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There is no one reason why a particular romance novel hasn’t been widely discovered, but budget, bias, and luck play a role. Independent romance authors often have to market their books entirely out of pocket and online. Without placement in most bookstores, indie authors rely on self-funded and self-run social media campaigns. Even when romance authors secure a traditional publishing deal, marketing budgets are not guaranteed. Although more bookstores might stock their books, they are also largely in charge of marketing their romance books online.
Bias also comes into play. Marginalized authors are often under added pressure to give their books a broader (i.e., whiter, straighter, etc.) appeal. It is easy for a publisher to point to a book’s potentially limited appeal as a reason behind a limited marketing budget.
Then, if a romance book does have a marketing budget and hasn’t had any issues with bias at any point in the publishing process, a certain amount of luck still factors in. Hitting the right audience at the right time and taking off is no easy task.
That is to say, it can be difficult for romance books to find a platform, so there is every chance these are the best romance books you haven’t read. To narrow down my list, I sorted my Goodreads books to show books with the least number of ratings and selected every romance novel under 500 ratings. I then narrowed that list down to nine books.
Romance is a genre filled with excellent books you haven’t read yet. That is what makes romance so appealing. Authors appear on my radar every day, and the only thing impeding me from reading their books is time. The list of romance books you haven’t read includes a mix of historical, contemporary, and fantasy romance for your reading pleasure. Honestly, it was difficult to narrow it down to nine books, but I managed it somehow.
Good Mourning, Darling by Azalea Crowley
Between her autism and fear of the family funeral business, Ella Bardot has never connected with her family … even before discovering the black market deals the family business has with local monsters. When Ella returns home, someone starts coming after her. Her father sends her to a safe house with his loyal body removal technician, Eugene, and his shadow companion. He is handsome and charming, and Ella can’t help but fall for his 1920s slang. Sure, Eugene and his shadow could kill her without a thought, and doing so would free them both from the contract they have with her dad. But something about Ella is too sweet to destroy.
Cupid Calling by Viano Oniomoh
When a British reality dating show casts Ejiro and Obiora as contestants vying for the affections of the bachelorette, they unwittingly set the stage for a second romance on the show. Obiora is a bisexual Nigerian British man who desperately needs a vacation from the family business. Ejiro immigrated from Nigeria and would do anything to delay returning home. He would also love to fall in love. They both have their reasons for being on the show and being a bit competitive, but when that competitiveness shifts to friendship, and then to attraction, Ejiro and Obiora have a new set of problems on their hands.
All the Way Happy by Kit Coltrane
At the elite Gwynns Academy, no one hated the wealthy Theodore Beaumont more than Jack Gardner. That is until one European trip the summer after graduation changed everything between them, and they parted ways for good. So when Jack and Theo drop off their sons at Gwynns, they have more than just their children’s things to unpack. If they want a second chance to be all the way happy, they will have to excavate the long-buried passion between them and discover who they became in their time apart.
To Wield The Darkest Night by Beau Van Dalen
When an apothecary meets the handsome lover who haunts his dreams, his life changes forever. Sol is a closeted trans man making potions in a small town. Yohan is a cursed night looking for an apothecary who can save his king. Sol is just the man for the job, so when he agrees, Yohan couldn’t be happier to have an intelligent and intriguing apothecary to accompany him on his return journey. During their travels, Sol begins to accept himself and Yohan’s affection, becoming the man he’s always wanted to be.
Forgotten Monster by J. Emery
Taisce knows how to manage a family estate, but finding his older brother is a mystery he is not quite equipped to solve. So, when he meets the escaped criminal Sef, Taisce agrees to get him out of town in exchange for his help finding his wayward brother. Plus, Sef believes this young nobleman can break his curse along the way. Why wouldn’t he say yes to such a great deal? But their quest is not quite as smooth as they predicted, and worse still, they begin to fall for each other. A romantasy filled with monsters, difficult choices, and adventure is sure to satisfy any intrepid reader.
Going Public by Hudson Lin
There is no deal that operating partner Raymond Chao and his assistant Elvin Goh cannot close at Jade Harbour. Elvin doesn’t always agree with Raymond’s methods, but he cannot help but fall for his boss—and his longtime crush is beginning to fall for him too. That is until Raymond’s outside-the-box—and illegal—tactics land him in legal trouble. Elvin cannot help him this time, but can their relationship survive the fallout? This queer workplace romance has a corporate drama plotline that would make Shonda Rhimes proud. If you’re a fan of external stakes getting in the way of internal drama, this is the romance for you.
Love on the Byline by Xio Axelrod
Blake is a journalist who wants to make a difference with her reporting, but that is never going to happen until she gets a chance. If she does a profile on a movie star, she will get the chance to break the story she really cares about. Just one problem—the star’s assistant is Oliver, the college best friend she hasn’t heard from in years. Blake and Oliver’s connection is immediate, but they agree to wait until the interview is done before starting anything. But after waiting years, denying the temptation at their fingertips is harder than either Blake or Oliver could have imagined.
A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence by Jess Everlee
In 1885 London, Jo is used to her life working at the bookshop she owns with her husband. They are a family with a lavender marriage that keeps Jo safe. When her husband’s paramour is pregnant and looking for medical attention, Jo makes it her business to secure her medical care and, hopefully, a place in their future. Dr. Emily Clarke works out of the same hospital as her father, but with his health on the decline, it is time for her to make a plan for her future as a doctor. If she wants to practice as a woman, she must consider other options. Jo and her request are unusually scandalous, but Emily can’t help but say yes to the steadfast, attractive woman asking her for help.
Of Knights and Books and Falling in Love by Rita A. Rubin
Who doesn’t want a cozy romantasy following a dark lord’s apprentice who falls in love with the hero’s knight? Jayce never thought he could escape life as a villain’s apprentice, but when Alexius gets dragged in for questioning, he reveals the magical key to his escape. In return, Jayce would keep him safe as the Dark Lord’s prisoner. Everything goes better than Jayce could have planned when the Hero defeats the Dark Lord and both Jacye and Alexius are freed. Now he has to make a life for himself alongside the attractive and cheerful knight who he might just be falling in love with.
I hope you have fun with the best romance books you haven’t read. If you are looking for other romance recommendations, check out The 17 Best Romance Books of 2024, 12 of the Best Award-Winning Romance Novels, and even more underrated romance reads.
