I love Talia Hibbert’s books! They are so funny and warm, and the way she writes characters who are smart but maybe a little socially awkward feels very real. It’s wonderful how her characters often find love when they aren’t even looking for it.
If you feel the same way about her stories, perhaps you’ll get excited about some of these other authors too. They write romances that share some of that same wonderful feeling.
Helen Hoang writes with so much heart and humor. Her book “The Kiss Quotient” features Stella Lane, who is brilliant with numbers but finds relationships confusing. Stella decides the logical solution is to hire an escort, Michael, to teach her about intimacy.
What starts as a business arrangement absolutely does not stay that way. Hoang builds these characters you really care about, and their journey together has truly touching moments.
Emily Henry writes romances that are witty and emotional. Her characters have fantastic chemistry. In “Beach Read,” you meet January and Gus. They are both authors with writer’s block who happen to be neighbors for the summer.
They challenge each other to write in the other’s genre. This experiment leads them to confront old secrets and explore their unexpected connection. The conversations between January and Gus feel so genuine.
Christina Lauren, the pen name for the writing team Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, creates delightful romantic comedies. Their characters feel authentic, and the relationships are easy to get invested in.
Take “The Unhoneymooners,” where Olive ends up on a Hawaiian honeymoon meant for her sister. The catch? She has to go with Ethan, the best man and someone she definitely doesn’t like.
A free vacation forces them into a fake romance, which produces some laugh-out-loud scenes and undeniable chemistry.
Jasmine Guillory’s books balance romance and sharp dialogue perfectly. Her characters feel like people you could know. In “The Wedding Date,” Alexa gets stuck in an elevator with Drew.
This chance meeting somehow leads to her agreeing to be his fake girlfriend at a wedding that same weekend. Their witty exchanges and the connection that grows between them make their fake situation feel complicated and real very quickly.
Sally Thorne, an Australian author, writes energetic and funny stories. Her debut, “The Hating Game,” is a great example. Lucy and Josh work together and constantly antagonize each other. When a promotion means they have to compete directly, their rivalry intensifies.
Their sharp banter and the tension between them are incredibly fun to read.
Casey McQuiston writes romances that are full of fun and charm. “Red, White & Royal Blue” is a fantastic read. It’s about Alex, the First Son of the United States, and Prince Henry from the UK. After a public mishap, they have to pretend to be friends for diplomatic reasons.
This fake friendship evolves into a secret romance, complete with witty conversations and genuinely warm moments between memorable characters.
Ali Hazelwood writes entertaining rom-coms, often with characters in academic settings. In “The Love Hypothesis,” Olive is a PhD student who fakes a relationship with Adam, a professor known for being difficult.
Olive wants to convince her friend she’s moved on; Adam has his own reasons. Their pretend romance leads to real feelings, explored with humor and some surprisingly tender scenes about vulnerability.
Sophie Kinsella is known for her incredibly charming and funny romantic comedies. Her characters often find themselves in relatable, slightly chaotic situations. In “Can You Keep a Secret?”, Emma has a terrible fear of flying.
During a turbulent flight, she confesses all her deepest secrets to the handsome stranger next to her. She assumes she’ll never see him again, but he turns out to be the big boss at her company.
Emma’s journey through embarrassing moments and her developing connection with Jack is pure fun.
Mia Sosa writes romances with humor and heart. In “The Worst Best Man,” Carolina is a wedding planner whose own wedding ended disastrously when she was left at the altar.
Things get complicated when she has to work professionally with Max, her ex-fiancé's brother, whom she partly blames for the wedding fiasco. Their forced proximity creates some hilarious situations and undeniable attraction. Sosa’s storytelling is clever and full of wit.
Abby Jimenez creates stories with warmth, humor, and genuine emotional depth. In “The Happy Ever After Playlist,” Sloan finds a lost dog, Tucker, and taking care of him helps her through a tough time.
Then Tucker’s owner, Jason, a musician on tour, contacts her to get his dog back. Their initial interactions over the phone are awkward but soon develop into something more through witty messages and shared moments. The characters feel very real in their flaws and feelings.
Beth O’Leary’s books feature warm characters and inventive plots. If you appreciate humor mixed with gentle relationship exploration, her work is wonderful. “The Flatshare” has a unique premise.
Tiffy and Leon share a flat, even sleep in the same bed, but they never meet because they work opposite shifts. They communicate entirely through post-it notes left around the apartment, and through these notes, an unusual and touching connection forms.
Lyssa Kay Adams offers fun, romantic stories with plenty of witty banter. “The Bromance Book Club” has a fantastic concept. Gavin is a baseball star whose marriage is in trouble.
Desperate, he joins a secret book club where powerful men read romance novels to understand women better. It’s humorous and heartfelt, as Gavin uses romance tropes to try and win back his wife.
Lauren Layne writes contemporary romance with sharp dialogue and charming characters. In “Walk of Shame,” Georgie is a bubbly socialite, and Andrew is her serious, grumpy neighbor.
They only ever see each other at dawn: she’s returning from a night out, and he’s heading to the gym. Their brief, snippy encounters hide an underlying attraction. It’s a story with enjoyable banter and romantic depth.
Rebecca Weatherspoon writes warm, funny romances often featuring diverse characters. “Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny” is about Dr. Sloan Copeland, a busy single mother and surgeon. She hires Rafe Whitcomb as a nanny to help manage her life. Rafe is capable, caring, and attractive.
As they work together, their professional relationship turns personal. The playful chemistry and conversations between Sloan and Rafe are a highlight.
Jenny Holiday creates contemporary love stories with relatable characters and witty dialogue. In “Duke, Actually,” Dani, a professor wary of love after a divorce, meets Max, a charming man-about-town.
They form an unexpected friendship that slowly turns into something more during the holiday season. The story blends humor, warmth, and smart conversations for a really satisfying romance.