If You Enjoyed These 20 Popular Rom-Coms, Then You Should Read These Romance Books
1.Clueless (1995)
You should read: Prom Queen Perfect by Clarisse David
Jane Austen meets Gossip Girl (2007), Prom Queen Perfect is the perfect choice to read after you finish watching this classic. It definitely has the Clueless (1995) vibes and we see that in Alex dela Cruz, the protagonist, a young, rich, fashionable teen who is on top of the world. When her nemesis Adam tells her she has always been selfish, she decides to prove him wrong by doing a makeover on an invisible misfit.
2.Legally Blonde (2001)
You should read: It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
I paired up these two together because Piper, the heroine in It Happened One Summer, reminds me of Elle Woods. Piper is an It Girl who loves expensive items and going to parties. But when her stepdad tells her enough is enough, she's sent to a little fishing town to reconnect with her roots. There she meets a grumpy local who is definitely annoyed she ended up there.
Piper is very spoiled and doesn't know a thing about how the world works before she gets there, but she has such a big heart and a great mindset that you instantly love her. You want her to succeed. Just like Elle, she perseveres even if the world is against her.
3.Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
You should read: To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters
If you're in the mood for an estranged spouses romance book, you are in the right place. If you're familiar with this movie, you know that Sweet Home Alabama (2002) is about a young woman who is ready to marry her boyfriend, but realizes she can't. Not until she divorces her estranged husband she left behind in her hometown.
To Have and to Hoax is similar in that way. This story is about an estranged husband and wife in Regency England who have not seen each other since four years ago when they had a huge fight. Now, they're back under the same roof and they can't stand each other. But underneath all that sadness and confusion, love is still present.
4.To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
You should read: Like a Love Song by Gabriela Martins
This book is the perfect choice if you just finished watching the TATBILB films. Like a Love Song is about Brazilian pop star, Natalie, who just got dumped on live television. She needs some saving and her PR team's plan is for her to get a fake boyfriend. Natalie had hoped for a bad boy but what she gets is a soft British indie film star.
You can probably guess what's similar in both of them *wink.* We love fake dating stories over here! This book will give you a swoony romance to remember forever.
5.Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
You should read: Anna K by Jenny Lee
For fans of Gossip Girl (2007) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018), Anna K needs to be on your TBR. If you love the extravagant lives of the rich, the fashion, the parties and the drama that is constantly surrounding them, I say get this book right away.
Anna K is a 17-year-old girl who is at the top of Manhattan society. She has the perfect boyfriend, lifestyle, and has always made her Korean American father proud. But then she falls for the mysterious Alexia "Count" Vronsky, making her life turn upside down.
6.Pretty Woman (1990)
You should read: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Think Pretty Woman (1990) but flipped! In this book you'll find a young woman who needs a little help in the dating department, so she comes up with a plan to hire escort Michael Phan to teach her various things like foreplay and seduction. Of course, they fall in love, but is there a way to a happily ever after for them?
It won't be hard to love Stella and Michael just like you first loved Julia and Richard.
7.Always Be My Maybe (2019)
You should read: A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Chefs, estranged friendship, second chance romance... if you are into everything I've been saying, this is the book for you! Always Be My Maybe (2019) is about two childhood friends who fall out after a disastrous night. Sixteen years later, they have a chance encounter that might be the start of a second chance to love.
A Cowboy to Remember tells the story of chef Evie who, because of an unfortunate event, gets amnesia and forgets she ever hated her childhood friend and crush, Zach. But when he comes through the hospital doors and tells her he's going to take her back home to California, her mind starts to piece back together slowly. Zach will try to make her fall in love with him again and get that second chance they have always wanted.
8.Notting Hill (1999)
You should read: Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo
As soon as I thought of this rom-com, I thought of Somewhere Only We Know. Because, in this book, you meet Lucky, a famous K-pop star, who just performed her hit song in Hong Kong. Now, back in her hotel room, she is badly craving a hamburger. She never really expects her night to go any different.
Though Jack, the cute boy in the book, isn't a bookstore owner like William in Notting Hill (1999), he is also a really interesting character to follow. He's secretly a paparazzi, so you can imagine all the excitement this book will bring.
9.You've Got Mail (1998)
You should read: Hold Me by Courtney Milan
I'm a huge You've Got Mail (1998) fan to be honest. I'm always searching for a romance book that is inspired by the tropes the movie introduces. When I first read Hold Me, I was instantly captivated by the characters, and then Courtney Milan made me fall for the romance. Quite simply, this book is such a feel-good story you need to read it at least once in your life.
I call this trope the You've Got Mail trope because it happens in the movie, so now every time I encounter it, I'm like "this is the You've Got Mail trope." What does this mean? I call it that because we have two people who dislike each other in real life, but surprisingly, they like each other online. In the case of the movie, it's through an AOL account. While in the book, it's through an anonymous apocalypse-centered blog the heroine has.
10.The Proposal (2009)
You should read: The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
This movie is easily one of my all-time favorites. Mainly because I love Sandra Bullock and her doing a rom-com movie is phenomenal. But also because it's a fake engaged romance between two people who dislike each other.
The Spanish Love Deception goes on a similar path when Catalina needs to go back to Spain for her sister's wedding. But she doesn't want to go alone, so she thinks on getting a fake date. Enter Aaron Blackford, her nemesis at her workplace.
11.The Ugly Truth (2009)
You should read: Headliners by Lucy Parker
Sparks fly between two TV presenters! Be it The Ugly Truth (2009) or Headliners, the plot revolves around morning shows. We have two people who very much dislike each other, but now have to work together in order for their show to succeed.
This book gives us hate-to-love romance, but I love that the whole country knows they hate each other because they have traded barbs on their respective shows for years. So the public has never thought of them getting together, which makes for a very interesting story when they finally catch feelings.
12.Just Married (2003)
You should read: You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
This movie is just as chaotic as You Deserve Each Other. Even though they don't resemble in plot so much, I think that if you love this film, you're going to enjoy this romance book as well.
In You Deserve Each Other, Naomi and Nicholas are engaged and in a few months their wedding will happen. But Naomi doesn't want to get married anymore. She doesn't want to be the one who breaks it off though, so she decides to make Nicholas make it happen. This creates a hilarious prank war between them only to find themselves falling for each other again.
13.What Happens in Vegas (2008)
You should read: Maybe This Time by Christina C. Jones
If you are into the "accidentally gets married in Vegas" trope, look no further and pick up this book! Personally, I adore this romantic trope so much, because two people now have to journey through this new development in their lives that has to do with marriage to a person they didn't think they would marry.
In the book, Des and Trace wake up married to each other. Trace has been best friends with Des for 20 years and has never seen him in a romantic light. But Des has loved her for a while and he's ready to let her know in the right way. This is his time to show her that he can make her happy.
14.Candy Jar (2018)
You should read: The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson
Two teens who have been rivals for years now find themselves falling in love? Sign me up! You see, one of my favorite tropes is childhood enemies to lovers. They know each other since toddlers, have gone to the same school, and have been enemies on every single school assignment. They have seen the worst of each other and yet they fall in love! We love to see that.
This YA novel tells the story of Trixie and Ben, two rivals in a genius school. They have this ongoing war of being third in their school year and constantly compete against each other. But then their best friends start dating and they now have to spend time together. What is going to happen next?
15.This Means War (2012)
You should read: Pink Slip by Katrina Jackson
If you were one of the people who wanted FDR, Tuck, and Lauren to end up together, all three of them, I recommend you to read Pink Slip immediately.
Kierra was only looking for a job while she worked toward her dream on becoming a published poet. Instead she ended up being the personal assistant to married spies. Three years she has lusted after them, but seeing that it won't work, she decides to give her notice. During that last final week of work, her bosses whisk her off to Serbia for a secret mission. Between danger and secrecy, they give in to their deepest desires.
16.Dirty Dancing (1987)
You should read: The Infamous Miss Rodriguez by Lydia San Andres
Dirty Dancing (1987) is such an iconic film. Two people who probably would never have met under different circumstances fall in love.
Graciela Rodriguez is engaged to Ciudad Real's most eligible bachelor, but it's something she doesn't want. She wants to ruin her reputation in order for him to break it off. Knowing what she plans to do, her aunt hires a bodyguard, Vicente Aguirre, to keep her wayward niece from damaging the family name.
17.Bewitched (2005)
You should read: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Release date: September 28, 2021
It's the season of the witch! Bewitched (2005) was a fun movie where a witch moved to Los Angeles to live a normal life, but then she meets an arrogant actor who convinces her to audition for a role in a new witch-y TV show.
The reason I matched up these two together was 1) yes, both have witches as protagonists, and 2) because they hex their love interests. Isabel does it so Jack falls for her, but Vivienne from The Ex Hex hexes her ex-boyfriend, only for him to return nine years later with her curse still working.
18.How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
You should read: If She Says Yes by Tasha L. Harrison
Angela Bassett and Taye Diggs wearing bathing suits, enjoying the sun, and being super sexy together? Yeah, that's right. If you loved this movie, you'll definitely enjoy If She Says Yes, which is about Tomás and Darcy trying to figure out if this vibe between them can go further.
Darcy is Tomás's best friend's mother and he has been in love with her for years. He's going back home to take part in his best friend's wedding celebrations. Seeing Darcy again awakens something inside him and he's ready to show her how much he has wanted her.
19.The Break-Up (2006)
You should read: Love in The Time of Corona by Rilzy Adams
Following the lovers-turned-exes-turned-roommates plot, Love in The Time of Corona is going to give you this and more.
Rilzy Adams crafts a fabulous story where a married (but getting divorced) couple has to quarantine together for fourteen days. Alyssa is tired of always coming second in her husband's life, so she files for divorce. But Kingsley is not going to walk out quietly... he's going to show her their love still is alive and burning.
20.Endless Love (2014)
You should read: Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan
A good girl falls for a bad boy. Who doesn't love the sound of that?
When Karina's parents go away on a month-long trip, she thinks she is going to have some peace and quiet. But one little lie to her teacher (lying about tutoring Ace Clyde) unravels everything. Soon after, she agrees to fake date him.
