I Read the 20 Best Romances of 2024 According to Goodreads

[@dreamywillow8664]

I just wanna say the clicky sound when you place the books in the rating is so satisfying

[@stormartomovovitch]

you’re so right about this could be us i’m 19 and enjoyed reading about older characters it was one of my favorite reads of the year

[@tarinhaque705]

sidenote: your hair looks SO GOOD

[@sydneysbooks]

My favorite was also Just for the Summer! Would really love a rule where if you win more than x number of years you aren’t eligible in that same genre. Rick Riordan requested his books not be included because they always won, and it’d be nice to see Emily Henry, Kristin Hannah, Stephen King, etc do the same and give other authors a shot.

[@dianaandthebookhunt]

Yay, we've all been waiting for this one. It's my favorite to watch too. You do such an amazing job with the one liners & your sense of humor is unmatched ❤

[@CatherineSteele328]

i have been waiting for this video all year, literally my highlight as always did not disappoint, also you look so beautiful chan 💜💜

[@amyclarke5903]

Could not agree more with the Kennedy Ryan hype. Loved ‘This Could be Us’

[@KitKatSam27]

This Could Be Us was ROBBED. It was by far my all time favorite romance of the year. Ugh. Kennedy deserves more.

[@Dina2662]

nearly spit out my coffee when I heard the words "baloney ponies were ridden" 💀💀

[@Will_reads]

Right? I was not expecting that!!!!😂😂😂😂

[@Showtunediva]

22:45 So far in this series I have only read The Christmas Tree Farm which was 3 stars for me. Also your Kitty cat is very cute. Merry Christmas Chandler.❤

[@andiman44]

Not Chandler spoiling us during this holiday season. 🥹 I adore your long review videos, Chandler; you just don’t know 🥰

[@chandlerainsley]

thanks for watching

[@Booksnbeautyofficial]

I look forward to these videos every year

[@IrinaSorescu-v5q]

YAYYY Queen posted!!

[@KitKatSam27]

Not the FIVE INFLATABLE STARS 🎉🎉 OMFG I can’t breathe

[@Munksfan1]

my favorite romance of the year was definitely Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood!! The spicy scenes felt actually necessary for the plot and not just thrown in for the vibes.

[@ElisabetTX]

Your Just for the summer review on a different video made me read it and I’m so happy for it! My first Abby Jimenez and I loved!

[@amandazee3706]

I voted for Not in Love initially because, to me, it does a great job of depicting characters that have had life experiences that make it difficult for them to trust. Perhaps most people don't find this to be the most romantic premise, but to me, it made them working through their fears and falling in love all the more rewarding.

[@unY0UsuaL2988]

Love your candor and swearing! We’re reading weird ass non PG books - I hate when ppl censor themselves or never give a real thought. You’re super entertaining - makes me want to pick up a few romances. SUBSCRIBED 🎉

[@sofreshcici18]

This Could be Us was top tier. Other favs for me were Just For The Summer, Funny Story, and Paradise Problem. My best romances of the year. ❤

[@mimi5730]

Chandler, you look absolutely gorg

[@Will_reads]

Serial baby gravy donator is crazy work!!!😂😂😂😂

[@beearedee]

I own a couple Kennedy Ryan books but haven’t been feeling romance lately so haven’t read them but after you talking about it being so low I’m picking one up today and trying it!

[@annibtj]

i think this years choice awards (for romance) were so good! i actually struggled to vote both rounds because there were just too many options of books i loved! i feel goodreads usually misses the mark on actual romance readers choices but not this year!

[@Lido4o]

Your hair is flawless. 🤩

[@awpageofabook]

Yesss, I can't wait! (even though I very rarely read romance books)

[@cherylNA]

Hah! My dog is in fact named Cooper. 🐶😂

[@seauxdevine138]

I really appreciate your comments on (the lack of) diversity in popular book awards/recs/etc and your introspection about wanting to elevate different books in 2025. I will absolutely be consuming more of your content just for the sheer acknowledgement that you may be (unintentionally) contributing to the problem.

[@steadmaned]

Would love to know what eyeshadow you use as a glitter/shadow topper. It’s so pretty while you’re talking about bun bookstore!

[@cindystauffer3242]

Just for the Summer was such a fantastic book. My favorite of the year as well.

[@danastorino9247]

I agree with you 100% about this could be us. It was very well written and loved by so many. I don't get it

[@erikaroth6049]

You're absolutely correct about Emily Henry because I barely read romance these days but I've been Emily Henry'd consistently over the past year lol. Anyway, I enjoyed your video almost as much as I enjoyed Funny Story. I think Beach Read was more fun for me and even liked Happy Place. Not into Ali Hazelwood's Not in Love but I am into you promoting diversity with authors like Kennedy Ryan! Maybe I'll give Bride a try.

[@TeenaReadsandCrochets]

Completely agree about the audiobook of Leathwr and Lark. I couldn’t get past the giggling.

[@leilanijenna]

"it's giving dog but that's fine" LMAO

[@aliesbookishlife]

I so agree with you on Not in Love, I loved it! But then again, Ali Hazelwood could punch me in the face and I’d say thank you

[@esmereadsandeats]

Just for the Summer was also my favorite of the year!

[@ohladysamantha]

Goodreads just put the diversity there and said to readers, go ahead, it is on you. And the readership just didn't deliver with their votes. This Could Be Us and Just for the Summer have been my top romances this year that released in 2024.

[@HHHilary]

P.S. I Hate You was my favorite romance this year by far! But it came out on December 3.

[@kristenchambers5618]

I agree with you, that ‘Just for the Summer’ should have been #1. Funny story was my favorite of Emily Henry’s books but that isn’t saying much since I gave it 3 stars 😂

[@sydneysbooks]

THE WAY I CHEERED!!!!

[@daad8264]

Play Along for me! I was so happy it reached the top 10

[@laurenmiller149]

doing the lord's work, Chan. thank you for doing the work and telling me what's [not] worth my time! *edit:* also, controversial(?) opinion here: This Could Be Us ranking 15th has nothing to do with ageism; I think it's 100% to due with the fact that it's a black woman on the cover. with absolutely zero data to back this up, only my experience as a pub/editorial professional, I would bet my set of Crawford Classics on the fact that white covers are picked up the most, followed by asian covers, then black covers, then native/indigenous covers. is it racism? is it reading demographics? is it the genre? is it mismarketing? honestly idk, but regardless, it's an issue worth highlighting.

[@mychaoticshelf]

The number of times I laughed out loud watching this video was CRIMINAL 😂

[@conanismyidol]

I agree with your criticisms of The Love of My Afterlife. I think I was hoping it took place in the afterlife, similar to The Good Place. Also, the book makes no sense. If she doesn't kiss her soulmate in time, she will be forced to test out an afterlife dating app. But if soulmates exist, why would anyone need an afterlife dating app? Makes no sense! I assumed the main character would've figured this out and realized it was all nonsense, but nope.

[@crystalsbookishlife]

I am sat for this 🍿

[@heatherpink75]

Daydream was sooooo good. The way they support each other, the characters are interesting, the chemistry, the playlist at the beginning…could not put this book down!!! 📖 🥰

[@t.a.summers]

I'm seated to see all your thoughts about these books (even for the ones I haven't read yet).

[@t.a.summers]

I should have known that the Kevin Kwan book didn't fit. Pleasantly surprised about the Ana Huang book - I'll pick that up.

[@giggleloop5477]

I really enjoyed The Pairing but I can see where a lot of people would be turned off by the premise (especially since the MCs actually go through with the bet and you see them with other people on page). I kinda admire that the author broke a huge taboo for a lot of readers of Romance. And I appreciated how McQuiston didn't make either of the MCs bitter about the other person or about their previous relationship. I found the way that Kit and Theo talked about the other person, both as they were in the past and as they are now, to be deeply moving and romantic. But I could have done without the endless descriptions of every single thing they ate or saw.

[@NovelsWithNicole]

I’m the rare breed that really enjoyed Not in love by Ali hazelwood 😅 Have you ever considered doing the romantasy top ten? 😏

[@chandlerainsley]

all i’m saying is you might wanna come back here on sunday 🤭

[@LithiumxLacrymosa]

Yknow, I've never been much of a romance reader and I've realized that it's because I just never think it's that deep. I like a romance adjacent to the plot, not it being the plot. I guess that's why I enjoyed the cinnamon bun bookstore. It's BECAUSE it's low stakes and not that deep. Whenever I read serious, deep romance, I just have to roll my eyes and get annoyed bc it's never that deep to me lmao. Thanks for that revelation!

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I need to read just for the summer 😅

[@MsAdlerHolmes]

I also struggle with low-stakes romance.

[@danastorino9247]

As an author there's a reason why there's a 3rd act break up. It's part of the romance story structure. And telling us not good writing. I didn't read Cinnabon book store. But I do know that telling is not good. I did download the tree farm book by that same author. I'll give it a read and see for myself.

[@VeronicaKLove]

But it’s universally hated. Like this it is probably the most hated trope in romance. As readers we don’t want it.

[@danastorino9247]

The third act break up is not a trope. It's part of story structure. Two different things. Structure serves a purpose for good storytelling.

[@VeronicaKLove]

@ it’s fine however it’s rightfully called. People hate it!

[@katelinsindelar3486]

My favorite romance was summer romance by Annabelle Monaghan !!!!!

[@breanneccc]

Saying "sticky" is a poor choice of words after saying "baby gravy" 😭

[@chandlerainsley]

it was intentional ;)

[@onmyway221]

43:20 LOL

[@TheJtj18]

I liked the paradise problem I only read that and love of my afterlife Both were ok, but I like the paradise problem more! Would/have you ever read BL? Especially BL Manwhas?

[@amandazee3706]

I didn't read this Kevin Kwan book but I did read the Crazy Rich Asian trilogy which you, Chandler, so accurately described. I think the reason his book is being shoved in the romance category is because whoever picks the books that are initially nominated has never read Kwan's books and probably only watched the CRA movie which took the liberty of transforming that book into a "cute" rom-com which the book isn't. Frustrating

[@alia.4869]

Fingers took me out 😂

[@passid1753]

Honestly I read both before I let go and this could be us and the thing I don't like about soledads story compared to the first is thst the romance felt under baked. Wasn't sold to me bC I wanted more them beingfriends. The plot was so good though

[@tunz6560]

Agree with most of your rating, but the heroine in Play Along really annoyed me. Never liked Elsie Silver, i tried but would always fall asleep.

[@delobster7711]

I was so confused you kept saying Javier for KOS I had to Google. It's Xavier

[@chandlerainsley]

it can be pronounced multiple ways. the author says that it is pronounced the way i said it... since he's Colombian ;)

[@delobster7711]

@@chandlerainsley that makes sense. but i think what added to my confusion too was I thought this was Kai's book.

[@juliadupont7252]

Maybe a coincidence but has Miss Jimenez been listening to Two Hot takes and been inspired by Justin and Morgan’s life details ? Lmao Morgan runs a sucessful Reddit podcast. They’re both from Minnesota, she used to be an OT, has talked about difficult family dynamics on her and his side of their family, and specifically how she had to take care of her little brother a lot and how her and her older brother didn’t always get along (very public info btw). Of course those are very common issues people have to face and I didn’t read the book, I’m only drawing parallels.

[@nicholleReads]

I listen to two hot takes and it’s very very different and there is no over lap besides Minnesota. However, Abby is from there so most of her romances are based there!

[@juliadupont7252]

@ that explains it !! Thanks 😊

[@SamanthasBooks]

This Could Be Us sounds so good!! Elsie Silver really isn't for me sadly 😢

[@sassycatz4470]

I am a romance reader all the way back from the 1970's when I was a young teen. I enjoy Kevin Kwan, but maybe because I'm older and do not hold to so many stereotypes about romance? Under today's standards, Danielle Steele would not be considered a romance author. In any event, I loved Crazy Rich Asians and read it twice. I also read his Sex and Vanity, published in 2020, and liked that. You might like that more than your current read. (I haven't read the latest.) As an older romance reader who has seen the development of romance, I am surprised to see how current romance readers pigeon hole and limit romance into such a narrow lane. Has no one read the sudsy romances of the 50s, 60s, and 70s? They were out there! Literally.

[@sassycatz4470]

And to be specific, a happily ever after defines a romance.

[@meiagal]

Is the video sped up? Watching you after years. Sorry

[@lisajenny9]

Yay!!!!!!

[@KitKatSam27]

It’s giving dog hahahahaha

[@chandlerainsley]

it's a fine name... it's just also the name of my brother in law's dog lmao

[@sassycatz4470]

I hate the word smut as a euphemism for sex Smut defined: 1. a small flake of soot or other dirt. "all those black smuts from the engine" 2. a fungal disease of grains in which parts of the ear change to black powder. "a few bad crop years with smut and drought and frost" 3.obscene or lascivious talk, writing, or pictures. "porn, in this view, is far from being harmless smut"emism" for sex: Sex, especially involving love, is not porn.

[@VeronicaKLove]

I hate the word “spice” in reference to sex, makes me think of garlic and curry! And not sexy!

[@sassycatz4470]

@@VeronicaKLove Which begs the question. Why not use the word sex for ... sex!? This book has no sex scenes. This book does not contain explicit sex. This book is very sexy. What's wrong with that? Why are we acting like little girls who can't use the actual word? And smut?! That's a pejorative word. I'm astounded women who are sex positive use that.

[@kadabra4009]

How to end a love story was actually such an insulting read, I ended up dnf‘ing it at the 50%. The fmc was so disgusting and awful to the mmc and a bland character to boot. Their dynamic felt off and like a traumabond, not love and the writing was actually terrible imo.😳 It felt like it was written just to be written. There was no heart or soul to the writing at all. This is a big Do Not Recommend from me. Just for the Summer, Funny Story & Bride were my favorite romance reads this year. ❤

[@VeronicaKLove]

The whole “cinnamon bun” series is extremely overrated and is just a result of great marketing.