I work at Barnes and Noble. Working at Barnes and Noble, not only am I very in the know about popular books, but I am also a very avid reader. So, that is why you should trust me when it comes to book recommendations. This is my list of the top romance novels out there. 

My top book that I’ve read so far is Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy. This book is set in a small beach town and has a similar vibe to Outer Banks because of the rival between locals and the wealthy tourists that live there. The book follows a wealthy and responsible college student settling into her new hometown and a bad boy local that wants nothing to do with the wealthy college students of the town. Without giving away too much, I really like this book because it isn’t as predictable as most romance novels. It keeps you on your toes and has a really good plot line. 

My next recommendation is Beach Read by Emily Henry. I really like this book because it follows two authors through their writing journey. I think it’s really interesting to see this side of the writing process. As readers, we only see the end product, but you get a glance at the writing process, while still being a really good romance book with a good storyline. 

My next pick is possibly controversial but I loved the book Ugly Love. I feel like there is an ongoing debate on whether Colleen Hoover is a good writer or not. And while I think some miss the mark, I actually really like Ugly Love. One thing that is interesting about the story is it flashes between two different timelines and perspectives. One is about 23-year-old Tate Collins, who is slowly falling in love with her brother’s best friend, Miles. The other perspective is Miles, but when he was 18 years old. Some people might not like the switch between perspectives, but I personally really like it and I think it got me even more hooked on the book.

I also really like the book All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover. I think this is one of her more underrated books, but it’s really good and one of her better written ones. It’s another book that flips between two different perspectives. For example, the story of Quinn and Graham meeting for the first time and embarking on their perfect love story. Then, it jumps to them years later, and tells the story of their marriage slowly falling apart. Again, the change of perspective might be too much for readers, but I think it adds to the storyline and really makes you get attached to the couple. 

The books I listed are a few of my top pick romance books. I know romance books aren’t for everyone, but if you are looking for one and haven’t read one of these, I would definitely recommend all of them!