12 Best Adult Contemporary Romance Books 2025 Reviewed
Are you new to adult contemporary romance? We’re sharing our favorite picks that made us laugh, cry, and swoon—all in one night.
Finding the perfect adult contemporary romance can feel tougher than untangling your headphones in the dark. We focus on stories with sparkling banter, relatable drama, and swoony moments that actually make us blush. Our picks bring fresh takes on love, laugh-out-loud awkwardness, and real problems instead of just the same old fairy-tale fluff. Whether you want friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, or just a darn good adult contemporary romance you can’t put down, we’ve got the list to save your next reading slump.
On this list:
12 The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
We picked this one because it’s funny, sharp, and the banter makes us feel like we’re smart (even when we’re not). Lucy and Josh have the best love-hate thing going. Felt like watching a romcom with a bowl of popcorn, except we didn’t spill any on the pages, promise.
11 Beach Read by Emily Henry
This book is sunshine in a bottle. It’s about two writers with writer’s block. We liked that it’s not too cheesy, and there’s real stuff about loss and hope too. Our book club group talked about this one for hours. And yes, we did meet at the beach, but nobody wrote a novel there.
10 The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
We loved Stella and Michael because the story feels fresh and honest. Stella’s quirky brain makes us feel less weird about our own. This one’s a bit spicy, so don’t let your grandma borrow it unless she’s cool.
9 November 9 by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover can really tug at the heart (sometimes a little too hard, but we keep coming back). This one plays with fate and timing. We still argue about whether or not Ben is a jerk. Good for fans of drama and second chances.
8 It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
This book is pure fun. Think: Schitt’s Creek but with steamy scenes and a grumpy fisherman. We liked watching Piper try to survive small-town life—reminded us of our last attempt at camping. Piper and Brendan grabbed our hearts, even if our tent did not survive.
7 People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
We picked this because it made us laugh out loud and sigh dreamily (sometimes at the same time). Alex and Poppy are opposites in the best way, and their travels made us want to book a holiday. Too bad we only made it to the couch.
6 The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Fake dating, a wedding in Spain, and family drama—this book has all the hits. We struggled with the slow start, but Aaron and Lina’s chemistry won us over. By the end, we were ready to RSVP to any fake wedding (as long as there’s cake).
5 Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
This is the book that made us ship a prince and the First Son. It’s funny, sweet, and a little wild, with some serious political gossip. We finished it with big, goofy smiles. Warning: may lead to sudden urge to text your ex (don’t do it).
4 The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Who knew grad school could be this fun? Olive and Adam’s fake-relationship shenanigans made us snort-laugh. We loved the science nerd jokes. Some bits get a little far-fetched, but the feels are real.
3 Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Emily Henry again—because she’s just that good! Nora and Charlie are both bookworms, so we felt seen (our TBR piles are taller than us). This one has great banter and bookish references. We do wish the pace had picked up in the middle, though.
2 Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino
This story about long-lost love and missed chances hit us right in the feels. The mood is a little bittersweet but hopeful. It made us want to call our old college crushes, but don’t worry, we didn’t (awkward). Not as light as others, but so worth it.
1 Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
We crown this book the best adult contemporary romance because it takes risks and isn’t afraid to get messy. Kenna is not your perfect heroine—she’s made some huge mistakes, and the way she tries to fix them gave us all the feels. Colleen Hoover writes flawed people better than anyone else we’ve read. We spent half the time rooting for Kenna and the other half wanting to yell at her, which honestly made the book even better. There’s so much hope and tenderness in the love story between her and Ledger, and we appreciate how healing takes time. Our group could not stop talking about this book, even days after finishing it. The story proves romance can be messy and still beautiful, and that’s why it stands out.
