Age gap romance books are so much fun and there are so many of them out there. There used to be mostly older man with a younger woman, but now we are getting more and more older woman with younger man. Both are absolutely delicious. Here are some of the best age gap romance novels I’ve had the pleasure to read.
Table of Contents
Best Age Gap Romance Books
Whether you call them cougars, manthers, or pumas, there’s always an allure to relationships with larger age gaps than what is considered the norm. Embrace what you enjoy in a book! Relationships with big age gaps can be so romantic, especially when they are well written or made fresh again. The following age gap romance books are all novels I’ve enjoyed and want to share with you.
Best Age Gap Romance Novels
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Age Gap Romance Novels Reviewed
Tools of Engagement
by Tessa Bailey
Bethany Castle is perfect. She spends a great deal of time making sure that no one can see her flaws. However, it’s exhausting. On top of that, her love life isn’t going well. It’s incredibly stressful to be in a successful relationship when you’re too scared to let your partner see your flaws. Instead of focusing on boyfriends, she takes a dating hiatus and decides to focus on the one thing she’s wanted since she’s joined her family’s construction business: flipping her own house.
Her family, though well meaning, basically laugh at her and Bethany declares that she’s going to flip a house whether they help her or not.
Enter Wes Daniels. Wes Daniels is in town caring for his niece and works temporarily for Bethany’s brother. But damn if Wes doesn’t find Bethany Castle fascinating. Sparks are flying and Wes defects from Brick and Morty to help Bethany on her flip. Quickly, things get out of control and Bethany finds herself the reluctant star of a reality competition show between her and her brother.
Bethany is so scared and quickly, Wes sees her at her worst. Will Bethany keep him at arm’s length or will she learn to let her imperfect self shine?
Bethany is 7 years older than Wes and Wes is hot, hot, hot. I loved their chemistry, especially as it has been building from earlier books in the series. It’s an awesome enemies-to-lovers trope novel!
Read more reality show competition romance novels!
You Had Me at Hola
by Alexis Daria
Jasmine Lin Rodriguez is a young soap star who is itching to do even bigger and better things. When she lands the lead in the remake of “Carmen in Charge” at 30, she’s poised to do just that. Unfortunately, she lands on the cover of a tabloid after her ex-boyfriend cheats on her with a younger version of herself.
Ashton Suarez is already 38 and though a well known (and swoon worthy) telenovela actor, he’s feeling the pinch to do greater things before his star fades.
Jasmine is excited to meet the veteran actor, but when they do, he accidentally dumps coffee all over her. She ends up walking into her first day of work wearing ill-fitting, touristy clothing. He feels guilty for it, but personal circumstances dictate that he can’t get close to his cast mates. Not if he wants to keep his private life private.
There are so many things I liked about this book. There were scenes within scenes, showcasing the show’s events and drama, and then the real life within the book. One of my favorite things was the use of lube during sex! Yes, using lube is super normal, even when you’re young. Not every woman is gushing wet when it’s time to do the deed and that is absolutely okay and normal. The other really cool thing was the use of a consent expert on the set of the TV show. The only thing I didn’t love was when our lovely Jasmine was ready to quit the groundbreaking Carmen in Charge, even though it was employing so many amazing people of varying ethnic backgrounds, especially in the Latinx community (we were introduced and fell in love with the supporting characters, too), which was an important part of the story.
Luckily, characters grow and stretch and we are treated to a lovely happy ending!
Playing Fast
by Melanie Scott
Finn Castro succumbed to the pressures of being in the Major League and was sent down to the Saints farm team. He can’t afford another screw up. Finn’s determined to keep his act clean and play the best baseball that he can while in Saratoga Springs, New York. He will not blow his second chance at the Major Leagues, since the NY Saints owners demoted him to the Preachers instead of firing him.
Except, then there’s Eve.
Eve Harlowe runs the admin side of the Preachers and has since her parents were tragically killed many years prior. She put her life on hold to raise her sisters. She’s adored about the staff and players at the Preachers, so she isn’t the person with whom to get involved with – especially since Finn’s main goal is to move back up to the Major Leagues. But Eve has more than one secret – and one of them is the giant crush she’s had on Finn since he started playing for the Saints. To protect herself, she acts completely unaffected and a little cold towards Finn when she meets him.
But damn, if Finn isn’t intrigued with her. As guys are, of course. Can Finn persuade Eve to date him? Will Eve finally move on with her own life?
Finn is SUCH A JERK in the previous book and I wondered if he could be redeemed. Finn earns it in this book. It’s a solid addition to this series and I recommend it!
This is book 5 in the NY Saints Series and features and older woman with a younger man. Check out more amazing sports romance novels (including the other books in the series)!
Good Girl
by Jana Aston
Lydia Clark is a good girl. She’s an overachiever and goal oriented. She also clearly has anxiety, but that’s not really addressed. Anyway, I could totally relate to her in that regard. Lydia is also a virgin, who is determined to lose it before the end of the year. What good would deflower the virgin romance book be without that goal in mind?
Lydia’s best friend and roommate, Payton, declares that they can’t leave the bar until Lydia kisses a stranger. It’s a joke and Lydia pretends she’s going to do it. Except Lydia can’t keep her eyes off the hottie at the bar. The hottie who agrees to kiss her. He takes her to the bar’s office and proceeds to kiss her senseless.
Shenanigans ensue, including the absolutely crazy, unrealistic, and completely HOT virgin auction. Yeah, I do want to see the incredible hot, rich, alpha male reacting so strongly to our incredible heroine. Lydia really is a wonderfully awkward good girl who is lusting after her boss. Or her boss’ boss’ boss, as the case may be. He tries to resist Lydia, she’s too young, too clean, too perfect for the likes of him. But Lydia has a way of seeing past the shell into what’s underneath. Can these two communicate outside of the bedroom and get their happily ever after?
This book was completely adorable and oh so lava hot. WOW. The steam factor was high and felt so dirty in such a wonderful way. It was a lovely little fantasy that depicted some wonderful character growth. Also, it takes place in Las Vegas, but isn’t the typical “I woke up married in Vegas” trope. If you like the much older man deflowers the willing virgin, this is a fun, quirky novel for you!
Good Time
by Jana Aston
Payton is the best friend of Lydia, from Good Girl (above and first book in the Vegas Billionaires series). She’s extra and in the best way possible. Her brain is a treasure trove of delight, even when she’s hatching up her brilliant plans. When Payton sees a hot guy from across a room, she tells her new “work husband” that she’s going to marry that man. You know, maybe. It’s certainly possible, at least.
Of course, the fates seem to align when she helps Lydia on a quest and he’s the club owner, Vince Rossi. She’s sure that it’s meant to be – maybe just sex, if nothing else and that’s okay, too. Later that evening, Payton finds herself hanging out with Vince and two friends (those two friends better get their own books, too, because they are pretty freaking awesome characters, as well). And wouldn’t you know, Payton wakes up married to Vince!
Vince is a fantastic guy (though you kind of don’t see that in the first book, which runs during the same time as this one – which is really freaking awesome, by the way). It’s also a great “waking up married” trope, even though the characters already live in Vegas. I’ve quickly become a big fan of Jana Aston’s writing. It’s fresh, funny, and full of super hot sex. We have alpha males who are both hot and adorable and spirited women who enjoy their alpha males in bed and kind of just do what they want anyway. You know, like we all do! And hands off, Vince is MY book boyfriend!
All Grown Up
by Vi Keeland
Valentina is 37 years old, 18 months divorced and scared to date again. Unbeknownst to her, her best friend sets up a profile for Valentina, weeding out those with undesirable usernames. Valentina reluctantly gets on board and ends up chatting with Ford. It isn’t until she meets him that she realizes he’s Ford Donovan, the boy next door and really not old enough for her. Or is he?
Ford’s parents died when he was 17 and he ended up raising his sister, working hard to survive and succeed. Due to his circumstances, he’s more mature than many 25 year old guys.
Valentina resists him for awhile and then wants to keep him a secret. She isn’t ready for a relationship – the final decade of her marriage wasn’t awesome and her ex-husband finally ended up leaving her for a 20 year old. She was hurt and wants to find herself before getting into a relationship.
Like all things written by Vi Keeland, this novel is steamy hot, full of feelings, and character growth. I enjoyed this novel and wanted to stay wrapped in the blanket with these two just a bit longer. Ford is swoon-worthy and I loved having Valentina, our level headed heroine.
Sweet Liar and Sweet Fate (Dirty Sweet Books 1 and 2)
by Laurelin Page
Sweet Liar and Sweet Fate are the two books that consist of the story of the romance between Audrey Lind and Dylan Locke, both of whom show up in earlier books by Laurelin Page. However, these two are a bit different. We have our alpha male and bubbly heroine, except Dylan is 19 years older than Audrey and super conflicted about that.
He’s closed himself off from love after the death of his beloved stepdaughter and subsequent divorce from his ex-wife. Audrey is the bright and fun younger sister of Sabrina, a somewhat distant coworker of Dylan’s. Another struggle between Dylan and Audrey? She lives in the States and the sexy Brit Dylan heads up the London office of the company, Reach.
If you like a good age gap with an older man, this series is well written and gives us some excellent twists and turns. Do yourself a favor and have both novels in your possession before starting! Novel one does end on a cliffhanger, but the series is standalone within the Reach universe.
Best Age Gap Romance Novels Final Thoughts
I love a good age gap romance novel and I’m happy the ones on this list delivered good writing and character arcs. The books above all moved me within their various worlds. I loved the sparks that flew in each book and the steam levels were really high.
What are your favorite age gap romance books? Did I miss one of your favorites? The best feedback comes from my readers and fellow romance novel enthusiasts. Please leave a comment with your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you!
