The Top 6 Contemporary Romance Novels Dominating BookTok Right Now
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Last week, Colorado Springs threw us a weather curveball: sunny skies in the morning, blizzard conditions after lunch, and then—just for fun—a hailstorm during our family hike. Rebecca declared she was “living in a dramatic movie montage.” Marcus tried (and failed) to build a snow robot before the sun melted it. Welcome to autumn on the Front Range!
I adore recommending romance novels because they’re the antidote to chaos—whether it’s wild weather or daily life. There’s something magical in watching characters collide, grow, and reach for happily ever afters. Over time, I’ve seen how these stories spark passionate debates, comfort tough hearts, and give everyone a reason to root for love. My picks are always inspired by the joys of genre quirks and the thrill of seeing readers discover themselves (and maybe their next fictional crush) between the pages. If you love intensity, laughter, and big emotions, you're in excellent company here.
£13.40
£4.86
4.4 out of 5 stars
Icebreaker: A Novel (The Maple Hills Series)
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Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
Tagged As:
college romance, forced proximity, athletes, enemies to lovers, sports romance, hockey player, figure skater, slow burn, banter, series, HEA
Plot Summary:
Anastasia, a fiercely competitive figure skater, ends up sharing ice time (and soon a whole lot more) with Nathan, the star hockey captain. After an accident upends both teams’ routines, they’re forced together—in practice, in study sessions, and eventually in late-night confessions that reveal more than either planned. The banter is fierce, but the slow-burn attraction is undeniable and sets the stage for icy sparks to heat up fast.
Why I Love This Book:
The enemies-to-lovers tension is spectacular, and both leads are refreshingly layered. Anastasia’s ambition and vulnerability pair perfectly with Nathan’s loyalty and easy charm. The college sports setting feels authentic, but it’s the emotional growth and swoony moments that made me grin, sigh, and root for their HEA.
Who Will Like This Book:
Anyone who loves sports romance, sharp-witted banter, and college vibes. If “forced proximity” and “enemies to lovers” are your jam, prepare for happy chills and major swoons.
Steam Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Explicit
4.73 out of 5 stars
Practice Makes Perfect: A Novel (Rome, Kentucky)
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Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
Tagged As:
small town, friends to lovers, fake dating, banter, sweet romance, emotional growth, HEA, stand-alone
Plot Summary:
When Annie, a shy florist, teams up with Will, a charming bodyguard, to fake-date their way through town gossip, awkward lessons in romance quickly turn genuinely heartwarming. The pair hilariously fumbles through the “rules” of falling for each other—until the boundary between practice and real love completely dissolves.
Why I Love This Book:
Sarah Adams’s blend of “quirky meets sweet” is irresistible. The growing vulnerability between Annie and Will is so authentic, and I absolutely melted for their gentle, goofy chemistry (and that swoony, slow-building romance).
Who Will Like This Book:
Readers who want “feel good” vibes, swoony romance, and a sweet escape will devour this book. Great for anyone craving a romance where laughter and tenderness go hand in hand.
Steam Level: 🌶️🌶️Mild
£2.99
4.4 out of 5 stars
The Right Wrong Match: A Best Friend's Brother, Matchmaker, Sweet Small Town Romcom
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The Right Wrong Match by Sara Jane Woodley
Tagged As:
romantic comedy, fake relationship, opposites attract, meet cute, banter, standalone, HEA
Plot Summary:
Ellie is organized, cautious, and perpetually unlucky in love. Her ill-advised partnership with impulsive, messy Matt starts as a hilarious “fake relationship”—but soon turns truly transformative. It’s tangled, funny, and a little bit chaotic as the mismatched pair stumble face-first into unexpected feelings.
Why I Love This Book:
The opposites-attract trope shines; both leads feel authentic, and the comedic moments had me snort-laughing. Woodley’s storytelling balances genuine emotion with laugh-out-loud mishaps that never get old.
Who Will Like This Book:
Perfect if you love rom-coms, fake-dating setups, and messy-but-adorable leads who grow together. It’s a light-hearted but sincere journey with major heart.
Steam Level: 🌶️🌶️Mild
Sun to Me by Cleopatra Margot
Tagged As:
second chance, small town, found family, emotional healing, slow burn, single parent, heartwarming, series, HEA
Plot Summary:
In a tight-knit town, Lily’s dreams have gone off track—until an old flame returns, bringing hope, memories, and a fresh chance at happiness. It’s a heartfelt journey through grief, forgiveness, and the kind of love that endures.
Why I Love This Book:
This novel is pure comfort. Margot’s depiction of small-town bonds and slow-burning rekindled romance pins a smile on my face. The journey—messy, emotional, beautiful—is held together by found-family warmth and authentic healing.
Who Will Like This Book:
If you love slow-burn romance, emotional arcs, and stories about second chances, this book will tug your heart in all the best ways.
Steam Level: 🌶️🌶️Mild
£7.47
4.84 out of 5 stars
Neon Gods: A Scorchingly Hot Modern Retelling of Hades and Persephone (Dark Olympus Book 1)
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Neon Gods by Katee Robert
Tagged As:
mythology retelling, forbidden romance, dark romance, urban fantasy, enemies to lovers, explicit, series, HEA
Plot Summary:
A daring, contemporary retelling of Hades and Persephone: when Persephone flees a dangerous engagement, she finds safety—and temptation—in the hands of the mysterious and powerful Hades, king of the city’s seedy underbelly. Their pact is as seductive as it is dangerous, and as sparks fly, the dark side of passion threatens to consume them both.
Why I Love This Book:
Katee Robert’s take is bold, scorching, and utterly modern. The chemistry between Hades and Persephone leaps off the page, and the world-building is immersive and wickedly fun. Expect fierce consent, high stakes, and glorious steam from start to finish.
Who Will Like This Book:
Fans of Greek mythology, dark romance, or smart, explicit retellings. If you crave forbidden love, morally gray heroes, and boundary-pushing heat, this is your next obsession.
Steam Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Insanely Hot
£16.34
£14.30
4.11 out of 5 stars
Sugar Daddies
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Sugar Daddies by Jade West
Tagged As:
age gap, taboo, ménage, forbidden romance, explicit, unconventional family, stand-alone, HEA
Plot Summary:
Katie, drifting and hopeful, stumbles into a world of unconventional love and blazing chemistry when she applies to be a “sugar baby.” Her arrangement with two older men evolves from business into something both complicated and intensely passionate. What starts as forbidden soon feels like home—if she’s brave enough to claim it.
Why I Love This Book:
Jade West’s writing is fearless and emotionally raw. The ménage setup is handled with surprising warmth and plenty of steam, and Katie’s journey from uncertainty to self-acceptance made me cheer. It’s as taboo as it is tender.
Who Will Like This Book:
If you love boundary-breaking romance, messy emotions, and unconventional family dynamics, Sugar Daddies will keep you turning pages and blushing.
Steam Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Insanely Hot
