With a few candles, some chocolate, and some comfy clothes, we're ready to turn up the heat with some of our favorite romance novels of all time. With two classics that are always good, you can't go wrong. There are also some new books on our list, like Isaac Fellman's. Even people who don't like mushy books will find something to enjoy on our list.

Make your heart flutter with historical romance that brings you back to the fluttering hearts of the past, or with paranormal romance that proves you don't need flesh and blood to have fun. If you're looking for rom-coms that mix humor with steamy scenes, or if you're looking for sexy stories that aren't safe for public transportation, we've got the books for you. All these books are romance-plus-other. Even if you don't think you like romance, you should read these even if you don't think you like romance. The romance genre has a lot more to offer than the bodice-rippers you might have seen in your mom's bedside table or at the grocery store checkout counter. Many of our favorite romances have exciting plot lines, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ love stories, and lyrical language that keeps us reading right to the end. These are just some of the things that make them romances. Add these to your "to read" list, and don't forget to check out the Good Housekeeping book club when you're done. You'll find even more great books there.

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

Alice, Felix, Eileen, and Simon are four people who are trying to figure out how to live in the world. This story is about their love. This is a Rooney novel, after all. You'll see your own allegiances shift and change as you read.

A Lot Like Adiós: A Novel by Alexis Daria

From the author of You Had Me at Hola comes a luxurious romance about a Puerto Rican woman who is very focused on her job and doesn't have a lot of time for love. She gets a second chance with Gabrielle, the only man who ever made her heart race. They might. Will they? We'll never know.

Dead Collections: A Novel by Isaac Fellman

Sol is an archivist who falls in love with a widow when she comes to donate her late wife's work to him. Sol is a vampire, and he has been sleeping in his office to avoid the sun's harsh rays. His nocturnal lifestyle makes it hard to date. As they fall in love, they have to deal with grief, transphobia, and the difficulties that come with living two very different lives.

The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory

The sporty love story by Jasmine Guillory is one of her best. You can't go wrong with any of them. At a Dodger game, Nik's boyfriend proposes to her. The guy can't even spell her name right. She says no, and the video spreads all over the world. Dr. Carlos is a very handsome man, but he can't be the real deal. Can he?

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Twenty years ago, Eva and Shane met and fell in love over a week. When Eva and Shane meet up again in Brooklyn, they have a chance to get back together or get back to the point where they first started to like each other. It's sexy, sultry, and oh-so-steamy.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

As a person who has had a crush on a coworker (the scandal!), this 2016 book will feel familiar. Lucy Hutton and her best friend Joshua Templeman have a rivalry that is as bitter as they come, especially when they are competing for the same job. In the beginning, at least.

Vision In White by Nora Roberts.

As the first book in the Bride Quartet, Nora Roberts's fans gave it high marks. She has written more than 200 romance novels. Mackensie "Mac" Elliot runs a wedding planning business with three of her friends. This could happen when she meets sweet and stable English teacher Carter Maguire on the job.

Violeta by Isabel Allende

As a romance author, Allende is one of the best of our time, and her most recent book doesn't disappoint. If you love a woman who fights two pandemics and war and then fights for women's rights, this story is for you. It's also about the strength of the human spirit, and it's a passionate love story.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This 1813 book is so old that if you have a Kindle, you can read it for free! And you should take advantage of that, because it's basically the first romance book ever written. A Jane Austen fan should check out Eligible, which is set in modern-day Cincinnati and tells the story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in a new way.

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

If you're a fan of Gone With the Wind, you might like this book. It's a multigenerational story about life on a sheep station in the Outback. Maggie, a woman who lives on a remote ranch, and a handsome priest are the main focus of the story.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

It started out as a time-traveling romance book that introduced Claire Randall, a former British combat nurse, and her Scottish warrior love interest... who is living in 1743. Love, time travel, danger, and a whole lot of other things are all in this one.

Delta of Venus by Anais Nin

To be a romance fan, you need to read Anas Nin. You should do that now. It was written in the 1940s, but its romantic erotic themes still work today. People say that, but don't believe them.

Call Me by Your Name by Andre Aciman

In the movie, Timothee Chalamet stars. This steamy love story between two young men on the Italian Riviera is worth reading even if you haven't seen the movie yet! Grab a juicy peach before you break the spine. Just trust us, okay?

Bared to You by Sylvia Day

If you like your romance to come in more than one book, check out the Crossfire series. When Eva Tramell first moves to the big city, she literally falls at the feet of billionaire Gideon Cross, which starts their steamy relationship and reveals secrets from both of their dark pasts. It sounds familiar. A review on Amazon called it the "soap opera version of Fifty Shades of Grey."

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Is it bad when you fall in love with someone who lives on another time? That's what happened to Henry DeTamble, a librarian who got lost in time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life went the way it should. This love story is as unique as it is beautiful.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

People say that you never forget your first love. Take a trip down memory lane with Eleanor and Park, two teenagers who were in love in 1986. Young love doesn't last, but they're brave enough to try.

A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King

Liz Bennett works as a stage kitten for a burlesque troupe that has become more like a family than a job. When she meets Will Darcy, she gets excited right away. It doesn't help that oil and water can't seem to connect (or get rid of each other). It's sexy, spicy, and impossible to stop eating.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

This 1847 book is about Jane Eyre, a brave governess and hero, and her brooding boss, Mr. Rochester, who has a terrible secret. For its time, the first-person narrative set a new standard for what romance could be. It's no wonder that people still love it more than 170 years after it was written.

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