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The New York Public Library Names The Best New Romance for Adults

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Feb 13, 2025

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Looking for great romance books for adult readers as selected by librarians? Look no further than this selection of 50 wide-ranging, diverse newer romance titles from the New York Public Library. The list, which is selected by 10 librarians who read “upwards of 250 romance novels each year,” showcases a little of every subgenre, including historical, sports, and contemporary romance, alongside favorite romantic tropes like enemies-to-lovers, meet-cute, and more.

Among some of the titles on the list:

Any Duke in a Storm by Amalie Howard
The Design of Us by Sajni Patel
Frequent Fliers by Noue Kirwan
Funny Story by Emily Henry
I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram
Looking for Love in All The Haunted Places by Claire Kann

“The Best New Romance List reflects the diversity of the romance genre itself—readers can find titles across historical romance, sport romance, “romantasy,” and various sub-genres, such as monster, comedy, and Paranormal,” said Kate Fais, Young Adult Librarian and co-chair of the Best Romance List committee in an interview at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.

Fais noted that romance was the second most popular genre by circulation at the New York Public Library, just behind the number one genre, mystery. Romance has seen continued strong sales among readers, even as sales in other genres and categories have slipped in recent years.

Today In Books

Check out the full list of the Best New Romance Books for Adults and find your next swoony read in time for the season of love.

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