I don’t need to be the one to tell you that romance is totally underrated. if you read romantic novels, you already know that; And if you don’t, it’s time to get out of your literary comfort zone. And one of the ways we’re going to do that is by sharing the best that romance novels have to offer; including these romances every 20-something can relate to. even (or especially) if you’ve never read a romance novel before.
I’ll be the first to admit that the romance section isn’t necessarily my first stop at the bookstore. but I’ll also be the first to admit that as I’m steadily nearing the end of what I sometimes call my “jaded twenties,” you know, that decade where all the guys are clueless, and the girls aren’t much top. , and romance seems like something that exists on a planet far away from the one you live on; he could have used a literary escape into someone else’s love story. perhaps one that would restore my faith in the fact that a self-love story wasn’t entirely inconceivable.
You are reading: Romance books for 20 year olds
because this is the thing with romance novels: even if you’re totally convinced you’ll only read them undetected on your kindle, or under the covers with a flashlight behind your locked bedroom door, they’re still pretty fun to read, covertly or not. And, I’m not going to lie, many of them offer some killer tricks to try in your own bedroom. Which I guess we could all use, especially in our twenties.
Here are 10 romance novels every 20-something needs to read. and hey: let me know how they work for you.
1. the next best thing from jennifer weiner
If you’re looking for growing pains, life lessons, and relatable love stories, your bookshelf definitely needs something from Jennifer Weiner. There’s a reason Weiner’s novels are always on the New York Times bestseller list. The Next Best Thing will introduce you to 23-year-old Ruth Saunders, an aspiring comedy writer who heads to Hollywood to make all of her dreams come true. But it turns out those dreams also come with some heavy struggles: love, loss, unhealthy work stress, and family. If you’ve ever let your personal drama get in the way of your professional success (or not all of them?), you’ll definitely relate to Ruthie.
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2. wanderlost by jen malone
This romance is a perfect summer read, no matter how old you are, and if you’ve ever fallen head over heels in love with your vacation adventure, you’ll totally relate. In Wanderlost, Aubree lands a last-minute summer job leading a group of elderly people on a bus tour of Europe. Unfortunately, the job requires her to pretend to be her sister, Elizabeth, a complicated endeavor made nearly impossible when Ella Aubree begins to fall for the travel company owner’s son, Sam. would aubree ever be able to pull this off in real life? absolutely not. but isn’t that the point of diving into a romantic fantasy in the first place?
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3. chelsea fine’s perfect kind of problem
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One of the most important (and most delightful) elements of a romance novel is the idea that people are never quite what they seem. a bit like shrek, and his whole “onions have layers” part. That idea is central to Chelsea Fine’s novel Perfect Kind of Problem, a story about 21-year-old Kayla Turner trying to come to terms with the death of her father, who is now gone. . one who has left her an inheritance for love or money, and a troublesome girl named daren ackwood, who is responsible for helping her find her.
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4. letting go by molly mcadams
forget high school sweethearts: ben and gray were high school sweethearts and the wedding of their dreams was just around the corner. But when Ben dies of an undiagnosed heart condition, leaving Gray reeling, his best friend, Jagger, is the only person who understands how Gray feels. you definitely know what’s going to happen next, amirite? Your twenties are definitely that time when you start to let go of the pains of your first love, even if they haven’t died tragically, and Grey’s character knows exactly how that feels.
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5. easy by tammara webber
Word to the wise 20-somethings: never, ever go to college just because that’s where your boyfriend goes. just don’t do it. (and hey, if it’s too late, don’t be too hard on yourself, we all think about it). But breaking up with the boy he turned down his dream school for isn’t even the beginning of Jacqueline’s struggles. Jacqueline’s story will teach you that there is not necessarily one “right” way to deal with sexual assault on campus, and that it is difficult for victims to be sure which choice to make, and that there are healthy relationships for survivors beyond The agression. even if it takes some work to get there.
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6. good behavior out by dahlia adler
frankie bellisario doesn’t consider herself a girlfriend. But when she falls head over heels for Samara Kazarian, a girl looking for a serious relationship, Frankie will have to decide between her avoidant tendencies and her passion for Samara. add in the fact that samara is the daughter of a republican mayor from the south, and has yet to speak to her parents, let alone her parents’ constituents, and a casual fling could totally put her in the spotlight, and you have a romance full of drama.
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7. maybe someday by colleen hoover
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falling in love with a musician is kind of a rite of passage, right? So it’s no surprise when the jilted Sydney begins to form a deeper connection to the music he’s grown accustomed to hearing from his neighbor Ridge. But when the two start making music together (pun intended), Sydney finds it’s harder to move on than he expected. there’s a bit of a love triangle in this… and who doesn’t love a good love triangle? at least in fiction.
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8. luck in the line of zoraida córdova
lucky pierce is not particularly lucky. She’s also not particularly adept at finishing the things she starts: jobs, relationships. So when Ella’s celebrity chef mom challenges her to launch what she hopes will be Boston’s next restaurant, Lucky seizes the opportunity to change some of her whimsical ways. Enter James: The bad boy integral to the star’s success, and someone lucky definitely can’t afford to get involved. so naturally she does.
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9. then came you by jill shalvis
sunshine, idaho is the last place emily, a trainee vet, expected to end up. what she expected even less was that her one night stand at a vet conference (conferences really are the worst) would suddenly appear as her boss. Wyatt may seem irresistible, but Emily has plans, and staying in the sun, Idaho for a kid, isn’t one of them. but you know what they say: the best laid plans…
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10. look both ways by alison cherry
Brooklyn is looking for a way to escape her family’s legacy and stand on her own, so a summer theater apprenticeship away from her hometown seems like exactly what she needs. Plus, her roommate Zoe seems perfect, so perfect that her quick friendship begins to turn into something deeper. But Brooklyn is torn: Is now really the time to jump into a serious relationship, just as she’s becoming her own person? is a question I think all 20-somethings can relate to.
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image: brigitte tohm/unsplash
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