The Best Romance Novels of 2025

“Adriana Herrera sends off her Las Leonas series with a flourish in this soaring finale. The fiercely independent doctor Aurora Montalban Wright operates a secret women’s clinic in 1880s Paris, where she begins a physical relationship with the frustrating (and frustratingly handsome) Duke of Annan, Apollo César Sinclair Robles, who helps support her work at the clinic. But Apollo is in need of a duchess to appease the eyes of high society—and of his own aunt. Even as he realizes Adriana might be his perfect match, the obstacles they face as a couple and as individuals are real, and Herrera treats these obstacles—racism and lack of bodily autonomy among them—with the depth and care they deserve. This is a triumph.”—LPP

“For all the think pieces complaining about the ‘death’ of rom-coms, read this book (or anything by B.K. Borison) to be proven wrong. This is a kick-your-feet-in-the-air romance that’s a modern take on Sleepless in Seattle, chronicling the love affair between a radio host who doesn’t believe in love and a single mother whose daughter calls into his show (in a misguided attempt to help her find love). The banter is cute, the smut is hot, and I love that Lucie, the female protagonist, is a mechanic.”—Kathleen Hou, beauty director

“Last year, I really enjoyed Cara Bastone’s debut romance Ready Or Not, which took the ‘unplanned pregnancy’ trope and made it so much more earnest than I’ve read elsewhere. Bastone returned this year with the equally heartfelt Promise Me Sunshine, which follows young Brooklyn babysitter Lenny Bellamy, who’s left reeling after her best friend, Lou, dies from cancer. Before Lou’s death, she and Lenny compiled a ‘live again’ list, filled with things for Lenny to do to process and endure her grief—and Lenny intends to complete it. When she meets Miles Honey, half-uncle to Lenny’s new babysitting charge, Lenny doesn’t expect him to understand her grief. But he does. Miles and Lenny work through the ‘live again’ list together, and soon they realize they’re more to each other than mere confidants. It can be tricky to hit all the right notes when weaving grief and romance, but Bastone does a remarkable job of it in this sincere slow-burn love story.”—LPP

“Alex Aster’s Summer in the City is my idea of the perfect New York love story. The novel follows the journey of young screenwriter, Elle, as she grapples with writer’s block and returning to a city she hates, all to finish what might be the most important screenplay of her career. The only problem? Coincidentally, the very reason she hates New York happens to live right next door. What starts out as a heated rivalry becomes a game of make-believe—and one of the best summers she’s ever had. Incredibly fun, sexy, and the perfect addition to your weekender bag, Summer in the City is the beach read you just won’t want to put down.”—Sofia Urrutia, assistant to the editor-in-chief

“India Holton understands what makes for a truly satisfying fantasy romance. The second installment in her Love’s Academic series, following The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love, The Geographer’s Map to Romance centers wedded geography professors Elodie and Gabriel Tarrant, whose marriage of convenience has resulted in their estrangement. Both specialists in magical disasters, their separate lives are pulled back together when some potentially disastrous magic appears in a Welsh village. As they’re forced to work together, Elodie and Gabriel realize—huh—they might actually have to deal with the fact that they’re in love. Whimsical, amusing, and all-around enchanting, Map to Romance is a treat for historical-romance and fantasy readers alike.”—LPP

“A Love Song for Ricki Wilde and Seven Days in June author Tia Williams delivers an adorable YA romance with Audre & Bash Are Just Friends. As the school year comes to a close, 16-year-old Audre can’t wait to spend the summer with her father in California. But when their plans fall through, Audre realizes she’s in desperate need of a back-up plan to infuse her summer with fun while she works on the ambitious teen self-help book she hopes will earn her admission to Stanford. And so she turns to Bash Henry, a track star known for delivering on a good time. Thankfully, Bash is down to help Audre complete an ‘insane Experience Challenge’—with tasks including ‘stay out at a party past 10 P.M.’ and ‘hook up with someone you have actual chemistry with’—so she’ll have some provocative material for her book. Audre and Bash promise to remain ‘just friends,’ but as the summer moves along, it becomes clear they’re together for much more than a good time.”—LPP

“The Groundhog Day trope proves an enduring treasure in Jackie Lau’s Time Loops & Meet Cutes, in which engineer Noelle Tom goes for dinner at a night market, only for the dumplings she ate to force her into an endless cycle of the same Friday. Still, the repeated days offer her the chance to have dozens of meet-cutes with brewery manager Cam Huang. But if she ever escapes the eternal Friday, what will have changed? And might she lose Cam in the process? Featuring dual timelines and a winning friendship between Noelle and side-character Avery, Time Loops & Meet Cutes is a clever take on love and burnout.”—LPP

“Kia Greer is one of four daughters in the family-turned-empire behind Growin’ Up Greer, a Kardashians-like reality TV series that has turned everyone and everything around Kia into tabloid fodder. She herself yearns for a coming-of-age away from the paparazzi, but when she begins a PR relationship with up-and-coming teen pop star Cassius Campbell—and, as they are wont to do, that fake relationship leads to real love—the attention of the cameras threatens to interfere with what Kia and Cass are only beginning to understand about themselves. Exploring the unique pressure of carving out an identity under constant surveillance—and of being young and Black in the spotlight—Alanna Bennett’s YA romance is a smart, courageous story of fame and first love.”—LPP

“Annabel Monaghan made me a fan with last year’s Summer Romance, and this year’s It’s A Love Story didn’t disappoint. It’s a breezy, endearing summer rom-com with a great hook: A former child star-turned-Hollywood executive lets slip a lie, claiming that a modern pop idol (with whom she once shared her first kiss) has committed to writing a song for her new film. To make good on her fib, she’ll have to confront her former fling while he’s visiting the hometown of the cinematographer she’s working with—whom she also finds inconveniently attractive.”—LPP

“In this trilogy finale from Alexis Daria, middle school teacher Ava Rodriguez is recovering from a recent divorce when she encounters hotelier Roman Vásquez at one of his hotel bars. One perfect one-night stand—that’s all either of them is willing to commit to. But when the morning-after comes and their feelings linger, they soon find themselves navigating a minefield as they begin their roles as best man and maid of honor…in the same wedding. Daria offers us a bright, steamy take on classic tropes with this enthralling Latinx romance.”—LPP