Romanticism in Literature: Definition and Examples

Finding beauty in nature and the common man.

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  • B.A., English, Rutgers University

Romanticism was a literary movement that began in the late 18th century, ending around the middle of the 19th century—although its influence continues to this day. Marked by a focus on the individual (and the unique perspective of a person, often guided by irrational, emotional impulses), a respect for nature and the primitive, and a celebration of the common man, Romanticism can be seen as a reaction to the huge changes in society that occurred during this period, including the revolutions that burned through countries like France and the United States, ushering in grand experiments in democracy.

Key Takeaways: Romanticism in Literature

  • Romanticism is a literary movement spanning roughly 1790–1850.
  • The movement was characterized by a celebration of nature and the common man, a focus on individual experience, an idealization of women, and an embrace of isolation and melancholy.
  • Prominent Romantic writers include John Keats, William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Mary Shelley.

Romanticism Definition

The term Romanticism does not stem directly from the concept of love, but rather from the French word romaunt (a romantic story told in verse). Romanticism focused on emotions and the inner life of the writer, and often used autobiographical material to inform the work or even provide a template for it, unlike traditional literature at the time.

Romanticism celebrated the primitive and elevated "regular people" as being deserving of celebration, which was an innovation at the time. Romanticism also fixated on nature as a primordial force and encouraged the concept of isolation as necessary for spiritual and artistic development.

Characteristics of Romanticism

Romantic literature is marked by six primary characteristics: celebration of nature, focus on the individual and spirituality, celebration of isolation and melancholy, interest in the common man, idealization of women, and personification and pathetic fallacy.

Celebration of Nature

Romantic writers saw nature as a teacher and a source of infinite beauty. One of the most famous works of Romanticism is John Keats’ To Autumn (1820):

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,– While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue; Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn Among the river sallows, borne aloft Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

Keats personifies the season and follows its progression from the initial arrival after summer, through the harvest season, and finally to autumn’s end as winter takes its place.

Focus on the Individual and Spirituality

Romantic writers turned inward, valuing the individual experience above all else. This in turn led to heightened sense of spirituality in Romantic work, and the addition of occult and supernatural elements.

The work of Edgar Allan Poe exemplifies this aspect of the movement; for example, The Raven tells the story of a man grieving for his dead love (an idealized woman in the Romantic tradition) when a seemingly sentient Raven arrives and torments him, which can be interpreted literally or seen as a manifestation of his mental instability.

Celebration of Isolation and Melancholy

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a very influential writer in Romanticism; his books of essays explored many of the themes of the literary movement and codified them. His 1841 essay Self-Reliance is a seminal work of Romantic writing in which he exhorts the value of looking inward and determining your own path, and relying on only your own resources.

Related to the insistence on isolation, melancholy is a key feature of many works of Romanticism, usually seen as a reaction to inevitable failure—writers wished to express the pure beauty they perceived and failure to do so adequately resulted in despair like the sort expressed by Percy Bysshe Shelley in A Lament :

O world! O life! O time! On whose last steps I climb. Trembling at that where I had stood before; When will return the glory of your prime? No more—Oh, never more!

Interest in the Common Man

William Wordsworth was one of the first poets to embrace the concept of writing that could be read, enjoyed, and understood by anyone. He eschewed overly stylized language and references to classical works in favor of emotional imagery conveyed in simple, elegant language, as in his most famous poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud :

I wandered lonely as a Cloud That floats on high o'er vales and Hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden Daffodils; Beside the Lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Idealization of Women

In works such as Poe’s The Raven , women were always presented as idealized love interests, pure and beautiful, but usually without anything else to offer. Ironically, the most notable novels of the period were written by women (Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and Mary Shelley, for example), but had to be initially published under male pseudonyms because of these attitudes. Much Romantic literature is infused with the concept of women being perfect innocent beings to be adored, mourned, and respected—but never touched or relied upon.

Personification and Pathetic Fallacy

Romantic literature’s fixation on nature is characterized by the heavy use of both personification and pathetic fallacy. Mary Shelley used these techniques to great effect in Frankenstein :

Its fair lakes reflect a blue and gentle sky; and, when troubled by the winds, their tumult is but as the play of a lively infant, when compared to the roarings of the giant ocean.

Romanticism continues to influence literature today; Stephenie Meyers’ Twilight novels are clear descendants of the movement, incorporating most of the characteristics of classic Romanticism despite being published a century and half after the end of the movement’s active life.

  • The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Romanticism.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 19 Nov. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/art/Romanticism.
  • Parker, James. “A Book That Examines the Writing Processes of Two Poetry Giants.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 23 July 2019, https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/07/how-two-literary-giants-wrote-their-best-poetry/594514/.
  • Alhathani, Safa. “EN571: Literature & Technology.” EN571 Literature Technology, 13 May 2018, https://commons.marymount.edu/571sp17/2018/05/13/analysis-of-romanticism-in-frankenstein-through-digital-tools/.
  • “William Wordsworth.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-wordsworth.
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5 myths about romance fiction, busted – from Fabio to feminism

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Senior Lecturer in Writing, Literature and Culture, Deakin University

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Professor of English, City University of New York

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Jodi McAlister is the Vice President of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance.

Jayashree Kamblé serves as the current President of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance.

Deakin University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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Romance fiction has a reputation problem. In its long history, it has been regularly characterised as “trashy”: a sort of sentimental junk food for the brain.

At worst, romance novels have been imagined as actively harmful to their readers (usually assumed to be women): giving them unrealistic expectations about relationships and/or reconciling them to patriarchy.

But what actually is romance fiction?

Valentine’s Day tends to provoke a yearly wave of media coverage about romance. This phenomenon has intensified with the emergence of BookTok (the bookish side of TikTok), where romance fiction features heavily – as well as with the popularity of Bridgerton , adapted from Julia Quinn’s series of historical romance novels.

These articles regularly perpetuate a set of myths about romance fiction. Frequently, too, they feature romance fiction reading lists without any actual romance novels on them – often rooted in outdated and outmoded understandings of the genre (which, like all genres, is deeply fluid and has changed and adapted enormously over time).

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Some of these myths are small and a bit silly: Fabio, for instance, is often invoked , despite the fact he stopped modelling for romance covers in 1993.

Some myths, though, are larger and more pervasive. So, in honour of Valentine’s Day, as president (Jayashree) and vice president (Jodi) of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance , we have taken it upon ourselves to debunk five of the most common myths about romance fiction.

Read more: Friday essay: romance fiction rewrites the rulebook

1. Romance novels are all the same

One of the most frequently iterated ideas about romance is that it is formulaic – if you’ve read one romance, you’ve read them all, because they’re essentially all identical.

Like all popular genres, certain expectations are encoded in romance novels. Just as we expect a crime novel to feature a crime and a resolution (we find out whodunnit), we expect a romance novel to feature a romance and a resolution (we see the protagonists in a committed romantic relationship).

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In other words, one of the core expectations of romance is its endpoint: the happy ending. However, how the protagonists get to this happy ending varies wildly.

This is intensified by the fact romance is an umbrella genre, encompassing an enormous amount of subgenres. The story worlds in which romance plots take place are incredibly varied, as are the characters who inhabit them.

To illustrate this through example: A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, The Matchmaker by Saman Shad and Flesh by Kylie Scott are all romance novels by Australian authors. However, it’s obviously incorrect to claim they’re all the same: even if they do all have happy endings.

The first is a fantasy romance between two men set in a magical version of Edwardian England. The second is a contemporary romance between a matchmaker and her accidental client set in Sydney’s Pakistani community. And the third is a Queensland-set post-zombie-apocalypse romance starring a throuple.

2. Romance readers read indiscriminately

In Beyond Heaving Bosoms , Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan (founders of the popular romance review website Smart Bitches, Trashy Books ) write:

everyone has a very firm idea of what the average romance reader is like. We bet you already know her. She’s rather dim and kind of tubby – undereducated and undersexed – and she displays a distressing affinity for mom jeans and sweaters covered in puffy paint and appliquéd kittens.

Just like all romance novels are assumed to be the same, so are all romance readers. The phrase “bored housewife” has been the token descriptor for a long time, though the emergence of BookTok – which is dominated by younger women, often teenagers – has arguably shifted the stereotypical needle somewhat.

Inherent in both stereotypes, though – the bored housewife and the hyperemotive BookTok girlie – is the idea that they are consuming books uncritically. This also lies at the heart of romance’s bad reputation: the idea that readers are passively imbibing but not actively engaging with what they read. If all romances are the same, then for the reader, any romance will do, right?

However, even just dipping a toe into romance book culture will reveal that neither books, readers, nor readers’ opinions on books are identical. There is a wide and varied community of romance readers offering active critical responses to books on many different platforms – from BookTok to Goodreads to review sites like Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.

As Kim Wilkins and Beth Driscoll note , romance is an “innovative and uncontrollable” genre, and this is one of the key reasons why: “The dynamism of romance fiction is intimately linked with its engaged readers”.

3. Romance novels are all about sex

The reputation of romance novels as sex stories shadows the genre, stretching back to the 17th and 18th-century works written by women like Aphra Behn and Eliza Haywood (before the novel form was claimed by men for a higher purpose, naturally).

It is true that the commercial romance novel doesn’t shy away from sexy times. But is it all sex, all the time? Hardly. Sexual episodes depend on the subgenre and the decade in which a novel is written.

Check any curated romance list online and you’ll see books tagged for “spice levels”, sort of a fan-created ratings scale for the degree of sexual activity a novel contains. Some readers use terms like “clean” and “dirty” to describe the level and intensity of sex scenes.

What this means on page is that some novels use metaphors (“wave”) and references to sensations (“shivers” and “frissons”) related to a kiss. Religious romances or YA (young adult) romance lean in this direction.

Others might have kissing and erotic touches (“second base”) but prefer a “closed door” approach that leaves it to the reader to imagine (or not) the rest. Some devote paragraphs to narrating foreplay and speed through third base, still others have many scenes of both, and some focus almost exclusively on sexual behavior as the primary expression of character and plot development.

On the opposite end of the sexuality spectrum, some novels explicitly identify their protagonists as not experiencing sexual desire at all. Different strokes for different folks!

Read more: Shopping, showjumping and a notorious goldfish sex scene: the bonkers world of the bonkbuster

4. Romance is anti-feminist / romance is feminist

Since romance novels have largely been written by and about (cis) women, and read by them, it is natural to associate them with women’s rights and roles. But while some insist that romance novels are a tool of the patriarchy and others prefer to term the genre feminist for its focus on female desires, the truth has, well, many shades of grey .

If we define feminism as the principle of equality and equal opportunity in personal, professional, legal, and political arenas, romance novels are no more wholly anti-feminist or wholly feminist than any other art form or community.

The genre’s 20th-century expansion has run parallel to the organised movement for women’s rights and for gender equality. Just like them, early phases of the genre have significant differences from present-day incarnations, and every wave takes up slightly different aspects of equality and equity when it comes to female and other minoritised genders.

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There are billionaire romances where the female character can stop labouring and be taken care of – financially, sexually and emotionally.

There are urban fantasy or paranormal romances where the female protagonist wipes the floor with the baddies while a male or female companion provides aid, advice and affection.

There are Neo-Victorian romances where the female detective solves problems for a living while working out how to be happy with a long-term lover or partner.

And there are space operas where thinly disguised (and clad) Vikings are aliens that demand women lie back and enjoy themselves as a prelude to repopulating the planet.

Some authors started mentioning reproductive rights and aids to control pregnancy four decades ago and others fetishise impregnation and romanticise motherhood.

Hundreds of romance novels are published each year. To say that the entire genre is feminist or anti-feminist is the same as claiming all cinema is socialist propaganda because it’s collectively made, or that all of it is capitalist because the industry makes money.

Read more: 'Something that happens in fiction': romance writer Susan Meachen's fake death reminds us 'the author' is a construct

5. Romance was nothing until TikTok

Every few years, someone declares that romance fiction has finally become part of the mainstream.

Sometimes it’s because a new author has a savvy PR team that creates the buzz . Or there’s a TV adaptation of an old romance series . Or it’s the rise of a novel to bestseller status because it gathered steam on a fan-fiction site or another app . Now it’s TikTok .

Reader, the rumours of the birth of romance are a bit behind the times . The genre is as old as a sexy vampire.

The romance-reader community has been around for a while, too, both in real life and digitally. Before there was TikTok, there was Twitter and Facebook and Tumblr and Reddit and fiction apps like Wattpad and fan-fiction hubs like Archive of Our Own (AO3) . And author sites and reading community blogs and electronic bulletin boards. And newsletters and subscription boxes and fan conventions and fan mail. And before it all, there were libraries and amazing librarians , who are still here and will be if we keep funding them.

Romance novels take on new ideas and new forms every few years, always building on earlier works and networks. New authors, audiences, subgenres and platforms keep the genre vibrant, creating new ways to talk about love and sex and family.

Nothing is new and everything is new. That is the heart of romance.

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What is romantasy? The best-selling book trend, explained.

Sarah j. maas and rebecca yarros are leading the pack in a genre that is a little romance, a little fantasy and yes, a little hot.

It’s been awhile since a single book could summon thousands, but in November and again in January, fans lined up outside bookstores in the cold, awaiting the stroke of midnight. The draw? Romantasy.

Rebecca Yarros’s “Iron Flame ,” which broke a preorder record , arrived on Nov. 7 and shot to the top of bestseller lists worldwide. Then came Sarah J. Maas’s “House of Flame and Shadow,” the third volume in the Crescent City series. Released on Jan. 30, it sold more than 120,000 copies in the first week and was an instant bestseller too. Maas’s biggest competition may be herself — she has four novels on the New York Times bestseller list and 13 on the USA Today list — and Yarros, whose books are on five bestseller lists.

Romantasy is hot, in more ways than one. It’s one of the fastest-growing genres, according to market researcher Circana, with sales increasing by 42 percent from 2022 to 2023. Maas alone has sold 40 million copies of her books worldwide.

What is romantasy anyway?

Like all fun indulgences such as brunch, Botox and Bennifer, romantasy is a portmanteau combining “romance” and “fantasy.” These books feature all the fantasy hallmarks, such as magic systems, mythology, high stakes and abundant worldbuilding, but the love story is central to the narrative. Romance gets top billing in part because “fantamance” is a terrible name, and because there’s a difference between a fantasy with romantic elements and a romantasy: In the latter, without the romance, the book falls apart.

The fastest way to tell if you’re looking at a romantasy is to note the title. Is there a common noun, followed by two that involve something terrestrial and something corporeal? A “ House of Earth and Blood”? A “ Song of Blood and Stone”? You’ve got romantasy. You may also encounter a verb, followed by disaster and anger nouns (“Fall of Ruin and Wrath,” “King of Battle and Blood”), or an authority figure of weather (“Queen of Shadows”). Don’t worry, though: Click one and your friendly neighborhood algorithm will show you many more.

The 10 best romance novels of 2023

Romantasy may be a new-sounding term, but the genre is not. Among the earliest titles is “War for the Oaks,” by Emma Bull (1987), which won the Locus Award for best first novel. It follows a young rock singer whose band and relationship fall apart just in time for her to be drafted into a fairy war. In the years since, romantasy has more often been found within other genre headings like “urban fantasy,” “epic fantasy” or “paranormal.”

With the increasing popularity of romantasy as a search term and a genre — the #romantasy tag has some 800 million views on TikTok, for example — some of the early, influential books are getting new covers that move away from the classic clinch of two people fervently embracing in favor of more current styles, such as bas-relief illustrations of something on fire, encased in ice or both. C.L. Wilson’s “Lord of the Fading Lands,” originally published in 2007, has a new cover that reflects romantasy’s influence on marketing imagery. Bramble , a new fantasy and romance imprint from Tor, is publishing “The Spellshop,” by Sarah Beth Durst, in a hardcover edition with purple tinted edges and a luminous cover that adds a hefty dose of “cozy” to the romantasy.

Long-running romantasy series can fill miles of shelves with books from Jennifer L. Armentrout, Nalini Singh, Kresley Cole, L. Penelope and Jennifer Estep. Indie publishers have their own romantasy titles of every flavor as well, such as “Daughter of No Worlds,” by Carissa Broadbent, and the impossibly lush “Trial of the Sun Queen,” by Nisha J. Tuli. There are online reader spaces like StoryGraph and subreddits like r/fantasyromance that are actively swapping book suggestions — and of course BookTok and Instagram. But if you’re new to romantasy and want to see what the fuss is about, here are a few recommendations:

‘House of Flame and Shadow,’ by Sarah J. Maas

The latest in the spicy and rich Crescent City series that began with “House of Earth and Blood” in 2020, this story finds the lead characters worlds apart and yearning for home, and may include special surprises for well-read Maas fans as well. And an added treat for audiobook fans: A new audio version of the first book featuring a full cast of voice actors, with music and sound effects, will be released in two parts, beginning Feb. 29.

The Mead Mishaps series, by Kimberly Lemming

The titles say it all — “That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon,” “That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.” Kimberly Lemming is having blast playing with the tropes and clichés of romance and fantasy.

‘Consort of Fire,’ by Kit Rocha and ‘Dragon Actually’ by G.A. Aiken

If you like your romantasy with dragons, particularly horny ones, look no further. Kit Rocha’s new series features a seductress, a handmaiden/assassin and a dragon who wants to possess them both. Much of the hot dragon romantasy can trace its lineage to books like “Dragon Actually,” by G.A. Aiken, the first of a series that features a ferocious heroine named Annwyl the Bloody who trains with a mysterious, arrogant knight during the day and shares her secrets at night with a dragon named Fearghus the Destroyer.

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The Bliss Wars trilogy, by L. Penelope

In “Savage City,” a captive Fai must heal a princess of the Nimali, his sworn and hated enemy, in a world that blends high fantasy, fae and shifters in an urban post-apocalyptic landscape. The concluding book in this trilogy, “Brutal Fortress,” arrives in March, so you have time to catch up.

Sarah Wendell is the author of three books and a co-founder of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books , an online community devoted to romance fiction.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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The Best Romance Novelists of All Time

The Best Romance Novelists of All Time

Book Keeper

The best romance novelists are writers who draw readers in with a beautiful love story and keep them interested with compelling details. Romance novels have come a long way in recent years. No longer are romance fans limited to mere "bodice-rippers": Now best selling romance authors are churning out elaborate tales that incorporate elements of historical fiction and even science fiction. Whether it's contemporary romance, paranormal romance or historical romance novels, I've tried to compile a comprehensive list of the top romance novelists around. That's a tough task, and I'm pretty certain I've missed more than a few. Romance novel fans, if you don't see your personal favorite author on this list, please add them! Also, be sure to vote for your favorite romantic novel writers.

I've included several popular contemporary romance novelists on this list, but I also tried to list some of the classic romance writers as well. Good example? Jane Austen. No list of the best romance novelists would be complete without adding Jane Austen! Another example? Margaret Mitchell, author of the epic romance novel Gone With the Wind . Some of the authors I've included on this list are winners of the RITA Award, given by the Romance Writers of America (RWA). Among them: Nora Roberts, LaVyrle Spencer, and Diana Gabaldon. Roberts is one of the best-selling romance writers of all-time. Gabaldon's epic Outlander series is without question my favorite historical romance series ever.

Christine Feehan

Christine Feehan

Johanna Lindsey

Johanna Lindsey

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts

Jane Austen

Jane Austen

Julie Garwood

Julie Garwood

Kristen ashley.

Lisa Kleypas

Lisa Kleypas

Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter

Sylvain reynard.

Kresley Cole

Kresley Cole

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Jude Deveraux

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Judith McNaught

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Diana Gabaldon

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Julia Quinn

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Lorelie James

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Susan Elizabeth P

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Lists about novelists, poets, short story authors, journalists, essayists, and playwrights, from simple rankings to fun facts about the men and women behind the pens.

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romanticism

What is romanticism definition, usage, and literary examples, romanticism definition.

Romanticism  (roe-MAN-tuh-SIZZ-um) was a literary movement that emphasized individualism and emotion. The Romantic era lasted from the end of the 18th century to the middle of the 19th century, but its effects are still evident throughout modern literature.

Romantic works were a reaction to the  Age of Enlightenment  and the advancing  Industrial Age , a time in which science and rationalization began to take firmer hold in the public consciousness. Romantic literature challenged this new wave of ideas by telling stories rooted in emotion, nature, idealism, and the subjective experiences of common men and women.

It’s important to note that romanticism, as a literary movement, is not the same thing as the literary genre of romance novels. Romanticism may be an influence on today’s romance novels, but romance novels do not typically possess all the elements central to Romantic-era literature. Also, the term  Romantic  does not refer directly to romantic love. It comes from the medieval French  romaunt , the term for an epic, chivalrous quest told in verse.

The History of Romanticism

Romantic literature emerged at a time when the world was undergoing a sea-change of thoughts and ideas. The Age of Enlightenment produced a new breed of philosophers and scientists who challenged long-held ideas about how humans thought, lived, and came to be. The Industrial Revolution, quite naturally, was hot on the heels of the Enlightenment. The ideas and theories formed in the latter now came to life in exciting new inventions that changed the way people lived and worked.

There is always some degree of nostalgia for “the old days” when new ways of life come into fashion, and it’s this phenomenon that gave birth to romanticism. The movement harkened back to a time when things were simpler and more straightforward. Life and literature depended on the heart and one’s more primitive emotions—not science or theory or overt religiosity.

The romantic movement began in Germany. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s  The Sorrows of Young Werther  was a seminal early romantic work infused with a sense of nationalism, which became a hallmark of German romanticism. As romanticism spread throughout Europe and beyond, however, it didn’t concern itself with any explicitly nationalist tendencies.

English romanticism began in Great Britain, with the emergence of poets like Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, and Percy Bysshe Shelley. The 1798 publication of  Lyrical Ballads  included works by Wordsworth and Coleridge and launched the English movement. During the peak of the English romantic era in the 1810s, the works of Jane Austen took centerstage.

Dark romanticism is a subset of romantic literature that also started in Germany. These works feature elements of the macabre, grotesque, or demonic. They are similar to gothic fiction, but while gothic works are largely horror-centric, the spookier elements of dark romanticism don’t overshadow the romantic characteristics. Dark romantic writers include E.T.A. Hoffmann, Edgar Allan Poe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

American romanticism generally held the same ideals as English romanticism: individualism; a rich, emotional, isolated life; the beauty of nature; and moral uprightness. One of the first notable American romantic works was William Cullen Bryant’s  poem  “To a Waterfowl” in 1818. Other American romantic authors, like Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, and Emily Dickinson, followed.

The Elements of Romanticism

There are six elements common to most romantic works: the common man, the idealization of women, individuality, isolation, nature, and pathetic fallacy.

The Common Man/Woman

Romantic writers felt that the average reader should be able to understand and enjoy their works. This sentiment often extended to the relatability of characters they created. Heathcliff Linton from Emily Brontë’s  Wuthering Heights , for example, is a servant; Charlotte Brontë’s titular protagonist in  Jane Eyre  is a governess. Virtually all of Jane Austen’s heroines were average young ladies, usually looking for love. While Romantic characters may have uncommon adventures or exceptional experiences, they are not larger-than-life personalities of towering might or intellect.

The Idealization of Women

The exception to the common woman in romantic literature was the idealized woman. Romantic writers would represent certain female characters as innocent, naïve bundles of perfection that needed sheltering and, in some cases, outright worship. Their admirers were nothing short of haunted by them. Take Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “ Annabel Lee ”:

For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,
In her sepulchre there by the sea—
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Poe’s narrator puts his lover on a pedestal, enamored by her beauty and, in many ways, he was obsessed with their “love that was more than love.” Not even death can keep Poe’s narrator from loving and glorifying Annabel; he even insinuates that angels were so jealous of the love he and Annabel shared that they killed her.

Individuality

Characters and their internal lives were a priority for Romantic writers. They gave readers access to the characters’ innermost thoughts and desires, emphasizing the minutia that made them tick. This hyper-focus on subjective thoughts and experiences opened the doors for an increased perception of the spiritual—and, sometimes, the supernatural.

Wuthering Heights  is a classic example of Romantic individualism, most notably in Heathcliff. He is an example of a Byronic hero—a figure in Romantic literature who is miserable yet affectionate, moody yet proud and defiant. Heathcliff is so passionately in love with Cathy that even after her death, he can think only of being with her:

You know I was wild after she died; and eternally, from dawn to dawn, praying her to return to me her spirit! I have a strong faith in ghosts: I have a conviction that they can, and do, exist among us! The day she was buried, there came a fall of snow. In the evening I went to the churchyard. It blew bleak as winter—all round was solitary. I didn’t fear that her fool of a husband would wander up the glen so late; and no one else had business to bring them there. Being alone, and conscious two yards of loose earth was the sole barrier between us, I said to myself—“I’ll have her in my arms again!”

Heathcliff’s loss leads to become a tortured, vengeful man, and much of  Wuthering Heights  focuses on his evolution from a solitary youth to a besotted young man, to a bitter, heartbroken individual.

Isolation and its accompanying melancholy played a key role in the experiences of romantic characters and, often, their authors. This loneliness and estrangement from the rest of humanity gives the character a way to express the uniqueness of their experiences and thoughts.

John Clare, often called the quintessential romantic poet, wrote about the beauty of isolation and nature on the farm where he spent his life in the poem “I Am!”:

I am—yet what I am none cares or knows;
My friends forsake me like a memory lost:
I am the self-consumer of my woes—
They rise and vanish in oblivious host,
Like shadows in love’s frenzied stifled throes
And yet I am, and live…

Clare characterizes himself as a long-forgotten entity who receives no regard except from himself. As such, it’s almost as though he doesn’t even exist—his emotions dissipating to nothing for no one is there to experience them.

Nature was a source of endless inspiration and beauty for romantic writers. They often viewed nature as a teacher; a living, breathing entity; a god or goddess; or some combination of them all. For example, in the poem “Auguries of Innocence,” William Blake celebrates nature and its awe-inspiring majesty:

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

This kind of reverence for nature is what makes Mary Shelley’s  Frankenstein   a prominent example of romantic writing.

Pathetic Fallacy

This is an offshoot of the reverence for nature characteristic of romantic works. Pathetic fallacy is a type of personification where romantic writers attributed human feelings and thoughts to aspects of nature. In the poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” with the title itself giving human characteristics to a cloud, William Wordsworth writes about coming upon a field of daffodils:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
                                                                                                                                                                                   
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee…

The Function of Romanticism

Literary romanticism honors universal human emotions like love, loss, triumph, and failure. These works did not center on bold religious statements or scientific theories; instead, they highlight a collective sense of morality and right versus wrong. They existed as accessible pieces of literature that featured the common man as a character to attract the common man as a reader. The result was that ordinary people were considered worthy of respect and even celebration. Romantic works also underscored the value of nature in the richness of the human experience, as well as the need for isolation to attain emotional or spiritual growth.

Romanticism and Other Literary Movements

Romanticism vs. Naturalism

Naturalist  works use scientific theories of observation and detachment to tell their stories. This approach is, in many ways, the opposite of romanticism, which concentrates on emotions, feelings, ideals, and the singularity of lived experiences.

Naturalist literature is usually gritty and intense, and outside forces like heredity and environment determine the fate of the characters. In romanticism, destiny and spiritual guidance influence what happens to the characters.

Romanticism vs. Realism

Realism  and naturalism share some qualities, but realism is more about writing style, whereas naturalism is a writing philosophy. Put another way: Realism is a technique to describe the way things are, and naturalism examines why things are the way they are.

Works of realism do not embellish, adorn, or attempt to romanticize characters, situations, or experiences; they reflect reality. Works of romanticism are typically idealist in nature, with a sentimentalized worldview and overly descriptive  prose .

Romanticism vs. Transcendentalism

Emotions drive romanticism, which places the movement somewhat at odds with the aims of transcendentalism. It is intuition, not emotion, that is the overarching theme for many transcendentalist works.

Transcendentalist writers believed that people and nature were innately good, and autonomy and independence were crucial for individual freedom. Again, this theory contrasts with romanticism, which often pits good characters against evil characters and features deep, sometimes obsessive, love and codependence.

Writers Known for Romanticism

  • Jane Austen,  Pride and Prejudice ,  Sense and Sensibility
  • William Blake,  Songs of Innocence and of Experience
  • Charlotte Brontë,  Jane Eyre
  • Emily Brontë,  Wuthering Heights
  • Robert Burns, “A Red, Red Rose,” “To a Mouse”
  • John Clare, “I Am!,” “Autumn”
  • Samuel Taylor Coleridge,  The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
  • James Fenimore Cooper,  Leatherstocking Tales ,  The Last of the Mohicans
  • Emily Dickinson, “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” “‘Hope’ Is the Thing with Feathers”
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,  The Sorrows of Young Werther
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne,  The Scarlet Letter
  • T.A. Hoffmann,  The Sandman
  • Washington Irving,  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow ,  Rip Van Winkle
  • John Keats, “Ode to a Nightingale”
  • Lord Byron,  Don Juan
  • Edgar Allan Poe, “Annabel Lee,”  “The Raven”
  • Walter Scott,  Rob Roy ,  Ivanhoe
  • Percy Bysshe Shelley,  “Ozymandias,”  “To a Skylark”
  • Mary Shelley,  Frankenstein
  • William Wordsworth, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” “The Prelude”

Examples of Romantic Literature

1. Edgar Allan Poe, “ The Raven ”

Poe’s 1845  poem  is about a man pining for his lost love, Lenore. Caught in a state between wakefulness and sleep, the man notices a raven perching on a bust over the door. He begins talking to this bird, who only ever utters the same word in response: “Nevermore.”

           Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
           “Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee
           Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”
           Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

Slowly, the narrator loses his grip on sanity and sees the bird as a supernatural visitor. In the above stanza, he hallucinates, thinking angels have sent the raven to make him forget Lenore.

2. Mary Shelley,  Frankenstein

Shelley’s 1818 novel centers on Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his attempts to reanimate a corpse. After his first successful experiments, Frankenstein reflects on his creation:

No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success. Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source, many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs. Pursuing these reflections, I thought, that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might in process of time (although I now found it impossible) renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption.

Frankenstein starts to feel guilty that he carelessly brought new life into the world, and he flees in disgust, ashamed of what he has done. This reaction leads to the novel’s devastating events, as the Creature seeks revenge against Frankenstein for creating him and then relegating him to the life of an outcast.

3. Emily Dickinson “‘Hope’ Is the Thing with Feathers”

Dickinson’s poem, published after her death, is a testament to hope:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

Dickinson imbues the short piece with many of the hallmarks of Romantic literature: a reverence for nature, a connection with emotions (in this case, a desire for comfort and optimism), personification of “the little Bird,” and a deep sense of isolation from the rest of the world.

Further Resources on Romanticism

SkyMinds has an in-depth look at  romanticism in art and literature .

The British Library explains the central ideas and influences of  British romanticism .

Pubstarr has a short video on  the Romantic Era  and its impact on art and literature.

The Britannica website discusses  romanticism in French literature .

A University of Houston website considers  romanticism  as a period, movement, style, and genre.

Related Terms

  • Characterization
  • Figurative Language
  • Narrative Poem
  • Perspective

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romantic writers are

New Romance Novels Steeped in Cozy Winter Vibes

If you’re craving comfort — or connection — pick up one of these books.

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By Olivia Waite

Olivia Waite is the Book Review’s romance fiction columnist. She writes queer historical romance, fantasy and critical essays on the genre’s history and future.

  • Feb. 13, 2024

Tough times have a way of isolating a person, and while you’re living through them, sometimes you need a story that helps you back into the wider world. Romance novels do that. In their pages, you can find connection — even when it’s hard to do in real life.

Connection is lifesaving in Tia Williams’s new novel, A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE (Grand Central, 342 pp., $29) . Ricki, in 2024, has left her job at her tyrannical family’s chain of funeral parlors and started a flower shop in a Harlem brownstone. Ezra, in 1924, has fled the racist violence of his hometown and is making a name for himself as a musician in the speakeasies of the Harlem Renaissance.

romantic writers are

And then their lives begin to overlap.

Ricki has come to the city in pursuit of life, and Ezra has been fleeing death — a little too successfully, it turns out, because this is not a time-slip story. He has, through a curse, become immortal. His immortality is a kind of haunting, of being trapped in the world but apart from it: People forget him entirely within a month if he doesn’t keep in contact.

Even worse, Ezra’s cursed love for Ricki will mean her death — and it might already be too late.

The book’s calculus of love and loss is brutal, and grounds the dazzling prose and light magical element.

In Allison Saft’s A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT (Wednesday Books, 373 pp., $17.99) , it feels as if all of the characters have something they’re desperate to escape from. Our heroine, Niamh Ó Conchobhair, is a maker of enchanted clothing from a fantasy version of Ireland. Summoned to the court of Avaland, her people’s conquerors, she hopes that making wedding coats and cloaks for the prince regent’s younger brother will be a path out of poverty for herself and her family.

Kit, the groom, is blunt and embittered — literally prickly when his flower magic gets away from him — and it’s clear he is being dragged into marriage against his will. Niamh resents her instant attraction to someone so unavailable and irritating. Between the political prejudice against her people and the chronic illness she knows will kill her someday, she is convinced there is no room for love in her life.

The plot, like the prince, delights in proving Niamh wrong. Saft layers the tensions and emotions like a delicate dessert. Niamh’s confidence in her power is a relief from the untrained paranormal heroine in need of guidance, and Kit makes petulance unusually charming. I especially love when a romantasy — that’s romantic fantasy — refuses to shortchange either half of the portmanteau.

To summarize Charlotte Stein’s WHEN GRUMPY MET SUNSHINE (St. Martin’s Griffin, 324 pp., paperback, $18) , let me borrow words from the hero, the gruff former soccer player Alfie Harding, when he meets Mabel Willicker, who’s been hired to ghostwrite his memoir: “You think I’m a big hairy manimal who’s never gonna be able to work well with this here human cupcake.”

But though they seem like opposites, underneath Mabel and Alfie are anguished, self-doubting weirdos. What they need — and what they’re terrified of — is liberation from the cages they’ve built for themselves.

Alfie’s Roy Kent-inspired voice is a triumph — and very, very funny — but sex is where Stein really shines. This, children, is how the professionals do it. Not a rote list of parts and positions, but a physical flow between two people. It’s the difference between seeing choreography laid out in footprints on the floor, and being swept away by the dance.

Lastly, for pure comfort vibes I highly recommend TJ Alexander’s SECOND CHANCES IN NEW PORT STEPHEN (Emily Bestler Books, 336 pp., paperback, $17.99) , which stares at everything going wrong in the world and dares to say happiness matters anyway.

After years in New York, Eli Ward has returned to his Florida hometown. He’s out of work, out of sorts, and out as trans. But when he reconnects with his high school boyfriend, Nick Wu — now a hot dad, and maybe not as straight as he thinks — Eli has to get his act together if he wants a second chance at happiness.

Eli’s life has come crashing down around him, but Nick’s encases him like concrete. He works too much; he has a daughter he loves but an ex whose mother makes co-parenting unpleasant; and he can’t remember the last time he did something just for fun. He didn’t expect to be just as attracted to Eli now that he’s transitioned, but that doesn’t scare him — what Nick’s afraid of is that this is only a casual fling for Eli, when Nick wants it to be so much more.

This is as low-concept a book as you can get, but it works for the same reason books by Cat Sebastian, Rebekah Weatherspoon and Jackie Lau work: You enjoy spending time with these people, and you want them to reach for joy when they can. We all should.

It’s the difference between saving the world and saving one another. The former can feel impossible; the second we can do every day.

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In Lucy Sante’s new memoir, “I Heard Her Call My Name,” the author reflects on her life and embarking on a gender transition  in her late 60s.

For people of all ages in Pasadena, Calif., Vroman’s Bookstore, founded in 1894, has been a mainstay in a world of rapid change. Now, its longtime owner says he’s ready to turn over the reins .

The graphic novel series “Aya” explores the pains and pleasures of everyday life in a working-class neighborhood  in West Africa with a modern African woman hero.

Like many Nigerians, the novelist Stephen Buoro has been deeply influenced by the exquisite bedlam of Lagos, a megacity of extremes. Here, he defines the books that make sense of the chaos .

Do you want to be a better reader?   Here’s some helpful advice to show you how to get the most out of your literary endeavor .

Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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The 60 Best Romance Novels to Sweep You Off Your Feet

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Blog – Posted on Tuesday, Nov 03

The 60 best romance novels to sweep you off your feet.

The 60 Best Romance Novels to Sweep You Off Your Feet

Romance is a perennial favorite for readers everywhere, and it isn’t hard to see why. A good love story has drama, intrigue, laughs, and, if you’re lucky, a little heat; while the very best romance novels can feel just like falling in love — intimate and personal, yet huge and life-changing all at once. 

We’ve compiled a list of our all-time favorite romance novels, from historical regency romance to contemporary novels tackling love in the digital age. So whether you’re searching for a how-to guide or cautionary tale (and there are plenty of those), you’re hungry to read the next rom-com blockbuster before it hits Netflix, or you just want to lose yourself in timeless romance tropes, we’ve got you covered! 💘

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great romance novels out there, why not take our 30-second quiz to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized romance book recommendation?

Which romance novel should you read next?

Discover the perfect romance book for you. Takes 30 seconds!

The Classics

1. jane eyre by charlotte brontë.

Though Jane Eyre might be ‘poor, obscure, plain and little’, her love story is anything but. One of the authoritative classics of the genre, Jane Eyre’ s enduring popularity is testament to the power of its central romance. Jane, a destitute young orphan, arrives at the home of the mysterious Mr Rochester in search of employment, but finds far more than she bargained for. The naïve and uncertain Jane is magnetically drawn to her brooding employer, but will the twisted secrets lying at the heart of Thornfield Hall undermine their budding relationship? Written at a time when most romantic heroines were preternaturally pretty, the headstrong, wilful, yet utterly average Jane is a subversive breath of fresh air — or should we say Eyre?

2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

A sprawling epic that takes readers across continents in the name of love, Anna Karenina is one of the longest books on this list, coming to an intimidating 800+ pages. But those who persevere with this colossus of a novel are richly rewarded. In what is considered by many to be the best romance novel of all time (and, we think, one of the best books to read in a lifetime ), Tolstoy tells the story of an extramarital affair and its fallout in Imperial Russian society.  When Anna runs away with the handsome Count Vronsky, excitement gives way to paranoia, isolation, and regret, as we witness the unravelling of their relationship, and of Anna herself. As much a cautionary tale as it is a romance novel, Anna Karenina is a richly imagined portrait of both the agonies and ecstasies of love.

3. Love in the Time of Cholera (Oprah's Book Club) by Gabriel Garcia Márquez

Florentino Ariza has been waiting for 50 years for his true love to return. That’s not to say he’s been bored: he’s passed the time by having no fewer than 622 love affairs, which he has painstakingly recorded in his notebooks. Despite his dalliances and the passing of decades, when the man who married his childhood sweetheart dies, a now elderly Florentino seizes the opportunity to declare his love once more. An astonishing exploration of devotion and reunions, and the unrealistic expectations we place on those we love, Love in the Time of Cholera doesn’t just ask whether the hero will get the girl — it asks whether he should. They don’t just hand out the Nobel Prize for Literature to anyone, so it’s safe to say we’re in good hands with Gabriel Garcia Márquez.

4. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

This classic fish-out-of-water tale follows Margaret, a nineteen-year-old girl whose life is turned upside down when her family relocates from a sleepy village to Darkshire — a rough and restless industrial town in the north of England. Margaret finds a new calling, advocating for the poor and disenfranchised, but it brings her into direct conflict with imposing mill owner John Thornton. Can the two find any common ground, or will misunderstanding keep them at odds? Heart-warming and ahead of its time, North and South isn’t just a beautiful romance, it also has a lot to say on politics, gender, and religion, so one for the history buffs, too!

5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any list of the best romance novels must be in want of at least one Jane Austen title (we’ve gone for three!). And Pride and Prejudice is by far the English humorist’s most famous story. It’s a tale as old as time: boy meets girl; boy and girl bicker and declare their contempt for one another; boy and girl realise over time that there is, in fact, more to one another than meets the eye — but has this realisation come too late? It might now be a rom-com trope, but Pride and Prejudice is one of the oldest and greatest examples of the thin line between love and hate. Elizabeth and Darcy’s romance is as honest as it is unexpected, and Austen’s characters are so vividly realised and so utterly believable that you’ll be gasping, cringing, and crying along with them.

6. Emma by Jane Austen

Austen once set out in a letter the perfect subject for a novel — “Three or four families in a country village” — and the description fits Emma well. The glue that holds these families together (and our beloved heroine) is Emma Woodhouse. Clever, rich, beautiful, and utterly deluded, she’s determined to meddle with the hearts of her neighbours, but sees no need to find a husband herself. The novel bends narration through the distorting lens of our protagonist, making for a genius coming-of-age story and a work of comic brilliance. No matter who plays them, in what adaptation , her characters never fail to be laugh-out-loud funny!

7. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

The third and final instalment in our ode to romance titan Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility is a novel of lies, secrets, and seduction. Following two sisters — one wild and impulsive, the other quiet and sensible — it brilliantly portrays a world of money and status, gossip and innuendo, where rigid social convention governs the impulses of the heart. Through their parallel experiences of love and heartbreak, will these two young women learn to strike a balance between wearing your heart on your sleeve and concealing your true feelings?

8. Maurice by E.M. Forster

The brave and passionate tale of a young man’s sexual awakening, this intensely personal novel was written by Forster in 1914, when homosexual relationships were not only stigmatised, but illegal. Languishing in a drawer for fifty-seven years, Maurice was published after the author’s death, and quickly celebrated as a powerful, moving, beautifully-written love story. It chronicles the experiences of a privileged but modest young man, who comes up against unrequited love, heartbreak, and society politics on his journey to self-discovery. If you’re scouring this list for brilliant LGBT books , look no further!

9. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

As Goldman himself writes in the introduction, “dollars to donuts you’ve seen the movie”. But if you haven’t read the book that inspired the cult hit, you’ve missed a trick. A spoof fairy tale, a sharp satire, and a rocket-powered fantasy , all brilliantly disguised as a love story — there’s absolutely nothing fluffy about The Princess Bride . In fact, though there’s plenty to giggle about in the story of Buttercup and Prince Humperdink, you might also call this novel a tightly-plotted thriller. So if you’re of a nervous disposition, maybe stick to fairy tales meant for kids. 

10 . Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Reading Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles is an affecting experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. Its heroine, Tess Durbyfield, is so beautifully and sympathetically drawn that you cannot help but feel crushed as the world conspires against her; betrayed by men who exploit her, a society that casts her out, and by the callousness of her religion. As the seasons change, and Tess changes with them, it’s clear that she identifies most with the natural world — and it is here that the intensity of Hardy’s imagination comes into its own. His lush and evocative descriptions, metaphors, and parallels make this tragic romance novel a poetic masterpiece. 

11. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

The first and only novel by an elusive icon, Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights plunges headfirst into an exploration of the violence of doomed romance. Amid the bleak and feral atmosphere of the Yorkshire moors, the novel revolves obsessively around the tempestuous course of Cathy and Heathcliff’s self-destructive love affair. A gothic novel of intense passion, betrayal, and bitter vengeance — underpinned by the quiet beauty of Brontë’s lyricism — Wuthering Heights is an iconoclastic masterpiece that has inspired film-makers, novelists, poets, and song-writers for generations.

12. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The quintessential love story that has spawned countless retellings and inspired who knows how many writers, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet —  the story of two star-crossed lovers from rival houses — wrote many of the rules of tragic romance. From iconic scenes like the balcony soliloquy, to legendary one-liners (“A plague o’ both your houses”, anyone?), and the ending that defined the romantic tragedy genre, any aspiring romance connoisseur should get this one under their belt.

13. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

A dark, twisted tale told almost exclusively as a flashback, Rebecca follows the nameless protagonist and her speedy marriage to a mysterious but charming stranger, Maxim de Winter, whom she meets on a business excursion. Things quickly become unsettling, as the protagonist learns of the troubling questions surrounding Maxim’s previous wife, Rebecca, whose spectre haunts their relationship. As Maxim’s carefully curated image — and their relationship — unravels further, the protagonist falls deeper into the shadow of Rebecca’s legacy. If you’re one who enjoys indulging in dark romance plots with thriller or mystery elements, du Maurier’s novel may be one for you. 

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Historical Romance

14. gone with the wind by margaret mitchell.

Spoiled Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara only ever had to worry about her love life, until poverty threatened to wipe out her family’s plantation. Doing everything she can to save their fortunes, Scarlett embarks on a series of unexpected adventures, traversing burning cities and bandit-filled forests. Despite her new priorities, Scarlett quickly finds that she cannot leave affairs of the heart behind completely, as she is torn between her beloved Ashley and the dashing but dangerous Rhett. A controversial presentation of Civil-War era America, Gone With the Wind explores the complexities of both romantic and platonic love. If you’ve seen the incomparable Vivien Leigh bring her to life on screen, it’s time to meet Scarlett on the page.

15. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

The Thorn Birds explores the tangled web of three generations of one Australian Outback family, carefully tracking their loves and losses over the course of 50 years. The emotional heart of the novel lies in the illicit relationship between Meggie, the daughter of the family, and Ralph, a priest in the local parish. Their attraction is dangerous, forbidden — and difficult to resist. Will they ever be together, or will the seemingly insurmountable obstacles between them keep them apart? This sweeping panorama of life in a rural sheep station from 1915 to 1969 is an Aussie cultural mainstay — it’s the best-selling book in Australian history!

16. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

The story of Noah and Allie is captured in three intertwined snap-shots: their teens, their early thirties, and old age. As our mysterious, elderly narrator unpacks these nesting dolls, we gradually learn about the love affair between our protagonists. The universe appears to have conspired to keep these childhood sweethearts apart: with meddling families, possessive fiancés, and World War II thrown into the mix, will they ever find their way back together? Some might dismiss it as chick-lit, but The Notebook is a guaranteed tear-jerker — every time. Who would have thought the words "if you’re a bird, I’m a bird" could pack such an emotional punch?

17. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Popular and outgoing class president Landon doesn’t think he has much in common with the preacher’s daughter Jamie, until circumstance forces them together. A last-ditch effort to get a date to the high school dance leads to an unexpected romance in A Walk to Remember, Nicholas Sparks’ follow-up to smash hit The Notebook. As Landon and Jamie slowly find common ground, and an appreciation for one another, A Walk to Remember proves that love can be found in surprising places. It’s a charming and sweet read, but, be warned — it’s another Sparks tear-jerker. How does he always get us?

18. Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

A member of a wealthy, free Black family, Galen Vachon has a lot to lose when he decides to become a member of the Underground railroad network, and join the effort to free enslaved Southerners. His risky lifestyle catches up with him when, attacked and injured, he is forced to seek sanctuary in the basement of a stranger. That stranger is Hester Wyatt, a former slave. Despite agreeing to nurse Galen back to health, their clashing personalities lead Hester to wonder whether she can keep her promise — not to mention the hostile forces that have started to come looking for him. Equal parts history and romance, this novel from NAACP nominee Beverly Jenkins will keep you on the edge of your seat.

19. Ross Poldark by Winston Graham

If you’re a die-hard fan of the television phenomenon Poldark , you’ll be delighted to hear that there are twelve (yes, twelve) novels to consume. A rich Cornish broth of love, rivalry, and discontent, Graham’s novels conjure up the lashing rains, the wild winds, and the crashing seas of 18th century Cornwall as his plots roar along the coastline. If you start with book one (a sensible choice) you’ll meet Ross Poldark as he returns from war in America. A Mr Darcy-come-Robin Hood hero, he rescues an urchin girl from a brawl and employs her as his maid — an act which will alter the course of his life for the next twelve books. Did I mention there are twelve?

20. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

The best historical romance novels must all make great TV, because here’s another one that inspired a super sexy series. Before it became an epic costume drama, Gabaldon’s time-travelling novel introduced us to former British combat nurse, Claire Randall, and her roguish young love interest, Scotts warrior Jamie Fraser. There’s only one thing keeping this gorgeous couple apart…several centuries. On a trip to the Highlands with her husband Frank, Claire tumbles back in time to 1743, and finds herself caught between two very different lives, and two very different men. If you’re looking for a best-selling romance novel that’s got it all — passion, intrigue, danger, and time travel — Outlander is your one!

21. A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

A recent release that’s already considered vintage Allende, A Long Petal of the Sea is suffused with a vibrant sense of time and place as it traces its story through forty years of authoritarian rule in Spain. Allende’s novel begins when pregnant widow, Roser, and her brother-in-law, Victor, flee fascist Spain aboard a ship chartered by the poet Pablo Neruda. Arriving in Chile, they immediately embroil themselves in a tangled web of characters connected by love and tragedy. A Long Petal of the Sea is a masterful historical romance novel, tinged with Allende’s hallmark magical realism . Don’t sleep on this one!

22. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

Living a quiet life and working in her family’s seafood restaurant in late 19th century England, Nan King is happy just the way she is — that is until Kitty Butler, a male impersonator and performer, whirls into her line of sight. Enchanted by her performances, Nan finally manages to meet Kitty and ends up becoming her dresser. The two head for big cities that Nan has never even dreamed of — and a passionate romance unfurls backstage that rivals the action onstage. For fans of historical fiction and lesbian romance, this rollercoaster of a novel will take you on exhilarating ride, filled with titillating insight into the raunchy underbelly of 1890s England and the thrill of forbidden love.

23. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks

Beginning during WWI and spanning three generations, Sebastian Faulks’ Birdsong is an epic novel about the power of war to strip everything from you, whether that be home, family, dignity — or love. With a few key couples dominating the pages in the style of Anna Karenina , we see the action through their eyes and feel their struggle to maintain hope after endless sacrifices. For those inspired by stories of love in the time of war, Birdsong evokes classics like War and Peace , wrapping wartime drama in a healthy coating of romance, intrigue, and sacrifices for the greater good.

Contemporary Romance

24. call me by your name by andré aciman.

A long, hot Italian summer provides the backdrop to an equally steamy romance in Call Me by Your Name , the story of a young man’s romance with his family’s lodger. As tender and heartfelt as it is intense and passionate, Elio and Oliver’s love affair begins awkwardly, slowly, and tacitly, before building to unprecedented heights as the summer draws to a close. A modern classic of LGBT+ literature, this exploration of first love and sexual awakening is vividly realised, and astonishingly honest. The second you’re through reading, you’re sure to be clamouring for more. Luckily for you, Aciman released a sequel last year — so you won’t have to say goodbye to Elio and Oliver just yet.

25. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

When Henry and Clare bump into one another at the local library, it’s a classic meet-cute. Except, it’s not. Because Clare and Henry have met each other before —  in fact, she’s known him her whole life. As it turns out, Henry’s a time traveler, and Clare is his future wife. A rare genetic condition causes Henry to jump uncontrollably along the timeline of Clare’s life. They decide to give things a shot after their ‘first meeting’, but, despite their deep love for one another, they face  lots of challenges along the way; after all, it’s hard to keep up a relationship when one party is constantly dropping in and out of reality. Niffenegger’s touching novel is sure to pull at your heartstrings, as she leads us to consider how free will and destiny combine to determine who we end up loving.

26. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Stella loves logic. The problem is, love isn’t logical. A highflying mathematician, she’s never put much thought into finding a romantic partner. But when she decides it’s finally time to settle down, Stella comes up with a characteristically pragmatic plan: she’ll hire someone to teach her how to do it. Enter Michael, a handsome escort, who usually doesn’t do repeat customers. When he agrees to give Stella lessons in love, he finds himself drawn deeper into her life; suddenly, Stella isn’t the only one who’s learning. A charming and affectionate portrayal of the love life of a neurodivergent woman, The Kiss Quotient is a breath of fresh air — we doubt you’ll have read a romance quite like this before.

27. When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri

When Katie Met Cassidy is every inch the classic Nora Efron-style rom-com, with one simple difference — both our protagonists are women. Katie is a small town girl, reeling from the breakdown of her engagement. Cassidy is a high powered businesswoman, living and thriving in New York’s gay scene. A chance meeting is enough to cement their fate, and the two women are drawn uncontrollably to one another. Joyous, hilarious, and deeply sexy, Perri’s novel is not just an exploration of sexuality and gender nonconformity, but a sparkling subversion of the romantic comedy form.

28. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Will Traynor is living a lonely life. Recently left quadriplegic by a motorcycle accident, his formerly fast-paced life has ground to a halt. Enter Lou; bubbly, funny sunshine in human form. Will’s mother has hired her to help care for Will, in the hopes of lifting his perpetually dour mood, but the intrusion is not a welcome one — at least at first. Over time, the two come to understand one another a little better, though Will remains insistent on keeping Lou at arm’s length, while she struggles to understand what he’s so afraid of. Will she be able to break down his walls? You’ll shed a tear or two, but you won’t be able to resist falling in love with Me Before You.

29. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin’s best-selling romance novel is for every woman that’s been the sidekick in a lopsided friendship. In this story, it’s Rachel White: hard-working attorney, consummate good girl, and diligent maid of honour to her dazzling best friend Darcy — who happens to be marrying the man that Rachel is in love with. Yeah, that wasn’t part of the plan. ( Well , she did set them up, but what are best friends for?) Things start to spiral out of control when Rachel drunkenly confesses her feelings to Darcy’s fiancé, and is both delighted and devastated to hear he feels the same way. It might be a classic romance trope , but this knotty love triangle will have you on the edge of your seat to the very end.

30. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Probably the best romance novel of 2019, Casey McQuiston’s queer, royal love story didn’t just take the New York Times bestseller list by storm, it broke the internet. A kaleidoscope of popular influences, dripping in internet lingo, Ariana Grande references, and memes aplenty, Red, White & Royal Blue is the book we were screaming for. It’s set in an alternate reality where in 2016, a Democrat became the first female president of the US, and follows First Son Alex — a twenty-something, biracial, modern-day Kennedy. The action begins at a royal wedding, when Alex is told to play nice with his childhood nemesis, the Prince of Wales. As the famous pair fake a bromance for the cameras, behind the scenes… well , you know where this is going.

31. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Lucy Hutton doesn’t dislike Joshua Templeman. She doesn’t reluctantly tolerate him. She hates him. And she has to sit across from his joyless, infuriatingly handsome face every day . To be fair to Joshua, the feeling’s mutual. Lucy’s a people pleaser — the kind who wears yellow to work — and she pushes all his buttons. Now they’re up for the same promotion, and this bitter workplace rivalry is about to reach boiling point. But when tensions run high, you know what they say: there’s a thin line between love and hate. Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game is an unmissable treat for anyone who loves a rom-com about that undeniable spark between nemeses.

32. Normal People by Sally Rooney

Sally Rooney was recognised as both a gifted writer and a perceptive and nuanced observer, when she released her debut novel Conversations With Friends . In Normal People, she captures the zeitgeist with the same subtlety and skill. It’s an intimate love story of deceptive simplicity: Marianne and Connell are two mismatched young people —unlikely friends, unlikely lovers — who share a profound understanding. However, as their small town lives in rural Ireland are eclipsed by the heady and confusing world of student Dublin, the ways in which they mould each other reveal a universal truth about the lasting impact that one person can have on another. Dripping with longing and regret, and steered by two deeply vulnerable characters, this novel remains immensely readable — one of the best romance novels of the 21st century.

33. Beach Read by Emily Henry

Henry’s smart and steamy page-turner, Beach Read, gave us all a sizzling slice of the summer romance we missed out on in 2020. In an effort to crack a crippling case of writer’s block, January, a hopeless romantic, and Gus, who thinks happy endings are for fairy tales, don’t swap numbers, but genres. Before the summer is out, January must write the next great work of literary fiction , while Gus has to pen a bestselling romance novel. Two writers, two beach huts, and plenty of whipcrack banter — let’s hope Henry is an author with a soft spot for happily-ever-after.

34. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

Everything in Lily’s life seems to be falling into place. She’s got a new place in Boston, her own business, and she’s convinced gorgeous neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid to break his “no-dating” rule. Her old life in small-town Maine certainly seems a long way behind her. But as questions about her new relationship, and Ryle’s stubborn aversion to dating, begin to overwhelm her, Lily can’t help but wonder about Atlas Corrigan — her first love, and a link to the world she left behind. So when Atlas appears in Boston, everything she has with Ryle is suddenly thrown into question. This unforgettable tale is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling; prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

35. The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory

A New York Times bestselling romance novel and a favorite among book clubs and celebrity book-lovers alike, The Proposal is a fun and flirty novel about a second chance at love. Guillory kicks off with a man on one knee; it’s not the usual way to start a love story, but this proposal isn’t followed by happily ever after. When Nik’s boyfriend asks her to spend the rest of her life with him, saying no isn’t the hard part (the guy can’t even spell her name right!) — it’s doing it in front of a stadium full of disappointed baseball fans. Luckily, handsome doctor Carlos is there to sweep her away from the frenzy and into an epic rebound of food, fun, and fantastic sex. But how serious can their glorified hookups get before someone slams on the brakes?

36. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Part tragic romance, part coming-of-age, part war trauma — Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a heart-wrenching, expansive look at a lot of hard truths. Little Dog, a Vietnamese refugee in the U.S. and protagonist of this semi-autobiographical novel, tries to find solace in the small comforts of his life in the working class town of Hartford, Connecticut but realizes that he wants to grow beyond his current horizons. The reader follows Little Dog as he chases the American Dream, pursues a growing romance with a farm boy who’s struggling with his family’s homophobia, and questions how to be happy in the shadow of grief and trauma. A raw, poetic, and dark experience, if you enjoy a large helping of hardship and identity crises with your romance, this might be your cup of tea.

37. Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Go to jail or marry the mystery man her father has set her up with — headstrong Daisy Devreaux chooses the latter. Her new husband, Alex Markov, is a deadpan grade-A jerk who seems to have no patience for Daisy’s bourgeois tastes and flights of fancy. But as they work on restoring a rundown traveling circus, their growing influence on each other becomes impossible to ignore. Fans of stubborn romantic leads (à la Annie and Frank from Annie Get Your Gun ), quirky settings, and the time-tested city-girl-in-the-country trope may find a winner in Kiss An Angel .

38. Vision in White by Nora Roberts

Mackensie Elliott is head of her own wedding planning business and firmly believes she’s better at capturing other people’s special days than she would be at experiencing her own. But when Mackensie hits it off with the seemingly humdrum Carter Maguire, a high school English teacher who’s definitely not her type, her friends encourage her to make the first move. What begins as a casual fling becomes something more, and Mackensie has to ask herself if she’s willing to step out from behind her cool and collected facade and seize her own happiness. Readers looking for a tentative slow burn and a strong female lead will find a perfect match in Roberts’ charming Vision in White .

Young Adult Romance

39. twilight by stephenie meyer.

It’s faced more than its fair share of backlash, derision, and parody, but it’s impossible to deny that few books have influenced the cultural zeitgeist as much as Twilight . It’s the book that led a generation of teenage girls to genuinely debate whether vampires or werewolves were hotter, and that launched an entire renaissance of paranormal romance books . No matter what the critics say, it’s the definitive high school romance turned struggle against a vampiric death cult — so why not revisit Twilight mania, and see what all the hype was about? Oh, and P.S., we’re totally team Edward.

40. Forever . . . by Judy Blume

‘Sybil Davison has a genius IQ and has been laid by at least six different guys’. So begins Judy Blume’s Forever… Is it any wonder that this YA book has been a favorite under-the-covers read ever since its release in the 70’s? This refreshingly honest presentation of teenage sexuality was deeply controversial because of its raunchy subject matter — it’s even been banned from several libraries — but it remains a classic. Katherine and Michael’s high school romance is a charming coming-of-age story that’s sure to have you laughing and cringing in equal parts.

41. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Imagine if all your high school crushes suddenly knew every embarrassing thought you’ve ever had about them. That’s what happens to Lara Jean, a sixteen-year-old girl whose life is turned upside down when letters she’s written to all the boys she’s ever loved — letters that the recipients were never supposed to see — are sent. Naturally, the fallout is chaotic. Jenny Han’s sugary sweet novel not only spent 40 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, it was also adapted into a blockbusting movie. If there’s one thing you should take away from this one, it’s to keep your top secret love letters under lock and key.

42. The Selection by Kiera Cass

Fans of dystopian novels (think The Hunger Games ) will find a lot to love in The Selection, the first in Kiera Cass’ Selection series. After being selected to compete for the heart of a Prince, America is forced to leave behind her home and the boy she secretly loves but cannot be with. What she doesn’t expect is to start falling for the handsome prince. With a Netflix adaptation in the works, now’s your chance to get ahead of the hype and join this YA series’ cult following before it’s cool.

43. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

An internet phenomenon that has a special place in the hearts of superfans everywhere, Rainbow Rowell’s young adult romance is as charming as it is candid. Cath is a fanfiction-writing, premiere-attending, card-carrying fangirl. Her twin sister Wren used to be the same, But now they’re in college, Wren has lost interest in geeky pursuits — she’s far too busy partying, making friends, and being cool. She’s also lost interest in Cath. Without her sister for the first time, Cath is forced to navigate the confusion and loneliness of being a freshman all alone. Will the cute guy in her creative writing class be a welcome distraction? How about her new roommate’s friendly ex-boyfriend...?

44. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Another Rainbow Rowell novel met with critical acclaim, Eleanor & Park is an urgent, breathless, gut-punch of a love story about two teen misfits and one life-changing school year. It’s 1986 when Eleanor arrives in her new town, all chaotic red hair and mismatched clothes. She takes a seat on the school bus and finds herself next to Park — quiet, understated, and impossibly cool. Carefully yet wholeheartedly, over late night phone calls and countless mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. It’s that pure, fear-laced, heartbreaking kind of love you only experience when you’re sixteen — and trust us, your heart will melt.

45. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

When Anna’s father ships her off to boarding school in Paris, she’s less than thrilled to be leaving behind her friends in Atlanta — especially that cute guy she works with at the multiplex. But all is forgiven (and cute coworkers forgotten) when she meets Etienne St. Clair. He’s charming, smart, gorgeous...and tragically taken. But hearts have a way of coming together in the City of Love. So if Anna plays her cards right, her senior year might just end with the perfect first kiss. Relive the flutters of first love in Perkins’ wonderfully cheesy tale of crushes, complications, and croissants.

46. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

It’s 1987 and a hot summer’s day in El Paso, Texas, when Ari and Dante meet at a swimming pool. On the face of things, they have nothing in common. Ari is guarded, angry, and struggling to feel like he belongs. Dante is an open-hearted know-it-all, still figuring out who he is. But, as they spend the summer learning about each other, and discovering themselves, a friendship floods the lives of these two loners like a golden light. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a tender and lyrical reminder that love in all its many forms should be open, deep, and without shame.

47. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

High school junior Simon has a lot on his mind; but when a stray email falls into the wrong hands and he’s blackmailed by class clown Martin, he’s forced to play along — or he’ll be outed as gay, along with his increasingly flirtatious pen pal. As his friend group starts to fray and the situation becomes increasingly tenuous, Simon will have to keep up with the pace of change, or risk the life he knows crashing down around his ears. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a gay romance filled with warm fuzzies, dry humor, and supportive friendships. Albertalli’s feel-good novel is still able, however, to flirt with some bigger questions about homophobia and the experience of being a closeted teen in the American South.

48. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

In this romantic retelling of a perennial Classics favorite, Homer’s Iliad , Madeline Miller casts Patroclus as the awkward but lovable ancient Grecian nerd to Achilles’ jock. As the unlikely duo fight in battle, quarrel, and form a bond that grows deeper every day, their conflicting beliefs about the Trojan War threaten to tear them apart. Miller, a classics teacher herself, takes up Homer’s thread of lyrical prose while adding her own unique style and story elements. If you’re partial to Rick Riordan (who, incidentally, gave this book a glowing review !) and his ancient mythology series, but wished they had a more mature and romantic tone, look no further than The Song of Achilles.

49. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto is trying to recover from a family tragedy, supported by his friends and his girlfriend Genevieve. But when Aaron starts spending his time almost exclusively with new boy Thomas, he quickly comes to a number of realizations that he’s not altogether thrilled with. At the same time, a slot opens up for a memory-alteration procedure at the Leteo Institute, and Aaron has the choice of wiping the things he’d rather not dwell on out of his head forever. A grittier take on young adult romance, More Happy Than Not goes deep into themes of depression, homophobia, and suicide, while exploring the scientific possibilities of the not-too-distant future .

50. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

For three years, Hazel’s life has been nothing but terminal. Diagnosed with incurable cancer at the age of thirteen, she’s never had the chance to experience the thrilling awkwardness of being a teenager. In an attempt to find kids who understand, Hazel’s mother forces her to attend a truly miserable cancer support group. Enter: Augustus Waters. A charming, and unremarkably handsome amputee with an alarming optimism for life, Gus is a much-needed plot twist in the story of Hazel Grace. Bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is a witty tour de force about the thrilling and tragic business of being alive, and a heartbreaking (but never depressing) story about a love that lasts ‘forever, within the numbered days.’

Regency Romance

51. the grand sophy by georgette heyer.

When Sophia Stanton-Lacy is dropped on her aunt’s doorstep by her diplomat father, she’s not quite what any of her extended family were expecting. Self-assured, confident, and more than a touch rebellious, the beautiful and charismatic Sophy sweeps through London like a breath of fresh air. In the opinion of her stern cousin Charles, however, that fresh air feels more like a hurricane. This witty, sophisticated tale of societal intrigue and domestic dramas has a lot to offer Austen fans, and Heyer’s pacy comedy-of-manners is served with a generous helping of heart-stopping romance.

52. Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

Annabelle needs a rich husband, and fast. Her family are in dire financial straits, and she must use every tool at her disposal to save them. There’s one major issue, however — her most tenacious suitor, entrepreneur Simon Hunt, has no interest in marrying her. As Annabelle struggles to resist his advances and keep her head in the game, Simon finds the chase even more exciting. This steamy regency romance is the first book in Kleypas’ mega-popular Wallflowers series, so once you’ve devoured this one (and we bet you will) there’s plenty left to enjoy.

53. Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale

A devilishly debonair womanizer is suddenly interred in an insane asylum, having suffered a stroke. The sheltered and naïve Maddy, fascinated by his scandalous reputation, is tasked with his care. Despite her Quaker upbringing and the brutality of their surroundings, the unlikely pair find themselves swept up in a passionate and intense love affair. As she grows closer to the Duke of Jervaux, Maddy begins to realise his playboy facade conceals hidden depths. New York Times bestseller Kinsale reminds us there’s often much more than meets the eye in this gripping, steamy, and desire-drenched novel.

54. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Lord of Scoundrels may be the third in its series, but we can’t resist including it on this list. One of the most well-known and well received historical romance novels of all time , this regency read has had readers seriously hot under the starched collar for 25 years. When the independent and beautiful Jessica Trent rolls into town to save her brother from the influence of the caddish Sebastian, the two engage in a fierce battle of wits. When the tension between them reaches fever pitch, they’re caught in a compromising situation at a society party. Will Sebastian do what’s right to save Jessica’s reputation, or is he really as unscrupulous as she always suspected?

Erotic Romance

55. fifty shades of grey by e. l. james.

You’ve probably already read Fifty Shades — it was the biggest selling book of the 2010’s, after all. But if the pop culture phenomenon somehow passed you by, it’s never too late to give this kinky thriller a try. The story of hunky, troubled billionaire Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, a naïve student who (quite literally) falls headfirst into his life, started out as self-published Twilight fanfiction. Who could have imagined that this steamier-than-a-sauna novel would go on to sell over 125 million copies!

56. Delta of Venus by Anaïs Nin

If there’s one thing more exciting than erotic fiction, it’s vintage erotic fiction. If you’re looking for retro erotica with a disarming feminist twist , look no further than Delta of Venus, a collection of 15 short stories written by Anais Nin in the 1940s. In sexy bitesize chunks, Nin regales us with stories of torrid love affairs and passionate trysts, told in what Nin herself refers to as ‘women's language, seeing sexual experience from a woman's point of view’. It’s as gorgeous as it was groundbreaking.

57. Twice In A Lifetime by Clare Lydon

Would you take a second chance at first love? This is the dilemma that Sally and Harriet face in Twice in a Lifetime . Teenage sweethearts, they broke up when Harriet moved away to college, breaking Sally’s heart. But a chance luggage mix-up at the airport brings them crashing back together. The sexual tension is heavy — but the emotional baggage is, too. Is it worth another shot? Scorching sex scenes are balanced out by genuine warmth and deeply likeable main characters in this LGBTQ+ erotic novel.

58. Rush by Maya Banks

Forbidden desire takes center stage in Rush, the first book in bestselling author Maya Banks’ Breathless trilogy, which follows the exploits of three very handsome, very successful, and very debauched business partners. Rush focuses on Gabe, who finds himself in a tight spot when he lays eyes on his best friend’s younger sister for the first time in several years. The attraction is instant. But will he get what he wants, or will outside forces intervene? Raunchy and compulsively readable, you’ll be rushing (pun intended) to find out what happens next in this erotic page-turner.

59. Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Another self-publishing success story in the vein of Fifty Shades of Grey, Sylvia Day’s Bared to You boasts a similarly devoted fan base — and a similarly intense love story. It’s often heartwarming, and always hot, but Bared to You is much more than just titillating. The story of Eva, a sexual assault survivor navigating her way to a healthy romantic life is surprisingly heartfelt. You’ll find you can’t help but root for our heroine as she finds love with the charismatic and equally complicated Gideon.

60. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Scotland’s answer to Fifty Shades of Grey , this erotic romance novel is much more than just “innocent young graduate meets gorgeous billionaire and dot, dot, dot” . Jocelyn and Braden — the innocent young graduate and gorgeous billionaire, respectively — are exquisitely written characters, engaged in a captivating and bittersweet love story. They meet when Jocelyn moves to Edinburgh and takes up an apartment in a building owned by Braden. He immediately feels an intense attraction, but, knowing Jocelyn’s past has left her guarded, Braden proposes a ‘no-strings-attached’ arrangement. Witty dialogue and steamy sex scenes ensue, but how long can the fun last before they want more than just mind-blowing passion?

Developed a taste for fiery love stories? Why not check out our guide to New Adult books and their sleek, steamy collegiate romances?

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FAMOUS AUTHORS

  • Top 10 Greatest Romance Authors of All Time

Romance Authors

At first mention, it is hard to categorically accept Jane Austen as a romance author even though she has penned some of the best romantic fiction novels of the English literature including Pride and Prejudice (1813), Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Persuasion (1818). Unlike other contemporary writers, Austen’s novels intersperse love with societal elements having a great deal of emphasis on social norms and female characters.

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” ― Jane Austen, Pride And Prejudice

Charlotte Brontë

Most accredited for bringing something new to the table with her gothic melodrama in romantic fictions, Charlotte Brontë was another gifted writer who raised the benchmark for romantic novels with her all-time classic: Jane Eyre (1847). The novel tells the story of an orphan governess who makes the dreadful mistake of falling in love with her employer.

Emily Brontë

Shakespeare, Austen and Charlotte Brontë are sometimes believed to be only close runner ups against Emily Brontë’s literary masterpiece, Wuthering Heights (1847). The book challenged 19th century Victorian norms about social class, gender, religion and morality. It is unfortunate that her only published novel received widespread criticism in its initial years and Emily did not live to see how it gradually gained acceptability to become one of the most widely read and favourite love stories of all time.

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” ― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

Margaret Mitchell

American journalist and author Margaret Mitchell is the fourth participant in this category owing to her Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Gone With the Wind (1937) which sold more than 30 million copies and was converted into a an academy award winning film. Mitchell began her love stories fetish as a child and went on to write adventure books and later even directed plays. Her second novel, Lost Laysen (1996) – a manuscript discovered after her death- is also a love story set in the South Pacific.

“Well, my dear, take heart. Someday, I will kiss you and you will like it. But not now, so I beg you not to be too impatient.” ― Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

Audrey Niffenegger

Writer, academic, visual artist and most lauded as a graphic novelist, Audrey Niffenegger is an American born 21st century Renaissance woman. Her romantic novel is distinct because of its mix with science fiction in The Time Traveler’s Wife (2003) which sold over seven million copies, translated in forty languages and was adapted into a film. Rumour has it that Niffenegger was troubled with her own love life during the time the she wrote this novel which makes it even more poignant.

“Don’t you think it’s better to be extremely happy for a short while, even if you lose it, than to be just okay for your whole life?” ― Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler’s Wife

Nicholas Sparks

Arguably one of the world’s most loved romantic storytellers, Nicholas Sparks is an American producer, screenwriter and novelist with seventeen novels to his credit as well as one non fiction book. Nine of his novels were translated into films including The Notebook (1996), A Walk to Remember (1999), Dear John (2006) and Safe Haven (2010) to name a few.

“I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough.” ― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts also known as J.D.Robb, Jill March or Sarah Hardesty, is one of the world’s bestselling authors and has been revered for rewriting the rules of romantic fiction. She has written 209 romance novels, is a founding member and inductee of Romantic Writers of America’s Hall of Fame, was awarded RWA Lifetime Achievement Award and was an unprecedented 21 of the RWA’s RITA Awards-the highest honor awarded in the romance genre.

Magic exists. Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind and the silence of the stars? Anyone who has loved has been touched by magic. It is such a simple and such an extraordinary part of the lives we live. ― Nora Roberts, Charmed

Jude Deveraux

Famous for merging history with romance, Jude Deveraux is a popular romance novelist with 36 of her novels being featured in The New York Times Bestseller List as of 2010, had over 60 million copies sold and her work has been translated into 18 languages. Her love-stories revolve around humour, history, and adventure. A Knight and Shining Armour (2002) is believed to be her best work thus far.

“There are some things that are as ancient as time, and knowing when a man desires you is one of those.” ― Jude Deveraux, Secrets

Julie Garwood

Many say that that storytelling comes naturally to the Irish and this was also true for  Julie Garwood who takes pride in her Irish heritage. She has written more than twenty-seven novels in romance and historical genres, sold over thirty-five million copies and remained New York Times Bestsellers for 24 of her novels. Julie’s goal is to make her readers cry and laugh and fall in love altogether whilst reading her books.

“I know the truth now. You’ve figured out I’m falling in love with you and you’re trying to make me stop by hurting me this way. Well it won’t work. ― Julie Garwood, The Wedding

Judith McNaught

Her very first novel, Whitney My Love (1985) won a Romantic Times Award which speaks for itself when it comes to this bestseller writer who, over the years, has McNaughtized millions. Until You (1994), Remember When (1996) and Night Whispers (1998) and five more novels were a smashing success in the romantic genre category too as they hit number 1 on the NY Times Bestsellers list.

“There will be a few times in your life when all your instincts will tell you to do something, something that defies logic, upsets your plans, and may seem crazy to others. When that happens, you do it. Listen to your instincts and ignore everything else. Ignore logic, ignore the odds, ignore the complications, and just go for it.” ― Judith McNaught, Remember When

Also Read: Top 10 Famous Romance Novels of All Time

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Humanities LibreTexts

6.1: The Romantic Period (1798–1832)

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Learning Objectives

  • Trace the political and philosophical roots of Romanticism.
  • Compare and contrast neoclassicism and Romanticism.
  • List and define characteristics of Romanticism.
  • Explain the significance of Wordsworth’s and Coleridge’s 1798  Lyrical Ballads , and outline the major tenets of Wordsworth’s 1802 Preface to  Lyrical Ballads .
  • List, define, and give examples of typical forms of Romantic literature.

The Roots of Romanticism

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Tintern Abbey and the River Wye in Tintern, Wales.

Often the term  Romantic  literature, particularly poetry, evokes the connotation of nature poetry. Although nature is an important component in much Romantic literature, Romanticism is much more than recording the beauties of the natural world. And  Romanticism  is certainly not what modern readers usually think of when we hear the words  romance  and  romantic ; Romanticism does not refer to romantic love.

Romanticism  grew from a profound change in the way people in the Western world perceived their place and purpose in life. Events such as the American Revolution in 1776, the  French Revolution  in 1789, and the  Industrial Revolution  restructured society and the way individuals viewed themselves and their relationship to each other and to the social order.

In the late 18th and early 19th century, concepts such as the Great Chain of Being, which had long represented the way humans thought of themselves and their roles in society, crumbled in the wake of new ideas about democracy. Rather than placing themselves above or below other individuals in a hierarchy, people began to believe that all men are created equal. Although it took more time to be accepted, the idea that women and people of color are also created equal germinated in the fertile environment of democratic ideals.

Nature and Spirit

European philosophers such as  Rousseau  and  Spinoza  maintain that innocence and the potential for human goodness are found in nature; human institutions, such as governments, produce pride, greed, and inequality. Thus nature, and people close to nature, becomes the ideal for Romantic writers.

Nature takes on additional significance with the ideas of philosophers such as  Schelling  who posits an identity of mind and nature: “Nature is visible spirit.…” For poets such as Wordsworth and Coleridge, nature is a source of divine revelation, a visible veil through which God may be discerned. For others such as Shelley, nature is the means to tapping into the collective power of the human mind, what American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson refers to as the Over-Soul. Nature is the source of human innocence and goodness because nature is a manifestation of the Divine.

For Romantic writers, then, the source of poetry is not a conscious crafting of lines of a certain number of syllables in a certain metrical pattern and rhyme scheme, like the 18th-century heroic couplet. Instead, the source of literature is the inspiration that comes from connecting, through nature, with the divine or the transcendental properties of the human mind. Romantic writers use the term  Imagination  to refer to this connection. The power of God to create nature is parallel to the poet’s power to create through the Imagination. In his  A Defence of Poetry , Percy Bysshe Shelley states that the Imagination “strips the veil of familiarity from the world, and lays bare the naked and sleeping beauty, which is the spirit of its forms.” In his “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey,” Wordsworth writes of “A motion and a spirit, that impels / All thinking things…” that he finds in nature. In his “The Eolian Harp,” Coleridge pictures all of nature, including humans, as harps creating music when touched by the breeze of Imagination, the “One life” that is “in us and abroad.”

Sturm und Drang

One facet of Romanticism also recognizes the dark side of the human mind. Originating in Germany, the  Sturm und Drang  (usually translated “storm and stress”) movement pictures an anti-hero, a character dark in appearance, mood, and thought, in rebellion against the restrictions of society.  Ann Radcliffe  and others wrote  Gothic novels  that typically feature picturesque yet haunted medieval castles and ruins, supernatural elements, death, madness, and terror. Gothic elements appear in many Romantic works: Heathcliff and the ghost of Catherine in Emily Brontë’s  Wuthering Heights , the mad wife in Charlotte Brontë’s  Jane Eyre , Mary Shelley’s  Frankenstein . Jane Austen’s  Northanger Abbey  delightfully parodies the Gothic novel. In poetry, Byron’s narrative poems feature dark, brooding anti-heroes called Byronic heroes, a role Byron played himself in his personal life. The Tate Britain provides  an online tour  through a previous exhibit of paintings that illustrate Romantic Gothic art.

Romanticism and Neoclassicism

Romanticism is a reaction against many facets of Neoclassicism. The following chart lists contrasting views of Neoclassicism and Romanticism.

Characteristics of Romantic Literature

  • medievalism —Rather than looking for forms and subject matter from classical literature, Romantic-era writers prefer nostalgic views of the Middle Ages as a simple, less complicated time not troubled by the complexities and divisive issues of industrialization and urbanization. Often a Romantic medieval vision is not realistic, ignoring the violence and harshness of the Middle Ages with its religious persecution, political wars, poverty among the lower classes in favor of a fairy tale view of knights in shining armor rescuing beautiful damsels in distress. Or, from another perspective, the castles and mysterious aura of the so-called Dark Ages provide an ideal setting for Gothic literature.
  • mysticism —Romantic mysticism is the belief that the physical world of nature is a revelation of a spiritual or transcendental presence in the universe. Mysticism is not pantheism (worshipping nature). Romantic writers would worship not the tree, but the spiritual, sublime element manifested by the tree. Romantic literature, particularly poetry, is often characterized as nature poetry; mysticism explains the evident love of nature. Romantic writers love nature not only for its beauty but primarily because it is an expression of spirituality and the Imagination.
  • sensibility —When Jane Austen titled her novel  Sense and Sensibility , she set up the dichotomy between rationalism and the emotional enthusiasm that was a reaction, often an exaggerated reaction, to the reason and logic prized in neoclassicism. In his  Preface to Lyrical Ballads , Wordsworth defined poetry as the “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” The overwhelming emotional reaction to nature seen in Wordsworth’s poetry, the emotional sensitivity to other individuals and their circumstances, particularly those from the lower socio-economic classes, and the supernatural evocation of terror in Gothic literature all are expressions of sensibility.
  • primitivism and individualism —Arising from two sources, philosophical theories that posit innocence is found in nature and the ideals of democracy, Romanticism values the primitive individual, the person who does not have the artificial manners of high society, the cultivated façade of the aristocracy. Individuals who are closer to nature are better able to recognize and exemplify goodness and spiritual discernment. Wordsworth espouses the common man and incidents from ordinary life as the appropriate subject for poetry. Romanticism places the individual in the center of life and experience.

Lyrical Ballads

Lyrical Ballads  is a collection of poems written and jointly published by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1798. The volume is of such importance that its 1798 publication date is often considered the beginning of the Romantic Period. The poetry in  Lyrical Ballads  marks a distinct change in both subject matter and style from the poetry of the 18th century.

William Wordsworth’s Preface to  Lyrical Ballads

In the 1802 edition of  Lyrical Ballads  Wordsworth includes a  Preface , an introductory explanation, to  Lyrical Ballads  to explain his theory of how poetry should be written.

The following points from the Preface delineate the characteristics that make these poems markedly different from poetry of the preceding century:

The language of poetry should be real language spoken by common people.

During the 18th century, many poets used what Wordsworth called “poetic diction,” flowery or ornate words for ordinary things such as feathery flock instead of birds or finny tribe instead of fish. Wordsworth protests that people don’t use such expressions; therefore poetry shouldn’t either. Notice also that much of Wordsworth’s poetry rejects the uniform stanzas and line lengths that were popular in the 18th century. Much of his poetry is free in form—lines and stanzas of varying lengths in the same poem, more like the “selection of language really used by men.”

The subject of poetry should be events from the real lives of common people.

Wordsworth believes that common, ordinary situations are worthy topics for poems, events such as farmers plowing their fields. He further believes that through the Imagination he could make his audience more aware of the significance of common scenes that they might otherwise take for granted.

  • “ All good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings ” and “takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility.” Thus Wordsworth identifies sensibility rather than reason as the source of poetry.
  • A poet is a “man speaking to men” but an individual who is extraordinarily perceptive.  Wordsworth believes that the power of the Imagination enables poets to perceive the spiritual dimension found in the ordinary, in, as Coleridge says, all of animate nature. Sensibility allows the poet to understand and to convey the inner being of man and nature.

Forms of Literature

A  novel , as famously defined in the Holman/Harmon  Handbook to Literature , is an “extended fictional prose narrative.” The novel flourished in the Romantic Period, encompassing novels previously listed by Anne Brontë, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, Mary Shelley, and Ann Radcliffe;  Sir Walter Scott ‘s historical novels, known as the Waverly Novels, set in medieval times and glorifying Scottish nationalism; and Jane Austen’s novels of manners, portraying the genteel country life of the Regency era.

Lyric Poetry

A  lyric  is a brief poem, expressing emotion, imagination, and meditative thought, usually stanzaic in form.

Romantic Ode

As used in the Romantic Period, the  ode  is a lyric poem longer than usual lyrics, often on a more serious topic, usually meditative and philosophic in tone and subject.

A  ballad  is a narrative poem or song. Ballads originated as songs that were part of an oral culture, usually simple and regular in rhythm and rhyme. The typical ballad stanza is 4 lines rhyming abab. Because of their simplicity and their role as part of folk culture, ballads were popular with many Romantic writers.

Key Takeaways

  • Romanticism grew from a political and philosophical milieu which promoted democracy, equated nature and spirit, and valued sensibility over reason.
  • Lyrical Ballads , published in 1798, is often considered the beginning of the Romantic period because Wordsworth’s and Coleridge’s poetry marks a distinct change in form and subject matter from neoclassical poetry.
  • In his Preface to the 1802 edition of  Lyrical Ballads , Wordsworth delineates the principles that define Romanticism and distinguish Romantic poetry from neoclassical poetry.
  • Important forms of Romantic literature are the novel, lyric poetry, odes, and ballads.

General Information

  • British Women Romantic Poets 1789–1832 . University of California, Davis. an electronic collection of texts.
  • “ Nineteenth-Century Literature .”  Literary History.com . Jan Pridmore.
  • Romantic Circles . Neil Fraistat and Steven E. Jones, editors. University of Maryland.
  • “ Romanticism .”  I Hear America Singing . Profiles: Artists, Movements, Ideas. Thomas Hampson. PBS.
  • “ Romanticism .” Lilia Melani. English Department. Brooklyn College. City University of New York.
  • Women Poets of the Romantic Period 1770–1839 . Special Collections. University Libraries. University of Colorado at Boulder.

French Revolution

  • “ The French Revolution .”  The National Archives .

Industrial Revolution

  • “ 1770s .” English Language and Literature Timeline. British Library.
  • “ The British Industrial Revolution .” Pamela E. Mack. Clemson University.
  • “ Child Labor .”  The Victorian Web . David Cody. Hartwick College.
  • “ The Life of the Industrial Worker in Nineteenth-Century England .”  The Victorian Web . Laura Del Col. West Virginia University.

Gothic Novels

  • “ Ann Radcliffe: An Evaluation .”  The Victorian Web . David Cody. Hartwick College.
  • “ Gothic Nightmares: Fuseli, Blake, and the Romantic Imagination .” Tate Britain. images of paintings in the Tate Britain museum displayed for an exhibit on Romantic Gothic art.
  • Mary Shelley’s Hand-Written Draft of Frankenstein .  Shelley’s Ghost: Reshaping the Image of a Literary Family . Bodleian Libraries. Oxford University Exhibit in partnership with the New York Public Library. virtual book with turnable pages and slideshow.
  • “ Sublime Anxiety: The Gothic Family and The Outsider .” University of Virginia Library.
  • “ Lyrical Ballads .” Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum. Wordsworth Trust.
  • “ Lyric .”  Literary Terms and Definitions . Dr. L. Kip Wheeler. Carson-Newman College.
  • “ Lyric .”  The UVic Writer’s Guide . The Department of English. University of Victoria.
  • “ The Meditative Romantic Ode .” Lilia Melani. English Department. Brooklyn College. City University of New York.
  • “ Novel .”  The UVic Writer’s Guide . The Department of English. University of Victoria.
  • “ Ode .”  Literary Terms and Definitions . Dr. L. Kip Wheeler. Carson-Newman College.
  • “ Ode .”  The UVic Writer’s Guide . The Department of English. University of Victoria.

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15 of the Top Contemporary Romance Authors

The top contemporary romance authors pen love stories that hold you spellbound. The best contemporary romance writers know how to pull you through the pages with whip-smart dialogue, realistic conflict, and complicated, flawed protagonists who feel relatable. This contemporary romance authors list includes both veteran writers alongside emerging newcomers who have already established themselves as new leaders in the genre.

And now for a roundup of the top contemporary romance authors….

Tessa bailey.

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Tessa Bailey is the author of some of the spiciest contemporary romance novels out there. A New York Times bestselling writer, Bailey has penned multiple series as well as standalone books. On her website , Bailey lists more than 12 series and 5 standalone reads. Readers who love Bailey know they’ll get steamy sex scenes and recognizable women protagonists who are always a bit of a hot mess.

Get started with reading Tessa Bailey by picking up Fix Her Up .

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In this book, the first in Bailey’s Hot and Hammered series , nobody takes children’s party planner Georgette “Georgie” Castle seriously. Georgie agrees to a fake relationship with former pro baseball player Travis Ford for mutual benefit. But is their relationship as real as their feelings for each other? You’ll fly through this one to find out.

How to read it: Purchase Fix Her Up on Amazon

Katherine center.

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I absolutely adore women’s fiction writer Katherine Center . Her heroines always seem relatable, almost always flawed and awkward and inexperienced with men (hmm, sounds a lot like me!). Center’s books are mostly closed-door love scenes. If you’re looking for hot sex stories, Center isn’t for you. But if you want a story grounded in true love and the truth it asks of us, Center’s books should be at the top of your TBR.

Get started with reading Katherine Center by picking up The Bodyguard .

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Hannah does not look like your typical bodyguard, but, small though she is, Hannah’s a certified pro. After a bad breakup, Hannah reluctantly takes up an assignment to guard hunky Hollywood actor Jack Stapleton. But this is no regular ask. Instead, Jack’s team plots with Hannah’s company to invent a reason for Hannah to be hanging around Jack all the time: that she’s his girlfriend. What could possibly go wrong? I read through this one in two short, breathless days.

How to read it: Purchase The Bodyguard on Amazon

Jenny colgan.

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I first encountered British author Jenny Colgan ‘s books almost ten years ago through one of her holiday themed stories. I had to import the books from the UK, but nowadays Colgan has successfully crossed the pond. Today you can go into your local bookstore and find her cozy, feel-good stories on the shelf alongside other American authors. What I love about her novels are their redemptive themes. Often, a heroine in one of Colgan’s many series is down on her luck and looking for a fresh start. Books, bakeries, and candy shops are where these spunky heroines find another chance at life, work, and love. Colgan is definitely one of the top contemporary romance authors.

Get started with reading Jenny Colgan by picking up Little Beach Street Bakery .

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If you’re looking to get started with reading Jenny Colgan, check out Little Beach Street Bakery , the first installment in a series of the same name . Polly lost her job and her boyfriend. When she moves into a seaside small town in the Cornwall, Polly turns her love for baking into a new business, one that will bring her healing, joy, and even love.

How to read it: Purchase Little Beach Street Bakery on Amazon

Olivia dade.

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Olivia Dade is quickly emerging as one of the top authors of modern love stories. What distinguishes Dade from the rest of the writers on this list of the best contemporary romance writers is her focus on body positive tales with fat heroes and heroines. When I read an Olivia Dade book, I know I’m getting a heroine who’s a little bit like me… chubby, adorkable, and always trying your best, despite whatever life throws at you.

Get started with reading Olivia Dade by picking up Spoiler Alert .

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In Spoiler Alert , the first in a series with the same title , Marcus Caster-Rupp is an actor on a hit TV series. But he also writes anonymous fan fiction about the series, just like April Whittier. When April’s photo is leaked online and she’s fat-shamed, Marcus asks her out to help her save face. But neither expect that their first date won’t be their last…

How to read it: Purchase Spoiler Alert on Amazon

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Whenever you pick up a Sonali Dev book, you know that you’ll be in good hands. Dev writes dreamy (and frisky!) romance novels that will have you believing in true love in stories that seem like they could happen to your average young woman. By writing books with characters who just need to get over their issues and understand they’re destined to be together, Dev pens stories you can’t put down, making her one of the top contemporary romance authors.

Get started with reading Sonali Dev by picking up Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors .

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Dev has an established series following the Rajes family. Each of the books in the series are Jane Austen retellings. Pick up Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors for your first Dev book. In this romance novel, Dr. Trisha Raje is an elite San Francisco-based neurosurgeon. When she meets DJ Caine, her extravagant family’s new head chef, Trisha can’t stand him. But soon they can’t deny their attraction to each other is simmering into something sexy.

How to read it: Purchase Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors on Amazon

Jasmine guillory.

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Who hasn’t heard of Jasmine Guillory ? It all started with Guillory’s debut, The Wedding Date in 2018. Now Guillory’s penned many bestsellers, showing off her prowess with multiple romance subgenres, like holiday romance and fairy tale retellings. Guillory’s books always feature pitch-perfect dialogue, undeniable chemistry between the leads, and will-they-won’t-they vibes that keep you turning pages.

Get started with reading Jasmine Guillory by picking up The Wedding Date .

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If you’re looking to read Jasmine Guillory’s contemporary romances, start with her debut, The Wedding Date , which has all of her signature spice and swoons. Drew is at the wedding of his ex and badly in need of a date. When he gets stuck in an elevator with Alexa, who for once lets her guard down and agrees impulsively to be Drew’s date. But when they part at the end, neither Drew nor Alexa can think of anything other than being together. Too bad they live opposite lives… but will true love bring them together forever? Good luck putting this one down as you try to find out.

How to read it: Purchase The Wedding Date on Amazon

Alexis hall.

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Some of the top contemporary romance authors are British, like Alexis Hall , who writes must-read queer romances that stand apart with their dazzling dialogue, page-turning stories rooted in love, and characters who feel so down-to-earth and complicated that they might as well be real people. Hall has written historical romance, like A Lady for a Duke , as well as contemporary books featuring gay couples and LGBT protagonists, like Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake .

Get started with reading Alexis Hall by picking up Boyfriend Material .

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Luc is the semi-famous son of two famous and now divorced musicians. With Luc’s dad staging a comeback, Luc knows he needs to be paparazzi-ready, so he convinces posh lawyer Oliver to be his fake boyfriend. I bet you can guess where this one goes—both Luc and Oliver start to feel something real—but getting there is an engrossing experience you won’t want to miss.

How to read it: Purchase Boyfriend Material on Amazon

Emily henry.

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Even though Emily Henry is a relatively newer writer, she’s undeniably made an impression on readers who love her smart and sexy stories that show why she’s one of the top contemporary romance authors. Henry’s books star heroines who have messy lives and even messier feelings for heroes who I wish were real. It’s no surprise that people turn to her when they want a fast read.

Get started with reading Emily Henry by picking up Book Lovers .

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Nora is a literary agent to big name authors, but her own personal story is more empty, especially because the men she dates leave her—the ultimate ice queen—for other women. When Nora’s beloved little sister Libby convinces Nora to take a vacation in a small Southern town, Nora agrees: she’d do anything for Libby. But is the tiny community big enough to contain the feels Nora gets for New York-based editor Charlie, who’s home visiting that same small town? I inhaled this novel in a few days.

How to read it: Purchase Book Lovers on Amazon

Talia hibbert.

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Talia Hibbert has burst on the scene and quickly become one of the top contemporary romance authors publishing today. Readers enjoy her diverse stories, which often highlight characters with disabilities, chubbier protagonists, and heroes and heroines from marginalized communities. Hibbert is a rising star who will soon reach the ranks of the more established writers on this list.

Get started with reading Talia Hibbert by picking up Get a Life, Chloe Brown .

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Chloe Brown has a chronic illness and killer computer geek skills. Chloe knows there must be more to life than this, so she drafts a list of things to do to “Get a life.” When she gets an apartment to try to establish her independence from her clingy family and cross one item off her list, Chloe runs into the building super, Red, who knows how to have a risky time. Together, Red and Chloe embark on a journey to live life to its fullest…. together.

How to read it: Purchase Get a Life, Chloe Brown on Amazon

Kristan higgins.

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Kristan Higgins was the first romance writer I’ve ever read, and I’ve both followed her newer titles and binge-read her older books. There’s a lot to tackle, with multiple series and standalone novels to devour. Higgins’ books are sweet romances, with no graphic sex scenes. But don’t be fooled; though her stories are closed-door love stories, they are just as emotionally charged with swoonworthy heroes and plucky heroines just trying to make it in a challenging world. I love Higgins’ work so much, I hoard her novels and save them for a day when I really need a cozy romance I know will put a smile on my face. Read her books and know why she’s certainly one of the top contemporary romance authors.

Get started with reading Kristan Higgins by picking up The Perfect Match .

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Though Higgins’ beloved Blue Heron Series stretches to five books, my favorite is the second, The Perfect Match . Honor is licking her wounds after being rejected by her dream crush, who is now engaged less than three weeks later. British professor Tom feels a duty to raise his stepson, but it’s going to be hard since his visa is about to expire. Honor and Tom agree to get him a green card. Once he gets it, they’ll split up, at least, according to the agreement they draw up. But the two grow close… perhaps too close…

How to read it: Purchase The Perfect Match on Amazon

Helen hoang.

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Helen Hoang has quickly become one of the top contemporary romance authors. It all started with The Kiss Quotient , a wholly original romance novel with neurodivergent characters. Hoang writes books with protagonists who have diverse brains and carnal cravings. By piling on a ton of plausible conflict to keep her hero and heroine apart, Hoang keeps you turning pages as you hope her characters get their HEA (Happily Ever After).

Get started with reading Helen Hoang by picking up The Kiss Quotient .

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In Helen Hoang’s celebrated debut, Stella Lane is a data scientist who has Asperger’s. Determined to master the skill of sex, she hires escort Michael Phan to teach her all she needs to know to be a woman who knows her way around a bed. But neither Michael nor Stella expect the feelings that grow between them.

How to read it: Purchase The Kiss Quotient on Amazon

Colleen hoover.

romantic writers are

Colleen Hoover has been writing romances with epic feels for years, but thanks to BookTok, her back catalog has exploded in popularity. Now you can’t go into a bookstore without encountering a display of her many novels. Hoover certainly belongs on any list of the top contemporary romance authors.

Get started with reading Colleen Hoover by picking up It Ends with Us .

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If you’re just beginning with Colleen Hoover, the must-read novel you’ll want to check out first is her most famous book, It Ends with Us . In this angst-ridden love story that hits you in the feels, Lily has overcome a lot in her life. When she starts up a steamy bond with hot neurosurgeon Ryle, it seems like they’ll be able to contain their feelings. But then rules get broken….

How to read it: Purchase It Ends with Us on Amazon

Abby jimenez.

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Abby Jimenez is an emerging writer who should be on the radar of anyone looking for the top contemporary romance authors. Jimenez’s books feature complex couples with heroes and heroines who often get in their own way. You’ll root for her characters to get their shit together and admit their feelings for each other. Featuring believable conflicts that push the h/H apart, Jimenez’s books will keep you hooked until the very last page.

Get started with reading Abby Jimenez by picking up The Friend Zone .

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Kristen will never let you know she’s hurting… she just puts on her game face and gets through life. When the book begins, Kristen is about to have a medically necessary surgery that will take having kids off of the table. Meeting Josh, the best man to her friend’s husband-to-be, makes Kristen reconsider her dating don’ts. But Josh wants a big family in the future, and Kristen could never give him that. Will they find a way forward? You’ll fly through this romance to find out.

How to read it: Purchase The Friend Zone on Amazon

Christina lauren.

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“Christina Lauren” is the pen name of best friends and writing partners Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Together, Christina Lauren belong on any list of the top contemporary romance authors. Unbelievably prolific, this team publishes one hit after another. I included their YA book A utoboyography on my list of the 20 best romance books for teens .

Get started with reading Christina Lauren by picking up The Unhoneymooners .

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If you’re looking for a good first book to get acquainted with Christian Lauren, try The Unhoneymooners . Olive is unlucky while her identical twin sister Ami coasts through life. At Ami’s wedding, she asks Olive to stick with the groom’s best man and Olive’s enemy, Ethan. After everyone at the wedding eats bad shellfish and comes down with food poisoning, Olive and Ethan claim the intended honeymoon to Hawaii. But while they start off at odds with each other, the experience brings them closer to something real. When they return home, who will come back: as arch rivals? Or as a new couple?

How to read it: Purchase The Unhoneymooners on Amazon

Casey mcquiston.

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The last name in this list of the top contemporary romance authors, Casey McQuiston pens LGBT romances for teens and adults. Her debut Red, White & Royal Blue is a compelling book you won’t forget that has also been adapted for film . McQuiston is the queen of the queer romcom and is rapidly becoming at the top of any list of the best contemporary romance authors.

Get started with reading Casey McQuiston by picking up Red, White & Royal Blue .

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You’ll want to start with Casey McQuiston’s debut, Red, White & Royal Blue . In this queer romance, Alex is the First Son of America’s first female president and rival of Prince Henry, the picture-perfect British royal. When they’re forced to tour together as a unity ruse, Alex and Henry bond. And then they fall for each other. And then things get complicated.

How to read it: Purchase Red, White & Royal Blue on Amazon

And there you have it, a roundup of the top contemporary romance authors. whose books will you read first, share this:, you might be interested in.

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Sarah S. Davis is the founder of Broke by Books, a blog about her journey as a schizoaffective disorder bipolar type writer and reader. Sarah's writing about books has appeared on Book Riot, Electric Literature, Kirkus Reviews, BookRags, PsychCentral, and more. She has a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Library and Information Science from Clarion University, and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

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11 Best Romance Authors to Add to Your Bookshelf Today

If you want to read a best-selling novel, you may reach for a romance novel, and these are the best romance authors out there.

In the United States, romance novels are some of the top-selling books of all time. Readers include both men and women, and the majority of the mass-market paperback fiction sales come from romance novels.

With so many authors publishing romance works, finding the right one to start reading feels challenging. This list will help narrow down your options to some of the best. 

Best Romance Authors Ranked

1. jane austen, 2. nora roberts, 3. beverly jenkins, 4. diana gabaldon, 5. danielle steel, 6. judith mcnaught, 7. julia quinn, 8. julie garwood, 9. lisa kleypas, 10. nicholas sparks, 11. sarah maclean, a final word on the best romance authors, who are the best romance authors, what is the best romance book, best authors reading list.

Whether you are looking for ideas for your own fiction writing or simply want to read a good romance novel, the authors on this list are a great place to start. These are the best romance authors to add to your bookshelf today. 

Jane Austen

Not all the best romance authors and books fall into steamy erotica. Jane Austen is a classic writer with six major novels. Her works have also been made into major motion pictures. 

Austen’s books capture life in the British landed gentry in the late 18th century. She explored the role of women in this society and wove quite a bit of romance, without sensuality, into her plots. Austen was born in 1775 to a prominent family and received her education at Oxford. She never married nor had any children but spent her life writing.

Though most of Jane Austen’s books are well-known in literature, Pride and Prejudice is perhaps the most famous. The story follows the smart Elizabeth Bennet as she falls in love with the charming Mr. Darcy. It has been the subject of many major motion pictures and a television mini-series.

Get the book on Amazon.

Pride and Prejudice: Deluxe Edition (Illustrated) - Golden Classics

  • Austen, Jane (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 306 Pages - 05/10/2021 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)

Other well-known Jane Austen books include Sense and Sensibility, Emma,  and Mansfield Park .

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts  was the first writer to enter the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. The New York Times bestselling author hails from Maryland. She tried her hand at writing for the first time while snowed in at home with her children. She married her current husband, Bruce Wilder, in 1985 and has traveled extensively.

Roberts is a prolific writer with over 220 novels to her name as of 2020. She publishes around five novels a year, and she also has several novellas to her name. Though technically romance books, they are also often placed under the suspense sub-genre. She also writes In Death books under the pseudonym  J.D. Robb .

Because she has so many books to her name, determining the best one is not easy, but many suggest starting with Black Hills . The book follows Cooper Sullivan; a rancher turned NYC investigator who finds love with his childhood friend while tracking down a violent killer. 

Black Hills

  • Roberts, Nora (Author)
  • 464 Pages - 05/25/2010 (Publication Date) - Berkley (Publisher)

Other popular titles include Birthright and Tribute , and for those who don’t like suspense, Vision in White and The Next Always are both strictly romance.

Beverly Jenkins

Beverly Jenkins  also merges romance with suspense in many of her novels. Jenkins was born in 1951 in Detroit and learned to love reading and writing from an early age. As an adult, she became a librarian, writing romance novels in her breaks. In 1994, she published her first work, Night Song.

Jenkins’ work is unique because she focuses on romances set in the 20th century but surrounding African-American culture. Her historical romance novels, thus, touch on a time period of African-American history that is often not written about. She has received many awards, including a Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award and a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance. 

Jenkins has 65 books to her name. However, her first book, Night Song , remains one of the most widely read. Readers appreciate the realistic love story between Cara and Chase as they navigate this book.

Night Song

  • Jenkins, Beverly (Author)
  • 384 Pages - 04/28/2009 (Publication Date) - Avon (Publisher)

Other popular books include Jewel, Deadly Sexy, and Winds of Storm .

Diana Gabaldon

Famous for the  Outlander  novels, which are now a popular television series,  Diana Gabaldon  is a best-selling author who merges historical fiction with sci-fi adventure and quite a bit of swoon-worthy romance. Born on January 11, 1952, Gabaldon holds a doctoral degree in ecology but makes her money as an author.

Before publishing  Outlander , Gabaldon worked as a comic book writer for Disney Comics. She also publishes technical articles and popular science articles, tapping into her extensive education.

Outlander  looks at what happens when 20th-century nurse, Claire Randall, gets stuck in a time travel loop, ending up in the 18th-century Scottish Highlands. Once there, she falls into a daring romance with James Fraser, despite having a husband in her own timeline. 

Outlander

  • Gabaldon, Diana (Author)
  • 850 Pages - 02/10/1992 (Publication Date) - Dell (Publisher)

Outlander is the first book in a romance series that Gabaldon is still writing. She also has the Lord John trilogy, which follows a secondary Outlander character, and several novellas set in the same world.

Danielle Steel

A list of contemporary romance writers would not be complete without discussing  Danielle Steel , perhaps one of the top-selling authors of all time. With over 900 million books in publication, including over 200 books published in 43 languages. She has earned multiple awards and accolades, including the Order of Arts and Letters from the French government and the Order of the Legion d’Honneur in Paris in 2014. 

When she is not writing, Steel is active in charitable work, with two foundations she founded and runs to address mental illness and help the homeless.

Choosing the best one is not easy with so many books to her name, but Fine Things remains one of her most popular. It follows the senior VP of a department store as he travels west to start a new store and, ultimately, find love. However, when the love story takes a tragic turn due to cancer, the main character must make some poignant decisions.

Fine Things: A Novel

  • Steel, Danielle (Author)
  • 432 Pages - 02/01/1988 (Publication Date) - Dell (Publisher)

Other popular titles include Palomino, Summer’s End, and The Gift .

Judith McNaught  has 14 novels and two short stories to her name, with over 30 million in print. She has won the Romantic Times Award for Best New Historical Novel, and several of her books have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. Before starting her career as a writer, she worked in radio, movies, and finance. 

McNaught writes both contemporary romance and historical romance books. In the 1990s, she entered the romantic suspense category with her book Night Whispers. 

Whitney, My Love , which was McNaught’s first novel, regularly ranks as one of her best. It takes place in England, where the title character tries to win back her childhood crush, only to find herself bartered to a Duke she barely knows.

Whitney, My Love (1) (The Westmoreland Dynasty Saga)

  • romance, love, desire
  • Whitney, Judith McNaught
  • McNaught, Judith (Author)
  • 736 Pages - 06/01/2000 (Publication Date) - Pocket Books (Publisher)

Other popular titles include A Kingdom of Dreams, Once and Always, and Perfect .

Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn  is the pen name of Julie Pottinger, a writer of historical romance novels. Raised in New England, Quinn fell in love with books in middle school, even writing her first novel at that age, though that work never made it to publication. After finishing college without much direction, she started working toward med school and writing light-hearted Regency novels in her spare time. Suddenly, she found her first two novels were the subject of a bidding war, which led her to a career in writing. 

Quinn is best known for her Bridgerton series, which has become a Netflix series by the same name. Her early success as a writer caused her to drop out of medical school to write full-time. Her books are full of strong heroines, and she has a few awards from the Romance Writers of America. 

Because of the television series, The Duke and I , one of the Bridgerton novels, is her most popular work.

Bridgerton [TV Tie-in] (Bridgertons Book 1)

  • Quinn, Julia (Author)
  • 464 Pages - 12/01/2020 (Publication Date) - Avon (Publisher)

Other popular books that hit the bestsellers list include First Comes Scandal , The Other Miss Bridgerton,  and The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband.

Called the Rembrandt of Romance Novels,  Julie Garwood  grew up in an Irish family living in Kansas City, Missouri, where storytelling was a way of life. 

After becoming a mother, Garwood focused on raising her kids, then decided to publish her first historical romance after her children were in school. Today, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print.

Her most popular book, For the Roses , is now a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. It follows a band of brothers raised as street urchins and their abandoned baby sister, who was raised to be a lady.

For the Roses

  • Garwood, Julie (Author)
  • 576 Pages - 02/01/1996 (Publication Date) - Pocket Books (Publisher)

Garwood’s other popular titles include Come the Spring, The Clayborne Brides Trilogy, and The Bride .

If historical fiction is your preferred reading choice, why not give some of these recommendations a try ?

Lisa Kleypas  has an interesting history, including a stint as Miss Massachusetts In 1985. She attended Wellesley College and graduated with a degree in political science, then quickly transitioned to writing with her first novel at the age of 21. In 1998, she married and soon started a family, but she continued writing.

Kleypas has several awards to her name, including the Waldenbooks Award for sales growth, several RITA awards, and an Amazon Editor’s Top Ten Picks award. She writes both historical and contemporary romance novels.

Worth Any Price is considered one of her top works. In this book, the main character, Nick Gentry, sets out to find a runaway bride, only to find romance for himself.

Worth Any Price (Bow Street, Book 3)

  • Kleypas, Lisa (Author)
  • 416 Pages - 12/27/2022 (Publication Date) - Avon (Publisher)

Other popular books include L ady Sophia’s Lover, Where Dreams Begin,  and Dreaming of You .

Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks  is one of the rare men on this list. He has over 105 million copies of his works sold around the world. He was born in 1965 in Omaha, Nebraska, and attended Notre Dame, graduating manga cum laude. It was during his college years that he started writing.

Sparks wrote his first novel, The Passing, between his freshman and sophomore years of college. Before writing full-time, he worked in pharmaceutical sales.

Sparks is best known for  The Notebook , a book he wrote at the young age of 28. It was picked out of a slush pile and became an instant hit. The story of a life-long love between a couple who now reside in a nursing home was made into a major motion picture in 1995. 

The Notebook

  • This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box.
  • Sparks, Nicholas (Author)
  • 272 Pages - 06/24/2014 (Publication Date) - Grand Central Publishing (Publisher)

Other titles from Sparks include Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember,  and Safe Haven , all of which are also motion pictures.

Sarah MacLean

Sarah MacLean  is a romance novelist who has a bold take on her books. She grew up knowing she wanted to be a romance novel writer after falling in love with the genre because of reading her older sister’s collection. She started working as a literary publicist before publishing a young adult novel, her first work. 

MacLean’s books are known to be quite steamy, and they also have a strong feminist take. She also writes and speaks extensively on the merits of the genre. Her books have been translated into 25 languages, and she also writes for the Washington Post and New York Times. 

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake was her first adult romance novel, and it won USA Today’s Bestseller List status and the Romantic Times Magazine Seal of Excellence. 

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Love By Numbers, 1)

  • MacLean, Sarah (Author)
  • 422 Pages - 03/30/2010 (Publication Date) - Avon (Publisher)

Other books by MacLean include Wicked and the Wallflower, Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord,  and The Season .

The world’s favorite romance authors can create a compelling story and weave in plenty of steamy love connections. The genre remains a popular one, as more and more people are learning to enjoy the escape that comes from a good love story. 

Whether you are in the mood for a classic, historical novel or a steamy contemporary romance, you will find something to fit your needs with one of these authors.

If you have a favorite author, it’s always good to follow them on social media to stay up to date with the new releases. Alongside the above authors, we’ve created a great list of the best authors to follow on Twitter.  

FAQs on the Best Romance Authors

Based on the number of books sold, the best romance authors are: Jane Austen Danielle Steel Nora Roberts

According to  GoodReads , the best love story is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks also lands on the list.

Best Historical Fiction Authors

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romantic writers are

Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006. She specializes in education content and real estate writing but enjoys a wide gamut of topics. Her goal is to connect with the reader in an engaging, but informative way. Her work has been featured on USA Today, and she ghostwrites for many high-profile companies. As a former teacher, she is passionate about both research and grammar, giving her clients the quality they demand in today's online marketing world.

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Valentine's Day

Looking for love you'll find it in 2024 in these 10 romance novels.

Kalyani Saxena

Covers of 10 romance books for 2024.

Who says romance is reserved for Valentine's Day? Love stories are a treat to be savored year-round. To give you a head start in planning your 2024 reading, here's a list of 10 excellent romance novels (I've read them all!) publishing from now into early summer.

Cover of Bride

Bride by Ali Hazelwood ( Feb. 6)

Bride is Ali Hazelwood as you've always known and loved her – with a paranormal twist. The story follows Misery Lark (iconic name, I know) a vampyre who is suddenly married to the ruthless, probably brutish but also kind of hot werewolf Lowe Moreland in a peacekeeping alliance. Misery must make a life in a hostile territory while trying not to make out with her new husband – who may not trust her but can't seem to keep his eyes off her.

This book is as sexy as it is fun. It's a departure from Hazelwood's more conventional contemporary romances but brings in all the staples of her best work. There's found family, a love interest that's gruff yet obsessed, and most crucially a slow burning tension that lingers in every scene like a scent you just can't shake (there's a significant amount of smelling in this book but I promise it works). Fair warning: If you're primarily a contemporary romance reader, it's worth knowing that a werewolf and vampyre hooking up is going to look pretty unconventional. You may want to brace yourself for some of the knotty, ahem, I mean naughty elements to the romance once the steam really gets going.

Perfect for: Readers who love a little interspecies romance. We know you're out there!

Cover of At First Spite

At First Spite by Oliva Dade (Feb. 13)

At First Spite is a story for all the petty readers out there. Athena Greydon moves into the narrow spite house she bought with her ex-fiancé Johnny as a last resort. When she finds out her new neighbor is Matthew – Johnny's judgemental older brother who convinced him to end the engagement – she decides it might be time for some payback. But Matthew is handsome, kind, and seems genuinely remorseful for his role in blowing up her life. And when her mental health starts to slip, he's there too.

This book, despite its playful revenge premise, has one of the most careful and serious depictions of depression and grief that I've seen in a romance novel. It's thoughtful, sobering and real . Dade reminds us that love is more than attraction and butterflies – it's showing up for someone every day even when they're at their lowest.

Perfect for: Readers who crave a story with a plus-sized heroine and understand the inherent romance of someone cleaning your glasses for you. Swoon!

Cover of Sense. Lies and Sensibility

Sex, Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne (Feb. 13)

Sex, Lies, and Sensibilit y brings all the romance of Jane Austen's classic tale to a crumbling beach property in Maine. Nora Dash's world is turned upside down when she finds out (at her father's funeral) that she and her sister are really her dad's second secret family. Now Nora's only hope at an inheritance is schlepping off to rural Maine and restoring a dilapidated beach house her father once bought. But in order to do so, she'll have to team up with Ennis "Bear" Freeman, an Abenaki tour guide, who needs the money to protect his community's river from unscrupulous developers.

You want drama? This book gives drama. The emotional twists and turns of this story are as big a part of Nora and Bear's romance as Maine's beautiful landscape. Both characters are trying to outrun their pasts (literally – the duo are former track stars) while denying the emotional tether that grows between them. It's awkward, sweet, and very hot at the same time. And it's especially refreshing to see an interracial romance where both characters come from marginalized backgrounds (Nora is Black and Bear is Indigenous). Their identities are more than window dressing and bring a unique depth to their banter and ultimate romantic connection.

Perfect for: Readers who wish Jane Austen was just a little thirstier.

Cover of How to End a Love Story

How to End A Love Story by Yulin Kuang ( April 9)

By all marks, Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard are virtual strangers. But 13 years ago, Grant was involved in the accident that killed Helen's sister Michelle. When the two meet again, it's in a Hollywood writers room where Grant is part of the team adapting Helen's books for TV. Their interactions are charged – with the bitter resentment of past trauma and a surprising spark that it's best they pretend doesn't exist.

Whew! If that sounds like a heavy premise for a romance, you'd be right. But Yulin Kuang (who is adapting and directing Emily Henry's Beach Read for film) makes it work with a raw believability. Helen's journey in particular is wrenching – as she struggles with the expectations heaped on her as a daughter of immigrants and her growing feelings for Grant. Kuang doesn't shy away from the unpleasantness of the premise but rather weaves it into the core of what connects Helen and Grant. Their story is one of healing and forgiveness with all the ugly cracks and personal setbacks that entails. And the sheer yearning and impossibility of their situation will wreck you in the best possible way.

Perfect for: Readers who enjoy a truly stomach churning level of angst with a side dish of sexual tension.

Cover of Funny Story

Funny Story by Emily Henry ( April 23)

The book begins with Daphne, whose perfect fiancé has just dumped her for his longtime childhood friend Petra. Left with no other option, Daphne moves in with Miles, Petra's ex-boyfriend, who is in the pits of break-up misery himself. The duo decide to make the most of the summer by exploring the town together – with the added side benefit of making their exes jealous along the way. But what happens when your ex's new fiancé's ex is actually lovely and kisses like a man starved? Well, that's a funny story.

It takes very little time for most readers to get sucked into an Emily Henry novel but Funny Story is guaranteed to break records. It's Henry at her absolute best – romantic, melancholic, and so full of heart. By chapter 2, you'll be ready to throw hands for Daphne. And Miles is so magnetically charming, you'll be tongue tied in four chapters or less. That's Emily Henry's speciality – snagging you in and emotionally entangling you with the characters until you're half sick in love yourself.

Perfect for: Readers who see a disaster of a man sobbing to Bridget Jones's Diary and think "I could fix him."

Cover of The Paradise Problem

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren (May 14)

When Anna Green and grocery-store heir Liam "West" Weston were in college they got married for some free housing and then happily went their separate ways. But five years later, Liam needs to bring his fake wife to a destination wedding to secure his inheritance. Anna agrees to tag along and pretend to be in love – for a cut of the money. After all, it's no hardship to fake a relationship with your gorgeous (legal) husband. Right? As long as they keep their emotions out of the picture, it'll be smooth sailing. Right?

The Paradise Problem is the kind of book you take on vacation and read in one singular sitting at the beach. It's a complete trope-fest in the best possible way. You're looking for fake dating? We've got it! And what about marriage of convenience? That's the fun twist! Opposites attract? Fear not, we've got that too! It's not a complete reinvention of any one of those tropes, but rather a delightful execution of a winning formula (any romance reader worth their salt knows magic happens when you combine fake dating with a destination wedding).

Perfect for: Readers who want a little flavor of Succession-esque family politics in their romance.

Cover of Birding With Benefits

Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb ( June 4)

Who says romance is only for bright-eyed, bushy-tailed 20-somethings? In Birding with Benefits, Celeste, a 42-year-old divorcée, ends up entangled with John, a quiet and sensitive local birder. John is in urgent need of a partner for this year's birding competition and after a comedy of errors (in which Celeste thinks John needs a fake romantic partner), the two become teammates. Celeste doesn't know the first thing about birds but as she spends hours learning from John in Arizona's gorgeous wilderness, she starts to develop a soft spot for the hobby and...her gorgeous teacher.

This romance is so soft and gentle. It's a story about two mature adults who are polar opposites and yet kindred spirits. The passion John and Celeste find for one another while cataloging Arizona's birdlife is warm and steady. And although they've got a few emotional obstacles to work through before a happy ending, it's worth tuning in to see how these birds of a feather find their way to each other.

Perfect for: Readers who like birds and have an affinity for men who work in wood shops.

Cover of Under Your Spell

Under Your Spell by Laura Wood ( June 25)

As the daughter of a legendary rockstar (and even more legendary womanizer), Clementine Monroe wants nothing to do with musicians or their drama. But as luck would have it (or the strange Breakup Spell her sister cast) the man she just had a hot one-night stand with is actually Theo Eliott, world-famous rock star. And to make matters worse, Clemmie's new job calls for her to spend the next six weeks stuck in a house with Theo. Will the two be able to stay away from each other long enough for Theo to finish his album?

Under Your Spell is as enchanting as the name implies. It's both humorous and sweet – with a really compelling cast of characters. Clemmie is an adorably sensible disaster. She thinks she's in control but really she's a mess who would rather avoid any risk than open herself up to heartbreak. Relatable. Theo is a rockstar but really a boy obsessed. I'm afraid he doesn't know how to do anything except win hearts. And Clemmie's sisters – Lil and Serena bring a warm girl power (non-ironic) energy to the whole production. You'll be spellbound with this one.

Perfect for: Readers who may or may not have read One Direction fanfiction in their youth. No judgment!

Cover of Ne'er Duke Well

Ne'er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti ( July 23)

In Ne'er Duke Well, Peter Kent, a reluctant and scandalous duke must find a way to rehabilitate his reputation if he wants to gain custody of his half siblings. He teams up with Lady Selina, society's most polished debutante. But Selina has a small secret – she runs an erotic library for women. And though she'd rather set Peter up with a wife of impeccable reputation and no life-ruining secrets – the sparks that fly between the two of them are undeniable.

Ne'er Duke Well is a historical romance with the energy of a Parks & Recreation episode. Like the iconic sitcom, the characters in this are all so darn loveable, you can almost see the twinkle in their eyes. There's witty banter and an endlessly supportive love interest (Peter Kent is a regency-era Ben Wyatt). And you've got this comforting feeling that even when things seem unsalvageable, everything will be okay. It's the kind of romance you want to wrap around yourself like a blanket – low conflict with maximum warm and fuzzy feelings.

Perfect for: Readers who love golden retriever heroes and enjoy romances with a focus on family.

Cover of The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton ( July 23)

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love follows Beth Pickering, a perfectly polite professor who must team up with her maybe villainous (definitely sexy) academic rival Devon Lockley to capture a magical bird and win the ultimate prize – tenure.

This book is so riotously clever it almost defies description. It's like an alchemy of romantic elements held in perfect harmony. India Holton infuses the story with wry wit and meta inside jokes. Every sentence is positively vibrating with the kind of charm that will have you pressing your lips together with laughter. And yet amid all the outrageous and camp fun, Holton also succeeds in building a genuine love story – between two people who have kept the world at a distance for years but somehow find a home within each other And if that doesn't sell you, then you should at least know this book has one of the funniest twists on the "one bed" trope I've read in a long time.

Perfect for: Readers who think every good romance should include at least one ridiculous bit.

Still hungry for more books? Here are three more titles I haven't read yet but am excited to tear into:

  • King of Sloth by Anna Huang (April 30)
  • Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto (July 16)
  • If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkins (Oct. 15)

Kalyani Saxena is an associate producer at Here & Now. She's a voracious romance reader in perpetual search for the perfect execution of the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Advertisement

True love lasts forever — but here's what's trending in romance novels this Valentine's Day

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Romance novels are  more popular than ever. (Getty Images)

We're living in a romance renaissance — the genre is more popular than ever.

This Valentine’s Day we wanted to hear from one of the people behind the publishing of romance novels to find out what’s behind these trends and what readers want more of.

Cindy Hwang is vice president and editorial director at Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House known for its women’s fiction and romance.

This segment aired on February 14, 2024.

More from Here & Now

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works

The Authors of romance Major and most outstanding emerged in Europe at the end of the eighteenth century. They were the most important representatives and exponents of an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement that reached its greatest splendor between the years 1800 and 1850.

The emphasis on emotion, individualism, as well as the glorification of the past and nature were characteristic features of this movement, which tended towards the medieval rather than the classical.

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works

Its emergence can be considered a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, the scientific rationalization of nature, and the aristocratic social rules during the Age of Enlightenment. Its most visible manifestations were in the visual arts, music and literature, although it also had an impact on historiography, education and the social sciences.

He shares his etymology with terms like romance and romance. In the middle of the eighteenth century, the term romantic had a similar meaning in both English and French (romantic versus romantique), both used to refer to the exaltation of natural phenomena such as landscapes and sunsets.

Romanticism extolled the figure of the hero or genius and emphasized his internal passions and challenges. The artist's conception as an extremely individualist creator whose creative spirit was more important than strict adherence to traditional rules and procedures was a hallmark of the period.

The movement arose in Germany, nevertheless they were authors Anglo-Saxons most prolific and celebrated during this period.

Who were the main exponents of Romanticism in English-speaking literature?

You may also like This list of western writers .

The main writers of Romanticism

1- jane austen.

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 1

(1775-1817) Filled with comedy, romance, wit and satire, the six novels of this English author were also a striking reflection of the social and territorial situation that England lived in her time.

He began to write being very young, with the constant support and promotion of his family and friends. His first work, Sense and Sensibility (1811) took ten years to be published. He followed Pride and Prejudice Two years later, which according to her own work would be preferred. His last two works would be published after his death at age 41.

You can know more about the author by reading the article" Jane Austen's Top 51 Phrases ".

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 2

William Blake

(1757-1827) This London author is known for being a poet, painter and original and creative thinker, but his work was virtually ignored while he lived. The third of six brothers, claimed to have been visited by bright angels in their childhood.

He designed a technique of visual poetry that combined his texts with illustrations of his own authorship. Among his works stand out The Marriage of Heaven and Hell and Songs of Innocence .

In" William Blake's Top 100 Phrases "You will know even better his work.

3- Charlotte Brontë

(1816-1855) Author renowned for her passionate novel Jane Eyre (1847), also published poems and three more novels. Born in England, third of six siblings, she was five years old when her mother died.

He spent part of his life devoted to teaching and his unbridled love for the director of the school where he worked inspired his novels Villette and The Professor .

4- Emily Brontë

(1818-1848) His most recognized work was Wuthering Heights (1847), but also wrote more than two hundred poems that were described by his sister Charlotte as"of a particularly wild, melancholy and uplifting musicality."

Supported by her sister, she published a collection of poems in 1846. After her early death due to tuberculosis, a novel she left unfinished was destroyed by Charlotte.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 3

(1806-1861) One of the most praised poetesses of her time. Born in England, she is best known for her work Sonnets from the Portuguese , A collection of love poems written for her husband Robert Browning. He died in Florence, Italy.

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 4

6- Robert Burns

(1759-1796) Born in Scotland, he received a good education in mathematics and English literature, although from an early age he had to serve on the family farm. His work Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect Was published in 1786 and gave him fame.

(1788-1824) Dedicated to freedom of thought and action, anarchic in his political stance and personal morality, the English poet and adventurer was the personification of the romantic hero.

After touring multiple Mediterranean countries, he returned home to publish Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1812), which was an instant success. It was Don Juan , Published in 1819, his most recognized work.

8- Lewis Carroll

(1832-1898) The pseudonym used by the English mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, which he used for the first time in publishing his famous children's novels.

His fondness for paradox and nonsense as well as his appreciation for childhood led him to write his most famous novel, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland In 1865 and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There In 1871.

9- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 5

(1772-1834) One of the most emblematic and controversial figures of the Romantic period. His career as a poet and writer was established after publishing Lyrical Ballads In 1798. His best-known work is The Rime of the Ancient Mariner .

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 6

10- Charles Dickens

(1812-1870) Author of 15 novels and countless essays and short stories, this celebrated English author generously promoted the careers of other novelists in his weekly columns and became involved in social issues. He stood out for writing about London and his grotesque and comic characters. Oliver Twist , Nicholas Nickleby , David Copperfield Y Big hopes Are among his most famous titles.

Discover with" Charles Dickens' Top 87 Phrases "The literary potential of this genius.

11- George Eliot

(1819-1880) It was the pseudonym of the novelist Mary Ann Evans. After a difficult childhood, managed to settle in London, where it was related to the poet George Henry Lewis, that motivated to write fiction. His most famous book, Middlemarch , Was published in eight episodes between 1871 and 1872.

12- Elizabeth Gaskell

(1810-1865) Better known as the author of Cranford and North and South , As well as for being the biographer of her friend Charlotte Brontë. His most famous works were written in reaction to the industrialization of Manchester, where he spent most of his life.

Following the tragic death of his young son in 1845, he took refuge in writing and published anonymously Mary Barton , A work praised by Charles Dickens.

13- Thomas Hardy

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 7

(1840-1928) Poet and novelist, is perhaps most famous for his powerful visual novels, worried about the inexorable human destiny. He retired from the architecture after publishing Far From The Madding Crowd In 1874. Between 1874 and 1895 he wrote more than a dozen novels and compilations of short stories.

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 8

14- John Keats

(1795-1821) Keats' poetic achievement in as little as six years can be classified as astonishing. However, during his lifetime, the critics were about to overthrow him.

His first poems received harsh criticisms, although in 1818, with Endymion , Achieved greater success. The second half of the century finally brought him fame, praised by Lord Tennyson, is today one of the most cited and beloved poets of the English language.

15- Christina Rossetti

(1830-1894) Her reputation as a lyrical poet who stood out for her direct and captivating style has grown over the years. Goblin market, In The Bleak Midwinter Y Remember Are today among the most appreciated English poems.

He learned to write poetry by imitation, experimenting with different styles of verse. He died of cancer in 1894 and his brother William published an almost complete collection of his poems entitled Poetical Works In 1904.

16- Mary Shelley

(1797-1851) Author of Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus , Was daughter of the radical philosopher William Godwin. At age 16 he fled to Italy with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who praised the irresistible and wild sublimity of feelings.

Both promoted the literary work of the other and were married in 1816. Frankenstein Is considered the first work of science fiction. It was based on the destructive nature of power when it encountered wealth. Its mythology lasts until our days.

17- Percy Bysshe Shelley

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 9

(1792-1822) Born in Sussex, England, he was the heir to his grandfather's considerable fortune as well as a position in parliament. He went to Eton College, where he began to write poetry, and to Oxford University.

His first published work was the gothic novel Zastrozzi In 1810. He married Mary Godwin, later named Mary Shelley. During the last years of his life, he produced his most notable works including The Masque of Anarchy .

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 10

18- Robert Louis Stevenson

(1850-1894) This Scottish novelist, essayist and poet is probably most famous for his children's book The island of the treasure . Educated as an engineer and later as a lawyer, he was always inclined towards writing.

He published several essays and dramas. Its fame grew after the publication in 1883 of The island of the treasure . Then he wrote and published The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde In 1886.

19- Alfred Lord Tennyson

(1809-1892) Considered the venerable master of Victorian poetry, famous for In Memoriam A.H.H., The Idylls of the King and Maud and Other Poems . The fourth of 12 children, born in Lincoln in 1809, attended Cambridge University.

His early novels received venomous critics, which disappointed him at first and then made him perfect his technique. His poems were inspired by even royalty, praised by Queen Victoria, who named him Baron in 1883.

20- Anthony Trollope

(1815-1882): One of the most prolific authors of the nineteenth century, his works include Barsetshire Chronicles And T He Way We Live Now . His illustration of ordinary life enlivened by humor won him the readers' affection and assured him continued popularity.

His extensive production is impressive given that at the same time he maintained a successful career in the postal service.

It produced 47 novels, an autobiography, two plays, short stories, travel books, articles, essays and speeches. Proud of his talent, he boasted of always having a pen at hand and giving himself to the work of writing, just as a mechanic or a shoemaker does.

The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works 11

21- H. G. Wells

(1866-1946) Acclaimed as a scientist and social prophet, Herbert George Wells was a prolific novelist, famous primarily for his science fiction works but also for his comic realism.

His zoological studies inspired him to write science fiction. The time Machine (1865) was the first of his very famous works and the pioneer of the genre called"scientific romance".

He lived to see the end of the Second World War and his defense of human rights had a definite influence on the formation of the United Nations.

22- Oscar Wilde

(1854-1900): Born in Dublin, Ireland, he was an exuberant and flamboyant playwright, poet and critic. He was a leading proponent of aesthetics, the controversial theory of art. He published his novel The Portrait of Dorian Gray In 1890 and fell in love with the very young Lord Alfred Douglas.

Since then he has lived a double life, publishing very successful social comedies, such as The Ideal Husband Y The importance of being called Ernesto At the same time that he spent his time visiting male brothels.

After being accused of indecent behavior, Wilde spent two years in prison, where he wrote two novels that were published after his death: De Profundis Y The Ballad of Reading Gaol . Ruined economically, repudiated by society and in poor health, he spent the rest of his life in Europe. He died in Paris on November 30, 1900, at 46 years of age.

Know the Best phrases and the work Of Oscar Wilde to know better the author.

23- William Wordsworth

(1770-1850) This English poet, born in Cockermouth, was inspired by the dramatic landscapes of the Lake District to write his poetry. Following the death of their parents, William and his sister Dorothy settled in the West Country, where they met the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, with whom he would publish Lyrical Ballads In 1798.

After receiving payment of a debt to his father, the poet was able to marry and settle. He continued his poetic work, publishing The Excursion In 1814 and The river Duddon In 1820, although the conservative of his work at this stage annoyed his more radical friends. After his death in 1850 he published his autobiographical poem The Prelude , In which he worked since 1798.

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12 of the Best Romance Novels About Writers

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R. Nassor may spend more time with books, tea, and ceramic mugs than recommended by professionals but it hasn’t failed her so far. Nassor has a MA in English Literature from Georgetown University, where she looked at the way medieval and early modern literature reappear in fantasy books today. She’s been writing about romance, fantasy, science fiction, and pop culture for quite a while, starting at Book Riot in 2020. She’s also written for Tor.com. You can follow her on Tiktok and contact her through her website .

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Romance novels about writers are fantastic. Watching protagonists’ satisfaction with their personal and professional lives coincide is tantalizing. Not to mention, professional writing requires creativity, adaptability, and dedication — traits akin to what anyone would seek out in a romantic partner. Be forewarned: within these stories, the HEA isn’t complete without a good dose of professional competency.

Now, literature has always had a small obsession with the act of writing. Medieval poets like Marie de France, early modern playwrights like Shakespeare , and Victorian novelists like George Gissing — all write writers. Impossibly balancing writing as an art form and as a vocation is an apparent struggle in their work. Further, all three confront the pitfalls of popularity and commercialization by creating characters who are writers.

Unsurprisingly, exploring musings on professional writing in books appears in every time period or genre. In time, the tradition naturally carries into romance novels about writers of all kinds.

Writing about writers exists across the ages. So, I thought I’d include a mix of  historical  and  contemporary  novels. As many writers work from home, these romances utilize the act of writing in the same space to build intimacy. Further, the inherently personal nature of writing often reveals a character’s goals, personalities, and backstory.

I argue writing is the perfect profession for passion. Scriptwriters, novelists, academic writers, and columnists make up the group of swoon-worthy literary professionals in these romance novels about writers.

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Script Writers

romantic writers are

Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian

Content Warnings: Chronic Illness, Explicit Depiction of Mental Illness, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Attempted Suicide, Torture, Addiction

After years of written correspondence, Will knows something is truly wrong when his oldest friend stops replying. Of course, when Will finds Martin sick in an attic he naturally kidnaps him to the country to save his health. Martin wakes up to find the love of his life nursing him back to health in the countryside. Living in a cabin, Will can write his play scripts and live with his closest friend without the temptation of opium around every corner. Martin and Will build a life together and demonstrate the ultimate depiction of care.

romantic writers are

If the Boot Fits by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Content Warnings: Fat Shaming, Abusive Employer

As the assistant to a demanding young actress, Amanda barely has room in her life for her friends, screenwriting, and a full night’s sleep. She definitely does not have time to start a relationship. That is, before her one-night stand with Sam, an award-winning actor, turns into much more when they reunite at her best friend’s wedding. On his family ranch, she finds a place she can recharge and rediscover her dreams for the future. But can she resist the charming actor who welcomes her into his home?

romantic writers are

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

Content Warnings: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual Harassment, Emotional Abuse

If you want to start a scandal, flirting with your clever assistant on the red carpet might just do the trick. Jo refuses to comment on her relationship because she never has before, but the press continues to intrude on all aspects of their professional and personal lives. After years of working on the sidelines, Emma’s chance to advance her career might just be waylaid by the press. It’s not true. But as Jo begins to spend more time with Emma she must confront a growing attachment to her assistant.

romantic writers are

The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham

Content Warnings: Miscarriage, Death, Alcoholism, Addiction, Animal Death, Sexual Harassment, Misogyny, Kidnapping

When a notorious rakess and a respectable widower find themselves meeting on a remote cliffside, they never expected to find a partner. Adam is a Scottish businessman with children to raise and projects to design. Seraphina only returns home to write about her ruination to raise money for a women’s college. Neither has time for a relationship, but Seraphina is brash, sensual, and unexpectedly kind to Adam’s children. In short, even though it may cost him his professional reputation, Adam might risk it all to share a life with her.

romantic writers are

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

Content Warnings: Parental Abandonment, Emotional Abuse, Racism

Tate and Sam experienced a whirlwind teen romance when they met during a two-week vacation in London. She trusted him with everything, even her secret star-studded parentage. But when Sam breaks her trust, Tate never expects to see him again. Especially not on the set of her next major film. He  became an author, and his book became a script, and his first love was cast as the leading lady. The chemistry remains between them, but can Tate reconcile her current attraction with the betrayal she felt in the past?

romantic writers are

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Content Warnings: Parent Death, Cancer, Alcoholism, Child Abuse, Abuse, Suicide

Gus and January knew each other in college as contentious critique partners and are now living in neighboring beach houses. When two rival authors reunite with cases of writer’s block, they decide to swap writing in their preferred genres, romance and literary fiction. Will Gus be able to write a HEA? Will January be able to write a bleak and hopeless ending? Most of all, will these two rivals be able to write and research together while maintaining their distance? All these questions and more are tackled in a novel that finds hope in the darkest situations.

Academic Writers

romantic writers are

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

Content Warnings: Parental and Sibling Death, Anxiety, Explicit Depiction of Mental Illness, Sexism, Racism

Danika is a PhD student and Zafir is a quiet building security guard. One fire drill turns their steady friendship into a viral internet-ship. Zafir could use the publicity from their great love to raise money for the children enrolled in his sports charity. Dani does not have time for romance with her thesis writing, but she figures, how hard can it be to fake a relationship for the children? When your fake boyfriend is a secret romantic, it is quite impossible.

romantic writers are

A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole

Content Warnings: Emotional Abuse, Racism

When Portia accepted an apprenticeship with Scottish Armory, she thought she finally found her path. A way of applying her art history degree in a place where she could gain hands-on experience with traditional Scottish blacksmithing. Unfortunately, her new boss Tavish didn’t want an apprentice at all. Given little to do, Portia is determined to make herself useful by redesigning the website, researching the Armory, running the social media, and bringing a spotlight to the historical importance of the shop. Portia’s unwavering competence may be enough to break down her gruff boss and Tavish might let her forge a new path for his shop and his life.

romantic writers are

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

Content Warnings: Misogyny, Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse

If you were to watch your ex-lover marry a man she doesn’t love right as your academic future was crumbling before your very eyes, you too would move to London at a chance to translate a French astronomy text. In 1816, not many patrons would hire Lucy to translate astronomy for fear women would not understand the scientific principles underlying the work, but Lucy’s commitment intrigues Catherine, and she cannot say no. As a new widow, Catherine finds herself ready to make her opinions known whether it be asserting her right to hire a translator, publishing her embroidery, or romantically pursuing her new astronomer.

romantic writers are

A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore

Content Warnings: Parental Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Misogyny

She has a plan. Step 1: raise funds; step 2: buy a publishing house; and step 3: publish a scathing account of marital abuse across England. However, step 2 is complicated by a childhood friend who has bought enough shares to be a co-owner of the paper. And of course, the complication makes it difficult to publish step 3, a move that would surely destroy the reputation of the business and any hope at financial success. Lady Lucie does not expect her co-owner Tristan, an exuberant rake, to be a secret poet. As a resolute suffragette, she will do anything to accomplish her goals, even if it means seducing an insurable rake.

romantic writers are

A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee

Content Warnings: Parental Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse, Misogyny, Sexual Harassment

Aubrey, a small-town baker, has an unexpected one-night stand with the man who wrote a scathing review of her bakery. The critic, Landon was accidentally sold a child’s birthday cake not fit for adult consumption. But he has a policy to never give second chances to the food he reviews, no exception. To save her bakery from bankruptcy, Landon invites Aubrey to participate in a friend’s cooking show in wine country. In a battle between professionals, passion is set to bake at the baker and her reviewer’s shared villa — wait and see what comes out of the oven.

romantic writers are

A Summer for Scandal by Lydia San Andres

Content Warnings: Alcoholism, Parent Death, Misogyny, Sexual Harassment, Blackmail

Rumor has it that this Pride and Prejudice reimagining contains salacious serial romances, controversial gossip rags, and intra-feminist disputes regarding sexuality. Emilia is a writer on a fictional Spanish Caribbean island in 1911 who wants to shed her pen name without ruining her sister’s chance at a respectable match. Meanwhile, Ruben believes unveiling the identity of the serial romance writer will generate enough money to keep his paper open for good. Emilia and Ruben disagree on almost everything but as they continue to meet, they begin to form an attraction that even the strongest rumors will struggle to break. 

Writing is difficult work. It is lovely to see the vast profession explored in the romance genre . Accepting public critique of personal perspectives and opinions is hard. Complications of pen names, profitability, and popularity to challenge relationships. But, who can resist a romance book about writers? I for one will be reading many more books where writers find love as romance authors continue publishing them. Until then, I hope a dozen of romance novels about writers do the trick.

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grid of four photos showing romance novel bookstores. 'meet cute' has a lavender exterior; 'slow burn books' has two women in front drinking from wine glasses; 'the ripped bodice' has its sign over plants, with two smiling people below; 'lovebound library' has a fun font and a red door

Sexily ever after: how romance bookstores took over America

Five years ago, there was just one. Now bookshops exclusively stocking romance novels are everywhere – aiming to ‘undo generations of shame’

W hen Jonlyn Scrogham decided to open a romance novel bookstore last year in Louisville, Kentucky, the 37-year-old had modest expectations. The space she rented was tiny; her annual sales projections were small, too.

Though she had been an avid romance reader for decades, she wasn’t sure how many others shared her excitement. She worried that people would think the concept was silly, or that not many people would visit.

But not long after A Novel Romance opened in July, she said, customers were showing up from Tennessee and Virginia, saying they had traveled three or four hours just to visit. Within two months, Scrogham was already halfway to what she had projected would be her annual sales total. And all of this happened without her spending “a single dollar” on marketing.

“It’s all been driven by Instagram, TikTok, word of mouth and Facebook,” she said. “People coming in, and the romance community talking to each other.”

Scrogham is part of a quiet but rapidly growing trend. At least eight other dedicated romance novel bookstores opened across the US in 2023, in cities from Wichita, Kansas, to Belfast, Maine. At least three more have opened so far in 2024, in Florida and in Utah, with another planned in Portland, Oregon.

stickers saying ‘hot girls read’ , ‘in my cowboy romance era’, ‘buy me books’, ‘a court of thorns and roses’ and ‘hockey romance

“People are driving from states away – people who are seeing us online and want to come,” said Jaclyn Wooten, the founder of Blush Bookstore in Kansas. An employee said that one customer described flying in from Baltimore on a private jet. “All the businesses around us are like, ‘What is going on over there? What are they doing?’”

As a genre, romance is defined by its focus on a central love story, and by its promise of a “happily ever after” for its main characters – or at least, in more contemporary novels, a “happy for now”. Romance connoisseurs often refer to the amount of sex in the novels as a book’s “spice level”, which from ranges from quite mild to very spicy indeed .

Six years ago, there was only one romance bookstore in the US: the Ripped Bodice, in Los Angeles, named after the “bodice ripper” historical romances of the 80s and 90s. But as romance publishing has boomed , with US print book sales increasing 117% over the past three years, romance fans are opening up more brick and mortar stores to meet the demand.

Annual print sales of romance novels more than doubled in the past three years, from 18m in 2020 to 36m in 2023, driven in part by BookTok, according to Circana, a consumer analytics firm.

Over the same time, the number of romance-focused bookstores in the US grew from just two to at least 15, with a handful more in Canada and Australia. Many of them have names that play on favorite romance tropes, like Grump and Sunshine , Meet Cute and Slow Burn Books . Their decor – often heavy on the pink – is playful and celebratory, designed as a backdrop for TikTok and Instagram content.

The stores stock a wide variety of popular romance genres, from the Regency-era love stories that inspired Bridgerton, to contemporary novels about hot hockey players, to “ romantasy ” series like A Court of Thorns and Roses, to a wide range of LGBTQ+ romances. Despite book bans in some US states, 1m LGBTQ+ romance novels were sold between May 2022 and May 2023, a 40% increase compared with the year before, according to Circana.

When the sisters Leah Koch and Bea Hodges-Koch began raising money for the Ripped Bodice in 2015, the idea of a romance-only bookstore had plenty of doubters. Some family members and friends thought the idea was too “niche” to succeed, Leah Koch said. A few older romance novelists criticized the store’s cheeky name, arguing they were portraying the genre in a bad light. Some critics suggested a bookstore focused on sexy romance novels was an affront to religious values.

But the idea also struck a chord among romance fans: the sisters raised more than $90,000 from supporters on Kickstarter to make the Ripped Bodice a reality.

crowd outside bookshop with balloons and sign that says ‘grand opening’

The Los Angeles store is widely acknowledged as the originator of the current trend, and it did well enough that the sisters opened a second outpost in New York last summer.

A romance bookstore occupying prime real estate in Park Slope is a significant change for a genre that has often been “sidelined” and treated as something deserving of criticism or shame, said Jayashree Kamblé, a LaGuardia Community College English professor who studies popular romance fiction. It “really creates a wonderful sense of pride and community”, she said.

On a rainy day in mid-August, not long after its launch, the Brooklyn store was full of twentysomethings, some with their phones raised to document their visit. They all said they had heard about the Ripped Bodice on TikTok or Instagram.

Reshma Haque, 24, said she had long been a fan of romantic young adult fantasy like the Twilight novels and Harry Potter fanfiction, but that she had started reading more romance novels in 2020, around the same time she had joined TikTok.

“In most bookstores, there’s a little section tucked into the back for romance,” said Madeleine Goetz, 27, who said she had read 128 romance novels last year while out of work because of the Hollywood writers’ strike.

Seeing an entire store of romance novels was “pretty wild”, Goetz said. “I love romance. This is a welcoming place to be.”

‘Permission to love it out loud’

Independent bookstores of many different kinds have flourished since the pandemic, and their ownership has grown more diverse . But analysts say the romance genre has particularly benefited from its popularity on BookTok, where viral TikTok reading influencers promote their favorite novels.

Booksellers say a new generation of romance fans is driving a change in the public perception of romance, a genre that was once greeted with “ sneering and leering ”.

“Gen Z, they’re more open, they’re bolder, they’re more willing to be vulnerable. I think it’s giving us millennials, and also the baby boomers that love romance, more permission to love those things out loud,” Scrogham, the Kentucky bookstore owner, said. “I think we’re undoing generations of guilt and shame.”

bookshop interior with bright colors and white shelves

Bookstore owners are also seeing “a hunger for in-person community meeting, a space for people to gather that isn’t the internet”, as Becca Title, 33, the founder of the Meet Cute Bookshop in San Diego, put it.

Readers are becoming “increasingly conscientious” about pursuing their hobby in an ethical way, producing “a wave of people wanting to support authors and support small businesses”, rather than just buying books on Amazon, Title said. (One of her favorite authors, Sarah MacLean, once said that “name is destiny” for romance characters, as it is for a bookseller named Title.)

A great in-person experience is crucial to the success of the new stores, owners said. Many of the shops host book clubs and frequent author events. Every angle of the Ripped Bodice’s new Brooklyn location, inside and out, presents an appealing background for cellphone footage. There are old books arranged as art installations on the walls. The bathroom is covered with affirming Post-it notes. The toilet paper is pink.

Koch and Hodges-Koch painstakingly documented every step of renovating the Brooklyn store on TikTok and Instagram, including Leah stenciling hearts on the hand-painted floor, a video that went a bit viral.

In Kansas, Blush Bookstore grew so quickly that, within months, it had to move to a larger space, “a 1920s stone cottage with a working fireplace”. Wooten laughed: “We are a bookstore theme park.”

As well as romance novels, Blush and other bookstores feature merch for people who see being a reader as a part of their identities, including neon signs reading “Main character energy”, bookmarks with the slogans “hot girls read romance” and “definitely not smut”, and T-shirts proclaiming the wearer is “in my cowboy romance era”, or, for those hockey romance readers, a “puck bunny”.

The founders of the new stores say they work hard to make them safe, welcoming spaces for all kinds of readers, and that, while romance readers are usually assumed to be women, men are showing up, as well.

In Louisville, Scrogham said, her tiny shop is sometimes crowded with 10 or 15 enthusiastic romance fans. “We’re really excited about things that bring each other joy – swapping stories, swapping recommendations,” she said.

That’s especially meaningful for Scrogham, who opened her romance bookshop as a way of grieving the sudden, unexpected death of the man she had been dating, a chef and Dungeons & Dragons “super nerd” who had loved books and had urged her to follow her dreams.

“Being surrounded by love stories – it’s kind of an ember of hope, that maybe mine didn’t die with him,” she said. “I find romance in general to be a very hopeful genre, and hope was something I really needed.”

Romance bookstores in the US and Canada :

Vancouver, Washington: The Romance Era Bookshop

Los Angeles, California: The Ripped Bodice

San Diego, California: Meet Cute Bookshop

Salt Lake City, Utah: Lovebound Library

Wichita, Kansas: Blush Bookstore

Kansas City, Missouri: Under the Cover

Minneapolis, Minnesota: Tropes and Trifles

Tinley Park, Illinois: Love’s Sweet Arrow

Chicago, Illinois: The Last Chapter

Louisville, Kentucky: A Novel Romance

Belfast, Maine: Grump and Sunshine

Brooklyn, New York: The Ripped Bodice

Chesapeake, Virginia: Novel Grounds

Fort Pierce, Florida: Wanderlust Book Boutique

Deerfield Beach, Florida: Steamy Lit Bookstore

Calgary, Alberta: Slow Burn Books

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  1. The 25 Best Romance Authors (And Their Most Swoonworthy Reads)

    The 25 Best Romance Authors (And Their Most Swoonworthy Reads) Romance is one of the most popular genres in literature today, both for readers and writers of romance novels. And it's no wonder why: romance is exciting, sexy, and compulsively readable. Luckily, there are tons more books coming out all the time!

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    1. Danielle Steel The bestselling author alive today, Danielle Steel has sold more than 800 million copies of her books. She is also the fourth bestselling fiction writer of all time, with more than 179 books, 146 of them fiction, to her name. Must Read: Zoya

  3. Romanticism in Literature: Definition and Examples

    Prominent Romantic writers include John Keats, William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Mary Shelley. Romanticism Definition The term Romanticism does not stem directly from the concept of love, but rather from the French word romaunt (a romantic story told in verse).

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    1. Romance novels are all the same. One of the most frequently iterated ideas about romance is that it is formulaic - if you've read one romance, you've read them all, because they're ...

  5. What is romantasy and what are the best romantasy books to read?

    The 10 best romance novels of 2023 Romantasy may be a new-sounding term, but the genre is not. Among the earliest titles is "War for the Oaks," by Emma Bull (1987), which won the Locus Award ...

  6. List of romantic novelists

    List of romantic novelists Notable novelists who specialise or specialised in writing romance novels include: [note 1] Contents A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A Laura Abbot [1] Hailey Abbott Shana Abé [2] Cherry Adair [3] Jennie Adams Lara Adrian Cecelia Ahern Michele Albert Rochelle Alers [4]

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    Kim Dare. Dare is another standout of the queer romance genre. She has written over 100 erotic tales, ranging from short stories to full novels, in her relatively short career. If you're in the mood for kinky or queer or fantastical or any combination thereof, Dare is the author for you. Must Read Book: Duck!

  8. Best Romance Authors

    Among them: Nora Roberts, LaVyrle Spencer, and Diana Gabaldon. Roberts is one of the best-selling romance writers of all-time. Gabaldon's epic Outlander series is without question my favorite historical romance series ever.

  9. Romanticism in Literature: Definition & Examples

    Dark romantic writers include E.T.A. Hoffmann, Edgar Allan Poe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. American romanticism generally held the same ideals as English romanticism: individualism; a rich, emotional, isolated life; the beauty of nature; and moral uprightness.

  10. New Romance Books to Read in February

    Romance novels do that. In their pages, you can find connection — even when it's hard to do in real life. Connection is lifesaving in Tia Williams's new novel, A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE ...

  11. 10 Key Characteristics of Romanticism in Literature

    What Is Romanticism in Literature? Popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Romanticism was a literary movement that emphasized nature and the importance of emotion and artistic freedom.

  12. The love boom: why romance novels are the biggest they've been for 10

    Blackburn is among a growing number of authors whose books - also including Bolu Babalola's Honey & Spice and Alice Oseman's Heartstopper, now a Netflix hit series - go beyond the typical...

  13. English literature

    As a term to cover the most distinctive writers who flourished in the last years of the 18th century and the first decades of the 19th, "Romantic" is indispensable but also a little misleading: there was no self-styled "Romantic movement" at the time, and the great writers of the period did not call themselves Romantics.

  14. Romanticism

    The Romantic poet William Wordsworth, thinking along similar lines, wrote that poetry should begin with "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings", which the poet then "recollect [s] in tranquility", enabling the poet to find a suitably unique form for representing such feelings. [14]

  15. Romantic literature in English

    Among the most famous sentimental novels in English are Samuel Richardson 's Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded (1740), Oliver Goldsmith 's The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), Laurence Sterne 's Tristram Shandy (1759-67) and A Sentimental Journey (1768), Henry Brooke 's The Fool of Quality (1765-70), Henry Mackenzie 's The Man of Feeling (1771) and Maria Edg...

  16. Best Romance Authors Ever (328 books)

    From the past to the present, here are the list of romance authors out there who had written fantastic romance novels. Please add only one book per author. And please pick your favorite book of the author's works. flag All Votes Add Books To This List ← Previous 1 2 3 4 Next →

  17. The 60 Best Romance Novels of All Time

    📚 Which romance novel should you read next? Discover the perfect romance book for you. Takes 30 seconds! Start quiz The Classics 1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Buy on Amazon Add to library Though Jane Eyre might be 'poor, obscure, plain and little', her love story is anything but.

  18. Romantic Writers

    The Essential Wordsworth by William Wordsworth; Seamus Heaney (Selected by) Call Number: PR5853 .H4 2006 Wordsworth's power over us stems from the manifest strength of his efforts to integrate several strenuous and potentially contradictory efforts.

  19. Top 10 Greatest Romance Authors of All Time

    2. Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855) Most accredited for bringing something new to the table with her gothic melodrama in romantic fictions, Charlotte Brontë was another gifted writer who raised the benchmark for romantic novels with her all-time classic: Jane Eyre (1847). The novel tells the story of an orphan governess who makes the dreadful ...

  20. 6.1: The Romantic Period (1798-1832)

    For Romantic writers, then, the source of poetry is not a conscious crafting of lines of a certain number of syllables in a certain metrical pattern and rhyme scheme, like the 18th-century heroic couplet. Instead, the source of literature is the inspiration that comes from connecting, through nature, with the divine or the transcendental ...

  21. 15 of the Top Contemporary Romance Authors

    The best contemporary romance writers know how to pull you through the pages with whip-smart dialogue, realistic conflict, and complicated, flawed protagonists who feel relatable. This contemporary romance authors list includes both veteran writers alongside emerging newcomers who have already established themselves as new leaders in the genre.

  22. 11 Best Romance Authors

    8. Julie Garwood. Called the Rembrandt of Romance Novels, Julie Garwood grew up in an Irish family living in Kansas City, Missouri, where storytelling was a way of life. After becoming a mother, Garwood focused on raising her kids, then decided to publish her first historical romance after her children were in school.

  23. 10 of the best romance novels for early 2024 : NPR

    10 of the best romance novels for early 2024 Who says romance is reserved for Valentine's Day? Love stories are a treat to be savored year-round. Love stories are a treat to be savored year-round.

  24. True love lasts forever

    Romance novels are more popular than ever. (Getty Images) We're living in a romance renaissance — the genre is more popular than ever. This Valentine's Day we wanted to hear from one of the ...

  25. Romanticism

    Romanticism is the attitude that characterized works of literature, painting, music, architecture, criticism, and historiography in the West from the late 18th to the mid-19th century. It emphasized the individual, the subjective, the irrational, the imaginative, the personal, the emotional, and the visionary.

  26. The 23 Main Authors of Romanticism and their Works

    1- Jane Austen (1775-1817) Filled with comedy, romance, wit and satire, the six novels of this English author were also a striking reflection of the social and territorial situation that England lived in her time. He began to write being very young, with the constant support and promotion of his family and friends.

  27. 12 of the Best Romance Novels About Writers

    Romance novels about writers are fantastic. Watching protagonists' satisfaction with their personal and professional lives coincide is tantalizing. Not to mention, professional writing requires creativity, adaptability, and dedication — traits akin to what anyone would seek out in a romantic partner.

  28. Sexily ever after: how romance bookstores took over America

    As a genre, romance is defined by its focus on a central love story, and by its promise of a "happily ever after" for its main characters - or at least, in more contemporary novels, a ...