16 Best Royal Romance Novels to Read This Summer

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There's nothing better than reading a romance novel on the beach, without a care in the world, and getting lost in a story with a guaranteed happily ever after as waves crash in the background. That being said... there's also nothing better than cracking open a steamy read by the fireplace in the winter, or sitting in the park with a romance under blossoming trees in the spring, or paging through a story in the crisp, cool air in the fall. Essentially: Romance is a genre for all seasons.

My personal favorite type of romance novel? Besides the enemies-to-lovers genre, which I can never resist, royal romances. top the list. Perhaps my love for royal romances began with the 2001 Disney adaptation of Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries, the story of Mia Thermopolis, who finds out she’s a princess of the far-off land of Genovia. How could you not swoon over the M&M's pizza she sends Michael? I've been a devoted follower of the genre ever since, though it has evolved in the two decades since Cabot first published her novel about the awkward teen princess. Contemporary royal romance novels deal with many of the pitfalls of modern royal life, including invasion of privacy, racism, sexism, and more issues. Still, being romances, they all end with a happily ever after.

Below, 16 of the best royal romances to read in 2023:

Red, White & Royal Blue

If you've never read Casey McQuiston's royal romance, what are you waiting for? The novel tells the story of Alex Claremont-Diaz, the president's son, who falls for Prince Henry, younger brother of the heir to the British throne. It's shaping up to be the summer of Red, White & Royal Blue, with the movie premiering in August on Prime Video, starring Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez.

A Princess in Theory

Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals series starts off with a bang with the story of Naledi Smith, a graduate student in epidemiology, who keeps deleting emails that say she's betrothed to Prince Thabiso, heir to the throne of Thesolo. When Thabiso seeks Naledi out, and she mistakes him for a commoner, they fall for each other. But what will happen when she discovers his true identity, and her heritage? A swoon-worthy romance.

American Royalty

Inspired in party by the real-life royal romance of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Tracey Livesay's novel imagines Prince Jameson falling for American rapper Danielle "Duchess" Nelson after she is set to perform at a tribute for his grandfather. Can't get enough? A sequel, The Duchess Effect, comes out this July.

Twisted Games (Twisted, 2)

Rhys is a stoic and arrogant elite bodyguard. Princess Bridget von Ascheberg is regal and strong-willed. Rhys has sworn to protect Bridget, but their relationship gets more complicated by the day. When her brother abdicates, she must navigate a new royal role, and her forbidden feelings for her bodyguard.

American Royals

What if America had a royal family? That's the premise of Katharine McGee's American Royals series, featuring royal siblings of the House of Washington: Princess Beatrice, Princess Samantha, and Prince Jefferson. Filled with intrigue, drama, and of course, romance, American Royals is a blast.

Tokyo Ever After

Izumi Tanaka never knew her father growing up. But, at 18, she finds out he's the crown prince of Japan—making Izumi a princess. She travels to Japan to meet him, and falls for one very good looking bodyguard. But along the way, she learns a lot about herself in this sweet coming-of-age tale.

Royal Holiday

There are no princes or princesses falling in love here, but rather, this story was inspired by Meghan Markle's mom, Doria Ragland. In her telling, Vivian, the mom of the stylist to a new princess, falls for the Queen's private secretary. "I was always low-key fascinated by the whole concept of royalty, and have read a lot of fiction and nonfiction about it, but Harry and Meghan really stepped that up," Guillory said in an interview.

Her Royal Highness

Millie Quint decides to apply for boarding schools, to get out of Houston. She winds up with a scholarship to an exclusive one located in Scotland, where her roommate is a literal princess. At first, Millie and Flora hate each other, but soon, they develop feelings for each other. Will they get a happily ever after? (The first book in the series, Prince Charming, is also very, very good.)

The Accidental Queen

Touted as Coming to America meets Bridgerton, L.R. Jackson's The Accidental Queen is the story of Ebony, who reignites a romance with Dafari, who is now a king. Only problem: Dafari is barred from marrying a woman who isn't from his homeland.

The Emma Project

Sonali Dev's Rajes series focuses on an immigrant Indian family descended from royalty. All four books are based on a different Jane Austen novel, and the most recent, The Emma Project, is about handsome bachelor Vanesh Raje and Naina, who just got out of a decade-long fake relationship with Vanesh's older brother.

The Princess Trap

Cherry is a single 30-year-old who decides to have a one-night stand with a hot stranger. That stranger, unfortunately for Cherry, turns out to be Prince Ruben of Helgmøre. When paparazzi catch them together in a compromising position, Ruben convinces Cherry to help him rebuild his reputation with a fake engagement. What happens when the fake engagement turns real?

Queen Charlotte: Before the Bridgertons came the love story that changed the ton...

If you can't get enough of Queen Charlotte on Netflix, you should definitely read Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes's companion novel, which fictionalizes the love story of Queen Charlotte and King George III.

Royally Screwed

Emma Chase's "Royally" series begins with Prince Nicholas Arthur Frederick Edward Pembrook, a.k.a. "His Royal Hottness," who has five months to find a bride. But one night in New York City, he meets a waitress named Olivia, a bold woman who isn't used to being bossed around.

The Royal Runaway

Princess Theodora Isabella Victoria's fiancé left her at the alter on their wedding day. After a four-month break from royal life, she's back, but miserable. When she sneaks out of the palace one evening, she meets a dashing Scottish man named Nick. But turns out... Nick is not just a British spy, but he's the brother of her former fiancé.

The Royals Next Door

When British royals rent the house next door to elementary school teacher Piper Evans, their (very hot, brooding) bodyguard, Harrison, decides she's a threat. But could there be a soft heart underneath his gruff, no-nonsense exterior? This is a romance, so you know the answer to that...

The Royal We

In a romance inspired by Prince William and Kate Middleton, American Bex Porter goes to Oxford and ends up falling for Nick, the heir to the British throne.

"Royalty [is] this antiquated system. We want them all to be great and remarkable, because wouldn’t that be nice?” co-author Heather Cocks told T&C last year. "But really, what are the odds? They weren't chosen for anything other than the fact that they came out in a particular order from a particular person. You want them all to be good people who will do the right thing with the privilege that they’ve been given. Will they? I don’t know. But in our books, maybe yes."

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