We are gearing up–I promise!–for the 2026 AAR Top 100 poll. We last did one in 2018. What romances, published since then, do you think belong on the new list? We’re talking books that would be one of your top 100 romances of all time.
For me, that list would include: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, Starling House by Alix E. Harrow, Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young, Bench Player by Julianna Keyes, A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane, Dukes are Forever by Bec McMasters, and The Wicked King by Holly Black.
How about for you?
Until You by Briar Prescott
Beautiful Hearts by Jax Calder
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
Wear It Like A Crown by Zarah Detand
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
Lips Like Sugar by Jess K. Hardy
This list has self-published authors and is mostly M/M so probably isn’t very mainstream but these are all books I have re-read many times and I feel are exemplary in the romance genre.
I don’t read nearly as much romance as most people who post here so I checked my Goodreads history to see what I rated five stars. There are quite a few five star romances but I don’t remember much about most of them, even though I obviously enjoyed them at the time.
The ones that are memorable and distinctive in some way are Heated Rivalry, A Seditious Affair (published just over 10 years ago) and Beard Science.
Oooooooh Beard Science – Cletus and Jen! Yes, it’s such a delight and has held its own, even if we mostly don’t use memory sticks any more 🙂 Penny Reid at the top of her game. Thanks for the reminder.
The audiobook version of this is simply perfection.
Books published in 2018 or later, alphabetical order
Duke Actually, Jenny Holiday
A Girl Like Her, Talia Hibbert
The Hollow of Fear, Sherry Thomas
The Intimacy Experiment, Rosie Danan
The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang
Long Shot, Kennedy Ryan
Love Lettering, Kate Clayborn
Part of Your World. Abby Jimenez
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, Megan Bannen
A Wicked Kind of Husband, Mia Vincy
Excellent list – I very nearly included “The Intimacy Experiment” too!
My top romances from books published since 2018:
Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas
Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews
The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews
Angel in a Devil’s Arms by Julie Anne Long
Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher
The Unlovely Bride by Alice Coldbreath
Paladin’s Strength by T. Kingfisher
Paladin’s Hope by T. Kingfisher
Paladin’s Faith by T. Kingfisher
Desire om His Blood by Zoey Draven
The Playing Game by Ainsley Booth
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
I obviously love T. Kingfisher, and I really hope she publishes another book in the Paladin series.
This is a great list even though there is no overlap with my list. I really wanted to put a Julie Ann Long, a T. Kingfisher, and an Ilona Andrews on my list, but I couldn’t pick one, and in fact what really impresses me about all of these authors is the consistency of their excellence.
While most of my reading majorly consists of re-reads — especially in the past 5 years or so, every now and again, I’ll pick up a book I haven’t read before (by a new-to-me author or someone I’ve read and loved in the past) and it’ll be so good that I’ll be thinking about it months after I finish reading.
My picks for stand out books of the past decade include Elizabeth Kingston’s One Burning Heart, A Rogue of One’s Own & The Gentleman’s Gambit, both by Evie Dunmore, Julia Bennet’s The Worst Woman in London and About a Rogue by Caroline Linden.
As I love the AAR top 100 lists I am honour bound to do this but as publication date isn’t how I group my 5 star books it will be a PAIN.
Devil’s Daughter – Lisa Kleypas
The Austen Playbook – Lucy Parker
The Bride Test – Helen Hoang
The Wallflower Wager – Tessa Dare
A Duke to Remember – Kelly Bowen
Firestorm – Rachel Grant
Ever Yours, Annabelle – Elisa Braden
Bringing Down the Duke – Evie Dunmore
Paladin’s Faith – T. Kingfisher
Iron and Magic – Ilona Andrews
I’m not sure I understand the question. If you are asking about my favourite ten romances published since your last list (2018-2025), the list would be more or less like this, trying not to give two of the same author.
Tal Bauer: WHISPER (2018)
J. T. Geissinger: MELT FOR YOU (2018)
Roni Loren: THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY (2018)
Kennedy Ryan: BLOCK SHOT (2018)
Rachel Reid: HEATED RIVALRY (2019)
Milla Vane: A HEART OF BLOOD AND ASHES (2020)
Lucy Parker: HEADLINERS (2020)
Jenny Holiday: DUKE, ACTUALLY (2021)
Sandra Brown: BLOOD MOON (2025)
Sarina Bowen: THE LAST GUY ON EARTH (2025)
BUT if we are talking about the last decade (2016-2025), it would change a little bit:
Elizabeth Hoyt: DUKE OF PLEASURE (2016)
Sally Thorne: THE HATING GAME (2016)
KJ Charles: AN UNNATURAL VICE (2017)
Alisha Rai: HATE TO WANT YOU (2017)
Roni Loren: THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY (2018)
Kennedy Ryan: BLOCK SHOT (2018)
Rachel Reid: HEATED RIVALRY (2019)
Lucy Parker: HEADLINERS (2020)
Milla Vane: A HEART OF BLOOD AND ASHES (2020)
Sarina Bowen: THE LAST GUY ON EARTH (2025)
So it depends on the question itself it’s one list or the other.
Hm. This is always a tough one for me – mostly because so many of the books I read are part of long-running series with a romance developing across several books, which means it’s impossible to recommend just a single book from the series. (I’m also going with books published 2016-2025)
In no particular order (and I’m sure I’ve forgotten some)…
Heated Rivalry / The Long Game by Rachel Reid
A Seditious Affair / An Unnatural Vice by KJ Charles
In Step by Jay Hogan
Boyfriend Material / Pansies by Alexis Hall
Firestorm by Rachel Grant
Pretty Face by Lucy Parker
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian
Until You by Briar Prescott
Death and the Devil series by LJ Hayward (3 books/5 novellas)
A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy
Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara
Two Tribes by Fearne Hill
Bitter Legacy trilogy by Dal Maclean
Chaos Station series by Jenn Burke & Kelly Jensen
If we were allowed same couple series, then I would definitely have Nicky James’ Valor & Doyle on the list
As far as the actual poll goes, I don’t expect (m)any of the m/m books will make it anyway (A Seditious Affair made the top 10 in the last one and the only other m/m to make the top 100 was Him which, while fun is not, IMO, one of the very best m/m romances around), so this is just me making up my own rules for this post 😉
I think series should be included as such. For example, all those Bridgerton titles from previous years should be conflated and listed as Bridgerton, by Julia Quinn in the next poll.
For this poll, we will stick to single books like all the Top 100 polls have done.
I’m not entirely certain this represents my definitive list—I’ve enjoyed so many romances over the past decade, also I suspect there’s a fair bit of recency bias at play—but here’s my attempt at a top ten, organised chronologically:
Only Beloved by Mary Balogh (The Survivors’ Club #7; 2016): I adore so many of Balogh’s stories; more recently, I was also charmed by Remember When (Ravenswood #3). Her last came out yesterday and is already in my e-reader.
Breaking Character by Lee Winter (2018): For anyone who loves a proper F/F ice queen romance… this one is an absolute delight. Main characters are both actresses with totally different personalities. (The audiobook is a must!)
Firestorm by Rachel Grant (2018): I also loved the second book in the series, Catalyst. In fact, the entire series remains my favourite romantic suspense.
The Sins of Lord Lockwood by Meredith Duran (2018): I do miss her writing!
Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans (2020): Loved this one—the first in a historical fantasy series that brilliantly reimagines elements of the Ottoman Empire. Plus it was fun to read about a young strong political leader ascending.
Cold Fury by Toni Anderson (2024): My most recent favourite from Anderson. This one hit me stronger than the others, because the MFC drama was so sharp.
Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young (2024): This one genuinely surprised me, as my previous reads from Bonam-Young had been Bs.
Priestess by Kara Voorhees Reynolds (2024): I loved the concept (a woman who saves herself and her friends from invaders by pretending to be priestesses), and having a mature female protagonist in fantasy is such a refreshing change. Her recent novella Illuminor is also a gem.
Tempting Olivia by Clare Ashton (2024): A lovely F/F romance between an actress and her divorce solicitor. Set in Oxford.
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (2025): My first Jimenez book, and it just clicked immediately. I’ve now devoured nearly everything she’s written and am eagerly awaiting the next one due out in late March.
Priestess:
A fantasy with an FMC who is not a 20 year old warrior/princess/chosen one? Did not know they existed. I’m intrigued enough to read it.
Yeah. I was just as intrigued when I first found out about it. 🙂
I will try your F/F, they sound intriguing!
And Priestess, too.
Reign&Ruin – did you like the whole series or just this one?
Hope you like them!
Re: Reign & Ruin and Mages of the Wheel series
I’m pretty much in line with what most fans have said:
Absolutely loved the first book – B for writing but A+ for world-building, plot, and romance.
The second one (Storm & Shield) wasn’t quite as strong. Took me a bit to get into it, probably because it doesn’t follow the previous main characters. After the first third though, I really enjoyed it. B for writing, B+ for plot and romance. Still a great read overall.
Currently struggling through the third (Siren & Scion), mostly because I’m not that keen on the male protagonist and the story’s dragging a bit, especially the romantic part.
Apparently the prequel (Wind & Wildfire, #0) is another fan favourite and I’m planning to read that next. And I’m really looking forward to the fourth book (Ice & Ivy) since I liked Ihsan (the male protagonist) in Reign & Ruin.
Thank you, MJV!
I have circled around this series repeatedly. The setting and the blurb make it interesting and the cover art is amazing. Now I have a clearer picture and a better reason to start.
Thank you again for the interesting book suggestions.
I tried Priestess — interesting premise but it is in dire need of an editor. It is bogged down by unnecessary exposition, repetitive scenes and clunky writing. Too many pages of the same trips to the market, taking a bath, brushing teeth and silent staring with the taciturn hero. I really wanted to like this but got to 80% and gave up. I appreciate you sharing bc I think the author has promise with a good editor.
I really liked the Clare Ashton! Though I preferred book 3, about the mothers, Discovering Nicola, even more. Two women over 50, what a treat! This is a fantastic author, so glad you recommended her!
Argh . . . new additions to my tbr as I write this. Seriously, great suggestions!
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon
The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin
Night Will Find You Julie Heaberlin
Code Name Edelweis Stephanie Landsem
The Midnight News Jo Baker
My problem with picking is that I have found so many good books in the last 8 years BUT I struggle to compare them with the ones already on our top 100 list. And a single great book – The Midnight News or Code Name Edelweis – maybe doesn’t deserve as much attention as a Farrah Rochon, Madeline Martin, or Jasmine Guillory, who consistently write terrific romances. I’ll be interested to see the final product.
Do you think all of these are romances? Just curious.
Sun Down Motel might be iffy, but I liked the romance it portrayed. I guess for me it felt like it captured some romances I knew/know in real life, where people begin by hanging out together, get to know each other, and then move to dating. The book left us with an HFN that I could see moving to an HEA. Night Will Find You was definitely romantic suspense. The Midnight News had the sweetest damaged people finding each other love story I’ve ever read.
Diane Gabaldon has said Outlander isn’t a romance, and it was certainly never romantic to me, and yet it has appeared on our list for years, so I figure there’s some leeway in choosing 😉
Got it!
Ok, so I did my best.
I went for books I found memorable, and rereads, and of course, romances.
10 years is really too long to go for just 10 books, so this is a try.
Most are a book I loved from an author who consistent delivers good books for me.
I also tended to leave out authors that already appear on lists below, unless I love them and reread them a lot, because I read a lot of books, and loved many from lists below, as well.
Cat Sebastian We could be so good
Alexandra Rowland A Taste of Gold and Iron
Everina Maxwell Winter’s Orbit
R. Cooper A suitable Consort
Abigail Kelly Kohl
T. Kingfisher Paladin’s Grace
Kate Healey Hera Takes Charge
Dani Collins Afternoon Delight
L.A Witt Leave
Alyssa Cole How to catch a Queen
Yeah, I found the idea 10 for a 10-year timeline problematic. There is almost too much consensus already. For example, I can’t not put Valor & Doyle in my top 10 (because that is what Dabney asked us to list) even though others have already mentioned it. Also, it isn’t clear that a series will be included in this go around.) But there have been a LOT of great titles published deserving consideration.
Series will not be included.
Makes sense – it would be a bit unfair to compare books that manage their HEA in one book to those that take a leisurely 4 or 5! Although there are some books where the divide seems very arbitrary.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a best book list that included series. If a book within a series is a fave, it goes on the list. Series are complicated–I love some of the books in JAL’s Pennyroyal Green books but others, not as much. I wouldn’t put the whole series up as one unit because I don’t think all the books are equally great or not so great.
Single-couple series and multiple-couple series really aren’t comparable. Multiple-couple series are interconnected books with standalone romances. I realize sometimes the romances are forshadowed in earlier books, but that’s not the same.
I’m not necessarily making a case for their inclusion in a Best of list, but they do tell one single romance over muiltiple books, not 7 couples in 7 books. I do wish there was a category for this kind of series though, because they are an important subset of the romance genre.
I agree. I just don’t think series belong in what is essentially a single book poll.
And I still think you have the issue that a series implies you’d rate all the books the same which I think is rare.
I can honestly say while I rated the first book a B+, I rated the rest of the 8 books in the Valor and Doyle series as A’s.
It might be rare, but it happens.
I’ve also rated all of C.S. Poe’s Momento Mori books and her Magic and Steam seriesas A’s.
Also:
A Charm of Magpie series by KJ Charles
Thomas Elkin series by N.R. Walker
The Painted Bay series by Jay Hogan (multiple couples)
I have even more series that I rated one book (usually the first) B/B+ and the rest A’s. I think having a consistent grade is more common in single-couple series than in mutli-couple series.
I’m also not arguing for a change, but it does mean that I can’t nominate the vast majority of my favourite books of the past 10 years because they’re almost all part of series that DO maintain quality over the whole series.
You can nominate whatever you like as long as they are single books.
I’d argue too that recommending series to someone is different than recommending a single book.
My brain doesn’t really work that way though. I can’t nominate book 4 in a long-running series without nominating all the others because it’s ONE romance. But like I said, the books I like rarely make the top 100, so it was just wishful thinkning.
Then my top 10 list should include
Bitter Legacy, Dal Maclean
Heated Rivalry, Rachel Reid
Temporary Partner, Nicky James
Madison Square Murders, C.S. Poe
Dark Horse, Michelle Diener
To play devil’s advocate for a minute here, the title of the poll and its results has always been “Top Romances” – not books containing a single romance. The history of this poll was certainly inspired by a list of Best Books of the Century; and the polling rules here at AAR have always been that submissions had to be single books. BUT the title of the published results has always implied that the list is a ranked list of what AAR readers have chosen as their favorite love stories of all time, at any given point in time. But that just isn’t true if multi-book characters aren’t included.
It’s fine to say that we can nominate and vote on any book we choose to. But in reality that does a disservice to multibook characters and their stories. It is the equivalent of asking us to nominate and vote on only a few chapters in Beard Science or The Lord of Scoundrels.
Thank you for your input!
This poll is not really for AAR’s most devoted readers. It’s a general poll for those who are looking for what the consensus is on the greatest romance novels ever written. As such, it makes sense to keep it to what it has always been: a list of 100 books!
A small change to the poll title will remove the problem: Top 100 Romance Novels poll.
That removes series, short stories, novellas, and novelettes, though it does add a new boundary problem between novellas or novelettes and novels.
I refer to romances that take more than one book to develop the relationship of a couple despite an initial apparent HEA as mid-course correction stories. If books before the last don’t end with any sort of HFN or HEA, I will apply the romance label to the whole series, but not to the individual books. I generally don’t like multi-book mid-course correction romances as much as one-book-per-couple romances because the mid-course correction diminishes any apparent HEA in the first volume.
When I talk about same-couple series, there’s no mid-course correction; they’re stories where the relationship develops (changes and grows) over time and every book ends with an HFN. (The 1st Valor & Doyle book doesn’t have an HFN because they’re not together by that point, but the mutual attraction is VERY clear and it’s just as clear that they WILL end up together.)
To me, a mid-course correction implies that the relationship isn’t going well; what I’m talking about is couples who have to learn what it means to be part of a couple, who have the sorts of arguments and disputes every couple has and who grow stronger as a result.
Another good suggestion Mark: change the name to be specific.
I’d suggest one more change to be completely specific: replace the word “Top” with “Favorite”. There have been many conversations on the site over the years about the fact that the word Top is open to interpretation (personal favorite? what we might recommend to a new reader? “stands the test of time”, etc.). “Favorite Romance Novel” makes it clear what readers should nominate and vote for, and what the resulting list contains.
AAR’s 100 Favorite Romance Novels (2026)
I think I’m going to stick with the same title we’ve had since 1998 in order to have consistency. I think this is probably the last poll we will do–it makes sense to me that it would have the same name as all those before it!
If you don’t do a poll again, would you at least consider doing an annual blog where readers can share their top 10? There have been so many great suggestions from other readers. I appreciate everyone sharing their top 10…I now have a long list of books to try.
That’s a lovely idea.
Despite my comment elsewhere in this thread that Bridgerton could be conflated into a single entry, I think you make a great point about single couple vs. multiple couple
series. That makes sense to me if we are talking about the best “romance” – a story about the relationship between MCs who find a HEA/HFN.
I think the rubric we will use is that you can nominate a single book in a series even if the HEA doesn’t occur in that book.
I wouldn’t call the relationship development across a series like Valor and Doyle “leisurely.” First, there is a major difference between single couple series and multi-couple series, since multi-couple series are essentially connected standalones as far as the romances go.
In the V and D series the couple is together early on, and what you get is the very satisfying deep dive into relationship development usually absent by necessity in standalone romances. This also leaves room for really well done story arcs such as fantasy elements, sci-fi adventure, or in this case suspense plots.
I love standalones and series both. Both are challenging to write in their own way and bring something good to the genre. I agree it’s difficult to compare, but it also seems a bit unfair that great romantic series can’t be acknowledged in these “best of” lists. They add so much to the genre, but if they get split when people pick different ones (how do you pick?) then they rarely make the lists. Literally some of the best romances I’ve read are single couple series.
Perhaps we need a list just for single-couple series.
I think in both M/F and M/M same-couple series, it is more common for the relationship development to be the secondary plot. For example, a mystery to solve is plot A for the Valor and Doyle (Nicky James, M/M) and In Death (J.D. Robb, M/F) series. Thus, I would find it hard to pick one book of these series as a top 100 romance because for me, a romance novel has the relationship as plot A. I know there are series that are only about the couple’s evolving relationship and you have named an excellent one above (Thomas Elkin series). However, I would be hard pressed to pick one of those 3 books as the best. In these types of series, I suspect the best would be either the first book (relationship fresh and new) or the final book (everything wrapped up and characters happy forever).
Anyway, even if we don’t include series on the top 100 list, I would greatly enjoy a blog post where readers could give recommendations on their favorite same-couple series!
I guess I wouldn’t compare James’s series to JD Robb’s, which I think were light on romantic development at the best of times (plus being a bazillion books long!), but I do get your point.
Like you I can’t pick which Thomas Elkin book as the best, which is my point. They are one relationship arc. But I know that adding a series to the Top 100 has been thoroughly nixed, so it won’t happen. Your idea of having a blog post is a good one, and it would be fun top explore. I’d list multiple couples and single couple series separately because they are vastly different in my opinion.
I agree with your comment about relationship arc. Of the same-couple series that are only about the relationship, there are still different types. In some, the series is really just one long story that the author broke up into several books. In these, sometimes a given book ends in a cliffhanger. Then there are others where each book introduces a relationship issue that is mostly resolved and ends with a HFN with the last book in the series having the HEA. For example, Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry/The Long Game duet (well, now there’s going to be a third). In that type of series, it is much easier to pick one book for a Top 100 list (Heated Rivalry was in my top 10 list on this post).
I forgot “A Taste of Gold and Iron” – I have it filed under fantasy but the romance is so strong!
Romances have become so much more diverse in the last 10 years, which I have really enjoyed – my own top 100 list of the last few decades would weight much more heavily toward the last 10 years than any decade before that. My current favorite/ most re-read romances from 2016-2025, excluding a few mentioned more than once by others (great lists, folks :)) are:
Ari Baran, Goaltender Interference
Rachel Reid, Time To Shine
Cait Nary, Contract Season
Cat Sebastian, Peter Cabot Gets Lost
KJ Charles, Band Sinister
Alexis Hall, For Real
Foz Meadows, A Strange and Stubborn Endurance
Adrianna Herrera, American Love Story
Sonali Dev, Bollywood Bride (this one came out at the very end of 2015)
Sally Thorne, The Hating Game
I liked all your books except the last 3.
The Herrera I missed, and it is not available as ebook right now.
The Hating Game I disliked a lot, just couldn’t get into it and stopped 30 pages in.
I will look at the Somali Dev.
Thanks for a great list of books I liked!
Go ahead and break the rules, Cat H! If your top 100 is mostly more recent titles, I’m curious. Of your top 10 that I’ve read, I’ve mostly enjoyed them. What additional titles get you to 20? 30?
The Sins of Lord Lockwood by Meredith Duran
Notorious Vow by Joanna Shupe
The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
The Lord I left by Scarlett Peckham
Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins
Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin
Last Kiss by Sally Malcolm
These Old Lies by Larrie Barton
Wildflower for a Duke by Laura Linn
I think I misread the question as I only included books published since the last poll. If I was going to do books published in the last 10 years, I would add these (which I don’t think anyone has mentioned yet):
Rule Breaker by Lily Morton
Perfect Day by Sally Malcolm
Trust by Kylie Scott
Managed by Kristen Callihan
I had the same problem, I don’t know if they ask about the last decade, or the books published since their last poll. But I made two lists, so they can take whatever is more useful.
Either is fine. 🙂
I’m no good at picking favorites and if I did the same list tomorrow it would contain some different books I’m sure, so I’ll just rattle some off. Like Caz, I’m including series because the books I love rarely make the 100 Best list anyway. (All of these books except the Big Bad Wolf series were on audio, which does influence my enjoyment due to the excellent narrations of each one.)
Valor and Doyle series and the Shadowy Solutions series by (Nicky James)
Momento Mori series (C.S. Poe- super slowburn)
The Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara
Until You by Briar Prescott
Too many by KJ Charles to list, but including the ones already listed. However, Death in the Spires, although not technically a romance, is one that stands out for the atmospheric writing and deep character development.
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian
Heated Rivalry/The Long Game by Rachel Reid.
In Step from The Painted Bay series by Jay Hogan
Also,The Mechanics of Lust book 2 in Jay Hogan’s Makenzie country series.
The updated Waiting for the Flood and Chasing the Light, linked novellas by Alexis Hall.
My favorite m/f book is probably A Dangerous Kind of Lady by Mia Vincy, narrated by the incomparable Kate Reading.
I agree – I can’t pick favourites and I know I’m always going to miss something out.
I’m so pleased to see Waiting for the Flood showing up; it was so overlooked for so long IMHO 😉
I was mesmerized by the extended Waiting for the Flood novella, and Marius’s redemption story in Catching the Light was so well done. The writing is quiet, introspective, and atmospheric.
Here’s my top 10 books published since 2018 (in no particular order):
Valor and Doyle series by Nicky James (2022 – 2025) The whole series was fantastic – I can’t pick just one book.
Variation by Rebecca Yarros (2024)
The Fall by Tal Bauer (2025)
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan (2024)
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez (2024)
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston (2023)
Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn (2019)
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (2021)
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood (2022)
Battle Royal or Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker (2021 and 2019)
In no order Top 10 since 2018:
From Lukov with Love – Mariana Zapata
Metal Slinger – Rachel Schneider
Sheild of Sparrows – Devney Perry
Fourth Wing Series – Rebecca Yarros
Disturbing His Peace Tessa Bailey
Fake Empire – C.W. Farnsworth
Spark the Flames – Ivy Asher
Bride – Ali Hazlewood
The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King Duet – Clarissa Broadbent
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy – Brigitte Knightley
My personal Top 10 published in the last decade, in no particular order:
Bitter Legacy trilogy, Dal Maclean
Waiting For the Flood, Alexis Hall
Beard Science, Penny Reid
Heated Rivalry/The Long Game, Rachel Reid
Dukes Prefer Blondes, Loretta Chase
Valor & Doyle series, Nicky James
Memento Mori series, C.S. Poe
Dark Horse series, Michelle Diener
10 Things That Never Happened, Alexis Hall
Just Last Night, Mhairi McFarlane
Titles worthy of consideration in a “best of” list from the last decade (in addition to everyone else’s suggestions).
10 Things I Hate About the Duke, Loretta Chase
Hazard & Sommerset series, Gregory Ashe
Seven of Spades series, Cordelia Kingsbridge
The Trouble With Hating You, Sajni Patel
Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade
The Impossible Boy, Anna Martin
Fireman’s Carry, Eli Easton
How to . . . Billionaire trilogy, Alexis Hall
Boyfriend Material, Alexis Hall
Mad About You, Mhairi McFarlane
Sundays with Oliver, Kelly Jensen
A Touch of Flame, Jo Goodman
Phoenix Unbound, Grace Draven
The Dead Romantics, Ashley Poston
City of Light series, Kelly Armstrong
Not Here to be Liked, Michelle Quach
The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang
Thrown Off the Ice, Taylor Fitzpatrick
Work For It, Talia Hibbert
The Flatshare, Beth O’Leary
Just For The Summer, Abby Jimenez
Love Theoretically, Ali Hazelwood
Role Playing, Cathy Yardley
A Shore Thing, Joanna Lowell
And Then You, Briar Prescott
Lady Derring Takes A Lover, Julie Anne Long
I hope that series/trilogies/etc. will be considered along with individual titles.
So many good titles on both lists! I really enjoyed the Dressmaker series by Loretta Chase. I listened to them on audio and Kate Reading was spectatcular as always. It might be time for a relisten. I’ve had Phoenix Unbound on my TBR list for ages. I need to jump in.
Thanks! I love everyone else’s suggestions as well. I’ve kept a revolving personal top 100 list (actually a stack of index cards, because I’m old school 🙂 since my first submission to these polls years ago, and these titles (or series/trilogies/etc.) have all displaced older titles on my own list. It’s an interesting exercise to do every couple of years: what stays and what has to go to make room for newer titles.
It’s also interesting to sort them by publication date. Many years are completely missing and other years have several titles. 2016, for example, was such a good year for romance readers: Beard Science, Dukes Prefer Blondes, Bitter Legacy, City of the Lost, A Gentleman’s Position (KJ Charles), A Study in Scarlet Women (Sherry Thomas), The Soldier’s Scoundrel (Cat Sebastian) . . . and The Hating Game, which I did not like but is still at the top of many people’s lists.
What cool idea to keep your own list. I don’t think I could ever decide, or be that organized, but I might try to make one anyway. It would by fun exercise and I’d probably spend a lot of time rereading! 🙂
“List” sounds way more substantial than the reality. I have a stack of index cards with title, author and year published. It’s just a matter of shuffling cards into groups of 10. And yes, it’s an interesting exercise to do every 3 or 4 years.
Some really good books and some to check out 😉
Just checking is that the “City of the Lost” series by Kelley Armstrong or the “The City of Light” series by Julie Sobanet.
Kelly armstrong
Sorry, responded last night from my phone. Now that I’m on my computer . . . thank you for asking! City of the Lost was the title and series I meant to include.
I love making / reading these sorts of lists, thank-you :0)
My personal top 10 since 2018, in no particular order:
KJ Charles – “The Duke at Hazard”
Heidi Cullinan – “The Bookseller’s Boyfriend”
Evie Dunmore – “Bringing Down the Duke”
Alexis Hall – “A Lady for A Duke”
Talia Hibbert – “A Take a Hint, Dani Brown”
Helen Hoang – “The Kiss Quotient”
Courtney Milan – “The Devil Comes Courting”
Natasha Pulley – “The Mars House”
Alexandra Rowland – “Yield Under Great Persuasion”
Olivia Waite – “The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics”
Plus for the last decade:
Meredith Duran – “A Lady’s Code of Misconduct”
Alexis Hall – “How to Bang A Billionaire”
Julie Anne Long – “Hot in Hellcat Canyon”
Lilah Pace – “His Royal Secret” / His Royal Favorite”
KJ Charles – “A Gentleman’s Position”
I thought about including the Lilah Pace in my list as well . . . 😉
My list (in no particular order):
If I Never Met You (McFarlane) is another favorite of mine too!
Contemporary Het
Bolu Babalola, Honey and Spice
Cara Baston, Promise Me Sunshine
Kate Clayborn, Love Lettering
Sonali Dev, Pride and Prejudice and Other Flavors
Helen Hoang, The Kiss Quotient
Mia Hopkins, Thirsty (Eastside Brewery series)
Talia Hibbert, Take a Hint, Dani Brown
Chloe Liese, Only When It’s Us (Bergman Brothers series)
Lucy Parker, Headliners (London Celebrities series)
Ainslie Paton, One-Night Wife (Confidence Game series)
Contemporary LGBTQ+
K. D. Casey, Breakout Year
Alison Cochrun, Charm Offensive
Alexis Hall, Pansies
Lisa Henry, Adulting 101
Adrianna Herrera, American Dreamer
Fearne Hill, To Hold a Hidden Pearl
Lola Keeley, The Music and the Mirror
Anita Kelly, Something Wild and Wonderful
E. L. Massey, Like Real People Do
Casey McQuiston, Red, White, and Royal Blue
Roan Parrish, Rend
Historical
Joanna Chambers, Master Wolf
Alyssa Cole, An Unconditional Freedom
Evie Dunmore, Bringing Down the Duke
Meredith Duran, The Sins of Lord Lockwood (Rules for the Reckless series)
Aster Glenn Grey, Honeytrap
Elizabeth Kingston, Fair, Bright, and Terrible (Welsh Blades series)
Jude Lucens, Behind Those Doors
Courtney Milan, The Duke Who Didn’t
Cat Sebastian, We Could Be So Good
Mia Vincy, A Wicked Kind of Husband
Authors whose books I’ve consistently enjoyed during this decade:
Ruby Barrett
Kilby Blades
B. K. Borrison
KJ Charles
Felicia Davin
Abby Jimeñez
Julianna Keyes
Jackie Lau
Mhairi McFarlane
Freya Marske
Erin McRae and Rachelline Maltese
Penny Reid
Kris Ripper
Erin Satie
Elissa Sussman
Maria Vale
Lee Welch
Cathy Yardley
I really like your list! I have read many of them and others are in my TBR pile. I can’t believe I didn’t include Anita Kelley’s Something Wild and Wonderful on my own list. I really loved that book!