Readers, please welcome our team member and devoted book lover and romance enthusiast Chelsey Feder back to the blog.
Over the last few years, I read more romance novels than ever and tracked every single one in my reading journal, which helped me discover the tropes and styles that really work for me. It should come as no surprise that I swoon for love stories with a bookish element.
I have a suspicion YOU and countless other readers may adore a literary love story as well, as evidenced by the recent spate of romance and contemporary novels set in the world of books. (And, as Anne noted at our recent Spring Book Preview, books set in the world of publishing—no matter the genre—are on the rise.)
Today, let’s explore these romantic stories about devoted readers and their literary quests for love.
With the help of our team’s avid romance readers, I’ve selected ten contemporary love stories set in small town bookstores, big city publishing houses, and audiobook recording booths to feature on our new book list. Bookish themes set these romances apart, but they also feature three things I look for in all of my favorite love stories: witty banter, charming side characters, and realistic relational conflict.
As you read each description, take note: if you prefer sex scenes to be minimal or only hinted at, look for “closed-door” romance; if you want your romance to be more explicit, then “open-door” romance is perfect for you. One book on this list is “chaste”, meaning no more than kissing takes place on the page. We’ve used these labels in each blurb to guide you to your next romantic read.
Bookish love stories to send you head over heels
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The Printed Letter Bookshop
Can you imagine inheriting a cozy bookshop and then selling it? Me neither, but Madeline Cullen intends to hand off her aunt’s treasured bookstore as soon as she can. I suppose I can understand why: family drama and grief replaced the sweet childhood memories Madeline made at the bookstore with her aunt. The sooner she removes herself from the place, the better—but the booksellers refuse to give up on the failing shop so easily. They all have their own reasons to stay, finding purpose, creative outlets, and friendship between the shelves. Their enthusiasm, combined with a well-timed career crisis, forces Madeline to reflect on her relationship with the shop. Add a handsome gardener, and you have a charming, cozy, and chaste love story about friendship, memories, and fresh starts. More info →
Well Met
English teachers totally count as bookish main characters in this bibliophile's heart (three cheers for English teachers!). In this first-in-a-series rom com, DeLuca pairs her grumpy English-teacher-turned-renaissance-faire-pirate with a recently dumped college dropout trying to get back on her feet. The banter, y’all. The BANTER is perfection. Emily takes a job as a tavern wench, placing her under Simon’s jurisdiction as Ren Faire organizer. While playing characters all summer is fun and flirty, they also have to figure out how they are together in real life, versus how they are at the Ren Faire. DeLuca explores identity, expectations, grief, and the proverbial masks we wear, all while providing a simmering slow burn (and open door) love story. Come for the bantery main couple, and stay for the side characters—one of whom owns a bookstore called Read It And Weep. More info →
The Dead Romantics
Set in the world of publishing, this delightful novel gives “ghostwriting” a double meaning. Florence Day makes her living writing bestselling romance novels that are published under somebody else's name; only one person knows the truth behind her facade as a personal assistant. This puts her in a tricky spot when she tries to tell her handsome new editor that she—er, her boss—won't be able to meet her deadline. She doesn't tell him the true problem: after a bad breakup, she doesn't believe in love anymore, so she sure can't write about it. Before she can force words on the page, her father dies. When she returns home for the first time in a decade she finds the family she loves (and the funeral home they run) the same as they've ever been, even though her father is gone. She also finds a ghost standing at the funeral home front door who looks remarkably like her editor, who seems to have died with unfinished business that's somehow connected to Florence. This open door ghost romance sounds bonkers, but it's sweet and fun and—as far as the audiobook was concerned—compulsively listenable. More info →
Book Lovers
This Ephron-inspired love story is a heartwarming love letter to readers, and a moving exploration of family, ambition, love, and belonging. Successful literary agent Nora Stephens’s colleagues call her the Shark, but Nora doesn’t care. She's (mostly) at peace with who she is, plus she’s proud of fighting for her clients—even if that same fierceness has always spelled disaster for her love life. When her beloved sister Libby persuades her to take a sisters’ trip to the too-cute-to-be-real hamlet of Sunshine Falls, Nora is gobsmacked to encounter her professional nemesis Charlie Lastra, a famously grumpy and inconveniently handsome editor. Soon the sparks are flying—and Nora has to keep reminding herself she hates his guts, lest she succumb to their undeniable chemistry. Listen to WSIRN Episode 332: Beach Reads for Book Lovers to hear about Henry’s writing process and her fabulous book recommendations. This steamy rom com is open door. More info →
By the Book
This fun and frothy Beauty and the Beast reimagining pairs an overworked editorial assistant with a grumpy and secretive author. Life hasn’t turned out the way Isabelle imagined; instead of shaping stories and working with the literary elite, she’s stuck running coffees back and forth for her boss—then ending the day back at her childhood home. Just as Izzy questions her future at Tale As Old As Time publishing (wink wink), she overhears her boss complaining about beastly Beau Towers and his missing manuscript. Ambitious Izzy preps her pep talks and travels to Beau’s mysterious mansion to coax his story out of him, where what began as a spontaneous career move slowly turns into a fairytale romance as Izzy melts Beau’s cold exterior. Guillory turns down the heat in this closed door romance and pours plenty of charm on the page. More info →
Seven Days in June
The early pages of this swoony romance with serious depth are set at a literary festival, where bestselling writers Eva (bombshell of the fantasy romance genre) and Shane (darling of the literary fiction world) are reunited after nearly twenty years apart, in front of an audience of delighted readers. Nobody knows the two have met before, or that they were high school soulmates before they were wrenched apart due to circumstances neither fully understands. This was a lot of fun and also insightful about the complexities of romantic and family relationships, with a summer-in-NYC setting I particularly enjoyed. A couple of content notes: this is open door and includes addiction and self-harm, as Williams shows her characters working through trauma in order to find both healing and their way to each other. More info →
Thank You for Listening
Whelan’s sophomore novel opens with a familiar bookish nightmare: former actress, current audiobook narrator Sewanee is listening to a steamy scene on the plane when suddenly, the sound is not coming from her earbuds but rather on speakerphone for the whole cabin to hear. Though she was technically listening for research, Sewanee does not have time to justify her reading choices—nor should she! With wittily named chapter titles (don’t miss them!) and great supporting characters, this sometimes steamy romance smartly responds to the tired objections of romance skeptics and takes us deep into the world of audiobook narration. You’ll fall in love with Sewanee (and her sassy grandmother) as she recovers from a terrible accident and works with sexy and secretive Brock McKnight for a coveted audiobook project. Whelan clearly enjoys playing with the genre’s familiar tropes—snowed in, just one night, mistaken identity. With Whelan narrating her own work, audiophiles are sure to enjoy listening to this one—but don’t forget your headphones as it is open door. More info →
Delilah Green Doesn’t Care
Small town bookstore owner and big city photographer meet (again) in this fun-yet-emotional romance novel. When Delilah Green breezes into town, Claire Sutherland automatically bristles. Prickly Delilah and controlling Claire are far from perfect, and they know just how to bug each other—but as they navigate personal dramas and growing feelings, their initial ill will towards one another falls away. Spoiler alert: Delilah Green actually does care…it just takes her awhile to realize it. Our editor and romance aficionado Leigh Kramer harbors passionate feelings about these characters and the significant growth they undergo over the course of their story. With endearing side characters, snarky dialogue, and a few bookstore scenes, this emotionally complex (open door) romance will capture your heart. More info →
You & I, Rewritten
Will Cowen is living the bookworm dream when he accepts a promotion and moves from Chicago to NYC to work at a huge publishing house with his best friend. He cannot wait to start working with authors on the deeply emotional, heart-wrenching, and tear-inducing stories he loves. Then heir to the publishing house Graham Austin bursts into the conference room with his commanding presence and demanding work ethic (oh, and his good looks), sending Will into a reluctant crush. When a major work event falls through for Will, he finds a surprisingly empathetic and gentle ear in Graham. Cold indifference quickly turns into hot and heavy chemistry as they write their own workplace romance. Navigating past scars, family tensions, and work dramas lends a realistic tone to this steam-filled love story. A moving and emotional ending wraps up the book on a high note; this open door romance will make you feel ALL the feels and includes references to anxiety, alcoholism, and PTSD. More info →
Better than Fiction
Drew Young would rather marathon an entire movie franchise than finish a short novel, but her book-loving grandmother surprises her when she leaves the Book Nook in Drew’s hands. Out of her depth and missing her grandmother, Drew finds solace in the shop’s senior book club. These ladies have read enough romance novels to fill the whole shop, and when a hot young romance author stops by for a book signing, they immediately start the set-up. Jasper Williams, writer and romantic at heart, hopes to show Drew the joy of reading, while Drew shows him the sights of Denver, Colorado. Dinner dates and outdoor adventures bring Jasper and Drew closer, but family drama threatens to wreck Drew’s future with the Book Nook. While the romance is swoony, and the bookshop is a dream, the “Dirty Birds” book club steals the spotlight in this open door romance. More info →
We’re in the mood to swoon! What are your recommendations for fresh, fun, and biblio-tastic romance reads? Share the titles in the comments.
P.S. Here are 15 breezy romance series for when you need an escape and 18 fresh and flirty contemporary romance novels for your TBR.
About the author
Chelsey Feder is a blog contributor. Her go-to genres are memoir and romance. You can find Chelsey on Instagram @chelseyreads or @novelpairingspod.
24 comments
I must love this category as I have read about half of these and still found 3 to add to my TBR. I love how you articulate that you love “charming side characters.” I realized that is true of me. I so enjoy romance stories where the characters also have great friendships or family relationships. This is something Jasmine Guillory does so well. The women in her books have full lives. I also love when books focus on careers, especially book related ones.
Always looking for recommendations. Thanks, I added several to my TBR list!
I went down the rabbit hole on this post, linked over to Ann’s podcast and wound up filling my holds list (both hardcover and kindle) at the library. So much to read. So many other chores to ignore while I read.
I’m blaming you.
You just need to listen on audio while doing your chores! It makes folding the laundry a lot more fun.
I am happy to accept the blame here!
What a good list! I’ve read and enjoyed a few of these, and immediately added several of your recommendations to my library holds!
Thanks for all the content warnings. Would also love to see more chaste and closed door options on future lists. 🙂
Same!
Same!
I’d love to see more closed door romance options! I usually don’t pick up romance at all bc although I love my own love life…I’m just not that into being in the room with other people. 😀
I feel like I may be missing out on some fun romance novels because I don’t know if they are closed door or open door; that distinction really helps!
I’ve been loving Sarah Adams for closed door (or cracked door? there’s lots of smooching but it’s lower steam). She just doesn’t have any book-themed stories (yet!).
I really want to start a book club called “Dirty Birds” now!! Thanks for these recs Chelsey, and for making them diverse.
I just finished reading the Paper Girl of Paris, by Jordyn Taylor. Highly recommend! I’ve never heard of the door classification before, but Paper Girl of Paris would be closed-door. I am not an open door reader. LOL
Sounds intriguing. I wonder if it’s the same “true apartment” that ‘The Velvet Hours’ is based on…..
It’s been a long time since I read them, but most of Katherine Reay’s books are definitely book themed and at least romance adjacent! Several of them are Austen retellings or spin-offs, and I remember them as pretty chaste.
I am so excited to start way to many of these all at once, LOL! These open door options are giving me life in the dreary, grey, cold Midwest. We need steam here, people! Thanks for helping me overflow my TBR list (and my imagination, rrrowrrr!).
The storied life of AJ Fikrey came to mind for me for this category.
I love AJ Fikrey! I also love ‘How to Find Love in a Bookshop’ by Veronica Henry. 🙂
I’m currently listening to, and enjoying, The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser.
Alas, this is the 2nd post of this type where the vast majority (8 of 10) were open-door romances. Thanks for at least including two (one chaste, one closed door) for those of us who really don’t need detailed description. I do appreciate the warning labels; I hate investing time in a story I will abandon if it gets graphic.
Thanks so much for including the chaste and/or closed door descriptions!! I feel exactly like Megan. My own love life is lovely, but I’m good without anyone else’s. I’m sure I miss out on a lot of great romances, because I simply don’t want to end up in the middle of someone else’s scene! Bookish plots are a marvelous plus, so kudos for hitting the mark for me! I’ve got The Printed Letter Bookshop on hold at the Library now. Thanks!!!
What a great list of romances, Chelsey!
One bookish romance that came to mind is No Words by Meg Cabot (yes, Princess Diaries Meg Cabot!) it’s about two authors and set in the FL Keys at a literary festival. And he is her nemesis!
If memory serves me, it is closed door but swoony.
I’m squarely in the closed door/chaste camp, and have noted the ones listed here. I know they’re fictional characters, but it just feels weird and creepy to take a seat in someone else’s bedroom and watch lovemaking like it’s a spectator sport. Thank you for this list, Chelsea!
So happy to see open door romances! Definitely my preference. I love Well Met and am excited to check out others.
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