Feature Image Credit: @read247_instyle_inca

With so many choices for romance reads, it can be overwhelming to look at the vast span of genres and decide what to explore next. Often, it just makes it even easier to get stuck in the rut of reading what you’re comfortable with. That’s where short and sweet anthologies come in: you can dabble in different romance genres without becoming too invested, thus, discovering something you never even knew you’d like! We rounded up some of our favorite romance anthologies from an array of genres for a variety sure to stimulate the senses.

And don’t forget to check out 10 steamy short stories to binge!>>

Westerns: Boots Under Her Bed by Jodi Thomas, Jo Goodman, Kaki Warner, Alison Kent

Our first anthology is perfect for fans of swoon-worthy cowboys and romantic Western stories. It includes “Crazy Callie,” a story featuring a fake marriage and conflicting emotion, “Nat Church and the Runaway Bride,” featuring a hostage situation and a runaway bride, “The Scent of Roses,” which features a bank robbery, and “The Hired Gun’s Heiress,” featuring a New York socialite and her bodyguard with a mission of revenge.

Historical: The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown by Julia Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins, Mia Ryan

Set during the winter of 1814 London, these four romantic tales are intertwined by Lady Whistledown’s columns. This anthology tells the stories of a promising debutante falling in love with her intended’s older brother, a man attempting to prove his love to his fiancée after Lady Whistledown recounts her actions in her latest column, a rouge sorting his priorities once his friend sets her heart from someone else, and finally, a woman challenged by a charming marquis.

Here are 10 historical romances to read if you loved Bridgerton >>

Suspense: Deadly Promises by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, Cindy Gerard, Laura Griffin

Pick this next anthology up if you are looking for a suspenseful, action-packed romance! Featuring the attractive heroes from Kenyon, Love, Gerard, and Griffin’s previous novels, these stories range from international jungles to missions that hit close to home. Whether these men are fighting bad guys or fighting for their love, this book is perfect for your next summer read.

Highlanders: Scottish Brides by Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens, Julia Quinn, Karen Ranney

Jump into the gorgeous landscapes of Scotland with these four romantic stories by Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens, Julia Quinn, and Karen Ranney. These short stories feature an enemies-to-lovers story, a hostage situation, fake marriages and forbidden love. Follow these unforgettable heroines on their journey to find love, whether they are actively looking for it or not.

Check out the 10 best books for fans of Outlander >>

Wholesome: The Knitting Diaries by Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, Christina Skye

This book is perfect for fans of knitting, especially since it includes knitting patterns that relate to each story! Revolving around the theme of the love for knitting, this anthology features three romantic short stories involving a daughter wishing for her mother to fall back in love with a past love, a knitting store owner falling for a man with a tragic past, and a woman who finds community in a knitting group as she exchanges letters with a faraway marine.

Love wholesome romance? Here are 6 reads to soak up now >>

Magical: Moon Shadows by Nora Roberts, Jill Gregory, Ruth Ryan Langan, Marianne Willman

This anthology revolves around paranormal stories with the reoccurring theme of the lore and beauty of the moon. It features stories about a werewolf who finds love as she searches for a cure, a witch who enlists the help of a handsome knight to save her sister from an evil witch, a story that features highlanders and ghosts, and a man trapped in a Faerie curse.

Contemporary: Cocktails on the Beach by Helen Hardt, Leah Marie Brown, EmKay Connor, Lyz Kelley

This next anthology is the perfect romantic beach or pool read! It is filled with four romantic stories that revolve around a beach and summery theme. Find your next love with the four book boyfriends, ranging from a smooth-talking bartender to a handsome island doctor.

Here are our picks for the best summer romance reads >>

Dystopian: Mad Cruel World by Victoria Ellis, Cady Verdiramo, J.R. Rogue, T.L. Anderson, Amanda Cuff, Amanda Richardson, A.M. Johnson, K. Leigh, Caitlin Fournier, D.S. Wrights, Katia Rose, Kim Deister

If you are a fan of a good dystopian with steamy romance, then be sure to pick up our next book! After a global pandemic and an electricity blackout, the world is struggling to recover and find itself again. Within these romantic short stories, the authors each ask the question: what happens to love in a world gone dark?

Fantasy: Darkly Dreaming by Elizabeth Hunter, Grace Draven, Danielle Monsch, Kristen Painter, Cate Rowan

Finally, our last anthology on the list features five romantic fantasy stories that are sure to transport you to magical lands. The stories featured involve a renegade mage who must decide his fate and his love for a spy, a woman running from Necromancers who must decide if the leader of Gargoyles is trustworthy, an enemies to lovers tale between an aspiring sorcerer and the deadliest man in the realm, the love between a Sultan and a healer who has come to save his realm, and a woman who finds a mysterious warrior.

We’ve got the best paranormal romance books to add to your TBR >>