8 Romance Novels I Read In 2024 That Bewitched Me, Body And Soul
Is there anything better in the world than getting cozy with a steamy drink and an even steamier book? No, I really don't think so — which is why I've read over 60 romance novels in 2024 (so far).
If you're looking for a book to warm you up after a long, cold winter, here are my eight favorite romance novels I've read this year:
1.The Catch by Amy Lea
The Catch is an adorable small town romance reminiscent of While You Were Sleeping. Fashion influencer Melanie "Mel" Karlsen travels to a spa on Canada's east coast for a sponsored influencer trip, but a booking mixup forces her to book a room at a B & B in a remote fishing village.
She and Evan Whaler, a broody lobster fisherman and partial owner of the B & B, get off on the wrong foot, and things only get worse when Mel accidentally causes a boating accident that puts Evan in the hospital. While he's unconscious, Evan's family mistakes Mel for Evan's fiancée, and the pair are forced to fake their relationship in a desperate attempt to reunite Evan's fractured family.
Mel and Evan's love story will reel you in, and it's the perfect way to end Amy Lea's The Influencer series.
2.Midnight Ruin by Katee Robert
Katee Robert's Dark Olympus series is like if Scandal was set on Mt. Olympus. It is dramatic, highly addictive, and occasionally ridiculous in the absolute best way. Midnight Ruin is the sixth book in the series and follows the love story between Eurydice, her bodyguard Charon, and her ex-boyfriend Orpheus who deeply betrayed her and almost got her killed. As the climate of Olympus becomes even more dangerous than usual in the face of outside threats, sparks have been flying left and right between Eurydice and Charon.
The pair finally get together after months of sexual tension, but Charon realizes that Eurydice is still hung up on her ex. He meets with Orpheus and helps the pair reunite, although Orpheus still needs to make amends for his horrible betrayal...which manifests as puppy play in the trio's sex life. But even though Eurydice's heart is no longer in danger, that doesn't mean she's not at physical risk.
If you're addicted to romance and drama, you'll positively devour Midnight Ruin.
3.All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata
If you're a fan of slow burn, small town, single dad, grumpy sunshine love stories, then you will positively devour All Rhodes Lead Here. The story follows Aurora "Ora" De La Torre as she leaves her job and famous ex-boyfriend behind and moves back to the Colorado town she once called home with her late mother. She rents a small apartment on the property of Tobias Rhodes, a grumpy single father who definitely didn't realize his teen son, Amos, rented out the apartment — and he nearly throws Ora out over the mix-up.
Rhodes keeps his distance as Ora slowly builds a life in their town, but he's forced to be more welcoming after Ora helps Amos during a health emergency. With every interaction, their chemistry deepens, sparks fly, and it becomes clear that the home Ora builds with Rhodes is what she was searching for all along.
All Rhodes Lead Here might just be Mariana Zapata's best book, which is seriously impressive considering how beloved her romance novels are.
4.Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff
Readers are in for a treat (pun intended) because Lindsay Hameroff's debut novel is just as sweet as it is hilarious. The book follows Lexi Berman, who desperately wants to become a chef in a Michelin-star restaurant, and Jake Taylor, a dive bar musician. They hook up one night, Jake moves to LA, and he quickly rises to celebrity status after one of his songs climbs the charts. The catch (because you just KNOW there's a catch) is that Jake's song is probably, almost certainly, definitely about Lexi's blueberry pancakes.
Till There Was You has everything you could want in a rom-com: a great meet-cute, stakes that are equally serious and silly, and laugh out loud hijinks. Hameroff's background as a humorist shines through every page with belly laughs abound, and Lexi and Jake's relationship will have you smiling like a fool in love.
5.Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
I can honestly say that Last Call at the Local includes one of the most realistic portrayals of ADHD and OCD that I've ever read in fiction. This book takes place in a small Ireland town where American musician Raine Hart finds herself stranded after her belongings are stolen. She wanders into a struggling bar, The Local, and impresses owner Jack Dunne with her vision of how to improve the bar's appearance and finances.
This book is so funny, and the romance is so sweet and loving. Every emotional beat feels true to the story and characters, and the eventual happily ever after is so incredibly earned. Sarah Grunder Ruiz's storytelling is realistic and heartwarming — you'll feel like a regular at The Local until the very last page.
6.The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren
This is the first novella in the Improbable Meet-Cute collection. Each story in the six-book series tells the story of how a different couple met on Valentine's Day. The Exception to the Rule is not just the best story in the series — it's one of the best romances of 2024. The book takes place over roughly a decade, starting when Callum accidentally emails Terra over their school district's email system. They briefly exchange some friendly banter, but they don't share their names or any identifying information about themselves. One year later, they resume the correspondence on Valentine's Day, and the tradition continues every year. Eventually, they move away to college and grad school, and they slowly reveal more information about themselves, until Callum discovers Terra's identity and realizes he knows her in the real world.
The Exception to the Rule is like a modern retelling of You've Got Mail, minus the part where Tom Hanks's character puts Meg Ryan's out of business. This book is genuinely one of the cutest romances you'll read this year.
Available on Kindle Unlimited and Audible.
7.Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez
Worst Wingman Ever is the second book in the Improbable Meet-Cute collection and easily the best romance Abby Jimenez has written. It follows Holly, a hospice nurse whose latest patient is her own grandmother. As she leaves her grandma's apartment on Valentine's Day, she finds a love letter (and coupon for a sexual favor) on her car that was clearly meant for someone else. The next day, she receives a note from John, explaining that John was supposed to deliver the card for his brother, but he mixed up his brother's girlfriend's car with Holly's. The pair start to leave notes and gifts for one another, and they each realize they might be falling in love with someone they've never met.
Available on Kindle Unlimited and Audible.
8.Trouble by Lex Croucher
If you love Regency-era romances, defiant feminist heroines, or The Sound of Music, then Trouble is the perfect book for you. The story follows Emily Laurence, who fills in for her sickly sister, Amy, as the new governess at Fairmont House. The only problem is that Emily hates children and doesn't have any governess experience...and she's pretending to be Amy.
Emily immediately butts heads with Captain Edwards and his two troublesome children, but she slowly falls for the Captain despite her best efforts. But Fairmont House is full of secrets, nobody knows that "Amy" is really Emily, and a nefarious naval officer threatens to expose Captain Edwards's bisexuality, which could cost him his life.
If you're anything like me, you'll absolutely devour Trouble in a single afternoon. The action is explosive, the sexual tension is unparalleled, and the happily ever after is incredibly well-earned.
Make sure you check out the best romance novels of 2023!
What are your favorite romance novels of the year so far? Share them in the comments! 📚💘
