Romantic Comedy
Last updated: September 27, 2023
Romantic comedy books are bound to lift your spirits and keep you entertained. “Romantic comedies need to get right in there straight away and touch your heart—you need to feel the humour, the fun, the pain” Celia Anderson talking about the best romantic comedy: the 2021 Romantic Novelists' Association shortlist.
Here is our collection of romantic comedies, recommended by people who read a lot of them:
“Since I work at Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon, I would be a fool if I didn’t mention Kiss Her Once for Me which takes place during the Christmas holidays, and all starts with a meet-cute in the famous bookstore. There’s so lovely about seeing a place where you work become a main character in a romantic comedy.” Read more...
“I loved reading about Delilah and Claire, watching their relationship develop over Delilah’s estranged stepsister’s wedding weekend. I laughed, I cried—yes, real tears—and I swooned. While this is a gorgeous queer romance, it also brings up a lot of family issues and I think that Herring did it in a great way.” Read more...
“It made me realize how I often don’t see romance novels about women in their forties, especially Black women in their forties. It also made me realize how nice it was to see two people of color fall in love too (he love interest, Michael, is Koren American) since you usually only see a person of color falling for someone who is white. Maybe it’s because they’re older, but these two knew how to communicate and had really great boundaries that they held.” Read more...
Book Lovers
by Emily Henry
The highly anticipated new romantic comedy from the author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. When two ambitious publishing executives meet while summering in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, they are forced to reconsider the well-worn narratives they tell about themselves. Casey McQuiston called it “Schitt’s Creek for book nerds.”
“Gray Hair Don’t Care by Karen Booth is the ultimate Gen-X romance, as it centres on two college best friends who, after losing touch for more than twenty years, run into one another and have a single night of passion that ends badly in the morning.” Read more...
The Best Romance Books of 2021
Natasha Tomic, Journalist
“Adams crafts a fabulous cast of characters who embody what it means to have one’s back, especially when they think they don’t need it.” Read more...
The Best Romance Books of 2020
Frannie Cassano, Librarian
“The romance part of the story is delightful and funny and Wilson really does allow you to suspend your disbelief. While I love the Miss Congeniality and The Parent Trap combination, there are also all these little nods to Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice.“ Read more...
The Best Romance Books: 2019 Summer Reads
Frannie Cassano, Librarian
“Jenny is a very popular author and you can see why when you read this latest festive treat. It’s very atmospheric and gives you that lovely, chilly feeling whether you want to wrap yourself in a blanket and drink hot chocolate. That’s really appealing to lots of people” Read more...
The Best Romantic Comedy Books: The 2021 Romantic Novelists’ Association Shortlist
Celia Anderson, Novelist
“Think the cosiest Christmas scenes ever, delicious food, nostalgia, unusual characters and just general feelgood magic! Set in a department store and bursting with sparkle. Lovely!” Read more...
The Best Romantic Comedy Books: The 2021 Romantic Novelists’ Association Shortlist
Celia Anderson, Novelist
“The crisp, wintery atmosphere in this book sparkles and shines all the way through and the relationships between the characters involve plenty of secrets to keep the reader intrigued. Again, the setting is very important. I love Stratford, and Kiley’s story takes you right into the theatre scene. She really knows her stuff when it comes to Shakespeare and his home town; a very talented writer.” Read more...
The Best Romantic Comedy Books: The 2021 Romantic Novelists’ Association Shortlist
Celia Anderson, Novelist
“It’s absolutely brilliant. There’s an older protagonist and a much younger one—grandmother and granddaughter—and they swap lives for a little while. One part is set in a village, and it takes you there immediately, and the other part is set in London—so it’s a complete comparison of settings and age group. There are so many issues in there—grief, loss, friendship, new relationships and the traumas of old relationships. It’s extremely well written.” Read more...
The Best Romantic Comedy Books: The 2021 Romantic Novelists’ Association Shortlist
Celia Anderson, Novelist
“All of Trisha’s books hit the spot. She’s got a fan base that spans generations. She takes us somewhere else—and I think a garden is the place we all like to be in the summertime, especially one in the process of developing into an even better place. Also, it’s great to read about someone bravely making a new start. This is a well-loved theme but Trisha always puts a fresh spin on her stories.” Read more...
The Best Romantic Comedy Books: The 2021 Romantic Novelists’ Association Shortlist
Celia Anderson, Novelist
Sunny Days and Sea Breezes
by Carole Matthews
Winner of the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year award, 2021
“This book is set on the Isle of Wight, and the characters and her descriptions of the different places are as warm and vibrant as ever. I think, especially in these times when we’ve all been starved of holidays by the seaside, Carole has given us some much-needed escapism and hope for future adventures of our own.” Read more...
The Best Romantic Comedy Books: The 2021 Romantic Novelists’ Association Shortlist
Celia Anderson, Novelist
The Best Romantic Comedy Books: The 2021 Romantic Novelists’ Association Shortlist, recommended by Celia Anderson
There’s nothing more comforting than a good rom com: they promise warmth, cosiness and a glimpse of another lifestyle, whether that be stringing up fairy lights in a traditional department store or setting up home on a remote island. Here, Celia Anderson of the Romantic Novelists’ Association talks us through their 2021 shortlist of the best romantic comedy books.
