Best Romance Books of the Century So Far

Queen of the American Gilded Age historical, Joanna Shupe’s The Four Hundred trilogy doesn’t disappoint. Book one follows Lady Honora Parker as she searches for an objectionable fiancé in New York City, one so unsuitable, her father will allow her to marry the artist she has set her sights on. Rich financier, Julius Hatcher, is more than willing to pretend for her. But when he begins to play the part of the perfect fiancé, they may end up married despite Nora’s plans. Shupe consistently delivers sexy, wickedly brilliant novels with a particular focus on period-accurate reform and social justice movements.

- R. Nassor

Trans for trans relationships are rare enough in the world of romance, but when you consider historical romance, it’s uniquely rare—and wonderful—to find a book that centers trans characters living and loving in a time when some people might not realize it was possible. That’s one of the things I love best about TJ Alexander’s writing: it feels possible. This isn’t some wildly anachronistic romp; it’s the story of two men living as themselves within a society that might not always recognize or accept them, but that, nonetheless, they’re able to thrive in. To top it off, it’s one of the most beautiful Regency romances I’ve ever read full stop.

- Rachel Brittain

Alyssa Cole can write in any genre, and in 2018, she gave us a modern-day fairy tale that asks the question “what if that email claiming to be from an African prince was actually real?” Naledi, a brilliant but financially struggling grad student, gets that email, deletes it, and is eventually told in-person that she’s betrothed to Prince Thabiso from the country of Thesolo. Cole builds out the story with elements of Cinderella, mistaken identity, and secrecy, and the heart of A Princess in Theory is how those pieces come together as part of a love story between two very different people who build off of chemistry toward a deeper connection.

- Trisha Brown

KJ Charles excels at writing romances with deep, thorny conflicts, and A Seditious Affair is one of her best. Dominic Frey is a tightly wound government official whose job involves hunting down radicals. Silas Mason is exactly the kind of radical he’s supposed to root out, a revolutionary pamphleteer who loathes the oppressive government of early 19th century England. Oh, and they’ve been having anonymous kinky sex for a year. By the time their true identities come out, it’s far too late to leave their hearts unscathed. This book will devastate you and then put you back together. And good news: there’s two more in the trilogy.

- Jessica Plummer

This book forever changed how I think about historical romance. It's a steamy, sapphic romp through 1889 Paris! Manuela is out for one last summer of debauchery before marrying a man for his money. Cora needs her to sell an island she’s inherited in order to complete a railway project. Manuela agrees, but only if Cora shows her the queer nightlife scene. The two of them clash constantly, but they can’t resist their attraction. It's a perfect glimpse into how this setting was more queer, diverse, and steamy than we usually give it credit for. I need approximately 500 more fun historical romances about queer women of color like this one!

- Danika Ellis

While this is the third book in the Loyal League trilogy, it truly reveals the work that Alyssa Cole has been building up in the two books that precede it. And while all three books explore the complications of being a spy during the American Civil War, this one pits the two protagonists against each other, and themselves, in a way that is devastating to watch. There is nothing else quite like this series in romance, and this culmination reveals just what you can do with a book when the promise of an HEA keeps you going.

- Jessica Pryde

Ana María and the Fox is the first Luna Sisters book, a Victorian romance series about heiress sisters who flee French-occupied Mexico to take refuge in England. Ana María jumps right into the London season and finds herself irresistibly drawn to an austere British politician, the son of a formerly enslaved woman on a mission to abolish the Atlantic slave trade. The trouble is: she's already betrothed to one of her father's political allies. This book and series are a refreshing entry in historical romance, highlighting a lesser-known piece of history and diversifying a genre that is still so overwhelmingly white. It's hard to say what's better: the chemistry between the couple or the dynamic between the sisters. Good thing we don't actually have to choose.

- Vanessa Diaz

These days, saying you prefer Mr. Darcy to any living human man is an acceptable statement. In 2007, it was still an oddity. Shannon Hale’s Austenland drew on the existing love for Austen by following a young woman named Jane who desperately wanted to escape to the Regency. With a three-week retreat at Pembrook Park, Jane gets to live in her cozy fantasy. The women are all dressed in Regency costumes, and the men act like Austen heroes. Finding a Darcy in Mr. Nobley is exactly what Jane thinks she wants, but she’s also drawn to the groundskeeper Martin. Like many romance fans, Jane wants to find out if true love is possible outside of a book.

- Julia Rittenberg

It’s not every day that a romance book has a scene so funny that it still pops into my head years later and makes me laugh (looking at you, glitter unicorn cake!). It isn’t just that Lucy Parker delivers so many tropes I love, from grumpy/sunshine to baking competitions; it's her ability to deliver them all like the most delicious slice of cake you’ve ever eaten that is the magic of this book. Parker also navigates exploring grief with the seriousness it deserves while still keeping this novel squarely in the rom-com genre. It will forever remain one of my favorite romance novels.

- Jamie Canaves

Emily Henry is a titan of the genre, and there's a good case to be made for all of her romances to be on this list, but Beach Read was her breakout hit. It follows two authors, Augustus and January, who are staying in neighboring beach houses for three months. They're both struggling with writer's block and decide to write in each other's genre for the summer to break them out of it: January will teach Augustus about writing romance, and he will teach her about writing literary fiction. What could go wrong? The People We Meet On Vacation movie just came out, and four more of Henry's books, including Beach Read, have adaptations in the works!

- Danika Ellis

Minerva knows Cal only asked her out because of a bet: she heard his friends earlier in the bar. But it’ll be fun to torture him over a free dinner. Maybe she’ll even end up with a date to her sister’s wedding. She never bargained for the self-proclaimed commitment-phobe to fall for her, or for him to love her the way she looks now—not how she’d look after a diet. In fact, soon he’s feeding her Chicken Marsala, giving her multiple orgasms, and standing up to her diet-obsessed mom. This book is not only a whip-smart romantic comedy. It also broke ground by featuring a fat heroine who doesn’t lose weight or get a makeover to find love.

- Alison Doherty

Bitter Medicine was my Best of the Year (So Far) pick in 2023, and continues to be one of my favorite books of all time. The heart-wrenchingly beautiful story follows Elle Jiang, a descendant of the Chinese god of medicine. But she's in hiding, keeping her magic secret while creating protective glyphs for clients, including the handsome Luc. Luc is half-elf, bound by his true name to his unrelenting and abusive boss, and haunted by a curse from a past mission. Both must navigate their past traumas, yet they're desperate for happiness and healing. This book pays tribute to its predecessors while forging a new, modern take on the genre.

- Lyndsie Manusos

Each of the books in this series—notably some of the few M/M romances not written by a cis-het woman—is actually laugh-out-loud funny. Luc and Oliver are, to quote the great Talia Hibbert, "a certified chaos demon and a stern brunch daddy with a heart of gold," and that juxtaposition of energies sure lends itself to comedic gold. But amid these hilarious misunderstandings, Alexis Hall also gives us some of the best examples of healthy communication and conflict resolution I've ever read, in romance or otherwise. The books explore the nuances of modern queer culture and identity politics and are chock-full of delightfully ridiculous side characters, all while delivering just the loveliest, most tender love story.

- Vanessa Diaz

I spent 40 years not understanding how so many people have a book they reread every single year. Then I read Ngozi Ukazu’s utterly delightful graphic novel romance Check, Please! and I deeply understand. Now I reread it every year for the found family, hilarious banter, fantastic characters, vibrant art, and of course, the slowburn romance between two college hockey players, Jack and Bitty. Add in a baking obsession and it deserves all the chef’s kisses. If there is ever an award for “gives the best hug to your soul,” this is the winner—I can’t recommend it enough!

- Jamie Canaves

Reality TV has provided rich inspiration for countless romance novels. The clear stakes, high visibility, and condensed timeframe of a televised competition makes any love story more intense. Chencia C. Higgins’ delightful debut D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding breaks the Bachelor mold by inventing a TV show absurd enough to be believable. Competitors on Instant I Do must plan a wedding—and convince their loved ones their new love is real—in six weeks. Kris wants the fame (and the $100K prize). D’Vaughn signed up for an excuse to come out to her family. But when Kris and D’Vaughn pair up, their fake love turns very real. This sweet, funny romance full of endearing characters and ridiculous twists is as engrossing as your favorite reality TV show.

- Susie Dumond

Evie’s relatives want her to marry her gross cousin to keep her dowry for themselves. So she asks Sebastian, a notorious womanizer who attempted to kidnap her friend, for a marriage of convenience. Desperate for a cash infusion, he accepts her proposition. But he soon realizes that behind her wallflower façade, Evie is strong, beautiful, and incredibly alluring. So they make a deal: if he remains celibate for three months, she will sleep with him. This book might not break barriers or push the genre in new directions. But it’s on the list for executing each element of a romance exquisitely and giving readers a truly perfect romance hero.

- Alison Doherty

This book is as sexy as it is tooth-achingly sweet. Our heroine is April French, a trans woman who is a regular at Frankie’s, a BDSM club. She always goes out of her way to make sure everyone feels welcome and safe while she deals with self-doubt. Dennis Martin is a multi-millionaire who is new in town and finds himself at Frankie’s—and utterly enamored by April. BDSM is so often portrayed in the media as a very serious, intense, painful activity, but in reality, more often than not, it’s full of laughter, jokes, and sarcasm. Add that to a trans character getting an HEA, and it’s one of my favorite reads.

- Patricia Elzie-Tuttle

Rachel Reid's Game Changers has morphed from a romance series to a cultural moment to the tune of New York City's Mayor Zohran Mamdani spiking downloads of the books after recommending everyone stay home from an intense winter storm and read them. The M/M romance steaming up ereader screens with a secret tryst between the dedicated captain of a hockey team and a smoothie barista has been adapted into the widely watched streaming series Heated Rivalry. The characters and show boast an intense fandom and have produced countless viral moments.

- S. Zainab Williams

Never underestimate a chronically ill girlie with something to prove. Chloe Brown has just struck out on her own and moved into her first apartment. She’s a girl with a long to-do list, but dating her hot new super isn’t on it. Redford “Red” Morgan is a working class artist who never imagined falling for the eccentric new tenant, but as he gets to know Chloe, he suspects he’s beginning to catch feelings. The banter is exquisite, and the steaminess level sizzles just the right amount. But their lives are complicated, and their class, racial, and ability differences are big discussions they have to work through to find their happily ever after.

- Kendra Winchester

Alisha Rai’s first traditionally published romance, Hate to Want You, is a prime example of romance’s ability to tear you into little pieces and slowly heal you back. Opening a trilogy with an overarching family story, it focuses on a pair who have been meeting once a year to pursue the only connection they’re willing to have together after they were torn apart as teenagers from rival families. When one of them doesn’t show, the status quo changes, and we are thrown into a journey of angst, growth, and clarity. And hella sexytimes, of course.

- Jessica Pryde

Two older queer folks dealing with mental health and grief (and back pain) start out on the wrongest of feet in a small coastal town. Mae, in the small town of Greyfin Bay to honor a lost friend, randomly decides to buy a storefront and open a bookstore, but Dell is not having it. But their relationship goes up from there, and it’s joyous to watch. Every new Anita Kelly book is the best Anita Kelly book, and this one yanks at your heartstrings in ways nothing else they’ve put out traditionally or on their own has before.

- Jessica Pryde

I couldn't resist the pitch “lesbian rom-com about death,” and somehow, this book pulls it off. Logan and Rosemary used to be childhood best friends, but now they’re rival English teachers. When their shared mentor’s dying wish is to be driven to his cabin in Maine, they reluctantly agree to go on a road trip with him together. I love the queer and neurodivergent representation here: both main characters have ADHD, but they have very different presentations of their symptoms. Their mentor is also queer, and his story is equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking. This is a romance unlike any other. There will be tears, but it's well worth it.

- Danika Ellis

Lo has made no small mark in the world of young adult literature. Her ability to write across genres and styles is noteworthy, and her portrayal of her characters with vulnerability, flaws, and compassion has also made her works a continuous target of censors. In this highly decorated queer romance, readers meet Lily, Chinese-American, and Kath, white, in 1950s in San Francisco. Told across a few timelines, this story is about immigration after the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Red Scare, and how living up to parental and cultural expectations in a changing world sometimes means keeping your true self in the dark.

- Kelly Jensen

Claire Kann gifted us with one of too few romance novels centering a young, asexual Black woman. This YA debut is one of the books I think about when I think about teens finding themselves on the page and the benefits of having access to diverse books with characters they can relate to, especially when they feel othered or like they don't belong. Alice has caught feelings hard for new love interest, but after she came out as asexual to her girlfriend, that relationship ended. What are the chances heartthrob library staffer Takumi will understand where she's coming from? Characters like Alice deserve an HEA.

- S. Zainab Williams

This self-published, dark, erotic romance set readers on fire when it first came out in 2021. With spectacular and unique world-building, Robert created a modern, urban version of Olympus, one where the gods and goddesses are mortals whose power comes from political roles, not magic. When Persephone is engaged to Zeus against her will, she runs away to the only place she knows he won’t follow. And in the undercity, she finds herself in the arms of Hades, who's been looking for revenge on Zeus for over a decade. A very public, sexual relationship might achieve both of their goals—or it might get them both killed.

- Alison Doherty

Sarah MacLean is the writer who turned a whole wave of book people in my circle into romance readers. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake was her debut and it's a stunner, filled with everything we've come to love about a MacLean romance: feminist themes, fantastic banter, fat positivity, and a heroine who knows what she wants and ain't afraid to go after it. It's sexy, it's swoony, it's just plain fun to read. This stellar debut is one of my favorite historical romances of all time, and certainly one of the best of this century.

- Vanessa Diaz

There are many wonderful Austen-inspired romance novels out there, and increasingly, more diverse ones. Sonali Dev's Rajes series is simply one of the best. Beginning with Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors, each book follows a different member of the Rajes family as they navigate life and love in Northern California. Dev is uniquely adept at writing layered, emotionally complex romances that explore the nuances of Indian American culture and don't shy away from darker themes, treating each character's storyline with tenderness and care. The plots are smart and immersive, the dialogue witty, and the happily ever afters tremendously satisfying. You don't have to be familiar with the source material to appreciate this series, but it will add to its charm if you are.

- Vanessa Diaz

When Rafe was first published in 2018, many readers were looking for a story that wasn’t going to cause anxiety and featured characters who were, honestly, great. Not just well-written—though they are—but also two people who are mature, honest, good at their jobs, and straightforward about what they want while also respecting boundaries. This book was a reminder that a conflict in the third act doesn’t have to mean a breakup, and that a romance can be compelling while also being fun and low-stress. If that doesn’t sound sexy, think again: Rafe may be low on strife, but it’s heavy on passion and heat. The combination absolutely works.

- Trisha Brown

This 2019 novel swept the scene with its fairytale charm and witty humor. When First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz has a messy run-in with his longtime nemesis, Prince Henry, at a royal wedding, they are forced to fake a friendship for the press. President Ellen Claremont is up for reelection and the last thing she needs is an international crisis on her hands. As Alex and Henry come to terms with their feelings, they have to decide what they’re willing to sacrifice.  This book shows a glimpse into a world that no longer exists, but the true strength of Red, White & Royal Blue is the relatability of the characters as they balance identity with duty.

- Courtney Rodgers

How do you pick the best book by one of the best authors we’ve ever seen? If you’re me, you go with the one that has the most features that are your personal catnip, elevated by the perfect audio production that includes songs. (So if you do audiobooks, this is the recommended method for experiencing this one!) In Reel, a film director and the star of his newest movie can’t help their attraction, but do their best to resist. Between the forbidden romance, an interesting dig into Black history, and the portrayal of chronic illness, dramatic moments abound. And we’re here for every minute of it.

- Jessica Pryde

When Brooklynite erotica writer Eva Mercy and award-winning literary darling Shane Hall meet at a literary event, it's unexpected. But it's also not the first time. Twenty years before, the two had spent an impassioned week in love as teenagers. Now that they've been reunited, the sparks (and steam) return between them, but it may not be enough to overcome the trauma and mistrust sown all those years ago.

- Erica Ezeifedi

You can’t really have a conversation about paranormal romance in the 21^st century without talking about the Psy-Changeling books, which is probably why Singh has been publishing stories in the series for two decades. It all started with Sascha and Lucas. She’s supposed to be emotionless and entirely dedicated to the progress of all Psy (she is not); he’s supposed to be a passionate, alpha shifter, repelled by Sascha’s coldness (he is not). In just over 300 pages, Singh built the beginnings of a world that contains all of the conflict, feeling, tension, and connection that would hook romance readers for many, many books to come.

- Trisha Brown

When you’re trying to decide which of Ms. Bev’s books to declare the best, you listen to Ms. Bev herself. When asked what her favorite of her own books was, she declared Something Like Love her best, and I’m inclined to agree! It’s a delightful love story between a young woman seeking a fresh start and a chance at freedom and the train robber who seems to keep popping up in her life, and it also settles us nicely into Henry Adams, Kansas, a town built by Black folks in the earliest days of Reconstruction. If you only read one Beverly Jenkins book in your life, it should be this one.

- Jessica Pryde

If you're thinking the title is a little ridiculous, it is. But so is the entire story, in the best way possible. We stumble upon spice farmer Cinnamon, who herself stumbles upon a demon named Fallon. She accidentally saves the demon—who is determined to save his people from an evil witch—and gets swept up in his quest. Thankfully, he is super fine, and his shirt keeps disappearing in this steamy rom that legitimately coms.

- Erica Ezeifedi

Meg Cabot is best known for the amazing YA Princess Diaries series. But she also also an epistolatory romance series in the early 2000s. In the first book, Mel is a gossip columnist taking care of her elderly neighbor’s pets while they are in a coma. She finally tracks down her neighbor’s nephew, Max. But he doesn’t want to help, so he convinces his friend John, an investigative journalist at Mel’s rival paper, to move into his aunt’s apartment and pretend to be him. This hilarious and quirky Y2K-era love story unfolds in 300+ pages of the relatively new technology of emails.

- Alison Doherty

The dark secrets and tragic past in The Duchess War might be familiar elements in historical romance, but there’s plenty about the story that makes it stand out: the heroine who isn’t pretty, the duke who isn’t arrogant, the standoff they’re in related to his secret dedication to workers’ rights, the sex that goes very badly (before it goes very, very well), and the specific eccentricities of their friends. But mostly it’s Milan’s ability to put readers in the minds and hearts of Minnie and Robert as these two lonely misfits dare to imagine love and happiness that sets this book apart, kicking off a now beloved historical series.

- Trisha Brown

While we certainly have Shondaland to thank for a massive surge in their popularity, Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books were beloved long before the Netflix adaptation premiered in 2020. The eight original novels, each following one of the eight Bridgerton siblings, aren't just charming stories of love in Regency England. They are tales of desire and longing, scandal and gossipy intrigue, served with a helping of sharp social commentary. The series is not a perfect one; the very first Bridgerton novel, The Duke and I, romanticizes a nonconsensual sex act by Daphne on Simon (and it's not any better in the show). Still, the cultural impact of Bridgerton as a historical romance series is undeniable, and so it has a place on this list.

- Vanessa Diaz

The Filipine myth-filled world of The Hurricane Wars has taken the romantasy world by storm. Much like Talasyn's light magic, which Prince Alaric realizes is the same kind that killed his grandfather and started the very wars that orphaned Talasyn. The two meet as enemies on the battlefield, where their powers combine into something totally new, a force that might be the only thing that can hold off a new danger threatening both the intruding Night Empire and Talasyn's home nation. Talasyn and Prince Alaric form a tenuous alliance that turns into something more, but the two of them together could mean the world's salvation, or its end.

- Erica Ezeifedi

The Kiss Quotient was one of the first romance novels I ever read and the first with an autistic main character. Its heroine Stella Lane, a mathematician who struggles with intimacy, resonated with me in ways I couldn't then articulate. As she learns to be emotionally vulnerable and at ease with escort Michael Pham, I admired how well they complemented each other as a couple. It holds a special place in my heart. Now that it's been almost eight years since its publication, I also appreciate how it opened the doors to more neurodivergent representation in romance.

- Andy Minshew

Ali Hazelwood's world of STEMinist romance novels started here, with a fake relationship between two scientists that develops some real chemistry (sorry). When Ph.D. candidate Olive is lectured about her (lack of) love life one too many times by her best friend, she responds by kissing the first guy she sees—who happens to be grouchy young professor Adam. Even more surprising? He agrees to fake date her. Soon, Adam has Olive rethinking everything she thought she knew about love. Rom-coms often fall short on the "comedy" side of things, but Hazelwood's love stories perfectly pair laugh-out-loud moments with the swoon-worthy ones.

- Danika Ellis

Theo and Kit were childhood best friends who fell in love and were inseparable into their twenties. Now, they're exes who haven't spoken in four years—and they're stuck on the same food-and-wine tour across Europe. So, of course, they make a bet about who can sleep with someone first in each of the cities they visit. If I could describe this romance in one word, it would be "decadent:" the food and drink descriptions, locales, and steamy scenes are immersive. But it's also a very sweet friends-to-lovers bi4bi romance with fantastic nonbinary representation and so much yearning! Read this while eating truffles and lounging poolside.

- Danika Ellis

Despite the diversity of voices and stories within romance, it took until 2024 for readers to get their hands on the first traditionally published Native American romance. Nava blazed a powerful path in her rom-com that centers a biracial Chicksaw woman who tells a little white lie about her ethnicity in order to better her chances in a tough job market and the Native IT guy she begins to fall for in her new job. Dating at work is off limits, but they can't help themselves—too bad Ember's mess of lies are catching up with her and their budding relationship. It's a fresh, funny read and the start of an exciting new chapter in romance.

- Kelly Jensen

The cozy genre has become one of the breakout hits of the 2020s, but the very best example—the personification of the cozy fantasy romance genre, if you ask me—is this adorable book about a British witch who reluctantly takes a job tutoring three young magical charges at the home of an eccentric archaeologist. There, she meets a taciturn librarian who distrusts this new intruder in their midst, but loves the children just as much as Mika will soon grow to love them herself. I could rave about this book forever. It’s a warm, steamy drink on a rainy day. It’s a hug from the best friend you haven’t seen in years. It’s the cozy romance of your dreams.

- Rachel Brittain

I was introduced to this book by Trisha Brown, co-host of Book Riot's When in Romance podcast, whose DMs I slid into within seconds of finishing the book on some "please sir, may I have some more?" It is a heady combination of some of my favorite romance elements: it's feminist, it's sexy, it's a little bit gothic, and the heroine is a disgraced woman redefining life on her terms. This is the book I enthusiastically push in the argument that consent is sexy—and in this book, scorchingly so. If you're looking for a Gilded Age romance with a "talk ya through it" vibe (plus a ghost, maybe?), here it is. My DMs are open when you've finished.

- Vanessa Diaz

Few YA authors have the kind of recognition as Han, thanks in part to her appeal to both teen and adult readers. Her second YA series, a story of sisterhood, family, Korean heritage, and a box of secret letters, has captured the hearts of romance lovers for over a decade. What happens when all of a 16-year-old's secret feelings become not-so-secret? How does one girl navigate caring for her little sister and finding the boy who not just sweeps her off her feet but makes her feel like the center of the world? Han's series also skillfully translated onto the small screen and (soon) to the comic form.

- Kelly Jensen

More romance novels should be polyamorous: Triple Sec has two falling-in-love stories, two first kisses, and all the complications of navigating a triad, all in one story! Each of these three characters has a different dynamic with each other, which adds depth. Mel—still recovering from her divorce—is convinced that trying polyamory will keep things casual with Bebe, who is married, but that doesn’t quite go according to plan. I especially enjoyed learning more about Kade, Bebe’s nonbinary wife, and their relationship with Mel. It's hard to pick just one TJ Alexander book for this list (spoiler: there are two), but this steamy and heartwarming romance is a must-read.

- Danika Ellis

Nora Roberts started publishing in the 1980s, but her romance novels became stronger than ever in the 2000s. Her Bride Quartet series features four best friends who run a wedding business. It begins with Mac, a photographer who doesn’t believe in love. When she meets Carter, the brother of their newest bride, Mac only wants something casual, but he wants more. And, surprisingly, she does too. Along with the  A+ romance Roberts is known for, this story features pure wedding detail fantasy, perfect for the beginning of the Pinterest age.

- Alison Doherty

Cat Sebastian deserves nothing more than a place on this list, and when you consider her entire oeuvre, We Could Be So Good is the perfect representation of her romances. Leaning much more in the direction of Vibes than Plot, it drops us into a pre-Stonewall New York where two newspapermen become friends…and then something else. Cat’s ability to not only devastate us with Feelings but to settle a reader into Place with vivid description and a sense of familiarity is unequalled by her peers, and even though I continue to adore her work, this one is the gold standard.

- Jessica Pryde

Alexis Daria is an author after my own heart with her funny romance trilogy about Latina women who are strong and vulnerable, each getting their much-deserved HEA. There’s a real focus on friendship, family, and what it feels like to navigate our current society in a Latina body. And to do that with such warmth and humor and on-point dialog? The Primas of Power will always hold a special place in my heart. Bonus points for Seraphine Valentine's wonderful narration of the audiobooks.

- Jamie Canaves

This romance is like nothing I’ve ever read before or since. Like many romances, this book deals with forbidden love, power, and desire, but unlike many romances, it also deals heavily with grief. The grief is as central to the story as romance, and when the book was first published, there were definitely people hesitant to include it in the genre. Feyi Adekola is an artist who recently lost her husband in a horrible accident. The man she is now dating gets her a showing at a gallery in Jamaica where she promptly falls for the man’s father, a Michelin-starred celebrity chef. This book is high-intensity from start to finish.

- Patricia Elzie-Tuttle