OK, no one yell at me: I’ve been off romance novels for the past year or so.
I don’t know if it’s the state of the world or just a personal thing, but most times I read about people falling in love I start to roll my eyes. And they don’t deserve that! It’s frustrating.
So I have (mostly) put them down for the time being. But there are certain authors that have yet to disappoint me. I’m still picking up their books, and thankfully they’ve all still worked for me.
If you’re a certified romance hater, try one of these authors. You can thank me later.
Emily Henry
My favorite is probably Happy Place because the writing really transports you to a Maine getaway state of mind, plus the cast of characters is unbeatable.
Alisha Rai
I love her entire modern romance series, but Girl Gone Viral uses the bodyguard trope so well, and I loved watching the shy heroine come out of her shell.
Helen Hoang
Her latest release, The Heart Principle, had me curled up weeping in several places, and I mean that as a compliment. An emotional, beautiful journey.
Alyssa Cole
My first by her is still my favorite: A Princess In Theory mixes emails from an African prince (no, really) with the prince and the pauper for amazing results.
Beth O’Leary
The combination of quirky characters, humor, and an all-around imaginative setup makes The Flatshare my favorite romance book ever!
Sarah MacLean
It has the classic stepback cover, and Wicked and the Wallflower also has fiercely passionate characters, a terrible plan and a fabulous setting in historical London.
Talia Hibbert
Grumpy + sarcastic is apparently a great combo, and if you don’t believe me, try Take A Hint, Dani Brown, and feel free to email me when you find out I was right.
Erica Ridley
I’m obsessed with books about big families, especially big found families, and The Perks of Loving a Wallflower checks all those boxes, plus has a heist and a really thoughtful exploration of gender.
Ellen Whitfield is senior publicist at Books Forward, an author publicity and book marketing firm committed to promoting voices from a diverse variety of communities. From book reviews and author events, to social media and digital marketing, we help authors find success and connect with readers.
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