The Best Romance Books of 2025
- Joao Nsita
- 1 day ago
- 26 min read
It’s a Sunday evening in late September, and a new, more intimate mood is beginning to settle over London. The sun is dipping below the skyline earlier, the air is cooler, and the cozy, introspective season of autumn is in full swing. This is the time of year when we instinctively begin to turn inward, to seek out warmth, comfort, and the soul-deep satisfaction of getting lost in a truly great love story. And in the vibrant, ever-evolving world of modern literature, the romance genre has delivered an absolutely spectacular and unforgettable year.
The conversation around romance novels has never been more powerful or more mainstream. On social media platforms like TikTok and Pinterest, the #BookTok and #Romantasy aesthetics are a dominant and joyful force. We see a global community of readers celebrating the heart-stopping tension of an "enemies-to-lovers" dynamic, the swoon-worthy "Book Boyfriend" who sets a new standard, and the complex, epic world-building of a great fantasy romance. The trend is clear: readers are hungry for stories that are not just romantic, but are also smart, ambitious, and emotionally profound.
This is your definitive, in-depth guide to the absolute best that 2025 has had to offer. We have curated a list of the seventeen most acclaimed, beloved, and unputdownable romance novels of the year, presented in descending order. These are the 5-star reads, the books that have captivated us with their unforgettable characters and their masterfully crafted stories. From sweeping, high-stakes fantasies to deeply emotional, contemporary gems, this is your roadmap to the very best of 2025.
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17. Branded by Saffron A. Kent
The Vibe: A dark, raw, and incredibly intense "pen-pal" romance that is a powerful and unconventional exploration of love and deception.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about the masks we wear and the secret, hidden selves we are afraid to show the world. It is a book that brilliantly and darkly explores the idea of falling in love with a person's words, with their soul, before you ever see their face. It is a story that is not afraid to be messy, to be complicated, and to delve into the dark and often obsessive side of a powerful connection.
Why It's a Must-Read: The story begins with a classic, and very romantic, premise: a "pen-pal" romance with a prisoner. But it is a romance that is built on a foundation of deception, as the heroine is not who she says she is. The book takes a dark and thrilling turn when she comes face-to-face with the man she has been writing to, a man who is far more dangerous, more complicated, and more beautiful than his letters ever let on. It’s a perfect read for a dark and stormy night. For a deep dive into the "dark romance" trend, the official Goodreads blog often has fantastic articles.
What Makes It a Top Read: Saffron A. Kent is a master of the dark, and deeply emotional, romance. This book is a fantastic and thrilling example of her unique, and incredibly addictive, writing style. The show’s complex hero is a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 5 Favorite Movie Anti-Heroes of All Time.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Branded by Saffron A. Kent on Amazon.
16. Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun
The Vibe: A sweeping, heartfelt, and beautifully scenic "found family" romance set on the iconic Camino de Santiago.
The Deeper Meaning: This book is a powerful and deeply moving exploration of self-discovery, of healing, and of the courage it takes to step out of your comfort zone and to completely change your life. It is a story about a woman who is, quite literally, walking away from her old life and, in doing so, is finding her true, authentic self and a new, and much more supportive, "chosen family."
Why It's a Must-Read: The story follows Sadie Wells, a 35-year-old woman who is feeling completely stuck in her monotonous life. In a moment of desperation, she impulsively agrees to take her injured sister's place on a "queer women's" tour of the Camino de Santiago, a famous, 200-mile pilgrimage across Portugal. The only problem? She's not "out," and she's not entirely sure she even belongs. Her journey is complicated by her undeniable, and deeply inconvenient, attraction to the tour's charismatic and free-spirited leader, Mal. The "forced proximity" of the hike is a brilliant and incredibly effective narrative device.
What Makes It a Top Read: Alison Cochrun is one of the most beloved and acclaimed voices in modern, queer romance, and this book is a beautiful and inspiring example of her talent. It is a book that is both a stunning, "armchair travel" escape and a profound, and deeply moving, story of self-acceptance. For more on the real-life pilgrimage, the official Camino de Santiago website is a fantastic resource. The show’s focus on a powerful journey of self-discovery is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 7 Best Coming of Age Movies of All Time.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun on Amazon.
15. The Homemaker by Jewel E. Ann
The Vibe: A unique, quirky, and surprisingly steamy "second-chance romance" with a brilliant and unforgettable, 1950s-housewife-inspired twist.
The Deeper Meaning: This book is a beautiful and powerful exploration of the idea that true love is timeless. It is a story about a woman who is, quite literally, living in the past, and a man who is forced to confront his own, heartbreaking history. It is a novel that is a fascinating, and often very moving, exploration of the different ways that we cope with grief and of the profound, and often very strange, ways that love can find a way.
Why It's a Must-Read: The premise of this book is a work of pure, creative genius. The story follows Alice Yates, a woman who has a very unique job: she is a "homemaker" for an affluent, elderly couple, a job that requires her to dress, to act, and to live like a perfect, 1950s housewife. Her quiet, and very strange, life is thrown into chaos when the couple's daughter returns home with her new fiancé... who just so happens to be the man who broke Alice's heart eight years earlier. The "second-chance romance" trope is a fan-favourite, and this is one of the most unique and unforgettable takes on the genre. The book’s incredible soundtrack is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of Top 10 Best Disney Soundtracks of All Time.
What Makes It a Top Read: Jewel E. Ann is a master of the unique, and deeply emotional, romance. This book is a perfect example of her talent. It is a story that is so full of a deep, aching pining, of a huge amount of heart, and of a brilliant, and very steamy, central romance that it is an absolute, must-read. The show’s complex and often fiery relationships are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 10 Best Rom-Coms of the Last 25 Years, Ranked.
Where to Buy: You can purchase The Homemaker by Jewel E. Ann on Amazon.
14. Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine
The Vibe: A hilarious, witty, and incredibly clever "enemies-to-lovers" romance that is a brilliant, and very meta, deconstruction of the romance genre itself.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about a woman who is forced to confront her own, deep-seated cynicism about love. It is a book that is a "love letter" to the romance genre, but it is also a very smart and very funny exploration of the real-life, messy, and often very complicated, reality of falling in love. It is a story about letting go of your fears, of being open to the unexpected, and of finding your own, unique, and perfectly imperfect, "happily ever after."
Why It's a Must-Read: The premise of this book is a work of pure, rom-com genius. The story follows a beloved, but deeply cynical, romance author who secretly writes "unhappy" alternate endings for all of her own books. When her secret file is leaked to the public, she is "cancelled" by her fans. Her publisher, in a last-ditch effort to save her career, sends her to a remote, Alaskan resort to write her first-ever murder mystery. But her quiet, working retreat is thrown into chaos by the arrival of the resort's handsome, and deeply grumpy, owner, and she finds that her life is, against her will, turning into the very kind of "enemies-to-lovers" romance novel that she despises.
What Makes It a Top Read: This book is a true, "BookTok" sensation, a perfect, and incredibly satisfying, read for any fan of the romance genre. It is a book that is packed with witty, laugh-out-loud banter, a fantastic, "grumpy/sunshine" dynamic, and a beautiful, slow-burn romance. For more on the art of a great love story, check out our article on The 9 Elements of All Great Rom-Coms That Keep Us Hooked.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine on Amazon.
13. Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey
The Vibe: A fun, flirty, and incredibly steamy "fake dating" sports romance from the undisputed queen of the genre.
The Deeper Meaning: This book is a brilliant, and very funny, exploration of the "fake dating" trope, a classic for a reason. It is a story about two people who, through a series of hilarious, and often very sexy, mishaps, are forced to drop their own, carefully constructed, public personas and to be their true, authentic selves with each other. It is a story about the surprising, and often very powerful, connection that can be formed when you are pretending to be in love.
Why It's a Must-Read: This is the latest, highly anticipated, sports romance from the "queen of spice," Tessa Bailey. The story follows Robbie "Orgasn Donor" Corrigan, a rookie on the Boston Bearcats hockey team. He is a charming, and very popular, player who is used to getting any woman he wants. But when he meets Skylar Paige, a badass, Division 1 softball pitcher who wants nothing to do with him, he is intrigued. When he discovers that she has a massive crush on her brother's best friend, he makes her a deal: he will be her love coach, and her fake boyfriend, for an upcoming family wilderness competition. What follows is a hilarious, and incredibly steamy, series of "lessons" that soon begin to feel very, very real.
What Makes It a Top Read: Tessa Bailey is a master of the fun, high-heat, contemporary romance, and this book is a perfect example of her talent. It is a book that is packed with her signature, witty banter, a cast of lovable, secondary characters, and a central romance that is both incredibly sexy and surprisingly sweet. For more on the author's work, Tessa Bailey's official website is a great resource. The show’s focus on a powerful romance is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 10 Best Teen Romance TV Shows Ever Made.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey on Amazon.
12. If Tomorrow Never Comes by Allison Ashley
The Vibe: A heartbreaking, life-affirming, and deeply, profoundly moving "second-chance romance" with a powerful, and very unique, twist.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about the profound, and often very strange, power of fate. It is a story that asks a series of big, powerful, and deeply emotional questions: What does it mean to be given a second chance at life? And what do you do when that second chance is inextricably, and very complicatedly, linked to the greatest love of your life? It is a beautiful, and often heartbreaking, exploration of love, of loss, and of the courage it takes to grab hold of happiness, even when it feels messy and complicated.
Why It's a Must-Read: The story follows Elliott, a young woman who, on the eve of a life-saving stem cell transplant to treat her leukemia, decides to have one, perfect, "last night of her life." She has a magical, and deeply romantic, encounter with a handsome and charming stranger named Jamie. They share a perfect, bittersweet kiss, and then they part ways, with no expectation of ever seeing each other again. A year later, Elliott is in remission, and she finally gets to meet the anonymous, stem cell donor who saved her life. But when she meets her donor, Carly, she is shocked to discover that Carly's boyfriend is none other than Jamie, the man she has never been able to forget.
What Makes It a Top Read: This book is a true, emotional, and cathartic "five-star read." It is a book that is so full of a deep, aching pining, and of a profound, and very beautiful, romantic connection, that it is guaranteed to make you cry. It is a must-read for any fan of a deep, and deeply emotional, love story. For more on the life-saving power of stem cell donation, the official Anthony Nolan website in the UK is an incredible and vital resource. The film's incredible soundtrack is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of Top 10 Michael Jackson Songs of All Time.
Where to Buy: You can purchase If Tomorrow Never Comes by Allison Ashley on Amazon.
11. Wild Side by Elsie Silver
The Vibe: A classic, sweeping, and incredibly steamy "marriage of convenience" romance, set in the rugged, beautiful, and "small-town" world of professional bull riding.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about two, deeply wounded, people who find an unexpected, and very powerful, sense of healing in each other. It is a story about a man who is forced to confront his own, dark, and very secret, past, and about a woman who learns to let go of her own, long-held resentments and to open her heart to love again. It is a powerful, and very moving, exploration of the idea that sometimes, the "wrong" choice can turn out to be the most right, and most beautiful, one of all.
Why It's a Must-Read: This is the latest, highly anticipated, installment in the massively popular, interconnected, "Chestnut Springs" series. The story follows two, former, high-school sweethearts who are now bitter enemies. But when the guardianship of their young nephew is contested, they are forced into a "marriage of convenience" to keep him in their town. What begins as a purely platonic, and deeply antagonistic, arrangement soon becomes a whole lot more complicated, as the old, and very powerful, sparks between them begin to reignite. The "marriage of convenience" trope is a fan-favourite for a reason, and this is a particularly brilliant, and very steamy, example of the genre.
What Makes It a Top Read: Elsie Silver is a "BookTok" superstar, and this series is one of the most beloved and most popular in the entire, modern romance genre. Her books are a perfect, and incredibly addictive, blend of a rugged, "cowboy" aesthetic, a huge amount of heart, and a very, very high, steam level. The show’s complex and often fiery relationships are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 5 Best Movies About Marriages.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Wild Side by Elsie Silver on Amazon.
10. Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman
The Vibe: A warm, witty, and deeply, profoundly moving story about grief, about healing, and about the surprising, and very beautiful, friendship that can be formed in the wake of a shared tragedy.
The Deeper Meaning: This book is a powerful and unflinching, but also surprisingly funny, exploration of the messy, complicated, and deeply personal nature of grief. It is a story about two people who are, in their own, unique ways, completely, and totally, lost. It is a book that understands that the journey of healing is not a straight line, and that sometimes, the greatest, and most profound, love stories are not the ones that are built on a foundation of passion, but on a foundation of a deep, and deeply compassionate, shared understanding.
Why It's a Must-Read: This is the She Reads Romance Books Book Club pick for November 2025, and for a very good reason. The story follows Grace and Henry, two people who both, on the very same day, lost their spouses. A year later, as the dreaded, first holiday season approaches, their well-meaning mothers try to set them up. While a "rom-com" style romance is the last thing on their minds, they form a delicate, and deeply necessary, friendship. When Henry mentions that he can't face his annual, holiday movie marathon without his late wife, Grace, despite her own, deep aversion to the cheesy, holiday classics, offers to watch them with him. The book is a beautiful, and very moving, exploration of their shared, healing journey, as they find a new, and very unexpected, life, and love, on the other side of grief.
What Makes It a Top Read: This book is a true, "hidden gem" of the genre. It is a story that is so full of a deep, and very real, emotional intelligence, and of a sharp, witty, and surprisingly hopeful humour, that it is a truly unforgettable read. The show’s focus on a powerful family is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 5 Best Movies About Mothers.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman on Amazon.
9. First Time Caller by B.K. Borison
The Vibe: A charming, witty, and incredibly heartwarming "grumpy/sunshine" romance set in the wonderful, and very cozy, world of a late-night, radio call-in show.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about a man who has built a fortress around his heart, and the brave, and very wonderful, woman who helps him to tear it down. It is a story about the difference between the "public" persona we present to the world and the private, vulnerable selves we are afraid to show. It is a beautiful and powerful celebration of the joy of human connection and of the courage it takes to be truly, and authentically, seen.
Why It's a Must-Read: This is the latest, highly anticipated, installment in the massively popular, and incredibly cozy, Lovelight series (the series that gave us the #1 book on this list, Lovelight Farms). The story follows Aiden Valentine, the handsome, but famously grumpy, host of Baltimore's late-night, romance-themed radio show, "Heartstrings," who has a secret: he has completely, and totally, fallen out of love with love. His world is thrown into chaos when a young, and very devious, girl calls into his show, live on air, to ask for dating advice for her single mother, Lucie. The interview goes viral, and Aiden and Lucie are forced to work together, a partnership that is complicated by the undeniable, and deeply inconvenient, sparks that are flying between them, behind the scenes.
What Makes It a Top Read: B.K. Borison is the undisputed queen of the modern, "cozy romance" genre, and this book is a perfect, and incredibly heartwarming, example of her talent. It is a book that is packed with witty banter, a cast of lovable, secondary characters, and a central, "grumpy/sunshine" romance that is so full of a deep, aching pining, and of a beautiful, slow-burn tension, that it is an absolute, must-read. The film's incredible soundtrack is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of Top 10 Rolling Stones Songs of All Time.
Where to Buy: You can purchase First Time Caller by B.K. Borison on Amazon.
8. Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
The Vibe: A beautiful, gentle, and deeply, profoundly moving story about the long, difficult, and often very funny, journey of healing from grief.
The Deeper Meaning: This book is a powerful, and incredibly compassionate, exploration of the messy, non-linear, and deeply personal nature of grief. It is a story that understands that healing is not about "getting over" a loss, but about learning to build a new, and different, life around it. It is a beautiful, and very hopeful, testament to the idea that it is possible to find joy, and love, again, even after the most devastating of heartbreaks.
Why It's a Must-Read: The story follows Lenny, a young woman who is completely, and totally, lost. It has been a year since her best friend died, and she is still drowning in her grief, avoiding her concerned parents, and ignoring the "live again" list of things that her friend made for her. She takes on a temporary babysitting job for an overworked, single mom, a job that is complicated by the constant, and very grumpy, presence of the woman's uncle, Miles. Miles, who knows a lot about grief himself, makes her a deal: he will help her to complete her "live again" list, if she will help him to connect with his niece. What follows is a beautiful, slow-burn, and incredibly tender romance between two, deeply wounded, people who, in the process of "showing up" for each other, accidentally, and beautifully, find their own, new beginning.
What Makes It a Top Read: Cara Bastone is a master of the "slice of life" romance, and this book is a true masterpiece of the genre. It is a story that is so full of a deep, and very real, emotional intelligence, and of a sharp, witty, and surprisingly hopeful humour, that it is a truly unforgettable read. For more on the psychology of grief, the Cruse Bereavement Support website is an invaluable UK-based resource. The show’s complex and often fiery relationships are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 5 Best Movies About Marriages.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone on Amazon.
7. It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
The Vibe: A sharp, witty, and wonderfully nostalgic "second-chance romance" about two, former, high-school sweethearts who are given an unexpected, and very chaotic, second chance.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about the courage it takes to confront your past and to be your true, authentic self. It is a story about a woman who has spent her entire adult life trying to outrun the "character" she was in high school, and who, in the process of confronting her past, is finally able to find her own, happy, and very real, future.
Why It's a Must-Read: The story follows Jane Jackson, a successful, Hollywood studio executive who has spent her entire life trying to live down her past as "Poor Janey Jakes," a punchline from a 90s sitcom. Her new, and very serious, life is thrown into chaos when she, in a moment of desperation to get her first, big project greenlit, accidentally claims that she can get the mega-famous pop star, Jack Quinlan, to write a song for the movie. The only problem? Jack was her first kiss, and her greatest, high-school humiliation, and she hasn't spoken to him in twenty years. She is forced to team up with a pompous, and very handsome, cinematographer, Dan, to track Jack down, a journey that forces her to confront her past in a very real, and very romantic, way.
What Makes It a Top Read: Annabel Monaghan is a beloved, and bestselling, author, and this book is a perfect, and incredibly witty, example of her talent. It is a book that is packed with sharp, "insider" humour about the world of Hollywood, and a central, "second-chance romance" that is both deeply nostalgic and incredibly satisfying. The show’s focus on a powerful romance is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 10 Best Teen Romance TV Shows Ever Made.
Where to Buy: You can purchase It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan on Amazon.
6. Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
The Vibe: A powerful, sophisticated, and incredibly steamy "forbidden love" romance from one of the most acclaimed and important voices in the genre.
The Deeper Meaning: This book is a powerful and ambitious exploration of the "forbidden fruit" trope, a story about two people who are, by all accounts, perfect for each other, but who are kept apart by a web of complicated, external (and internal) obstacles. It is a book that is a deep, and very nuanced, exploration of ambition, of family, and of the incredible, and often very difficult, choices that we have to make in the pursuit of love.
Why It's a Must-Read: This is the latest, highly anticipated, standalone novel from the legendary, and multi-award-winning, Kennedy Ryan. The story follows Hendrix, a brilliant, ambitious, and deeply driven woman who is at a crucial, make-or-break moment in her career, and who is also grappling with the immense, emotional challenge of caring for an aging parent. She has absolutely no time for romance. And then, she meets him. Maverick Bell is a charismatic, powerful, and incredibly successful tech mogul, a man who is the first to ever truly see, and to match, her. The only problem? He is the last man on Earth that she is allowed to have.
What Makes It a Top Read: Kennedy Ryan is a true, literary giant of the romance genre. Her writing is famous for its incredible, emotional depth, its beautiful, lyrical prose, and its powerful, and often very timely, social commentary. This book promises to be a masterpiece of the "forbidden love" genre, a story that is both incredibly steamy and deeply, profoundly, and intellectually, satisfying. For more on the author's incredible, and very important, work, the official Kennedy Ryan website is a fantastic resource. The show’s complex and often fiery relationships are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 10 Best Rom-Coms of the Last 25 Years, Ranked.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan on Amazon.
5. Story of My Life by Lucy Score
The Vibe: A classic, hilarious, and incredibly heartwarming "grumpy/sunshine" romance set in a charming, and quirky, small town.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about a woman who has lost her own, creative spark, and who finds it again in the most unexpected of places. It is a story about the healing power of community, of the magic of a small town, and of the surprising, and very beautiful, inspiration that can be found in a new, and slightly chaotic, beginning. It is a story about learning to write your own, new, and very happy, ending.
Why It's a Must-Read: This is the latest, highly anticipated, novel from the undisputed, global, "BookTok" superstar, Lucy Score. The story follows Hazel Hart, a successful romance novelist who, after a bad breakup, is suffering from a crippling case of writer's block. Her publisher is threatening to sue, and she is in desperate need of inspiration. In a moment of pure, unadulterated panic, she impulse-buys a historic, and very dilapidated, home, in the tiny, and struggling, town of Story Lake, Pennsylvania. Her arrival is a chaotic disaster, but her new, raccoon-infested, and spider-filled, home comes with one, very unexpected, and very inspiring, perk: the six-foot-three, incredibly handsome, and deeply, deeply grumpy, local contractor, Cam Bishop.
What Makes It a Top Read: Lucy Score is a true, global phenomenon, and a new book from her is a massive, and guaranteed, bestseller. Her books are a perfect, and incredibly addictive, blend of a classic, small-town setting, a cast of lovable, quirky, secondary characters, a huge amount of laugh-out-loud humour, and a central, "grumpy/sunshine" romance that is both incredibly steamy and deeply, profoundly, heartwarming. For more on the author's incredible, and very prolific, career, the official Lucy Score website is a great resource.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Story of My Life by Lucy Score on Amazon.
4. Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young
The Vibe: A mature, realistic, and deeply, profoundly moving "marriage in trouble" story that is a beautiful and honest exploration of what it truly means to love someone for a lifetime.
The Deeper Meaning: This book is a powerful, and incredibly important, exploration of a "love story" that you don't often see in the romance genre: the story of what happens after the "happily ever after." It is a story about two, high-school sweethearts who, after seventeen years of marriage, have begun to drift apart. It is a story that is not about a dramatic, explosive betrayal, but about the quiet, slow, and often very painful, process of two people who are no longer sure if they are the same people who fell in love all those years ago.
Why It's a Must-Read: The story follows Sarah and Caleb, a couple who, in a desperate, last-ditch effort to save their marriage, spontaneously sign up for a grueling, and very "off-the-grid," hiking trip that is designed to help couples navigate their rough patches. What follows is a hilarious, and often very moving, "comedy of errors" as these two, very nature-averse, people are forced to fight their way out of the woods and, in doing so, to find their way back to each other.
What Makes It a Top Read: Hannah Bonam-Young is a beloved, and breakout, "BookTok" star, and this book is a beautiful, and very mature, evolution of her writing. It is a book that is so full of a deep, and very real, emotional intelligence, and of a sharp, witty, and surprisingly hopeful humour, that it is a truly unforgettable read. The show’s complex and often fiery relationships are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 5 Best Movies About Marriages. This is a key part of building a lasting connection, a theme explored in 10 Habits of Couples Who Stay Deeply in Love for a Lifetime.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young on Amazon.
3. Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey
The Vibe: A fun, flirty, and incredibly steamy "forbidden" romance that is a perfect, and very modern, take on the classic, "stepsister" trope.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about two people who are both trapped, in their own, unique ways, by the expectations of their families. It is a story about a young woman who is fighting for her independence, and about a young man who is trying to balance his own desires with his duty to his family. It is a book that is a powerful, and very sexy, exploration of the courage it takes to fight for the love that you know you are meant to have.
Why It's a Must-Read: This is another, highly anticipated, blockbuster from the "queen of spice," Tessa Bailey. The story follows Sig, a professional hockey player, who has a magical, one-night connection with a beautiful, and very alluring, "manic pixie dream girl" named Chloe. Their whirlwind, moonlit romance is cut short when Sig arrives at a family dinner, only to discover that his father's new fiancée is Chloe's mother. His "dream girl" is now his "future stepsister." The two are forced into a "just friends" relationship, a plan that is immediately, and very steam-ily, complicated by their undeniable, and deeply "forbidden," chemistry.
[Visual Suggestion: A handsome, "bad boy" hockey player and a beautiful, "good girl" harpist, sharing a secret, charged, and "forbidden" look.]
What Makes It a Top Read: This book is a pure, unadulterated, and incredibly fun "popcorn" read. It is a book that is packed with Tessa Bailey's signature, witty banter, a huge amount of her famous, high-heat steam, and a central, "forbidden" romance that is so full of tension that it is absolutely, unputdownably, addictive. The show’s focus on a powerful romance is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 10 Best Teen Romance TV Shows Ever Made.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey on Amazon.
2. Mate by Ali Hazelwood
The Vibe: A smart, funny, and incredibly steamy "fated mates" paranormal romance from the undisputed, "BookTok" queen of the "STEMinist" rom-com.
The Deeper Meaning: At its heart, this is a story about a woman who is, quite literally, a "one of a kind," and who is learning to embrace the power that comes from her own, unique, identity. It is a story about a "fated" love that is not simple or easy, but is a complex, and often very difficult, negotiation between two, incredibly powerful, and very stubborn, individuals.
Why It's a Must-Read: This is the highly anticipated, full-length, standalone novel from Ali Hazelwood's new, and massively popular, paranormal "Werewolf" universe. The story follows Serena, the first, and only, Human-Were hybrid, a fact that has made her an outcast in both worlds and a target for a host of dangerous, political enemies. Her only hope for survival is to seek the protection of Koen, the powerful, formidable, and incredibly handsome Alpha of the Northwest pack, a man who she believes is her fated mate. The only problem? He doesn't seem to feel the same way. The "fated mates" and "grumpy/sunshine" tropes are two of the most popular in the entire "romantasy" genre, and this is a perfect, and very steamy, example.
What Makes It a Top Read: Ali Hazelwood is a true, publishing superstar. Her unique, and beloved, brand of smart, funny, and capable heroines, combined with her new, high-heat, paranormal world-building, is a match made in "romantasy" heaven. This is, without a doubt, one of the most anticipated, and most guaranteed-to-be-a-bestseller, romance novels of the entire year. The show’s complex hero is a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 5 Best Villains of All Time.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Mate by Ali Hazelwood on Amazon.
1. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Why It's at the Top: While every book on this list is a massive and highly anticipated release, there is no other book, in any genre, that has commanded the same, global, and culture-defining level of hype as Onyx Storm. The Fourth Wing series is not just a "BookTok" sensation; it is a full-blown, global, cultural phenomenon. It is a series that has so completely and so powerfully captured the imaginations of millions of readers around the world that it has become the undisputed, reigning, and un-touchable champion of the modern "romantasy" genre. The release of the third book in this saga is, without a doubt, the single biggest and most anticipated literary event of 2025.
The Vibe: An epic, breathtaking, and unapologetically romantic high-fantasy saga. This is Game of Thrones, but with a much bigger, and much more central, romantic heart.
What Makes It a Masterpiece: The story is set in the brutal, and very deadly, world of the Basgiath War College, a school where the only, and very literal, rule is to "graduate or die." The series follows Violet Sorrengail, a small, frail, and deeply intelligent young woman who was destined for a quiet life in the Scribe Quadrant, but who is forced by her unfeeling, General mother to enter the deadly, and very physical, Riders Quadrant, a place where she must bond with a giant, fire-breathing, and very sentient, dragon, or die trying. Her journey is complicated by her undeniable, and deeply "forbidden," connection to the most powerful, and most dangerous, man in the entire, college, the shadow-wielding, "enemies-to-lovers" icon, Xaden Riorson. The third book in the series promises to expand the world, to raise the stakes, and to put the love, and the lives, of our heroes to the ultimate test.
The Lasting Impact: The Fourth Wing series is a true, word-of-mouth phenomenon, a series that has been so successful that it has been credited with the current, massive, and global boom in the "romantasy" genre. For a deep dive into the "romantasy" trend, the official Goodreads blog has some fantastic, in-depth articles. The show’s epic scale is awe-inspiring, a quality it shares with the films on our list of The Top 5 Best Fantasy Movies of All Time.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros on Amazon.
Conclusion
In the vast and ever-expanding universe of modern literature, the romance genre has proven itself to be one of the most dynamic, most creative, and most emotionally resonant of them all. The seventeen books on this list are a testament to the incredible, and incredibly diverse, power of a great love story. From the epic, high-stakes, and dragon-filled worlds of a fantasy saga to the quiet, gentle, and deeply, profoundly moving realities of a modern, contemporary love, these are the stories that have captivated us, that have challenged us, and that have, quite simply, made our hearts beat a little bit faster.
These are more than just books; they are an invitation to feel, to hope, and to get lost in the simple, profound, and life-changing magic of a "happily ever after." As the cozy, introspective season of autumn truly begins, there is no better time to pick up one of these brilliant, binge-worthy, and completely unforgettable stories.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is "BookTok"? "BookTok" is the name for the community of readers and authors on the social media platform TikTok. It has become an incredibly powerful force for book discovery and has been instrumental in the recent, massive surge in popularity of the romance and "romantasy" genres.
2. What are the most popular romance tropes in 2025? The most popular romance tropes include enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and fated mates.
3. Are all these books "spicy"? The spice levels on this list vary greatly. Books by authors like Tessa Bailey, Ali Hazelwood, and Kennedy Ryan are known for being very "spicy" and containing explicit scenes. Others, like Promise Me Sunshine, are more of a "sweet" or "closed-door" romance. Always check individual reviews for specific "steam level" ratings.
4. What is "romantasy"? "Romantasy" is a hugely popular and growing subgenre that is a perfect blend of a high-stakes, epic fantasy plot and a central, romantic storyline. Onyx Storm is the quintessential example of this.
5. Where can I find more recommendations for romance books? Goodreads has thousands of user-curated lists for every specific subgenre of romance imaginable. Following "Bookstagrammers" on Instagram or "BookTok" creators on TikTok who specialize in romance is also a fantastic way to discover new titles.
6. Do I need to read the previous books in a series to enjoy the new ones on this list? For series like Onyx Storm (Book 3 in the Fourth Wing series) and Mate (a companion in the Bride universe), it is highly recommended to read the previous books first to fully appreciate the characters and the world-building.
7. Are these books available as audiobooks? Yes, all of the books on this list are incredibly popular and are available as audiobooks on platforms like Audible. Listening to a romance, particularly a steamy one, can be a wonderfully immersive experience.
8. What is a "grumpy/sunshine" trope? This is a very popular romance trope that features a romantic pairing between a grumpy, cynical, or broody character and a cheerful, optimistic, "sunshine" character. The dynamic is all about the sunshine character breaking through the grumpy one's tough exterior.
9. Why are illustrated covers so popular in the romance genre? Illustrated covers have become a massive trend in romance publishing. They allow the publisher to convey the tone and the feeling of the book in a way that is modern, that is stylish, and that avoids the often-cheesy look of a traditional, photo-based romance cover.
10. I'm in a reading slump. Can a romance novel help? Yes, absolutely! The fast-paced, high-stakes, and deeply satisfying nature of a great romance novel is the perfect antidote to a reading slump. They are designed to be unputdownable.
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