What Are The Top-Rated New Popular Romance Books On Goodreads?

I've been glued to Goodreads lately, scouring the romance section for fresh reads, and let me tell you, the hype around 'Book Lovers' by Emily Henry is real. It's a witty, heartfelt enemies-to-lovers story with a literary twist that had me grinning like an idiot. Another standout is 'Love on the Brain' by Ali Hazelwood, which blends STEM romance with hilarious banter—think 'The Love Hypothesis' but with even more chemistry. For those craving something darker, 'The Love Hypothesis' meets 'Gone Girl' vibes in 'The Spanish Love Deception' by Elena Armas. Also, 'Part of Your World' by Abby Jimenez is a small-town romance with depth, tackling heavy themes while keeping the swoon factor high. These books are all over my feed, and for good reason—they deliver the feels without relying on tired tropes.

As someone who spends way too much time tracking Goodreads' trending lists, I've noticed a clear pattern in this year's top-rated romance novels. Contemporary rom-coms with quirky protagonists dominate, like 'Funny You Should Ask' by Elissa Sussman, which follows a journalist revisiting her infamous interview with a Hollywood heartthrob. The pacing is addictive, and the celebrity-meets-normal-person dynamic feels fresh.

Historical romance isn't dead either—'A Lady for a Duke' by Alexis Hall brought me to tears with its trans Regency-era love story, balancing impeccable research with raw emotion. Meanwhile, 'Honey & Spice' by Bolu Babalola redefines campus romance through a Nigerian-British lens, dripping with cultural flavor and sparkling dialogue.

What fascinates me is how many top-rated books subvert expectations. Take 'Delilah Green Doesn't Care' by Ashley Herring Blake: it's a sapphic small-town romance where the 'ice queen' trope gets turned on its head. Or 'Kiss Her Once for Me' by Alison Cochrun, which puts a queer spin on fake dating during Christmas. These aren't just love stories—they're reinventing the genre while making readers laugh and sob in equal measure.

My bookshelf is overflowing with Goodreads' latest romance darlings, and three books keep stealing the spotlight. 'Every Summer After' by Carley Fortune destroyed me in the best way—it's a second-chance romance set at a lakeside cottage, oozing nostalgia and teenage mistakes. The way it handles forgiveness and growth hit harder than I expected.

Then there's 'Something Wilder' by Christina Lauren, an adventure romance that mixes treasure hunting with unresolved tension. It reads like 'Romancing the Stone' meets heartfelt women's fiction, with lush Utah canyon descriptions that almost upstage the steamy scenes.

For paranormal fans, 'The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches' by Sangu Mandanna is pure magic—literally. It's like 'Practical Magic' meets found family tropes, but with a British eccentricity that reminded me of Ghibli films. The slow-burn romance between the chaotic witch and the stern librarian is *chef's kiss*. These books prove romance isn't just about meet-cutes—it's about how love transforms people in unpredictable ways.