The Romance Books Starter Pack: Where to Begin Based on Your Favorite Genre

Eva Mercy is a bestselling author barely holding her life together when a chance encounter with reclusive literary star Shane Hall throws her world into chaos. Their explosive chemistry at a New York panel hints at a deeper history—a secret teenage romance marked by pain, survival, and unfinished longing. Williams weaves a lush, emotionally charged narrative that literary fiction readers will savor, combining razor-sharp dialogue with aching tenderness. As Eva and Shane navigate love, addiction, motherhood, and the ghosts of their past, the novel refuses easy answers, offering a romance that feels both epic and deeply personal. Seven Days in June isn’t just a love story; it’s a meditation on how the wounds we carry shape the stories we tell—and the futures we dare to imagine.

Set against the perilous backdrop of the Underground Railroad, Indigo tells the story of Hester Wyatt, a formerly enslaved woman who risks everything to help others find freedom, and Galen Vachon, the legendary “Black Daniel” whose mission for liberation has left him hunted and wounded. When Galen lands in Hester’s care, their clash of wills ignites into something far deeper. As a former librarian, Beverly Jenkins makes research and historical accuracy paramount. Her meticulous research is just one of her literary merits; Jenkins’s writing is as impeccable as well, crafting a romance that is as much about survival, trust, and community as it is about love. Historical fiction readers will be swept away by the richly drawn characters, the tense, authentic portrayal of 19th-century America, and the steady, breathtaking build of a bond forged in resistance. Indigo offers a sweeping, soul-deep love story grounded in the real fight for freedom.

Phoebe Walsh has built her identity around skepticism, obsession, and the intricate analysis of human darkness—perfect traits for a true crime aficionado, but terrible for trusting anyone new. While struggling to finish her dissertation and sort through the wreckage of her family home, she finds herself suspicious of her unnervingly kind neighbor, convinced he’s hiding something sinister. What unfolds instead is a romance as sharp and surprising as any psychological thriller, filled with humor, emotional intelligence, and a deep understanding of how fear shapes the stories we tell ourselves. True crime readers will love how Alicia Thompson plays with tension, misdirection, and emotional vulnerability, delivering a love story that doesn’t ask you to abandon your instincts—it simply dares you to imagine a softer ending.

When covert operative Maddox Kinkade learns of a lethal bioweapon threat, she has just 48 hours to stop it—and only one person ruthless and brilliant enough to help: Cole Matthews, the love she lost and the man who now sees her as a traitor. Forced into an uneasy alliance, Maddox and Cole must navigate not only the ticking clock of a global crisis but the unresolved heartbreak simmering between them. With its razor-sharp pacing, relentless stakes, and crackling tension, Every Last Breath delivers the adrenaline thriller readers crave, layered with the raw emotional heat of a second-chance romance. Rushdan blends espionage, betrayal, and survival into a breathless story where trusting the wrong person could mean the end of millions—or a second shot at salvation.

In the lush kingdom of Arasht, where magic shimmers through court politics and loyalty is measured in gold, Prince Kadou walks a knife’s edge between duty and disgrace. Tasked with investigating a dangerous counterfeiting conspiracy, Kadou must rely on Evemer, his rigid and unyielding new bodyguard—an alliance that quickly deepens into something neither can ignore. Alexandra Rowland crafts a world as intricate and fascinating as the Ottoman courts, blending political intrigue, myth, and slow-burn queer romance with exquisite care. Fantasy readers will be swept into a story where the stakes are as much about kingdom and crown as they are about vulnerability and trust.

When duty demands an arranged marriage between impulsive royal Kiem and duty-bound scholar Jainan, neither expects more than an uneasy political alliance. But as they navigate the intricate power games of the Iskat Empire—and investigate a suspicious death that could ignite an interplanetary war—their fragile partnership deepens into something they don’t dare name. Everina Maxwell delivers the hallmarks of great science fiction: intricate world-building and sharp political tension, but with the quiet ache of two people finding trust amid chaos.

When rival serial killers Sloane and Rowan cross paths, their twisted annual game—hunting the worst humanity has to offer—becomes the foundation for something darker and far more dangerous: a connection neither can resist. From haunted back roads to glittering city streets, they chase death and each other across the country, all while the ghosts of their past crimes close in. Brynne Weaver crafts a brutal, wickedly clever love story where the intimacy of shared violence blurs into the terrifying vulnerability of genuine emotion. Horror readers will be enthralled by the bloody tension, sharp wit, and the ever-present dread that even killers can be hunted. Butcher & Blackbird asks what happens when you meet your perfect match—and whether love can survive when it’s steeped in blood.

When Meddelin Chan accidentally kills her blind date, she doesn’t call the cops—she calls her Ma and meddlesome aunties, kicking off a madcap weekend of body disposal, wedding mayhem, and second-chance romance. As the body accidentally winds up at a billionaire’s wedding on a coastal resort, Meddy must juggle floral arrangements, family expectations, and the return of the boy who once broke her heart. Jesse Q. Sutanto delivers a mystery bursting with chaotic energy, whip-smart humor, and the messy, unstoppable force of family loyalty. Mystery readers will delight in the escalating absurdity and sharp plotting, but it’s the emotional heart—layered with generational love, grief, and forgiveness—that makes this book so much more than a body-hiding caper.

Kennedy Ryan delivers a story as raw and wrenching as any memoir, tracing the messy, nonlinear paths of grief, hope, forgiveness, and rebuilding. Memoir and nonfiction readers will be drawn to the novel’s unflinching honesty and emotional depth, where healing feels hard-won and every moment of joy is precious and hard-earned. After years of heartbreak and loss, Yasmen and Josiah Wade’s once-invincible marriage has crumbled into co-parenting and cautious distance. Yet no matter how carefully they rebuild their separate lives, the pull between them refuses to break—and when a single kiss reawakens everything they thought was gone, they’re forced to confront whether love alone can heal what life has broken.

Desi Lee has a plan for everything—student body president, varsity soccer, Stanford-bound future—but love has always been her one glorious disaster. When a gorgeous, broody artist shows up at her school, Desi takes matters into her own hands, crafting a foolproof guide to romance based on the wild twists of her father’s beloved K-dramas. What follows is a riotous journey of staged car crashes, fake love triangles, and accidental boat rescues—all in pursuit of a happily ever after she can control. Maurene Goo captures the electric highs and excruciating awkwardness of first love with warmth, humor, and irresistible energy. YA readers will fall for Desi’s heartfelt determination and the way real emotion—messy, terrifying, and beautiful—defies even the best-laid plans.

Eric Bittle may be a champion figure skater, a pie-baking vlogger, and the friendliest freshman on Samwell University’s hockey team—but none of that prepares him for the bone-crunching reality of collegiate hockey… or for falling head over skates for his stoic team captain, Jack. Overflowing with humor, sweetness, and the sharp pangs of first love, Check, Please! captures the messy, exhilarating rush of finding your place—and your people—on and off the ice. Ngozi Ukazu’s joyful art and heartfelt storytelling make this more than just a sports story; it’s a celebration of queer identity, chosen family, and growing up without losing yourself along the way. Graphic novel readers will savor the emotional honesty tucked inside every hilarious, tender moment.