10 romance books I 11/10 recommend

I love reading romance books. If you’ve been here a while, you might know that. If not*, you know now! More than half the books I read last year were romance books.

But why do I like romance so much, you ask? A list (just because I love lists):

• I like love stories.
• They give me unrequited hope of finding love one day.
• I can pretend it’s me getting a happily ever after so a little while.
• I read through romance books REALLY fast and so they’re my go-to when I don’t have much time to spare for reading. When I have exams going on, for instance.
• I’m out of reasons.
• I just like romance a lot.

*Also, I’ve gained so many new followers lately and I just want to day HI to y’all new peeps!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl and for this week we have a Love Freebie to tweak as we wish, keeping in theme with Valentine’s Day being tomorrow. Now, I’m not particularly fond of V Day. I actually forget it exists most times. But whatever my notions, I’m going to jump on the chance to talk about my favourite romance books.

Also, to note, almost all of these are NA (New Adult) or Adult romance. I tend to look at other things in YA books sidelining romance, so yeah.

[1] Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid

I read this end of last year AND I LOVED IT.

Janie, the female MC is a SWEETHEART. Quinn, the male MC was my book crush of 2017. Quinn FTW.

I wrote a whole review gushing about it while trying to not spoil anything so read my review to know more.

[2] Dating-ish by Penny Reid

After Neanderthal Seeks Human, I HAD to read the rest of the series. This is the 6th book in the series (out of 7 and 7th isn’t out yet) and I loved it way more than I thought I would!

I love the relationship between Marie and Matt. I love how they bonded so much and were basically dating but didn’t put a label on it because they thought their feelings were one-sided. I love the characters as individuals as well.

ALSO, the book is brain food! The author did so much research and added so much about tech, my geeky self went Gaga.

I haven’t written a review on it yet (currently behind on reviewing) but I WILL.

[3] The Gravity of Us by Brittainy C. Cherry

I picked up this book on a whim because it sounded different, and boy it was so good! I loved how both the characters slowly waded waters to get to each other and the relations that tie them together. It was just really good.

Here’s my review on it.

[4] Here’s to Falling by Christine Zolendz

I read this book when I first started reading NA romance books. And I loved it. Since then I’ve reread it a couple times and I’ll be honest, it isn’t that good anymore now that I’ve read other books.

I don’t have a great view on the romance or the characters but what has kept it in my mind as one of the good books is because the plot TEARS ME APART every single time I read it. It doesn’t matter that I know what will come or how it ends—it still breaks my heart. And I always keep books that break me and/or make me cry on a high pedestal.

Here’s my (cringey and very amateur) review.

[5] Before We Were Strangers by Reneé Carlino

Okay so this isn’t a ground-breaking story or something very unique. The reason I like it is because of the twist near the end. It’s what got me onto the trope in the first place.

I read this only a little while after Here’s to Falling and I liked it because it’s a second chance love and it’s written really nicely.

Here’s a review I wrote ages back.

[6] Imperfect Chemistry by Mary Frame

Okay so I don’t really remember much about this book (perfect for rereading someday) but I do remember that I LOVED IT. I’m pretty sure I was gushing about it to my best friend and I couldn’t put it down until it ended.

Here’s the review (which I don’t even remember writing?).

[7] The Love Game by Emma Hart

I’m not very fond of the enemies-to-lovers trope but this book put it in my radar. I thought it’s going to be an average college romance that I may give 4 stars but I ended up REALLY loving it and gave it 5 stars. It’s my favourite NA romance of 2017.

Read my review here.

[8] The Gravity Between Us by Kristen Zimmer

It’s the only f/f romance I’ve read so far (sadly, but I do plan on rectifying that) and I really liked it. I read it a LONG time back but I totally recommend it! I haven’t written a review on it, sadly.

It’s a best-friends-to-lovers story, my favourite romance trope, and I really liked how the relationship progressed.

[9] Smut by Karina Halle

The title says it all. It’s a smutty romance story which packs humour and also thoughts on the erotica genre. The main characters are paired up for a writing project and end up making a career out of writing erotica—which turns out successful! Through that they also fall for each other. Totally recommended if you’re looking for a light-hearted college romance.

Read my mini-review on it.

[10] Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern

Also known as Love, Rosie.

Okay so as usual, a mini rant about the title change*: I hate that they changed the title to Love, Rosie after the movie was made! NOT. AMUSED. I read it when it was called Where Rainbows End and I refuse to call it by the new name.

Moving past the name issue, I love that the book is narrated in the form of correspondences—letters, invites, text messages, emails etc. It’s really different and I really love the story.

*Also, why do I have a feeling this will happen to Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli? The movie is called Love, Simon and I have a feeling they’ll change the title to make it shorter.

---

 

If you’re a sucker for romances, I totally suggest trying out these books if you haven’t already! I loved each of them for some reason or the other.

Do you read romance books? What’s your take on Valentine’s Day? Do you have any plans? And if you’ve read any of the books I mentioned, do let me know what you thought in the comments! Also drop the link to your TTT, if you’ve published one so I can read your take on the freebie.