20 Best Romance Books for Adults (2026) That Will Make You Fall in Love Again

Valentine's Day is coming up, and I always reach for romance books this time of year. They make me feel hopeful. They remind me that love exists in all forms.

I read over 50 books a year, and romance is always my go-to when I need comfort. These 20 books are the ones I recommend most to friends. The ones I reread. The ones that made me believe in happy endings.

Let's jump in.

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Top Contemporary Rom-Coms

These books made me laugh out loud. Perfect if you want something light and fun.

1. Beach Read by Emily Henry

I loved this book so much that I read it twice in one year. January and Augustus are both writers dealing with writer's block. They live next door to each other for the summer. They decide to swap genres to break out of their rut. She writes thrillers, he writes romance.

What happens? They fall for each other while writing.

The banter in this book is chef's kiss. I highlighted so many lines. If you like witty dialogue and characters who feel real, read this one first.

• Best for: Anyone who loves books about books and smart, funny conversations.

2. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Lucy and Josh work together. They hate each other. Or do they?

I finished this in one sitting because I could not put it down. The tension between these two is electric. They play games at work. They compete for the same promotion. Then feelings get involved.

This is enemies-to-lovers done right. The moment they realize they don't actually hate each other? Perfect.

• Best for: Office romance lovers and anyone who enjoys the "I hate you but actually I love you" trope.

3. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Imagine going on your sister's honeymoon because she got food poisoning. Now imagine going with the groom's brother who you can't stand. That's this book.

I laughed through the whole thing. Olive and Ethan are stuck in Hawaii pretending to be newlyweds. They bicker. They argue. Then things get complicated when feelings show up.

Christina Lauren never misses, and this is one of their best.

• Best for: Enemies-to-lovers fans who want something funny and beachy.

4. Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Nora is a tough literary agent. Charlie is a grumpy book editor. They keep running into each other in a small town.

I related to Nora so much. She's not the typical soft romance heroine. She's ambitious. She's focused on her career. But she still wants love.

Emily Henry writes characters that feel like real people. This book made me cry and smile at the same time.

• Best for: Anyone who works hard and wonders if they can have love and a career.

5. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Yes, another Emily Henry book. I can't help it. She's that good.

Poppy and Alex are best friends who take a vacation together every summer. This year might be their last. The book flips between past vacations and the present.

I loved watching their friendship slowly turn into something more. The pacing is perfect. The ending made me tear up.

• Best for: Friends-to-lovers fans and anyone who believes in slow-burn romance.

These books have heat. You've been warned.

 6. Verity by Colleen Hoover

This isn't your typical romance. It's dark. It's twisted. It's sexy.

Lowen gets hired to finish a famous author's book series after the author has an accident. She goes to the author's house to read her notes. Instead, she finds an unpublished manuscript with shocking secrets.

Oh, and she falls for the author's husband.

I stayed up until 3 AM to finish this. The twist at the end had my jaw on the floor.

• Best for: Readers who like their romance with mystery, suspense, and morally gray characters.

7. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Piper is a socialite who gets sent to a small fishing town as punishment. Brendan is a grumpy boat captain.

You can guess what happens.

But here's why I loved it. The characters actually communicate. They talk about their problems like adults. No silly misunderstandings that could be solved with one conversation.

Plus, the chemistry is fire.

• Best for: Anyone who loves grumpy/sunshine dynamics and small-town settings.

8. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Fake dating. STEM romance. A grumpy professor.

Olive is a PhD student who pretends to date Adam, a famous professor, to convince her best friend she's moved on. Except Adam agrees to keep up the fake relationship.

I love that this features a woman in science. I love the slow burn. I love that Adam is protective without being controlling.

This book is fun, smart, and swoony.

• Best for: STEM nerds and fake dating trope lovers.

Love is love. These books celebrate queer romance beautifully.

9. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

This is my favorite LGBTQ romance of all time.

Alex is the First Son of the United States. Henry is a British prince. They hate each other in public. But in private? Sparks fly.

I laughed. I swooned. I wanted to live inside this book. The banter is incredible. The romance is swoon-worthy. The political backdrop makes it feel important.

Plus, the spicy scenes are really well done.

• Best for: Anyone who loves royal romance, political settings, and enemies-to-lovers.

10. Heartstopper Series by Alice Oseman

This is a graphic novel series, but I had to include it.

Nick and Charlie are high school students who fall in love. The way their relationship develops is so pure and innocent.

I read all four volumes in one day. I smiled through the entire thing. This series handles coming out, mental health, and young love with so much care.

Even if you don't usually read graphic novels, try this one.

• Best for: Anyone who wants a sweet, wholesome love story with beautiful illustrations.

11. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Achilles and Patroclus. Greek mythology retold as a love story.

I sobbed at the end of this book. I knew how it would end (it's Greek mythology), but I wasn't prepared.

The writing is beautiful. The romance is heartbreaking. The adventure and war scenes are gripping.

This book destroyed me in the best way.

• Best for: Fans of Greek mythology, historical settings, and tragic love stories.

Grab tissues before you start these.

12. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Will is paralyzed after an accident. Louisa becomes his caregiver. They fall in love.

I cried so hard reading this book. The ending broke my heart. But it also made me think about life, choice, and what it means to truly love someone.

This isn't a light read. It deals with heavy topics. But it's worth it.

• Best for: Readers who want deep, meaningful romance that explores difficult questions.

13. Happy Place by Emily Henry

Harriet and Wyn broke up months ago. But they haven't told their friends yet. Now they're stuck at a friend's wedding weekend pretending to still be together.

This book gutted me. It's about growing up. It's about growing apart. It's about wondering if you made the right choice.

Emily Henry made me believe in second chances again.

• Best for: Exes-to-lovers fans and anyone going through a life transition.

14. The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Evelyn Hugo is a Hollywood icon. She's had seven husbands. Now she's ready to tell her real story to a young journalist.

This book is about fame, sacrifice, and finding your true love. I didn't expect the twists. I didn't expect to cry as much as I did.

The representation of bisexuality is beautiful. The love story at the center is unforgettable.

• Best for: Anyone who loves Old Hollywood, complex characters, and epic love stories.

15. The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

Elle has been married for years. She has kids. She has a good life. Then she runs into her childhood crush at their summer house.

One night changes everything.

This book is messy. The characters make questionable choices. But that's what made it feel real to me.

The ending left me thinking for days.

• Best for: Readers who like love triangles and morally complex situations.

Nothing beats the tension of two people who start out hating each other.

16. The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

Catalina needs a date to her sister's wedding in Spain. She asks Aaron, her work nemesis.

I loved the slow burn in this book. Aaron is protective and sweet under his grumpy exterior. Catalina is strong and independent.

The cultural representation is wonderful. The family dynamics feel authentic.

• Best for: Fake dating fans and anyone who loves a good grumpy/sunshine pairing.

17. The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

Tiffy and Leon share an apartment. But they've never met. He works nights, she works days. They communicate through Post-it notes.

This concept hooked me immediately. I loved watching them fall for each other through notes. When they finally meet? Magic.

The book also deals with serious topics like abusive relationships and wrongful imprisonment.

• Best for: Anyone who wants creative romance with depth.

18. One Day in December by Josie Silver

Laurie sees a man through a bus window and knows he's the one. Then she loses him. A year later, her best friend introduces her new boyfriend. It's him.

My heart broke for Laurie through this whole book. The timing is never right. The circumstances keep getting in the way.

But the ending? Worth every page.

• Best for: Romance readers who believe in fate and right person, wrong time stories.

Sometimes you want romance set in another time.

19. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

A young woman marries a wealthy widower and moves into his estate, Manderley. But the ghost of his first wife, Rebecca, haunts everything.

This book is Gothic and atmospheric. The romance is complicated. The mystery kept me guessing.

I read this in two days. The writing is stunning.

• Best for: Fans of classic literature, Gothic settings, and mysterious romance.

20. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Two young magicians are bound in a competition. They fall in love while creating a magical circus.

This book is pure magic. The writing is beautiful. The world-building is incredible. The romance is slow and enchanting.

I wanted to live in this circus.

• Best for: Fantasy lovers and anyone who wants romance with magical realism.

Still not sure which book to pick? Here's my guide:

• Want to laugh? Start with Beach Read or The Unhoneymooners
• Want to cry? Go for Me Before You or The Song of Achilles
• Want spice? Pick up Verity or It Happened One Summer
• Want LGBTQ romance? Red, White & Royal Blue is perfect
• Want something deep? The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo will stay with you
• Want enemies-to-lovers? The Hating Game never disappoints
• Want something magical? The Night Circus is your book

People sometimes act like romance books aren't real literature. They're wrong.

Romance books taught me about relationships. They taught me about communication. They showed me what healthy love looks like.

I'm a working mom. I read romance to escape. I read romance to remember that love is worth fighting for.

These 20 books reminded me why I fell in love with reading in the first place.

Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a romance novel. Or five.

I've reread most of these books. That's how good they are.

Which one will you read first? Tell me in the comments.

And if you loved any of these, check out my other book lists:

• 100 Best Indian Books to Read

• Mystery Books for Beginners

• Books About Books

• Best Graphic Novels You Must Read

Happy reading, friends. May your February be filled with love, books, and hot chocolate.