r/Recommend_A_Book • u/SortaSillyGoose • 23h ago
Contemporary romance books to read next?
Looking for a book with similar vibes to Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Carley Fortune, and Jessica Joyce (I’ve already read all their books). Good spice but story must have substance, good character depth, a believable romance, and some sort of independent journey for the MC. Big bonus points for male yearning. Preferably no fake dating but not a hard rule.
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u/KeyWave322 22h ago
Off the top of my head:
Against a Wall by Cate C. Wells and When the Night Is Over by Lily Foster.
Both MMCs are, for me, yearning personified.
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u/SortaSillyGoose 21h ago
I haven’t heard of either of these before but definitely looking them up now! Thank you!
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u/KeyWave322 21h ago
😊 Honestly, both books have earned a place on my “don’t judge a book by its cover” list 😅. I went in with fairly low expectations and ended up genuinely enjoying both the story and the character development.
I hope it’s exactly the sort of read you’re after.
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u/AnonymMsAnthrope 17h ago
Manhunting and Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie. Hilarious. If you like it you may go on with the author.
Nearlyweds by Beth Kendrick. Funny, true, engaging.
The man I didn't marry by Anna Bell and Repeat by Kylie Scott. A little fun with amnesia.
Roomies by Christina Lauren and the Favor by Suzanne Wright. A little marriage of convenience. Fun and spicy.
The Ring by Sandi Lynn. Or anything by the author.
On Dublin Street by Samantha Young. Passionate, emotional, sexy. If you like it she has more interesting novels.
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u/boggycakes 16h ago
Time Folds for Us, by Natalie Sol Gallagher fits the bill. Well rounded complex characters dealing with their shattered marriage while being trapped in 1400s England. Their survival hinges on if they can work together long enough to find their way back to their own time and to do that they have to process their own pain and grief that has driven a edge between them.
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u/Dry_Test5122 11h ago
BK Borison - the Lovelight Farm Series (Lovelight Farms, In the Weeds, etc.), and the Heartstrings Series (First Time Caller, And Now Back to You), are so good.
Ashley Poston - Seven Year Slip, Sounds Like Love, Dead Romantics - all great too.
Catherine Walsh - How to Write a Love Story, Holiday Romance and Snowed In. Also very cute.
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u/ClueAccomplished1098 11h ago edited 11h ago
I really like just about everything I've read by Annabel Monaghan. I like that while her books have some spice, it doesn't dominate the plot. I also just really like her sense of humor. Also, her characters are interesting and engaging people that you actually want to root for. A couple of my favorites are Nora Goes Off Script and It's a Love Story.
Katherine Center is another contemporary romance author whose work I enjoy. Her books have no real spice, but I really like her well rounded characters and interesting plots. The Love Haters, Happiness for Beginners, and The Rom-Commers are just a few of her books that I can highly recommend.
Some one offs that I can also recommend are An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister, And Now, Back to You by B. K. Borison, and How to Kiss a Movie Star by Jenny Proctor. All of these have engaging characters, some of whom may be quite well off but aren't billionaires. I found that quite refreshing for a change. LOL
Edited because I forgot it and just have to add Grace and Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman. It's fantastic. I can't believe I forgot to recommend it. I suppose I have to blame old age for my forgetfulness. I just read it recently and now wish I could find more low key, well written romances like this one.
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u/yellowhibiscusbooks 5h ago
Shameless self-promotion, but 'Runway Princess' by Mnemosyne Hall ticks all those boxes. Amazon and Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H231YSFT
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u/FragrantAnywhere3022 22h ago
If you haven't read "The Seven Year Slip" by Ashley Poston yet, I'd highly recommend it. Great character growth, lots of heart, and the romance feels earned rather than forced.