Enter: Augustus Waters. The solution is a romance that will break every rule.Six years ago, Miss Letitia Fenley made a mistake, and shes lived with the consequences ever since. 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. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. So whether youre searching for a how-to guide or cautionary tale (and there are plenty of those), youre hungry to read the next rom-com blockbuster before it hits Netflix, or you just want to lose yourself in timeless romance tropes, weve got you covered! Red, White & Royal Blue | Source, Not sure if you'd like this because the hero is super alpha, but I've recently read Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. (e.g. The setting totally makes the book. Nothing else matters, and she is perfectly willing to expend her own life in the pursuit of this aim. Thats not to say hes been bored: hes passed the time by having no fewer than 622 love affairs, which he has painstakingly recorded in his notebooks. This list was created and voted on by Goodreads members. as one of their favorite books, and they share Some might dismiss it as chick-lit, but The Notebook is a guaranteed tear-jerker every time. The romanceisbetween first cousins, but again, 1930s! I would prefer if the hero is not super alpha, but its not a dealbreaker. But Kya is not what they say. Though Jane Eyre might be poor, obscure, plain and little, her love story is anything but. show more. A chance meeting is enough to cement their fate, and the two women are drawn uncontrollably to one another. This story of recovery even shows up in comedies. Heart-warming and ahead of its time, North and South isnt just a beautiful romance, it also has a lot to say on politics, gender, and religion, so one for the history buffs, too! why you should read it. Despite her Quaker upbringing and the brutality of their surroundings, the unlikely pair find themselves swept up in a passionate and intense love affair. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. She doesnt reluctantly tolerate him. In an attempt to find kids who understand, Hazels mother forces her to attend a truly miserable cancer support group. Shepherd is a participant in the Bookshop.org and Amazon Associate Affiliate Programs. 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. So when Atlas appears in Boston, everything she has with Ryle is suddenly thrown into question. First we have Peggy Grahame, a 17-year-old girl who goes to live with her uncle Enos. The setting is relatively usual, and Blake has meticulously researched the topic she makes it obvious that she knows her stuff here. The Frenchmen living there feel that their motherland has betrayed them, and tempers are running high. written by Karla Sorensen and Smartypants Romance, narrated by Chris Brinkley and Reba Buhr. Shes spent the last 12 years being a criminal, as bad as any in the gang. Theres also a sweet F/F side romance! Wills 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. 2 This playful romcom reminded me of the pillars of romance: juicy conflict, lovable characters, and pacing that never quits. With a Netflix adaptation in the works, nows your chance to get ahead of the hype and join this YA series cult following before its cool. But a chance luggage mix-up at the airport brings them crashing back together. Merlin is a highly unconventional heroine: extremely intelligent and obsessed with her work, but very sweet. Niall, Lord Trevallyan is an Anglo-Irish aristocrat in Ireland during the time of the Protestant Ascendancy. show more. As tender and heartfelt as it is intense and passionate, Elio and Olivers love affair begins awkwardly, slowly, and tacitly, before building to unprecedented heights as the summer draws to a close. I also have for you this list of great Regency romances. Lucy and Josh have so much chemistry that it manifests as anger, frustration, and, yes, hate. Warning: it was published in 1978, so there are bodice ripper elements. Agree bloody fab book! 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. Can the two find any common ground, or will misunderstanding keep them at odds? romantic love, When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Left to fend for herself after being deserted by her parents, Kayas will to survive, as well as the overwhelming odds to rid herself of long-held stigmas, give voice to the fact that those who are marginalized are victimized as a result of it. Which unusual historical romances have you read? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Its YA, but the characters are so vivid and their banter so sizzling that its better than many adult romances. When the unpopular businessman Gregory Matthews suddenly dies, the police immediately suspect his whole family. as one of their favorite books, and they share But hes not going to prison not if his cousin Stella has anything to say about it. The story of Noah and Allie is captured in three intertwined snap-shots: their teens, their early thirties, and old age. Ever since the massacre of her clan when she was a child, Morganna KilCreggar has wandered disguised as a boy. 4 The characters in this one are passable at best, but I do love the backdrop. Scotlands 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. Joyous, hilarious, and deeply sexy, Perris novel is not just an exploration of sexuality and gender nonconformity, but a sparkling subversion of the romantic comedy form. Persephone is a 19 year old genius about to graduate college who's ready to check off a bunch of "firsts . When Niks boyfriend asks her to spend the rest of her life with him, saying no isnt the hard part (the guy cant even spell her name right!) Lady Meriel de Vere is a noble-born Norman, but circumstances force her into pretending to be a Welsh commoner. But if the pop culture phenomenon somehow passed you by, its never too late to give this kinky thriller a try. (e.g. Whats suspenseful, but not too scary? Annabelle needs a rich husband, and fast. Captain Mattie St Armand is not just a woman: shes the biracial bastard daughter of a pirate and a freedwoman, so she needs a nave white man to help deflect the authorities while she smuggles slaves from Florida to freedom in the Bahamas. Morganna by Jackie Ivie. The Dukes Tattoo: A Regency Romance of Love and Revenge, Though Not in That Order, The Bestselling Fantasy Books of All Time, The Nobel Prize In Literature Winners You Need to Read, Should You Buy That? Smart women (in STEM, no less) will always be catnip for me as a reader because I love the inner conflict between hard-fought career goals and wanderings of the heart. Lovecraft the writer best known for creating Cthulhu, a winged Kraken-like creature, along with an entire mythos of similarly monstrous Old Ones. And though Lovecrafts terrifying tales have been captivating read the scientific possibilities of the not-too-distant future. Type your search request after where it says site:reddit.com/r/romancebooks. For more information, please see our If you start with book one (a sensible choice) youll meet Ross Poldark as he returns from war in America. Who could have imagined that this steamier-than-a-sauna novel would go on to sell over 125 million copies! This is the second book in the Secret Scientists of Love series, and the enemies to lovers journey of Letty and Grey hits all the right notes with swoony banter and hot chemistry. Theres no way he can risk everything hes built up for Eddy, a young black woman he saves from death in the desert. No, as a philologist, shes fascinated by his distinctly lower-class diction and Cornish accent. As someone whos been reading historical romance for nearly half my life, its true that many of them blur into each other. When Im not writing, Im perfecting the right ratio of coffee to milk, hustling my 2 rescue dogs around the neighborhood, or running up a hill in search of a view. DM me! Also known by the title Lady of the Knight, Im starting you guys out strong with one of the most uniquely tortured heroines Ive ever encountered. Happy Endings guaranteed. In this romantic retelling of a perennial Classics favorite, Homers Iliad, Madeline Miller casts Patroclus as the awkward but lovable ancient Grecian nerd to Achilles jock. Margaret finds a new calling, advocating for the poor and disenfranchised, but it brings her into direct conflict with imposing mill owner John Thornton. Christabel LaMotte and Maud Bailey in Possession by AS Byatt. authors picked 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 (weve gone for three!). Its 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? . He could never show her love or even affection and he certainly never believed in her. Louisa is a perfectly ordinary heroine without either impressive looks or impressive brains. Its an intimate love story of deceptive simplicity: Marianne and Connell are two mismatched young people unlikely friends, unlikely lovers who share a profound understanding. She is a recent. Princess Ai Lee is forced to flee home before her wedding, armed only with a pair of delicate butterfly swords. Tragically, she died in a car crash in the mid-80s, so these are her only two books. the witness: nora roberts. But they can never be together, because the year is 1811, and an entire continent plus her loyalty to her father lie between them. A long, hot Italian summer provides the backdrop to an equally steamy romance in Call Me by Your Name, the story of a young mans romance with his familys lodger. Early on heroines tended to be normatively slim with perky breasts. A controversial presentation of Civil-War era America, Gone With the Wind explores the complexities of both romantic and platonic love. Readying herself to compete for the prestigious Rosewood Prize for Mathematics, she is suddenly asked to take on another responsibilitymanaging Athenas Retreat, a secret haven for Englands women scientists. When he agrees to give Stella lessons in love, he finds himself drawn deeper into her life; suddenly, Stella isnt the only one whos learning. Red, White & Royal Blue is high concept fun and ruined my weekend plans to work. This is no easy task for a wealthy, successful woman like Stella, who also happens to have Asperger's. She worked hard and never complained. The glue that holds these families together (and our beloved heroine) is Emma Woodhouse. On more than one occasion she proves herself willing to murder those she loves, and its a long while before she comes to terms with the atrocities which were done to her. I write sweet, spicy books about quirky heroines and the men who cant live without them. Is it worth another shot? I love the friendships between the brainy female scientists at their secret lab and the humorEverett always brings the humor in big, satisfying doses. Any romance novel recs with a genius hacker heroine? There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. A college romance book featuring an intelligent heroine the hero can't resist, yes please! Will they? Editors note: this post previously contained 25 bookswe have removed one since learning one of the main characters is an ex-Nazi. 26 I want some action! (e.g. Please try again later. its about a really smart hacker, whos a loner and a sheriff who loves her. Thats what happens to Lara Jean, a sixteen-year-old girl whose life is turned upside down when letters shes written to all the boys shes ever loved letters that the recipients were never supposed to see are sent. Her twin sister Wren used to be the same, But now theyre in college, Wren has lost interest in geeky pursuits shes far too busy partying, making friends, and being cool. Randall is an extremely underrated Heyer hero, and hes absolutely one of my favourites. 24 Unusual Historical Romances. Albertallis 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. But the 1930s life it depicts is definitely long gone, so I feel confident in including here. Ransom is dictatorial and autocratic on the outside, with his own core of sweetness under it. Its 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. Theres one major issue, however her most tenacious suitor, entrepreneur Simon Hunt, has no interest in marrying her. r/RomanceBooks is a discussion sub for readers of romance novels. The sheltered and nave Maddy, fascinated by his scandalous reputation, is tasked with his care. From my experience, it does a good job of capturing that kind of smart driven personality (Worth noting that Emily Foster is a pen name for Emily Nagoski, Ph.D, bestselling author of "Come as You Are" and "Burnout," so her knowledge of academia makes sense). 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. As an author who writes the underdog-always-wins stories, this attracted me immediately, as did Owens writing, which puts the reader front and center into the ostracized heroines life. Especially when she loves to read, has a penchant for awkwardness, and discovers a soulmate who sees straight through her shyness to the interesting person underneath. Contemporary Erotic Romance, Novella. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. A Long Petal of the Sea is a masterful historical romance novel, tinged with Allendes hallmark magical realism. The sexual tension is heavy but the emotional baggage is, too. You must have a goodreads account to vote. If youre scouring this list for brilliant LGBT books, look no further! Sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto is trying to recover from a family tragedy, supported by his friends and his girlfriend Genevieve. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. This is how diplomacy should always work! Medical researchers, nerdy humor, mistaken cues, and missed romantic opportunitiessign me up! Lucy Hutton doesnt dislike Joshua Templeman. A wager presents itself. Read and vote for your favorites on the discover feed. But those who persevere with this colossus of a novel are richly rewarded. Donovan is nothing like the player I expected. The best romance novels with brilliant, brainy heroines By Stacy Travis Who am I? Enter Felix, Lord Rivendale. Fans of stubborn romantic leads ( 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. Below are 24 books which, by virtue of their plot, characters, or setting, stand out from the crowd. As it turns out, Henrys a time traveler, and Clare is his future wife. Amid the bleak and feral atmosphere of the Yorkshire moors, the novel revolves obsessively around the tempestuous course of Cathy and Heathcliffs self-destructive love affair. Description. We will add genres Sally Thornes writing is witty, charming, and sexy too. 1 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. The storyline, the richly described setting, and her flawed but likable characters, has made this a must-readand a re-readfor me. Who says math cant be sexy? Handsome, charismatic, genius--his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. Romance is a perennial favorite for readers everywhere, and it isnt hard to see why. Lucys a people pleaser the kind who wears yellow to work and she pushes all his buttons. Its a charming and sweet read, but, be warned its another Sparks tear-jerker. And she has to sit across from his joyless, infuriatingly handsome face every day. A rare genetic condition causes Henry to jump uncontrollably along the timeline of Clares life. 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? But if you havent read the book that inspired the cult hit, youve missed a trick. Hazelwoods book is funny, human, quirky, swoony, and delicious from page one. (Well, she did set them up, but what are best friends for?) if you like this list. The Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. How about her new roommates friendly ex-boyfriend? There are some great tidbits about that. Celeste Newsome is a notorious girl. 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. Fans of dystopian novels (think The Hunger Games) will find a lot to love in The Selection, the first in Kiera Cass Selection series. Lily was 12 years old when the Sharpe gang murdered her parents and adopted her. Every month our team sorts through Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City, #1), Attraction (Elements of Chemistry, #1; Hypothesis, #1.1), Nobody's Baby But Mine (Chicago Stars, #3), Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #5), Capture (Elements of Chemistry, #3; Hypothesis, #1.3), Heat (Elements of Chemistry, #2; Hypothesis, #1.2), The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient, #1), When He Was Bad (Magnus Pack, #3.5; Pride, #0.75; Smith's Shifter World, #3.5), To the Stars and Back (First Comes Love, #4), What a Dragon Should Know (Dragon Kin, #3), One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (The Rules of Scoundrels, #2), The Countess Conspiracy (Brothers Sinister, #3), Getting Lucky Number Seven (Taking Shots, #1), Marriage of Inconvenience (Knitting in the City, #7), Talk Sweetly to Me (Brothers Sinister, #4.5), Remedial Rocket Science (Chemistry Lessons, #1), Mackenzie's Mission (Mackenzie Family, #2), The Chocolate Temptation (Amour et Chocolat, #6), Dream Chaser (Dark-Hunter, #13; Dream-Hunter, #3), The Australian (Jet-setters & Jeopardy, #2), Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women, #1), The Dream-Hunter (Dark-Hunter, #10; Dream-Hunter, #1), Intermediate Thermodynamics (Chemistry Lessons, #2), Space (Laws of Physics, #2; Hypothesis, #2.2), The Perfect Rake (The Merridew Sisters, #1), Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City, #2), Hearts in Darkness (Hearts in Darkness, #1), Time (Laws of Physics, #3; Hypothesis, #2.3), Under One Roof (The STEMinist Novellas, #1), Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry, #2), Stuck with You (The STEMinist Novellas, #2), Motion (Laws of Physics, #1; Hypothesis, #2.1), Happily Ever Ninja (Knitting in the City, #5), Dukes Prefer Blondes (The Dressmakers, #4), Three For The Bank Job (By The Numbers, #3), The Nerd and the Marine (The Morrison Family, #1), The Greek Demands His Heir (Notorious Greeks, #1), The Golden Spider (Elemental Steampunk Chronicles, #1), Top New Reader-Recommended Romances for March. Popes other book,The Perilous Gard, also deserves your attention. Its also absolutely brimming with emotion its so well-written that I find reading some parts of it physically painful, because of how much it affects me. In the eyes of the town, Delilah Desmond is the devils daughter. 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. 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. 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. With a publication date of 1958, this is the second-oldest book on my list and one of the absolute best. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The editorial staff did not catch its inclusion, and we apologize for that and for any harm its inclusion caused. A gothic novel of intense passion, betrayal, and bitter vengeance underpinned by the quiet beauty of Bronts lyricism Wuthering Heights is an iconoclastic masterpiece that has inspired film-makers, novelists, poets, and song-writers for generations. 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. When my boss sends me in his place to a professional sports banquet, I find the only empty seat next to Donovan Taylor, the San Francisco Strikers resident hottie with a bad reputation. as one of their favorite books, and they share But despite all that, I honestly did feel the love between them, and Ilikedthat it wasnt crazily anachronistic. Computer nerd meets billionaire! Najja is a great heroine, and Burke writes some excellent sexual tension between her and Colin. Perfect to read on vacation without freaking yourself out even if youre staying at a cabin in the woods? DM me! Trigger warnings for attempted rape scenes. Hes been passing as white and is even engaged to a wealthy white woman. Comedy Drama Fantasy Romance Slice of Life. But when she decides its finally time to settle down, Stella comes up with a characteristically pragmatic plan: shell hire someone to teach her how to do it. This playful romcom reminded me of the pillars of romance: juicy conflict, lovable characters, and pacing that never quits. Sally Thornes The Hating Game is an unmissable treat for anyone who loves a rom-com about that undeniable spark between nemeses. My favourite Nora Roberts book. 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. authors picked 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. To be fair to Joshua, the feelings mutual. site:reddit.com/r/romancebooks FRIENDS TO LOVERS. 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. Another self-publishing success story in the vein of Fifty Shades of Grey, Sylvia Days Bared to You boasts a similarly devoted fan base and a similarly intense love story. Miller, a classics teacher herself, takes up Homers thread of lyrical prose while adding her own unique style and story elements. 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 story of hunky, troubled billionaire Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, a nave student who (quite literally) falls headfirst into his life, started out as self-published Twilight fanfiction. Everything in Lilys life seems to be falling into place. There are shades of Romeo and Juliet with the whole Cavalier vs Roundhead conflict. Who would have thought the words "if youre a bird, Im a bird" could pack such an emotional punch? This is excellent historical fiction, perhaps even better than it is historical romance. She takes a seat on the school bus and finds herself next to Park quiet, understated, and impossibly cool. Bonus if its a biker or mafia romance with an alpha male hero of course. New York Times bestseller Kinsale reminds us theres often much more than meets the eye in this gripping, steamy, and desire-drenched novel. There's another who's a doctor and another that's an astronaut. Yes, they existed! By: Mary Frame | ? The heroine is a very bright mathematician but socially awkward. Brainy/Genius Romantic Heroines For all those genius, highly intelligent, scientific-minded, critically-thinking heroines in romance! Will they ever be together, or will the seemingly insurmountable obstacles between them keep them apart? The horror canon simply wouldnt be the same without H.P. Ivory doesnt skim over the grim realities of working-class life in the 1890s. Where the Crawdads Sing scholars, scientists, computer geeks, professors, math whizzes, inventors, philosophers, etc. Jiang Nian used to be an actress. But he has a huge secret: hes actually biracial, with a black slave mother. What she doesnt expect is to start falling for the handsome prince. I promptly embarrass myself because I have no idea who he is. One of the authoritative classics of the genre, Jane Eyres enduring popularity is testament to the power of its central romance. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivanaka Sir McHotpantswitnesses it all then keeps This book, as well as being a cute romance, was a very interesting look at the racial situation of the time. Adrian is a very interesting character: hes tormented by lust, but also by an extreme religiosity, which is woven into the fabric of his personality. So I just finished reading Heavy by Cate C Wells about a hacker heroine with autism and the president of a motorcycle club. 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. Will Traynor is living a lonely life. Related list: Brainy/Genius Romantic Heroines flag All Votes Add Books To This List Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. by. From Janie's list on Divide by conflicting loyalties and multiply by a daring group of women hell-bent on conducting their scientific experiments.