The Top 7 Contemporary Romance Books of the Last Year
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I love contemporary romance novels because they give me characters I can actually relate to. The strong, independent heroines don't need saving - they're dealing with real problems that feel familiar. I'm drawn to the men who have integrity and actually treat people well, not just the usual bad boy stere characters makes me laugh and shows they're true partners who challenge each other. I love watching characters grow through their relationships and become better versions of themselves. The emotional depth these books offer lets me explore complex feelings in a safe space. Contemporary romance reflects the messy, complicated reality of modern love while still giving me hope. The psychological tension keeps me hooked - I want to see how characters work through their baggage together. These books show that love can heal without being unrealistic about the work it takes. Most importantly, contemporary romance makes me believe that finding your person is worth all the struggle.
$19.00
$10.40
4.61 out of 5 stars
Funny Story
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Funny Story by Emily Henry
Tagged As:
contemporary romance, friends to lovers, roommates, fake dating, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, small town, second chance romance, found family, broken engagement, emotional healing, dual POV, standalone, HEA
Plot Summary:
Daphne Vincent is a children's librarian whose fiancé Peter breaks up with her right before their wedding to be with his childhood friend Petra. Left homeless and heartbroken in Michigan, Daphne moves in with Miles Nowak, who happens to be Petra's ex-boyfriend. When Peter and Petra invite them both to their wedding, Daphne and Miles decide to fake a relationship to make their exes jealous. As Miles shows Daphne around Michigan and they spend more time together, their fake relationship starts feeling very real. They navigate the complications of moving on from past relationships while discovering genuine feelings for each other.
Why I Love This Book:
I love how this book handles the messy aftermath of a breakup with both humor and heart. Emily Henry captures that awful feeling of being left behind while showing how you can rebuild your life in unexpected ways. The friendship between Daphne and Miles feels so natural and authentic - they support each other without rushing into romance. I appreciate how the book explores finding your identity after a relationship ends and learning to be happy on your own terms. The small-town Michigan setting is charming, and I love watching Daphne discover new places and experiences. The emotional growth both characters go through feels realistic and earned rather than forced.
Who Will Like This Book:
If you enjoy fake dating that turns into something real, friends-to-lovers romance with excellent banter, and heartwarming stories about finding yourself after heartbreak, this will be your new comfort read. The book is perfect for anyone who loves librarian heroines, small-town settings, and emotional healing journeys wrapped up in a swoony romance.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️| Moderate
$18.99
$9.45
4.97 out of 5 stars
How to End a Love Story
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How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
Tagged As:
contemporary romance, second chance romance, enemies to lovers, workplace romance, writer heroine, screenwriter hero, trauma & healing, grief processing, forbidden romance, slow burn, dual POV, Chinese American representation, standalone, HEA
Plot Summary:
Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard haven't seen each other in thirteen years, not since a tragic accident bound their lives together forever. Helen is now a successful TV writer, while Grant has built a new life as a screenwriter across the country. When Grant takes a job on Helen's show, they're forced to work together despite their complicated past. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but they both carry guilt and grief from what happened years ago. As they collaborate professionally, old feelings resurface and they must confront whether they can move past their shared trauma to build something new together.
Why I Love This Book:
I love how this book tackles the complexity of grief and guilt in relationships. Yulin Kuang doesn't shy away from showing how past trauma can affect your ability to connect with others. The way Helen and Grant slowly work through their shared history feels authentic and emotionally honest. I appreciate that their attraction isn't just physical - they genuinely respect each other's talents and minds. The writing industry backdrop is fascinating, and I love seeing two creative people collaborate and challenge each other professionally. The book shows that sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself, and healing takes time and patience.
Who Will Like This Book:
If you enjoy emotionally complex romances about healing from trauma, workplace romances in the entertainment industry, and beautifully written explorations of grief and guilt, this book will captivate you. It's perfect for readers who appreciate slow-burn chemistry that builds alongside emotional growth and stories about second chances that feel earned.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️| Explicit
$12.99
$8.80
4.2 out of 5 stars
Manila Takes Manhattan: A Spicy Celebrity Workplace Romance
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Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman
Tagged As:
contemporary romance, celebrity romance, workplace romance, one night stand to lovers, Filipino representation, music industry, New York setting, forced proximity, opposites attract, instalove, cultural identity, artist hero, actress heroine, standalone, steamy romance
Plot Summary:
Filipino music producer Raymond "Mon" Mendoza arrives in Manhattan feeling lost and disconnected despite landing a huge career opportunity. When he meets his gorgeous Filipino neighbor Olivia Angeles, they share an intense one-night stand that helps him feel connected to home. Olivia is an actress struggling to find authentic roles that don't compromise her Filipino identity in Hollywood. What starts as a comfort encounter becomes complicated when they discover they'll be working together on the same movie for the next month. As they navigate their professional relationship, they find they have much more in common than just chemistry and cultural background.
Why I Love This Book:
I love how this book celebrates Filipino culture and identity while telling a sexy, contemporary romance. The representation feels authentic and joyful rather than performative. Both Mon and Olivia are dealing with the challenge of staying true to themselves while pursuing their dreams in new places. I appreciate the workplace tension and how their professional collaboration deepens their personal connection. The New York setting comes alive through their eyes as fellow immigrants finding their way. The book shows how shared cultural background can be a source of strength and comfort in romance.
Who Will Like This Book:
If you enjoy celebrity romances with Filipino representation, steamy one-night stands that turn into something deeper, and stories about maintaining cultural identity while chasing dreams, this will be perfect for you. The book is ideal for readers who love music industry settings, workplace romance with high heat, and authentic diverse voices in contemporary romance.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️| Explicit
$20.00
$10.46
4.52 out of 5 stars
The Pairing: Special 1st Edition
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The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
Tagged As:
contemporary romance, second chance romance, bisexual heroes, LGBTQ+ romance, travel romance, food & wine, European setting, enemies to lovers, childhood friends to lovers, culinary romance, forced proximity, hookup competition, dual POV, steamy romance, HEA
Plot Summary:
Theo and Kit are bisexual exes who accidentally book the same European food and wine tour four years after their brutal breakup on the flight to their original dream trip. Time apart has changed them both - Theo is now a confident bartender and aspiring sommelier with a string of casual relationships, while Kit has become a successful pastry chef in Paris. When they discover they're both on the tour, they decide to turn it into a competition to see who can hook up with their attractive Italian tour guide first. As they travel through France, Spain, and Italy, their competitive hookup challenge becomes a way to avoid dealing with their unresolved feelings for each other.
Why I Love This Book:
I love Casey McQuiston's celebration of bisexual identity and how both characters own their sexuality without shame. The European setting is absolutely gorgeous, and the food descriptions make me want to book my own culinary tour immediately. The competition between Theo and Kit is hilarious and sexy, but underneath the humor is real emotional depth. I appreciate how the book shows that sometimes you need to grow apart to grow together. The supporting characters they meet along the way add richness to the story without overshadowing the main romance. The book perfectly captures that feeling of unfinished business with someone you truly loved.
Who Will Like This Book:
If you enjoy bisexual representation, steamy European travel romance, competitive exes who can't stay away from each other, and lush descriptions of food and wine, this will be your next obsession. Perfect for readers who love LGBTQ+ romance with high heat levels, travel settings, and emotionally complex second chances.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️| Explicit
$17.99
$14.39
4.97 out of 5 stars
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
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A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
Tagged As:
contemporary romance, magical realism, Harlem Renaissance, time travel elements, florist heroine, musician hero, Black romance, fated mates, forbidden romance, family expectations, artist heroine, historical elements, dual timeline, standalone, steamy romance
Plot Summary:
Ricki Wilde is the black sheep of her powerful Atlanta family, choosing art over the family funeral business. When she gets the chance to move to Harlem and open her dream flower shop, she jumps at the opportunity. In her new Harlem brownstone, she discovers the building has a connection to the 1920s Harlem Renaissance. At a community garden, she meets Ezra, a mysterious man who seems out of time and place. Despite an immediate attraction, Ezra tries to push her away because he's harboring a supernatural secret. As their relationship deepens, Ricki must navigate magical realism, family expectations, and a love that might be impossible.
Why I Love This Book:
I love how Tia Williams weaves magical realism into a contemporary romance set in historic Harlem. The connection between past and present adds depth and meaning to Ricki's journey of self-discovery. Ricki is such a fearless heroine who refuses to live by anyone else's rules or expectations. I appreciate how the book explores family dynamics and the pressure to follow predetermined paths. The Harlem setting is rich with culture and history that enhances every aspect of the story. The supernatural elements feel organic to the story rather than gimmicky, adding mystery and emotional weight to the romance.
Who Will Like This Book:
If you enjoy magical realism mixed with contemporary romance, stories celebrating Black culture and Harlem Renaissance history, and fated love that transcends time, this will enchant you. Perfect for readers who love florist heroines, mysterious musicians, and romance that blends past and present with beautiful prose.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️| Moderate
$12.99
4.54 out of 5 stars
Say You'll Be Mine: A Novel
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Say You'll Be Mine by Naina Kumar
Tagged As:
contemporary romance, fake engagement, grumpy/sunshine, teacher heroine, engineer hero, Indian American romance, arranged marriage elements, family expectations, best friend wedding, slow burn, cultural representation, dual POV, debut novel, standalone, HEA
Plot Summary:
Meghna Raman is a theater teacher and aspiring playwright whose parents wanted her to be an engineer. When her best friend and secret crush Seth gets engaged to someone else and asks her to be his best man, she's devastated. To help herself move on and please her parents, she agrees to let them arrange a match for her. Enter Karthik Murthy, a grumpy but handsome engineer who has no interest in marriage but agrees to help his mother with matchmaking to make her happy. Meghna and Karthik strike a deal to fake an engagement for three months - she gets a wedding date and he avoids more setups. As they spend time together, their fake relationship starts developing real feelings.
Why I Love This Book:
I love how this book explores the tension between family expectations and personal dreams with humor and heart. The fake dating trope is executed perfectly, with believable reasons for the arrangement and natural progression to real feelings. Meghna and Karthik's cultural background adds authenticity and depth to their family dynamics. I appreciate how the book shows that sometimes the person your family chooses might actually be perfect for you, just not for the reasons they think. The theater setting and Meghna's passion for playwriting make her feel like a fully realized character with her own goals. The slow burn romance builds beautifully as they discover how much they have in common beneath their surface differences.
Who Will Like This Book:
If you enjoy fake engagement that becomes real, grumpy/sunshine dynamics with Indian American representation, and stories about balancing family expectations with personal dreams, this charming debut will win your heart. Perfect for readers who love arranged marriage elements, teacher heroines, and slow-burn romance with cultural authenticity.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️| Mild
Wild Love by Elsie Silver
Tagged As:
contemporary romance, single dad, brother's best friend, childhood frenemies to lovers, billionaire hero, small town, forced proximity, he falls first, workplace romance, music industry, Canadian setting, dual POV, series starter, steamy romance, HEA
Plot Summary:
Ford Grant is a billionaire trying to escape media attention by opening a recording studio in small-town Rose Hill. His plans change dramatically when a twelve-year-old girl shows up claiming he's her biological father. Suddenly he's balancing business with unexpected parenthood while trying to resist his best friend's little sister, Rosie Belmont. Rosie returns to town looking for a fresh start and desperately needs a job. Ford hires her despite knowing he should keep his distance. As Rosie helps Ford navigate single parenthood and he helps her rebuild her life, their verbal sparring turns into undeniable attraction. Ford knows he shouldn't cross the line with his best friend's sister, but resisting Rosie proves impossible.
Why I Love This Book:
I love the instant family dynamic and how Ford grows into his unexpected role as a father. The single dad storyline adds emotional depth beyond just the romance. Rosie is the perfect sunshine character to balance Ford's grumpiness, and their banter is absolutely delicious. I appreciate how the book shows that family isn't just about blood - it's about the people who choose to love and support each other. The small-town setting feels cozy and welcoming, making me want to visit Rose Hill myself. The forbidden element of best friend's sister adds tension without feeling overdone or problematic.
Who Will Like This Book:
If you enjoy single dad romances, brother's best friend dynamics, childhood frenemies who turn into lovers, and billionaire heroes who find their hearts in small towns, this will be your new addiction. Perfect for readers who love instant family stories, grumpy/sunshine couples, and steamy romance with emotional depth.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️| Explicit
