Between the meet-cutes and the enemies-to-lovers tropes and the sweet feeling of new crushes and the spicy oh-god-don’t-let-my-parents-walk-in moments, there is no better form of escapism than romance books. And in this year, in this economy, under this administration, we all need a little escapism (and won’t judge anyone’s preferred form of it, right? Right).

So with that in mind, here are some of the greatest romance books of the year. While industry MVPs Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry both put out books this year, they weren’t their greatest outputs (don’t worry, I think they’ll be okay). It just goes to show that this is a wildly competitive and downright booming field with so many great books. So head to local romance bookstore Grand Gesture or wherever you feel like trading your hard-earned cash for a little love, and get ready to curl up with a good book.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Learn more about the highly competitive world of collegiate swimming than you ever wanted in Hazelwood’s book, which also happens to throw readers in the deep end of power-imbalance relationships. Here, a brilliant scholar-athlete is struggling with PTSD and the so-called twisties after a failed dive caused her a serious injury. Her fellow Stanford swimming teammate is a Swedish Olympic athlete and her match in and out of the pool. He also happens to be her best friend’s long-time boyfriend. Clutch your pearls and jump in.

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

True romance fans know that Guillory’s books are mandatory reading material for their perfect balance of compelling characters, zippy storylines, and R-rated romance. While she has written many, many books, this is the New York Times bestselling author’s first queer romance (two cis women, fwiw). It starts where all great romcoms do: When one character offers to give another flirting lessons. Needless to say, they are very successful.

Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola

The affably prickly Kiki Banjo is back in this sequel to Babalola’s fittingly sweet and spicy 2022 debut, Honey & Spice. Now Kiki is older, possibly wiser, and trading college radio for hosting a dating advice podcast. She could use her own help, though, as she is faced with being the maid of honor at a wedding where her ex is best man. Underneath the fun and banter-filled second-chance romance lies a profound (okay, profound-ish) meditation on love and forgiveness.

Set Piece by Lana Schwartz

A rising star walks into a bar and it sounds like the start of a joke, but instead it’s the beginning of a surprising romance. After sparks fly with the hot bartender, the two don’t see each other again for five years. When they do run into each other, a lot has changed in both their lives. Jack is now a mega star and CJ is a determined set designer—and single mother to a five-year-old kid. The quick read is perfect for fans of The Idea of You and Notting Hill. 

Fan Service by Rosie Danan

Parasocial meets paranormal in this supernatural romance. The only place Alex has ever really fit in is in the online fan community she built around her favorite TV show, The Arcane Files. While it’s been off the air for years, she loves the werewolf detective show, although she kinda hates the show’s star, Devin. However, when Devin wakes up naked in the woods under a rare Wolf Blood Moon, Alex is the only one who might have answers.

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

Are there two Ali Hazelwood books on this list? Yes, there are. Maybe George RR Martin could take productivity lessons from her. This book follows Maya, a 23-year-old nuclear physicist, who is head over heels for her brother’s best friend and business partner Conor, who just happens to be 38, rich, and makes it clear that he’s not keen on building a relationship with a youngun. They haven’t talked in years when they are thrust together at her brother’s wedding in Italy.

Sky Daddy by Kate Folk

This is not a romance for everyone, but for those of us with open and inquisitive minds, this is a great, thoughtful read about love and loneliness and the modern human experience that, yes, happens to be about a woman who is super into airplanes. As in into airplanes. As Linda tries to make her erotic fantasies a piquante reality, she slowly starts to realize her desire for connection may not be met by even the most advanced aviation.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This book from the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is half-romance, half-thriller. It transports readers back to the early 1980s, where Joan is one of NASA’s first female astronauts who just happens to be on a space shuttle in crisis mode. As the tale unfolds, Joan is unveiled as a woman finding love—and herself, of course—while facing the challenges of her very high-stakes profession. This one is a page turner.

Brimstone by Callie Hart

Okay, I am still in the middle of this one, but the first 40 pages are great. Plus, the last book was full of enemies-to-lovers intrigue, chemistry of the romantic and alchemical sort, a war between vampires and fae, and ended with a serious bomb drop. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

The third installment in the Empyerean series returns readers to the battlegrounds tearing the world apart. Now desperate to save Navarre, Violet and her dragon-riding buddies journey beyond the failing wards to find help and hopefully a cure for Xaden. It’s an exciting installment that will have you asking a lot of questions about dragon eggs and what sacrifices one is willing to make for love (and dragons).