Best Romances 2019-2025
Every year we pick 10 books that we think rise above the rest. These are the 70 we've picked since 2019.
Updated to include our Best of 2025 picks.
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No Kids Allowed
Romance reads across genres with childfree characters/storylines. This shows up in different ways. Its either a given, not a part of the plot or a conclusion. That said, it doesn't necessarily mean there aren't any child characters in the story. If you need details I'll dig into my memory to verify. I'm open to recs, but I want to be really clear about the nature of their childfree status, so any explanation you can provide would be great.
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historical romance starter pack
from swooning over prolonged eye contact at a ball with the ton, to intense yearning between two really good friends in 1960s New York, here are some historical romances to get you hooked on the best subgenre
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These Books Bang!
Sixty-nine (that’s right, 69, by pure unplanned luck!) recommendations for you — everything from bonkers to bloody to blazing hot…naughty bits that we believe deliver the whole banana (and sometimes no banana at all, if you know what we mean). If you're looking for something specific (or trying to avoid it), you can find this list with subcategories on our site.
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Romance by Latinx Authors 🤎 🌎
AMOR❤️ A collection of romance books by Latinx authors. Includes all types of romance (fantasy, gothic, YA, adult, contemporary, lgbtq+, etc.).
I chose not to display multiple books from the same author and also picked the first in the "series" (if applicable) only. This is to introduce you to the author and the series, that way you can look into each further if you'd like! 🥰
These are more of the popular ones I found from my research so I am always open to suggestions!
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Diverse Historical Romance
For people who love watching Bridgerton for its diversity and want to read more historical romances that are genuinely diverse
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A main character walks into a bar...
Bartenders, sommeliers, and distillers in love. Recommendations enthusiastically accepted, especially for queer romance!
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Around the World in Historical Fiction
I love historical fiction, but it's too easy to get stuck in WWII Europe or the US Civil War. These are just a few of my favorites set in different areas of the globe. I usually use the Historical Novel Society 's definition of a historical novel as my guide (events 50 years old or did not happen in the author's lifetime). I also include ones that cross genres.
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Romance but make it Historical
A silly goofy little list of incredible historical romances for people who want to learn while also giggling and kicking their feet in the air.
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BIPOC Historical Romances
Melanated historical romances that need to be centered in the genre immediately
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Diverse Historical Romance
Historical romance books that showcase people of marginalized and diverse communities by people of marginalized and diverse communities.
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Not Your Mother’s Historical Romance
Historical romcom books that subvert the genre beyond two cis straight white able bodied people of a similar class. Think the Bridgerton TV Show but even more!
Let me know if you have any recs to add!!
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M/F romance for the aching feminist soul
Still refining the name, obviously. Going for M/F romance that feels non-heternormative. I want genuine emotional connection. A FMC who isn't just crabby and emotionally unavailable or "not like other girls". A MMC who is a soul-reviving study in non-toxic masculinity but also a fully formed complex human, not someone who lives only to ‘worship’ the FMC. And a HEA that isn't doubling down on gender stereotypes. Also looking for characters who live in bodies with normal human softness, not six packs. Authenticity or bust! Recommendations welcome!
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Childless by Choice
These books include couples that do not plan to have children ever. I've also added a few books where they don't even talk about kids and there's no baby in the epilogue.
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magnificent Firebird Top 100
A list of the Top 100 Romances of the past 50 years as voted on by the Magnificent Firebird community.
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childfree romance
because unfortunately there is still a painful dearth of happy endings that don’t default to marriage and reproduction, especially in hetero romance. 🫠
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Historical Romances to Sweep You Away 🩷🩷🩷
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Set in France
Books set in France
Open to recs!
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She's already found passion, in her work
Historical romances with modern storylines. Heroines who are smart, talented, and driven. A happy ever after means being able to continue her work; maybe he’ll even join her cause...
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