The Best Romance Books with Neurodivergent Main Characters

Maxine Hart’s tendency to hyper-fixate on all kinds of topics as an ADHDer makes her a natural trivia champion. She’s proven that by becoming one of the highest-scoring contestants on the beloved quiz show Answers!

When she’s slated to return for an Answers! winners tournament to face off against undefeated contestant Hercules McKnight, she hesitantly agrees to a truce with her bookish rival Teddy Ferguson. But hidden beneath the surface is the biggest question of all: whether both feel the lingering sexual tension from their kiss the night they met.

Growing up with dyslexia, Jada Townsend-Matthews’ family made her feel like no matter how hard she worked for her academic dreams, it was never enough. Now that she’s turned down a fan-favorite contestant in a Bachelorette-style dating show, it seems like the whole world is against her, too.

When her grandma lands her a job (without asking) at a local bakery, she reluctantly takes it up only to grow unexpectedly close with her coworker, soon-to-be-retired NFL player Donovan Dell.

After leaving medical school to pursue her passion for music, busker Raine Hart’s tenuous luck takes a nosedive when she loses her instruments in Ireland. Thankfully, a charming pub owner named Jack is willing to offer her a job.

Beyond the playful flirting, Raine and Jack quickly grow fond of each other. But Jack worries that his chronic obsessive-compulsive disorder will be a burden on their relationship, something that Raine understands on some level with her ADHD.

As someone who’s struggled on and off with OCD since my teen years, I will add that this is one of the most well-written depictions I’ve come across, particularly of how people with OCD experience intrusive thoughts and what exposure response prevention (ERP) therapy is like.

After her 30th birthday sparks an existential crisis, Liz Lewis does something completely out of character: she signs up for an improv class. Confidence has never come easy to her but, dissatisfied with her marriage and life in general, she hopes the discomfort will lead to personal growth.

Determined to save their relationship, her husband Tobin takes the class with her. As both go through personal discoveries—including that Liz may have undiagnosed autism—they grow closer than they ever had before.

As a DEIA consultant for gaming companies, Samara Reynolds is able to combine both of her passions into a fulfilling career. After her video critique of Artemis Games’ latest release goes viral, she’s surprised when CEO Aron Galantis offers her a job to rehaul their character options.

Himself a neurodivergent man with a passion for gaming accessibility, Aron appreciates learning from and collaborating with Samara. Soon, both begin to wonder what a relationship outside of the workplace might look like.

Between living with OCD and facing uncertainties about an upcoming medical procedure, Kristen Petersen is overwhelmed. But because she’s co-planning her best friend’s wedding, she is pressured to keep an outward appearance that everything is fine.

Enter the best man, Josh Copeland, whose laid-back personally charms her and manages to get on her dog’s good side. Despite the instinct to guard her heart, Kristen can’t deny her attraction in the days leading up to the wedding.

Opal Devlin and Pepper Smith are neurodivergent women with equal claims to a flower farm in North Carolina. They agree to be roommates as a temporary solution, but their initial resentment fades with the discovery that they’re more alike than not…and that the surprising attraction they feel is mutual.

After years of trying to fit the expectations of a politician’s wife, Rachel Abbott suffers unimaginable betrayal when she discovers her husband Matt’s texts to another woman. Initially, she agrees to a private separation so his reelection campaign can continue without scandal.

But when she meets Nate Vasquez, a dyslexic artist who treats her with the kindness that Matt never did, Rachel decides that she’s done putting Matt’s happiness above her own.

ER nurse Derek Chang’s nemesis is his unfortunately handsome neighbor, Dylan Gallagher. Following a renovation emergency, the two find themselves in even closer quarters as reluctant roommates.

But Derek soon realizes that there’s more to Dylan than a desire to irritate him. As Dylan navigates life with ADHD and Derek grieves the loss of a friend, the two learn they can trust and even rely on each other.

Gender-swapped homage to The Music Man? Yes, please!

Harmony Hale is a con woman, and a damn good one at that. Her latest mark is personal. To seek revenge against a corrupt mayor with a fake music festival, she’ll have to gain the trust of autistic librarian Preston Jones.

Despite his initial skepticism, Preston warms up to Harmony, and the feeling is likewise. But as the festival date looms nearer, Harmony must decide whether getting everything she wanted is worth losing love better than she’d ever dreamed.