Our Picks for the Romantic Reads of the Year
Looking forward to the publishing scene of the coming year, a new crop of love stories is set to capture the affection of book lovers. Here are a quintet of remarkable titles that promise everything from sharp modern stories to profoundly emotional literary journeys.
"Consider Yourself Kissed"
This smart and present-day narrative traces the relationship spanning ten years between father Adam and writer Coralie. Beyond a cute first meeting, the novel acquires weight by embracing themes of blended families, career ambitions, and even political landscapes. The narrative is remarkably crafted, providing authentic depth together with its romantic escapism.
'Problematic Summer Romance'
Written by a titan of the romance genre, this hilarious and incisive hot-nerd affair fueled conversation due to its 15-year age disparity. The protagonist, Maya, is 23, while her love interest, Conor, is 38. The story remains utterly delightful, packed with hilarious one-liners and sassy attitude. It deftly explores questions of agency and consent with a hesitant protagonist who struggles with his feelings.
"Sweet Heat"
This lush new novel features the beloved characters from the author's earlier acclaimed work. The story follows Kiki, a romance podcast host whose personal romantic affairs are a disaster area. Chaos erupts when her dashing former flame, Malakai, shows up as the male attendant at a ceremony she's part of. What follows is a story that is both clever but also imbued with authentic heart and deep character exploration, ensuring the expected path utterly satisfying.
Cover Story
The work of an author renowned for her incredible humor, this novel centers on two writers in a feud who are required to pose as a couple for a story. Essentially, the premise is a delightful vehicle for the author's signature sharp observations and fundamental kindness. Readers will discover the same hilarious writing that has established her as a cherished author in modern love stories.
'Heart the Lover'
This highly literary love story starts with a revealing sentence: "You were aware I'd author a book about you one day." Laden with literary allusion, from its suggestive jacket to its deliberately selected character names, the novel drops book lovers into a domain of young love and its lifelong fallout. It probes relationships and longing across decades with remarkable charm and literary skill, establishing it as an ideal gift for the book-loving sentimentalist.
Together, these quintet of books demonstrate the rich variety and lasting power of the category of love stories as we enter the new year.
