Books to Read Based on Your Favorite Romance Tropes

After secretly taking over her husband’s architectural firm, the widowed Miranda takes on her toughest assignment yet: In the absence of her male liaison, she must oversee the reconstruction of the “wicked” Winfield Elliot’s burned estate—even if it means outing herself as the firm’s top architect. 

Soon, Miranda finds that her reputation isn’t the only thing at risk, as her witty banter with Win turns into whispered (and very unprofessional) sweet-nothings. But with three failed engagements under his belt, is this charming viscount truly capable of giving Miranda the love she deserves? Prepare for a sexy, irresistible ride that'll remind you why few tropes can top an enemies-to-lovers romance.

The always-single Kaitlin has never been a huge fan of weddings. But to add insult to injury, this particular ceremony comes with an unwanted blast from the past: Brendan O'Herlihy, her ex-husband and high school sweetheart. 

While she does everything she can to avoid a confrontation, it seems that fate—like so many years ago—has other plans in mind. And instead of ripping Kaitlin and Brendan apart, it wants to bring them together for a second chance at HEA.

Kit Masters thought she'd finally made it. A farm girl from Aspen, Colorado, Kit's just been cast in a major motion picture opposite John Travis, the biggest Hollywood star. Best of all, shooting will take place back in Kit's home state.

But going home again means a reunion with her ex, rancher Tom Bannon. Fans of Sweet Home Alabama will love following Kit's story as she must choose between a glamorous lifestyle and something closer to home.

As a diplomat of Queen Anne’s court, Lady Miriam McDonald must settle the ongoing feud between a treacherous English baron and a mild-mannered laird. But in her quest to establish peace between the two arch-nemeses, she also establishes two close relationships—one with a seemingly bumbling Scot; the other, with an enigmatic Border Lord (who is basically the medieval version of Batman). 

Only after things get a little hot and heavy does Miriam realize that the men she has come to know are, in fact, one and the same...

The Marquess of Rockingham is London’s most notorious bad boy—a rake with a temper that’s bigger than his fortune. Lucinda is a country girl and the poster child of Regency propriety. And yet, these two polar opposites find themselves not only rubbing shoulders at a London society ball, but agreeing to marry one another. 

Throw in a murder plot and some delightfully evil characters, and The Savage Marquess is another historical romp from M.C. Beaton, an author who “deftly blends humor and adventure” to hold “her devoted audience to the last gasp” (Booklist).

How to Forget a Duke serves up a feast of tropes: We’ve got a case of amnesia! A dose of forbidden love! But most importantly, forced proximity elevates our hero and heroine’s relationship to new, more passionate heights. 

Jacinda Bourne runs a matchmaking agency, and her latest client, the icy and secretive Duke of Rydstrom, is unlike any that have come before. To get a better grasp on his quirks—and thus, ensure a successful pairing—Jacinda decides to snoop around his secluded estate. 

Unfortunately, the journey to Whitcrest is rougher than she anticipated, leaving her with no memory of herself, her mission, or her policy against mixing business with pleasure. Not one to turn away a woman in distress, Rydstrom takes Jacinda into his home, where she gets closer to uncovering her memories, his secrets, and the intimate workings of his heart.

Although he's disinterested in a love match, the arrogant Viscount Lyngate is desperate to find a wife. He's found a perfectly suitable bride in 25-year-old Margaret, whose orphaned siblings have recently come into a status-boosting inheritance. But while the Huxtables are grateful for the viscount’s guidance in all matters of the ton, it seems that not everyone is supportive of his planned proposal—especially Margaret’s plain and widowed sister, Vanessa. 

To prevent Margaret's lifelong unhappiness—and to give Lyngate the wife he needs—Vanessa decides that she will be the one to turn him into an honest man...Cue a witty, fun, and delicious marriage-of-convenience story by one of the New York Times-bestselling queens of the trope.

Now in her forties and fresh out of a nasty marriage, Nina Askew is ready for change—or, more specifically, a puppy. Instead, she gets Fred, a depressed and overweight canine she recognizes as a kindred spirit. 

But what Fred lacks in youth and energy, he more than makes up for in his matchmaking skills once he spots Nina’s hunky—and much younger—neighbor...

When her father, a children’s book author, suddenly dies, Izzy Goodnight all but gives up on finding a fairy tale of her own. That is, until her estranged godfather swoops in to save the day, bequeathing a decrepit Northumberland castle. But Gostley Castle isn’t exactly the paradise she imagined—especially when she learns that its current occupant, the Duke of Rothbury, has the attitude of an angry dragon. 

A real estate #fail has turned them both into the legal owners of the property, which raises one important question: Who will stay, and who will go? As neither is willing to pack up their bags and leave, they have no choice but to peacefully coexist until the error can be corrected...A hot, light-hearted take on Beauty and the Beast, Romancing a Duke is a fairy tale lover’s dream come true.

Vanessa Mazur does everything for Canadian football superstar Aiden Grave—even things outside her responsibilities as a personal assistant. And while she realizes he could never live without her, she also realizes she’ll never be happy unless she quits. 

But once she finally leaves Aiden behind, he's hot on her heels—begging her for one last favor. Except this time, his request goes far beyond dirty dishes and dusting shelves: He’s facing imminent deportation—and he needs a green card marriage, stat.

Ken is searching for a wedding gift when he stumbles into a strange shop. What he finds there is a strange opportunity: He can go into the past and change a horrible event that affected his bride-to-be, Melissa. Doing so, however, might change the present and ensure that they never meet. Is it worth risking everything they have built?

"An incredible love story of soul mates finding their way to each other through a maze strewn with obstacles.” —Long and Short Reviews

In this screwball comedy, Faith Frankel is starting to get frustrated with her fiancé. He's started a crowdfunded cross-country walk and is too busy building his profile to text her back. She could use some help sorting throught the mysterious artifacts she discovered in the attic of her new house, but she has no interest in turning to her parents or her boss. Fortunately, her colleague Nick Franconi is here to help…

Nick Hammer likes to live up to his reputation as the guy behind the wildly popular (and dirty) Adventures of Mister O. When he isn’t working hard in the studio and making major bucks, he’s playing hard in the bedroom and causing major orgasms. 

It’s the rare woman who makes him lose his cool—but it seems that the romantically challenged Harper is the exception. When she comes to Nick for a crash course in headboard-banging passion, he’s all too happy to oblige. There’s just one thing: Harper is his best friend’s totally off-limits little sister...

Christmas romances have become a year-round thing, and Alexandra Brown's take on the classic trope presses all the right buttons. A woman in a small town near Christmas? Check. A cutesy arts-and-crafts competition? Check. Hallmark vibes? Check. A hot town doctor and a fairy-tale ending? Check and check. 

On the day of their college graduation in 1988, Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley spend the night together. It’s an unconventional start to a friendship that veers towards romance over the course of twenty tumultuous years. 

But though they both experience separate hardships—from failed relationships to failed careers—Dexter and Emma know that, together, they can get through whatever is thrown their way. Pro Tip: Keep a box of Kleenex on hand, and skip the movie.