65+ of Your Favorite Romance Novels

Kelly Jensen

Editor

Kelly is a former librarian and a long-time blogger at STACKED. She's the editor/author of (DON'T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/author of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD. Her next book, BODY TALK, will publish in Fall 2020. Follow her on Instagram @heykellyjensen.

This Riot Recommendation is sponsored by The Devil Takes a Bride by Julia London.

the devil takes a bride cover

A plan born of desperation…

Once the toast of society, Grace Cabot and her sisters now await the shame of losing high status and fine luxuries upon the death of the Earl of Beckington. The dire circumstances are inevitable unless, of course, Grace’s wicked plot to seduce a wealthy viscount into marriage goes off without a single hitch. But once a stolen embrace with the wrong man leads her to be discovered in the arms of Jeffrey, the Earl of Merryton, her plan takes a most unexpected—and scorching—twist.

…and altered by passion.

Governed by routine and ruled by duty, Jeffrey had no desire for a wife before he succumbed to Grace’s temptation. Though his golden-haired, in-name-only bride is the definition of disorder, he can’t resist wanting her in every way. But once her secrets meet his, society might consider their lives to be ruined beyond repair… while Jeffrey might just see it as a new beginning.

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A central love story and a satisfying ending (heh)- that’s what it takes to make a romance novel. Romance can be chaste and sweet or sultry and steamy, modern or historical, supernatural or just-plain-natural (or any combination thereof), as long as the main characters struggle to be together and love wins the day.

We asked you what your favorite romance novels were and you weighed in. Here’s a nice, thick round-up of more than 65 of your favorite stories of love. There’s a little bit of everything from your traditional romance novel to YA novels packed with romantic vibes.

 

On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley

Emma by Jane Austen

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

Vampire Huntress series by L.A. Banks

Bewitching by Jill Barnett

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Ransom My Heart by Meg Cabot

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

A Lady By Midnight by Tessa Dare

A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

Marital Bitch by J. C. Emery

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquival

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

Heartbreaker by Julie Garwood

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs by Molly Harper

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

Venetia by Georgette Heyer

Rough and Ready by Sandra Hill

A Duke of Her Own by Eloisa James

Something About You by Julie James

The Far Pavillions by MM Kaye

Hathaway series by Lisa Kleypas

Almost Like Being in Love by Steve Kluger

The Witch of Cologne by Tobsha Learner

The Windflower by Laura London

Never Judge a Lady by her Cover by Sarah MacLean

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier (second book in the “Sevenwaters” series)

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Beauty by Robin McKinley

Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold

How Stella Got Her Groove Back by Terry McMillan

Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught

Stealing Heaven by Marion Meade

The Duchess War by Courtney Milan

Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

Gone With the Wind by Margeret Mitchell

Me Before You by Jo Jo Moyes

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Anna and the French Kiss series by Stephanie Perkins

Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Crystal Gardens by Amanda Quick

The Bridgertons by Julia Quinn

Olivia and Jai by Rebecca Ryman

Desiree by Annemarie Selinko

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacey

Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey

Easy by Tammara Webber

Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor

Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwess

Bliss by Fiona Zedde