When looking back at the previous year, there are so many things to consider. It's especially fun looking back at what books were published within that year.
That's why it's so fun to see what trends were popping off in 2024. As a contemporary romance reader, I'm only going to be focusing on contemporary romances. Maybe in 2025, I'll branch out to some other genres but I'll forever love and appreciate the contemporary romance genre.
Let's start with an obvious place which is the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards picks. Each year, Goodreads picks 20 different books that are apparently reader's "favorites" which is essentially a popularity contest. Looking at the top 5 picks, it's an interesting mix with no clear theme other than authors we've all heard of and know for being incredibly popular both with romance and non-romance readers.
However, one thing I noticed was the plethora of romances focused on fame. Whether it was singers, influencers, or actors, 2024 gave us lots to read. Some of the titles included The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, When I Think of You by Myah Ariel, Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto, Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff and Right on Cue by Falon Ballard.
2024 showed us some interesting romance book trends.
Contemporary was a loose term given to some of the romances this year as a lot of them were set in a contemporary world but had other non-contemporary elements. It could have been a little bit of magic, some unexplained twist, or an unexpected setting. Some examples included Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb, Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan, Happy Medium by Sarah Adler, and A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams. Of course, there was the beloved and Goodreads Award-nominated Bride by Ali Hazelwood.
If there's one theme we'll always have in the romance world, it's that sports romances are king. There were so many amazing sports romances released in 2024. No matter what sport you play or enjoy watching, there is something for everyone. Some releases included Pickleballers by Ilana Long, Pucking Sweet by Emily Rath, Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey, The Striker by Ana Huang, The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee, The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy, and The Prospects by KT Hoffman.
Ultimately, there were so many amazing romance books published in 2024, and looking back, there are so many books still on my TBR. Those were just three trends I noticed while looking back at all of the contemporary releases. If the first few releases of 2025 are any indication, we're in for even more fun this year as romance readers.