If you get your book recommendations from TikTok, you’re probably familiar with fantasy romances like “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas and “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros. Or if sports romances are more your thing, you’ve no doubt read something by Elle Kennedy or Hannah Grace. But just like how quickly trending sounds, dances, and challenges change on TikTok, so do the romance books people are talking about.
Below, you’ll find 10 incredible BookTok romance books that are racking up the likes online and flying off the shelves in real life.
1. “Just for the Summer” by Abby Jimenez
This new book from beloved BookTok author Abby Jiminez is a Good Morning America Book Club pick and the perfect 2024 beach read. Justin and Emma are two strangers with the same problem: Every person they date goes on to find the love of their life right after they break up. When a viral Reddit thread brings them together, they make a pact to date each other for a few months and then break up to find their respective soulmates. A summer fling on Lake Minnetonka—thanks to Emma’s job as a traveling nurse—is supposed to be fun and easy with no strings. But, when Emma’s toxic mom flits back into her life and Justin finds himself responsible for his three younger siblings, things between them get more serious...including their feelings.
2. “Not in Love” by Ali Hazelwood
From “The Love Hypothesis” author Ali Hazelwood comes a new rom-com set in the world of science. Rue Siebert is a successful biotech engineer at Kline, an up-and-coming startup in the food science industry. From friends to finances, she’s got the kind of stability in her life she’s always longed for. That is, until Eli Killgore shows up to instigate a hostile takeover.
Eli has only one thing on his brain. Okay, maybe two. First: successfully acquire Kline for himself and his business partners. Second: get the sultry, very off-limits, Rue Siebert out of his mind. What happens with the companies could get messy, but a no-strings-attached, secret affair with the woman of his dreams? That’s easy and fun.
But love isn’t something where you can just cross the T’s and dot the I’s. When the lines between professional and personal blur beyond recognition, will Rue and Eli be able to trace a path forward for their future?
3. “This Could Be Us” by Kennedy Ryan
Soledad Barnes has never met a problem she couldn’t fix. That’s because she always has a plan, and everything in her life falls into place because of it. But she never planned for her love life to fall apart. Except when she learns she’s been betrayed, that’s exactly what happens. Her next plan? Keep going. She can’t fall apart when her daughter is depending on her to keep things afloat. So she grabs hold of her bootstraps and, while putting the pieces of her life back together, rediscovers herself.
She also discovers Judah Cross, a man she can’t want...but does. But starting a new relationship takes more courage than last time. How can she trust him when she’s still learning to trust herself? Falling in love again isn’t part of the plan, but as she’s learned before, plans have a way of changing. If you’re a book lover searching for a love story with emotional depth, mature main characters, and themes of self love and second chances, look no further than “This Could Be Us.”
4. “This Summer Will Be Different” by Carley Fortune
Lucy has a summer tradition. Every year, she rents a beach house on Canada’s Prince Edward Island, where she spends time with her best friend, Bridget, eating oysters, walking the beach, and getting a much-needed breath of fresh coastal air. There's also her tradition of having a secret fling with Felix—Bridget’s younger brother.
It wasn’t supposed to happen the first time, and they’ve sworn up and down that it’ll never happen again. But—thanks to their irresistible chemistry—it always does. Lucy swears that this year will be different, and that proves to be true. For one thing, instead of casually hanging out with Bridget, she finds herself helping her friend through a crisis of the heart after she runs away from her fiancé a week before their wedding.
Another thing that’s changed? Lucy’s relationship with Felix. Their casual summer fling is starting to feel more like a love for all seasons. Will Lucy be the one to run away next?
“This Summer Will Be Different” is one of those BookTok romance books you’ll see everyone reading on the beach or plane this summer, and you don’t want to miss out.
5. “The Paradise Problem” by Christina Lauren
If you’re a book lover obsessed with the marriage of convenience trope, this new romance from New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren is for you.
“The Paradise Problem” follows Liam “West” Weston, the heir to the Weston Foods conglomerate. He has no interest in working for his family’s heartless corporation, but he is interested in collecting his $100 million dollar inheritance. But due to an old clause in his grandfather’s will, he won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years...which is why he married Anna Green.
Three years ago, Anna married Liam so she could afford housing at UCLA. They swiftly divorced after graduation. Or so she thought. Now, Anna is a starving artist who is dangerously close to overdrafting her bank account. So when Liam comes back into her life with an opportunity for another payday, she doesn’t have many options.
Acting like Liam's doting wife is hard enough, and it doesn't help that the Westons are a stuffy, traditional bunch who don’t really jive with Anna's more down-to-earth personality. But playing pretend has a way of feeling real, and soon, money isn’t the only thing they’re fighting for.
6. “Blood on the Tide” by Katee Robert
From the author of the Hades/Persephone TikTok sensation “Neon Gods” comes a sapphic romance on the high seas!
“Blood on the Tide” is a fantasy romance book about Lizzie, a bloodline vampire who has two goals: to reclaim the family heirlooms that were stolen from her and to access a portal so she can return home. When Lizzie and her shipmates rescue a selkie named Maeve, the two strike a deal. Lizzie will help Maeve get her stolen skin back, and Maeve will guide Lizzie through the Threshold so she can return home.
Their journey on the sea, as well as their new alliance, is choppy, to say the least. They’re up against dangerous thieves, and Lizzie is a little bloodthirsty herself (both literally and figuratively). What’s also dangerous is their growing feelings towards each other.
Soft-hearted Maeve struggles to resist Lizzie’s allure. But if she’s not careful, she’ll go overboard and profess her love. There’s no honor among thieves, especially pirates...but can Maeve trust Lizzie with her heart?
7. “How to End a Love Story” by Yulin Kuang
A Reese’s Book Club pick, “How to End a Love Story” is one of those BookTok romance books that people couldn’t put down. When successful author Helen Zhang finds out her young adult novels are being adapted into a TV show, she agrees to move to LA and take a job in the writer’s room. Not only is it the career opportunity of a lifetime, but it’s a chance for a fresh start.
The only person she knows who lives in LA is Grant Shephard...who she hasn’t seen since the accident that cemented their lives forever occurred 13 years ago. But LA is a big city, surely there’s no way she’ll run into him there.
Screenwriter Grant Shephard knew he shouldn’t have taken the job to work on Helen’s show. But writing for such a highly anticipated show will open so many doors for him. And despite the panic attacks he’s gotten on occasion, he thinks he’s done a good show of putting their shared past behind him. But when they finally come face to face, she’s as beautiful and brilliant as he remembers.
Working together entangles them once again, and both secrets and feelings from the past resurface. They can’t rewrite history, but can they move forward and give their love story a happy ending?
8. “Funny Story” by Emily Henry
From the author of BookTok sensation “Beach Read,” and one of the hottest voices in romance novels, comes a new #1 New York Times bestseller and instant classic. Daphne and her fiancé Peter have the perfect love story, from the moment they met to falling in love and moving to his small town by the lake. Unfortunately, their love story doesn’t have the happy ending she expects after Peter realizes he’s been in love with his childhood best friend Petra all along.
Now, Daphne’s life is more of a horror story than a romance. In addition to going through a breakup, she finds herself without friends, without family, and stranded in Michigan. The one silver lining is her newfound job as a librarian that, though fulfilling a lifelong dream, isn’t raking in the dough. At this point, she can really only afford to live with a roommate—who happens to be Petra’s ex-boyfriend, Miles.
After drinks one night, the two hatch a plan to make it seem like they’re more than friends on social media for their exes to see. But their petty revenge turns the page for them both, leading to a new kind of story...maybe one that has the ending they didn’t know they needed.
9. “Hometown” by Dipsea
This steamy audiobook features Gia, a woman who returns to her hometown after breaking up with her boyfriend. While grabbing a much-needed drink at the local bar, she runs into Jack, her friend Alanna’s mysterious older brother. His devilishly good looks and charming British accent draw her in, and when he offers her a ride home she finds herself saying yes.
An unexpected kiss has her craving more than she should. There’s nothing wrong with a little rebound though, right? But what starts as a fling becomes a long-distance love affair. From a tent in the woods to exhibits in London, this 13-part sizzling series will take you on a journey of the heart.
10. “King of Sloth” by Ana Huang
The fourth book in BookTok’s popular “Kings of Sin” series from “Twisted” author Ana Huang is finally out! “King of Sloth” follows Xavier Castillo, a rich, charming, and laidback playboy who’s primed to take over his family’s empire...though he has zero interest in this whatsoever. When tragedy strikes, he finds himself getting closer to Sloane Kensington, his publicist and the one woman who’s been able to resist him—something he’s eager to change.
Sloane is a high-powered publicist who never lets anyone ruffle her calm, cool, and collected feathers. Well, no one except for Xavier Castillo. His cocky, laissez-faire attitude make her normally chill persona run hot with frustration. But his handsome face and their undeniable chemistry makes her run hot with desire. A consummate professional, she would never let herself sleep with a client, let alone fall in love with one. But as the saying goes, there’s a first time for everything.
Reading viral romance
Instead of libraries and bookstores, readers are congregating online. And if you’re scrolling for your next romance read, you’ll find no shortage of BookTok romance books—from dark romance and fantasy, to historical and contemporary, filled with your favorite tropes—to add to your TBR.
And just like TikTok, you’ll find a slew of steamy love stories on Dipsea. Sign up for a 30-day free trial to see for yourself!
Or download the Dipsea app for the best listening experience.
