If you were to ask any avid romance novel reader to name their favorite book of all time, it's unlikely you'll get a straight answer. Every year, thousands of diverse titles are released across subgenres, including favorites like historical, paranormal, erotica, and contemporary. And with even more reads now conveniently available via e-readers and apps, there are infinite escapist love stories—and satisfying happily-ever-afters—to choose from. So you can see why it's an impossible task to choose just one.
We pulled together a list of 30 of the best romance novels anyone should read in their lifetime to help narrow down the greats of the genre. From forever classics like Jane Eyre to the queen of historical fiction, Beverly Jenkins, 21st-century darlings like The Kiss Quotient, and bestselling series-turned-Netflix-breakout-hit Bridgerton, we know there are options here to fit all tastes. And if by book 30 you still haven't found your pick, check out the authors' Goodreads profiles—be
