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Yes Bride is probably one of my favourite books of this year. I definitely want to reread it in the future😍 I also loved The Fake Out and The Wingman and Play Along, the rest of the books on this list I haven’t read yet so I’m going to add them to my list. Thanks Chandler for the great recommendations
Savor It was definitely one of my favorite romances of the year and the fact that you loved the second book even more has me so excited to read it when it comes out!
These are great books, just checked out Antozent today, and their library is huge! Over 250 books-definitely something for every reader, including bride, this could be us and on the same page, would highly recommend checking it out.
i love that you're an ali hazewood stan because truly all of her books have changed my brain chem especially love, theoretically and bride. still looking for books with MMCs similar to jack smith-turner
I get almost all of my romance recs from you, so I usually wouldn’t have anything to recommend, but I have two this time! The Friendship Study by Ruby Barrett and Failure to Match by Kyra Parsi are two romances that I absolutely loved this year, and I don’t think I’ve seen you mention them.
I read the entirety of The Wingman on a long flight (due to your recommendation)-absolutely delightful! definitely my favorite Stephanie Archer romance
Caught up by Liz Tomforde, both Ali Hazelwoods new books, Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez, Ready or not by Cara Bastone (also all her audiobook exclusives are excellent, they do an incredible job at picking narrators), and the seven year slip all stick out as favs this year!
Completely agree with you on the two Ali Hazelwood books, especially Not in Love. I also adore everything Abby Jimenez writes, and Just For the Summer didn't disappoint. I would recommend Bananapants by Penny Reid; it has really good mental health representation, and Dixon Rule was a good sports romance by Elle Kennedy.
My favorite romances that I've read this year are Reckless by Elsie Silver, The right move by Liz Tomforde, Play along by Liz Tomforde, Yours truly by Abby Jimenez, The reaper by Rynux and The emperor by Rynux. They're all so romantic in their own ways.
On the Same Page and Just for the Summer were two of my favorite romances of the year too 🥹😭 On the Same Page is sooooo underrated. Haha I also agree it reads like fanfiction in the best way!!!
Just bought At First Spite. After Shipwrecked Olivia Dade is definitely in the running to become a favourite romance author for me. I love that most of her characters are 30+ and have bodily diversity.
I’ve read 4 of these and agree with you- in fact I’m listening to Not in Love on Spotify rn and no idea if you listened to it or read it but you need to check it out the audio if you get a chance. Jason Clarke who the narrator for Eli is just 😍. There’s a few others I’ve had on my TBR that I need to move up after listening to what you shared😉 Thanks for the recs!🌸
Some of my absolute favorite releases of this year that I don't see talked about much (hidden gems, maybe? ;)): Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder (on KU, romantic suspense if it was written by Elsie Silver, also the cover is STUNNING!), If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia (on KU, Gilmore Girls-esque autumnal setting but also all the emotions and perfect friends to lovers vibes with some heavier topics re parental figures sprinkled in, and set in the 90s!), How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly (sapphic basketball coaches romance with found family aspects) and You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian (m/m midcentury baseball grumpy/sunshine romance - the book before this one We Could Be So Good is really amazing as well). And then my favorite book I read this year which was not released this year but I'm throwing it in here because I think it's so underrated is Fearless by Lauren Gilley (an MC romance that honestly is more like literary fiction and has started my obsession with this whole series by Gilley; it has quickly become my favorite series of all time!).
I recently finished Fall for Him by Andie Burke, and while I did only give it 4 stars, the couple has been sticking around in my head ever since and that's a true hallmark of a great romance. I would read book one, Fly with Me, first since it doesn't standalone very well (part of my critique for it). I also loved The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce, and her holiday novella A Risk Worth Taking is genuinely my favorite Christmas romance of all time and I can't wait to reread it next month. She writes amazing chemistry. Play Along, Funny Story, The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren, Pas De Don't by Chloe Angyal, Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun, and Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez are top of my list for me! I'm really intrigued to hear your thoughts on her 2025 release, Say You'll Remember Me. I finished it this past week and I cannot stop thinking about it.
I haven't read a ton of romance this year, but my favourite is definitely Swordheart by T Kingfisher. Specifically the audiobook, I listened to it three times in a row and I think it's going to be one I come back to again and again
For me, apart from just for the summer my best were Old flames and new fortunes by Sarah Hogle (crazy swoony with fantastic witchy vibes), Ready or not by Cara Bastone (more contemporary, feels like a 90s romcom), & Funny story ( first emily henry that hits it for me!)
yesss!!! I have been waiting for Booktube's queen of romance to give us her favs of the year!!💜😊 chandler i'm so curious which one you are voting for in the goodreads choice awards...🤭
Savor It and Just for the Summer are on my top romance list. Some of my favorites not on your list include: The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain; Coming Home by Melissa Grace; Funny Story by Emily Henry; and When Hearts Attach by Leah Omar
I've read a good amount of 5 stars books this year, but I just realized that most of the straightforward romances haven't really blown my mind (even if a lot have been really solid). I did love At First Spite, Beach Read, and the last Lovelight Farm book that finally came out, but my other favorites are: 🧛♂My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine - this was the lighthearted paranormal fun I needed at the time 🏰The Castles Ever After series by Tessa Dare - filling the historical romance-shaped hole that she left in my heart ⚾You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian - not my favorite of hers overall, but it is my new favorite baseball romance 🐴Swift & Saddled by Lyla Sage - I only read the first in the series to get to this one 💞To Swoon and to Spar/To Woo and to Wed by Martha Waters - as soon as the series ended, I wanted more I still haven't really dug into romantasy (although Spark of the Everflame is on my TBR), but the fantasy romances that have worked for me are Swordheart by T. Kingfisher, The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy by Megan Bannen, and See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon (a YA timeloop).
Read On the Same Page right after you first mentioned it earlier in the year and it was exceptional. Definitely a top book of the year. Most books I read this year were from years prior, but of my favourites that came out this year were Queen of Dreams by Kit Rocha (sequel to Consort of Fire), the entire Grace Notes trilogy by Ruby Landers, Fire & Ice by Lily Seabrooke, and Failure to Match by Kyra Parsi. Queer books had a stellar year, that's for sure.
My two favourite books of the year are such a toss up right now but I really enjoyed Parallel by Elizabeth O’Roark and My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine!
I am reading all of the ones you have up here that I have not already read. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez was amazing and millennial-coded, as you mentioned, but it also addressed a lot of important issues. Kennedy Ryan is an incredible writer as well. Despite my initial disapproval of the way Soledad was treated which I really couldn’t get past so dnf’d, but you convinced me to give her book another chance. Lastly I couldn’t agree more with the excessive smut in books I want to make sense of why we’re here and if doesn’t it’s just cringe. Love your reviews always, thank you!!
I want to want to read At First Spite, cause everything you said about the story sounds so much like sth I need in my life. But unfortuantely I can only stomach historical, or international, or fantasy romance books. There is sth about a contemporary real world setting, which makes me cringe way too hard at romance. Listen😅, I am not immature, I am a single mother of 39y, but I am German. We dont do romance well.
Head to yourparade.com/CHANDLER-BF to get 50% off sitewide! Parade's BFCM sale is for 30% off sitewide from Nov 29th - Dec 3rd, but with my code you get Parade's best deal! (note: code excludes final sale items)
I love that you showed books that aren't popular on booktok! Definitely adding these to my tbr!
Yes Bride is probably one of my favourite books of this year. I definitely want to reread it in the future😍 I also loved The Fake Out and The Wingman and Play Along, the rest of the books on this list I haven’t read yet so I’m going to add them to my list. Thanks Chandler for the great recommendations
This Could be Us remains my top favorite romance of the year that has lived rent free in my head. It was so so so so so so so good
Savor It was definitely one of my favorite romances of the year and the fact that you loved the second book even more has me so excited to read it when it comes out!
These are great books, just checked out Antozent today, and their library is huge! Over 250 books-definitely something for every reader, including bride, this could be us and on the same page, would highly recommend checking it out.
Am I looking forward to the holiday season? Sure it’s cute but am I looking forward to CHANMAS? HELL YEAH!!
i love that you're an ali hazewood stan because truly all of her books have changed my brain chem especially love, theoretically and bride. still looking for books with MMCs similar to jack smith-turner
I get almost all of my romance recs from you, so I usually wouldn’t have anything to recommend, but I have two this time! The Friendship Study by Ruby Barrett and Failure to Match by Kyra Parsi are two romances that I absolutely loved this year, and I don’t think I’ve seen you mention them.
i'll have to check em out, thank you!
My favorite of the year was The Seven Year Slip
My favourite romance too 🤩
I read the entirety of The Wingman on a long flight (due to your recommendation)-absolutely delightful! definitely my favorite Stephanie Archer romance
I fell in love with the audio of Honestly I’m Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill a couple months ago, I love the couple so much.
Caught up by Liz Tomforde, both Ali Hazelwoods new books, Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez, Ready or not by Cara Bastone (also all her audiobook exclusives are excellent, they do an incredible job at picking narrators), and the seven year slip all stick out as favs this year!
The smile that hides on the corner of your lips while you are presenting mesmerizes me a lot
Completely agree with you on the two Ali Hazelwood books, especially Not in Love. I also adore everything Abby Jimenez writes, and Just For the Summer didn't disappoint. I would recommend Bananapants by Penny Reid; it has really good mental health representation, and Dixon Rule was a good sports romance by Elle Kennedy.
My favorite romances that I've read this year are Reckless by Elsie Silver, The right move by Liz Tomforde, Play along by Liz Tomforde, Yours truly by Abby Jimenez, The reaper by Rynux and The emperor by Rynux. They're all so romantic in their own ways.
I really liked yours truly too ❤
On the Same Page and Just for the Summer were two of my favorite romances of the year too 🥹😭 On the Same Page is sooooo underrated. Haha I also agree it reads like fanfiction in the best way!!!
Just finished Funny Story and loved it
Just bought At First Spite. After Shipwrecked Olivia Dade is definitely in the running to become a favourite romance author for me. I love that most of her characters are 30+ and have bodily diversity.
Read Bride after watching this video yesterday and loved it❤
I’ve read 4 of these and agree with you- in fact I’m listening to Not in Love on Spotify rn and no idea if you listened to it or read it but you need to check it out the audio if you get a chance. Jason Clarke who the narrator for Eli is just 😍. There’s a few others I’ve had on my TBR that I need to move up after listening to what you shared😉 Thanks for the recs!🌸
Some of my absolute favorite releases of this year that I don't see talked about much (hidden gems, maybe? ;)):
Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder (on KU, romantic suspense if it was written by Elsie Silver, also the cover is STUNNING!),
If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia (on KU, Gilmore Girls-esque autumnal setting but also all the emotions and perfect friends to lovers vibes with some heavier topics re parental figures sprinkled in, and set in the 90s!),
How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly (sapphic basketball coaches romance with found family aspects) and
You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian (m/m midcentury baseball grumpy/sunshine romance - the book before this one We Could Be So Good is really amazing as well).
And then my favorite book I read this year which was not released this year but I'm throwing it in here because I think it's so underrated is Fearless by Lauren Gilley (an MC romance that honestly is more like literary fiction and has started my obsession with this whole series by Gilley; it has quickly become my favorite series of all time!).
not in love and funny story not making it to top 6 shocked me easily the best written ones to me along with just for the summer
O read the Abby Jimenez trilogy, loved ALL of them. Favorita of them year: Play along. Also, Out on a limb, the costume scene is unforgettable.
I recently finished Fall for Him by Andie Burke, and while I did only give it 4 stars, the couple has been sticking around in my head ever since and that's a true hallmark of a great romance. I would read book one, Fly with Me, first since it doesn't standalone very well (part of my critique for it). I also loved The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce, and her holiday novella A Risk Worth Taking is genuinely my favorite Christmas romance of all time and I can't wait to reread it next month. She writes amazing chemistry.
Play Along, Funny Story, The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren, Pas De Don't by Chloe Angyal, Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun, and Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez are top of my list for me! I'm really intrigued to hear your thoughts on her 2025 release, Say You'll Remember Me. I finished it this past week and I cannot stop thinking about it.
Loved this video!! Thank you for the recs, really need some good romance right now ❤
I haven't read a ton of romance this year, but my favourite is definitely Swordheart by T Kingfisher. Specifically the audiobook, I listened to it three times in a row and I think it's going to be one I come back to again and again
I'm so excited to read this could be us next year
For me, apart from just for the summer my best were Old flames and new fortunes by Sarah Hogle (crazy swoony with fantastic witchy vibes), Ready or not by Cara Bastone (more contemporary, feels like a 90s romcom), & Funny story ( first emily henry that hits it for me!)
i still need to read old flames & new fortunes! i tried a little while ago but wasn't in the mood at the time
yesss!!! I have been waiting for Booktube's queen of romance to give us her favs of the year!!💜😊
chandler i'm so curious which one you are voting for in the goodreads choice awards...🤭
not sure yet! i still need to film a predictions and reactions 😋
Savor It and Just for the Summer are on my top romance list. Some of my favorites not on your list include: The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain; Coming Home by Melissa Grace; Funny Story by Emily Henry; and When Hearts Attach by Leah Omar
About to dive into spark of the everflame ughhh I’m excited
My best romances of the year were Bride as well, but also You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian. Hamartia by Scarlett Drake was also amazing.
gah i loved just for the summer!!!
I've read a good amount of 5 stars books this year, but I just realized that most of the straightforward romances haven't really blown my mind (even if a lot have been really solid). I did love At First Spite, Beach Read, and the last Lovelight Farm book that finally came out, but my other favorites are:
🧛♂My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine - this was the lighthearted paranormal fun I needed at the time
🏰The Castles Ever After series by Tessa Dare - filling the historical romance-shaped hole that she left in my heart
⚾You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian - not my favorite of hers overall, but it is my new favorite baseball romance
🐴Swift & Saddled by Lyla Sage - I only read the first in the series to get to this one
💞To Swoon and to Spar/To Woo and to Wed by Martha Waters - as soon as the series ended, I wanted more
I still haven't really dug into romantasy (although Spark of the Everflame is on my TBR), but the fantasy romances that have worked for me are Swordheart by T. Kingfisher, The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy by Megan Bannen, and See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon (a YA timeloop).
Read On the Same Page right after you first mentioned it earlier in the year and it was exceptional. Definitely a top book of the year. Most books I read this year were from years prior, but of my favourites that came out this year were Queen of Dreams by Kit Rocha (sequel to Consort of Fire), the entire Grace Notes trilogy by Ruby Landers, Fire & Ice by Lily Seabrooke, and Failure to Match by Kyra Parsi. Queer books had a stellar year, that's for sure.
Ooh I have the first Grace Notes on my TBR, bumping it up after seeing your comment! :)
My two favourite books of the year are such a toss up right now but I really enjoyed Parallel by Elizabeth O’Roark and My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine!
I really like my roommate is a vampire as well and I have just finished the second one which was really good too❤
@ ooo nice! I’ve been meaning to get around to the second one!
Best romance read of the year would have to be The Sword Catcher !
I need to read on the same page!!
I am reading all of the ones you have up here that I have not already read. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez was amazing and millennial-coded, as you mentioned, but it also addressed a lot of important issues. Kennedy Ryan is an incredible writer as well. Despite my initial disapproval of the way Soledad was treated which I really couldn’t get past so dnf’d, but you convinced me to give her book another chance. Lastly I couldn’t agree more with the excessive smut in books I want to make sense of why we’re here and if doesn’t it’s just cringe. Love your reviews always, thank you!!
Please do review of metal slinger ❤
I want to want to read At First Spite, cause everything you said about the story sounds so much like sth I need in my life. But unfortuantely I can only stomach historical, or international, or fantasy romance books. There is sth about a contemporary real world setting, which makes me cringe way too hard at romance. Listen😅, I am not immature, I am a single mother of 39y, but I am German. We dont do romance well.
❤❤
I usually agree with all your rec's but I'm about 80% through the fake out and I really want to DNF it. UGH. Do Not Like :)
Can you not do so many jump cuts. It sounds like I'm listening to a robot.