Any Human Heart. Just as enjoyable on its first read as it is on its second (or third), the cult novel follows Logan Mountstuart’s life across the 20th Century. Spanning an anything-but-ordinary existence as a writer mingling with Hemingway in Paris, a spy during the Second World War – recruited by none other than Ian Fleming – an art dealer in the swinging Sixties and much more, Boyd explores familial, romantic and platonic love with his signature warm and witty voice.
A modern classic, it’s a masterclass in storytelling that’s just as joyous as it is emotional (be warned), and the perfect page-turner this summer.
Buy now £9.49, Amazon.co.uk
'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published by Penguin Classics
A timeless classic, The Great Gatsby tells the story of a wealthy man and his pursuit of his childhood sweetheart, all set against the backdrop of the glamorous 20s. A masterful example of the American Dream in action, Fitzgerald’s novel goes far beyond romance and addresses themes of excessive wealth, human follies and the fragility of life.
This special edition includes a foreword by famed movie director Francis Ford Coppola as well as exceptional artwork throughout that brings to life Gatsby’s lavish parties and frivolous lifestyle.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon.co.uk
‘Romantic Comedy’ by Curtis Sittenfeld, published by Penguin
Author of Rodham, American Wife and Prep, Curtis Sittenfeld writes novels that are a guaranteed good time. Romantic Comedy is a joyous read, following a TV scriptwriter who develops an unlikely crush. Working on a Saturday Night Live-type show, Sally Milz is successful but long overdue for finding love.
That is, until she meets Noah, an attractive young pop star who is making a guest appearance on the show. Funny, warm and witty, it’s the perfect lighthearted companion for a summer holiday.
Buy now £9.49, Amazon.co.uk
'Twilight' by Stephenie Meyer
Why not revisit this classic on your summer holiday lounger? There’s a reason why the nostalgic series continues to capture our imaginations. An immortal love story for the ages in which the lion falls in love with the lamb, every romance enthusiast should read Twilight at least once. Though you don’t get to the werewolves until the second book in the series, New Moon, it’s certainly worth the wait.
Buy now £8.00, Amazon.co.uk
Read more: The Booker Prize longlist 2026 – full list of 13 books nominated and where to buy them
