50+ Favorite Clean Romances From the Everyday Reading Community

Edenbrooke by Julianna Donaldson
Marianne is invited to visit Edenbrooke by her twin sister who intends to marry into the family that owns the country estate and Marianne, mourning the loss of her mother and lonely in Bath with her grandmother, quickly agrees. She has no interest in romance herself, but is very anxious for a change of scenery. Lucky for her, she’s going to get both. I especially loved the snappy dialogue in this one.  (Full review here).

Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey
I was underwhelmed (understatement) by her first book, Finding Tom Hanks, so I had low expectations for this one and then it just absolutely charmed me! This one has a “You’ve Got Mail” vibe where two strangers strike up a correspondence relationship, without realizing they know each other in real life too. Teddy works at a vintage toy store and feels like she has nothing going for her in her life. Everett runs a local children’s TV show that Teddy watches religiously. It’s charming and funny and all the things I love in a romantic comedy book.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh
I listened to this story about a reclusive university researcher who has given up on love (and basically all relationships) on my runs last summer and it was a nice distraction from the miles I was pounding out. The heroine is Isadora who finds a magazine article with 31 ways to be happy and decides she’s going to prove the author wrong – she’ll do all 31 things and there is no way she’ll be happier at the end. Right? This is a squeaky-clean love story with a STEM storyline and it’s a fun, fluffy delight.

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
Bree is in love with her best friend, who just happens to the very attractive NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. He clearly only sees her as a friend, but after a drunken night and an interview with a TMZ reporter they might turn out to be the perfect couple after all.

The One with the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel
This book was just pure delight! Nora is on a disastrous first date at an NBA game. But when her date gets up to get concessions, the kiss cam hovers over her and the stranger sitting next to her…let’s just say it might just be love at first kiss!

When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer
In this time travel book, Libby is given the gift to go to sleep in one time period, and wake up in another time period without any time having passed. She splits her time between 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. She lives a very different life in each, but there comes a time when she must make a very important decision about which time period she will stay in forever. This was a fun listen! 

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
There had been some chatter on my IG about the best L.M. Montgomery books (I’m partial to the Emily series, myself) and this one has come up about one million times. If you want something delightfully old-fashioned, this is for you. It’s a perfect read, with just the right amount of romance. 

One Foggy Christmas by Kortney Keisel
I read this in a day – it reminded me a little of one of my all-time favorite books, What Alice Forgot. Sadie wakes up after a ski accident with no memory of the last 3+ years including her husband. In her mind, she’s still dating her high school boyfriend and can’t imagine why they broke up and how she ended up married to some guy she doesn’t even know. Nash is devastated but spends the Christmas season trying to help her remember their romance. This one has some heavier themes that lent some substance to it while still being funny and swoony (no language and no spicy scenes).

Blackmoore by Julianna Donaldson
This historical romance is by the same author as Edenbrooke, set in Northern England in 1820. Kate, is a highly spirited young lady who is ready to break free from society’s expectations and truly listen to her heart. This one is very swoon-worthy!

Lakeshire Park by Megan Walker
I just listened to this one not too long ago and it was an absolute delight. Amelia and her sister face abject poverty as soon as their stepfather dies and Amelia is hopeful that before that happens, she can secure a marriage between her sister and a wealthy gentleman – Sir Ronald – her sister has shown some interest in. Fortunately, they’re invited to a house party at Sir Ronald’s house and it looks like things for the sisters. Until Amelia discovers that one of the other guests, Peter Wood, is hoping to help HIS sister make a match with Sir Ronald. And when Amelia finds attraction blooming for Peter, things are going to get even more tricky.

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
This epistolary novel (all written in letters) is a delightful WWII novel about a group of book lovers thrown together by the war and their letters to each other that often end up being about their favorite books – my mom gave me a copy years ago when it first came out and I’ve read it multiple times. The audiobook version has a full cast that really brings it to life because the characters are SUCH big parts of the story! (Full review here)

Lovely War by Julie Berry
The story takes place during World War I and follows four main characters, so you get two love stories for the price of one. Even more interesting? The story is framed by several Greek gods who are in a tiff of their own during World War II (I lied – THREE love stories!). I know it sounds weird, but trust me, it works. It’s in the top 10 books I’ve ever read. And while I read a paper copy, I’ve heard the audio version is STUNNING.

Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
This is such a cute fun romance! An editor at Savannah’s dream publishing company is asking for the manuscript of a romance novel she has been secretly writing behind the scenes, while working at a different publishing company. She hides her manuscript in a hidden room, but later discovers someone has found it and started jotting very critical edits in the margins. This mystery editor is not only helping make her manuscript better, but could she be falling for him too?

Savage Wells series by Sarah M. Eden
I might have to add Sarah M. Eden to my list of authors to read all her books this year because I have read a lot of her books lately. These have been my most recent historical romance titles (they are classified as Western Romance) and I love them. Each book in this series: The Sheriffs of Savage Wells, Healing Hearts, and Wyoming Wild are all stand-alone and don’t need to be read in order. They are squeaky clean, have snappy dialogue, and are just overall great stories.

To Charm a Lady by Joanna Barker
You know those books where you just immediately want to spend EVERY WAKING MOMENT reading that book? This book was that for me! It is the 2nd book in this regency romance series, but it completely stands alone. While attending a house party, Cora is is under strict instructions by her mother to find a husband, but will she pursue a man her mother would approve of, or a longtime crush she has never gotten over.

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
Jo is fired from her job as a hat maker at the very beginning of the book and she knows that finding another job in 1890s Atlanta, especially because she is Chinese, is going to be extraordinarily difficult. And it’s not just herself she needs to care for. She also feels responsible for Old Gin, the elderly man who has raised her and is now getting more and more ill. The two of them live secreted in a former Underground Railroad hiding spot under the house of one of the newspaper publishers. So Jo decides she’ll start writing an anonymous advice column. What could possibly go wrong? I LOVE this book. (Full review here)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This beloved story by Jane Austen is pure magic. I remember many afternoons of my mom ironing or folding laundry while watching the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice. I would estimate that I’ve seen it at least twenty times.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower
This was one of the titles on my personal summer reading list – I’d read maybe 30% of the first book then stalled out but after so many people told me to plow through the first one (because it is slow), I finally restarted it and proceeded to finish all 8 books in the series! And boy am I invested! So much so, that I have reread all of them again!

Love in the Stacks by Julie Milo
This slow-burn workplace romcom sounds so adorable! Two librarians team up on a risky project and accidentally fall for each other…awkward glances, anxious hearts, and all.

Kit McBride Gets a Wife by Amy Barry
When a mischievous little sister plays matchmaker in the wilds of Montana, one grumpy cowboy and one accidental mail-order bride find themselves roped into a hilarious, heartwarming romance they never saw coming.

Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer
She’s a small-town music teacher, he’s a globe-trotting free spirit, but when a tandem bike, a 500-mile ride, and a fake relationship collide, sparks (and maybe feelings) start flying in this charming opposites-attract rom-com.

Fixed Up by Jessica Leigh Johnson
She’s sworn off dating in favor of books and blankets, but when she gets invited to her ex boyfriend’s wedding – all bets are off! It might just take one last blind date to rewrite her happily-ever-after.

How to Kiss your Best Friend by Jenny Proctor
This is your typically best friends to lovers romcom. He’s a swoony small-town science teacher still pining for his globe-trotting best friend, and now that she’s back in town (and their chemistry is off the charts), he’s ready to risk it all for a second chance at love that might finally make her stay.

The Autumn Fallout by Amey Zeigler
If you have been looking for a cozy fall romance, this might be the one to add to your list. It’s a enemies to lovers romance full of small town charm, haunted mansions, prank wars, and even a barbershop quartet!

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck
Written over the span of centuries, this historical fiction novel weaves together the lives of a Revolutionary War soldier, a loyalist’s daughter, a Hollywood actress, and a heartbroken screenwriter. And they are all connected by one thing…one powerful letter. When past and present collide, there is bound to be romance, love, loss, and the unexpected ways history can shape our future.

The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron
In this gripping WWII tale, a brave Polish teenager hides 13 Jews in her attic (including the boy she secretly loves) while Nazis move in downstairs, risking everything for courage, family, and a forbidden romance that refuses to be silenced.

The Cowboy and the Girl Next Door by Janette Rallison
I am glad to see that you all love Janette Rallison as much as I do! She is always at the top of my list for squeaky clean romances and this one about a city girl, a swoony cowboy, and one high-stakes ranch where old sparks (and grudges) are bound to fly, looks fantastic!

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner
I love Susan Meissner’s historical fiction novels and I’m anxious to read this one about a scarf handed down through generations that connects two women, a hundred years apart in New York City.

Complete by Kortney Keisel
If you love a friends to lovers trope, this one is for you! Brooke is deep in the friend zone with Ben, but when he starts acting less like a wingman and more like boyfriend material, she’s stuck choosing between the wrong guy… or the guy who’s always had her heart.

Brides and Brothers by Anneka R. Walker
To be honest, I am unfamiliar with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (which this book is a modern retelling of). When Camille thought she was getting a fairy-tale fiancé, it turns out, he comes with six grown brothers and zero personal space, so now Camille’s trading wedded bliss for a hilarious mission to marry off the in-laws and reclaim her happily ever after.

The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson
I loved her book Meet Me in the Margins, and this enemies-to-lovers romance about neighbors trying to drive each other out of the neighborhood, sounds just as fun!

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman
A turn-of-the-century matchmaker and her modern-day divorce-attorney granddaughter discover that seeing soulmates, whether a gift or a burden, has the power to upend everything they thought they knew about love, legacy, and their true calling.

Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber
If you are in the mood for something full of love, family, friendships, joy, hope and small towns, this is the series to pick up.

Pretending at Love by Karen Thornell
Although this is the second book in a series, it can completely stand alone. What started as a fake relationship to dodge a stalker turns into a tropical charade full of beach yoga, wedding kisses, and undeniable chemistry in this fun, flirty rom-com. The third book in this series, Objection to Love, also came highly recommended!

I’m Not Charlotte Lucas by Kasey Stockton
Charlie is just a modern girl with a Regency obsession. During her attempts to avoid spinsterhood, she’s swept off her feet by a swoon-worthy blind date, only to find that life is starting to mirror her favorite Jane Austen novel in the most unexpected (and dare I say, irresistible) ways.

A Proper Scoundrel by Esther Hatch
Diana Barton is the successful owner of multiple railroad lines. Growing tired of constantly fending off suitors who want to claim her wealth, Diana decides to begin a relationship with Baron Lord Bryant, which would surely ruin her reputation. The last thing Lord Bryant wants is a wife, but decides to enter into a counterfeit relationship with Diana on certain conditions. As they grow closer, the lines between romance and their fake relationship become blurred.

Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner
Prepare for the slow-burn to end all slow-burns…like a 40 year slow burn! Cole and Laila, practically joined at the hip since toddlerhood, have almost never considered anything beyond friendship…except for those tiny, inconvenient sparks that threaten to ignite when the possibility of separation throws their cozy world into hilarious chaos. A classic friends-to-lovers rom-com with plenty of laughs!

The Bluff by Emma St. Claire
This office is about to get a whole lot less grumpy…and maybe a little more steamy!) Winnie is on a mission to win over her unbelievably stubborn (and really gorgeous) boss who doesn’t trust her one bit. What starts as a challenge to launch a brewery and crack his grumpy exterior, quickly turns into a battle for her heart.

Beauty and the Beach by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
When a desperate woman agrees to fake-marry a wealthy jerk to get out of financial ruin, she never expects the arrangement to stir up real feelings. But as the fake kisses and touches pile up, she starts to wonder if this temporary charade could turn into a love story after all.

Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham
In this epistolary romance (all written in letters), wannabe bookstore owner, Izzy’s search for love takes a surprising turn when an online connection with a fellow Tolkien fan sparks a long-distance romance, but with a local author in the mix, she must decide if true love is worth flying across the ocean for.

Sons of Scandal series by Becky Wade
Remy Reed is perfectly content with her quiet, sculpture-filled life on a remote Maine island—until a mysterious, bossy (and absurdly handsome) man washes ashore with no memory. What follows is a swoony, slow-burn mystery full of sharp banter, seaside charm, and a love neither of them saw coming.

Isabelle and Alexander by Rebecca Anderson
Another regency romance to add to your list! Isabelle enters an arranged marriage with the dashing but emotionally distant Alexander Osgood, only to find herself so lonely in a new life and a new city. But when tragedy strikes and Alexander is paralyzed, Isabelle discovers that there is still time to let their love grow. The Art of Love and Lies by Rebecca Anderson also came highly recommended by you all.

Magic Forged by K.M. Shea
If fantasy is your genre of choice, this one will definitely be up your alley. A hostage situation, vampire drama, and supernatural sass…this one has it all!

The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese
This one has it all: a little bit of mystery and a second chance at love. When Ingrid Erikson’s late best friend leaves behind one final, cryptic request (delivered by the ex who crushed her heart) she’s forced to confront the past, a missing manuscript, and a love story that may not be over after all. You all highly recommended her book The Roads We Follow too.

The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain
This one sounds like my kind of book! When wealthy widow Diana Boyle discovers she’s been listed in a guide for gold-digging bachelors, she turns her fury into power, rallying her fellow heiresses to flip the script – and make the men dance to their tune.

Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
At 77 years old, Jenny Quinn is looking forward to celebrating her 60th anniversary with her beloved husband Bernard. Because of their age, they both agree that they should take it easy. But when Jenny is presented the opportunity  to compete on Britain Bakes, Jenny knows she can’t pass it up. After so many years, she will finally have her chance to prove herself and what she is capable of.

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin
To save her family from destitution, Kitty Talbot needs a fortune and quick. She heads to London to take on the challenge of finding a suitably rich husband. When Lord Radcliffe sees Kitty for the cunning fortune-hunter that she is, he is determined to stop her.

The House of Oak series by Nichole Van
When modern-day romantic Emme Wilde gets tired of dating duds, she becomes obsessed with a dreamy stranger in an antique locket—only to wake up in 1812 on his estate! Packed with time travel, star-crossed love, and a whole lot of historical swoon, this story shows that true love really can transcend centuries. Her book, A Heart Sufficient, also came highly recommended!

Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon
I have been so impressed and have truly loved the two Amy Harmon books I have read (What the Wind Knows and The Outlaw Noble Salt). This slow-burn love story where a gifted small-town girl and a troubled Navajo boy trade lessons in music, life, and healing, sounds like one I might need to add to my TBR list.

The Art of Victory by Martha Keyes
I’ve read her fun holiday romcom, Host for the Holidays, but had no idea that she wrote regency period romances! Raised on war strategy and zero nonsense, Diana Donovan sets out to find the perfect match for her bestie, only to find herself sparring with the infuriatingly handsome Marmaduke Russell instead. What starts as a matchmaking mission turns into a witty battle of wills… and hearts.

Longing for Home by Sarah M. Eden
I have read a handful of books by Sarah M. Eden, and it is safe to say I am a huge fan! She does historical clean romance and this one about the darkest days of the Irish Potato Famine came in highly recommended.