35 Best and Most Popular Romance Novels of All Time

Romantasy (romance fantasy) is the hottest trend in romance, and A Court of Thorns and Roses is one of the biggest romantasy series around. This is actually the second book in the ACOTAR series, but it’s where things really start heating up. You have to read the original entry in the series first, but this is the book that deserves the hype.

Sage Flores has been running from her ability to commune with plants ever since her sister passed away. But after she's forced to return to her hometown and slips back into her old life — including reconnecting with a high school flame who broke her heart — she can't deny her gift or her family any longer. You could cut the tension here with a knife, or should we say, a pair of gardening shears.

Florence is a romance ghostwriter who no longer believes in love, which is kind of a problem for her career. But then, she returns home to bury her beloved father and finds a ghost (yes, an actual ghost) who might just change her mind.

More nerdy storylines, please! In this novel from Helen Hoang, Stella Lane is the genius mathematician who puts herself in remedial romance — by hiring escort Michael Phan to teach her the ins and outs of sex. We consider it the perfect equation for a great read.

If you've never read Anaïs Nin and call yourself a romance fan, fix that right now. This vintage short story collection's erotic vibes still hold up. But don't take our word for it — turn off the lights, slip into something slinky and try it for yourself.

Delphie, 27, dies and goes to the afterlife, where she bumps into the hottest man she’s ever seen. Luckily, she’s given a second shot at love and life: She has 10 days to return to Earth to find and kiss this man, or else return to the afterlife forever. It’s already slated for a movie adaptation by Wayfarer Studios, which recently released the It Ends With Us movie, so get on the bandwagon early.

This hilarious read combines a rom-com with true crime. When Meddelin accidentally kills her date, her tight-knit Chinese-Indonesian aunties step in to help cover her tracks. But they must contend not only with a dead body but the lavish wedding they are working at and the handsome man from Meddelin’s past. This book is a warmhearted and funny testament to the power of family and immigrant identity.

Wuthering Heights is the classic gothic romance novel. Twisted obsession, supernatural apparitions, love, violence and vengeance abound in this novel as bleak and beautiful as the Yorkshire moors it’s set against. Read this one with a pencil in hand, because you’ll be underlining its gorgeous prose. But be warned: This is not one for light reading!

Romance lovers of all stripes are surely familiar with the smash hit Netflix series. But readers can get the advanced scoop on what happens to the Bridgerton clan with the book series, where each installment follows a different family member.

RELATED: How to Read the Bridgerton Books in Order

It’s hard to beat a classic for that 2010s nostalgia factor. Twilight defined the paranormal romance genre with its hunky werewolves and glittering vampires. Is it melodramatic? Sure. But you’ll still find us rereading it when the weather gets cold.

Grab the box set so you won't have to frantically order the second installment of this smash hit from Colleen Hoover. If you haven't read her books yet, start with these two and then work your way through the back catalog. In them, you'll meet Lily, a woman who finds herself in a bit of a love triangle as she grapples with her new relationship with Ryle and re-meeting her ex-lover Atlas. It contains a lot of heartbreak, as domestic violence is a critical part of Lily's story, but it's also extremely touching.

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From the author of the hit Love in the Time of Serial Killers comes the perfect workplace romance for fans of a certain mouse-centric theme park. Lauren is a serious bookkeeper at a theme park where it's always winter, which doesn't get quite the crowds as its more famous counterparts. Asa is her fun-loving coworker who's always trying to spice things up around the office. Of course, their boss asks them to team up on a project. And naturally, sparks fly. Read to find out the rest.

After a health scare, Chloe Brown makes a list of things to do to help her "get a life," including doing something bad. Naughty doesn't come naturally to good-girl Chloe, so she enlists the help of rough-and-tumble handyman Red. But what she finds is more than meets the eye, in this first in an absolutely devour-able series.

Harriet and Wyn’s friend group has spent languorous summer days at the same Maine house for a decade, so when it goes up for sale, they’re determined to soak up one last week of memories. There’s just one problem: Harriet and Wyn haven’t told their crew they’re no longer engaged, so they’re stuck sharing a room to keep up the charade. But is it all really just for show, or are sparks flying? Read this one now while you wait for the queen of beach reads' next hit to drop.

Rival physicists. Fake dating. Real love? Hazelwood's trio of STEM romances that sees her characters spar on both professional and personal fronts are definitely not homework. Did somebody leave a bunsen burner on, or are things heating up in here?

Look, we understand that a retelling of The Iliad sounds more like history class than a romantic read, but pick this one up and get ready to eat your words. It's an action-packed epic with one heck of a queer love story that will change the way you look at the classic tale forever.

RELATED: Best LGBTQ Books to Read

If the title doesn't get your attention, and you've somehow missed Sittenfeld's other star-tier books, the sizzling plot will do it. This one's about a late-night comedy writer who falls for a pop star with a rep for dating knockouts, which she definitely is not. If you've ever shipped Saturday Night Live stars, this one's for you.

Sports fans know how emotional a high-stakes game can get. Add actual romance into the mix, and all we can say is just remember to hydrate. This heartstring-tugger is all about missed connections, tarnished golden boys and the darkness that can lie beneath the most glittering exteriors.

You really can't go wrong with any of Jasmine Guillory's fun, romantic romps, but this sporty love story is especially great. Freelance writer Nik's boyfriend proposes at a Dodgers game, and the dude can't even spell her name right. She says no (obviously), and the video goes viral. Handsome doctor Carlos sweeps her away from the frenzy, but he can't possibly be the real deal. Or can he?

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If you've ever carried a torch for a colleague (the scandal!) this novel will feel familiar. Coworkers Lucy Hutton and her sworn nemesis Joshua Templeman have a rivalry as bitter as they come, especially as they compete for the same promotion. At least, it starts out that way.