I have been reading so much this year. Though I typically don’t make New Year’s resolutions, I did think to myself that I would like to read one book per month this year. It seemed a reasonable goal, even though I couldn’t remember the last time I’d read a full book. If I get into a story, I don’t want to put it down. It’s really difficult to return to reality and responsibilities. But then, I found out we were going to move. I procrastinated hard and started reading constantly.
Now, I’ve already read 100 books this year. Within those, here are some of my favorite romance novels that are so much more than merely romance. They are well written, fresh, and amazing books worth reading.
My Favorite Romance Novels that are MORE than “just romance”.
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My Favorite Romance Novels that are More than Romance
I needed to get my house packed for the move, but who wants to do that? Plus, I thought I’d have movers to pack for me. I did not. It would’ve been stupidly expensive for an in-country move, even here in Mexico. So, I read.
Once we moved, I was actually pretty down. We moved to a larger and safer city, but into a smaller house with much less green space. I didn’t know anyone. So, I read.
Though the lockdown in Mexico trailed behind the lockdowns in the USA by a few weeks, I was acting like it was already here. First, I’d been super down about the changes we’d inflicted on ourselves by moving. Then, I felt so trapped. I kept reading. Eventually, I came to terms with how life is right now and I’m mostly … okayish. I love a happily ever after (HEA), especially during times where outside life feels so scary.
Though I will allow myself to quit a novel if I really can’t stand it, I’ve also toughed through some to get to the end. Most of them were written well enough, but for some reason didn’t grab me. Though I have finished a few novels that left me wondering how on earth it got published. Then, I wondered if that means that even I have a shot at getting a romance book published should I ever pursue that lifelong dream?
If that’s “too long; didn’t read,” here’s the short version: I love reading romances because of the happily ever after. It’s been hard to have moved to a new city in Mexico as a foreigner right before quarantimes. Here are some of the novels that moved me the most, but without another specific subject to tie them together. I hope you find something you love from this list! All are worth buying and reading.
Some of Best Contemporary Romance Books (that are Better than “just” Romance)
Fix Her Up
by Tessa Bailey
Fix Her Up surprised me completely. I’d borrowed it from the library on a whim, because it happened to be available. It looked like a cute read that I’d enjoy. This book absolutely blew me away with it’s awesomeness (I wrote more about it in romance novels to read right now). It has amazing sex scenes, character development, and plot. It was a satisfying ending that led me to crave the next related-but-also-standlone book, Love Her or Lose Her. Though it was also well written, it wasn’t quite as light-hearted and I didn’t enjoy it quite as much (but it’s still good).
If you like a good, steamy romance, with fake dating (that turns real, yo) and professional athletes, this is one of my favorites. I finished it and immediately reread it.
PS – It is super steamy and uses language some might deem as crass. I loved it.
Well Met
by Jen DeLuca
Emily is living in a small town in Maryland, while her older sister recovers from an accident. She’s helping take care of her teenage niece and ends up getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire. I used to act, so this is right up my alley of plausible ways that I could’ve met people way back when.
Emily meets Simon, who takes Faire very seriously. He makes it very clear that he does not appreciate Emily’s lack of seriousness for the event nor her helpful suggestions. Once Faire rolls around, Emily realizes she’s quite attracted to the pirate Simon portrays. Is it real or fake?
This book appealed to me because of the acting element – I majored in Theatre in college (yes, really), though it didn’t start out exactly how I expected. As the book went on, I was hooked on seeing how these characters played out their romance.
Jen DeLuca’s second book Well Played is also awesome and a wonderful follow-up to this one.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
by Abbi Waxman
First, I read Abbi Waxman’s Garden of Small Beginnings, which is a lovely read, though a bit sad. Obviously, I liked it enough to read this book right after. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a lot different and in a good way. Both are excellent books, just different.
I loved this book because poor Nina Hill is introverted and suffers from anxiety. I could relate to her in so many ways. Her journey to get to the happily ever after was enjoyable. If you’re anxious (whether because it is your normal state of being or only due to the extreme circumstances of living through a pandemic), you may also relate to Nina Hill and enjoy this book.
The Flatshare
by Beth O’Leary
I thought The Flatshare looked like a decent read, but it actually blew me away.
Tiffy answers an ad to share a flat with a man and even a bed, but they will never be in the flat at the same time. Leon works nights as a hospice nurse. The apartment (or flat) will be Tiffy’s from 6 pm until she leaves for work in the mornings and hers all weekend. Tiffy’s friends think it’s crazy. But Tiffy schedules a meeting with Leon anyway because she needs to get out of the apartment owned by her ex, Justin. Leon is held up at work for the meeting, and his girlfriend meets Tiffy instead. The girlfriend approves Tiffy and Tiffy moves in. She starts to leave notes around for Leon. Leon responds and leaves notes for Tiffy.
There is so much more to this book than roommates-fall-in-love-by-post-it, though it can also be described that way. This book is such a great read and has all kinds of unexpected twists. It also has amazing characters. I do recommend reading this book, because it’s an excellent piece of literature.
Trigger warning: abusive relationships, gaslighting, and minor violence
Check out my list of favorite romance books by Avery Flynn
Would Like to Meet
by Rachel Winters
A full review of this book is coming up in a future post, but it’s worth a mention here. It’s another book, like The Flatshare, that took me by surprise. Evie is busy chasing down screenwriter, Ezra Chester, trying to get him to finish his darn script already, which is beyond late. He thinks a romantic comedy is unrealistic and Evie sets out to prove that a meet cute, as done in movies, is a way to find true love.
And Evie tries ALL of the meet cutes. Most of her embarrassing moments are witnessed by Ben and Anette, a father and daughter she met at a local cafe (after making a kid puke with a meet cute gone wrong).
Even though the entire subject of the book are romantic meet cutes, this is far more than a trope romance novel. It’s really freaking good and also a pretty clean romance book to boot.
Seriously though, read this book. It’s well written and really gripping. I know saying, “I couldn’t put it down” is a cliche of its own, but I couldn’t. I especially loved Anette, who is a child and written like a whole human and not like a plot line for bratty kids (I despise when authors, even in romance novels, write bratty kid characters and then have the main characters complain about them and the parenting skills of the adult, because kids are human beings and deserve better than that – so authors of all genres: knock that shit off).
If I Never Met You
by Mhairi McFarlane
Laurie’s very long term relationship suddenly comes to an end and the 36 year old finds herself in the single game after 18 years. She’s a successful lawyer but she unfortunately works at the same firm as her now ex.
Enter the hot, younger man, Jamie Carter, who doesn’t believe in love. The two hatch a plan to help each other. They pretend to date so Jamie can get the promotion he’s going for and Laurie can make her ex jealous.
It sounds like such trope, right? It’s deeper than that. The characters are fuller and more real than in some books. I also don’t consider it a completely light-hearted read. Laurie is going through the pain of the end of a relationship that lasted longer than many marriages – and it was an end that she hadn’t seen coming.
While I absolutely enjoyed this complex book, with a strong female character who discovers her own strength, I don’t necessarily recommend reading this right after a major break up of your own. It’s so rare that the first person you date after an emotionally difficult break up or divorce will be your soulmate and I think it would kind of hurt to read if that’s your circumstance. I absolutely couldn’t have read it after my break up with a guy I loved and I felt like I had had my life ripped out of my body for months after. However, it’s an amazing book and I enjoyed it!
Conclusion
I hope something on this list also appeals to you. Now that you’ve read about my favorite romance novels that are more than “just a romance novel,” do you have suggestions you’d add to this list? If so, please drop me line by either commenting here or emailing.
