Are you new to the romance book genre and wondering which romance novels are the best?
If you’re struggling with where to start to explore this genre when there are billions of romance book titles to choose from, I’ve got you covered.
This book list will give you the best romance novels worth reading in the most popular romance categories. Start with a category that most intrigues you and give a title a go!
*Disclosure: I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program so if you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Romance books are a billion-dollar industry so it’s safe to say that there are MANY books to choose from, but if you’ve never read a romance before, it can be a bit daunting to know where to start!
That’s why the Romance Book Starter Kit is here to help.
I LOVE reading romance (and you can check out my reasons why I love romance books) so I want to help others fall in love with this genre as well. That means getting one of the best books possible into your newbie hands so that you’ll be hooked.
Nothing would be more disappointing than trying out a new genre and really not liking it and assuming that all books would be the same or similar.
The thing about the romance book genre is that there are many sub-categories within it to meet a variety of tastes and interests.
You have contemporary romance, historical romance, sports romance, erotic romance, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, new adult romance and MM romance to name a few.
Even within sub-categories are different romance tropes! So essentially the scope of what is considered a romance book is wide with the options for reading almost endless!
Even if one sub-category doesn’t interest you, there are many others to choose from.
*Check out my Ultimate Guide to the Romance Genre and Romance Tropes!
According to the Romance Writers of America, “Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending….Romance novels may have any tone or style, be set in any place or time, and have varying levels of sensuality—ranging from sweet to extremely hot.”
In this Romance Book Starter Kit, I have outlined some of the most popular categories or sub-genres of romance books and given two book recommendations for each.
If the category of romance book interests you, pick one of the titles to check it out.
These recommendations are not only some of my most favorite romance books, but I chose them because they represent the category best and can give you a true picture of what other books may be like in that same category.
I cannot wait for you to dive into the romance book genre! I encourage the male new readers to check out these titles or you can also check out my list of best romance novels for men for more recommendations.
Happy reading and be sure to let me know what you think about any of these books after you read it in the comments below!
But First: Take the Quiz!
To help you even further, I’ve developed this fun book quiz that asks the question, If YOU were a romance book, what type would you be?!
Take the short quiz below to give you even more guidance as to what type of romance book might interest you and then pick one of the suggested titles in that category below!
Contemporary Romance Recommendations:
Contemporary romance books are those set from 1950 to the present.
Historical Romance Recommendations:
Historical romance books are set prior to 1950.
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Erotic Romance Recommendations:
Erotic romance are books in which the sexual relationship between characters is integral to their love story, character growth and relationship development. Removing the sexual relationship would ruin the story line of the novel.
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Sports Romance Recommendations:
Sports romance books feature athletes or sports teams as a central component to the story.
Find More:
- The Best Sports Romance Books
- The Best Baseball Romance Books that Hit it Out of the Park
- The Best Hockey Romance Books
Romantic Comedy Recommendations:
Humor is a central component to romantic comedy books. The book recommendations below fit other romance book sub-genres but are full of hilarious banter!
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Romantic Suspense Recommendations:
Romantic suspense books contain an aspect of suspense, thrill or mystery central to the overall plot line of the story in addition to the romance.
New Adult Romance Recommendations:
New adult romance books feature characters within the 18-30 year old age range.
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Gay/MM Romance Recommendations:
Gay or MM romance books feature romantic relationships between male characters.
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Get Books Delivered to Your Door!
If you want new books to read every month that are delivered to straight to your door, sign up for a romance book subscription box!
Each box gives you one or more romance books and fantastic book swag. Check out all of your romance book subscription options or consider one of my favorites, The Bookworm Box, which gives back to charity with every purchase.
Related Posts:
- Best Romance Novels of All Time
- My Favorite Office Romance Books
- Why I’m Obsessed With Reading Romance Novels (and you should too!)
- Best Romance Novels for Men
- The Best Teen Romance Books That Take You Back to High School
- The Best Enemies to Lovers Books
Looking For More?
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