Divided up into Contemporary, Historical, and I have no idea (Fantasy usually) here are the lists of some of my friends top ten favorite books. I tried to query friends that were younger and older than me, who's favorites were the same and different sub-genres than me, and have been reading romance for years and just started. I'm really pleased with the variety of recs that came out of this.
Apologies for how long this took me, whew, it was way more work to get the information organized and formatted in a way that was readable. I also wanted to make it printable for people that didn't want to have to keep returning to my post.
Thanks to everyone again for the time and effort they took to send me their top reads, whether it was 20 books because they just couldn't cut it down to ten or simply author names because they enjoy their whole backlist. Can't wait to dive into this list :)
Contributors to the list (click on names to go to their Goodreads page or BookLikes:
Anonymous
Comments after rec are from contributor.
Not able to Categorize
(Without reading the books, I couldn't decide if they were leaning more Hist or Contemp, usually fantasy or sci-fi in this category.)
Anastasi, Jess - Damage Control (Syfy romance)
Bardugo, Leigh - Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom
Cashore, Kristin - Graceling
Clare, Cassandra - City of Bones series
Clarke, Cassandra Rose - The Assassin's Curse series of 2 books (Fantasy, YA)
Coe, Cara - The Hidden Princess
Coe, Cara - The White Forest
Cook, Nickolas - Alice in Zombieland (romance is secondary in this book but I love Ali and Cole)
Derr, Megan - Tournament of Losers
Devan, Grace - Radiance
Feehan, Christine - Burning Wild (Jake is everything)
Harrison, Thea - Dragon Bound
Harrison, Thea - Kinked
Lane, Jex - Captive
Mafi, Tahereh - Shatter Me
McBride, Belinda - The Tenth Muse
McFarland, Caitlyn - Dragonsworn series of 3 books (NA, syfy/fantasy)
Meade, Rachael - Vampire Academy (plus the series as a whole)
Meyer, Marisa - Cinder (plus the series as a whole)
O'Neill, Morgan - The Thornless Rose (Favorite time travel)
Owens, Robin D. - Heart Quest
Pacat, C.S, - Captive Prince
Peters, Elizabeth - The Vicky Bliss series (Borrower of the Night, Street of the Five Moons, Silhouette in Scarlet, Trojan Gold, Night Train to Memphis, The Laughter of Dead Kings. I enjoy the Amelia Peabody books, but I liked Vicky's adventures better.)
Roberson, Jennifer - Sword Dancer (and sequels) (Scifi/fantasy with an unusual dose of romance and two utterly unforgettable characters.)
Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter (all)
Saenz, Benjamin Alire - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe(these guys stole my heart)
Shannon, Samantha - The Bone Season (plus the series as a whole)
Singh, Nalini - Angel's Blood (whole series)
Singh, Nalini - Psy Changeling series (there's too many books from the series that I like but each book is always close to 5 stars)
Smith, R. Lee - Land of the Beautiful Dead (Urban Fantasy/Dystopian? Hard to categorize but a story that stayed with me long after I finished it)
Sparks, Kerrelyn - Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon
Spencer, Wen - A Brother's Price
Untamed, JanJan - The Doomsday Papers
Wright, Suzanne - Feral Sins (only this one of the series, the others eh)
Contemporary
(I typically consider this any story taking place from 1950ish to present times.)
Aaron, Celia - Blackwood
Alers, Rochelle
Anders, Natasha - The Unwanted Wife
Ashley, Kristen - Rock Chick (only this one of the Rock Chicks I couldn't get through the rest of her series too repetitive)
Ashley, Kristen - Sweet Dreams (one of her best IMO)
Ashton, Avril - (Watch Me) Break You
Ayala, Rachelle - Playing for the Save
Barry, Emma, & Turner, Genevieve - A Midnight Clear
Black, Incy - Hard to Forget (R. suspense)
Bette, Kimberly A. - Held
Bowen, Sarina - The Year We Fell Down (NA, sports)
Bowen, Sarina, & Kennedy, Elle - 2 recs for Him and Us (LGBT, M/M, NA, sports) (read this twice in four months and am not against another reread)
Brockmann, Suzanne - Get Lucky
Brockmann, Suzanne - Gone Too Far
Carr, K. - Home
Carr, M.C. - Birdie
Carter, Chance - Royal Engagement
Chauhan, Anuja - Those Pricey Thakur Girls
Christine, Lee - In Safe Arms (R. suspense)
Clayton, Alice - Wallbanger (great romantic comedy)
Cole, Alyssa - Let It Shine
Cole, Kresley - 2 recs for A Hunger Like No Other
Cole, Kresley - Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Cole, Kresly - Demon From the Dark
Craig, Christie - Shut Up and Kiss Me
Crusie, Jennifer - (pretty much anything, her brand of romance ensnares me)
Crusie, Jennifer - 2 recs for Bet Me (longtime perennial re-read)
Cullinan, Heidi - Carry the Ocean
Fitzpatrick, Huntley - My Life Next Door
Foster, Melissa - Tru Blue
Frost, Jeaniene - 2 recs for Halfway to the Grave (I wish this series had never ended, whole series)
Frost, Sosie - Beauty and the Blitz
Gerard, Cindy - Into the Dark (R. suspense)
Gerard, Cindy - To the Brink
Gibson, Rachel - Truly, Madly, Yours
Green, John - Fault in Our Stars
Grey, Autumn - Breaking Gravity (naughty but tortured teacher romance, NA)
Griffin, Laura - Beyond Limits (R. suspense)
Haddon, Mark - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Han, Jennifer - To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Harkins, M.K. - Intentional
Harmon, Amy - 2 recs for Making Faces (when I need a good cry)
Harvey-Berrick, Jane - The Education of Sebastian and The Education of Caroline
Hazard, Alessandra - Just a Bit Ruthless
Henry, Lisa - The Island
Higgins, Kristan - Catch of the Day
Hoover, Colleen - Hopeless
Hoover, Colleen - It Ends With Us
Hoover, Colleen - Ugly Love
Howard, Linda - 2 recs for Mr. Perfect (favorite romantic suspense) (although I'm very pissed off at LH at the moment, I couldn't leave this one off the list)
Hype, Jenn - Simply Crazy
Jackson, Brenda - Westmorelands
James, Julie - Just the Sexiest Man Alive
James, Julie - Something About You
Janzen, Tara - Crazy Hot
Jenkins, Beverly
Jones, Darynda - First Grave on the Right - (I love this whole series, it mostly revolves around the same couple)
Kelly, Brynn - Edge of Truth
Kennedy, Elle - Fragment
Keplinger, Kody - The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend
Kinsella, Sophie - Confessions of a Shopaholic (even if in new installments Rebecca has gotten on my nerves with her refusal to learn from her past I still over the first in the series)
Kinsella, Sophie - Finding Aubrey
Kleypas, LIsa - Smooth Talking Stranger
Lanyon, Josh - Death of a Pirate King
Laurenston, Shelly - The Beast in Him (PNR/Shifter, just funny and one of her best)
Layne, Lauren - Walk of Shame
Llosa, Mario Vargas - The Bad Girl
Loch, Kathryn - Haunted Heart
Lyga, Barry - I Hunt Killers series
Malone, Lily - So Far Into You (chick-lit)
Manning, Sarra - You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
March, Meghan - Beneath this Mask and Beneath these Scars
McAvoy, J.J. - That Thing Between Eli & Gwen
McDonald, Jeanne - Compass
McKenna, Cara - Willing Victim
McKinley, Brooke - Shades of Grey
McLean, Jay - More Than This
McNaught, Judith - Perfect
Nelson, Latrivia S. - Dmitry's Closet (both series)
Nelson, Latrivia S. - Ivy's Twisted Vine
Pace, Pepper - Stranded!
Park, Jessica - Flat Out Love
Phillips, Susan Elizabeth - Dream a Little Dream
Phillips, Susan Elizabeth - 2 recs for Kiss An Angel
Phillips, Susan Elizabeth - Match Me If You Can
Powell, Liz - Hunted
Rai, Alisha - Hate to Want You
Ray, Francis
Reed, Jamie - Burning Emerald
Reed, Jamie - Fading Amber
Reed, Jamie - Living Violet
Reid, Penny - 2 recs for Beard Science
Reid, Penny - Neanderthal Seeks Human (when I need that touch of awkward/funny)
Rinyu, Beth - Thursday Afternoon
Robbs, J.D. - 2 recs for In Death series (because- Roarke! futuristic)
Romig, Aleatha - Consequences (whole series)
Roux, Abigail - Divide & Conquer
Schlosser, Jamie - Outcast (The Good Guys)
Scott, Kylie - Play (Rocker, for those times I just want to laugh)
Shalvis, Jill - Lucky in Love
Shalvis, Jill - Rainy Day Friends (new favorite)
Shalvis, Jill - Simply Irresistible
Sheehan, Madeline - Unbeautifully
Sheehan, Madeline - Undeniable
Sheridan, Mia - Stinger
Singh, Nalini - Rock Hard
Sjoberg, Lori - Grave Vengeance (paranormal)
Smith, Maureen - The Swede
St. Pierre, Raven - The Complete Free Falling series
Swain, Shea - The Awakening of the Halo
Swain, Shea - The Binding of the Halo
Swain, Shea - Chained to the Devil's Son
Thompson, Nancy S. - Stirred
Thorne, Sally - 4 recs for The Hating Game (new favorite)
Turner, Twyla - Chasing Day series
Untamed, JanJan - The View From the Bottom
Ward, J.R. - 2 recs for Dark Lover (favorite PNR)
Ward, J.R. - Lover Awakened
Webber, Tammara - Easy and Breakable
Young, Samantha - On Dublin Street (again I adore the series however the couples change each book and Joss and Braedon are my favorite)
Zabo, Anna - Just Business
Zapata, Mariana - Kulti (it took a long time for me to fall in love with this one but once I did there was no stopping it)
Zapata, Mariana - The Wall of Winnipeg and Me (when I need that slow burn)
Historical
(I typically consider this any story taking place from dawn of humans to 1940ish)
Anderson, Catherine - Summer Breeze
Ashley, Jennifer - The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie (just love it so much)
Austen, Jane - Persuasion
Austen, Jane - Pride and Prejudice (I know, I know--but--Mr. Darcy!--Classic)
Brockway, Connie - Bridal Favors
Brockway, Connie - The Other Guy's Bride
Bronte, Charlotte - Jane Eyre
Canham, Marsha - Through a Dark Mist and In a Shadow of Midnight
Cleeton, Chanel - Next Year in Havana (women's fiction)
Dare, Tessa - Any Duchess Will Do
Dare, Tessa - Romancing the Duke
de Blasis, Celeste - The Tiger's Woman (MY FIRST HISTORICAL ROMANCE! I will NEVER forget it. It's bodice rippery, but back in the day I devoured this book-several times.)
Donaldson, Julianne
Donati, Sara - Into the Wilderness
Duran, Meredith - The Duke of Shadows
Enoch, Suzanne - England's Perfect Hero
Garwood, Julie - The Bride
Garwood, Julie - For the Roses
Garwood, Julie - The Gift (funny and sentimental choice.)
Garwood, Julie - Ransom
Goodman, Jo - Sweet Fire
Graham, Winston - Poldark series (The 1970s BBC production of Poldark, with Robin Ellies, Angharad Rees, Ralph Bates, Jill Townsend, Clive Francis, Kevin McNally
Making Poldark, by Robin Ellis
Poldark's Cornwall, by Winston Graham
I can't rave about these enough. I watched half of the first episode of the recent BBC remake with Aidan Turner and was completely turned off. Graham served as an advisor to the 1970s version, and it was much more faithful to the books. And I'm sorry, but Aidan Turner is NOT Robin Ellis!!!!!!!)
Gracie, Anne - The Perfect Stranger
Grasso, Patricia - Desert Eden
Gregory, Lisa - The Rainbow Season (Both of these books featured ordinary people living ordinary lives, rather than dukes and kings and pirates)
Guhrke, Laura Lee - Conor's Way
Heath, Lorraine - Always to Remember (favorite western historical)
Heyer, Georgette - Cotillon
Hoyt, Elizabeth - Duke of Sin
Hoyt, Elizabeth - To Seduce a Sinner
Hunter, Madeline - The Charmer
Ibbtoson, Eva - A Countess Below Stairs
James, Eloisa - This Duchess of Mine
Jenkins, Beverly
Johnson, Susan - Sinful
Kelly, Carla - Marrying the Captain
Kennedy, Kris - Claiming Her
Kinsale, Laura - The Shadow and the Star
Kleypas, Lisa - 3 recs for Devil in Winter
Kleypas, Lisa - 2 recs for Love in the Afternoon
Kleypas, Lisa - Marrying Winterborne
Kleypas, Lisa - Mine Till Midnight
Kleypas, Lisa - Secrets of a Summer Night
Kleypas, Lisa - 2 recs for Tempt Me at Twilight (basically the whole Hathway series is my favorite!)
Koen, Karleen - Through a Glass Darkly
Krahn, Betina - The Book of True Desires
Krahn, Betina - The Last Bachelor
Ladd, Sarah E.
Laurens, Stephanie - The Promise in a Kiss
Leigh, Susannah - Wine of the Dreamers (I'm not much into time travel/reincarnation,but one was slightly different. Similar, in a way, to Anya Seton's The Green Darkness. I haven't read it in a long time, maybe 20 years, so it's due to be taken off the shelf again.)
Lindsey, Johanna - Gentle Rogue
London, Julia - The Perils of Pursuing a Prince
Long, Julie Anne - The Secret to Seduction
Mathewson, R.L. - Truce
Matthews, Mimi - The Lost Letter
Marai, Sandor - Embers
Marillier, Juliet - Daughter of the Forest
Mastretta, Angeles - Lovesick
McNaught, Judith - Once and Always
Mederios, Teresa - Thief of Hearts
Morsi, Pamela - Courting Miss Hattie
O'Connell, Ellen - Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold
Osborne, Maggie - The Promise of Jenny Jones
Proctor, Candice - Beyond Sunrise
Putney, Mary Jo - Dearly Beloved (This one is controversial. A lot of readers hate it because of how it starts, but I loved it)
Quick, Amanda - Dangerous
Quinn, Paula - Laird of the Mist
Quinn, Julia - The Duke and I
Quinn, Julia - 2 recs for Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
Rasheed, Lelia - Cinders & Sapphires
Raybourn, Deanna - A Spear of Summer Grass
Shupe, Joanna - Magnate
Simmons, Paullina - The Bronze Horseman series
Smith-Saxe, Coral - Enchantment (absolutely delightful, one of my all-time favorites AND it has one of the most gorgeous covers EVER)
Spencer, LaVyrle - Hummingbird (Though I had some issues with Hummingbird, I loved the laugh out loud humor. Both of these books featured ordinary people living ordinary lives rather than dukes and kings and pirates)
Stewart, Mary - The Ivy Tree (favorite vintage)
Tavares, Miguel Sousa - Equator
Thomas, Sherry - Ravishing the Heiress
Turano, Jen
Untamed, JanJan - The Magnificent Miss Broadway
Wallace, Bill - Buffalo Gal
Westcott, Jan - The Hepburn
White, Leslie Turner - Lord Johnnie
Woodwiss, Kathleen - Ashes in the Wind
Yerby, Frank - The Saracen Blade
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