My Romance Starter Pack: Best Books for a First-Time Romance Reader
If you’ve always eyed romance books at the bookstore but never felt brave enough to pick one up and flip through the pages, then this post is for you…
I love romance books, but for a newcomer, it can be an overwhelming genre to get into because it’s so massive. There truly is a subgenre for every taste. Hilarious romcoms, spooky paranormal romances, historical romance, contemporary, sports, cozy, monster, emotional, extra spicy…and that’s just a small sample of what you can find out there!
There’s also a stigma attached to romance. It sometimes gets a bad reputation as being cringe, but these books are so much more than fluffy, light love stories with smut. A lot of the negativity surrounding romance is misogyny, and I won’t dive into all of that here—but any reader of romance knows that these books are just as valid and worthy of reading as any other book from any other genre.
So if you’re looking for romance novel books to get into romance, then welcome! I’ve put together a beginner-friendly starter pack of books to pick up so you can figure out your style and taste in this genre. These aren’t the definitive “best romance books ever,” but they are a great introduction to the genre.
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What are the Romance Genre Characteristics & Expectations?
In a thriller, we know there will be some kind of crime committed. In fantasy, we can expect an imaginary world far different from our own. And romance? There’s really one (okay, maybe two) requirements.
A romance book means that the romance between the two (or more) main characters will be central to the story. There may be sub-plots, but ultimately, the love story is what readers want.
Most importantly, though, a romance book ends in a Happy Ever After (HEA) or a Happy For Now (HFN). This is non-negotiable.
A book can be deeply romantic or have strong romantic elements and still not be a romance books. One Day by David Nicholls is a great example—it’s a classic Right Person, Wrong Time story, but it does not end with the two main characters together so it is not technically a romance book. (ps I have a list of books like One Day but with an HEA, if that’s what you’re looking for)
Beyond the HEA, though, there is a lot of flexibility. And romance overlaps and has many subgenres, including Romantasy (romance + fantasy), Dark Romance, Romantic Suspense, and so, so many more. So if you try one romance book and hate it, it doesn’t necessarily mean the genre isn’t for you—it might just mean you have to read a little bit deeper in romance to find your ideal kind of books.
A Beginner's Guide to Romance Vocabulary
HEA - Happily Ever After; the two love interests end up together at the end of the book
HFN - Happy for Now; the two love interests end up together, but their long-term future isn’t necessarily established (you may find this in books that are part of a series)
MMC and FMC - Male Main Character and Female Main Character
MM - a romance book with two MMCs (male male)
FF - a romance book with two FMCs (female female); also called sapphic
MMF (or other variations) - a romance book where the romance is between more than 2 main characters
MC - main character; or in some cases, motorcycle club (for romances that deal with characters in motorcycle clubs, obviously!)
Trope - a recognizable storytelling setup or relationship dynamic; there are common tropes for every genre, with a few for romance below:
Slow burn - while the romance will develop throughout the book, a slow burn means that the couple doesn’t get seriously physical with each other until usually over 50-60 percent through the book
Enemies to lovers - two characters who can’t stand each other at the start of the book and end up falling for each other
Second chance - when the characters have a romantic history and get another shot at love together
Fake dating - a beloved romance trope where the two main characters fake a relationship together and end up catching very real feelings
Surprise pregnancy/secret baby - when an FMC becomes pregnant unexpectedly, sometimes by the MMC, sometimes by someone else; a beloved romance trope that even I’ve got a soft spot for evidently!
Forced proximity - when circumstances keep the characters close together (literally); for example, one of them needs a place to stay or they go on a road trip together
Spice/steam - the indication of how sexually explicit a romance is; here’s a handy guide to understanding the heat levels of romance books
Closed door/fade to black - a romance where the sexual intimacy happens but isn’t described explicitly on the page; sometimes called “clean” romance, although that implies that sex is dirty, so we don’t use that term here 😉
Third-Act Breakup - a moment in the last quarter of the book where the main characters break up or are forced apart in some way; it lets us see how the characters work through challenges
Dual or Single POV - whether the book is told from two characters’ perspectives (dual) or just one (single)
Standalone - a romance that isn’t part of a series
Interconnected Standalone - a series where you can really read any of the books in any order; the story focuses on one couple for the first book, another couple for the next book, and so on
Romantasy - the genre where romance and fantasy have a baby
Dark Romance - romance that explores darker, taboo, morally complicated, or potentially disturbing material; content warnings are especially worth checking here
The Beginner Romance Book Guide
A Classic Rom-Com to Make You Laugh: The One Who Loves You by Pippa Grant
Romance books often have funny moments, but romcoms have humor built into the fabric of the storytelling. Think of it like a romcom film—plots and situations bordering on ridiculous, laugh-out-loud moments, and a romance at the center of it all. Phoebe’s grandmother has uprooted her entire well-off family to a small town in Wisconsin. Teague is less than thrilled to have such high-profile folks move into town, but Phoebe and the grump can agree on one thing: she doesn’t belong there and needs to get the hell out of town. The two work together to help her escape…except Phoebe then finds herself falling in love. Pippa Grant does romcoms really well, and this one has the absurdity of Schitt’s Creek in book form.An All-Around Contemporary Romance Crowd Pleaser: Funny Story by Emily Henry
Emily Henry is the biggest name in romance right now, and for good reason—her books always have interesting concepts and are well-written, making them a great intro to the genre. Funny Story follows Daphne and Miles, both of whom moved in together by circumstance—as in, they were just dumped and watching as their exes date each other. Bonding over their heartbreak, the two of them hatch a plan: post deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together. No one is bound to fall for the other, right?For No-Spice Fun: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
If the idea of reading spicy scenes isn’t for you, then Katherine Center is the perfect author to start with. Her books have so much emotional depth and are incredibly witty, and this book in particular has some classic, fun romance tropes to love. The book follows Hannah, a bodyguard assigned to famous actor Jack Stapleton—and the easiest way to protect him and not make it obvious that he has protection detail is for her to pretend to date him. Fake dating is a romance genre fave for a reason, and the bodyguard trope is flipped on its head in this book (it’s traditionally a male bodyguard). It’s a delightful read that even readers who want some spice will still enjoy.Small-Town Romance Perfection: Savor It by Tarah DeWitt
The small-town trope is a favorite amongst romance readers. It’s hard to resist a quirky town with all its escapist vibes, and Spunes, Oregon, is a place you’ll desperately want to visit after reading this book. Sage loves her coastal hometown, but after a devastating breakup, she really needs a win. Fisher’s boss sends him to Spunes to consult on a new restaurant, but the townspeople aren’t so welcoming to the newcomer. He and Sage make a pact—she’ll improve his reputation, and he’ll be her partner for an annual summer competition that will put Sage’s ex in his place. This book is a perfect example of the small-town trope.A Slow Burn with Lots of Emotional Depth: The Half of It by Theresa Christine
A slow burn romance is a great way to get into the romance genre, especially for folks who like book club fiction. Since slow burns don’t have much spice until later in the book, it means you get to spend over half the book enjoying just the plot, along with some delicious slow-burn chemistry. In The Half of It, Juniper travels to Ireland for the wedding of her newly discovered half sister, and to write about the experience for her job. She doesn’t expect her new half sister to be best friends with Aidan, a handsome, down-on-his-luck bartender. When Aidan and Juniper must work together and help with Cara’s wedding preparation, neither can deny the chemistry between them. Will they be able to open their hearts to each other, or will distance and secrets tear them apart? Bonus points: this is a slow burn romance on KU!Step Back in Time with a Historical: Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti
There is so much historical romance to be found, but I decided to suggest a newer-written one—it’s a great way to see if a book set in this time period will work for you! In this steamy Regency romp, Lady Selina is determined to find the Duke of Stanhope the perfect wife. The only problem? She’s starting to think that might be her. Historical romances are especially interesting because they play with a social setup that no longer exists. There is a lot of built-in drama just in the way that two characters from varying backgrounds interact, and of course there were wildly different expectations surrounding romance, love, and intimacy in these times—so it makes for an interesting read!The Fantasy Book Lover: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
I’m admittedly not a big romantasy reader, but if you want something that blends fantasy elements with romance, start with ACOTAR. It is credited by so many readers as the book that got them into the genre, and it’s a very accessible fantasy romance book that any reader can enjoy. When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf, she’s taken to a dangerous faerie realm as punishment. There, her hostility toward her captor, Tamlin, slowly turns to passion. But a growing evil threatens him and the entire world of the Fae, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.A Romance with All the Feels: Take a Leap by Marie Landry
Sometimes, you just want a romance book that will give you a good cry. In Take a Leap, Fiona returns to her hometown to say one last goodbye to her father, and after the funeral, she sticks around to take care of some unfinished business. Nathan, her ex was shattered when she left, and while he would love to not be affected by her return, he can’t help it. These two have an irresistible magnetic pull. Secrets, past lives, and big dreams tell them both that they aren’t compatible, but a just-for-now fling is too tempting to pass up—and of course, things get complicated. This second chance romance will make your heart ache before a wonderful HEA.An MM Romance: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
If I could give this book infinity stars, I would. In this book, First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz finds himself in trouble when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. As Alex’s mom, President Claremont, kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. Even if you don’t think MM romance will be for you, I suggest picking this one up—it’s incredible, and has even been made into a film!Sapphic Romance: Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
If I’m picking up an LGBTQIA+ read, I tend to prefer sapphic books between two women, and this one is a delight! After swearing she’d never return to her hometown of Bright Falls, photographer Delilah Green is lured back by a hefty paycheck to photograph her estranged stepsister’s wedding. There she reconnects with Claire, her stepsister’s bookstore-owning best friend and a single mom who prefers to keep her life predictable. As wedding preparations repeatedly throw them together and they join forces to save the bride from her terrible fiancé, Delilah and Claire discover their attraction might be much more than a temporary distraction.Dabble in Dark Romance: Still Beating by Jennifer Hartman
There are so many flavors of dark romance out there, so it will be very dependent on if you want a morally gray MMC, a motorcycle gang backdrop, dubious consent, taboo, organized crime…you get the idea. Most important here: read the content warnings! This way you know what you’re getting into. Still Beating deals with capturing/kidnapping. Cora wakes up in shackles in a madman’s basement; next to her is arch nemesis, also in his own set of chains. They must now work together if they want to survive. But Cora and Dean have no idea their abductor has a plan for them. A plan that will alter the course of their relationship, blur the line between hate and love, and shackle them together with far more than just chains.Super-Spicy but Still Has Plot: Priest by Sierra Simone
If you want something closer to erotica (where there is not much plot and the story mostly centers around sex), but you still crave a bit of plot as you test out the genre, Priest is my recommendation. It’s somewhat taboo (ahem, he is a priest), and you will encounter a spicy scene every few chapters with this one—but there is still a plot in these pages. Tyler is a 29 year-old Catholic priest who encounters spiritual and personal challenges when he meets Poppy, a new member of his parish who he has chemistry and a deep connection with. The sex isn’t particularly kinky but the forbidden aspect is really well-done.A Cozy, Low-Stress Romance: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Sometimes you just want a romance book without a ton of drama. Think cozy settings like libraries or cafes, no crazy or intense plot points, just good vibes and romance. Mika Moon has spent her life hiding her magic and keeping her distance from other witches…until a mysterious invitation brings her to Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their powers. There, she finds an eccentric household, a family she never expected, and Jamie—the handsome, grumpy librarian who isn’t exactly thrilled about her arrival. As Mika begins to fall for both Jamie and her new home, she must decide how much she’ll risk to protect the people she's grown to love. This is a super wholesome read that is the equivalent of curling up with a cup of tea on the couch!The Wild Card: Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nacosta
Don’t knock monster romance until you try it. Down-on-her-luck and drowning in student debt, Violet takes an…um, unconventional but surprisingly lucrative job at Morning Glory Milking Farm, where her clients happen to be minotaurs. When one handsome, intimidating regular begins requesting her specifically, Violet’s professional relationship with him develops into a very unexpected crush. This one is a quick, under-300-pages book that has a well-built world.Save a Horse: Dust Storm by Maggie C. Gates
Cowboy romance books are having a moment right now, and you will often find that romance bookstores have a dedicated section for western and cowboy romances. When rich city girl Cassandra Parker is exiled from New York and stranded on a cattle ranch, she ends up living with Christian Griffith, a stubborn single dad who really doesn’t appreciate her sticking her nose into his family’s business. Living with Christian and his daughters is a downgrade from Cassandra’s city comforts, but she’s desperate to salvage what’s left of her career. The two butt heads, but they also find a growing attraction that becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. To make matters worse, there’s one major problem standing between them: the engagement ring on Cassandra’s finger.High-Stakes Romantic Suspense: Whiteout by Adriana Anders
This book had me on the edge of my seat, and it even held up for me as a reread. Angel Smith is finally ready to leave Antarctica after working there for the season, but on what was meant to be her last day, the remote research station she calls home is attacked. Hunted and scared, she and irritatingly gorgeous glaciologist Ford Cooper barely make it out alive, only to realize there’s nowhere left to run except the wide expanse of Antarctica. With no power, no way to contact the outside world, and a madman at their heels, Angel and Ford must fight to survive as their partnership of necessity turns into an urgent connection that burns bright and hot. This is perfect for you if you like action movies and want to dive into one as a book.
How to Figure Out Your Romance Taste
It’s understandable to go into a book with high hopes, and when it isn’t quite what you want, to only notice what you didn’t like. But to really narrow in on the kind of romance books you love most, it helps to pay attention to what you enjoy just as much as what you dislike. Here are some good questions to ask yourself:
Did I want more comedy or more angst from this book?
Did I like the buildup of the relationship, or was it too fast/too slow?
Were there any tropes I really enjoyed and would like to read again sometime?
Was I looking for more plot outside of the romance?
Do I want the setting to be more realistic, more escapist, or was this just right?
How did I feel about the spice level?
Was I looking for more comfort and cozy vibes, or do I prefer something with a bit more emotional chaos?
Would I read other books from this author?
Reflecting on these questions will help guide you toward your subgenre or trope!
What If You Don’t Like Your First Romance Novel?
Look, sometimes it happens. You pick up a book to try something out, and it ends up being a huge disappointment. Even I sometimes read romance books sometimes that just don’t work for me—books that should, on paper, be very much my type.
But one unsuccessful read for me doesn’t mean that entire subgenre is out the window. If you read one single mystery novel and disliked it, it doesn’t mean you hate every mystery book ever written—so the same goes for romance!
When you read a stinker, the next time you dabble in romance, change a variable for your next book. Go for something in another subgenre, try a new-to-you trope, vary up the spice level, or look for something with a different emotional intensity. You’ll find that sweet spot eventually!
Hopefully you can dip your toes into the romance waters more confidently now. It’s a huge genre, and I truly believe there’s something for just about every kind of reader out there—it’s simply a matter of finding out what really works for you. And with reading, part of the fun is trying and reading new things until you discover your next favorite.