If there's one thing I will proudly say it's that I'm a romance reader. While I read the genre as a teen before going to college, I've always been a fan of the genre and have loved to see how it has changed and evolved.
That's why it's great to see romance books getting more mainstream love. In particular, Time shared its 50 Best Romance Books to Read Right Now list. The list consists of 50 different romance books from all different time periods, subgenres, and authors.
Most of the time when these lists come out, they only focus on certain genres or authors yet I truly have to give Time some kudos. Not only is there a plethora of different books but plenty of different genres and authors are featured on the list.
Additionally, once you click on each book, you can find out why it was chosen and see its significance in the romance genre as a whole.
Time knows a thing or two about romance books and we're here for it.
If you couldn't tell, I'm extremely happy with this list Time put out. Not only does it span decades, but it features a solid mix of classic romances and modern romances. If you look at Time's reasoning for picking the books, it feels well thought out and purposeful: "Spanning diverse subcategories and tropes, the books on this list showcase the thrilling, heart-warming, and often spicy narratives that represent the best of what the genre has to offer. Not only do they provide satisfying resolutions for their characters, but they also tackle big ideas around grief, identity, vulnerability, empathy, and acceptance—all the things that power our most potent relationships." It's clear the editors who compelled this list love and appreciate the genre.
While most of us have read or heard of modern romances, the classic romances are cornerstones of the genre and ones that are still incredibly popular today. With books such as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen or The Price of Salt by Claire Morgan, most romance readers have either read these or heard about them. Then there are some historical romances including those from Beverly Jenkins, Loretta Chase, and Julia Quinn who are still beloved in the genre today.
No matter what your entry point to the romance world was, Time captured that and even featured some books that benefited from a book adaptation such as Twilight, To All The Boys I've Loved Before, and The Viscount Who Loved Me. Frankly, I was impressed by just how vast and amazing this list truly was as a lot of these are ones I've read or plan on reading in the future.
Time also didn't shy away from putting modern titles on the list including those published in the last two decades such as Intercepted, Get a Life, Chloe Brown, and Dating Dr. Dil. No doubt these will eventually be considered classics in the romance genre in the coming years. Regardless of when all of the titles were published, each has proven its staying power as they're still being read and enjoyed today.
Sometimes these lists focused on romance books can feel gimmicky or not well-researched or planned. However, Time completely changed the conversation as it was clear the team has a lot of respect for the genre, its authors, and all the work that goes into crafting a romance. All in all, I am pleasantly surprised by this list including the books and authors who made the cut.
Regardless of where you are in your romance journey, you're sure to find a book on here that you plan on reading, have enjoyed in the past, or discovered because of Time's list. If you're a romance reader, I'd love to know your thoughts on this list and if you think any romances should be swapped out or added to the list.