6 contemporary romance books with illustrated covers that will have you hot & bothered

Illustrated covers vs. covers with real people: which do you prefer? This is an oft-discussed topic in romancelandia, and I understand diehard romance lovers’ irritation with the cutesy illustrated romance novel covers. They were very in vogue a few years ago (and they’re still popular, although I feel like we’re seeing more real-people covers these days).

Illustrated covers are fun, but they can cause issues for readers. It can sometimes be hard to tell the genre of the book (women’s fiction? romcom?), and it’s difficult to predict the spice level on a book that has such a cute cover. Plus, some folks don’t like to hide the fact that they’re reading romance—they’re loud and proud about it, and they want the clinch covers or the ones with the half-naked men on them.

Luckily, in recent years I feel like we’re seeing more variety with illustration styles on these covers, and some of them are…how do you say, 🥵🥵🥵? Here are some romance books with super sexy, yet still illustrated covers.

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto (and the forthcoming Not Another Love Song)
I picked this book up based on the cover alone. I love how their faces have dimension and detail to them, and they are gazing longingly into each other’s eyes. There is weight to their locked eyes that makes me want to read and know what happens between them.

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
Having read the women in STEM series from this author, I know we’re gonna get some spice with this one. This cover is pretty simple but also incredibly intimate, like you’re interrupting a ~moment~ between the two main characters.

Only and Forever by Chloe Liese
This cover has so much color—the sky, the flowers, her hair! The two characters are touching each other in a really sweet, sultry way, giving this book cover a lot of personality.

The Blue Rebel Ranch series by Lyla Sage
Before the first book, Done and Dusted, came out, I had not seen a romance book with this illustration style on the cover. It’s gorgeous, and so perfect for a cowboy romance.

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade
Exsqueeze me, a dip? Sold.

When I Think of You by Myah Ariel
I just love the way these two characters are looking at each other and holding each other (um, sir, hands!!). I also think this illustration style is extra lovely—it looks like a watercolor painting.