With a renewed love for reading, we’re ditching our phones once the kids are in bed and putting our energy into a little self-care with a good book. BookTok has put a spotlight on so many great reads – especially romance – and whether you’re looking for something a little sweet, steamy or emotional, we’ve curated a list of some of our favourite romance reads just for you.
Knockemout series by Lucy Score
- Series rating: ★★★★☆
- Spice rating: 2/5
With book one selling more than 1.3 million copies worldwide and book two breaking pre-order records in the UK, Lucy Score’s small-town romance series pairs grumpy handsome men with heroines you’d like to be friends with.
Set in the fictional town of Knockemout, Virginia, the strength of the series is in the hilarious banter, small-town charm, quirky side characters and love stories that are set to take you on an emotional ride. With writing that keeps you hooked, the Knockemout series is easily one of BookTok’s best finds.
The first two books are available now and the third book will hit shelves in September 2023.
♥ Things We Never Got Over (Knox and Naomi)
Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox Morgan prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon. Knox doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of Naomi Witt, a stranded runaway bride.
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♥ Things We Hide From the Light (Nash and Lina)
Police Chief Nash Morgan is known for two things: being a good guy and a nice ass. But two bullets put a dent in his Southern charm and now he’s facing a criminal on the loose and a town that considers the law more of a ‘guideline’. The last thing he needs is the leggy, smart-mouthed Lina moving in next door, making him feel things he doesn’t have the energy to feel.
♥ Things We Left Behind (Lucian and Sloane) releasing 5th September 2023
Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean vengeance-seeking mogul. On a quest to erase his father’s mark on the family name, he spends every waking minute pulling strings and building an indestructible empire. The more money and power he amasses, the safer he is from threats. Except when it comes to the feisty small-town librarian that keeps him up at night …
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
- Book rating: ★★★★★
- Spice rating: 2/5
- Soon to be a movie starring Blake Lively
I was not prepared.
This is hands down my favourite Colleen Hoover book but I want to be clear, this is not a light and fluffy romance read. The book deals with heavy topics (namely DV), so if this is a trigger for you, give this one a miss. In saying that, I thought it was a brilliant story and I can see why it has become one of BookTok’s most popular reads. I picked this up when it was first released and was completely captivated by the many heartwarming and heartbreaking moments that tie this story together. It’s a book about first love, forgiveness, domestic violence and the power of choice. The writing is phenomenal and trust me when I say you’ll fall head over heels for Lily and Atlas.
The spin-off book, It Starts with Us, is out now and is told from Atlas’s perspective.
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Book synopsis
Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.
Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.
As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Book rating: ★★★★★
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was everything I wanted it to be and more. I waited so long to pick it up in case it didn’t live up to the hype but damn, this book deserves every bit of praise it gets! The characters are so vivid, and every time Evelyn spoke I felt like I was transported back to the golden age of Hollywood. I lived for her stories and waited anxiously to find out more about each of her husbands who were complicated to say the least – it was emotional. The little twist at the end was even better than I expected and I was genuinely sad to reach the last page.
One to pick up if you love strong female characters, great writing, and you’re looking for a romance like no other.
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Book synopsis
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon, Evelyn Hugo, is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself.
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens as the actress tells her story. From making her way to LA in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way.
Honourable mentions
Once you’ve made your way through those, here are a few other popular BookTok romance reads we recommend you read.
♥ Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall: Recommend the audiobook because this is witty and hilarious. A M/M romance set in London that is super sweet and has some of the best banter I’ve read in a while.
♥ Book Lovers by Emily Henry: A cute story with enemies-to-lovers, a sweet romance, sisterly love and small-town vibes. One sit read.
♥ It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey: A small-town romance with grumpy vs. sunshine energy and characters that will make you laugh and cry.
♥ From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout: A great romantasy series, these books include prophecies, royals, vampires, werewolves and epic battles. Strong don’t mess with my girl energy.
If you have any other BookTok romance recs, leave them in the comments.
Article includes a sponsored mention from Hachette New Zealand.
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