Escape with one of these fun contemporary romance novels you’ll never want to put down.
Are you a fan of contemporary romances? I definitely am and I’ve read a lot of amazing ones lately.
These contemporary romances you can’t put down will make you laugh and make you cry. Make sure to place an order for take-out before you pick one of these books up, because you won’t want to stop to cook! (Been there done that a few times!)
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The Best Contemporary Romances You Can’t Put Down
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
The Friend Zone left me speechless as soon as I finished it, in all the good ways. I’ve got to admit, I read most of it without stopping because it was just that good.
You’ll laugh one minute and you’ll cry the next while you read the story of Kristen and Josh who meet during a minor fender bender and are thrown together because he’s the best man in her best friends wedding.
Even though this book is full of humor, it also tackles some deep issues like infertility, which factors into Kristen and Josh’s relationship. (Note: If this is a sensitive subject for you, please skip this book and choose one of the others on this list.)
If you’re like me and need more to the story once you finish, Jimenez continues on in The Happily Ever After Playlist with Sloan’s story. READ MORE HERE.
Purchase The Friend Zone here.
A Duke By Default by Alyssa Cole
A Duke by Default is the second book in the Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole, which tells the story of New York socialite Portia who decides she wants to get her life together by taking an apprenticeship with a Scottish sword maker.
You don’t need to read the first book, A Princess in Theory (book review here), before reading this one. But if you want another great romance, it’s another unputdownable book with awesome characters that will give you a bit more of Portia’s background.
Despite her socialite status, Portia is completely relatable. She learns a lot about herself and how she can be a better person. And, as she’s growing as a person, so is Tavish (the Scottish sword maker who accidently discovers that he’s the son of a Duke). They’ve got a lot to discover about themselves and each other.
Purchase A Duke by Default here.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Get a Life, Chloe Brown is the book that got me addicted to contemporary romances again. It’s one of my five-star books and one of the best books I read in 2020. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fun romance or just a good book with relatable characters that will make you laugh.
Chloe Brown lives with fibromyalgia, works from home, and just doesn’t get out much. One day, she has enough, and decides it’s time to “get a life.” She creates a life list (because she’s a list girl!) and enlists her handyman by day, artist at night neighbor Red to help her.
I love this book because the characters were so relatable and relationship was very relatable, but it still provided a great escape. READ MORE HERE.
Purchase Get a Life, Chloe Brown here.
Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
A love story combined with typography. That’s right up my alley! As soon as I read the description of Love Lettering, I had to read it. And, I wasn’t disappointed.
This sweet story begins with Meg, whose hand-lettering skills have made her sought after throughout New York City for personalized planners and also wedding stationary. But, sometimes she can’t help weaving secret messages into those designs, which is what brings Reid to her shop.
This begins a new friendship, a new love, and a search for inspiration while walking the streets of New York City.
This book was slow at the beginning for me, and I’d encourage you to stick with it if you experience the same. I hit a point where I couldn’t put it down and by the end I was in love with the book and wanted to recommend it to all my fellow romance lovers.
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
A Jenny Colgan book is always a comfort read for me and The Bookshop on the Corner is one of my favorites of hers. It’s a love story wrapped around books about a woman, Nina, who moves to a small Scottish village in order to make a new life for herself.
Nina has the uncanny knack of being able to recommend the perfect book for a reader. So, she takes that knack and creates a small bookmobile for all the readers in that area.
Not only does this bookmobile match books with readers, but it also helps Nina find new friends, a new life, and even love. This is perfect for readers who are looking for a sweet read and who love books about books.
Purchase The Bookshop on the Corner here.
THe Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Why yes, I love a good love story featuring book lovers and The Bookish Life of Nina Hill was no exception. Nina was quirky and fun and I was rooting for her happiness from the very beginning.
When the book starts, Nina has her life just how she wants it. As the only child of a single mother, her friends are her family, she loves her job, and she loves her routine. But, life throws her a curve ball after the father she never met dies and she finds out that she’s actually got a rather large family.
So, this book has two loves stories. You’ve got the traditional romantic love and you also have a woman discovering familial love. Both love stories were heartwarming and fun.
Purchase The Bookish Life of Nina Hill here.
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
In Evvie Drake Starts Over, you meet Evvie (which rhymes with Chevy), a woman who is having to begin again after the sudden death of her husband. You also meet Dean, a former Major League Baseball player who is having to start over after his pitching arm stops working. Evvie has a empty apartment at the back of her house and Dean needs a place to stay away from fans and the media, so Dean moves in.
You’ve got two people at rough places in their life that form a friendship and soon more. Can they help each other make peace with their pasts and forge a new future?
I loved all the characters in this book, from the main characters to supporting characters. I also loved how it portrayed a healthy platonic friendship between a man and a woman (Evvie and her friend Andy) as well as healthy romantic relations. This is definitely a great choice when you want to get lost in a book.
Purchase Evvie Drake Starts Over here.
Do you have any recommendations for more great contemporary romances you can’t put down?
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