The 25 best romances
The 25 highest-ranked romances in our ranking of 2,819, scored on how much readers love them, their prize, best-list and bestseller record, and current buzz. We rank 233 romances in all. How we rank
- 1
Gone with the Wind94.6Must-Read ScoreGone with the Wind
Few novels are this addictive at this length.
- 2The Nightingale90.0Must-Read Score
The Nightingale
It's one of the most loved novels of the past decade: a #1 New York Times bestseller and one of the ten best-selling books of 2015.
- 3
Lonesome Dove89.6Must-Read ScoreLonesome Dove
It's the great American Western, and much more: a sweeping, funny, heartbreaking novel about friendship, love and the end of the frontier.
- 4
Pride and Prejudice88.4Must-Read ScorePride and Prejudice
It's the original enemies-to-lovers romance and still one of the funniest, smartest novels ever written.
- 5
Verity88.1Must-Read ScoreVerity
It's a dark, twisty, can't-put-it-down thriller that became a word-of-mouth sensation, and its ending has divided readers into passionate camps.
- 6The Song of Achilles88.1Must-Read Score
The Song of Achilles
It won the Women's Prize for Fiction and has spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
- 7
House of Earth and Blood87.6Must-Read ScoreHouse of Earth and Blood
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and launched the Crescent City series, one of the most popular in modern fantasy.
- 8
Quicksilver87.1Must-Read ScoreQuicksilver
It's an addictive enemies-to-lovers romantasy with fast-paced action, sharp banter and a slow burn that readers devour.
- 9A Man Called Ove86.7Must-Read Score
A Man Called Ove
It was one of the ten best-selling books in America in both 2016 and 2017.
- 10
A Court of Thorns and Roses86.3Must-Read ScoreA Court of Thorns and Roses
It launched one of the biggest fantasy-romance series of the century, beginning as a Beauty and the Beast retelling and becoming something much bigger.
- 11
Atmosphere85.9Must-Read ScoreAtmosphere
Taylor Jenkins Reid combines a love story with a vivid, inspiring portrait of the women who fought to get into space.
- 12The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo85.7Must-Read Score
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
It was one of the ten best-selling books of 2022 and spent more than 160 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists after readers rediscovered it.
- 13
Sophie's Choice85.6Must-Read ScoreSophie's Choice
It's a powerful, ambitious novel about guilt, memory and the Holocaust, and it won the National Book Award.
- 14
Me Before You85.0Must-Read ScoreMe Before You
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list, has sold millions of copies and became a film with Emilia Clarke.
- 15
The Thorn Birds83.2Must-Read ScoreThe Thorn Birds
It's one of the best-selling novels ever, around 33 million copies, a #1 New York Times bestseller for months, and a pick on the BBC's Big Read.
- 16
Lessons in Chemistry83.1Must-Read ScoreLessons in Chemistry
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and spent years on the bestseller lists.
- 17
The Four Winds83.0Must-Read ScoreThe Four Winds
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 18
Reminders of Him82.7Must-Read ScoreReminders of Him
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist and one of the best-selling books of its year.
- 19Heated Rivalry82.4Must-Read Score
Heated Rivalry
Years after it came out, it became a sensation, spending 22 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists after its TV adaptation.
- 20
Just for the Summer82.2Must-Read ScoreJust for the Summer
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 21
Alchemised82.1Must-Read ScoreAlchemised
It debuted at #1 on the New York Times list, spent months on the lists, and was a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 22
Shield of Sparrows80.7Must-Read ScoreShield of Sparrows
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and a Goodreads Choice finalist.
- 23Taiwan Travelogue80.3Must-Read Score
Taiwan Travelogue
It won the 2026 International Booker Prize.
- 24Acheron80.2Must-Read Score
Acheron
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and it's the book fans of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series waited years for: the full story of the series' central figure.
- 25
Water for Elephants80.0Must-Read ScoreWater for Elephants
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and became a film and a Broadway musical.