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Editors’ Picks: Romance
The romances that have swept our editors off their feet.
Published on September 1, 2022
Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel
Casey McQuistonAlex, the First Son of the United States, starts off as frenemies and ends up as lovers with Henry, the Prince of Wales. A sweet LGBTQ+ love story that provides a heavy dose of much-needed escapism from real-world politics. After I finished listening to this, I went right back to the beginning and listened all over again. — Katie W.
Rebel
Beverly JenkinsJenkins is a trailblazer. She’s been publishing multicultural romance novels starring Black protagonists and other people of color for decades. Not only are they fun, stirring adventures featuring authentic characters that feel like real people, but Jenkins fills them with well-researched historical details, too. “Rebel” is sexy and historically accurate! — Katie W.
After Dark with the Duke: The Palace of Rogues
Julie Anne LongLong is rightly known for her witty historical romances, but here she levels up, adding a deep poignancy to the relationship between the military hero duke and the fallen opera singer. The two have a disastrous first meeting, requiring amends, so he agrees to tutor her in Italian so she can understand the words she’s singing. They are both especially lonely, due to their positions in society, and embark on a passionate affair that they know must end — until someone makes a grand gesture that will make your chest ache and your cheeks hurt from smiling. I was bowled over by this perfect, perfect historical romance. — Megan F.
Heartbreaker: A Hell's Belles Novel
Sarah MacLeanThe second book in MacLean’s “Hell’s Belles” series — which she describes as “female Avengers” — is different from her other books. For one thing, the hero is an upright, honorable man, not a scoundrel or a rake. The heroine is devilish and clever, but the hero’s absolute goodness stops her in her tracks. The middle of the book is a long, romantic interlude where he has to recover from a wound, and she stays with him, also unusual for a MacLean novel. It feels as though MacLean is just hitting the peak of her writing powers, and I’ve loved all of her previous books. “Heartbreaker” is special, even for a MacLean book. — Megan F.
A Caribbean Heiress in Paris
Adriana HerreraHerrera’s book is as bold and fearless as her heroine, a Latina from Santa Domingo who arrives in 1889 Paris with her two best friends (“Las Leonas”) to spotlight and expand her family’s rum business. There, she meets a Scottish lord who’s equally intent on building his whisky business and taking his cruelly manipulative father down. All sorts of plot twists and turns means that the two enter into a marriage of convenience, but of course it’s not convenient when they fall in love. Herrera’s historical research is meticulous, delving into topics one doesn’t normally encounter in historical romances, but the history never overwhelms the primary romance (the scene on the top of the Eiffel Tower is particularly memorable). This is a gorgeous book, rich and sexy, and I cannot wait for the two other Las Leonas to get their own stories. — Megan F.
Proper Scoundrels
Allie Therin“Proper Scoundrels” has paranormal and mystery elements, but what I loved was seeing the two heroes — one an extremely grumpy war hero (from “The Great War,” meaning WWI) and the other an abashed, remorseful magician — falling in love over the course of their mutual investigation. It’s set in England in 1925, and features a cast of memorable and diverse characters. — Megan F.
Persuasion
Jane AustenI’m probably cheating by choosing a classic, but this one is as romantic as it gets. For all of Jane Austen’s irony and humor, “Persuasion” is probably the most uncynical of her books. Being the last one she finished, it’s an ode to love, second chances, and owning one’s life, even if you’re a woman in the 19th century. This edition by Brilliance Audio is one of the best ones out there. — Andrea B.
The Rosie Project: A Novel
Graeme SimsionI’ve never laughed out loud so many times while reading a book. This rom-com follows Don, a neurodivergent geneticist on a mission to find a life partner. He has a logical if unrealistic set of requirements for a future wife, and then he meets Rosie, who’s the exact opposite of his criteria. Hilarity, and a lot of heart, ensues. — Lanie P.
Outlander
Diana GabaldonIt’s hard to categorize this genre-bending time-traveling historical romantic adventure, but one description is undeniable: it’s a total page-turner. You may have heard tell of the steamy sex — and while yes, there is sex and it is steamy — it’s hardly the whole story. The love Jamie and Claire share is truly epic, worthy of the centuries and continents the story spans to tell of it. — Alex P.