Craving romance with a twist? Weary of those run-of-the-mill, cliché love stories that leave nothing to the imagination? Tired of boring romance novels that just put a man and woman in bed together and expect us to swoon? As if!
For a romance to work we need fire, we need energy; we need chemistry; or at the very least, we need a good dose of humor.
Presenting my top six picks for unique, enthralling, and utterly swoon-worthy romance novels that will leave you head over heels. Dive in and let the sparks fly!
1. THE BARGAINER SERIES BY LAURA THALASSA
The Bargainer Series is a dark paranormal romance series following Callypso “Cally” Lillis and the mysterious Bargainer. This story begins with Cally asking The Bargainer, Desmond Flynn, for a favor. However, everyone knows that asking the Bargainer for favors has a steep price. In desperation, Cally throws caution to the wind and asks for favor after favor, and loses her heart in the process.
When The Bargainer returns years later to collect on that debt, Cally must choose whether to build a wall around her heart or trust him completely whilst battling a dangerous dark entity upsetting the Fae world.
Spiciness: 🌶🌶🌶
Heartwarming: ❤️❤️
2. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
A light-hearted romantic comedy that centers around Don Tillman, a socially awkward genetics professor with undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder, who embarks on an unusual quest to find a wife. Along the way, he encounters Rosie Jarman, who challenges all his preconceived notions about love.
The book kicks off with Don using a scientific approach to find a wife. He calls it “the wife project”. He’s compiled a list of criteria that his future wife must meet for the most optimal chance of compatibility. However, on an accidental date he encounters Rosie, an unpredictable woman who fails each “wife criteria” with flying colors.
Don, a geneticist, assists her in finding out who her biological father is. While doing so he finds himself falling for Rosie. If you can relate to falling for your exact opposite, feeling completely awkward, and always saying the wrong thing, you will relate to Don Tillman. This book is a hilarious example of how what you think you want from a partner, might not always be what you actually need.
Spiciness: 🧊
Heartwarming: ❤️❤️❤️
3. WALK OF SHAME BY LAUREN LAYNE
In this chic and sassy contemporary romance, socialite Georgianna “Georgie” Watkins finds herself drawn to her grumpy neighbor and top New York divorce attorney, Andrew Mulroney, leading to an engaging battle of wits and hearts. It’s a modern spin of the movie “Enchanted” which happens to be a favorite of Georgie’s.
Georgie has grown tired of her predictable life as a pampered heiress and craves something more. She soon realizes the highlight of her day is the verbal sparring she has with the uptight (and gorgeous) lawyer in her building. Eventually sparks fly when their usual bickering turns to a kiss, a kiss that’s caught on camera by paparazzi. This has all of Manhattan gossiping about whether they’re a real couple or not. Despite Andrew’s reservations, he has to admit that the answer might be yes.
If you like a light-hearted, funny, enemies-to-lovers story, this one is for you.
Spiciness: 🌶🌶🌶
Heartwarming: ❤️❤️❤️
4. Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
A passionate forbidden romance between Pike Lawson – a brooding older man – and Jordan Hadley — his son’s girlfriend – unfolds throughout the book as they wrestle with societal norms and family dynamics. If you like a balance of sweet and naughty this book fulfills that fantasy.
The book begins with Jordan being treated very poorly by her immature and irresponsible boyfriend. Then, her boyfriend’s dad shows her love and kindness and sparks fly. Despite them both knowing it’s wrong, they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. And what’s more they both find that their attraction goes far deeper than the physical.
Spiciness: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Heartwarming: ❤️❤️❤️
5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Follow the life and loves of Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo as she recounts her tumultuous journey through stardom and her seven marriages in this poignant portrayal of love, loss, and ambition.
Most of this book reads like an exciting autobiography in the POV of a Hollywood royal — like Elizebeth Taylor or Marilyn Monroe. The level of writing was superb. I found myself wrapped up in it as the character Evelyn jumped off the page. This author’s descriptions of her felt real, raw, and complex. But, at the heart of the novel is a story about a woman taking too long to figure what was truly important.
Spiciness: 🌶
Heartwarming: ❤️❤️❤️
6. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Experience an unconventional romance novel as it delves into the complex relationship between Clare, a successful artist, and her husband Henry, a librarian with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unexpectedly. Read about their struggle to make their love endure through time and space.
Clare loves a man through all stages of life — the good and the bad. For this one, you’ll need a tissue box because this book will have you in your feelings. Most of us think time-traveling would be thrilling experience, but since Henry can’t control when or where he time-travels, the love story of Henry and Clare as a unique set of challenges. If you are in the mood to read about love and the heartbreak that comes with it, this unique read will speak to your soul.
Spiciness: 🌶
Heartwarming: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Have you read any of these titles? If so, what were your thoughts? Are there any romance novels you think should be added to this list? Leave a comment below.
P.S. Check out my post on Fifteen Romantic Quotes That Capture the Essence of Love
Thanks for mentioning these books. I was finding something good to read
Let me know which one catches your eye. ??
I love the Time Traveler’s Wife!! I’ll have to put the rest of these books on my queue.
It’s one of my favorites. I hear a new television series is coming out about it. ?
These are all great suggestions! I especially loved reading The Time Travelers Wife and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Both are beautifully written and capture incredible love stories.
Thanks! Both have strong female leads who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go for it! I love that ??
Funnily enough the two I’m drawn to most here are The Bargainer Series and The Time Travelers Wife – which sounds like they are very different but both sound amazing! I love the heart rating system!
If your in the mood for something fanciful and spicy go for The Bargainer Series. If you want an EPIC love story that will have you in tears by the end, go for The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Thank you for this list! I’m a suckered for romance novels. The one catching my eye is the Birthday Girl. I’ve never read anything like that before. The romances I’ve read in the last were millionare romances lol.
It was Spicy! ?? I’m a sucker for taboo romances. If you read it, tell me if you enjoyed it. There’s a link on the title.
Great post! Will have to pick one and indulge in reading this summer!
Let me know which one you pick 🙂
Your top six picks for great romance novels is perfect for my summer pool season! I loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo! That was a solid pick. I can’t wait to check out some others on your list!