9 Swoon-Worthy Romance Novels Every Romantic-Comedy Fan Should Read in 2022
Even though they might be predictable and tropey, there’s something about romance novels that will never fail to give you an instant dopamine boost; plus they can act as a getaway when you want to wind down. If you love a good rom-com and have been missing seeing Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock on the big screen inching their way towards a ‘happy ever after’, then you can give these romance books a chance this summer. From pretend relationships to enemies turning into lovers, these books have it all.
We’ve picked nine romance novels that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon into the night. Happy reading!
The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa
Declared to be one of the most anticipated books of 2022 by Oprah herself, this romantic-comedy novel follows true-blue romantic Solange, who finds herself crashing a wedding after she discovers the pair isn’t meant to be. The groom Dean, however, is far from heartbroken because he was only getting married to secure a promotion at work. In a moment of panic, he blurts out that Solange is the woman he is actually in love with, and she goes along with it because she feels bad for crashing his wedding. Now the two are in a pretend relationship and have to convince Dean’s boss and friends that they are, in fact, truly in love. Will they succeed? Will the polar opposite fake couple actually fall in love? You’ll just have to read and find out!
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
All TV meteorologist Ari Abrams wants is for her boss to mentor her but she is always distracted by her tempestuous relationship with her ex-husband, who also happens to be the news station’s director. The only person who can understand Ari’s predicament is reserved sports reporter Russell Barringer. The two decide to team up together to get their bosses together and solve all their problems at once. But what are they to do when real chemistry starts building between the two well-intentioned meddlers? If you’ve seen and loved Netflix’s Set It Up, you’re not going to want to give this one a miss.
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Author Helen Hoang has delivered hits after hits ever since she made her debut with The Kiss Quotient back in 2018. This 2021 novel follows violinist Anna Sun who finds herself at a career dead end after she goes viral online. And when it rains, it pours because this is when her longtime boyfriend decides to declare that he wants an open relationship before making any commitment to her. A hurt and angry Anna decides to have a string of one-night stands with men she would never ordinarily go for. But everything she knows and believes turns upside down when she meets tattooed biker Quan Diep. An unexpected family tragedy throws Anna, Quan, and her still-in-shambles personal and professional life into a chaotic mix. Like the author’s previous works, the book explores intimacy like it has never been before.
Red, White & Royal Blue
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
This delightful read will leave you swooning and crying at the same time. It has everything, from a dashing prince to grand love declarations. Alex Claremont-Diaz, son of America’s first female president, has to pretend to be friends with Britain’s Prince Henry after news of their ongoing feud threatens to sabotage his mother’s re-election campaign and cause an international diplomatic incident. Over fake meet-ups and photo-ops, the two slowly start falling in love with each other when Henry reveals he is gay and Alex realises he is bisexual. Can love overcome cutthroat international politics and public scandals?
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Son of a world-famous rockstar, Luc O’Donnell needs a solution to clean up his image before his dad’s big comeback to the stage. Cue Oliver Blackwood, a completely scandal-free lawyer who needs a date for an event. The two decide to fake date and go their separate ways after they both get what they want. But lines between what’s fake and what’s real soon start blurring when they start falling for each other. A sequel to this delightful read, called Husband Material, is going to be released this August.
Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson
There’s something about star-crossed lovers belonging to rival families that will never get old. In this one, the heir to a fast-food empire Ramón Montezand and celebrity chef Julieta Campos find themselves falling for each other after an unexpected encounter. If only their families weren’t on the opposite sides of a growing conflict.
She Gets the Girl by Rachel Lippincott and Alyson Dettick
Alex and Molly are two girls who couldn’t be more different from each other, but their paths cross when the two realise they want something from each other. Molly wants Alex’s help to impress her crush and Alex wants to help Molly get her one true love so that her ex could see she’s not a heartless monster. But as the two start on their journey to get their respective girls, they realise they might be falling for each other.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
This one has all the tropes we love about romance books and movies. A busy career girl moving to a small town for peace and rejuvenation? Check. A budding romance with someone said career girl used to despise? Check. A potential happy ending with swoon-worthy romance? Check and Check. Literary agent Nora Stephens takes a break from her busy city life to head to a small town for a month at her little sister’s insistence, who feels she could do with a change of scenery and destress. But any plans of that go out of the window when she keeps running into Charlie Lastra, an editor that she despises. But as is the rule of any decent romance story worth its salt, the two start realising they’re not as different as they thought they were and feelings ensue.
For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa
If you love a good enemies-to-lovers storyline, with a splash of fake dating, then this one is definitely for you! Chef Nina Lyon has worked hard to stand out in a male-dominated field and is well on the road to reaching the top of the food scene now that she is the co-host of a popular competitive reality cooking show. If only her co-host wasn’t always getting on her nerves. Restaurateur Leo O’Donnell doesn’t want to get on Nina’s bad side but his anxiety brings out the worst of him when the cameras are rolling. But when Nina and Leo are forced into pretending they’re in a loving relationship off-screen, real feelings start to blossom between the two.
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