Best and Worst Romance Novels of 2019

I have to say -- Romance was my strongest genre this year in terms of this being the hardest list to make! There were so many great things I read...though there were also some pretty bad things in the mix too ;)
Lipstick: Evil Queen by Colourpop
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Books Mentioned:
The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker
Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh
Well Met by Jen Deluca
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
The Mid-Winter Mail Order Bride (2018)/The Dead Lands Series by Kati Wilde
Kissing Galileo by Penny Reid
Dating-ish by Penny Reid
The King's Spinster Bride by Ruby Dixon
The Prize by Julie Garwood
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
Luna & the Lie by Mariana Zapata
Faker by Sarah Smith
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
The Earl's Christmas Pearl by Megan Frampton
99% Mine by Sally Thorne
Fraternization Rule by Fiona Davenport
My Viking Vampire by Krystal Shannan
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
The Bride by Julie Garwood
Rock Chick Redemption by Kristen Ashley
Rock Chick Revenge by Kristen Ashley
The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata
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[@Vanitas1131]

I love how you show your love for this genre. The only recommendation I could read is the bromance bookclub and I laughed and cried so it was a very good read for me. But I wanna say that your enthusiasme for romance ignite my own love for it and not being scared for admitting it that it is a genre that works so well for me. Some people judge me for these reading choices and I don't like I can't gush about these books with them. Ooh well, I will keep reading it because there are a lot good ones.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Thank you so much, that is such a lovely thing to say-- I do try to be a visible reader of romance, because I know there has been a stigma around the genre. But I believe in a balanced "reading diet" and I think there's nothing wrong with reading the light alongside the weightier. Anyone who wants to make someone feel bad for what they're reading can go jump in a lake as far as I'm concerned :D

[@giorgiam5684]

I started reading romance in 2019 (had a stressful year and some of them are better than Xanax tbh 😁) it is a guilty pleasure read for me - most of the time - because I tend to gravitate towards those tropes and storylines that are very very improbable and maybe ridiculous at times, the weird thing is they are addictive (more so than chocolate). My initial reason for this comment was to say how much I love that you read pretty much everything and you’re not afraid to put it out there. I’m the same, I love the classics, I love fantasy, I love dramatic stories full of introspection, I love philosophical novels, not to mention non-fiction and biographies but I also love to read some smutty scenes blended within an unlikely storyline( eg. fake marriage/relationship trope). You’re probably one of the very few(don’t know any other but I suppose they are out there) booktubers that’s just honest with the fact that you enjoy reading all sorts of stuff and you don’t make excuses for your choices. One day you come up with a video on classics or something similar the next you’re on about some YA book or a barbarian historical romance. Love your videos and listening to you in general. Thanks for the content. Good luck keeping it up in 2020 😀

[@bookslikewhoa]

Thank you so much, this is a lovely comment! Yes, I really am an unapologetic omnivore in my reading taste... I read it all & talk about it all. Romance is a great genre that deserves more love, I think, and I'm happy to be a voice chiming in to sing its praises

[@princemaddieful]

Your summaries are wonderful, thank you! Your makeup is stunning too! ❤

[@bookslikewhoa]

Thank you!

[@MarianaQuesada]

Oooh I’m currently listening to The Austen Playbook! I wasn’t feeling it that much at first, but as it moves on I’ve also been falling for it 💕

[@honeydew75]

I wanna read more good romance so I'm excited for this ahh🥰🥰

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yay, hope this gave you ideas!!

[@annajo6576]

Can I just say...I look forward to this series you do every year? Your opinions on books are SO in depth and truly differentiate you from other BTers.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Oh, thank you so much! They are truly a labor of love :)

[@emilyhunter992]

I put Bringing Down the Duke on my favorites of 2019. I also started the Lucy Parker series this month on your recommendation and I’m so glad I did!! I get my best recommendations from your channel.

[@bookslikewhoa]

YAY, so glad you enjoyed it! I'm glad I can steer you towards books you like :)

[@breehill9042]

Oh Mara😍I love that you kicked this off with an older romance. In 2020 I want to balance new titles with also paying attention to older titles. The Bride Test was kind of a game changer for me this year. I read it then Rebel by Beverly Jenkins and their heroines made it very difficult for me to like heroines afterward after what both of them had to strongly overcome

[@bookslikewhoa]

Ugh, YES, there were so many feelings in The Bride Test! It made me cry on the plane I was on when I was reading it :). And yes, Julie Garwood is my fav old skool discovery this year! I don't tend to get on with romances written before ~1995, but there are definitely some gems in there to be enjoyed!

[@stellafox]

love love love your eyeshadow!

[@ashheartbooks2192]

Ahh loved this list, totally agree there were some amazing romances this year! I’m definitely going to take your advice on Julie Garwood,I’ve been wanting to read something from her but not sure where to start so I think I will try to get my hands on The Prize! Also yessss to Lucy Parker 🙌🏻😍 I have The Austen Playbook on my top list too and I just finished Headliners and LOVED it. Hope you do too! ❤️

[@bookslikewhoa]

YES just finished that one last night and it was great! I didn't love it as much as THE AUSTEN PLAYBOOK, but... that would be hard to do :) :)

[@krakentoagoodbook]

The King's Spinster Bride sounds awesome! I hadn't heard of that. I've been meaning to pick up The Mid Winter Mail-Order Bride! I LOVED The Unhoneymooners. It was my first book by them, and I've definitely picked up more of their books now (I've only read Dating You/Hating You so far). Well Met was fabulous. Can't wait for Well Played! I'm a really big fan of ren faires, so this was a perfect setting for me. I've read the first two books of the Psy-Changeling series so far! Just ordered the third one. I can't wait to continue! Oh wow, The Austen Playbook sounds super cute and wonderful. I'm going to need to check that out as well.

[@chelsealovingbooks5961]

I started the psy-changeling series because of you and binged the entire series this year (it is a new favorite). I have loved it and look forward to reading more by nalini singh. Thank you so much for introducing me to this author and series.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Nalini Singh is so wonderful! Happy reading

[@vikathy]

We like so many of the same things! I have been watching booktube videos since march and just recently bringing myself to comment, which is a longwinded way to say I really appreciate your content, I think you're always very eloquent, and you have a good energy. My top 5 would be: Red white and royal blue, act like it, pretty face, fix her up and the unhoneymooners. Though I did like Well met, too. But I wasn't the biggest Simon fan, that thing that happened towards the end - it may be very realistic, like you said, but I just hated it. Hope you had a happy christmas, and that it will be a strong showing for Romance next year! PS: if I could recommend something in turn, Get a life Chloe Brown. That didn't turn out to be a 5-star as I thought for the longest time it would be, but still a very strong 4-star. And I think you'd like the Hating game, if you go into it expecting just a warm, fluffy feeling, and not for it to be the best book ever

[@bookslikewhoa]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoy my videos... and Get a Life Chloe Brown just turned up from the publisher, so it will get read soon ;)

[@yusrakriel156]

The video I spend 12 months waiting for! :D

[@yusrakriel156]

(do you read/enjoy/recommend Blood Dagger Brotherhood?)

[@bookslikewhoa]

LOL hope it payed off ;). I tried to read BDB, but sadly wasn't for me

[@lifefullofwords]

I’m really excited to read Well Met! I have it on hold at my library. It’s good to know that it’s not a rom com though, I was expecting one.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yeah, it's definitely a lighter romance, but I don't think it's especially comedic

[@lauraelzarad6716]

New watcher! Hit like and subscribed. 😁 I loveeeee romance, Christina Lauren and Mariana Zapata are definitely in my top 5 list!

[@kaitiecakes6868]

Me and my best friend picked up Undercover bromance and we can’t wait to read the sequel! I’m so excited to read the bride test as well, I’ve owned it for a while but have to many books to read lol. OMG YES the unhoneymooners! That was the first book I picked up from the duo, couldn’t have asked for a better one. I’ve read 3 books I loved by them and two I haven’t. Can’t wait to read the rest of their books! Oh man, unfortunately I cannot agree with you on well met, I didn’t enjoy it at all. But I’m glad you really enjoyed reading it! I also didn’t like fix her up, and 99 percent mine, I ended up DNFing 99 percent mine, I couldn’t do it! I heard that if I wanted to get into that author I should reading the hating game after 99 percent mine because it’s her best work. But now I’m unsure if I want to read the hating game now lol On a side note I am SOO happy to have found another person that loves to read romance!!

[@vamps_rock]

Mara, I have to say, thanks for the intro to Kati Wilde. The Midwinter Mail-Order Bride was such fun. My top romance for the year so far is the incredible All The Kings Men duet by Kennedy Ryan (one of the few 2019 releases I've already read) which was my first experience of her work. She totally deserves all the accolades she'd been getting recently and is proof positive that top-notch self pubbed books _do_ exist. Apart from all the social and political issues so brilliantly dealt with, the heroine's attitude to her virginity (ie it not being this big prize) was so bloody refreshing compared to how it's too often written about in romance. Have you read anything by KR yet? I think you would also enjoy this duet based on your sensibilities although Long Shot, her RITA winner, may be far too angsty for you. TFS :)

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yay, glad you've been enjoying Kati Wilde! She's a hidden gem IMO

[@vamps_rock]

@@bookslikewhoa Yeah, can't wait to get to the rest of that series. What about Kennedy Ryan? Have you read any of hers?

[@bluebell3441]

Truly brilliant . Thank you

[@AikiraBeats]

I'm not that into romance books, but I'm starting to get more into them. The one I finished earlier in the year was Christina Lauren love and other words was a pretty good book that got me intrigued enough to continue of this genre

[@bookslikewhoa]

There are definitely books for every taste in romance-- happy exploring!!

[@nocturneequuis]

I faintly remember Julie Garwood. I read her when I was like fifteen. Many things awakened rofl. Though the only thing I remember is the heroine rolling around trying to figure out how to put on a kilt.

[@bookslikewhoa]

I don't remember that scene in particular but... that checks out :D :D

[@kimberlykv4313]

Your audio sounds great compared to what I was just listening to.

[@kimberlykv4313]

ps..... your makeup is on point girl!

[@meemossis]

I'm publishing my first book this year and it's a romance. I'm hoping to make your best list for 2020. Fingers crossed.

[@RoseRamblesYT]

cozyafternoons recommended I check you out, and I'm glad I did. I'm interested to try out something from the author Nalini Singh. Romance isn't a genre I generally gravitate towards, but I would definitely like to give a fair chance. I think only three books I read last year would be considered romance, but none of them impressed me. Not going to give up though!

[@bookslikewhoa]

Welcome! Yes, it definitely takes some trial & error to find things that work for you-- I think starting with books in subgenres that you already have an affinity for can be a good way to go (e.g. if you like mysteries, try romantic suspense, etc.)

[@RoseRamblesYT]

@@bookslikewhoa Thanks! That.. is a really good point and idea. Okay yeah, I'll have to approach it that way. =D

[@LorisBookTrials]

I am really not into straight contemporary books. And I hardly read romance books, like I did when I was young. I am starting to try and get back into romance books. This year my favorite romance books were The Bromance Book Club, Red White and Royal Blue, Autoboygraphy, and Get A Life Chole Brown. Unfortunately I didn't care for the unhoneymoones. I just didn't connect with the characters and I couldn't stand the hero's brother at all. And spoiler alert I don't like cheating in books, and it doesn't matter if its the main or a side character that's doing the cheating.

[@leahtorzilli]

The next “Well Met” book (Well Played) I believe comes out September 2020 and involves Stacy

[@StephanieMRM]

FYI the characters in The King's Spinster Bride appear in a Ruby Dixon full length called Bound to the Battle Gods!

[@bookslikewhoa]

YAASSS, I have that one on my Kindle!

[@TheJak121212]

The Unhoneymooners was a favorite romance for me this year as well. So funny and delightful.

[@bookslikewhoa]

It's a ton of fun!

[@breehill9042]

Agree with you on Christina Lauren. Their romantic comedies are more my thing.

[@mlibbym]

LOVED Bringing Down the Duke. I was weirded out that it was so derivative of Pride and Prejudice - to the point where there were tons of character parallels, paraphrased words and sometimes BARELY PARAPHRASED... I mean, it was a re-telling. But, maybe I missed something, but I never saw anything in the marketing about that? At all? And, for me, if it's not marketed as a retelling, it seems close to plagiarism? I don't know, that made me slightly uncomfortable- still 5 star loved the book though.

[@rebelbelle995]

Oh, I loved the Spinster Bride! Spinster romance needs to be the new KU trend (go away reverse harem, ugh). I think if that book had a cover update it would be read/reviewed more. You gave me a few books I gotta read now --my poor TBR list lol

[@bookslikewhoa]

Haha sorry not sorry ;)

[@desireemclaughlin1455]

I didn’t realize Well Met was the first in a series. I feel like I just got a late Christmas present! 😁 I just finished The Austen Playbook today and LOVED IT! I picked this up on your recommendation and I will absolutely pick up more from her!

[@bookslikewhoa]

Thank god that Romancelandia loves a series-- we get more time with the characters we love! And YAY, glad you enjoyed the Lucy Parker!!

[@zmukhtar13]

I think we have the same taste when it comes to romance books. and your worst disappointment book was spot on except the bride. I love the bride but of course he other books were better

[@dedicatedfelineenthusiast2211]

Have you ever read something from Jude Devereux? If so what did you like and what did you dislike? I liked I found someone who likes romance and has a channel. I’ll be watching. 🤓

[@bookslikewhoa]

I did try something from her back when I was first getting into romance & can't say I liked or remember it much :D, so I wouldn't be the best to give a recommendation :)

[@sephestra.]

I was like, "Wait! I don't remember The Austen Playbook when I read the collection!"...which would be because when I got the collection, the fourth book wasn't part of it. *sigh* The issue has been rectified, thank you Amazon 1-Click.

[@bookslikewhoa]

haha god bless that one click :D

[@pepperoni4045]

you're the second KZbinr I follow who dislikes those books so I would definitely steer clear of them. Thank you for recommending books in this genre too. Many people are too shy to admit they like this genre because they care about others' opinions too much. But I'm not afraid to admit I enjoy this genre too!

[@amandahawkins7214]

Loved well met - creat cast of characters!