The 25 Best Romantic Authors (And Their Most Swoon Worthy Reads) in 2021 For Women

Romanticism is one of the most popular genres in literature today, for both readers and writers of romantic novels. And it's no wonder why: romance is thrilling, sexy, and compulsively readable. Fortunately, more and more books are published! To help you master the genre, we've put together this guide to the 25 best novelists, along with the books they've written that are sure to make you swoon. Trouw (By the way, the list is in alphabetical order, so if you're looking for your own favorite author, you'll know exactly where to look.)

Carolyn Brown

Brown has been writing romance for twenty years - her debut novel Love Is came out in 1999. Since then she has produced a lot of contemporary and historical romance. Brown's real niche, however, is cowboy romance: stories mostly set in the southern United States and featuring a tall, dark, troubled farmer. Meanwhile, the wayward heroine isn't looking for love - she's too focused on her kid and / or trying to let go of the memories of a worthless ex - but damn if she's not boiling hot Texas (or Tennessee or Oklahoma) sun anyway.

Must Read: Long, Hot Texas Summer

When Loretta Bailey caught her husband Jackson kissing another woman, she turned her back on Lonesome Canyon Ranch forever. That was 17 years ago ... Now Loretta and Jackson's daughter want to drop out of college to marry a farmer. Loretta, of course, is totally against the idea. But to fight it, she must return to the ranch and team up with Jackson, who is just as cunning (and devilishly handsome) as ever.

Catherine Bybee

Bybee is the queen of Amazon's contemporary romantic charts, with her best-selling Weekday Brides and Not Quite series (and their spin-offs). She's also engaged in historical and paranormal romance, and is especially adept at synthesizing her own traumatic experiences in her work: not only is she a child abuse survivor, she also had a terrible accident while working as an emergency room worker. nurse. Bybee began writing during her recovery, remembering the comfort that romantic books brought her when she was young - and eventually turned out to be some of the best titles on the market.

Must Read: Woman by Wednesday (Weekday Brides # 1)

Woman by Wednesday introduces us to Samantha Elliot, the head of a matchmaking company consulted by millionaire Blake Harrison… who plans to have Sam pose as his wife. And while Sam never intended to match herself, how can she resist his $ 10 million offer? But while their deal would only be a sham, Sam is confusingly attracted to Blake, which creates double trouble when his ex gets involved.

Robyn Carr

Since 1980, Carr has made quite a name for herself in romance - especially with her Virgin River series, which follows several love affairs that unfold in a forest outpost in California. From the gruff Marine getting in touch with his softer side to the burnt-out sous chef dealing with a pretty steamy dish (if you know what we mean), Virgin River offers a flow of nearly endless romantic possibilities. Not to mention the planned Netflix series starring Alexandra Breckenridge!

Must-read: Virgin River (Virgin River # 1)

After unexpectedly becoming a widower in her 30s, nurse Melinda Monroe seizes the opportunity to move to the wooded, remote Virgin River, but realizes that this is not what she had expected. Between her shabby accommodation and the local doctor's icy demeanor, Mel is almost ready to pick up and go - until she meets a retired Marine who persuades her to stay.

Alyssa Cole

Alyssa Cole makes a unique, impressive contribution to the subgenre of historical romance. Specializing in stories from the American Revolution and the Civil War, she has worked wonders for diversity in romance: many of her characters are women of color, and much of the drama in her stories stems from the challenges of interracial love and marriage in the world. past. .

Must-read: An Extraordinary Union Set

During the Civil War, this award-winning novel follows Elle Burns, a former slave who goes undercover to spy for the Union. She soon meets Malcolm McCall, a Pinkerton detective who shares her motives for overthrowing the Confederacy ... but their political leanings aren't the only feeling between them. When things get really dangerous, Elle and Malcolm have to decide what's most important - their country or their love.

Lauren Dane

Lauren Dane is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, known for her Brown Family and Chase Brothers series. Dane started writing in 2005 and has since released more than 60 books. (Yes, you read that right!) In addition to being one of the most prolific authors on this list, she's also one of the most daring - so if you like your romance on the more exciting side, consider dating her. add your list.

Must Read: Laid Bare (Brown Family # 1)

Seriously, hold on to your hat because this one is blatantly indiscreet. Laid Bare starts with police officer Todd Keenan and rock musician Erin Brown, whose old flame flares up again when they meet again in Seattle ... but threatens to burn them after a menage à trois with one of Todd's best friends. There's no telling where this relationship will lead, but one thing is for sure - it's going to be a great ride.

Tessa Dare

Tessa Dare is another NYT bestseller, but in a very different category: classic 'bodice rippers' that focus more on the smoldering sexual tension itself than resolving that tension. Indeed, Dare's titles clearly indicate her penchant for Regency romance - from Romancing the Duke to Say Yes to the Marquess, her books are the perfect form of escapism to another time and place.

Must Read: Do You Want to Start a Scandal (Castles Ever After # 4)

This one's part history, part mystery, part romance! At the Parkhurst ball, young Charlotte Highwood is involved in a scandal that makes her seem involved with Piers Brandon, Lord Granville - and now she'll have to marry him if she can't prove her innocence. Which would be annoying indeed, since she doesn't even like the man. But while they teamed up to find the real scandalists, Piers proves he's a surprisingly useful henchman. Soon, Charlotte's growing attraction to him questions, and she wonders if she even wants to complete their mission ...

Madison Faye

For a quick return to the erotic, Madison Faye's books are even more lusty than Lauren's. Dane. If you were a fan of Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty Quartet, you'll love Faye's equally sexy fairy tales - a series of five works appropriately titled Possessing Beauty. Or if fairytale stories are n't your thing, you can always turn to Dirty Bad Things or Her Daddies (again, you read that right), two other mega popular works by Faye. Hailed as "fast and nasty," these white-hot erotic romances will just about melt your Kindle.

Must Read: Beasting Beauty (Possessing Beauty # 1)

Logan is the hard-hearted, cursed Prince of Torsund. Isla is the sweetest youngest princess of Avlion. When they meet at a ball held by her father, the sparks fly out - and the clothes fly away. Logan is definitely a beast in the bedroom, but that doesn't mean that Isla can't find a way to tame him. Sweet, sexy and fierce at the same time, this novella of just under 100 pages is the perfect remedy for an ordinary evening indoors.

Pippa Grant

Pippa Grant is another ruler of the Amazon charts whose specialty is, for lack of a better term, total shock. The heroes in her stories are anything but heroic: we're talking possessive exes, self-centered hockey players, and terrible bosses. Or at least they start like that. With the help of their leading ladies - who are sometimes sweet, sometimes cheeky, but always totally irresistible to the main man - they turn a new leaf and become much better people. How's that for a HEA? (Romance slang for `` happily ever after. '')

Must read: The Pilot and the Puck-Up

NHL player Zeus Berger is just as cocky as his Greek god namesake, and he never fails to please a woman until he meets Joey Diamonte, former military special ops pilot and self-made businesswoman, who matches him in confidence and outshines him in smoothness. Unfortunately, their first meeting does not go quite as Zeus planned. Now determined to prove to Joey that he is more than overnight stuff, Zeus will try anything to show her what he's made of (except muscle).

Lorraine Heath

Lorraine Heath is an absolute staple of the romance genre. Since 2001, she has released more than a dozen different series in every sub-genre, from historical to paranormal. Despite their quantity, her works never sacrifice quality - Heath is especially praised for the genuine emotional depth and strong characterization in her writing. So if you're looking for story-based drama rather than his nephew smut, you can't go wrong with Heath.

Must Read: In Bed with the Devil (Scoundrels of St, James # 1)

Lucian Langdon, aka Luke, is despised in London as the "devil earl" for his gruesome reputation. Lady Catherine Mabry is so desperate for help that she's willing to make a deal with him. That's how their relationship begins as co-conspirators… which of course quickly turns into something more. The delightfully slow burn between the villain and the lady also spans a pretty meaty social plot, laced with lots of ironic Dickens references.

Beverly Jenkins

Jenkins is a true pioneer of diverse romance - she's been writing since the 1990s, and her books almost always feature African-American main couples, often at times when that experience was overlooked. However, Jenkins makes it a point not to write exclusively about slavery. To depict a truly wide range of black history, most of her books take place between the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Movement.

Must-Read: Bring on the Blessings (Blessings # 1)

While Jenkins is known for (and very talented at spinning!) Her historical romances, this contemporary work is a great intro for new readers. In Bring on the Blessings,52-year-old Bernadine Brown sues her rich, adulterous husband - and wins. A settlement of $ 275 million, to be exact.

To `` prepay '' her happiness, Bernadine decides that her next favorite project is not just one man, but an entire town: Henry Adams, Kansas, which was founded after the Civil War by freed slaves. After buying Henry Adams online, Bernadine must team up with his stubborn mayor Trent July to bring the city back to its former glory ... and maybe find some glory in each other too.

Lisa Kleypas

When it comes to historical romance, no one can compare to Kleypas: she started writing in 1985, when she was only 21 years old, and hasn't looked back since. Starting with a few quick duologies, Kleypas eventually escalated to work out multi-book series, the best known being The Wallflowers and The Hathaways. These books follow the members of various families in mid-19th century London as they try to find love in one way or another. Each story is also wrapped in a well-woven tapestry of historical context; Indeed, one of Kleypas' greatest strengths is her in-depth knowledge of the era.

Must Read: Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways # 1)

Amelia Hathaway has an awful lot on her plate. She seeks out her place in aristocratic society (which she just joined after a surprising legacy), tames her wild younger siblings, and recently has to deal with her feelings for upper class villain Cam Rohan. Cam, like Amelia, comes from a not so noble lineage - unlike her, however, he longs to return. Only one thing complicates this plan: his longing for Amelia. And when she asks him for help in a tricky situation, he can't say no to her ...

Lauren Landish

Landish specializes in 'sexy-as-hell book boyfriends,' as she says on her Goodreads page - one look at her rippling muscle coverings and you know you're in for a good time. Her works can get pretty explicit, but she also has enough fun romantic devices to keep readers happy: encounters, fake relationships, and reunited high school students abound, especially in the stunningly sexy Irresistible Bachelors series.

Must Read: Mr. Fixit (Irresistible Bachelors # 5)

Expert handyman Caleb Strong (get it? Because he's strong?) And Cassie White has been friends for over a year now, since they met in Hawaii. So when Cassie needs help renovating her childhood home, it's only natural for her to turn to Caleb. But actually having to see him at work proves to be a challenge in the self-control department ... especially when she starts to fantasize that he's working on something else. In other words, this book is much the written equivalent of that Fifth Hpretty Harmony song - if you liked that video, you're going to love Mr. Fixit.

Adriana Locke

On the other hand, if you prefer flawed, vulnerable heroes to utterly confident heroes, then Adriana Locke might be more your speed. Locke has only been in the romance world for a few years, but she's already done countless series full of baddies-with-serious-damage (although, of course, that doesn't stop them from eventually finding love).

Must Read: Crank (Laundry Family # 7, Gibson Boys # 1)

Sienna Landry gets off to a bit of a rough start with small town mechanic Walker Gibson - namely, she breaks the front of his truck. For a man like Walker, there's nothing worse ... except maybe the attraction he feels to this girl who just destroyed his most prized possession. Walker is in conflict with Sienna in more ways than one and still seems unable to avoid her, and the glittering tension between them builds until it practically jumps off the page. But there is one thing he doesn't tell her - not least because he doesn't want to think about it himself.

Julianne MacLean

Julianne MacLean (not to be confused with the next entry on our list) writes mostly historical romance, although she has also branched into the contemporary on occasion. She is best known for her American Heiress and Pembroke Palace series, which are sure to please fans of Downton Abbey and other early 20th century stories. Or if you're a fan of Outlander, check out her excellent Highlander trilogy: A Slow, Sexy Burn with Captured by the Highlander, Claimed by the Highlander, and Seduced by the Highlander.

Must Read: The Color of Heaven (Color of Heaven # 1)

Like Jenkins' Bring on the Blessings, MacLean's Color of Heaven series doesn't exactly represent her larger body of work. However, it's a good starting point for new readers - albeit a pretty emotional one too. The Color of Heaven follows Sophie Duncan, a woman whose life derails when her daughter is diagnosed with leukemia and her husband cheats on her. But after a terrible accident, Sophie's eyes open to all she has left and she embarks on a new, vibrant journey of life, love and revelation.

Sarah MacLean

Sarah MacLean has also found her way into historical romance, but of a more traditional kind: she sticks to the regency / Victorian periods, and she absolutely masters the niche. Author of more than a dozen high-profile historical novels, and winner of several awards from the Romance Writers of America, she is one of the leading voices in the romance genre. Along with Lisa Kleypas (and Julia Quinn and Nora Roberts, both of whom we'll both see soon), Sarah MacLean is essentially a founder of the historical sub-genre as we know it today.

Must-read: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Love by the Numbers # 1)

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell is tired of her title, especially since she never lived up to it. She's more than willing to break the rules of ladyhood ... but she can't do it alone. And who better to recruit as her “accomplice” (the Regency equivalent of friends-with-benefits) than Gabriel St. John, a Marquis and fellow avoiding society? Of course, as Callie and Gabe grow closer, she realizes she might not be such a non-traditional girl after all. The only question now is, can she tell him?

Courtney Milan

Milan is another prominent writer of WOC characters in romance, especially characters of Asian descent. While she also has quite a few 'classic' historical novels in her repertoire, her most interesting and dynamic works to date include the Cyclone series, with an upcoming work entitled Show Me that will be an LGBT romance between two women of color. In the meantime, however, she has plenty of other compelling titles for readers to discover.

Must-read: Hold Me (Cyclone # 2)

This perfect amalgam of classic romantic setups includes both a) a transformation from enemies to lovers, and b) a case of secret identities, and our main couple (without them knowing) chats anonymously online!

Jay na Thalang and Maria Lopez have been in the same Bay Area circles for centuries, but that doesn't mean they really like each other . On the contrary, Jay's misogynistic attitude confuses Maria, and Maria's apparent folly causes Jay to fire her. But as with just about any romance, things aren't as they seem ... when secrets are revealed and revelations take place, Maria and Jay are thrown into a completely unexpected romantic odyssey.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been popular on the romance scene since the early 1980s and is credited with creating `` sports romance, '' in which the characters and plot revolve around a kind of athleticism. She has been referred to in the genre as the "Queen of Romantic Comedy" - at a time when most novelists took the historic route, Phillips wasn't afraid to get a little crazy. As the Nora Ephron of the romantic novels, Phillips is an essential addition to any self-proclaimed romance lover's reading list.

Must Read: It Had to Be You (ChicagoStars # 1)

New York girl Phoebe Somerville has just inherited the Chicago Stars - an entire soccer team of sexy-but-sex-ist men, the worst of which is head coach Dan Calebow. Dan isn't exactly happy with the Phoebe acquisition, nor does Phoebe appreciate Dan's constant snide comments… but neither can stay away long enough to stop bickering. With warmth, humor and irresistible chemistry, It Had to Be You is a true Super Bowl of a novel.

Julia Quinn

Like so many authors on this list, Julia Quinn has a fascinating origin story. In the early 1990s she decided to go to medical school; while studying for the necessary conditions, she started writing novels along with it. She was then admitted to Yale Medical School, but realized she had already found her true calling. So she dropped out to become one of the foremost historical novelists of her generation - and she is still writing!

Must Read: The Duke and I (Bridgertons # 1)

It's the ultimate high-society plan: Lady Daphne Bridgerton and Duke Simon Basset are only pretending to be in court so Simon can avoid the clutches of a real marriage and Daphne can attract jealous men. (Just what you want in a partner, right?) Except now, Daphne is starting to have reservations about Simon - especially when they are pressed together on the ballroom floor, and she can barely keep dancing with desire. This Regency take on the "fake relationship" trope is sure to make fans of classic romance swoon.

Alisha Rai

"All the heat, all the heart" is Rai's signature catchphrase, and her brilliant, steamy, and wonderfully diverse books certainly make that happen. Although a relative newcomer, Rai has already had five series to her credit and a reputation in the contemporary romance world for her innovative starting points and vibrant characters. (It's not released yet, but look out for her upcoming novel The Right Swipe, about two rival dating app makers falling in love!)

You Must Read: Hate to Want You (Forbidden Hearts # 1)

Just like so many of our couples have Livvy Kane and Nicholas Chandler make a deal. Except theirs is limited to just one night of guilty pleasure a year - guilty because of the animosity between their families. They've been in secret for ten years now, and they're all looking forward to that night of breathtaking passion ... until Nicholas gets too busy running his own family empire. Livvy doesn't let him slip away so easily, of course. Loaded with passion but also deep emotion, Hate to Want You is Rai's excellent answer to sexy yet realistic romance.

Alexa Riley

Riley is another big Amazon hit list - unusual for a Romantic author with mostly standalone books and short series. Riley's edge over other authors, however, may stem from the fact that 'she' is actually two writers, a duo of anonymous friends who have released over 100 titles (!) Since 2015. Like Madison Faye, Alexa Riley's books are also best described as quickies: many are 100 pages or less, but what they lack in length they make up for in heat.

Must Read: PS ... You're Mine by Alexa Riley

This Valentine's Day special features a schoolteacher named Katie Lovely and a marine named Mark Gunner (did we mention that almost all Riley characters have hilariously ironic names?). Regardless, Katie's class is doing a penpals project with overseas Marines, and she also accidentally reports herself ... only to discover that her correspondence with Mark is different than she expected. So don't worry just because they don't see each other in person (at least not at first) - those letters get hot and heavy pretty quickly.

Nora Roberts

If there is one author on this list who is a well-known term, it is Nora Roberts. Since 1980, Roberts has written and published an astonishing number of novels - her website claims the number is over 215!

But this incredibly productive production has not come at the expense of quality. Over the years, Roberts has been praised for her creative storylines, her wry sense of humor and for pioneering the "dual shifting perspectives" style (i.e. two different storytellers switching back and forth) that has come to define the genre. She has also received numerous Golden Medallion and RITA Awards from the Romance Writers of America, and has had several of her books filmed, including Montana Sky and High Noon.

Must-Read: Born in Fire (Born in Fire Trilogy # 1)

It's impossible to say Born in Fire is the only Nora Roberts she's read, but it's certainly one of her best. It's about Maggie Concannon, a fierce, free-spirited woman living in Ireland. And while she may work with glass for a living, Maggie isn't easily broken until she meets the money-conscious gallery owner Rogan Sweeney, who wants to manage her career. The two head each other as their working relationship progresses, but can't deny their appeal - which in the course of this story gets even hotter than blown glass.

Nalini Singh

Singh is another very exciting new voice in the romance genre. She mainly writes paranormal romance, but of a particularly riotous kind; she is best known for her Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series, both of which are full of spicy scenes.

Must Read: Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changeling # 1)

This remarkable hybrid of paranormal romance and science fiction establishes the world of the 'Psy': a ruling race that forbids emotions (a bit like in The Giver, but much worse). Sascha is one of the few Psy who still feels pain and longing - but she cannot reveal this to anyone else she will be forced into 'rehabilitation'. Meanwhile, Lucas Hunter is part human, part animal changer who needs Sascha's help. Their bond grows and soon they struggle to withstand the thrill between them ... although they know it can be deadly.

Susan Stoker Susan Stoker

's series is known for adapting the classic damsel-in-distress scenario to modern times. Her heroines have been victims of marital violence, sex trafficking, terrorism, you name it - but there's always a brave hero to save the day. And while it may seem against the rules of feminism that men are constantly saving women, we are actually grateful for a series that promotes men protecting their partners, when so many novels blur the line between abuse and love.

Must-read: Rescuing Rayne (Delta Force Heroes # 1)

As a flight attendant, Rayne Jackson's whole life is in the air - with the exception of the occasional sober fight. A particularly memorable night was with Keane "Ghost" Bryson, a rugged, reticent member of Delta Force. Rayne doesn't know, of course, as Ghost hid his true identity from her. But when their paths cross again in the harshest conditions, Ghost must risk everything to protect Rayne - not just his secrets, but his life too.

Lauren Willig

The last historical romancer on our list, Lauren Willig has been writing since 2005. Her specialty is the Napoleonic era, and her works are mostly inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel - another historical novel by a woman almost exactly a century before Willig herself wrote. started writing. However, don't worry that her work is distracted. Willig is absolutely one of a kind, and the rich history and complex characters in her books make for first-class romance.

Must-read: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

With a frame story reminiscent of Susanna Kearsley, Willig tells this story through Eloise Kelly, a 21st-century American student who goes to England to finish her thesis. There she finds much more than academic motivation in the form of the 'Secret History of the Pink Carnation' - a book about England's most devious spy during the Napoleonic Wars and the thrilling romance involved.

Zane

We round off this list with some old-fashioned… eroticism! Zane has been a prominent author in the erotic romance subgenre since 1997, when she started writing steamy stories for her own entertainment. More than two decades later, she is now the publisher of Strebor Books with Simon & Schuster, and her works have been turned into a TV series and even a feature film.

Must Read: Addicted

Zoe Reynard is a successful businesswoman, a loving wife, a devoted mother ... and a sex addict. However she tried, she has never been able to shake off her 'fatal attraction'. Now, as Zoe confesses to her therapist, she's delving into her blistering sexual history and dark childhood. But her romance with her husband is still central - which is why this is a truly wonderful work and not just lustful havoc (although it is).

Falling in love with a romance novel is much more than the couple starring or even the leading spinster. In these contemporary novels, the main characters don't wait to be wiped off their feet, and many of them are firmly on the ground. The fact that each of the well-rounded protagonists of these ten new novels feels like someone you can enjoy a coffee date - or book club with! - makes following their overarching love stories even more engaging.

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  The Kiss Quotient
  by Helen Hoang
  Stella Lane believes in math. She also finds French kissing completely unattractive. Stella, who works for a company that makes algorithms to predict customer purchases, has Asperger's, and her aversion to things like kissing has given her little experience in the sex department. So, in her no-nonsense way, she hires an expert: an escort named Michael Phan. As Michael walks her through all things in the knee-weakening arena (yes, all things), Stella feels their arrangement makes sense. Hoang's smart and sexy debut leaves you falling for both characters, and curious what she'll write next.
  
  You Me Everything
  Catherine Isaac's
  Jess raised her 10-year-old son William more or less alone, with her ex (and William's father) Adam playing only a minor part, and an unreliable one. Jess's mother urges her to take William for a summer vacation at the French castle that Adam runs so that William and Atom can bond. William is fond of his father, who - with his busy work life and new girlfriend - is still hit or miss on the father front. Meanwhile, Jess is hiding something big from both of them, which makes the bond between father and son all the more urgent. Optimistisch maar ook bitterzoet, je wilt de wereld voor Jess en haar zoon, en je zult verlangen naar een reis naar de Dordogne na het lezen van Isaac's weelderige beschrijvingen.
  Het voorstel
  van Jasmine Guillory
  Sommigen vinden een voorstel voor een scorebord in de Major League het toppunt van romantiek, maar schrijver Nicole Paterson is die vrouw niet, vooral omdat ze nog maar vijf maanden een relatie heeft met de man die het vraagt ​​(en zijn soort van irritante kerel vrienden zijn aanwezig). Wanneer een andere game-ganger, Carlos Ibarra, haar redt van de cameraploegen en toeschouwers die niet kunnen geloven dat ZIJ NEE zei, begint Nikole aan een sexy rebound met hem, denkend dat ze dit onder controle heeft. Lezers zullen dol zijn op Guillory's (die ook de fabuleuze schreef The Wedding Date) dialoog, humor en de heerlijke maaltijden die haar personages delen. Deze is helemaal lekker.
  (Aanbieding: 30-10-18)
  Huwelijksvakantie
  door Pauline Brooks
  Fans van de show "Younger" zullen beseffen dat er iets bekends aan deze titel is. In de show is Marriage Vacation een memoires die zijn overgenomen door de fictieve Empirical Press (en geschreven door de fictieve vrouw van de fictieve Charles Brooks). Hoewel "Pauline Brooks" misschien onwerkelijk is, is het uitgangspunt zo reëel als het wordt voor menig vrouw en moeder: Kate Carmichael heeft, ondanks haar perfecte kinderen, echtgenoot en leven, een pauze nodig. Ze vertrekt op een reis halverwege de wereld - een midlifecrisis als er ooit een was - maar wanneer ze terugkeert, merkt ze dat ze nu moet vechten om haar oude leven (en haar man) terug te krijgen.
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  Eleanor Oliphant is helemaal goed
  door Gail Honeyman
  Eleanor vindt het niet erg dat het goed gaat. Zoals in: Just. Prima. Haar leven heeft een tekort aan grote hoogtepunten, maar ze vermijdt sociale interactie om ook geen verpletterende dieptepunten te voelen. Ze is excentriek en sterk gedisciplineerd en zelfs de meer extraverte mensen onder ons kunnen begrijpen waarom het soms gemakkelijker is om bij jezelf te blijven dan om contact op te nemen. Maar Eleanor kan het niet helpen dat ze haar hand reikt als ze een oudere man vindt die op de stoep struikelt. Haar excentrieke collega Raymond is er toevallig ook, en Eleanor, Raymond en de oude man worden vrienden. Eleanor's uniquely witty voice makes her feel like a quirky friend you love getting together with and the sweet romance is sure to charm. (It already has charmed Reese Witherspoon, who made it one of her book club picks and is producing a film adaptation.)
  Ghosted
  by Rosie Walsh
  For those who enjoy suspense as much as they do love scenes, Walsh's debut novel is sure to please. When Sarah meets Eddie, the resulting insta-love might be too good to be true. And, maybe it is. Eddie leaves on a longstanding trip, then never calls again. Sure, Sarah knows he might be ghosting her, but she really doesn't believe it, even if her friends — and some readers — surely want her to. As Sarah waits for the real explanation, she learns she's right: There is a reason he disappeared. (And it's not something we can even hint at here!)
  Love and Other Words
  by Christina Lauren
  Mary Sorensen is being sensible: she's working hard as a new medical resident and planning to marry a “safe” choice, someone stable and secure so that she can keep her heart locked away. Then her first love — her only love — Elliot Petropoulos, re enters her life. He broke her heart, not long after he got her to open it. Told on a timeline that jumps between then and now, we learn the reasons why Mary walled herself off, and also hope that Elliot can convince her to open up again.
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  When Katie Met Cassidy
  by Camille Perri
  Who can resist a big New York City romance, especially one being compared to the Nora Ephron-penned film par excellence “When Harry Met Sally”? In this romance, traditional Kentucky girl Katie Daniels has just been dumped by her fiancé when she meets Cassidy, a brash native New Yorker wearing a man's suit. They're opposites to be sure, but they also have undeniable chemistry. Katie finds herself questioning everything she thinks she knows and believes about herself, and readers will find themselves considering their own truths, too.
  The Bucket List
  by Georgia Clark
  When 25-year-old Lacey Whitman is diagnosed with the breast cancer gene, she's not ready to lose her breasts. Not that anyone would be, but she's VERY not ready. She's deciding between two possible career paths, plus she and her breasts haven't, ahem, experienced much. So she draws up a bucket list of everything to do with and for her breasts before a possible surgery. Her ensuing adventures are sexy and fun, making you all the more invested when she finally has to decide what to do for her health and future.
  Hate to Want You
  by Alisha Rai
  Livvy and Nicholas's families owned a grocery store together, but when an accident tears apart their business partnership, they're also forbidden from seeing each other again. And yet when their paths cross, a fiery attraction boils, so they make an arrangement to enjoy one night together a year. Though the premise strikes at the doomed love of “Romeo and Juliet,” the leads are well-characterized adults with their own issues. No-nonsense Livvy suffers from panic attacks while Nicholas struggles to get out from under his father's thumb. The three-book series about a second-chance romance is addictive.