Love stories have never been more popular—or more powerful. Today’s best selling romance books offer something for every reader: from steamy slow burns and emotional tearjerkers to modern fairy tales and inclusive love stories that reflect real-life complexity.
This updated list brings together 13 beloved romance novels across several subgenres, all of which have topped charts, dominated BookTok, and stayed in readers’ hearts long after the final page.
Whether you love contemporary romance, fantasy-infused tales, or deeply emotional second-chance love stories, there’s a book here for you.
💕 Contemporary Romance Hits
Modern love stories that feel real, relatable, and completely swoon-worthy.
These stories bring everyday romance to life. They’re packed with relatable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and just the right amount of chaos. From fake dating to workplace crushes, they explore how love can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
If you’re into best selling romance books that feel fresh, flirty, and real—this is your section.
1. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
A raw, emotional bestseller that explores the complexities of love, trauma, and strength. Lily’s relationship with the charming but volatile Ryle challenges everything she thought she knew about love and loyalty. One of the most talked-about romantic novels of the decade.
2. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Witty, sharp, and deeply heartfelt, this book pairs literary rivals Nora and Charlie in a small-town setting neither of them chose. Packed with tension and banter, it’s a romance novel for bookworms who crave emotional depth and clever writing.
3. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
A viral sensation that blends fake dating, academia, and nerdy charm. Olive’s pretend relationship with her grumpy professor spirals into real chemistry. Smart, quirky, and impossible not to root for.
4. The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Catalina needs a date to her sister’s wedding. Aaron, her workplace nemesis, is the only option. What follows is slow-burn perfection, full of fiery tension, emotional growth, and big romantic payoffs.
5. Happy Place by Emily Henry
Exes faking it for one last vacation with friends? This romantic read weaves past and present into a deeply relatable story about love, timing, and the bittersweet reality of growing up. Henry’s writing is warm, witty, and heartfelt.
🧡 Romance with Emotional Depth
Some books don’t just tug at your heart—they grip it.
These novels dig into grief, forgiveness, and second chances. They deal with the kind of love that’s complicated, sometimes messy, but always meaningful. You’ll find yourself reflecting on your own life as much as the characters’.
Looking for a deeper kind of romance? These bestsellers deliver love stories with soul.
6. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Louisa’s life changes forever when she becomes a caregiver for Will, a man who’s lost the will to live. This touching novel deals with love, loss, and living fully, even when time is short. It’s heart-wrenching, but unforgettable.
7. Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
A woman rebuilding her life after prison must face the people she hurt and reconnect with the daughter she’s never met. This emotional story of redemption, forgiveness, and unexpected love shows Hoover’s signature depth and power.
8. Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino
A moving, second-chance romance told across decades. Grace and Matt reconnect through a Craigslist missed connection ad—years after a love they never truly let go. Nostalgic, bittersweet, and beautifully told.
9. Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
A mature love story grounded in real-world struggles and adult emotion. Kennedy Ryan’s writing is passionate, thoughtful, and fearless. This book tackles vulnerability and healing in a way that feels authentic and empowering.
🌟 Fantasy & Unique Romance Picks
What if love didn’t follow the rules?
These stories step outside the real world—and into something magical. Some take place in enchanted lands. Others slip through time. But they all have one thing in common: unforgettable romance.
If you want something different from your usual love story, these unique best selling romance books offer fantasy, mystery, and passion in equal measure.
10. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
What starts as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast quickly turns into an epic fantasy romance. Feyre is drawn into a magical world where love is both a weapon and a reward. Packed with action, magic, and slow-burning passion.
11. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
Time travel meets contemporary Harlem in this lush, lyrical love story. Ricki, a modern woman with dreams of opening a flower shop, finds herself entangled with a jazz musician from the past. Romantic, magical, and totally original.
💘 Spicy and Feel-Good Favorites
Sometimes, you just want a book that makes you blush—and grin while you’re reading it.
These romances are packed with sizzling tension, clever banter, and heart-pounding chemistry. Whether it’s enemies who can’t resist each other or fake relationships that turn real, the sparks always fly.
Feel-good, flirty, and totally addictive. These are the best selling romance books to reach for when you’re in the mood to have fun.
12. Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
Small-town drama, family secrets, and a steamy enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Naomi wasn’t planning to stay long—but Knox, the gruff local bad boy, might change her mind. A steamy, emotional, and surprisingly sweet bestseller.
13. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Stella, a math whiz on the autism spectrum, hires an escort to teach her about intimacy—and ends up learning what it means to fall in love. A fresh, inclusive love story that’s as smart as it is sexy.
❤️ Final Thoughts: Why These Romance Books Became Best Sellers
Each of these novels made the bestseller lists for a reason. They tug at the heartstrings, deliver unforgettable chemistry, and speak to real-life struggles in a way that feels deeply personal.
From spicy modern love to fantastical fairy tales, these best selling romance books offer something for every mood, every season, and every kind of reader.
💬 Which One Will You Read Next?
Are you in the mood for something light and flirty—or emotional and intense?
