The Best Romance Books of 2024, as chosen by the Amazon Editors
When I look through the list of our Best Romance Books of 2024, what stands out is the joy they brought us, whether it was getting swept away, feeling seen, or knowing that at the end of the day, love wins. Our top pick, Kennedy Ryan’s This Could Be Us, did all of the above. It’s a beautifully told story of rediscovery and second chances.
This list has something for every romance reader, from our favorite genres—sports, romantasy, rom-com—to the best tropes—grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, only one bed (my personal favorite), and so much more. Check out all of the Amazon Editors’ Best Books of the Year, including the best books across genres such as mysteries and thrillers, sci-fi and fantasy, nonfiction, and more.
Have you ever been so into a story that nothing else registers? That is the trance This Could Be Us put me in. This book can be read as a stand-alone but loosely links a trio of friends first introduced in Kennedy Ryan’s last novel, Before I Let Go. So multi-dimensional—as life is—This Could Be Us covers the complicated journeys of divorce, self-discovery, raising kids, autism, friendship, and so much more, all written in a way that is real and relatable. Soledad senses something is off with her husband but can't quite figure out what it is. It all comes to a head one dreadful night—leaving Soledad to figure out how to support herself and her girls while starting a personal journey to heal from the trauma of it all. Steeped in lessons of self-love and opening yourself to receive the love you deserve from others—this is a read you won’t be able to put down. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
In Emily Henry’s sparkling latest romance, Funny Story, Daphne and Miles become unfortunate, unexpected roommates after their partners abruptly leave them…for each other. When they receive an invite to their exes’ wedding, pretending to date seems like a deserved dose of revenge. This book has all the trademarks we expect from Henry—charm, wit, beautiful scenery, the list goes on and on. But it’s also a departure from her previous books. Daphne and Miles don’t have a shared history, and it’s a delight watching their journey as they discover each other for the first time. There are poignant insights about the challenges of overcoming our baggage—difficult childhoods, losing ourselves in relationships—that make their love story feel genuine and nuanced. I love Daphne’s combination of shyness and snark, Miles’ openness, and the quirky cast of supporting characters. This book is a feast for the senses and the heart). —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
If you’re into stories that take you on an emotional roller coaster, this one is for you. I laughed, cried, and gripped my heart from the tenderness of this more-than-a-romance love story. Author Abby Jimenez has this canny ability to weave complex storylines into her romantic plots, creating an emotional depth that is unmatched. I didn’t know it was possible, but Jimenez takes her amazing storytelling to the next level with Emma and Justin. The two meet on a Reddit thread and hit it off. Comments on Reddit lead to text messages then phone calls. Emma, a traveling nurse, surprises Justin by taking her next assignment in Minnesota, where Justin lives. This spontaneous summer romance becomes complicated with family obligation and drama. Just for the Summer is in the running to be my favorite romance of the year. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
Annabel Monaghan writes women, particularly mothers, so well. They are witty, messy, complicated women I want to be friends with. Summer Romance is no exception, and I greedily binged it in one sitting. Ali is a professional organizer whose life is in chaos. She is still grieving her mother’s death, going through a divorce, and hasn’t worn “hard pants” (read: jeans) since who knows when. But when her friend's younger brother, Ethan, returns to town, he remembers Ali as the vibrant, fearless girl who he's always had a crush on; and she starts to remember that girl, too, and how she lost her somewhere along the way. What begins as a lighthearted summer romance quickly becomes so much more. This is a story about what a scary but worthwhile risk love is, in all its many forms. It’s also brimming with insights about so many things—motherhood, friendship, the unbearable cruelty of seventh grade girls. I could go on and on, but instead I’ll say, relish every moment of this heartfelt, charming romance. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
This. Book. Smolders. Cello prodigy Xander and gifted violinist Gwen are part of the Manhattan Pops. While Gwen takes the opportunity seriously, Xander can’t be bothered to care (or notice Gwen exists). But when Gwen lands a coveted role that Xander was angling for, he notices. As they’re forced to work together, they recognize that beyond their animosity, there is a musical and sensual chemistry that is undeniable…if Gwen is bold enough to explore it, risks be damned. When their romance goes public, the stakes only increase, and their fragile relationship is put to the test. While Xander and Gwen’s hunger for each other jumps off the page, so too, does the supporting cast of characters who are fully realized, funny, and endearing. From the author of Forget Me Not, this is absolutely one of my favorite romances of the year, and you’ll never look at a cello the same way. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
There’s so much to love about Rainbow Rowell’s writing—the uncanny way she captures the ache of first love, her authentic characters you recognize and relate to. I am so excited that she’s back with Slow Dance, a nostalgic, tender, and beautifully told story about high school best friends Shiloh and Cary. While it’s obvious to everyone else that they’re in love, they can’t see beyond their unbreakable friendship. But after a fateful weekend in college, their friendship does in fact break, and they don’t speak again. Fourteen years later, they’re reunited at a friend’s wedding. This book offers wisdom (and humor) about how our lives rarely become what we imagined, and the hope we carry for a second chance, if we can only believe that we deserve it. This book is indeed a slow dance, and I did not want it to end. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
I was completely swept away by the latest novel from Carley Fortune. This transporting, swoon-worthy romance follows Lucy as she visits Prince Edward Island (PEI) and has an instant connection, and an incredibly sexy night, with a local named Felix. But the world is small, and it turns out that Felix is her best friend Bridget’s brother…and very off limits. Despite vowing to never repeat that night again, every year Lucy visits PEI, she falls back in love with the island, and back into Felix’s bed (and various other locations). When Bridget flees to PEI weeks before her wedding, Lucy must face that her best friend is in crisis, and that the feelings for Felix she’s refused to acknowledge can’t be ignored anymore. The longing in this book is matched only by the incredible setting that has me planning a trip to PEI. This book is a dream. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
I devoured this paranormal romance in one sitting (bad werewolf/vampire pun intended), and I couldn’t have had more fun. In a world where humans, vampyres, and werewolves tensely coexist, Vampyre Misery agrees to a political marriage to stranger and Alpha Werewolf Lowe, in the hopes of keeping the peace between the two species. But Misery has a deeply personal ulterior motive for agreeing to this precarious arrangement. As Misery and Lowe warily begin to trust each other and work together to solve a mystery, the attraction between them becomes as undeniable as it is forbidden. This story is filled with longing, passion, and intrigue. Misery is a witty heroine you’re rooting for from page one, and Lowe will make you temporarily forget (and resent?) mere mortal men. My only warning – prepare to lose sleep reading this book. It’s worth it. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
This romance was a delight to read—warm and tender, with so much care given to what these characters are experiencing. Josephine (Jo) appears to be successful on the outside with her medical degree and popular social media account, but she is personally struggling in more ways than one. She has a complicated relationship with both her best friend and her mom and is unsure of her future path. Then Jo meets Malcolm, a teddy bear of a man who is an unassuming best-selling author. What starts out as a sweet and tender friendship morphs into more. However, their relationship is tested by life pressures and a complicated love triangle. Jo has to make difficult decisions about her what she wants. It was simply a joy to experience Jo and Malcolm work through their fears to find a way to each other. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
Superstars are people, too, with breaking points just like the rest of us. This is the case with Skylar, the country music star who flees the limelight of Hollywood for the country. On her way into town, Skylar meets Weston as she’s trying to take a selfie with a grizzly bear. Not a great first impression (or a great idea). This slow-burn romance will make you swoon for Weston, a horse trainer and divorced dad of two kids who’s known in town as the sexy cowboy with a wild streak. Skylar is drawn to the calmness of the town, the mystique of Weston’s farm, and Weston himself. Watching Skylar settle into this community, and more importantly, herself, was a balm for the soul and relatable to anyone who has ever wanted to escape their reality. I also loved Skylar’s relationship with Rosie, who is featured in book one of the Rose Hill series, Wild Love—and the special bond she makes with each of Weston’s kids. I can’t wait for the third book, Wild Side, coming out March 2025. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
The Paradise Problem is one of my favorite summer romances of 2024. From the authors of The True Love Experiment (among others), The Paradise Problem follows Anna and West, practical strangers, who get married to access subsidized housing in college. They go their separate ways until, years later, it turns out they’re not divorced like Anna thought, and West needs her to attend his sister's wedding on a private island to ensure he gets his inheritance. Anna is a laid-back artist, and West is an uptight professor with a lot at stake. Throw in fake marriage and forced proximity, and you have a recipe for a delicious, tension-filled rom-com. This is a smart, sexy escape with witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and a side of Succession-style drama. Let this romance transport you to paradise, and maybe book that tropical vacation you’ve been putting off. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
I’ve been impatiently waiting for this romantasy, the latest in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, and I was not disappointed (sleep deprived from staying up too late reading, but not disappointed). First, some housekeeping. This book is the third in the overall series, but it’s the first of two books in The Shadowborn Duet that will follow Mische, who we were previously introduced to as Raihn’s best friend. Sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who Turned her, Mische is rescued by the terrifying Shadowborn prince Asar, only to be forced into a mission to the underworld. What Mische doesn’t expect is how much the darkness and beauty of the underworld, and Asar, call to her, even as she seeks redemption from the sun god who has forsaken her. Like the previous books in the series, this one is lush, dark, and transporting, with a slow-burn romance that is well worth the wait. It is also filled with humanity as Mische grapples with light versus dark and what love looks like. Now I’m impatiently waiting for the next book. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
We love a good sports romance, and who better to write one than romance darling and TikTok-famous author Ana Huang, who’s known for the Twisted and Kings of Sin series. The Striker, the first book in the new Gods of the Game series, brings the A-game with more drama, more sexual tension, and the intensity of the football (soccer to Americans) pitch. It also brings one of my favorite tropes, billionaire romance—who doesn’t want expensive gifts and fancy trips?! Fans of Huang’s work will love the cameo of characters from past books. If you’re new to her work, never fear, Scarlett and Asher will pull you in. Scarlett is a former ballerina who teaches ballet at a dance academy. Asher is a bad boy footballer who is known for his reckless behavior. The two meet when Asher and his rival Vincent—who also happens to be the captain of his team—are forced by their coach to take ballet lessons together with Scarlett during the off season. Huang develops Scarlett and Asher into fully realized characters and brilliantly pulls all of the intricately woven details into a tapestry that is worth the payoff. Scarlett and Asher had me oscillating between wanting to scream and swoon. I can’t wait for the next book in this series, The Defender, to drop next year. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
I’m a baseball fan and love any story with the diamond at its center (A League of Their Own, Bull Durham, Money Ball). You Should Be So Lucky is now officially on that list. It’s 1960, and handsome professional baseball player Eddie O’Leary is in the worst slump of his career on a new team that hates him. Mark Bailey is not a sports reporter but has been assigned to report on Eddie for his struggling newspaper. This grumpy-sunshine romance caught me by surprise with its tenderness as Mark and Eddie slowly lower their defenses and take a huge risk in falling for each other. And at the heart of it all is this game that makes us crazy but we just can’t quit (much like love). A home run of a romance! —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
This delightful historical romance debut is perfect for Bridgerton fans. When Emily Leverton takes a new role as a governess, she’s determined to leave her past behind. And when she becomes part of a secret network that spies on the ton, it feels like redemption. Ex-soldier-turned-railroad-magnate Zach hasn’t met his match in a woman, until Emily blows him a kiss one night and he discovers a strong, clever, woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Sparks fly, but Emily’s past threatens to ruin everything. Fun and gripping and sexy. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
This is your next romantasy obsession! In a world of Vikings with godly powers, Freya is trapped in a loveless marriage to a cruel “child of the gods.” But in a twist of rage and fate, Freya reveals a secret that is at the heart of a prophecy—she is also a child of the gods, the shield maiden, gifted with the power to unite Skaland under a single ruler. She immediately becomes the pawn of Jarl Snorri, who believes it is his destiny to rule as long as he controls Freya. As he begins his bid to conquer, he demands that his son, Bjorn, protect Freya at all costs. Freya grapples with the depths of her powers and her forbidden feelings for Bjorn that grow harder to resist each day. I loved being immersed in this new world and following Freya as she battles to take control of her destiny. This book ended with so many threads unraveled, I will be excitedly and impatiently waiting for the next book in the series! —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Love Unwritten, book two of the Lakefront Billionaires series (don’t worry, this can be read as a stand-alone). This grumpy/sunshine romance features Rafael, a divorced billionaire and single father to Nico who keeps everyone at arm’s length; and Ellie, a songwriter-turned-nanny to Nico. Rafael and Ellie have managed to tolerate each other for the sake of Nico, but a trip to Hawaii changes it all. Both Rafael and Ellie each have their own pain, on top of their complicated boss/nanny dynamic. The rising tension, or perhaps passion, seems to be more than the two can handle. The love, support, and gentle ribbing from the Lopez/Munoz clans provide the perfect mix of light heartedness and tough love. The banter and drama between Rafael and Ellie, with the backdrop of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, makes this the perfect beach read. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
This is a love song to traditional romances—the art and magic of falling in love. This story is told in second person, with the main character, sweet Emma, talking to us readers, which I found refreshingly fun and entertaining. Emma is a budding screenwriter who has been obsessed with famous screenwriter Charlie Yates. When Emma has an opportunity to write a screenplay with Charlie, she jumps at the opportunity and uproots her life for six weeks. Emma’s love and belief in the power of rom-coms is alluring, something even romance non-believer Charlie can’t resist. The two tangle to do what seems an insurmountable feat at times, write the screenplay of their lives. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
A truly delightful debut—I smiled and giggled my way through it. Meghna and Karthik are arranged to meet by their mothers, who have hopes for wedding bliss, but they couldn’t be more different. Meghna is fun and open where Karthik is stiff and stoic. Motivated to get a bit of peace from his mother, Karthik convinces Meghna to trick their families by faking their engagement. And there’s a little quid pro quo involved—if Meghna goes along with the ruse, Karthik will be her plus one at the wedding of her ex-boyfriend/best friend, who she still has a crush on. There’s so much more to this story than the fake-dating, enemies-to-lovers tropes. It’s about self-discovery, stepping outside your comfort zone, and going for what you want. Throw in musicals and punny t-shirts, and you have a story that will stay with you. —Kami Tei, Amazon Editor
I hadn’t read a love story like Jack and Raine’s, and I cherished every minute. Raine is a musician with ADHD traveling across Europe as a busker until an unfortunate theft leaves her stranded at The Local in Cobh, Ireland. Enter Jack, charming Irishman and owner of the bar. Their chemistry is instant, but Jack has a business proposition instead—hire Raine to bring life back into his bar. The only problem is Jack’s OCD makes change a struggle. Raine and Jack’s endless compassion for one another challenges them to think beyond the limitations they’ve put on themselves in both life and love. This tender, sexy, witty romance was a breath of fresh air, and I was rooting for Jack and Raine from the first page to the last. There was also a fantastic supporting cast of characters, including an enigmatic cat (is there any other kind) named Sebastian. —Abby Abell, Amazon Editor
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