Romance novels to fall in love with
My sister got me onto reading romance novels by virtue of our shared bookshelves. Thanks to her eclectic taste and talent for browsing second-hand bookstores, I read my way through a wide range of different kinds of novels within the genre – everything from paranormal to Georgette Heyer. My favourites were Julia Quinn’s fun, frothy stories of the Bridgerton families. I loved the big family dynamic, the witty dialogue, the sharp feminism that cut through the historical setting, and yes, the happy endings.
Romance novels are criminally overlooked by a large percentage of readers. People tend to group romance books together as a single clump, which is far from the truth. Dig in a little and what you’ll discover is a sprawling and ever-expanding selection – the mess and drama of relationships offers a lot of rich material for storytelling. Yes there are bodice-rippers (some very, very fun bodice-rippers) but there are also serious dramas, fresh perspectives on historical events, biting critiques of sexism, plus vampires, demons and more.
There’s also an argument to be made for the political nature of romance novels – you can read a fascinating article on exactly this over at Buzzfeed, exploring the evolution of the genre and its response to the Trump presidency.
If you’re tempted to dip your toes into the genre, or are simply looking for your next read, here are five romance novels I highly recommend.
Though first, a few caveats about my taste as a reader…
A sense of humour is a must and I’m partial to historical stories. I’ll take a beta over an alpha any day (though I’ve noticed a lot of the heroes appearing in recent books are bucking these traditional roles – a trend of which I definitely approve). I love family interference, political intrigue, confined settings, and I prefer a slow build-up. If the whole novel is the equivalent of a six-hour-long series building up to a single chaste kiss on a wedding day, then that is A-okay with me.
An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole
The first book in Alyssa Cole’s Loyal League series, this is a heartstopping espionage romance set during America’s Civil War, packed with lots of adventure and some beautiful big emotional beats. Ellie Burns, a spy for the Union Army, is working undercover by pretending to be a slave in a household in the South. Here she meets the embarrassingly charming Malcolm McCall, also undercover and on the same side. When they discover a plot that could turn the tide of the war, they must work together to prevent it. This is my most serious pick on the list but there’s still some lovely humour in Ellie and Malcolm’s interactions. Ellie is a terrific character to spend time with – her photographic memory is an asset to the cause, but so is her intelligence, courage and passion.
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
This is such a gorgeous, heartwarming, cosy read. When Drew Nichols and Alexa Monroe get stuck in an elevator together, they immediately click – and some intuition propels Drew to invite Alexa to be plus one (oh and fake girlfriend) at his ex’s wedding that same weekend. After the date turns into a brilliant weekend, the two return to their all-consuming careers in LA and Berkeley respectively, but find they can’t stop thinking about each other. I loved Drew and Alexa equally as characters and thoroughly enjoyed watching them navigate their career ambitions and desire. As an added incentive, Roxanne Gay has also provided a cover endorsement for this debut.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Some might argue against the inclusion of a young adult novel on this list but I must respectfully ignore them. In The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee has gifted readers an absolute romp. Two roguish young gentlemen (and a wonderfully sensible sister) set off on a Grand Tour of Europe for one last hurrah which soon turns into a harrowing manhunt. The story’s narrator, Monty, is nursing an impossible crush on his best friend Percy, and the simmering tension between them is wrought to perfection by Lee. I relished every single moment of this novel.
The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
The Duchess Deal was one of the most hyped-about romance novels of last year and deservedly so. This is a fantastic regency romance with terrific dialogue and exactly the kind of proactive and ingenious heroine I like best. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, agrees to marry the Duke of Ashbury – recently returned from war, excessively broody, lots of glowering – she does so on her own terms and not because she has high expectations. After all, the Duke, Ash, has made it clear he only wants to marry her for the heir she’ll provide… Of course, everything turns out to be more complicated than either Emma or Ash could have imagined, and far more happy too.
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
This sexy workplace comedy is set in the world of publishing, and it’s a must if you’re a fan of the TV show Younger. Lucy Hutton is the executive assistant to one of the co-CEOs of a recently merged publishing company. Her office mate and nemesis, Joshua Templeman, is the assistant to the other CEO. Lucy and Josh do not get along – Lucy and Josh hate one another with what can only be described as a smouldering passion. When an opportunity for a promotion arises, their battle of wills intensifies. Cue deliciously snappy banter, emotional turmoil and sizzling chemistry. More than one of my colleagues is hanging out for Sally Thorne’s second romance novel, 99 Percent Mine, which is due for release in October of this year.
