University Libraries Popular Romance Collection

Follow

• 

  Remember Me Tomorrow

  Farah Heron

  Mystery, romance, and time warps—this book has it all. Aleeza Kassam, a freshman in college, moves into the East House, the oldest dorm on campus, where Jay Hoque, the mysterious student who disappeared months ago, used to live. When Aleeza starts receiving texts from Jay, who is living in a timeline five months behind, she realizes he has to tell Jay what happens to him. They begin down a journey of discovering what happened in Aleeza’s timeline in order to save Jay in his, while also slowly falling for one another, knowing there could be no future between them.

  Author Farah Heron does an amazing job of taking romance and mystery elements and blending them to create the perfect YA story. This book allows people who typically enjoy mystery novels to discover romance as well, bringing more to the readers to the genre.

• 

  Serving Pleasure

  Alisha Rai

  Romance books do not often make best-seller reading lists because they are often thought of as “less than” compared to other genres. The fact that this book made The Washington Post’s Best of the Year list is significant in itself, but more significant is the fact that this book was the first self-published book to make the list.

• 

  Shanna

  Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

  Shanna was the first official adult romance novel I read. I found it under my mom’s bed on a summer day when I was 12, and I was hooked. Woodiwiss was one of the most popular romance authors in the 1970s and '80s, but rereading her novels is difficult. Coercion, rape, and forced marriage are all themes in her stories, and looking at them through a 2023 lens is very problematic. I included this book to contextualize the evolution of the romance novel and show how far the genre has come with its depiction of women and gender roles. Dedicated to my mom, Sue Krisko.

• 

  She Gets the Girl

  Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

  Alex Blackwood is an undeniably courageous flirt. Molly Parker is a socially awkward compassionate soul. The duo strikes a deal that helps Molly explore her flirtatious nature and helps Alex prove to her ex that she is not self-centered. The question is: Do Molly and Alex want other people or each other? Author Alyson Derrick, a No. 1 New York Times best-selling author, depicts a beautiful dichotomy between wants and needs in romance.

• 

  Sick Kids in Love

  Hannah Moskowitz

  Sick Kids in Love is an engaging book because it touches on issues that most books do not: romance of characters with disabilities. It shows that there are many good books for young adults and those with disabilities.

• 

  Silent Melody

  Mary Balogh

  Silent Melody is about Emily Marlowe, who is unable to hear or speak. This book goes through Emily’s life as she dreams about falling in love with the reckless Lord Ashley, who left for India and found a different love. “Seven years and countless dreams later, he returned to her, and love was born with a dance, a minute that stirred her soul, a song so passionate it has no words.”

  This book depicts an nontraditional kind of love. It teaches others that they can find love or love someone in any way they want, and love is different for everyone. Another reason we chose this book is that it is not often that you hear about the main character being completely deaf.

• 

  Something More

  Jackie Khalilieh

  Something More, by Jackie Khalilieh, follows a Palestinian-Canadian girl, Jessie, who was diagnosed with autism right before starting her freshman year of high school. This book can give readers a different perspective of what it is like to go through school and social interactions with a disability. Able-bodied readers are able to reflect and grow their knowledge of how people with disabilities navigate their daily lives, all while enjoying a heartfelt love story.

• 

  Space Raptor Butt Invasion

  Chuck Tingle

  This book is a bit of a doozy. While no one in their right mind would consider this book a flawless masterpiece, anyone could agree it is unconventional. The book outlines the erotic relationship between a human astronaut and a dinosaur astronaut describing how they have “totally-not-gay” sex. The most notable thing about this book is how it doesn’t live up to the wild expectations that the title conveys, though this might be done on purpose. Chuck Tingle is known to be quite the character, and it wouldn’t be unrealistic for someone like him to write something so outlandish simply for the sake of irony.

  Note: This book is notable because it was nominated for a 2016 Hugo Award, a major honor for science fiction and fantasy. It is a typical “monsterotica” story in a large but mostly unknown and misunderstood romance genre. Also, this book belongs to the "Is it a romance?" section. It's up to the reader to decide!

• 

  Take a Hint, Dani Brown

  Talia Hibbert

  This is the second book of the Brown Sisters series. It follows Dani Brown, a bisexual woman who only wants to focus on her work and grow her career. A workplace accident leads her into faking a relationship that turns into something more. This book is good for flipping gender roles by having a romantic man and a serious woman as its main characters. It also explores themes of anxiety and vulnerability with others.

• 

  Tara's Song

  Barbara Ferry Johnson

  This is a very important book when talking about marketing in the late “dime novel” era. This book was marketed as an unassuming religious woman falling for a strong Viking warrior, but in reality, she is a strong heroine who had romances in the past. This description was left out on purpose to convince the predominantly male business owners to sell them in their stores. This was a common tactic with romance novels in the mid-20th century.

• 

  Temptation

  Charlotte Lamb

  Published in the 1970s, this book was ahead of its time. The heroine is a strong woman who uses her wits and brains to get revenge on a man who took advantage of her. While it might not live up to the feminist standards of today, it was progressive for its era. It can help the reader understand more about the feminist movement during its second wave.

• 

  The Beauty Myth

  Naomi Wolf

  In The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf establishes a strong feminist argument against romance and delves into the idea of "the beauty myth," which is a list of stereotypes and rules that women are expected to adhere to in order to be considered beautiful. This piece is an inspiring feminist writing that makes cases for many gender stereotypes.

• 

  The Boyfriend Project

  Farrah Rochon

  This book has been chosen for its representation of African American characters in romance. While the book never loses its romance focus, it stays on the track of being an outstanding representation of multicultural romance.

• 

  The Boy Next Door

  Annabel Costa

  The Boy Next Door tells the story of two best friends-turned-lovers. Jason and Tasha had been childhood friends, and they remained so for many years. Jason was the nerd, while Tasha was the hot and clueless teenager. However, Tasha has always been able to count on Jason. When the time for college comes, these friends go their separate ways, then reconnect later in New York. Now, Tasha finds herself single at 32 with a desire to settle down but incapable of finding the right person. She had never considered anything romantic could happen between herself and Jason, having retired him in the friend zone and seeing him as a brother. It takes Jason to declare his love for her to jump-start the love story.

  This book was chosen for the collection because of how it represents disability, and it delivered. Jason is paraplegic, but the author handles this subject well. The hero is portrayed as smart, sexy, and adorable, dealing with his disability with humor and grace. Also, the author tastefully deals with his disability. This book was so much fun because of Tasha’s humorous narration. She also grows so much as a character from a shallow and reckless teen to an intelligent and likable person.

• 

  The Bride Test

  Helen Hoang

  The Bride Test is a heartwarming romance story that follows a character who struggles with romantic relationships because of autism. The diversity in this book can give readers a new perspective on those who are on the spectrum and struggle with real-world relationship problems. The novel also helps readers on the spectrum relate to the main character instead of commonly feeling excluded from the genre.

• 

  The Chai Factor

  Farah Heron

  The Chai Factor is Farah Heron’s debut novel. It features a Muslim heroine and white hero. Her story is a mix of laughter, love, and the challenges of race and cultural shifts in the modern world. It celebrates romance, Muslim culture, and how, despite differences, love can be found anywhere — even in your family’s home with a man in a barbershop quartet.

• 

  The Charm Offensive

  Alison Cochrun

  Experience the charm and challenges of love by joining Dev and Charlie on an emotional journey of love and self-discovery in The Charm Offensive. This beautiful romance follows them as they navigate the highs and lows of reality TV while discovering an unexpected yet genuine connection and offering a take on love and mental health. This unforgettable read will touch your heart and make you feel all the feels. This novel can really contribute diversity to the romance collection. This novel contains LGBTQ+ love representation, personal growth, and self-acceptance. These all need to be seen more in the genre.

• 

  The Code for Love and Heartbreak

  Jillian Cantor

  The Code for Love and Heartbreak is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, following the life of modern Emma, a high school student. Emma is the co-president of her high school coding club and develops a matchmaking algorithm to help her classmates fall in love. This novel represents the often-underrepresented demographic of women in STEM while retaining its unique qualities as a sweet young-adult romance.

• 

  The Dead Romantics

  Ashley Poston

  Different from the basic contemporary novels like Emily Henry's Beach Read, The Dead Romantics uses paranormal elements including ghosts to provide a more interesting plot while keeping with the Beach Read style of writing. Like most contemporary romance novels, it is an easier read that is simple to understand. This novel is fantastic at blending the plot structure of a contemporary romance novel with the slightest hint of paranormal features to attract a larger audience.

  We chose this book because it is different from basic contemporary novels like Beach Read, using concepts like ghosts to give it a little more of an interesting plot but keeping with the Beach Read style of writing. It is also an easier read like some contemporary novels

• 

  The Fault in Our Stars

  John Green

  The Fault in Our Stars offers readers insight into cancer. While reading this book, readers will feel a range of emotions. This novel has great characters who give the reader a new perspective on life, which can be beneficial to young adults. This novel will challenge readers to reflect on their lives, and it will help readers grow. The Fault in Our Stars is a very entertaining book that offers many readers a new perspective.

• 

  The Gloaming

  Kirsty Logan

  Following a family tragedy, the protagonist, Mara, grapples with her emotions and her family's grief. When a "mermaid," Pearl, comes into her life, Mara must decide if she's ready to bring love back into her life again. The Gloaming explores the romantic relationship between Pearl and Mara. The specific dynamic between Pearl and Mara is healthy and realistic, straying from the stereotypes often present in other LGBTQ+ novels.

• 

  The Hating Game

  Sally Thorne

  This book touches on equal professional ambition among gender and other inequalities. It also challenges common stereotypes concerning gender. As the story unfolds, it also delves into themes of vulnerability, self-discovery, and the power of love to transform individuals.

• 

  The Hellion’s Waltz

  Olivia Waite

  This book is in the Feminine Pursuits trilogy, books that are all historical lesbian romances. Most people assume that historical novels cannot be inclusive because of social conventions of the time; however, there are some wonderful LGBTQ+ historicals that explore gay relationships and how they function in different time frames. This book also sneaks in a polyamorous relationship if the reader is paying attention.

• 

  The Host

  Stephenie Meyer

  The Host is set in the future where Earth is being invaded by aliens. These alien parasites eventually start to take over human souls and erase their personalities. Melanie has been taken over but doesn’t want to give it full access to her mind — and they become unlikely allies, looking for Jared, a man still hiding from the aliens. This novel would be great to add because it is sci-fi, romance, and dystopian fiction.

• 

  The Inmate

  Freida McFadden

  Author Freida McFadden began her career by self-publishing and continues to do so independently. She is a prolific author, having published over 20 well-received books. Self-publishing has become an important part of the romance genre and should be represented in any collection.