Contemporary Romance
Witty banter, modern relationships, and realistic love. It’s messy and fabulous all at once.
Check out our Small Town Romance recs if you enjoy second chance love and finding strength by learning from your past.Searching for a title that’s not listed? Check our lower-rated reads page for books we don’t recommend and why.
Contemporary Romance
🔥🔥
Read-&-Rated Favorites (⭐ 3.5+)
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The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren
⭐ 4.75
MILD, HEA
“Brilliant format - it's done in email exchanges over ten years...until we get to present. I was DYING of secondhand embarrassment during the library incident.” - Cardigan B
Anonymous Online Romance, Teacher/Student (Both Adults), Meet-Cute, Hidden Identity, Short/Novella, Valentine's Day Romance
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Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jiminez
⭐ 4.5
MILD, HEA
“Precious. They meet through an accidental dick coupon delivery. The end where they finally meet and realize who each is is heartwarming.” - Cardigan B
Short, Novella, Love Letter Lunacy, Nurse/Caretaker, Handyman, Down on her Luck FMC, Age 25+ FMC, Age 25+ MMC, Meet-Cute, "Smart, Strong, Independent FMC", Neighbors
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Double Your Standards by Sarah Blue
⭐ 4.25
HOT, HEA
“Funny, endearing, spicy. Twins from the first two books who grow up and start looking for what they want. And Kate is a charming FMC who gets their nuttiness from the jump.” - Cardigan B
Twins, MFM, Redemption, Entrepreneurs, Professor, Dom/Sub, Grumpy/Sunshine, Overcoming Trauma, Divorce
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Love, Utley by S.J. Tilly
⭐ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“Be still my heart. What an adorable twist of fate this was. I still don't quite know how they ended up in a library banging after hours.” - Cardigan B
Age 30+ FMC, Age 30+ MMC, Breakup Due to Misunderstanding, Second Chance, Ex Pro-Athlete, Boss/Employee, Love Letter Lunacy, Hidden Relationship, Slow Burn, Witty Banter, Friends to Lovers, First Love Returns, Progresses Over Years, Story Told in Past and Present
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Make It Sweet by Kristen Callihan
⭐ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“Not enemies, but not friends. Just people thrown together, dealing with their emotional baggage. They realize there's something bright in the other person and seek out those lights. There's thought and consideration without too much internal dialogue.” - Cardigan B
Tennis, Grumpy/Sunshine, Forced Proximity, Food is Love, Slow Burn, Matchmaker, Healing Together, Sports
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Moonlight Over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan
⭐ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“Love Challenge Harriett. She's easy to root for. An FMC who evolves and truly grows-what a refreshing read! For a doctor, Ethan certainly is a block head. Thank all that's holy that he figures his shit out.” - Cardigan B
Doctor, MMC/FMC has a Cute Dog, Forced Roommates, Friends to Lovers, Abusive Parent(s), MC is a Twin, New York City, Holiday Matchmaking, Christmas Romance, FMC Falls First
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Neon Gods (Book 1) by Katee Robert
⭐ 4.25
HOT, HEA
“I loved this book. It was fun, intriguing, had just the right amount of backstory, explained the character motivations, HAD SOME OF THE HOTTEST SPICE I'VE READ.” - Cardigan B
Mythology Retelling, Throne, Forbidden Love Interest, Grumpy/Sunshine, Independent FMC, Forced Proximity
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Electric Idol (Book 2) by Katee Robert
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“Wasn't as good as Neon Gods, they didn't give any background on Eros, like they did on Hades. And they focused a lot on her self esteem issues. Which I guess did set up a nice resolution for the mirrors.” - Cardigan B
Mythology Retelling, Marriage of Convenience, Forced Proximity, Grumpy/Sunshine, Plus-Siz FMC, Curvier FMC
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Wicked Beauty (Book 3) by Katee Robert
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“I LOVE a competition story. And I loved the personalities in this book and how they all complemented one another. Achilles is brash but observant. Petroclus was bookish but sexy. And Helen was sophisticated but skeptical. The end felt rushed.” - Cardigan B
Police Officer/Detective, Mythology Retelling, Age Gap Romance, Competition Romance, LGBTQIA, Enemies to Lovers, "Male, Male Female Relationship (MMF)", Forced Proximity, Reverse Harem, Why Choose, Fiends to Lovers, Only One Bed, Bodyguard
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Radiant Sin (Book 4) by Katee Robert
⭐ 3.5
HOT, HEA
“I love a murder mystery! I was drawn in early with the cloak and dagger subterfuge that was happening. But the plot lost me. Also..not to be weird, but there's too much consent.” - Cardigan B
Folklore Romance, Murder Mystery, Why Choose, Polyamory Love, Billionaire, Morally Grey MMC, Obsessive MMC, Dom/Sub, "Male, Male Female Relationship (MMF)", Competition Romance, "Smart, Strong, Independent FMC"
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The One Night by Meghan Quinn
⭐ 4.25
MEDIUM, NHEA
“GUTTED. So distraught I made an IG post about it HERE. She lifted me up and tore me down in just 82 pages. Love Meghan Quinn anyway. Ooo and the audio is Teddy Hamilton. deep sigh” - Cardigan B
Best Friend's Ex, One Night Stand, Separated/Divorcing/Divorced, MC has Matchmaking Parents, Family Business, Short/Novella, Christmas Romance, Holiday Matchmaking
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Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood
⭐ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“Intense, world-destroying YEARNING. Not as good as Bride, better than Deep End. There were so many endearing and heartbreaking moments, always juxtaposed with comic relief. “ - Cardigan B
Age 20+ FMC, Age Gap Romance, Slow Burn, Friends to Enemies to Lovers, STEM, Italy, Brother's Best Friend, Age 35+ MMC
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Royally Not Ready by Meghan Quinn
⭐ 4.25
HOT, HEA
“Lilly was soo childish. I wanted to slap her most of the time. I don't like calling them man panties.” - Penelope Black (3.75/5)
“Stumbled upon this one for free on Kindle. The burn build is INTENSE and when they finally get together, it's memorable.” - Cardigan B (4.75/5)
Hidden Royalty, Opposites Attract, Grumpy/Sunshine, Forced Proximity, Only One Bed, Slow Burn, Bodyguard, Golden Retriever, Castle Life, Hidden Identity, Secret Identity, Forgiveness Arc, Witty Banter, Dirty Talker
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Things We Never Got Over (Book 1) by Lucy Score
⭐ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“A quiet, small town, tattoo artist meets a tornado of a single mom down on her luck. Sparks fly, intrigue ensues and he can’t stay away - no matter how hard he tries.” - Penelope Black
Down on her Luck FMC, Grumpy/Sunshine, Terror of a Twin Sister, Mysterious/Brooding MMC, MMC with Viking Vibes, Band of Brothers, FMC does not have a baby at the end (for once)
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Things We Left Behind (Book 3) by Lucy Score
⭐ 4.5
HOT, HEA
“Unless it has ridges, a penis being describe as ‘silky’ is irrelevant. Lucian is the original Suit Daddy. He’s a bozo about keeping Sloane at arms’ length but their chemistry is off the charts.” - Cardigan B
First Love Returns, Small Town Return, Billionaire, Stalker/Stalking, Second Chance, Friendship Group, Grumpy/Sunshine, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Redemption, Protective MMC, MCs were Childhood Friends
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All Wrapped Up in You by Rosie Danan
⭐ 4.0
MILD, HEA
“This Christmas meet-cute is adorable. She's lonely on accident, he's lonely on purpose. But neither of them really wants to be.” - Cardigan B
Holiday Romance, Christmas Romance, Meet-Cute, Doctor, Neighbors
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Blood and Bones: Trip (Book 1) by Jeanne St. James
⭐ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“Pleasantly surprised by this one. Stella is a strong FMC (for once). Refuses to accept help until Trip actually proves himself to her. Stella doesn't ask for help, but Trip gives it to her. They basically know what each other needs.” - Penelope Black
MMC rides a motorcycle, Motorcycle Club, Slow Burn Due to Past Trauma, Slow Burn, Destitute FMC, Down on His Luck MMC, MMC/FMC has been to Prison, Tattoos, Touch Her and Die Vibes
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Blood and Bones: Sig (Book 2) by Jeanne St. James
⭐ 3.5
HOT, HEA
“Sig seemed a little creepy. He was "into" younger girls and had to always ask them if they were of age. It was hard to get past that. The story itself was disturbing as red was saved from human trafficking and breeding. Very dark, but had a HEA.” - Penelope Black
MMC rides a motorcycle, Motorcycle Club, Overcoming Past Trauma, Slow Burn Due to Past Trauma, Slow Burn, Destitute FMC, Down on His Luck MMC, MMC/FMC has been to Prison, Tattoos, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Human Trafficking
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Blood and Bones: Deacon (Book 4) by Jeanne St. James
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“I really liked Deacon. He did his own thing, really thought he was a ladykiller and got shot the F down by the FMC - very enjoyable to read.” - Penelope Black
MMC/FMC has a Cute Dog, Strong Sister Bond, Afraid of Commitment, MMC rides a motorcycle, Motorcycle Club, Possessive MMC, Sassy Heroine, MMC/FMC has a Nose Ring, Tattoos, Tall MMC, Bodyguard, Lawyer, Bounty Hunter, Bad Boy/Good Girl, Witty Banter, Protective MMC, Forced Proximity, Dominant MMC
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Bridesmaid by Chance by Meghan Quinn
⭐ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“This one was way raunchier than I expected. Loved their banter, the slow burn of the book.” - Penelope Black
Age Gap, One Bed, Boss/Employee, Marriage of Convenience, Brother's Best Friend, Billionaire, Overcoming Past Trauma, Slow Burn, Dirty Talker
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Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood
⭐ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“The best in this seasonal series. Two childhood friends reconnect after a series of misunderstandings. The description of the two of them on a twin bed gave me flashbacks to college.” - Cardigan B
Christmas Romance, Second Chance, Small Town Return, MCs were Childhood Friends, Best Friend's Older Brother
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Enemies with Benefits by Roxie Noir
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“Two childhood rivals reconnect after college. Everyone’s trying to play it cool, but they dig each other.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Workplace Romance, Small Town , Friends with Benefits, Forced Proximity, Hate to Love You, Slow Burn
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Hero by Lauren Rowe
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“I teared up in the first 11 pages. This is such a good read. Our first Lauren Rowe, but it won’t be our last.” - Cardigan B
Loss of Spouse/Partner (Death), FMC is a Single Mom, Firefighter, MC has a Tragic Past
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A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone
⭐ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“The filthiest, sweetest Hallmark-esque book you'll find. She's been evicted from her family for DARING to divorce her weasel of a husband. He's got a pretty low bar for affection. He teaches her to love herself. She teaches him that he's worth seeing.” - Cardigan B
Christmas Romance, Praise Kink, Dirty Talker, Religious Trauma, Childhood Celebrity Crush, Celebrity, MC is Shunned by Family, Redemption, Opposites Attract, Surprise Pregnancy
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Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“Surprised and delighted. There is A LOT of inner dialogue so be prepared. For the most part, it was thoughtful, it did get a little overwhelming at times as you want to scream at the FMC to STOP OVERTHINKING. Loved the MMC and his patience with the FMC.” - Penelope Black
STEM, Scientist, Revenge, Down on Her Luck FMC, Overcoming Past Trauma, Dating Coach, Tattoos, Academic Rivals, Workplace, Enemies to Lovers, Hate to Love You, Hidden Relationship, MMC Falls First, Slow Burn, Witty Banter
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Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
⭐ 4.0
MILD, HEA
“Starts off with a lovely enemies to lovers trope, but the FMC eventually realizes it is one-sided. This is my favorite kind of book - smart FMC, witty banter, enemies to lovers, cats, golden retriever MMC and so much more. Could have used just a tad more smut.” - Penelope Black
Smart FMC, Cute Cats, Enemies-to-Lovers, Workplace Romance, Golden Retriever MMC, MMC is FMCs biggest cheerleader, Scientists, Women in STEM, Tall MMC/Short FMC, Green-eyed MMC, Pierced FMC with Colorful Hair, Opposites Attract, Sabotage, NASA
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Mountain Boss by S.J. Tilly
⭐ 4.0 & ⭐ 2.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“This book was adorable. I always love when a broody MMC encounters a sunny, sweet FMC and she changes him!” - Penelope Black (4.0/5)
“There is no way the guys in the shed didn't hear them banging in the shelves.” - Cardigan B (2.5/5)
Lumberjack vibes, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Small Town, Age Gap, Grumpy/Sunshine, Reclusive MC, FMC in a Male Profession, Innkeeper/Hotel/Concierge, Down on Her Luck FMC
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Repeat by Kylie Scott
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“I really liked this one. I liked how he would ask her what she was thinking and she would just say it. I wish more people were like that. It's refreshing. This one also had a bit of a mystery which was fun.” - Penelope Black
Amnesia, Second Chance, Body Modifications/Piercings/Tattoos, Forced Proximity, Cute Dog, Loss of Time, Loss of Parent, Medical Condition, Rehabilitation, Forgiveness Arc, Tattoo Artist, Overcoming Past Trauma, PTSD, Slow Burn
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Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn
⭐ 4.0
MILD, HEA
“Adorable. Surprisingly honest about the pressure for romance during the holidiays. A true second chance HEA.” - Cardigan B
Return to Hometown, Second Chance, Holiday Matchmaking, Christmas Romance, Small Town, Love Letter Lunacy, First Love, MC has Interfering Family, Novella
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Steel King by Devney Perry
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“This one was entertaining. I enjoyed having a plot in a book other than just romance. A few twists and turns, with some enemies to lovers made for a great ride.” - Penelope Black
MMC rides a motorcycle, Motorcycle Club, Investigative Journalist, Murder Mystery, "Mysterious, Brooding (MMC)", Small Town
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Under Locke by Mariana Zapata
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“Mariana really can take the day to day and keep you entertained. FMC (for everything she had been through) was a little stupid with some of her actions. Who is going to quit a job when it pays well and it's going well. She was always sleeping or crying. What the hell was with the ‘it was so shocking that my butthole tightened.’” - Penelope Black
Tattoos, MMC rides a motorcycle, Motorcycle Club, Enemies to Lovers, Workplace Romance, Boss/Employee, Slow Burn, Grumpy/Sunshine, Surprise Virgin, Virgin FMC
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Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“I enjoyed this one. Love a small town concept and childhood crushes.” - Penelope Black
Second Chance, MC is a Jilted Bride/Groom, Small Town Return, Small Town, Forced Proximity, FMC is a Single Mom, First Love, First Love Returns, Neighbors, Found Family, Slow Burn, Tattoos, Childhood Sweethearts
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The Words by A. Jade
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“I reaaally liked this story. It has a "Baby Cakes" plot that's reminiscent of Rickey Lake in the 90s.” - Cardigan B
Rockstar, Betrayal & Secrets, Cutting Disorder, Plus-Size FMC, Childhood Friends, Childhood Trauma, Sick Parent, Concert Tour, Tour Bus, Morally Grey (MMC), Dyslexia, Revenge, Second Chance, Babysitter to Celebrity
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The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“The best definition of enemies to lovers I've read. They aren't even rivals, they're just souls who don't get along. Until they do.” - Cardigan B
Eating Disorder, 35+ FMC, Medical, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn, Cheerleader Kink, Curvier FMC, Tall MMC/Short FMC, Workplace Rivals, Grumpy/Sunshine
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Accidentally Yours by Christina Lauren
☆ 3.75
MILD, HEA
“This was a great story - as a marketer by trade, though, I was completely sidetracked by the FMC wanting to be a CMO with only 4 years of experience. Really sweet neighbors-to-lovers novella.” - Cardigan B
Workplace Romance, Slow Burn, Neighbors, Hidden Identity, Witty Banter, Short/Novella, Tech Startup, Divorced, Valentine's Day Romance, Holiday Romance
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American Queen by Sierra Simone
⭐3.75
HOT, TO BE CONTINUED
“I gave this a 3.75, but I'm still thinking about it. What a tangled web.” - Cardigan B
Politics, Second Chance, Friends to Lovers, Love Triangle, Dom/Sub, Dominant MMC, Forbidden Love Interest, Possessive MMC, "Male, Male Female Relationship (MMF)", Widower
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Dear Rosie by S.J. Tilly
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“This is a great story. The only criticism I have is how deep her love was for the MMC at the tender age of 8. Nope.” - Cardigan B
Second Chance, Chef, Childhood Trauma, American Football, Childhood Friends, 35+ FMC, Abusive Parent(s)
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Hate You by Tracy Lorraine
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“1. Main characters nickname is Bith (short for Tabitha), but I keep thinking Biff from Back to the Future 2. Zach is a complete asshole and Bith keeps chasing after him and it's pathetic.” - Penelope Black
Age 25+ FMC, Breakup Due to Misunderstanding, MC has a Secret Past, High School Reunion, MC in Grad School, Sister's Best Friend, English MMC, English FMC, Afraid of Commitment, Rich/Wealthy FMC, Social Class Divide, Witty Banter, Opposites Attract
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In Love and War by Kyra Parsi
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“As a marketer, we do NOT make the money to buy a Maserati. Also, I can't get over the charcoal grey suit with brown shoes.” - Penelope Black
“This starts with Amelia getting her ass handed to her for being entitled. I was instantly hooked.” - Cardigan B
Boss/Employee, 25+ FMC, 35+ FMC, Revenge, Forgiveness Arc, Witty Banter, Tall MMC, Enemies to Lovers, Sleeping with the Boss
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The Kings of Kearny by Navessa Allen
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“Maybe I watched too much Sons of Anarchy for this one. I hope there is another one.” - Penelope Black
“I'm a sucker for a well-written older woman. Krista knows herself and has her wits about her.” - Cardigan B
40+ FMC, Military, Possessive MMC, Veteran, Touch her and die, MMC rides a motorcycle, Alpha MMC, Disabled MMC/FMC, Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, Grumpy/Sunshine, Motorcycle Club, Protective MMC, Small Town, Tall MMC, Witty Banter, Bartender FMC
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Latte Darling by S.J. Tilly
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“Aw, this was precious. She goes on a blind date only to meet her date's dad instead. Instant sparks and they just live for each other. I loved that there wasn't any age shaming. The pineapple flavored condoms sounded nasty.” - Cardigan B
Age 30+ FMC, Age 50+ MMC, Age Gap Romance, Blind Dating, Breakup Due to Misunderstanding, Interfering Family, Single Dad, Hot Dad, Possessive MMC, Grumpy/Sunshine, Curvier FMC
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Merriment and Mayhem by Alexandria Bellefleur
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“Super cute. A girl is cleaning out her grandma's apartment and gets into two predicaments where she meets a hot firefighter. She’s so clumsy and he finds that endearing. She’s a bit of a lovable train wreck.” - Cardigan B
Christmas Romance, Firefighter, Meet-Cute, "Clutzy, Accident-Prone FMC", Rescue, Small Town
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Overruled by Lana Ferguson
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“I want the life of two retired lawyers who throw booze-soaked garden parties. Ezra was adorable. Dani was a pill, but grew a lot.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Lawyer, Family Business, MC has Interfering Family, Healing Together, MC has Strained Relationship with Parent, Age 30+ FMC, Age 30+ MMC, MMC/FMC has a Cute Cat
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A Play for Love by Trilina Pucci
☆ 4.0
MILD, HEA
“So cringe when the MCs first interact in acting class, I was impressed at how much secondhand embarrassment the author could evoke from me. Rory's 'Happy V D" pants were hilarious. I haven't read anything by this author before, but this was witty and charming. I'll read more.” - Cardigan B
Second Chance, Longtime Crush, Valentine's Day Romance, Academic Setting, One Night Stand, New York City, Strong Sister Bond, Short/Novella, Holiday Romance, Theatre/On Stage
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Rosie and the Dreamboat by Sally Thorne
⭐ 3.75
MILD, HEA
“This went hard into the spa descriptions. I almost didn't finish. And the FMC had some major "my sister is the whole package" trauma. I was cackling at "water coffin" when the MMC describes the apparatus.” - Cardigan B
Firefighter, Shy FMC, Golden Retriever, MMC all in from the Beginning, Lumberjack Vibes, The Ugly Duckling, "Male, Female Relationship (MF)", Spa, MC is trapped, FMC with Self-Esteem Issues, Curvier FMC
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Royal Valentine by Sariah Wilson
⭐ 3.75
MILD, HEA
“Two royals pretending to be peasants and they meet against all odds. Really sweet.” - Cardigan B
Hidden Royalty, Royal/Commoner, Tour Bus, Meet-Cute, Hidden Identity, Forced Proximity, MC has Interfering Family, Valentine's Day Romance, Seasonal
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Southern Charmer by Jessica Peterson
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“I really liked the dynamics between Eli and Olivia. It's refreshing to see a book character fail at something. And then have to work to get through it. I loved the Charleston charm. One of my favorite places in the states and now I want to go back and find a hot chef.” - Penelope Black
Runaway Fiancé(e)/Bride/Groom, Southern Charm, Romance Writer, Neighbors, Chef, Body Modifications/Piercings/Tattoos, Tall MMC, "Smart, Strong, Independent FMC", 30+ FMC
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Storm by Carian Cole
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“I liked how this one starter, but I'm starting to get frustrated with the FMCs having ZERO friends or support. Also, he started to really love bomb her and she fell for all of it. The scenes in the book felt incomplete.” - Penelope Black
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Triple-Duty Bodyguards by Lily Gold
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“Found this for free on Audible. She’s a celebrity with a stalker. They’re the bodyguards she hires to protect her. They give her peace of mind and…comfort. -wink wink-” - Cardigan B
Why Choose, Celebrity, Bodyguard, Stalker/Stalking, Only One Bed, Protective MMC
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Who's Your Daddy by Lauren Rowe
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“It was cute. The ending killed the vibe of the book.” - Penelope Black
FMC is a Single Mom, MC is a Single Parent, Older Woman/Younger Man
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Yule Be Mine by Jenika Snow
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“You had me at "Krampus role playing" - a fun story about a girl banging her boss. They were very responsible: they notified HR about their relationship and now they have sex in his office. The end.” - Cardigan B
Christmas Romance, Workplace, Boss/Employee, Role Play, Short/Novella, Monster MMC, Stalker/Stalking, Secret Relationship
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Second Act Romance by Julie Soto
☆ 3.5
MILD, HEA
“The story centers around the tour and a shrimp taco night gone horribly wrong. It was funny and charming. Not much meat on the bones, though, and lots of background on the stage blocking.” - Cardigan B
Second Chance, Mistaken Identity, Rich/Wealthy MMC, Friends to Lovers, Rescue, Theatre Actress, Theatre/On Stage, TV/Movie Actor
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Can I Tell You Something by Holly June Smith
⭐ 3.5
HOT, HEA
“It’s hot, sweet, a little unbelievable, but a cute story and a short read.” - Cardigan B
MMC is a smut narrator, Best Friend's Sister, French Alps, Brother's Best Friend, English FMC, Christmas Romance, Witty Banter, Exploring Fantasies, Down on Her Luck FMC, International Romance, Submissive FMC, Dominant MMC, Dirty Talker
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Conquest by Lillian Harris
⭐ 3.5
HOT, HEA
“EH. One minute they're lying to Leo’s boss to cover for each other, the next they're embroiled in a murder mystery to save everyone's jobs, not actually catch a killer. “Unqualified” is the polite way to say they’re both inept.” - Cardigan B
MCs are Fake Dating, Murder Mystery, Work Trip/Business Trip, FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, Brother's Best Friend, Small Town Return, Reformed Playboy
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Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan
⭐ 3.5
HOT, HEA
“Contrary to the rating, I liked this one. I was frustrated with the sister story and how coddled she was, which led to this entire situation. But the dynamics between Delilah and Saint were genuine.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, MC likes Sister's Boyfriend, Slow Burn, Sweet & Spicy Banter, Redemption, Second Chance, Childhood Friends Reunion
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Hyde and Seek by Layla Frost
⭐ 3.5
HOT, HEA
“I genuinely liked this story and the writing. It was sweet, spicy, hopeful. HOWEVER, the stalker storyline seemed to come out of nowhere and the culprit was too much of a twist. No breadcrumbs just BOOM it's this guy.” - Cardigan B
Age Gap Romance, Alpha MMC, Witty Banter, Opposites Attract, Found Family
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Luna and the Lie by Mariana Zapata
⭐ 3.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“The lie isn't big. Luna's sister is kind of an asshole. Luna needs to grow some balls.” - Penelope Black
Age Gap Romance, Motorcycle Club, Workplace Romance, Boss/Employee, Tattoos, Introvert, Grumpy/Sunshine, Possessive MMC, Past Coming Back to Haunt Them, Slow Burn Due to Past Trauma, Hidden Identity, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Morally Grey MMC, Opposites Attract
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Merry and Bright by Ali Rosen
⭐ 3.5
MILD, HEA
“Actually was sweet, but lacked depth.” - Cardigan B
Forced Proximity, Only One Bed, Fake Relationship, Cross-Cultural Romance, Christmas Romance, Loss of Spouse/Partner (Death), Pro-Athlete, Breakup Due to Misunderstanding
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My Best Friend's Ex by Meghan Quinn
⭐ 3.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“Not my fave MQ story - the characters are likAble enough, but the FMC and MMC are too young and green to identify their feelings and not get hurt at every perceived slight. Great DJ names, though.” - Cardigan B
Roommate, Best Friend's Ex, Opposites Attract, Friends to Lovers, College Reunion for MCs
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My Dark Prince by L.J. Shen & Parker S. Huntington
⭐ 3.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“This book was way too long. It was really slow to start.” - Penelope Black
30+ FMC, 30+ MMC, Cute Dog, Betrayal & Secrets, False Pretenses, Hidden Past, Forgotten Past/Loss of Time, Shunned FMC, Amnesia, Rehabilitation, Redemption, Golden Retriever, First Love Returns, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Engagement, Progresses Over Years, Forced Proximity, Royalty, Witty Banter
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Only Santas in the Building by Alexis Daria
⭐ 3.5
HOT, HEA
“This was cute. A "hot mess" of a girl moves into a new building and has a crush on a hot guy. He's crushing back. They finally connect at the building holiday party and are set up by the neighbors.” - Cardigan B
Christmas Romance, Meet-Cute, Neighbors, Hidden Identity
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Pretty Please Me by Jere Anthony
⭐ 3.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“An air mattress on a rooftop? Wouldn't stay put. A romantic thought that was completely illogical. And he described her orgasm scream as "a pitch only dogs can hear" and that really fucking sucks. Really liked our FMC Magnolia.” - Cardigan B
Sex Education/Learning Intimacy, High School Reunion, Friends to Lovers, Female Friendship Group, Dom/Sub
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Room for Two by Lana Ferguson
⭐ 3.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“This is a cute story. It’s not deep, but it’s sweet.” - Cardigan B
Short/Novella, Friends to Lovers, Overcoming past breakups, Summer Fling
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Unbind by Elodie Hart
⭐ 3.5
HOT, HEA
“He used to bully her brother. She hated him until she saw the good in him. The brother lost an eye and they called him ‘Winky’ - so rude.” - Cardigan B
Age Gap Romance, MC is a Bully (at the start), Golden Retriever, Billionaire, Forgiveness Arc, MMC has been to Prison, Sex Club, Hate to Love You, Loss of Sibling (Death), Down on Her Luck FMC, Second Chance, Redemption
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Wait for It by Mariana Zapata
⭐ 3.5
MILD, HEA
“Well, I waited. And waited. Nothing really happened. It was just watching ‘a day in the life’ of a single mom. Mariana can make mundane life interesting, but this story needed a little more something.” - Penelope Black
Slow Burn, Grumpy/Sunshine, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Protective MMC, Opposites Attract, Friends to Lovers, Loss of Sibling, Guardian, Found Family, Interfering Family, Small Town, Single Mom, Sweet & Spicy Banter, Neighbors, Military, Veteran , Latina/Hispanic FMC
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With Any Luck by Ashley Poston
⭐ 3.5
MILD, HEA
“Eh, it was a cute "we aren't a couple, we are best friends" but the FMC and MMC coming together and kissing and the FMC not remembering was awkward.” - Cardigan B
MCs were Childhood Friends, Friends to Lovers, Breakup Due to Misunderstanding, MMC/FMC has Amnesia, One Night of Danger
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Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
⭐ 3.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“Adorable plot. Adorable plot devices like the dog Lt. Dan and the love notes they wrote one another. BUT the fake dating went on too long and Briana just can’t get a clue. It was frustrating.” - Cardigan B
Fake Dating, MMC has Social Anxiety, Enemies-to-Lovers, Workplace Romance
@35CARDIGANS @BLACKCAT100
Find us on The StoryGraph
Join The StoryGraph, our romance book tracking app of choice. Scope out our TBRs, see which titles we’ve read, and watch us rate in real time. Just more proof that we’re humans.
(Yea, we also use goodreads…but so do our families. Who we’re connected to).
Sizzle Scale
HOT
(Blazing & Explicit): This is the full five-alarm fire. Bedroom doors are flung wide open, and the scenes are DETAILED, EXPLICIT, and SCORCHING HOT.
MEDIUM
(Simmering & Steamy): Expect passionate kisses that don't always fade to black. Could be graphic, but probably one scene that goes full throttle.
MILD
(Sweet & Tender): Expect sweet sighs, maybe a stolen, chaste kiss or two, and plenty of heartwarming moments that make you go "awww." If things get more intimate, the bedroom door gently clicks shut (fade-to-black).
FLOUR
(Platonic, if anything): Rare to find around here. This is a book that has…no romance at all. We probably read this by accident.
FAQs
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A guide to romance novels of all heats and sizes. We’re recommending books we’ve read (we’ve read 1,000s) and telling you what to expect. We’ll help you do your research - your time and money will be happy.
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‘Happily Ever After’ - nearly every book you find on The Velvet Pages has an ‘HEA’. It means that the story reached a satisfying conclusion. It might say “To Be Continued” which means there’s probably an HEA in the series, but that particular title didn’t resolve the relationship.
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This is how sexual or sexy a book is. There’s a range: Hot, Medium, Mild, and Flour.
Hot is ‘“holy Hell I’m sweating.”
Medium is steamy.
Mild is tender and sweet.
Flour means there’s nothing romantic here.
We label each book so you know what to expect and you can choose what you’re comfortable reading.
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We rate each book out of 5. Cardigan B and Penelope Black can rate a book the same score on occasion, but usually the rating you see is an average of their scores.
The ratings are pretty subjective, but include things like:
Did the story make sense?
How did the characters measure up?
Was the writing literate?
Was the premise or were the plot points memorable?
Were the mysteries solved? Did the questions get answered? Did you leave me on ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER, ONYX STORM?
Did the book make us feel something?
Was there a cute cat?
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We recommend starting with Historical Romance, Fantasy Romance, or Sports Romance. They’re the most popular and you’ll find recognizable tropes.
Start with Mild to Medium heat and definitely choose an HEA.
If you’re still stuck, email us and we can give you some recs!
Heyyyvelvetpages@gmail.com
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We’ll read pretty much anything. Each month, Penelope and Cardigan select a list of about 20 books to read together. There’s at least one book from each genre and some popular titles that have been recently released.
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We sure do! It’s called ‘The Velvet Edit’. You can sign up at the top or on the ‘Contact Us’ page. We send out a themed list of recommendations each month and a ‘Quickie’ (a single title spotlight) two weeks later. We won’t spam you.
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That’s the section of the site where we share what we’re reading this month for our book club. You can check out our other reading lists from the past few months of 2025, too.
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Nope, not even close. The books on the site are generally the ones we enjoyed the most. Or hit on different trends we see coming up.
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They are! If you buy from a button click on the site, we might earn a commission. You’re not paying more for the product, though. We’re all about ‘pay less for smut’ around here.
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We use Storygraph. It has a friendly app interface and has every book we’ve read. It also shows your reading stats, which is unique.
We have separate Goodreads accounts, but they’re connected to our friends and family and…I don’t want them to see that I read the first and second book in a series about a merman with two dicks.
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MMC is Male Main Character. FMC is female main character.
There are typically one of each, but there can be multiple in genres like Omegaverse or Reverse Harem.
Or, like in the case of Court of Thorns and Roses, the MMC could be one person in one book and another person in another book.
Don’t come at me about ‘spoilers’ - these books were published in 2015.
Email us
Looking for a book recommendation? Want to give us a recommendation you’ve read? Need to yell into the void?

