33 Books About Love for Every Trope

For Valentine’s Day, I dedicated my Instagram stories to a feature of a few of my favourite romances in each trope. However, I realized in COVID a new genre discovery also is an essential component to books on love: self-love. Therefore, I’ve expanded my list of romances to focus more on the theme of love, especially self-love!

I’m positive I’ve left out so many fantastic romance books; these just happened to be at the top of my head and/or frequent re-reads of mine. I’ve made an effort – especially with the reverse harem and paranormal genres – for each book to be principally a romance (besides the self-love section). Therefore, while the RH or paranormal novels most likely have fantastic or mystery-based plots, the book’s main point is about the couple (or quadruple 😏) getting together.

Books on Self-Love

How To Get Over A Boy by Chidera Eggerue ★★★☆☆
I really enjoyed how Chidera decentred ‘getting over the boy’ from moving on with a new boy to a journey and message about self-love and an affirmation of self-worth. While the feminist ideology is introductory (which is why I rated it 3.75-stars instead of 4-stars), the overall messaging, including the colourful aesthetic (loud, vibrant colours and full-spread quotes), made for such a fun read. Her introduction of new-to-me concepts (like hypergamy) and her thoughts on internalized misogyny was eye-opening. If you’re interested in more of my thoughts, click here to read my full review!
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Untamed by Glennon Doyle ★★★★☆
This book was one of the few books I started reading, not knowing much about the author or the memoir itself. And, I’m thrilled I went in blind; I’m a bit resistant to institutionalized/organized religion, so Glennon’s ruminations on her faith were initially off-putting but quickly became one of the most exciting parts of her book. I loved the consistency of Glennon’s vulnerability and openness; how she stood firm throughout, claiming her identity, her past and her calling. You can read my full review here.
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The Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Tylor Currently Reading
I’m currently reading this book, so my thoughts are strictly preliminary. I have only just started The Body Is Not Apology and find it so powerful. I appreciate how the fat-acceptance movement is grounded in the belief that everyone has the right to make whatever choices they feel are best for themselves and their body.
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Young Adult Romance

There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon ★★★★☆
The cornerstone of YA romance is not just the romance but the lessons learned by the main characters (and the reader) by the end of the book. I loved how Sweetie’s journey was learning to set boundaries and stand firm against her mother. While Sweetie’s mom’s fatphobia is rooted in her fear of Sweetie being hurt, she was blind to how the biggest hurt was Sweetie’s mother giving credence to all the fatphobic rhetoric Sweetie’s been hearing most of her life. Also, I loved how the Hero wasn’t two-dimensional and was shown to have deep, meaningful friendships. Read the rest of my thoughts here.
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The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger ★★★★★
This book was a cornerstone read in my teenage years; it was my introduction to a challenge of what I can now name fatphobia. It’s another book with an amazingly funny and sweet romance that truly shines because of its friendship themes.
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When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon ★★★★☆
I loved this book; it had such a sweet romance! I loved the opposites-attract set up between Dimple and Rishi and that Dimple was so career-driven. Even better, Rishi supported Dimple’s ambition and really showed a guy doesn’t need to an Alphole to be a leading man. And, while Dimple’s uncompromising feminist ideology can get a bit tiresome, I really appreciated its evolution and growth. She thought the only way to counter the patriarchy is to embody traditionally masculine roles (get a fabulous job in tech) and to spurn traditionally feminine ideals (no romance or marriage for Dimple!). But, she slowly realized the best way to flip off the patriarchy is to have it all. Read my full review here.
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Count on Me by Melyssa Winchester ★★★★☆
This is a YA romance that covers severe bullying issues, which extends into physical and psychological abuse. The Heroine, Bella’s bullies, target her because she’s autistic. The Hero, Kayden is a complex character; in this book, he does not bully Bella, but he is a bystander. Kayden’s best friend and ex-girlfriend are Bella’s main tormentors. Kayden realizes that being a bystander is its own kind of evil and seeks to make amends with Bella. What results is a tentative romance between the two that was so freaking adorable and wholesome. Read my review here!
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Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon ★★★★★
This book! I was grinning the whole time reading it; it was so freaking sweet and had its sexier moments. I also loved how the author grounded the rivalry between Rowan and Neil in something that wasn’t superficial; Neil unknowingly hit a major insecurity of Rowan’s in grade 9 (he shat on her love of romance novels), resulting in Rowan vowing to never let Neil make her feel less-than again. (So ensues the fight over every possible leadership position, grade ranking and award). I loved how the novel explores Rowan’s understanding that Neil has matured. And, the awareness that what used to be hurt has evolved into something that is compensating for a red-hot attraction 😏. Read my full review here!
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The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han ★★★★★
This series is the quintessential YA angst-driven romance that eventually enters into New Adult territory. It’s an ode to summer, childhood sweethearts, unrequited love and, most importantly, finding yourself. This series was one of the most heart-aching yet beautiful love triangles I’ve ever read. It really shows how timing and communication are everything, especially when life loves to throw curveballs at you. I think this series is the personification of August by Talyor Swift; give it a read if you love some angst with your romance.
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Sweet Romance

Unloved by Katy Regnery ★★★★☆
This book is the epitome of sweet romance, with the kindest and purest of Hero’s, Cassidy. Cassidy is living in solitude on a mountain to atone for his father’s sins, being a serial killer. The Heroine, Brynn, is grieving. Her fiancé was murdered in a club shooting and is struggling to move on. She decides to hike one of her fiancé’s favourite mountains in honour of him in hopes of putting her grief to rest. She didn’t expect her life to be threatened or for Cassidy to rescue her and nurse her back to health. But, what they discover between them, in their little slice of no-where on the side of the mountain, will change the courses of their lives forever. Honestly, this romance is swoon-worthy. (Disclaimer: if you have a tendency to read ‘sweet’ as ‘cheesy,’ you won’t appreciate this book.)
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Sugar and Gold by Emma Scott ★★★★★
I adore how Emma consistently expands the genre of sweet romance from a push and pull between the main characters to the impact of outside events beyond their control. This book edges into the paranormal – the Hero, Nikolai is an empath – but is grounded in the home and safe haven Nikolai and the Heroine, Fiona, find in each other.
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Revved to the Maxx by Melanie Moreland ★★★★☆
This book includes an amalgamation of the best tropes: the grumpy Hero and sunshine Heroine, the employee-boss dynamic and a little romantic suspense for some angst. While the book is quite sweet and emotional, it’s packed with sexy moments and some great banter! See my review here.
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Worth the Fall by Claudia Connor ★★★★☆
This sweet romance edges into the ‘suspension of disbelief required’ field. The Heroine has four kids and one on the way, is a widow (but of course, her husband was an asshole) and had a really crappy childhood. The Hero is gorgeously amazing and so caring and supportive of the Heroine and her kids. I really loved how Claudia romanticized the mundane and made having so many kids seem cute and romantic rather than a nightmare 😅. This book is pure escapism – go read it!
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The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan ★★★★★
This is perhaps my favourite friends-to-lovers romance. The Hero, Gray’s and Heroine, Ivy’s relationship was filled with banter and true friendship. As a warning: Gray slept around a lot before this book in the series… like a lot. Ivy’s father was a professional athlete who cheated on her mother every chance he could. So, Gray’s past is like a huge red flag for Ivy: he’s safe as a friend but dangerous for her heart. I really loved how they grew into their relationship and how they continued to fight for each other. Note: there’s no OW drama.
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Ride Wild by Laura Kaye ★★★★★
100% the best single-dad romance I’ve ever read; the kids are also so freaking adorable. As a bonus, the story is a Motorcycle Club Romance with an ethos grounded in protecting women and children from domestic abuse and gender-based violence. I cannot recommend this book enough; the Heroine, Cora, is so inspiring as she starts her life over again. Note: read the trigger warning before starting the book. Check out my review here to see the possible triggers.
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Steamy Romance

The Favor by Suzanne Wright ★★★★☆
This is a slow-burn marriage of convenience romance novel. And, while it takes the two leads a while to get together, it’s quite steamy once they do. Like all of Wright’s books, there is a lot of drama, and in this book, there’s both family drama and (so much) ex-drama. But the family drama is what made the book a compelling read. I also loved the Heroine! She was fierce, confident, and so freaking awesome!
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Hyde and Seek by Layla Frost ★★★★★
Perhaps my favourite contemporary romance of all-time, this book features so many tropes I adore! Including, age gap (~10 years), Grumpy Hero and Sunshine Heroine, the Heroine is the best baker in the world (it’s cheesy, but I find it so fun), and the Heroine is low-key badass. There’s also a romantic suspense sub-plot: the Heroine has a stalker (definitely take a look at the trigger warnings here). This book is super swoon-worthy, features a hot AF couple and has just enough angst to make this book a frequent re-read.
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The Master by Kresley Cole ★★★★★
This book is such a great read. It perfectly balances romantic suspense, intriguing characterizations, and so much erotica. The Heroine and Hero’s meet-cute happens when the Heroine – needing money ASAP – takes her friend’s place as an escort whom the Hero has requested. What results is a struggle of will that yields a smitten Hero, confounded by the Heroine’s secrecy and a push and pull that extends into BDSM.
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Stealing Cinderella by A. Zavarelli ★★★★★
I was surprised by just how great this book was; it’s well-written, has deep character backstories and details a complex plot with a kingdom in the balance. This book is also a DARK romance: check out the triggers here. I loved the darker play on Cinderella, which features heavy BDSM.
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Last Kiss by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick ★★★★☆
This book has the best leading character personalities; they play off each other perfectly. The Hero, Vasily, is so very tired of his life and the constant threats and ultimatums he has to navigate to keep those he cares for safe. He wasn’t expecting the Heroine, Naomi, to be the key to solidifying his leadership of the Russian Bratva. It’s steamy, it’s funny, and it’s quite dark.
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Daddy’s Angel by K.A. Knight ★★★★☆
This book straddles the fine line between romance and smut. It’s quite taboo as the Heroine falls for her ex-boyfriend’s father. But, I loved how supporting, and complementary the Hero and Heroine were of each other. While sex takes up most of the novel, I liked how there was an event that really tested their relationship. Read my review here!
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Paranormal Romance

Blood Trial by Kelly St. Clare ★★★★☆
So, this is a slow-burn romance with a really involved paranormal plot, but I really liked how Kelly explored a realistic (as much as it could be) romance between a vampire and a human who had no clue vampires existed until he. Their unbalanced power dynamics and the Hero’s secret-keeping are always confronted and aired out by the Heroine, which I loved and found so unique! It’s a sad day when basic communication and accountability are rare in vampire-human romances. This series has perhaps the most badass Heroine – while she can’t physically outmatch vampires, her mind is a weapon not to be crossed.
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Warden by Montana Ash ★★★★☆
This is the first book in a series of standalones that are interconnected with an overarching plot. So, while each book is about a new couple, you have to start at book 1. I absolutely adore the Heroine, Max and her love interest, Ryker, in the later books, but their love story in this book is a rough start. However, I decided to keep this book in the paranormal romances list because it ticks another aspect to the theme books about love I hadn’t really thought of until now: found families. This series is an ode to found families and the sacrifices they make to protect their relationships. Each book in the series just keeps getting better!
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Shards of Frost by Suzanne Wright ★★★★★
After reading every single shifter romance in Suzanne Wright’s Mercury Pack and Phoenix Pack series, I love that she finally wrote about a couple who discovered they were mates right away and didn’t run away from that fact (ahem, Nick). The Hero and Heroine were also so complimentary, equally dominant, and the fact that they meet at a shifter underground fight club is kinda too cool.
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Spiral of Need by Suzanne Wright ★★★★☆
Finally, a Suzanne Wright novel has only OM drama and not OW drama. I swear her books are almost assuredly packed with spiteful ex-girlfriends/lovers of the Hero. But that’s not the case in this book! The book features an enemies-to-lovers kind of set-up: the Heroine is a seer (empath), a type of wolf shifter who greatly wronged the Hero when he was a kid. The chemistry and push and pull between the main characters were smouldering. I also love the Heroine-is-a-healer trope; the Heroine was also so awesomely badass and confident.
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Untamed Delights by Suzanne Wright ★★★★☆
This book was such a highly anticipated novel because I was so curious who would be partnered with the infamous promiscuous Hero, Dominic. For how much Dominic got around in both the Mercury Pack series and the Phoenix Pack series, there wasn’t that much OW drama, albeit two flings from his past cause a lot of issues in this book. I really liked how the Heroine, Mila took no crap from Dominic: even if they were no strings, she still had self-respect and minimum expectations. I also really enjoyed reading about a character who found their True Mate, only to discover they’ve chosen to imprint on someone else. It was a rough journey for Mila, but I loved how it affirmed even True Mates are a choice in this series.
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Burn by Suzanne Wright ★★★★☆
This book is the book I think of when it comes to paranormal romance. The main characters, Harper and Knox’s story, span four books and are connected by an overarching plot: a villain who wants to kill Knox. While Knox is the most powerful demon on Earth and Harper is a regular-old Sphinx (not that powerful), I loved how the book showed its not literal power but the strength of the mind and spirit that really matters. Also, the relationship between Knox and Harper is STEAMY edging into some Dom play. It also features one of my old favourite tropes: no strings to rings.
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Reverse Harem Romance

Chosen by Stacy Jones ★★★★☆
While this book (and series) is an alien, sci-fi reverse harem romance, it is the epitome of such a sweet romance. I adored the Heroine’s relationships with her Heroes. Also, Stacy did such a great job individualizing each of the Heroes (which is, sadly, unique in RH romance). While the Heroine is learning to live her new life on her alien planet, the best part was the quadruple (?) figuring out how to communicate with each other – there was no easy language comprehension fix, which meant a lot of hilarious scenes. Read my review here!
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Lilac by B.B. Reid ★★★★☆
This book starts out kinda rough edging into bully romance territory; each of the Heroes have Issues. Also, warning: it’s not a safe read (one of the Heroes gets with an OW after hooking up with the Heroine. It’s not cheating, but I know it’s a major no-no for many readers). But I loved the detail of the rock star life and the Heroine finding her voice and power. From true enemies (and bullies) to genuine intimate lovers, the slow-burn romance was such an entertaining story. Also, there’s a romantic suspense sub-plot (of course) and some incredibly steamy scenes (including an MMF sex scene, which means MM sex).
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Signs of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy ★★★★☆
This book is hilarious. It has the quintessential Alphole, Prankster and Shy Heroes, but the Heroine’s absolute dizziness made this book a BLAST. It’s slow-burn both in the romance and sex department, but I really didn’t mind because of the banter and just straight-up adorableness of the main characters. If you want a laugh with some romance, pick up this book!
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Queen Takes Knights by Joely Sue Burkhart ★★★★☆
This series is set in a paranormal underworld that runs by matriarchal royal (vampire) households. There is so much steam in this book, but also, the devotion from the Heroes is breathtaking. The series (and this book) has a lot of MM sex but always in the company of the Heroine and grows to include women in the (reverse) harem as well (note: only the Heroine gets with the women; none of the Heroine’s men touch them). In each book in the series, the Heroine adds people to her court and harem, which was fun because it allowed the author to explore the relationship dynamics and add some complexities to the suspenseful plot.
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Trying to Live With the Dead by B.L. Brunnemer ★★★★★
Another contemporary reverse harem novel that touches upon a paranormal underworld. However, the first few books in this nine-book series are young adult (eventually moving into new adult). The series epitomizes the friends-to-lovers trope; while the Heroine eventually ends up with her five best guy friends romantically, they all date other people and put up a hell of a fight against their feelings. However, I seriously loved that despite the other people – romantic or otherwise – who come in and out of their lives, they put each other first. This series is another example of the found family trope.
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Finding Honor by Ripley Proserpina ★★★★★
I love, love, love this series! Contemporary reverse harem romances with no paranormal traces are so incredibly rare; this series is a perfect example of the best contemporary RH has to offer. This book introduces the Heroine, Nora, to the Heroes after she survives a school shooting she was a substitute teacher at. Each book is dedicated to a specific character’s backstory, fleshing out their traumatic pasts and how their found family helps them heal and cope in the present.
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My Favourite Romance Authors

If you have any other romance books you recommend, please mention them in the comments!