If you love your happily ever afters served with a side of soul searching, big life questions, or a deeper commentary on the human experience, you’re in the right place. These novels bring all the feels and all the meaning, proving that falling in love doesn’t happen in a vacuum. For most of us, it happens while chasing dreams, healing wounds, and learning to love ourselves.
Reel by Kennedy Ryan
If you love a love story with glamorous highs and heart-wrenching lows, Reel is a must. Neevah Saint gets her shot at stardom when legendary director Canon Holt casts her in a Harlem Renaissance biopic, but their forbidden connection threatens to derail everything. Kennedy Ryan delivers swoony, grown-up romance with a side of lupus representation that feels both powerful and personal. You’ll root for Neevah and Canon with your whole heart.
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The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Stella Lane knows numbers better than people, so she hires a male escort to help her gain experience in the romance department. Michael Phan, said escort, turns out to be way more than just handsome, he’s patient, kind, and dangerously easy to fall for. Helen Hoang’s debut is steamy and sparkling, and includes neurodivergent representation that feels authentic.
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Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Danika Brown has no time for romance, just career goals, casual hookups, and absolutely zero feelings. But when a workplace mishap and a viral video throw her into a fake relationship with sweet, broody Zafir Ansari, things get way more complicated and intriguing than she planned. Talia Hibbert gives us a hilarious, tender love story with sharp writing, anxiety representation, and a hero who is literal cinnamon roll perfection.
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This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan
Soledad Barnes had it all figured out until life blew up her perfect plan. As she rebuilds from the ashes, she rediscovers herself and dares to open her heart again to an unexpected love. Kennedy Ryan beautifully weaves in autism representation and deep healing, showing that self love can be just as epic as romantic love. It’s raw, affirming, and full of the kind of emotional moments that stay with you long after the last page.
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The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
When Samiah Brooks gets publicly humiliated by a cheating boyfriend, she vows to swear off dating for six months and focus on herself until she becomes distracted by an extremely attractive coworker. Farrah Rochon delivers a smart, funny romance that tackles social media culture, corporate racism, and Black girl magic. Samiah is the kind of heroine you’ll root for like she’s your best friend. The love story is swoony, but the friendship and self-love journeys shine just as brightly.
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The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
Lily Greene is a shy aspiring editor who accidentally falls for her anonymous pen pal. Who just so happens to be her grumpy new neighbor. As she chases her dreams and he wrestles with his demons, their worlds collide in the most heart-tugging way. Kristina Forest gifts us a cozy, slow-burn romance about finding courage, chasing joy, and loving the parts of ourselves we usually keep hidden.
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You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
After losing the love of her life, Feyi is finally ready to wade back into the dating pool or at least splash around in it. What starts as a casual summer fling quickly morphs into a complicated, high-stakes love story with more emotional layers than she ever bargained for. Akwaeke Emezi beautifully explores grief, healing, and the messiness of starting over.
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The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
Zahra Khan’s immigrant parents want her to marry well, but Zahra’s more interested in following her own dreams and her heart might just pick the wrong boy entirely. The Love Match is a colorful, charming, and meaningful YA rom-com full of cultural richness and family dynamics. If you love fake dating, swoony moments, and heroines who know their worth, this book’s for you. It’s a joyful reminder that the best match is the one you choose yourself.
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How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
Margaret Jacobsen is on the cusp of getting everything she’s ever wanted, career, love, a bright future until a sudden accident turns her life upside down. In the aftermath, she’s forced to rebuild not just her body, but her entire idea of what happiness looks like. Katherine Center delivers a heartfelt, empowering story about resilience, second chances, and finding joy even when the unimaginable happens.
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With You Forever by Chloe Liese
When Rooney Sullivan needs a fake husband to secure her family’s beloved summer home, Axel Bergman is the last person she expects to say yes. But their fake marriage starts feeling dangerously real, forcing them both to confront buried fears and longings. Chloe Liese weaves neurodivergent and chronic illness representation into a love story that’s tender, steamy, and full of emotional depth.
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