When we talk about book recommendations, the main genres sometimes don't suit your cup of tea. Thus, we present to you: romance book recommendations based on tropes! Whether it be enemies-to-lovers, the bad boy, the millionaire, we have listed them down here for you. So, check it out and pick a book that interests you to read in this Valentine's month! All book blurbs are courtesy of Goodreads.
Enemies to lovers - Instant Karma
Blurbs:
Chronic overachiever Prudence Barnett is always quick to cast judgment on the lazy, rude, and arrogant residents of her coastal town. Her dreams of karmic justice are fulfilled when, after a night out with her friends, she wakes up with the sudden ability to cast instant karma on those around her.
Pru giddily makes use of the power, punishing everyone from public vandals to mean gossips, but there is one person on whom her powers consistently backfire: Quint Erickson, her slacker of a lab partner. Quint is annoyingly cute and impressively noble, especially when it comes to his work with the rescue center for local sea animals.
When Pru resigns herself to working at the rescue center for extra credit, she begins to uncover truths about baby otters, environmental upheaval, and romantic crossed signals—not necessarily in that order. Her newfound karmic insights reveal how thin the line is between virtue and vanity, generosity and greed, love and hate . . . and fate.
Reader's review:
Totally heartwarming! The story of Prudence and Quint is what I have expected all this time: it's cute, light, heartwarming, but still engaging! By far, it's the simplest and most fun Marissa Meyer book that I have read (well, compared to her fantasy books). The storyline and world are great and well researched. It made me listen to some new Beatles songs (I googled all Barnett's children's song names!) and they are all great! I just wish that she would explain more about the instant karma system and also some great ending explanations on the family and friends matters. Unlike the other Marissa Meyer books, this one did not surprise me with the storyline, but it did a great job of telling a story that your family matters, and how everybody can change for the better if only they find the reason and the moral support. Did not feel that it's boring at all on every page of the book, I totally love the character development and I want more!
2. Romance-Comedy - The Unhoneymooners
Blurbs:
Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.
Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.
Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of... lucky.
Reader's review:
Enemy to Lover? tropical island holiday? Fake relationship? curvy representation? I have no doubt I will like this book. This book reminds me with The Hating Game which was one of my favorite Rom-Com book, I love the main character Ollie so much cause I felt relatable with her thoughts! This book also teach me to stop looking "for the worst" quality on people, I tend to do it sometimes in my inner thoughts, I tried to picture the worst scenario and it sometimes stress me out. The romance is the cutest!! I can't stop smiling after I finished this book and I feel like I want to go to vacay at the beach. This book is a typical book that will make you happy after you read it plus the writing style is so effortless funny! love this duo author. If you are looking for a fun, quick, cute read look no further and pick The Unhoneymooners.
3. Reality Show Love - If The Shoe Fits
Blurbs:
After having just graduated with a degree in shoe design, and trying to get her feet on the ground, Cindy is working for her stepmother, who happens to be the executive producer of America's favorite reality show, Before Midnight. When a spot on the show needs filling ASAP, Cindy volunteers, hoping it might help jump-start her fashion career, or at least give her something to do while her peers land jobs in the world of high fashion.
Turns out being the only plus size woman on a reality dating competition makes a splash, and soon Cindy becomes a body positivity icon for women everywhere. What she doesn't expect? That she may just find inspiration-and love-in the process. Ultimately, Cindy learns that if the shoe doesn't fit, maybe it's time to design your own.
Reader's review:
I loved this book to pieces. If the Shoe Fits is a Cinderella re-telling by the fabulous Julie Murphy featuring a plus size main character who is going on a show similar to The Bachelor. It was fun, made me smile so big and feel giddy while reading. Cindy is one of the best heroines and Henry was wonderful as well. I loved the romance, watching Cindy go after her dreams, and the family/friendship element. Plus all the fashion stuff was really fun!
4. First Love - One Day in December
Blurbs:
Two people. Ten chances. One unforgettable love story.
Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn't exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there's a moment of pure magic... and then her bus drives away.
Certain they're fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. But she doesn't find him, not when it matters anyway. Instead they "reunite" at a Christmas party, when her best friend Sarah giddily introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie. It's Jack, the man from the bus. It would be.
What follows for Laurie, Sarah and Jack is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered. One Day in December is a joyous, heartwarming and immensely moving love story to escape into and a reminder that fate takes inexplicable turns along the route to happiness.
Reader's review:
One Day in December is the kind of book that will touch your heart and make you believe in love. The kind of heartwarming love that is meant to be against all odds. The kind of love that leaves you smiling just reading about it. I opened the book and found myself immersed in Laurie and Jack's story. It was exactly what I needed. An addictive, unputdownable, angsty love story that filled my heart with a solid dose of romance.
5. Fake Dating - The Love Hypothesis
Blurbs:
As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.
That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding... six-pack abs.
Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.
Reader's review:
The Love Hypothesis WORTH ALL THE HYPE! ADAM CARLSEN is the best way to describe men written by women. It's really hard to hate him. Such a sweet cinnamon roll despite his strict ass professor facade. And tbh, I never thought I will find smut scenes. I think I just read too many middle grade and young adult lately so yeah, never thought it will be quite steamy. And the best part is I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO READ ALI HAZELWOOD'S OTHER BOOKS because WOMEN IN STEM? YES PLEASE PLEASE!!! I definitely will read her books!
PS. Sometimes Olive to stupidest things, but based on her background, I kinda understand....
PLEASE DO READ THIS BOOK AND LOVE ADAM CARLSEN--and support our lovely girl Olive Smith!
6. The Billionaire - Crazy Rich Asians
Blurbs:
When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home and quality time with the man she hopes to marry. But Nick has failed to give his girlfriend a few key details. One, that his childhood home looks like a palace; two, that he grew up riding in more private planes than cars; and three, that he just happens to be the country’s most eligible bachelor.
On Nick’s arm, Rachel may as well have a target on her back the second she steps off the plane, and soon, her relaxed vacation turns into an obstacle course of old money, new money, nosy relatives, and scheming social climbers.
Reader's review:
Whirlwind crazy adventure with asian social class drama is the best way I could ever describe what this story is about. I definitely enjoy the book way more than I thought I would. The story kinda reminds me of pride and prejudice's story with how everyone is only thinking of marrying into a rich family with great social standings.
I love how unabashedly Asian this story is too. It feels like a love letter to south-east Asia culture, whether you're rich or not there's always something that you can relate to in the story. The debate on food, the family drama, the mandarin/cantonese/hokkien phrases, even the petty childish socialites talks. And surprisingly I really like the ending, it concludes this story well but left me wanting more of what these crazy rich asians are up to next.
7. The Bad Boy - Six of Crows
p.s: yes, this is not a romance book, but the romance in it is TOTALLY great!
Blurbs:
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .
A convict with a thirst for revenge
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager
A runaway with a privileged past
A spy known as the Wraith
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes
Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.
Reader's review:
I found myself grinning from ear to ear upon reading this book and introduced to the characters one by one. Kaz Brekker is a piece of sh!t, I remember thinking, but I love him anyway! He is definitely not like other main protagonists you find from other books; criminal prodigy, questionable morale compass, and all. But I fell in love with him within 2 chapters, which is rare even for me as it usually takes a few chapters. But I did! and it's such a wonderful experience, falling in love with Kaz Brekker....
The book, with its original idea, provides unique dynamic of characters' interactions, and actually touches on a lot of things, such as LGBTQ representation (ugh I love the gay subplot), and euphemism for racism towards Grisha. I love it. I adore it.
"The life you live, the hate you feel - it's poison. I can drink it no longer."
Also, have I mentioned THE writing? This is my first time reading Leigh Bardugo's work and She. Nailed. It.
8. Forbidden Love - Renegades
p.s: yes, another not-romance-book-but-the-romance-is-worth-it-anyway. Plus, because the author of this article is head over heels for this series, so... yeah.
Blurbs:
Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.
The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies — humans with extraordinary abilities — who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone... except the villains they once overthrew.
Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice — and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.
Reader's review:
I LOVED the characters in this story. For a SFF YA novel, we have a very diverse cast which I was super pleased with! I found most of characters to be interesting and complex.
I REALLY enjoyed the slight romance in this story, more than I have regarding YA books in a while. It is the definition of slow burn, and even by the ending, romantic feelings are only just developing. The story is definitely centered on the dynamics between Renegades and Anarchists, with romance being one of the least important parts of the plot in my opinion. It’s the type of relationship where the flirtations and growth of feelings are only just beginning to brew, but you still REALLY want to root for the characters to be together.
That's all the romance book recommendations based on tropes! Which one interests you? Do comment below and give us your opinions!
Written by Sherry H.
Co-founder of The Mad Tea Book Club