Top 22 Romance Reads of 2022
I read nearly 100 romance novels this year (just shy of that goal, but it was an amazing ride regardless), and I wanted to share with you the best ones I got the chance to read. Many are historical, but several contemporary romances made this list as well. Let’s dive in!
#22 Twisted Games by Ana Huang
I never thought I would be a dark romance person until Ana Huang’s Twisted series. Granted, this one is definitely the least “twisted” of the Twisted. Rhys Larsen is, I think, Booktok’s collective boyfriend, and for good reason. The princess’s bodyguard who fulfills her bucket list, including by 69’ing her senseless, going down on her as she sits on her throne, and, in what has become the iconic line, drops a pretty fabulous “Crawl to me” that’s shiver inducing. Bridget is phenomenal, and Rhys is her man through and through. This is the book that made Ana Huang an auto-buy for me, and it’s well worth it even if it’s not what you think is your genre.
#21 After the Kiss by Joan Johnston
This book did what I thought was impossible and portrayed the hero sexually assaulting the heroine and STILL had me root for them both in the end. His trauma and his use of it as a way to push his wife away was awful, but it made sense. And Eliza’s reaction also made sense; she didn’t brush it off, but moved forward seeing it for what it was. It wasn’t right, and it wasn’t treated as right, but in the end, Eliza and Marcus came out stronger. The virgin “fixing” the broken hero with her love is a tired trope, but there is actually a reason it’s been so consistently popular. It is compelling. And this one is a great story that had a lot of unique pieces I didn’t expect to love, but really did.
#20 The Marriage Lesson by Victoria Alexander
A lovely, fun adventure into historical romance with kissing lessons (Marianne demanding her guardian start kissing her before she gets someone else to do it) and delightful misunderstandings, as well as a first-rate HEA. I love that Victoria Alexander always seems to double down on the hijinx with her characters just when sane people would call it. Makes for a fantastical and fantastic ending.
#19 Brazen and the Beast
Spoiler Alert for this list, but this whole series shows up on this list. Sarah MacLean is an absolute favorite for her strong plots, beautiful language, compelling characters, and absolutely fabulous sex scenes. One of my favorite pieces of this story is that Hattie is tall and bigger, and as a woman who fits that description, it was lovely to be so represented. And it didn’t hurt that her “Beast” was an absolute beast for her, too. Her “Year of Hattie” where she wants to lose her virginity and run her business was a great kickoff for the story, and made for a wonderful read.
#18 Devil in Winter
This author will also show up several times, and no wonder. Lisa Kleypas is one of the queens of historical romance. I fell in love with Sebastian and Evie’s children first (who will show up on this list as well) in their love stories, then went back to read about the parents, and was delighted. Sebastian’s insistence that he doesn’t like to have sex with the same woman more than once, and Evie’s demand that they only have sex once, it was a recipe for the perfect, romantic, disaster.
#17 The Secrets of a Scoundrel by Gaelen Foley
I read the previous book in the series by random chance, then had to read this one immediately after. I knew I wanted the story of the rogue spy locked away, and when it turns out he’s freed by the daughter of the man who trained them to go on a mission, I was hooked. It’s funny, because spies usually aren’t my go-to, but the way this played out was spectacular. From them in their hotel room in Paris to her adventuresome son, it was simply a delightful story full of intrigue, excitement, and romance.
#16 Waiting for a Scot Like You
An age gap romance with an older woman, Beatrice, and a younger man, Duncan. Beatrice is headed to a “party” (which is actually an orgy) and straight-laced Duncan is escorting her there. Of course, despite big differences in their personality, they fall hard for each other and share passion and emotion with one another. Because it’s a romance novel, they feel it has to be temporary, but of course, the Happily Ever After comes with full force and in a delicious way, unique and filled with chemistry.
#15 Falling into Bed with a Duke by Lorraine Heath
Other than the photography thing with a weird backstory (you’ll see when you read), this book was a delight from cover to cover. Minerva is a wallflower who goes masked to a house of pleasure under the name Lady V and finds herself getting steamy with a Duke. Meanwhile, in the “real” world, the Duke isn’t sure if the woman he’s falling for, Minerva, is the same as the woman he’s between the sheets with at night. Of course, it is, and there’s delight and drama and true love, and I’m here for every step!
#14 His Grace, The Duke
Obsessed is a polite way to describe how I feel about this book and this story. Coupled with the previous book, Beautiful Things, which is absolutely a necessary first half, this book cranked up the emotion, drama, and steam to an eleven. It’s a why choose romance where three male friends all fall for Rosalie, and, through that, each other. James was always my favorite, and the second book really focuses on bringing him into the fold of the other three. And when I say I cried, boy do I mean it. It was sexy, sweet, and an obsession-worthy ride that was my first real “Why Choose” or “Reverse Harem” romance, and I’m so glad I read it.
#13 Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas
I promised the Evie and Sebastian’s kids would show up on this list, and that’s right here with Phoebe, their daughter. This is also a crossover with the Ravenels, another Kleypas series I love. The Ravenels provide West, the swoon-worthy, former degenerate, male lead who is a freaking dream from start to finish. Big, gorgeous, loyal, just the right amount of guilty and traumatized to be so endearing…He’s also adorable with Phoebe’s sons and shows up for his woman. Plus there are a few sex scenes that I think about probably weekly. I’m not kidding. They just pop into my mind randomly because they’re that good. This is definitely not one to miss.
#12 Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean
The first of the Bareknuckle Bastards triology, this book was a delight to read. Gotta love a man named “Devil” and a wallflower he promises dark things to in the night. There are delightful aspects that make this more than just a a usual story, and Felicity as a skilled lock-pick, Devil’s complex backstory that fuels three books of content, and their phenomenal chemistry, are just a few of those. The Bareknuckle Bastards trilogy is one of my favorite sets of books I’ve read, and this one launched that beautifully.
#11 Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas
Yet another appearance of Sebastian’s progeny — though not Evie’s, as Kier is a bastard of Sebastian’s wild and rakish past — this story sets up a gorgeous romance between Merritt, who kicks so much ass, and Kier, who, I mean, honestly same. They’re very similar, and they have an amazing night of passion together before the central conflict comes crashing in. Literally. Kier gets a big ol’ bonk on the head and then it’s an amnesia storyline. I honestly didn’t think I’d like that kind of story, but this is done very well, with faint clues that allow Kier to put things back together, and a sense of strangeness and familiarity between them that made for some delicious and fascinating scenes.
#10 Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover is usually a big hit (ie. Verity) or a big miss (ie. Layla) for me, and this one was a big hit. The story was a fascinating one, a woman getting out of jail and desperate to see her child. The immediate connection and sympathy established with Kenna, and the confusing, complex attraction she has with Ledger, makes for a fascinating story. The love of a mother for her daughter, the struggles of past trauma, and the need for forgiveness, is palpable throughout. It makes for an amazing love story, but honestly an even better one of redemption. Definitely a tearjerker, but so worth getting pulled through a knothole backward to get this story.
#9 Twice Tempted By a Rogue by Tessa Dare
She loved him when she was a kid, and she loves him now that he comes back, emotionally scarred from years at war and adrift from his home. Rhys is gorgeous and particularly dangerous to Meredith, at least to her heart, as she’s now the widowed proprietress of the local inn. The townspeople want nothing to do with Rhys, and Meredith wants all too much to do with him. It’s really Dare’s compelling writing that untangles the complexities of Rhys’s heart and feelings, and what unfolds between him and Meredith, that makes this book.
#8 Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas
As previously mentioned, I am a sucker for yearning, and this one has that all over the place. Kev yearns for Win. Win yearns for Kev. This is the definition of opposites attract, with beautiful, ethereal, sickly Win and strong, earthy, silent Kev being meant for each other since childhood. It’s one of the sweetest stories of love at first sight, love since they were literally children, that blossoms into something beautiful, sensual, and powerful. I loved Win growing into herself and more powerful woman, and Kev’s ultimate love and protectiveness of his woman is one of the best stories there is.
#7 The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
I actually watched the movie first, and loved it, then read the book, and loved it even more. The rivals to lovers dynamic is a favorite of mine, and the exploration of how the sensation of hating and loving someone feels similar is a fun set up. Lucy is tiny, adorable, and quirky, but ambitious, and Joshua is giant, stoic, and secretly deeply vulnerable. The sweetness and the steam levels up in the book from the movie, and I thoroughly enjoyed them getting to see each other’s true selves. Although, some of Josh’s behaviors are a little creepy if it wasn’t from a gorgeous guy she was into. Still, I loved their story, and the dynamics were a pleasure to read.
#6 Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean
I am a sucker for pining, and boy howdy, does this book have some serious pining. In love as children through abusive circumstances, Grace and Ewan have always belonged to each other. But her brothers think Ewan betrayed them and don’t trust him at all. So from him refusing to fight back against Grace in an intense, pseudo-sexual encounter to their fraught interactions to when they are finally able to break down their walls and be true with each other once more…Everything about their story is intense and spectacular, and so worth the read.
#5 The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian
One of the first gay historical novels I read, I absolutely fell in love with the characters and the writing style, as well as the representation. From Kit with his old injury and the madcap adventures to Percy’s dainty but delightful antics. They make a fabulous juxtaposition of different walks of life and styles, but they are a delicious combination. I absolutely cried in this book. I felt loved and healed by this book. I will never stop recommending this book. Their energy and chemistry is top-notch, and the story is an absolute dream.
#4 Bombshell by Sarah MacLean
This book was in fact a bombshell in what I thought historical romances could be. Smart and sexy of course, but unapologetically feminist, a female main character with lots of sexual experience, and an electric chemistry with the American bar owner, Caleb. I was on board with every moment, the confusing, sexually charged banter of wanting each other but antagonizing each other to try and keep a distance, with the Hell’s Belles coalition of ladies, and with the overall style of writing. The plot I remember not adoring, but most of the time what makes my favorite books is the relationships between the characters and the style, and this delivered majorly on both.
#3 Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian
This is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read recently, and I adored every bit of it. William and Martin are one of my favorite couples, best friends as children, loving each other even when they were apart. They’ve always been special, always cared, and when they finally come back together, they battle illness, addiction, and of course, attraction. Their love story is one of the softest and most tender stories I’ve ever had the pleasure to read, and the heart-deep mark it made on me is absolutely permanent. This is not one to miss.
#2 It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
This was one of the BIG hits of Colleen Hoover for me. My experience with this book was genuinely life changing. It’s a book I think everyone should read, a book that portrays complex, abusive situations with such empathy and power. It delivers some of the most intense storylines I’ve ever read in a respectful, vulnerable way. Lily is a compelling main character with her empathy and care, and Ryle is one of the most fascinating characters who is both hateful and sympathetic. Of course, Atlas Corrigan, beautiful, adorable, devoted chef, is essentially perfect. I never felt like this was a “book” per se, more of an exercise in empathy I am so glad I read.
#1 Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
This book was made for me. It’s nerdy, queer, and romantic. It’s enemies to lovers turned to one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever experienced. The beautiful, heartbreaking, precious optimism of this story is everything we need in a romance. Alex and Henry are one of my favorite couples in all of fiction, and the story of the First Son of the US and a Prince of England falling madly for each other is automatically delicious. But the way this plays out, with the absolute reverence for history, the adoration of love, the respect for these characters and their story…I was humbled reading this book. I was awed. The absolute prodigal nature of the writing astonishes me, every other line being the kind of thing you could end a chapter or even a whole book on, and they’re bandied about so casually in this book. I cannot recommend this book enough. A quote from this book hangs in my classroom. This book is more than special, and no other book could have taken the top spot for me this year than Red, White, and Royal Blue.
BONUS! Managing Miss Watson by Cassandra Morann
This book is written by yours truly, and this year was an absolute journey to get it published. This is a Victorian Era romance between a meddlesome woman who doesn’t want to get married, Elinor Watson, and the adorable, rakish Earl of Sherborn, Andrew Montgomery. This book is all about what we sacrifice for love and if it’s worth it, and of course, comes out with a big yes. There’s humor, steaminess, and true love. Inspired by Bridgerton, Outlander, and other beautiful, historical romances, I cannot wait for you to read my debut novel! Click the link to pre-order!
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