Our Picks for the Romance Novels of This Year

Gazing into the future to the world of books of 2025, an exciting selection of love stories is poised to win the hearts of audiences. Here are a quintet of remarkable titles that deliver a range from sharp modern stories to intensely observed artistic inquiries.

Consider Yourself Kissed

This smart and modern tale follows the relationship spanning ten years between dad Adam and writer Coralie. Greater than an initial charming encounter, the novel gains substance by embracing subjects like blended families, career ambitions, and even political landscapes. The writing is beautifully executed, offering real substance alongside its romantic escapism.

'Problematic Summer Romance'

Penned by a behemoth of romantic fiction, this funny and sharp brainy romance fueled conversation due to its 15-year age disparity. The female lead, Maya, is 23, while her love interest, Conor, is 38. The novel itself is characteristically enchanting, bursting with sharp quips and irreverent cheek. It skillfully navigates themes of desire and resistance with a conflicted male lead who struggles with his feelings.

Sweet Heat

This lush new novel revisits the beloved characters from the author's earlier acclaimed work. The story follows Kiki, a host of a dating show whose personal romantic affairs are a disaster area. Drama unfolds when her dashing former flame, Malakai, returns as the best man at a ceremony she's part of. The outcome is a story that is both clever but also overflowing with real tenderness and deep character exploration, ensuring the expected path utterly satisfying.

Cover Story

The work of an author famous for her incredible humor, this novel revolves around two writers in a feud who are compelled to act as a couple for a story. Fundamentally, the premise is a perfect excuse for the author's characteristic perceptive commentary and underlying sweetness. Readers will discover the same sparkling wit that has cemented her status as a favorite writer in modern love stories.

'Heart the Lover'

This highly literary love story starts with a significant statement: "You understood I would pen a book about you one day." Rich with homages to classic tales, from its allusive artwork to its thoughtfully picked nomenclature, the novel drops book lovers into a realm of young love and its enduring repercussions. It probes bonds and remorse throughout a lifetime with notable precision and literary skill, rendering it an ideal gift for the book-loving sentimentalist.

Together, these five titles showcase the rich variety and enduring appeal of the world of romantic fiction heading into the new year.