Which Novels Make The Top 10 Romance Books For 2025?

Lately I’m obsessed with a rotating top ten that keeps my romance shelf feeling fresh: 'It Ends with Us', 'The Love Hypothesis', 'Red, White & Royal Blue', 'Book Lovers', 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo', 'The Kiss Quotient', 'People We Meet on Vacation', 'The Hating Game', 'The Unhoneymooners', and 'The Rosie Project'.

I love recommending these because they cover everything from tender, difficult love to light, laugh-out-loud chemistry. If you’re new to modern romance, start with 'The Love Hypothesis' for a fun slow-burn or 'It Ends with Us' if you want something more intense. Honestly, each of these has at least one scene I never forget, so pick based on whether you want comfort or catharsis.

Absolutely thrilled to share my personal top-ten romance picks that I’d hand to anyone hunting for swoons in 2025. I pick these because they kept me up late, made me reread passages, or quietly changed how I think about love and companionship.

1. 'It Ends with Us' — Colleen Hoover: raw, messy, and unforgettable; a book that stays with you long after the last page.
2. 'The Love Hypothesis' — Ali Hazelwood: nerdy chemistry plus adorable slow-burn; perfect when you want smart, funny tension.
3. 'Red, White & Royal Blue' — Casey McQuiston: exuberant, political, and joyfully romantic.
4. 'Book Lovers' — Emily Henry: sharp, self-aware, and perfect for lovers of meta rom-coms.
5. 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' — Taylor Jenkins Reid: glamorous, sweeping, and surprisingly tender.
6. 'the kiss quotient' — Helen Hoang: a refreshingly empathetic take on neurodivergent romance.
7. 'People We Meet on Vacation' — Emily Henry: the quintessential friends-to-lovers beach-read.
8. 'The Hating Game' — Sally Thorne: snappy dialogue and the boss-opposites-at-work vibe hit every time.
9. 'The Unhoneymooners' — Christina Lauren: enemies-to-lovers with warm banter and a big heart.
10. 'The Rosie Project' — Graeme Simsion: sweet, awkward, brilliantly structured.

If you like variety—contemporary, slow-burn, rom-com, and emotionally heavy—this list has it. I alternate these depending on mood: rom-com when I need a laugh, heavier picks when I want to feel raw, and the rest as comfort reads. If you want, I can sort these into vibes (cozy, tearjerker, laugh-out-loud) next.

Okay, so here’s my slightly chaotic, very enthusiastic shortlist for 2025 romance reads — these are the ones I keep recommending to friends at brunch and in DMs.

'Book Lovers' and 'People We Meet on Vacation' are my beach-and-planes staples because Emily Henry somehow writes the exact ache I didn’t know I had. 'Red, White & Royal Blue' is a perpetual mood-lifter; the emotional payoff is gorgeous. When I need something angsty and cathartic, 'It Ends with Us' is the only thing that does the trick. For clever rom-coms with nerdy protagonists, 'The Love Hypothesis' and 'The Kiss Quotient' are clutch. If you want older-leaning glamour and secrets, 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' slaps. 'The Hating Game' and 'The Unhoneymooners' cover my need for enemies-to-lovers chaos with excellent banter, and 'The Rosie Project' is the warm, quirky outlier that always surprises me with depth.

Each book hits different notes — some are fluffy, some complicated — but together they map the emotional spectrum I crave in romance. Pick one based on whether you want to laugh, cry, or both.

I keep a little spreadsheet (yes, a spreadsheet) of books that made me feel complicated emotions, and here are my top ten romance picks I’d champion for 2025. Instead of just listing titles, I’ll group why they matter: emotional depth, comedic relief, and slow-burn craft.

Emotional depth: 'It Ends with Us' and 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' — both tackle difficult subjects while delivering unforgettable relationships. Comedic relief and chemistry: 'The Love Hypothesis', 'The Hating Game', and 'The Kiss Quotient' — these are sharp, hilarious, and anchored by brilliant chemistry. Friends-to-lovers / summer vibes: 'People We Meet on Vacation' and 'Book Lovers' — great for re-reads and mood resets. Comfort and oddball charm: 'The Rosie Project' and 'The Unhoneymooners' — quirky premises, big hearts. Political/joyful romance: 'Red, White & Royal Blue' — a vibrantly modern celebration of love.

I pick these because they’re reliably re-readable and span the tones people ask me for: cathartic, silly, sexy, and bittersweet. If you want a tailored trio for a weekend binge (one laugh, one sob, one warm hug), tell me your mood and I’ll pick them.