Looking for New Reads to Add to Your Book Stack?
YOU MIGHT'VE JUST finished reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice or The Witness by Nora Roberts a wee while ago and maybe looking for book suggestions of more vintage romance novels or modern romance classics like these.
So if you’re now trying to work out what's the next best romance novel to read, then once again I am here to help!
Reader-Recommended Romances You Should Read
I’ve sorted through hundreds of book recommendations to come up with 52 of the best romantic novels, from contemporary romance books to vintage classics, that you can either buy as a gift for an avid romance book lover or as a sweet treat for yourself.
So dig out the bookstore gift card you got at Christmas, pour yourself a glass of your favourite drink and cosy up under a nice warm throw to read my list of some of the best romances ever written, from the sensual to the very sweet. And with no affiliated links!
The 52 Best Romance Novels You Must Read This Year
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
After suffering years of cruelty in her aunt’s home and experiencing precious little kindness at Lowood School, Jane Eyre takes a position as governess at Thornfield Hall. But when she falls for her brooding employer Mr. Rochester will a devastating secret force them apart?
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
When the beautiful Buttercup falls for farmboy Westley and he leaves to seek his fortune, she vows never to give her heart to another. However when Westley’s ship is captured by the Dread Pirate and she draws the attentions of the nefarious Prince Humperdinck, will she escape his relentless clutches?
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Noah Calhoun returns from war with memories of the beautiful girl he fell in love with many years ago. However this time when Allie Hamilton shows up his life again, it’s not just her parents in the way------she's now engaged. Noah now has one last chance to win her back. Will he succeed or will they go their separate ways again?
Outlander (Outlander 1) by Diana Gabaldon
It’s 1946 and Claire Randall goes to the Scottish Highlands with husband Frank for their second honeymoon. But one afternoon, Claire walks through a circle of stones and vanishes into 1743 and into the arms of Scots warrior Jamie Fraser. Torn between two worlds Claire must make a difficult choice, her bookish husband or the passionate outlaw?
Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
Hester Wyatt escaped slavery as a child but now the dark-skinned beauty leads others to freedom through Michigan's Underground railroad. However when she offers to hide a man with a bounty on his head she finds him haughty and arrogant. With slave catchers lurking around every corner will she regret saving him or does he win her heart?
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
As a lady’s companion, orphan Rebecca must learn her place till Maxim de Winter surprises her with a proposal. However when she arrives at his foreboding estate Manderley, the new Mrs. de Winter not only discovers Max isn’t all what he seems but now she must compete with the memory of his dead wife.
Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck
Returning from war, Doc comes back to his hometown to find everything has changed. The people he knew are either dead or have moved on, leaving him despondent and lost. Then one day a young woman called Suzy comes to town and Doc’s friends attempt to play Cupid. But will Suzy and Doc confess their feelings or will pride get in the way?
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
When beautiful Bathsheba Everdene saves young farmer Gabriel Oak, he falls in love but she refuses his proposal. However when Bathsheba moves away and Gabriel becomes her shepherd, he is forced to witness her romantic misadventures. Does he eventually marry the woman he loves or will other suitors get in the way?
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Kathy, Ruth and Tommy are students attending the seemingly idyllic Hailsham boarding school. Protected from the stark future that awaits them, quiet Kathy eventually falls for the bullied Tommy. But can a relationship delay their fates?
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
Tereza, a young waitress, falls in love with successful surgeon Tomas, however he seems quite unable to part with his mistresses. Does Tereza come to terms with his carefree philosophy or does she convince her lover to give up his way of life?
The Italian by Anne Radcliffe
Vivaldi falls in love with Ellena, a woman with a secret family history. But when he plans to marry her against his family's wishes, Vivaldi’s mother and her priest Schedoni attempt to kidnap him. When Ellena's secrets are finally exposed, will the lovers ever be reunited?
Talking it over by Julian Barnes
Shy banker Stuart has always been awkward with women while his best friend Oliver, a language teacher, is rather pompous and brash. Then on a singles night Stuart meets Gillian, a picture restorer healing from a disastrous affair. Soon Stuart and Gillian marry but will Oliver drive a wedge between them?
Maurice by E.M Forster
Maurice Hall is a young man confident in his status and is fairly conformist, yet finds himself attracted to his own sex. He meets Clive at Cambridge and embarks on a romantic affair, but when Clive leaves for Greece will he still return those feelings?
Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Tess Durbeyfield’s father packs her off to work for the wealthy D’Urberville family, to secure a marriage (and fortune) to the depraved Alec D’Urberville. After she secretly bears his child will she find a future with an idealistic gentleman or will Tess be betrayed once again?
The Bridge by Maggie Hemingway
Its the summer of 1887 and painter Philip Wilson Steer meets a young mother by chance, leading to a passionate but forbidden affair. But can their love survive the spectre of family disapproval or the draconian rules of Victorian society?
Emma by Jane Austen
Handsome, clever and rich, Emma Woodhouse insists that she will never marry yet amuses herself by meddling in others’ romantic affairs. Nor does she realise that her feelings are growing for one particular suitor. However when her matchmaking backfires, will Emma lose the one she truly loves?
Atonement by Ian McEwan
When 13-year-old Briony catches older sister Cecelia and the gardener Robbie during a passionate encounter, she later makes an accusation that lands Robbie in jail. Cecelia and Robbie manage to stay in touch but will they meet again after the war?
Possession by AS Byatt
Academics Roland Michell and Dr. Maud Bailey embark on a quest to discover the truth about a secret love affair between two Victorian poets. But as they struggle to uncover evidence before their rivals, do the two academics find themselves sparking their own romance?
The Charioteer by Mary Renault
Laurie Odell a corporal injured at Dunkirk, meets Andrew a conscientious objector at the veteran's hospital where he works as an orderly. The men embark on a secret friendship till a mentor from Laurie's past resurfaces. Will Laurie pursue a life of fleeting liaisons with Ralph or an idealistic friendship with Andrew?
Love in the time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
More than fifty years have passed since Fermina Daza turned down Florentino Ariza's proposal and married Dr. Juvenal Urbino instead. And though Florentino has captured the hearts of many women since, his heart still belongs to Fermina. But when Fermina’s husband dies in an accident, will Florentino finally wed his true love?
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Born in Galilee at a time when women are seen as chattel, Ana yearns for freedom. Taught to read in spite of her mother’s concerns, she longs to become a writer but is promised to an elderly widower. When she meets a charismatic young carpenter in Nazareth does a promising new future await?
Disputed Passage by Lloyd Douglas
Young medical student John Wesley Beaven struggles with the cold pragmatism of his teacher Dr. Forster versus the kindlier attitudes of Dr. Cunningham. However when Beavan is forced to choose between his career and marriage to fellow student Audrey Hilton, will he follow the right path?
Lord of Scoundrels: Débauchés, Book 3 By Loretta Chase
Sebastian Ballister, scandalous Marquess of Dain, has no time for respectable women. Till one day Jessica Trent strides into his life. But she’s far too clever to fall for Ballister’s irresistible charms.
However while Jessica struggles to save her foolish brother from ruin, does the wealthy Marquess prove too much of a temptation?
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
Inman, a soldier wounded in the Civil War, begins a perilous journey back to Ada the woman he loves. As he trudges across frozen mountains, Ada struggles to make a living from the land she inherited from her ruined father. Will the couple ever see each other alive again?
The Painted Veil by W Somerset Maugham
Stationed in Hong Kong and bored by her marriage, the beautiful but shallow Kitty Fane embarks on a thrilling affair. When in revenge her husband Walter, a bacteriologist, forces her to accompany him to China during a cholera epidemic----does she learn to love again?
A Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman
Lighthouse keeper and war hero Tom lives with his fearless, young wife Isabel on the small island of Janus Rock. When a dinghy is washed up with a crying baby inside, the childless couple must make a painful choice: Do they report the missing boat or raise the child as their own?
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Margaret's life is upturned when she moves north to the grim town of Milton. Not only is she shocked by the extreme poverty but soon clashes with stern factory owner John Thornton over the mistreatment of workers. But when the threat of losing everything looms, can opposites attract?
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
After being injured during World War I, American soldier Frederic Henry falls in love with his nurse Catherine Barkley. But when Frederic is forced to return to the front, does he escape and reunite with Catherine and their unborn baby?
Goodbye, Columbus by Philip Roth
One summer Neil Klugman meets the pretty and feisty Brenda Patimkin at a country club pool and falls in love. However wealthy Brenda hails from the more suburban Short Hills, whereas working-class Neil calls the less affluent Newark home. Can their love affair survive the class and cultural divide?
Love Story by Erich Segal
Oliver Barrett IV, a jock from a wealthy family, is on his way to Harvard and a career as a lawyer. Then he meets Jenny Cavilleri, a working class music student at Radcliffe. Do these opposites find love in spite of their differences or will unforeseen circumstances tear them apart?
Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie
Professor of English Literature at an Ivy League college, Vinnie Miner, a divorcee in her fifties is convinced that her plainness prevents her from finding love. Till on a flight to London she meets Chuck, a cocky engineer in cowboy boots. Will London set the stage for a foreign affair?
The Sands of Time by Sidney Sheldon
Four nuns are forced to flee the safety of their Spanish convent and face a hostile world. As they find themselves pawns in a battle between the Basque movement and the Spanish army, will each obtain the passion, the secrets and the triumph they seek?
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
As World War II draws to a close, nurse Hana tends her last remaining charge in a deserted Italian village. But who is the anonymous English patient now burned beyond recognition? And will the copy of an ancient Greek text riddled with notes of a tragic love affair reveal his past?
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
In 1860s London, orphan Sue Trinder grows up among petty thieves - under the tough love of Mrs Sucksby and her ‘family’ of fingersmiths. But when Sue discovers their target Maud is a fellow orphan they forge an unlikely friendship that turns to love. But is it really Maud that needs saving?
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
Married to a wealthy landowner paralysed from the waist down, Constance Chatterley is neglected by a man more concerned with his books and estate. After an affair with a playwright leads to more disappointment, Constance turns to the estate’s gamekeeper. But can Mellors finally awaken her passions?
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The love story of self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby is told by Nick Carraway, a Yale graduate who moves to New York after World War I. Gatsby pursues the wealthy Daisy Buchanan, a woman he has loved since his youth. But will he finally win Daisy’s hand or will her heart always remain elusive?
Heartbeat by Danielle Steel
Successful TV writer and producer Bill Thigpen has his finger on the pulse of America, till his marriage collapses. Adrian Townsend has a job as a production assistant and a handsome husband, till she gets pregnant and he wants out. When Bill and Adrian meet, their friendship deepens into love but can they overcome the obstacles of a modern relationship?
Shadows on the Bayou by Patricia Vaughn
Beautiful Sylvia Dupont is fated to become the mistress of a rich Creole gentleman, till the tempting Justin Reynaud crosses her path. But when the past comes back to claim her, can a desperate Sylvia break free from old traditions and find real love?
Persuasion: by Jane Austen
Anne Elliot is 27 when her family moves home to save money, meanwhile renting their house to an admiral and his wife. However the wife’s brother, Captain Frederick Wentworth, was engaged to Anne before she turned him down. When they meet again after seven years apart, will they get a second chance at love?
Katherine by Anya Seton
15-year-old orphan Katherine is dazzled when she is presented at the court of Edward III. Her beauty also dazzles the King's favourite son, John of Gaunt, but he is married and she soon to be wed. Years later when they meet again, will they deny their passions or will Katherine discover a world of pleasure and power?
The Gamble by LaVyrle Spencer
Scott Gandy is a gambler who plans to make his fortune by opening a saloon in Kansas, but is soon targeted by the prohibition movement. The movement’s leader, Agatha Dowling is the prim but feisty owner of the hat shop next door, but will an innocent child change their feelings towards each other?
Another Dawn by Sandra Brown
Betrayed on her wedding day in1800s Texas, Banner Coleman finds herself jilted on her wedding night. She later falls for an old family friend who happens to be the strongest cowhand in the west, but is she prepared to break up a family and friendship to find love again?
Be Not Afraid by Alyssa Cole
It’s Brooklyn 1776 and Elijah Sutton is offered land, livestock and freedom if he fights in place of his Patriot owner----till he meets Kate. She plans to escape her master and join the British side. But when Elijah is captured by the British do they choose freedom or their hearts?
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery OBE
Eleven-year-old orphan Anne Shirley burst into the lives of aging brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, but her optimistic outlook and vivid imagination not only changes their lives but the whole of Avonlea. Anne grows, makes mistakes and suffers heartache, but does she also learn the real meaning of love?
What The Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
Heartbroken at her grandfather’s death, Anne travels to his childhood Ireland to spread his ashes. She is whisked back to 1921 on the brink of war and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a strangely familiar young boy. But will she give up her old life for a romance she could never have forseen?
Midnight by Beverly Jenkins
Under cover of night in Boston, a Tory tavern owner's daughter transforms into notorious spy----Lady Midnight, passing vital secrets to the rebels. Nothing gets in her way till the dark and charismatic Nicholas Grey walks into her life. But could the passion that ignites between them have dire consequences for them both?
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
As Hitler's armies attack Russia, Tatiana Metanova meets Alexander a brave officer in the Red Army with a hidden past. They are drawn to each other, but their love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose a devastating secret. Will their world and their lives change forever?
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
When an earthquake destroys her family's camp, Ayla is orphaned and alone in a dangerous land---her chances of survival slim. She is found and raised by a woman of the Clan, but when Broud the tyrannical potential leader refuses to accept her, will Ayla find acceptance and love from the rest of the Clan?
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
Bridget Jones is a 30-year-old singleton struggling through a social minefield riddled with smug marrieds until she meets Mark Darcy… But will she choose Darcy who loves her just the way she is over handsome playboy Daniel Cleaver?
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
Rhiannon Hunter is a cynical dating-app creator who rarely ever swipes right. However in spite of her 3 key dating rules, she is swept off her feet by the handsome Samson and then he promptly ghosts her. He then resurfaces in cahoots with a business rival, but dare she risk her heart again?
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
The Duke of Jervaulx is brilliant, reckless and is as notorious in the bedsheets as he is in the scandal sheets. But when quiet mathematician's daughter Maddy Tims catches his eye, does she uncover the real man behind the rakish facade?
Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
Born healer, Liadan, is warned by forest spirits that if the sacred isles are to be recaptured from the Britons then she must stay forever at Sevenwaters. But when Liadan is kidnapped and falls for the Painted Man, will she defy the spirits or will her forbidden love curse Sevenwaters forever?
So that was my reader-recommended list of the 52 best modern and vintage classic romance books to read this year.
I really hope you were able to find at least ONE romance novel from this list, either to send as a gift, to add to your TBR list or even download straight onto your Kindle.
If however your favourite romance book is missing from this list, please let me know here or leave a comment to tell me which books I should have included (or ones that I shouldn't have!). And it can be from any genre from sci-fi romance to classic romance fiction.
Your suggestion may end up on future lists of best romances to read, so I can help other romance readers to find even more great novels to add to their book stacks or to buy as a treat for themselves.
Until then….
Happy Romance Reading!
Kate
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