12 of the Best Award-Winning Romance Novels

Sherry Thomas is the all-star of historical romances that rip your heart out and then sew it back in. Here, Bryony is a female doctor in the Victorian Era, a feat unto itself. She’s working in colonial India, and who shows up but her ex, Leo, who is trying to get her back to England where she is needed. The slow reveal of what went wrong between them the first time as they find their way back to each other is exquisite.

Tessa Dare is one of the very best historical romance authors out there, and this novel kicks off her Girl Meets Duke series. Emma, a seamstress, shows up at the Duke of Ashbury’s house demanding payment for a wedding dress she sewed for the Duke’s ex-fiancee. The Duke offers her a marriage of convenience, and because he needs an heir, that marriage will be getting consummated, if you know what I mean. Despite the practicality of the whole thing, feelings get in the way! Yes, they do! Ugh, this book is a delight.

The last year of the RITA awards gave us one of the very best winners. Kennedy Ryan gained massive popularity with Before I Let Go, but readers who are newer to her simply must dive into her back titles. This emotionally intense book traces the romance between a woman in an abusive relationship and the basketball star who treasures her. Be careful going into this one because the on-page violence is intense, but the love story is unforgettable.

You want a super hot romance? Here. This second entry in the Eastside Brewey series pairs Eddie, recently released from prison and trying to stay out of trouble, with Carmen, a top chef. The two had some anonymous hot sex one time and then reunite when Eddie starts working for Carmen. This romance realistically grapples with financial precarity, familial obligation, the intersection of racism and sexism, all while being sexy as all giddy-up. Get into this series.

You should definitely read the entire Reluctant Royals series, starting with A Princess in Theory, but this is my personal favorite entry in the series. It’s a royal romance between good girl Nya and bad boy Prince Johan. They are in the fictional country of Thesolo for a wedding and end up fake dating for, you know, romance reasons. This book has poignant emotional moments while also being fun and even a little bananas, plot-wise.

Road trip romances forever! This one stars Jolene, who is a bit of a hot mess but is doing her best. Top-tier romance reasons land her in a car with grump Jason for a sixteen-hour drive. They don’t like each other, but things turn around for them on this fateful trip. Does this book make excellent use of the only one bed trope? You probably know the answer, but you still need to read to know for sure.

I simply adore this historical romance with low-key gothic vibes. The female main character is based on early feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft, the mother of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley. She’s prickly and standoffish and falling for Adam, a wholesome Scottish architect, is not part of her plan. Her plan, by the way, is to take down the powerful man who ruined her. What I love about this book is that it underscores the importance of finding community and fostering relationships while being an activist.

Like the above Alyssa Cole novel, this is another award-winning third book in a series. And again, I recommend reading the entire Seducing the Sedgwicks series (heck, the whole Cat Sebastian catalog). This book, though, truly took me by surprise. I’m not generally a fan of hurt/comfort or sick-bed type tropes in my romances, but this is a notable exception. Will is tending to his sick best friend, Martin, and they fall in love. This book is a beautiful testament to choosing love, even when long life isn’t guaranteed and even when people have deep flaws.

If you’ve been curious about where you can dive into Nalini Singh’s long-running Psy-Changeling universe, Silver Silence is an ideal place. This book is the first in a spin-off of sorts, so you can start fresh. This paranormal world features Psy, with telepathic and telekinetic powers, along with changelings, who are shapeshifters. And humans, ho-hum. This novel follows Silver, whose mind is supposed to be free from emotion, as she catches feelings for a bear shifter named Valentin. There’s a high-stakes assassination plot, yes, but this entry in the series is also wildly charming and funny.

I know it’s not the time for holiday romances, so maybe save this one for Christmas in July. Or read it now; I’m not your mom. I adore this book for being so messy. Ellie had an unforgettable night last Christmas, but now she’s in some financial dire straits and has agreed to a marriage of convenience with Andrew. They visit Andrew’s family for the holiday, and who’s there? Just Andrew’s sister, the very woman Ellie shared her amazing night with the year prior. This book is full of people doing the wrong thing for good reasons, and it’s a blast.

Full disclosure: Susie Dumond is a fellow Book Rioter! Still, you should absolutely read her debut romance, set in Tulsa in the early 2010s, before the Supreme Court decision secured marriage equality for queer people. Full of found family, discussion of queer identity, and of course, a lovely romance between baker Amy and Charley, who’s new to town, it’s a charming and thoughtful book. It’s great to read books about queer people thriving and finding community in places that aren’t known for being especially welcoming.

If you haven’t yet read anything by outstanding romance author Anita Kelly, this gem of a novella is a perfect place to start. It’s a low-angst story between nonbinary history professor Sam and Lily, a crush-worthy karaoke star. It’s a one-night stand turned into more romance and a heartwarming tale of regular people lifting each other up. If you also feel like you’re old enough to have sorted your life out by now, and yet you are still feeling at sea, you will absolutely relate to these characters.