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“The Sun Is Also A Star” by Nicola Yoon
”Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story…”
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
If you read or watched “Everything, Everything” and enjoyed it, you’ll be happy to know about this book by the same author. It’s a very cute story with insta-love and some very adorable romance. So, depending on the type of romance you like, this just might be the book for you!
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“The Wrath And The Dawn” by Renée Ahdieh
”In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph’s reign of terror once and for all…”
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Not everyone is into sweet romance-centered plots. If you’re one of those people, The Wrath and The Dawn is one you might enjoy. It is a retelling of A Thousand and One Nights, with a sprinkle of Aladdin. What’s not to like?
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“Persuasion” by Jane Austen
”Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen’s most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne’s family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate…”
Genres: Romance, Classic Literature
There’s nothing like a classic! If you’re in need of something mellow with none of the intense feelings that most of today’s romance novels are known for, this is a good place to start.
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“One Night Promised” by Jodie Ellen Malpas
”Livy notices him the moment he walks into the coffee shop. He’s heart-stoppingly stunning, with a blue-eyed gaze so piercing she’s almost too distracted to take his order. When he walks out the door, she thinks she’ll never see him again. Then she finds the note he left on his napkin . . . signed M. All he wants is one night to worship her. No feelings, no commitment, nothing but pleasure…”
Genres: Adult, Erotica, Contemporary Romance
I can’t, in good conscience, recommend romance books without recommending one that’s on the smutty end of the spectrum. This is one of those books that you’ll either love or hate. So, read with caution.
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“The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue” by Mackenzie Lee
”Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men. But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end…”
Genres: Historical, Young Adult, Romance
So, the romance isn’t really the main point of this story, but it’s there and it’s great! Even better, this is a historical romance that features characters that are more diverse than what you’d usually find in this genre.