Romance Books: Books to Make You Fall in Love with Love Again
I’m certain I’m not only speaking for myself when I say modern dating has made me a bit of a cynic. The endless parade of first dates that lead nowhere, the removal of any type of real connection from dating, and just the general lack of intention seen in so many young millennials now have made us a little bit exhausted with the notion of going out there and looking for real love. I mean we only have so much time for it left over from all the time we spend reading romance books?
In these trying times, what genuinely helps me cling to the hope that perhaps love is not entirely performative, is reading about real connections (even if they are fictional). The yearning, and the waiting and the happy ending we all strive for…It doesn’t feel so far away when you can just reach it in the pages of a book that sits on your night stand.
I wanted to share with you, dear bookworms, the books that made me believe in love again. The books that frankly made me sleep a little easier, safe in the knowledge that even if I can’t experience it right this moment, I can always live vicariously through some of these characters and get a taste of it. I hope you enjoy these reads as much as I did, and maybe start believing in love again too.
My Favorite Romance Books
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
I mean what can one say about this one other than it was gooood! The Love Hypothesis is the romance book for you if you’re into the fake relationship trope. The story is set in academia (the graduate biology program at Stanford), which enriches the story a great deal.
Olive, a PhD student at Stanford, finds herself in a fake relationship with a professor in her program, Adam, in an attempt to ensure her best friend’s happiness. Adam agrees to the (fake) relationship to make it seem like he’s taking root at Stanford, which in turn will entice faculty to unfreeze his funds for research.
But for how long can they fake intimacy without beginning to feel it for real? While being a lighthearted comedy for the most part, the story does touch on some deeper issues, like the prejudices harbored by some against women in STEM, rising to fight against abusive authority figures in a system that allows abuse towards those at the bottom of the hierarchical ladder, and showing the courage to speak one’s true feelings.
This crowd favorite is actually being made into a movie soon! I mean how do I contain my excitement? One of my favorite romantic books becoming a movie! If you want to learn more about the movie check out Refinery 29’s article.
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
I kinda expected this book to be a very light romcom and to a certain extent it was. However, this romance book also touches on some deeper issues such as realizing your true wishes, becoming your best self, living up to your own potential and caring for those with mental issues.
Minnie and Quinn were born on the same day. And even though they had not technically met before January 1st, 2020, Minnie has always known Quinn as the person who had stolen her name, and consequently, her luck. When they first meet, Minnie believes Quinn to be someone who glides through life. As they get to know each other, she comes to realize Quinn has his demons too. But will those demons stand in the way of what they could become together?
The book includes multiple timelines, as we realize Quinn and Minnie has crossed paths many times before (and always around their birthday). The book has so much more than romance and I’ve come to really like Minnie, who struggles to achieve her own dreams and choose herself in life. For me the book had a slow build-up and I did think maybe it wasn’t for me in the beginning but I kept reading and found the ending to be worth it.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Unhoneymooners is the perfect romcom if you’re looking for one! This romance book has brilliant humor that made me actually lol, enemies-to-lovers romance and the beloved fake dating (well marriage) trope!
Olive has always been the unlucky twin but her luck begins to turn when everyone in her twin sister Ami’s wedding except Olive and the groom’s brother, Ethan, falls sick with food poisoning. This means Olive can go on Ami’s nonrefundable honeymoon. The catch is she will be on a fake honeymoon with Ethan, whom she hates.
But while she pretends to be married to Ethan on their fake honeymoon, Olive comes to realize she might have been wrong about him after all. Their constant bickering keeps the story delightfully playful and their relationship is so beautifully developed. As Ethan and Olive get to know each other and grow closer, Olive’s new relationship exposes some harsh truths and presents her with some pretty difficult decisions. 100% recommend to anyone who enjoys the romcom genre!
Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl & Melissa De La Cruz
I remember reading Little Women in high school and falling in love with it. Laurie has always been one of my favorite fictional men and shortly after beginning to read Little Women, I started to ship Jo and Laurie from the bottom of my heart. If you had similar feelings when reading Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, this romance book is an absolute must. ‘Jo and Laurie’, written by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz, was a light and entertaining read but most importantly, it allowed me to re-enter Orchard House and witness how Jo comes to embrace her most hidden feelings.
Fun Fact: Charles Dickens himself makes a cameo in this beautiful story!
Favorite Quote: “Laurie had grown up learning how to love her. It was the only lesson he was ever any good at, because Jo herself had taught him, even if she hadn’t known she was doing it. She had made him.”
Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, this romance book is as much about family ties as the slow-burn romance between DJ and Trisha.
Trisha comes from a tight-knit Indian family where blood is thicker than water and family is everything. Trisha, a talented surgeon, is still mourning the loss of her close relationship with her family after a mistake she’s made that resulted in her brother getting hurt by her college roommate Julia Wickham. She is also trying to help her patient Emma, DJ’s sister, who has a tumor pressing on her optic nerves.
DJ starts believing Trisha to be the kind of arrogant person he would rather not be around only a few minutes into meeting her. But he needs the job as the caterer for her brother’s political campaign and he needs to work with Trisha for the sake of Emma. As Trisha and DJ spend more and more time as a result of their circumstances and responsibilities, Trisha feels drawn to DJ and DJ begins to realize his first impressions might have been off-base after all.
I found this book to be a very refreshing take on Pride and Prejudice. The characters are so well thought out and developed. The romantic relationship doesn’t feel forced at all and the book even touches on some issues relating to social injustice. Great read for anyone who enjoyed Pride and Prejudice!
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
This historical romance book definitely has a fresh take on the historical fiction/ romance genre so even if you’ve read a ton of historical romance books you will still be pleasantly surprised. The story features bad-ass female political activists, an unexpected romance that doesn’t feel forced or rushed, and a group of women who have each other’s backs no matter what.
Annabelle is a 25-year-old, single woman living in Kent, England. In 1879 she sets out to attend Oxford College as part of the first cohort of female students there, a bold move for a woman of the era. Even more so given her lack of fortune and title. Annabelle’s attendence is made financially possible by a political stipend from the women’s suffrage movement, which means Annabelle is now part of the cause to fight for women’s right to hold on to their property, and consequently their right to vote, after marriage.
However, joining the cause changes Annabelle’s life in more ways than one and sets her on a course that clashes with Duke Montgomery’s. Montgomery is an esteemed noble and political strategist, whose sole mission is to get Castle Montgomery back to his family. To achiever this, he must win the upcoming election for the Tory party as their advisor.
The movement sends Annabelle and her friends to Montgomery’s mansion to get his support for the amendment but as the Duke and Annabelle butt heads, they come to know and understand each other on a deeper level. Romance blooms between them and makes clear how large the social divide is between a bluestocking without a title and a duke, raising the question: Can love conquer all?
Definitely an enjoyable, light read and doesn’t feel overdone at all. The characters are well-developed and their backstories lead to a deeper, more whole-rounded understanding of them without suffocating the reader with unnecessary details. Not to mention the passion engulfing Annabelle and Duke of Montgomery is just 🔥 100% recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and romance.
I hope these romance books leave you with a renewed love for love! They certainly helped me escape reality a little bit and daydream about how good it gets to be. And who knows – real love just might be around the corner. But until then dear bookworms, I have my books and my reading corner.
Key Takeaways
- Modern dating can feel disheartening, but reading about love rekindles hope for genuine connections.
- The article presents books that restore belief in love, featuring relatable characters and heartfelt stories.
- Notable titles include ‘The Love Hypothesis,’ ‘This Time Next Year,’ and ‘The Unhoneymooners,’ each exploring themes of romance and personal growth.
- Each recommended book offers a fresh perspective on love, often addressing deeper societal issues alongside romance.
- These reads encourage readers to embrace love, reminding them of its potential to thrive in various forms.