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The 10 Best Romance Novels of All Time
These are the romance novels readers are buying and talking about right now, from romantasy and BookTok favourites to rom-coms, cowboy romance and a few modern classics, plus Pride and Prejudice, the book they all borrow from. Many have hit films or TV versions, and new books join as soon as they earn a place.
Fourth Wing#1Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros · first published 2023
Why it is on the list: The biggest romance hit of the decade: Goodreads' No. 3 most-read book of 2025, with a Prime Video series now in the works.
Violet Sorrengail is forced into a brutal war college for dragon riders, where the cadets try to kill each other and her deadliest rival, Xaden, may be the one she cannot resist. The book that made “romantasy” a bestseller shelf of its own.
Evidence and sources
- No. 3 on Goodreads' most-read books of 2025; the sequels Onyx Storm and Iron Flame were No. 1 and No. 4 (source)
- No. 7 on BookNet Canada's bestselling fiction of 2025 (source)
- Sequel Onyx Storm was the fastest-selling adult title in its opening week in BookScan's 20-year history (Circana, June 2025) (source)
- Over two million copies in its first six months; Prime Video series greenlit May 2026 (source)
- Entangled edition ISBN 9781649374042 (source)
It Ends with Us#2It Ends with Us
by Colleen Hoover · first published 2016
Why it is on the list: The best-selling novel of 2023 in the US, and back at No. 1 on the New York Times list after the 2024 film.
Florist Lily Bloom falls hard for charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, until her first love Atlas reappears and the relationship starts to show a darker side. An emotional love story that deals honestly with domestic abuse.
Evidence and sources
- 1,292,733 copies sold in 2023, the year's best-selling novel; 2,729,007 in 2022 (Publishers Weekly annual lists, cited) (source)
- Back to No. 1 on The New York Times list in August 2024 after the film, which grossed about 351 million US dollars worldwide (source)
- Atria edition ISBN 9781501110368 (source)
A Court of Thorns and Roses#3A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas · first published 2015
Why it is on the list: A 13-million-copy series, with the first new book in five years due on 27 October 2026.
After huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, she is carried off to the faerie land of Prythian, where her captor is not what he seems. A sweeping romantasy, loosely based on Beauty and the Beast, that grows darker and steamier as the series goes on.
Evidence and sources
People We Meet on Vacation#4People We Meet on Vacation
by Emily Henry · first published 2021
Why it is on the list: Emily Henry wrote two of Goodreads' most-read romances of 2025, and this one became a Netflix film in January 2026.
Best friends Poppy and Alex took a summer trip together every year, until a falling-out two years ago. Poppy talks him into one more vacation to fix things. A funny, warm friends-to-lovers story told across a decade of trips.
Evidence and sources
The Love Hypothesis#5The Love Hypothesis
by Ali Hazelwood · first published 2021
Why it is on the list: More than 40 weeks on the New York Times list; Hazelwood had the No. 2 most-read romance on Goodreads in 2025.
To convince her best friend she is over her ex, PhD student Olive Smith kisses the first man she sees: Adam Carlsen, the most feared professor on campus. Then he agrees to fake-date her. A smart, funny rom-com set in a university science lab.
Evidence and sources
Pride and Prejudice#6Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen · first published 1813
Why it is on the list: The one classic every modern romance still borrows from; Austen's novels had their best sales since 2009 in 2025.
Witty Elizabeth Bennet clashes with the proud and wealthy Mr Darcy as her family navigates marriage and money in Regency England. The original enemies-to-lovers romance, perfect for anyone who loves sparkling dialogue.
Evidence and sources
Part of Your World#7Part of Your World
by Abby Jimenez · first published 2022
Why it is on the list: Abby Jimenez had three of Goodreads' 12 most-read romances of 2025, this one included.
Alexis, an ER doctor from a wealthy, high-pressure family, falls for Daniel, a younger carpenter in a small Minnesota town, and has to decide which life she really wants. A heartfelt, funny opposites-attract romance.
Evidence and sources
Flawless#8Flawless
by Elsie Silver · first published 2022
Why it is on the list: Circana named Elsie Silver one of the fastest-growing romance writers of 2025, and her Chestnut Springs series starts here.
Bull-riding champion Rhett Eaton needs to clean up his image, so his agent sends Summer to keep him out of trouble for the season. Sparks fly between the cocky cowboy and the woman who refuses to be charmed. A steamy small-town cowboy romance.
Evidence and sources
The Notebook#9The Notebook
by Nicholas Sparks · first published 1996
Why it is on the list: Sparks has sold 130 million books; the Broadway musical version is touring the US through 2027.
An elderly man reads aloud the story of a summer romance in 1940s North Carolina and the couple's reunion years later. A tender, tear-jerking love story for readers who want pure romance.
Evidence and sources
- Broadway musical opened March 2024 (three Tony nominations); North American tour began Sept 2025 (source)
- Listed in ThriftBooks' Historical Romance 'Bestsellers' (viewed Oct 2026) (source)
- Sparks has sold over 130 million copies worldwide (People, Oct 2024, cited) (source)
- Grand Central Publishing edition ISBN 9780446676090 (source)
One Day#10One Day
by David Nicholls · first published 2009
Why it is on the list: The 2024 Netflix hit sent it back to No. 1, 15 years after publication; Galaxy Book of the Year.
Emma and Dexter meet on the night of their graduation in 1988, and we revisit them on that same date every year for two decades. A funny, bittersweet love story about timing, friendship and growing up.
Evidence and sources
- Returned to No. 1 on The Sunday Times bestseller list and topped Amazon UK's 2024 best sellers after the Feb 2024 Netflix series (Netflix) (source)
- Netflix series was the most-watched series globally in the week of 12 Feb 2024 (9.9 million views) (source)
- Vintage Books edition ISBN 9780307946713 (source)
Frequently asked questions
What is the best romance novel right now?
On our list it is Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, the book that turned romantasy into one of the biggest shelves in bookshops. It was Goodreads' No. 3 most-read book of 2025.
Which romance novel should I read first?
Start with the top three: Fourth Wing, It Ends with Us and A Court of Thorns and Roses. If you prefer a lighter rom-com, try People We Meet on Vacation or The Love Hypothesis.
Are these books popular today?
Yes. Every book here has evidence of strong sales or readership from the last few years, which you can see under “Evidence and sources” on each book. New books can make the list as soon as the evidence is there.
How often is this list updated?
We review it about once a month against current bestseller charts and change a book when the evidence clearly changes.
Apart from this list, see the books we love most, hand-picked by QuickOnlineTips.
How we chose these books
1. Still selling and read today
Every book shows current demand from roughly the last three years: Audible best-seller charts (Audible is owned by Amazon), US independent bookstore bestseller lists from the American Booksellers Association, Publishers Weekly and Circana BookScan sales figures, and similar charts. Old books that nobody buys any more do not make the cut.
2. A proven track record
Every book has a strong record behind it: very large sales, a major award (such as the Pulitzer, Booker, Newbery or Hugo), a place on a respected list (such as the Modern Library 100, TIME 100 or the BBC Big Read), or a big recent hit with a film or TV version. A book does not have to be old: new bestsellers can join as soon as the evidence is there.
3. Written for adult readers
This is a list for grown-up readers, so some books include mature or steamy scenes, and some deal with hard themes such as war, crime, abuse or loss. For younger readers, see the Children's and Young Adult pages.
Within each genre, books are ranked with current popularity weighted most, then lasting reputation. We review the list about once a month and swap a book only when the evidence clearly changes.
Book covers: Open Library. Links to each book go to Amazon. Last reviewed: October 2026.
More of the best books of all time
See the full 200 best books of all time list, or explore more fiction genres: Classic Novels, Literary Fiction Books, Historical Fiction Books, Children's Books, Mystery and Thriller Books, Science Fiction Books, Fantasy Books, Horror Books, Young Adult Books.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, QuickOnlineTips earns from qualifying purchases.
