Happy 2024, friends! Since the sun still sets at 5:30 pm, I’m getting ahead on my reading challenge this year by curling up on the couch with a steamy romance book. As a bookworm who loves this season (I’m not ready for the sweltering Arizona summer), I’m taking full advantage. Here are five swoon-worthy contemporary romance books I recently read, so grab your blanket and turn your phone on Do Not Disturb tonight because you’ll be booked.
If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
It’s a slow-burn British romcom about two colleagues entering a fauxmance each for personal reasons, but of course, their fake relationship turns into true love. Laurie’s been with her boyfriend for over a decade when he dumped her and abruptly shacks up with someone else. Humiliated when the news spread through the office grapevine and still forced to see her ex at work, she and the office playboy, Jamie, team up to flaunt their new coupledom. She gets to make her ex jealous and appears over him, while Jamie looks respectful to their bosses with a steady girlfriend. My only gripe was that the beginning focused on Laurie and her ex, and I wanted more pages devoted to Laurie and Jamie!
Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Frankly, I was only inclined to read this once I watched the movie on Amazon Prime. The film is so cute, albeit rushed, but they cast the characters perfectly (looking at you, Taylor Zakhar Perez). This LGBT romance centers on First Son, Alex Claremont-Diaz, and his long-time nemesis, Prince Henry of Wales. After a confrontation at the royal wedding, they are forced to do damage control by staging a fake friendship. Yet their pretending quickly turns into a real secret relationship that could cause international crises. Not only did Alex and Henry win me over, but there’s a rare great cast of supporting characters. It can be idealistic at moments, but we could use more of that sometimes, couldn’t we?
Someone Like You by Lauren Layne
Lauren Layne may be one of my new favorite authors (and this may be one of my new favorite contemporary romance books!). With over three dozen novels written, there’s bound to be a trope for everyone. This one is part of the Oxford series but can be read as a standalone. Lincoln Mathis is Manhattan’s ultimate playboy and isn’t shy about his reputation. Behind the charm, though, he’s keeping a tragic secret even from his closest friends. Meanwhile, Daisy Sinclair went through a devastating divorce and knows Lincoln is exactly the type she should avoid. But when they meet at a wedding, there’s a connection between them, and they find themselves on a journey that will either heal or destroy them. I wasn’t anticipating the depth of this heartwarming story, so grab tissues for this one.
Blurred Lines by Lauren Layne
I immediately picked up another Lauren Layne book to highlight how much I enjoyed Someone Like You. Parker Blanton and Ben Olsen met during her first year of college and have been best friends ever since. Six years later, they’re still besties, living together in an apartment in Portland. Ben is a ladies’ man with a no-strings-attached approach to dating, while Parker has a long-time boyfriend. But when Parker is suddenly dumped, she decides to give Ben’s dating approach a whirl. The two end up in a friends-with-benefits arrangement, which is fantastic until it isn’t anymore. With their friendship being tested, they must face the truth: maybe they can’t return to being just friends.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata
Told from Vanessa’s point of view, she finally gathers the courage to quit her job as Aiden’s assistant to pursue her dreams. Aiden Graves is curt, quiet, and brooding. He is also the top defensive end in the National Football Organization and always gets what he wants. So when he repeatedly shows up at her door, Vanessa is shocked and even more shocked to discover the favor he needs. This is another slow burn where the writing is more character-driven than story-driven. When I initially picked it up, I was intimidated by this book’s length (475 pages!), but it was pleasantly surprising a page-turner. I might have to check out her other novels, From Lukov with Love or Kulti.
What contemporary romance books have you read that I should add to my to-read list? Please leave your recommendations in the comments! To see my other book reviews, click here. xo
Adding to my TBR! Thanks for the share.
One of my new goals this year is to read more books. I will be downloading someone like you. Thanks for the recommendation
Great collection of books you’ve shared here. A good way to prepare for the Valentine’s season!
Thanks for sharing!
Great recommendations, thanks for sharing.
Seems like I got some new book to add to this year’s book list 😀
I love contemporary romance. Thanks for sharing these. I’m definitely adding it to my TBR list.
I’m just getting back into the swing of reading so these are great suggestions. Thanks!
These are great recommendations! Red, White, & Royal Blue is on my TBR, and I’m intrigued by If I Never Met You
Heard lots of good things about Red, White, and Royal Blue. Adding that to my TBR for this year. :))
I really love Mhairi McFarlane’s books!
Hi Kelly! I’m so happy to meet a fellow bibliophile! I’m a librarian and could always use fun recommendations for my patrons! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
These sounds very interesting. I’m going to look into reading some of them
Great book review! A few are now definitely on my TBR list 🙂
Great choices. I’m adding them to my reading list.
What a great list of books! I’m not the biggest fan of romance novels but some of these sound different and like stories I would really enjoy reading.
These all look and sound fabulous!
I love this list! Already add 3 books to my wishlist, lol. I recently read another book from Mariana Zapata and will give this one a chance as well!