Read Our Fall Romance Favorites
Discover cozy autumn reads, spooky rom-coms, and dark romance books perfect for sweater season.
Looking for that second chance at love, an unexpected hometown return, or seeking the comfort of long lost familiarity? Read our Small Town Romance recs. Check out our Sports Romance page to get your fill of football, hockey, and all those unattainable MMCs.Read our the full reviews from last year's Fall reading lists. Books we already loved. Books we read and discovered for ourselves.Fall Romance
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Read-&-Rated Favorites (⭐ 3.0+)
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Bride by Ali Hazelwood
☆ 4.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“Loved this book! So much discovery before the two main characters got together.” - Penelope Black
“I LOVED this book. It really was a near-perfect story with a twist and HEA.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Arranged Marriage, Blood Play, Fated Mates, Enemies to Lovers, Knotting, Protective MMC, Touch her and die, Vampire-Werewolf Triangle, Wolf/Shifter, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Possessive MMC, Only One Bed, Forced Proximity, Hate to Love You, Slow Burn, Dirty Talker
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Charming Your Dad by Sarah Blue
☆ 4.25
HOT, HEA
“Huh, I didn't mean to enjoy this. Books with "daddy" make me nauseous, but for some reason, this was hilarious. Maybe it was the truth truffles?” - Cardigan B
tropes: Age 25+ FMC, Age 40+ MMC, Age Gap Romance, Ex-Boyfriends Father, What the hell did I just read and why can't I stop, Witch/Warlock/Wizard, Angel/Demon, Dom/Sub, Sex Club, Kidnapping, Creative Anatomy
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Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
☆ 4.0
NO HEAT, TO BE CONTINUED
“An inherited intergalactic inn that serves as a stopover on Earth for aliens? Really cool.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Magic, Innkeeper, Monster MMC, World Building, Werewolves, Vampire, Mythological Beings, Alien, Different Worlds, Portal to Another World, Hidden Powers, Hidden Identity, Protective MMC, Slow Burn, Texas, Sci-Fi, Witty Banter, "Haunted, Isolated, Mysterious Land"
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Devil's Deal by Layla Fae
☆ 4.0
MEDIUM, TO BE CONTINUED
“She's a witch in a small town, just trying to get by. He's the actual Devil who needs her to be his slave and won't take no for an answer. The whole book is his pushing her to her limit and her taking the challenge and rising above. But she has a limit, it turns out. Dead. Babies. the Devil is fucked.” - Cardigan B
tropes: God/Human, Witch/Warlock/Wizard, Villain Becomes MMC, MC is trapped, Loss of Parent (Death), Virgin FMC, Revenge, Survival, Stalker/Stalking, MC has a Tragic Past, Destitute FMC, Loss of Friend (Death), Afraid of Commitment, Abusive Relationship
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A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
☆ 4.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“WOW. This read is <300 pages and you'll be riveted for each one. Not graphic, but implied. The writing is so descriptive and touching, you feel everything Constanta feels.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Vampire, Age Gap Romance, Regency/Georgian/Victorian Period, Story Told in Past and Present, Revenge
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Falling by Christina Lauren
☆ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“No. Epilogue. AAAAAH. We deserved one. I’m going to write a strongly worded letter.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Angel/Demon, Cursed MMC, Seasonal, Hidden Identity, Immortal/Mortal, Age Gap Romance, Fated Mates
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The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
☆ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“Aw, this was absolutely adorable. I would have liked more about being a shifter. They were good together.” - Cardigan B
“Cute story, read the audio book (Joe Arden).” - Penelope Black
tropes: Doctor, Workplace Romance, MCs are Fake Dating, MC has Interfering Family, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Grumpy/Sunshine, MMC Falls First, Opposites Attract, Witty Banter, Dirty Talker, Fated Mates, Magic, Shifters, Wolf/Shifter
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The Fox Hunt by Caitlin Breeze
☆ 4.5
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
SEE OUR FULL ARC REVIEW “The best ARC I’ve read. This book is a cross between Gilmore Girls and Alice Through the Looking Glass. It's wow.” - Cardigan B
tropes: College Students, Secret/Elite Society, Rich/Wealthy MMC, Friends to Lovers, Portal to Another World, Shifters, MC is trapped, Secrets, Magic, Survival, Revenge, Cheating, Murder Mystery, MC has Interfering Family, Nerdy FMC, Female Friendship Group, Dark Academia
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From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
☆ 4.0
MILD, HEA
“They’re just accidental enemies. The way he took care of her when she was sick, came to her rescue when she was being threatened, the way he supported her after her mom's car accident. It was so lovely.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Sports, Figure Skating, Grumpy/Sunshine, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Protective MMC, Opposites Attract, Interfering Family, Found Family, Possessive MMC, Filipina FMC, Russian MMC, Figure Skater, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn, Hate to Love You
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The Girl from the Other Side by Anna Svoboda
☆ 3.75
MILD, HEA
“She's a ghost, haunting the manor where she died. He's a new tenant who can see her and falls in love with her spirit. Together they unravel the mystery of her death and defeat the powers of evil to find true love.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Ghost Romance, Murder Mystery, "Haunted, Isolated, Mysterious Land", Forbidden Love Interest, Protective MMC, Paranormal Protection, Suicide
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Gothikana by RuNyx
☆ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“We thought this would have more fantasy elements than it did, but the characters were likable and the FMC lost her virginity in the front seat of the MMC's SUV. You don't see that everyday.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Academic Setting, "Mysterious, Brooding (MMC)", Independent FMC, Childhood Trauma, Loss of Parent, "Haunted, Isolated Setting", Tragic Pasts
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Halloween Mating by Kyra Keys
☆ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“It was a fun, quick read. Just 81 pages. Our FMC goes out on Halloween for some fun. She ends up accidentally mated to an alien who was just visiting Earth for work.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Seasonal, Alien/Human, Short/Novella, Fated Mates, Meet-Cute, One Night Stand
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Her Soul to Take by Harley LaRoux
☆ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“I would have given this more stars, but Rae was an idiot. I was ready to throw her into the mines myself.” - Cardigan B
“Rae was so dumb. I couldn't handle it. She ruined it for me.” - Penelope Black
tropes: Ghost Hunter, Academic Setting, Cult/Sect, Demons, Human/Demon Relationship, BDSM, Enemies to Lovers, Magic, Age Gap Romance, Witch/Warlock/Wizard, Bodyguard, Possessive MMC, Protective MMC, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Dark Academia, Morally Grey MMC
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Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
☆ 3.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“Lazlo’s voice on the audiobook wasn’t as sexy as it was…gruff. The story was fun: a vampire and her slayer in a centuries-long standoff. Fun, but not as immersive as Ali’s usual work.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Vampire, Enemies to Lovers, Folklore Romance, Story Told in Past and Present, Slow Burn, MMC/FMC has Amnesia, Short/Novella
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Jack by Layla Fae
☆ 3.0
HOT, HEA
“She summoned a monster to entertain her lady parts because she’s bored. He gets her pregnant so he can stick around in this plane of existence. His head is a pumpkin.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Seasonal, Witch/Warlock/Wizard, Monster/Human Romance, Breeding Kink, Possessive MMC, Magic
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Key of Light (Book 1) by Nora Roberts
☆ 4.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“I love this series - read it 6 times at least. Nora Roberts is at her best. The first book is world building, but it sets up the relationships of 6 interconnected, likable people and the fate that brought them together. It's magical without being over-the-top.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Magic, Time Travel, Opposites Attract, Mythological Beings, Personal Growth Journey, Found Family, Female Friendship Group
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The Last Vampire by J.T. Geissinger
☆ 3.75
MILD, NHEA
“This story was a surprise - the point of view was new, it was lighthearted given the context, and it was a new take on vampires that I hadn't considered.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Vampire, Immortal/Mortal, Age Gap Romance, Ballerina, Rescue, Healing from Sickness, Short/Novella
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Love Bites by Lola Glass
☆ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“SHUT UP THIS WAS SO FUN. I couldn’t stop reading this series. I read it two days. I love the underlying story which is about survival versus really living. It’s less than 300 pages. Try it.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Vampire, Arranged Marriage, Sex First/Feelings Later, Royalty, Fated Mates, Age 25+ FMC
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Loving a Vampire is Total Chaos by Aura Hayes
☆ 4.0
MILD, HEA
“Reverse grumpy/sunshine with a fancy free vampire MMC and a serious police detective FMC. The traitorous cat needed more story time.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Vampire, Police Officer/Detective, MC has a Missing Parent, MC has a Sick Parent, Murder Mystery, Fated Mates, Slow Burn, MMC/FMC has a Traitorous Cat
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The Lunatics: Volume 1 by Navessa Allen
☆ 4.25
MEDIUM, TBC
“OOO this was a treat. It was short, funny, interesting, and ended on a cliffhanger. It's a shifter romance with fated mates and intrigue. So good! Not enough spice, in my opinion, but I hope Volume Two corrects that.” - Cardigan B
tropes: FMC/MMC are the same height, Werewolf Mate, Fated Mates, Slow Burn, Hidden Past, MMC/FMC is/are on the Run, Shifters, Forced Proximity, Vampire, Witch/Warlock/Wizard, Cliffhanger Ending, Magic
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Mate by Ali Hazelwood
☆ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“LOVED the story of "maybe" mates, Serena's sickness, her life as a hybrid. I would have loved for the epilogue to solve some of her hybrid biology questions.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Werewolf Mate, Werewolves, Vampire, Fated Mates, Hybrid, In-Heat, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Enemies to Lovers, Alpha MMC, Shifters
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The Midnight Arrow by Zoey Draven
☆ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“She's an outcast resident of the dark woods. He's a hunter looking for a specific prize. He finds the prize, and love, with her. Two worlds collide.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Witch/Warlock/Wizard, "Mysterious, Brooding (MMC)", Forbidden Love Interest, Forced Proximity, Hidden Identity, Slow Burn
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Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta
☆ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“What a riot. This book had no business being as good as it was. The characters were likeable, the setting was new and interesting, and you've gotta appreciate someone stepping outside of their comfort zone and grabbing life by the minotaur dick.” - Cardigan B
“I don't like how much cow he looked like on the cover of this book, felt weird.” - Penelope Black
tropes: Beauty & The Beast, Monster MMC, Workplace, Opposites Attract, Slow Burn, Down on her Luck FMC, Unconventional Love Story, Forbidden Love Interest
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My Boyfriends are All Monsters by Kimberly Lemming
☆ 4.5
HOT, HEA
“She's desperately trying to save her relationship by hiking with her bf and his friends. But she gets lost and finds him, our monster MMC. This is an incredibly clever and imaginative meet-cute where she tames a monster, the only who ever really see her.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Monster/Human Romance, Overcoming past breakups, Short/Novella, Seasonal, Forbidden Love Interest, Creative Anatomy, Exploring Fantasies
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Of Magic and Zombies by Anna Svoboda
☆ 4.5
HOT, HEA
“Well Hell's bells. This was an unexpected treat. A woman in post-apocalyptic Europe is bitten by a zombie but doesn’t lose her human consciousness. Fun and sassy FMC.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Vampire-Werewolf Triangle, Dystopian, Fated Mates, Shifters, Vampire, Enemies to Lovers, Found Family, Sassy Heroine, Magic
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A Pack for Autumn (Book 1) by Emilia Emerson
⭐ 3.5
HOT, HEA
“She's a lonely omega looking to disappear in a small town. They're a pack looking for an omega and she smells like PSL. In their efforts to take care of Olive, the pack can come across patronizing sometimes.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Omegaverse, Seasonal, Shy FMC, MMC/FMC has a Traitorous Cat, Loss of Parent (Death), Rescue, Fated Mates, Down on Her Luck FMC, Female Friendship Group, MCs were Childhood Friends, Why Choose
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Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
☆ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“Oooo this was a fun one. I'm still confused about why she would just...sign up for Phantasma on a whim (she's not a whim lady) but the trials were cool and I liked Blackwell.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Competition/Trials, "Mysterious, Brooding (MMC)", "Smart, Strong, Independent FMC", Ghost Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Morally Grey MMC, Forced Proximity, "Haunted, Isolated, Mysterious Land", Forbidden Love Interest, Mental Health, Time Travel, Portal to Another World
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Plowed by the Pumpkin King by Juno Delight
☆ 3.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“She's a depressed college coed, looking for love in all the wrong places. He's the Pumpkin King who has yearned for her since meeting her at a county fair where she won a costume contest the year before. He risks everything to give her one night of pumpkin-spiced pleasure.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Seasonal, Age 20+ FMC, Royalty, Rescue, Kidnapping, Down on Her Luck FMC, Culture Clash, Short/Novella
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Prize for the King by Layla Fae
☆ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“650 pages, read it in a day and a half. You love Caliane because you watch her try to unlearn all the horseshit she was taught to believe about herself and believe about men in power positions. Her heart can sense goodness, but her head is a swamp of nonsense put there by people who aren't worthy to piss on.” - Cardigan B
tropes: FMC previous abused (not by MMC), Arranged Marriage, Why Choose, Praise Kink, Rescue, Age Gap Romance, Medieval, Royalty, Pregnancy, Virgin MMC, Celibate MMC, MMMF, Reverse Harem, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Protective MMC, Human Trafficking, No Use of Contraception
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The Pumpkin Spice Cafe (Book 1) by Laurie Gilmore
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“Jeanie inherited a coffee shop from her aunt - perfect timing since recently finding her boss dead at his desk. Logan’s a local boy just trying to blend in after the failed proposal to his ex girlfriend a year earlier. Together they conquer their commitment fears and give in. And it gets pumpkin spicy toward the end.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Friends to Lovers, Small Town Return, Overcoming past breakups, Stalker/Stalking, Loss of Parent (Death), Family Business, Slow Burn
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Railed by the Reaper by Dalia Davies
☆ 3.25
MEDIUM, TO BE CONTINUED
“I was weirdly into this story. It wasn't nearly as smutty as the title suggested. It was dark and death-centered, a woman seeking her brother's soul in the depths of the Underworld..” - Cardigan B
tropes: Folklore Romance, Forbidden Love Interest, Loss of Sibling (Death), FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, MMC/FMC is back from the dead, Power Struggle, MC has a Missing Sibling, Arranged Marriage, What the hell did I just read and why can't I stop
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Scary In Love by Holly June Smith
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“She's a small town girl living in a lonely world…her parents’ house. He's the proprietor of a haunted house and into some kinky things. They live happily ever after and assemble a commune.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Seasonal, Confessional/Altar/Church Scene Kinks, Mask Kink, Praise Kink, FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, One Night of Danger, Family Business, Haunted, Isolated, Mysterious Land, Short/Novella
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Shadows & Light by C.M. Nascosta
☆ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“What a shitty life she had: unable to shift, deadbeat parents, sold as a breeding machine, held captive in a dank old strip club, reliant on a piece of shit mate to help her during heat. Loved the way the MMC, Lux, started taking care of her and protecting her.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Wolf/Shifter, Rejected Mate, Shunned FMC, Bodyguard, FMC Gives Herself as Payment, Kidnapping, MC is trapped, Werewolf Mate, Rescue, MMC/FMC is/are on the Run, FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, MC has Witnessed a Crime, MC is involved in Organized Crime, Short/Novella, Monster MMC, Creative Anatomy
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Space Vampire by Ruby Dixon
☆ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“She's a human pet for some asshole aliens. He's a test tube vampire grown in a space lab to be a gladiator. He escapes his confines and scares the hell out of everyone...but her.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Seasonal, Vampire, Alien, MC is trapped, MMC/FMC is/are on the Run, Rescue, Survival, Kidnapping
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Spicy Little Curses by J.T. Geissinger
☆ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“Creepy, mysterious, and so much chemistry. She's a skeptical reporter looking for a spooky scoop. He's actually cursed. Together they track down the mystical details and save the day.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Cursed MMC, Fated Mates, Short/Novella, Seasonal, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Hate to Love You, Tattoos, MC has a Tragic Past
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Squashed by Elsie LePlant
☆ 3.0
HOT, HEA
“HAHAHAHA this is a series. Listen, this is 50 pages, funny, weird. You’ll have a good time.” - Cardigan B
tropes: What the hell did I just read and why can't I stop, Vegetarian, Shifters, Fae/Fairies, Magic, Monster/Human Romance
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Sweet Blood by Lola Glass
☆ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“Love a wolf-fated-to-a-vampire story! Bloom is our resident vampire in hiding, clever and witty. Addicted to caffeine (hello, darkness, my old friend). And Maverick, a larger than life alpha of the alphas. Love Lola Glass’s books. In her 'Afterward' she specifically says she won't write another book like this. I hope she's lying.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Fated Mates, Werewolves, Werewolf Mate, Vampire, Marriage of Convenience, Possessive MMC, Boss/Employee, Murder Mystery, Loss of Parent (Death), Rescue, Stalker/Stalking, Forbidden Love Interest, No Use of Contraception, Slow Burn
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Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross
☆ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“Evie and Mateo are adorable. I'm not sure I'll read the rest of the series. The sister stories don’t sound as appealing, except Jules.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Werewolf Mate, Fated Mates, Witch/Warlock/Wizard, Strong Sister Bond, Cursed MMC, Slow Burn
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Xantera by Mariah Montoya
☆ 4.0
MILD, TBC
“Reminded me of Anthem by Ayn Rand - a Dystopian settlement and rules that stifle existence. She's a sheltered, rule-following plebe. He's a roaring monster outside the city. She starts asking questions she shouldn’t.” - Cardigan B
tropes: Vampire, Werewolves, Age Gap Romance, MC has a Missing Parent, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, Rescue, MC has/is Escaping a Sect, Survival, Kidnapping, Hidden Identity, Arranged Marriage, Cliffhanger Ending, Trapped
@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. No fading to black here.
MEDIUM
(Simmering & Steamy): Expect passionate kisses that don't always fade to black. Could be graphic, but probably one scene that goes full throttle. Things get steamy, and the chemistry is sparking. You’ll blush, but you won’t need a fire extinguisher... yet.
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?