With all this talk of TBRs, book count tracking, prestigious recommendations, and endless insights, sometimes we forget that the point of this all is simply to enjoy reading. Sometimes the literary community can be extra hard on certain authors and genres, taking them less seriously than other literature. I myself am also guilty of this. BUT WHY DO WE CARE??? If you find yourself genuinely enjoying a book, who am I to say it’s not worthy of praise? A person’s love for a story should not be subject to anyone else’s judgement.
Some readers don’t care to acknowledge, many books that are considered lower quality serve their own unique—and very important—purpose. When a person is first getting into reading again, sometimes a trashy novella is more engaging than a classic novel. This article will explore some of the best romance novels to help someone kindle—or rekindle—their love of reading.
BEFORE WE WERE STRANGERS by Renee Carlino
A modern love story about the power of fate. Grace hasn’t seen Matt in fifteen years, but a glimpse of him on the subway has left her with the reminder of the profound relationship they shared back in college. This short novel follows both the timeline of them as young adults and Grace’s life now that she is in her thirties.
THE HATING GAME by Sally Thorne
I look back on this story fondly as it is the first book I binged within a two-day period. Lucy and Joshua are office nemeses, fighting neck-and-neck for the big promotion. Forced into painfully close proximity with each other, Lucy discovers just how thin the line between love and hate truly is.
A COURT OF THORNES AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas
Classified as a “romantasy”, this Beauty and the Beast inspired series incorporates Fae and other high fantasy concepts. Feyre, a human girl, is kidnapped from her home and must now live with Tamlin, High Lord of the Spring Court. Feyre navigates this new magical realm, as well as an unexpected romance.
BETTER THAN THE MOVIES by Lynn Painter
In a scheme to snag a date to prom with her newly returned crush, Liz requires help from her annoying next-door neighbor, Wes. While attractive and rather charming, Liz knows him only to be a thorn in her side. The one thing he might be good for is this ploy. This light YA novel is a perfect palette cleanser.
Novels by Colleen Hoover
I will be the first to admit that I have plenty of negative commentary to share about Hoover’s works. That said, when I first got into reading, they kept me turning the page and that is all I needed. Hoover has a plethora of works out, somewhat ranging in genre, but three particular books came to mind for the sake of this article. These works are engaging and provoke raw emotion:
- UGLY LOVE
- VERITY
- IT ENDS WITH US
FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry
Being one of this star romance novalist’s most highly praised books, this witty rom-com is both thought provoking and tear-jerking. Daphne is determined to start a peaceful next chapter when an unlikely friendship forms between her and Miles, her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex. Naturally, this leads to complications.
DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Though this story airs on the side of historical fiction, the romantic themes are gut-wrenching in the best way possible. Written in interview style, this fast paced read is perfect for old and new readers alike. A dysfunctional band finds their way to fame. Daisy and Billy are at the center of both glory and destruction.
Final Thoughts…
There is no one book that is right for everyone but these are the romance novels which I would personally recommend to anyone who wants to start their reading journey. If you have any other romance recs for new leisure readers, be sure to leave it in a comment below!
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