Top 100 Best Romance Books Ever

Discover the top 100 best romance novels of all time, as rated by readers and experts. From classic tales of love and passion to contemporary stories of heartbreak and happiness, this list has it all. Whether you’re a die-hard romance fan or just looking for your next great read, these books are sure to sweep you off your feet. Below are the top 100 best romance novels with access to the Speechify audiobook so you can listen to your favorite romance story at your leisure.

1. “Pride and Prejudice” is a classic novel by Jane Austen that focuses on the social and romantic lives of the Bennet family, particularly the second daughter, Elizabeth Bennet, and her relationship with Mr. Darcy. Listen to “Pride and Prejudice” with Speechify audiobooks here.
2. “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon is the first book in a historical fiction series that follows the time-traveling adventures of Claire Randall, a British nurse, and Jamie Fraser, a Scottish warrior, in Scotland during the 18th century. Listen to “Outlander” with Speechify audiobooks.
3. “Wuthering Heights” is a novel by Emily Bronte that tells the story of Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by the wealthy Earnshaw family, and his love for Catherine Earnshaw, which leads to a series of tragic events and relationships. Listen to “Wuthering Heights” with Speechify audiobooks.
4. “Gone with the Wind” is a novel by Margaret Mitchell that is set in the American South during the Civil War and Reconstruction, and follows the life and loves of Scarlett O’Hara, a strong-willed and manipulative Southern belle. Listen to Gone with the Wind with Speechify audiobooks.
5. “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne is a romantic comedy that follows the office dynamic and slow-burning romance between Lucy Hutton, the executive assistant, and Joshua Templeman, the co-CEO, at a publishing company. Listen to “The Hating Game” with Speechify audiobooks.
6. “The Notebook” is a novel by Nicholas Sparks that tells the story of a man reading from his journal to an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s in a nursing home, about the story of two young lovers, Noah and Allie, in the 1940s.
7. “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han is a young adult novel that follows high school student, Lara Jean Covey, who writes secret love letters to all of her crushes, but they accidentally get mailed to the recipients and she must confront her feelings for Peter Kavinsky.
8. “Me Before You” is a novel by Jojo Moyes that tells the story of Louisa Clark, a young woman from a small town, who takes a job as a caretaker for a wealthy man, Will Traynor, who is paralyzed and has lost his will to live.
9. “Dreaming of You” is a novel by Lisa Kleypas that is set in the Regency era of England, and follows the romantic adventures of Lady Sarah Fairfax, who is pursued by the handsome and dangerous catch of the Ton, Gabriel Barker. Listen to “Dreaming of you” with Speechify audiobooks.
10. “Normal People” by Sally Rooney is a novel that explores the intense, complicated and intimate relationship between Marianne and Connell, two young people from different backgrounds, as they navigate through different stages of their lives in Ireland.
11. “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger is a love story about a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably and his wife who tries to build a life with him despite the challenges.
12. “The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion follows the story of a socially awkward genetics professor who sets out to find a wife using a scientifically-designed questionnaire and ends up falling in love with the unlikeliest of candidates. Listen to “Rosie Project” with Speechify audiobooks.
13. “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green is a poignant tale of two teenagers with terminal illnesses who fall in love and try to make the most of the limited time they have left together.
14. “Ana Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy is a sweeping epic about a society woman in late 19th century Russia who leaves her family and privileged life to pursue an affair with a military officer.
15. “One Day” by David Nicholls is a novel that follows the ups and downs of a couple’s relationship over the course of 20 years, revisiting them on the same day each year.
16. “Eleanor and Park” by Rainbow Rowell is a coming-of-age story about two misfits who find love and solace in each other despite the challenges of their difficult home lives.
17. “The Time of My Life” by Cecilia Ahern is a story about a woman who discovers that her husband has been secretly sending her letters throughout her life to guide and shape her destiny. Listen to “The Time of My Life” with Speechify audiobooks.
18. “Atonement” by Ian McEwan is a novel that explores the consequences of a young girl’s lie and the ramifications it has on her family and the people she loves. Listen to “Atonement” with Speechify audiobooks.
19. “The Bride” by Julie Garwood is a historical romance about a Scottish laird who abducts an English noblewoman to be his bride and the unlikely love that blossoms between them.
20. “Persuasion” by Jane Austen is a novel about a young woman who, after being persuaded to reject a marriage proposal from the man she loves, must navigate society and her own feelings as she reconsiders her decision. Listen to “Persuasion” with Speechify audiobooks.
21. “The Vows of Silence” by Susan Hill is a mystery novel about a young lawyer who must solve a murder case at a girls’ boarding school.
22. “The Shape of Water” by Guillermo del Toro is a novelization of the film of the same name, a love story between a janitor and a mysterious sea creature. Listen to “The Shape of Water” with Speechify audiobooks.
23. “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte is a classic novel about a governess who falls in love with her employer, Mr. Rochester, and must overcome many obstacles to be with him. Listen to “Jane Eyre” with Speechify audiobooks.
24. “A Walk to Remember” by Nicholas Sparks is a romance novel about a high school student who falls in love with a girl who is dying of leukemia. Listen to “A Walk to Remember” with Speechify audiobooks.
25. “Love Story” by Erich Segal is a classic novel about a romance between a wealthy Harvard student and a poor Radcliffe student that is tested by illness. Listen to “Love Story” with Speechify audiobooks.
26. “The Summer House” by Jenny Hale is a contemporary romance novel about a woman who returns to her family’s beach house to find love and closure.
27. “The Bridges of Madison County” by Robert James Waller is a romantic novel about a married woman who has an affair with a photographer during a four-day break from her life. Listen to “The Bridges of Madison County”with Speechify audiobooks.
28. “Bridget Jones’s Diary” by Helen Fielding is a humorous novel about a single woman in her thirties trying to find love and happiness in London. Listen to “Bridget Jones’s Diary” with Speechify audiobooks.
29. “Serendipity” by Gabrielle Zevin is a romantic novel about a couple who are brought together by fate and must navigate their way back to each other after being separated.
30. “The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang is a romantic novel about a successful but socially awkward woman who hires a male escort to help her learn how to be intimate with someone.
31. “The Wedding Date” by Jasmine Guillory is a romantic comedy about a wedding planner who finds love with one of her clients.
32. “The First Love Cookie Club” by Lori Wilde is a heartwarming story about a woman who rediscovers love and the power of community through baking. Listen to “The First Love Cookie Club” on Speechify audiobooks.
33. “The Love Boat” by Richard Egates is a fictional tale about the passengers, crew, and adventures of a luxury cruise liner.
34. “Dear John” by Nicholas Sparks is a love story about a soldier who falls for a college student, but their relationship is tested when he is deployed to Iraq.
35. “The Longest Ride” by Nicholas Sparks is a romantic novel that follows two parallel love stories and the journey of a young couple, as they learn from a wise old man.
36. “Sapphire Flames” by Ilona Andrews is a fantasy romance novel about a powerful elemental mage who must navigate dangerous magical powers, and find love along the way.
37. “Tangled” by Emma Chase is a romantic comedy about a lawyer who must navigate the ups and downs of a relationship with a difficult client.
38. “Real” by Katy Evans is a steamy romance novel about a fighter and the woman who captures his heart. 
39. “The Last Letter from Your Lover” by Jojo Moyes is a dual timeline novel about a present-day journalist and a 1960s love affair, as she tries to uncover the truth behind a mysterious letter.
40. “The Garden of Last Days” by Andre Dubus III is a literary fiction novel about the intersecting lives of a stripper, her daughter, and a security guard, in the aftermath of 9/11.
41. “Bridgerton Book 1: The Duke And I” by Julia Quinn is the first in a series of historical romance novels set in Regency England, and follows the love story of Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings. 
42. “Happily Ever Afters” by Elise Bryant follows a woman who is tasked with creating the perfect love story for each couple she matches, but struggles to find her own happy ending.
43. “Beyond the Highland Mists” by Karen Marie Moning is a fantasy romance novel that follows a time-traveling warrior prince and a contemporary woman as they navigate love and danger in the Scottish Highlands.
44. “Angels’ Blood” by Nalini Singh is the first book in the Guild Hunter series and features a human who works as an angel hunter and is tasked with capturing a rogue angel, but instead finds herself drawn to him.
45. “Vision in White” by Nora Roberts is the first book in the Bride Quartet series and follows a wedding planner who is tasked with organizing a high-stakes wedding but falls in love with the bride’s brother.
46. “Indigo” by Beverly Jenkins is a historical romance novel that follows a woman who travels West on a wagon train and falls in love with a former slave and now a rancher.
47. “Tonight and Forever A Madaris Family Novel” by Brenda Jackson is a contemporary romance novel that follows a woman who falls in love with a family friend and former military man.
48. “Red, White & Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston is a romantic comedy about a relationship that forms between the prince of Wales and the son of the US president.
49. “Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover is a romantic drama novel that follows a woman who falls in love with a man who is emotionally unavailable and has a troubled past.
50. “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E. L. James is the first book in the Fifty Shades trilogy and is a BDSM-themed romantic drama that follows the relationship between a college student and a young billionaire.
51. “Naked in Death” by J. D. Robb is the first book in the In Death series and features a police lieutenant who solves crimes in a futuristic New York City and falls in love with a mysterious man.
52. “The Wallflower Series” by Lisa Kleypas is a historical romance series set in 19th-century England and follows four women as they navigate love, society, and their own desires.
53. “The Vow” by Kim Carpenter is a novel about a young woman who makes a vow to God to remain celibate until marriage, only to have her fiancé break the engagement and leave her struggling with the consequences of her promise.
54. “An Officer and a Gentleman” by Danielle Steel is a romantic novel about a Navy officer who falls in love with a civilian, but must navigate the challenges of their differing worlds in order to be together.
55. “The English Patient” by Michael Ondaatje is a historical novel set in Italy during World War II that tells the story of a burn victim being cared for by a nurse, and the love that develops between them despite the horrors of war and their vastly different backgrounds.
56. “The Bronze Horseman” by Paullina Simons is a historical novel about a young woman in Leningrad during World War II who falls in love with a soldier, only to have their relationship tested by the war and the political upheaval of the time.
57. “The Devil Wears Prada” by Lauren Weisberger is a novel about a young woman who lands her dream job as a personal assistant to a powerful and demanding fashion magazine editor, only to realize that the job is not all it’s cracked up to be.
58. “The Proposal” by Jasmine Guillory is a romantic novel about a successful woman who is asked to marry her friend in order to secure a business deal, but finds herself falling in love with him as they spend more time together.
59. “The Bodyguard” by Whitney Houston is a novel about a pop star who hires a bodyguard to protect her from a stalker, only to fall in love with him as they work together to uncover the truth about the threat against her.
60. “The Thorn Birds” by Colleen McCullough is a historical novel set in Australia about a young woman who falls in love with a priest, and their complicated relationship over the years as they struggle with their forbidden love.
61. “The Lucky One” by Nicholas Sparks is a romantic novel about a soldier who returns home from Iraq and sets out to find the woman whose photo he carried with him throughout his deployment, only to fall in love with her despite the challenges they face.
62. “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant is a historical novel about the biblical figure of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and the stories of the women in her life, including her mothers and the powerful women of her tribe.
63. “Truly Madly Deeply” by Jenny Nimmo is a fantasy novel about a girl who discovers a magical world of fairies and elves.
64. “Sweetbitter” by Stephanie Danler is a coming-of-age story about a young woman who moves to New York City and discovers the bittersweetness of adulthood.
65. “The Lake House” by Kate Morton is a mystery novel about a woman who discovers a family secret while investigating her grandmother’s past.
66. “A Fine Balance” by Rohinton Mistry is a novel about four strangers who form an unlikely bond in the face of oppressive government policies.
67. “The Light in the Piazza” by Elizabeth Spencer is a romantic drama about a young woman who falls in love in Florence, Italy.
68. “The Love Letters” by Katie Fforde is a romantic comedy about two people who find love through a series of letters.
69. “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a timeless love story about a couple who are separated for decades before reuniting.
70. “A Room with a View” by E.M. Forster is a classic novel about a young woman who finds love and freedom in Italy.
71. “The Thorn Birds” by Colleen McCullough is a sweeping saga about a family’s struggles and triumphs in rural Australia.
72. “The Bridges of Madison County” by Robert James Waller is a story of love and loss set in the beautiful Iowa countryside. 
73. “Somewhere in Time” by Richard Matheson is a science fiction romance about a man who travels back in time to find the woman he loves.
74. “Dreaming of You” by Lisa Kleypas is a historical romance about a woman who falls in love with a man she believes is her enemy.
75. Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden – A young girl in pre-war Japan is sold into servitude as a geisha, and falls in love with a wealthy businessman.
76. “The Bridges of Constantine” by Ahlem Mosteghanemi – A woman reflects on her tumultuous love life and her memories of the city of Constantine in Algeria.
77. “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera – In Prague in the 1960s, a surgeon and his artist wife explore their love for each other and for a young woman.
78. “The Time of the Hero” by Mario Vargas Llosa – A group of cadets at a military academy in Lima, Peru, navigate the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and love.
79. “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway – Expatriate Americans and Brits find love and heartbreak in the cafes and bullrings of 1920s Paris and Pamplona.
80. “The Notebook of Malte Laurids Brigge” by Rainer Maria Rilke – An introspective young man grapples with his past, his identity, and his love for a married woman.
81. “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Jay Gatsby throws lavish parties to win back his former love, Daisy Buchanan, in this classic tale of the Jazz Age.
82. “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – A multi-generational saga of a family in a small town in Colombia, full of magical realism and poignant love stories.
83. “The Flatshare” by Beth O’Leary – A charming romance about two strangers who share an apartment and begin to fall in love through post-it notes and phone calls.
84. “The Selection” by Kiera Cass – A dystopian romance about a girl who is chosen to compete for the heart of a prince.
85. “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid follows the life story of Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo and her seven marriages, revealing a deep, complicated love story.
86. “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover is about Lily Bloom, who struggles to come to terms with her past and present relationships with men, including her first love and abusive father.
87. “Mine Till Midnight” by Lisa Kleypas is about the unconventional relationship that develops between Amelia Hathaway and the rakish Cam Rohan as they navigate family obligations, societal norms, and their own desires.
88. “Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake” by Sarah MacLean is about Lady Calpurnia Hartwell breaking societal norms and embarking on a scandalous adventure with the rakish Marquess of Ralston.
89. “Anna and the French Kiss” by Stephanie Perkins is about Anna Oliphant’s journey of self-discovery and unexpected romance with Étienne St. Clair while studying at a boarding school in Paris.
90. “Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall is about Luc, a commitment-phobic man, who agrees to pretend to be in a relationship with Oliver, a lawyer in need of a respectable boyfriend, and they end up falling for each other amidst their fake relationship.
91. “On Dublin Street” by Samantha Young is about Jocelyn Butler, a young woman with a traumatic past who falls in love with Braden Carmichael, a Scottish businessman, as they navigate their mutual attraction and individual emotional baggage.
92. “The Viscount Who Loved Me” by Julia Quinn is about Anthony Bridgerton, a rakish viscount who falls for the spirited Kate Sheffield while they navigate their families’ attempts to arrange their marriage, while also dealing with a mysterious threat to the Bridgerton family.
93. “Venetia” by Georgette Heyer is about the unconventional romance that develops between the intelligent and independent Venetia Lanyon and the reclusive but kind-hearted Lord Damerel, as they navigate their pasts and societal norms.
94. “Bared to You” by Sylvia Day is about the intense and tumultuous romance between Eva Tramell and Gideon Cross, two people with troubled pasts who struggle to overcome their personal demons and build a healthy relationship.
95. “Dark Lover” by J.R. Ward is about the forbidden love between the vampire warrior, Wrath, and the human woman, Beth Randall, as they navigate their respective worlds and the threat of the Lessening Society.
96. “A Knight in Shining Armor” by Jude Deveraux is about the time-travel romance between Dougless Montgomery, a modern-day woman, and Nicholas Stafford, a 16th century English knight, as they fall in love and work to overcome the obstacles of their different worlds.
97. “Almost Heaven” by Judith McNaught is about the passionate but tumultuous relationship between Elizabeth Cameron and Ian Thornton, as they navigate their personal and societal differences while falling deeply in love.
98. “The Duke of Shadows” by Meredith Duran is about Emma and Julian’s intense romance that blossoms amidst the tumultuous backdrop of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, as they navigate betrayal, tragedy, and their own personal demons.
99. “Darkfever” by Karen Marie Moning is about MacKayla Lane’s quest to avenge her sister’s murder in Dublin, which leads her into the dangerous and supernatural world of the Fae, where she meets the mysterious and enigmatic Jericho Barrons.
100. “Flowers from the Storm” by Laura Kinsale is about the unconventional love story between Maddy, a Quaker who helps a Duke regain his faculties after a stroke, and the Duke of Jervaulx, as they navigate the obstacles of their different worlds and the Duke’s recovery.

Listen to your favorite romance books with Speechify audiobooks

These top 100 best romance books offer a diverse range of stories for readers to enjoy. Whether you prefer sweet and swoon-worthy tales or heart-wrenching dramas, these books are sure to captivate the hearts of all who read them. So why not listen to one of these great Speechify audiobooks today and experience the power of love for yourself.