As the year 2024 is fast approaching its end, it’s the perfect time to look back on some of my romance reads that landed on my favorites list in just one read. My reading theme has been full of mixed genres in romance, and a lot of book slump phases.
However, I found myself going back to contemporary romances and exploring new authors.
Here are my top best romance books of 2024 – ranging from contemporary to dark to reverse harem.
Bespelled (Bewitched #2) by Laura Thalassa
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Bespelled was my most anticipated read of 2024, and it lived up to all of my expectations.
This is the second in the series and it is as unique, sexy, steamy and full of action and suspense, heartbreaking moments, as in the first book. The intensity of the plot and the characters grows throughout the story with major revelations.
My favorite part of this book is the groveling by the hero who was a villain to the heroine in the first book.
Check my review for: Bespelled by Laura Thalassa
Failure to Match (Bad Billionaire Bosses #2) by Kyra Parsi
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Kyra Parsi is a new to me author, and when I saw people on Reddit commenting this was their top favorite of the year, I had to check it out.
Failure to Match is an enemies to lovers romance with some popular tropes: forced proximity, alphahole hero and sassy heroine. Jamie is a matchmaker who is unable to match her client, Jackson (the hero), because of his unrealistic standards.
A series of consequences follow when she pretends to be his date and she ends up staying at his place to size his character up.
It’s a fun romance, sure to make you feel all mushy when the hero falls for the heroine.
The Secret Fiancée (The Windsors #5) by Catharina Maura
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Available on Kindle Unlimited
I read this book at the very start of the year, so I don’t remember much of the story. I loved the premise – the hero is arranged to be married to the heroine. When he finds out who she is, he sets out to find her. When he does, he is intrigued. She doesn’t know who he is.
There’s a mixture of my favorite tropes: arrange marriage, workplace professor and student romance.
The hero is traumatized by his past, and is often controlling about the heroine.
It was an interesting one-time read.
Viciously Yours (Fae Kings of Eden #1) by Jamie Applegate Hunter
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Available on Kindle Unlimited
I read Viciously Yours right after reading this in the blurb: ‘There isn’t a line I wouldn’t cross for you.’
This book is a mid-dark fantasy romance with a morally grey hero – the heir of a fae kingdom, and a human girl who is his fated mate. He can’t meet her till a certain age as he is bound to his land, and therefore writes letters to her.
I loved the hero – he is deliciously dark and I love the possessive obsessiveness (one of my favorite tropes in romance lol).
The plot is more focused on the romance than world-building so don’t expect much in terms of an overarching world story arc.
Read More: What is Kindle Unlimited?
Jump on Three (Savage Academy #3) by Julia Wolf
Genre: New Adult Romance
Available on Kindle Unlimited
I would categorize Jump on Three as one of the sweetest romance stories. The romance is slow, heartwarming, with an endearing heroine and a patient hero who will wait for the heroine forever and ever.
I loved getting to know the heroine. The author made her come to life and I wish I could be with her, she became that real to me.
And to read the hero engaging with her, wanting her, and supports her in any way, despite having his own struggles.
It’s a wonderful read.
Blood Oath (Cursed Legacies #1) by Morgan B. Lee
Genre: Reverse Harem Romance
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Blood Oath felt like a breath of fresh air in the PNR Reverse Harem universe. Quite similar to another PNR Academy romances, it still manages to retain a uniqueness in its plot.
As this is the first book, the story focuses on the main heroine out on a mission joining an academy for monsters. She is a badass, and she is not looking for friends or relationships. However, fate has different plans and now she’s stuck with four guys as a part of a quintet.
The heroes are all obsessed with her, but she can’t let them ruin her plans, and she’ll do everything to make them hate her.
I loved the premise and definitely recommend it!
A Curse of Fate (Shifter City Fated Mates #1) by Jaymin Eve
Genre: Reverse Harem Romance
Available on Kindle Unlimited
I feel like I was waiting for Jaymin to finally write another Reverse Harem Romance for ages! (Check Trickery Curse of the Gods). This book definitely met my expectations.
A Curse of Fate is a PNR Why Choose Romance, focused on a rogue female wolf who is an omega – a rare wolf species, and is forced to once again be a part of the pack.
A strong pack of alphas scent her as their mate and want her to be a part of their pack. These alphas are overly possessive and obsessive (which the author does very well).
However, the heroine is scared and on the run. The plot revelation will happen in the next book.
The Nightmare in Him (Devil's Cradle #2) by Suzanne Wright
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Not on Kindle Unlimited
Suzanne Wright does good PNR Romance and so far, the books I have read live up to my expectations.
The Nightmare in Him is an okay-ish sequel to the Devil’s Cradle series. The pace of the plot is slow, and has repetitive dialogues that take away from the intrigue and romance between the main characters.
However, the plot is still good enough for me to read the next book, and re-read this one. The characters endear themselves to you, and the suspense behind the major players, and their paranormal history is a major hook.
2024 is not yet over, and I aiming to read a few more romance books released this year and add more to the list!
Check out my other list: Best Romance Books of 2020