You know what I mean? Do you have an absolute favorite that you wish would make more of our favorites roundups and get more readers hooked on it?
Joclyn: Following this so I can get some good ideas for my next books!
Nichole: Ummm…thank you so much for this post!!! Stealing all the books recommendations!!
Rebecca: Love this list! Great idea 🥰
Mona: Great list! I found 6 that I downloaded ❤️
Maryse: So many on here that I’m excited about, and I found one that I’m wanting to read next that I already own from a few years ago. GASP!!!!!!
Already read this list and looking for more? Here is Part 2: Reader Recommendations – Our favorite underrated books that you might not have read yet… part 2
Here’s our list… so far 😀 :
Maryse: Another one I haven’t read yet! Thank you SO much Lisa. This sounds INCREDIBLE.
Sarah: The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith! The book was something I didn’t think I’d like but it made me see things so differently love it.
Maryse: I need to finally read that author’s books. SO much love for it from a few in our crew.
Kim: one of my all time favorites! I still think about it years later.
Jodie: all her books are amazing!
Tanya: I actually prefer her other books over this one but it’s still worth the read
Joanne: Cottonwood was good too and a book that I still think about.
Lene: it ends with us and on the island 🥺
Krisha: It ends with us and on the island😭👍
Becky: The Idea of You…I love that book so hard
Maryse: I LOVED all the ones you’ve mentioned but… ohhhh!!! I haven’t read This is the wonder yet!!! YAY ME!!!!
Lena: It’s so good I’m going to reread it soon! And all of these! Love looking at all the responses and added to my to read list!
Maryse: Here are my book reviews of the first 3 on your list, Lena. 🙂
Lisa: I loved this series. I wish he would write more
Robin: bawled after reading The Last Hour. I will never forget the book trauma I experienced
Maryse: Agreed!!! One of the best of the best and so unique and intense and amazing and clever. More people need to read this one (and this series) for sure! Here’s my 5 star Book Review – The Last Hour
Marisol: GREAT book & series
Maryse: I havent read it!! YAY!!!!
Karen: One book I couldn’t stop thinking about was …Last Words. That book was so gripping and emotional. I loved it!
Kathy: Just discovered I have one of Shari Ryan’s books on my Kindle (Last Words). I will have to read it next!!
Janine: Favourite Hello Hardest Goodbye is my top read of 2020 by Es Carter. It will stay with me forever.
Leanie: Lord of Scoundrels…Loretta Chase. Just found this book less than a year ago & have re-read it 3 or 4 times already. 🥰
Anne: I have read Lord of Scoundrels and love it! Its a classic! One of my favorite HR without a doubt!
Kim: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. That book has all the feels.
Deborah: Another one I loved that is so tissue-worthy is All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Loved, loved, loved it!
Nadia: Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan
Sydney: Unbeautifully by Madeline Sheehan ❤️❤️
Debbie: Born, Darkly by Trisha Wolfe and my mind was blown!!!!! It’s one of the most intelligent yet bone chilling, mind f*ck of a book I’ve read in ages.
Leah: Obsession (Darkness Falls) by Ivory Quinn and A Vampire’s Rise (The Stone Masters Vampire Series) by Vanessa Fewings. Two of my all time favorite series
Heather: Havoc by C.M. Stunich
Tracey: What The Heart Wants by Audrey Carlan. It’s about wanderlust/sisterhood. A unique second chance story
Maryse: Thank you Anna!!! I haven’t read it yet. 😀
Tanya: All The Pretty Monsters series by Kristy Cunning
Maryse: I haven’t read it! YAY!!!! 😀
Anna: omg please do!!! She is a fantastic author and really knows how to play with everyone’s emotions
Tanya: omg you’re missing out it’s so so so good my 1 recommendation!!
Maryse: HUGE fans here of that series for sure. Thank you Teri!!
Jan: Wolfsong is the only TJ Klune I’ve read, but I loved it, so maybe I should try some others.
MichelleS: Ravensong was tremendous. Darker than Wolfsong. All the feels! “dirt and leaves and rain”.
Tracey: Shattered Stars by Shari Ryan. It is such a gut wrenching but beautiful story of absolute true love and devotion. Even though the person receiving it is losing themselves. The unique twist was fantastic.
Maryse: YESSSSS!!!! One at the top of my TBR list ’cause so many went crazy for it. Thank you for reminding me!! 😀
Rukaiya: I love Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan.
Cheryl: Long Shot. It’s good and my stomach is in knots. …For a “sports” story it was angsty. Reminded me of how I felt reading Thoughtless. It does have dual POV, but I don’t think it took away from the angst. In fact, I think it added to it.
…When I say felt like when reading Thoughtless, I mean the angst of love and relationships/love triangles and damn a sh!tload of complications/roadblocks to that love.
Lena: so good!!
Sarah S: Ooo i agree with paper swan absolutely needs more recognition loved it! It had its own atmosphere also need to read insidious
Maryse: I LOVED The Paper Swan too!!! 😀 Here’s my 5 star Book Review.
Lee: Love in English by Karina Halle. Took me completely under ❤️
Maryse: Me too!!!! Heartbreaking in that bus ride scene… so many awesome moments. Another one that explored the “not easy” relationship stuff. Here’s my 5 STAR Book Review
Krisha: Obsessed with the storytelling with that one💘
Jennifer: A Family Man (Freaks MC BOOK 1) this series is epic the 2nd book Sanctuary is my favorite. Legacy is the 3rd and almost broke me! There is also a spin-off set in London.
Robyn: After Hours, Cara McKenna. I just reread it for something like the 5th time.
Maryse: ABSOLUTELY THIS! LOVED IT! Here’s my 4.5 star Book Review.
Kimberly: In the Unlikely Event By LJ Shen
Laura: One Day in December by Josie Silver and We Met in December by Rosie Curtis
Dena: I just finished reading One Day in December by Josie Silver and I loved it. I am a big sucker for these type of books. Can someone recommend me books like this? With theme where hero and heroine loved each other for a long time?
Michelle: This is one of my all time favorite series. Claiming Eden by Kele Moon there are 3 books in the series. The “first” one is the most recent and the other 2 are prior to that one. I have read this series sooo many times. 😍😍😍❤
Maryse: YES!!! LOVED THAT ONE!!! Here’s my review of book #1: Book Review – Beyond Eden
Maryse: Thank you so much! I hadn’t heard of this one yet!! 😀
Franziska: Oh I love that list! Here are my favorites – however, they change all the time.
- Moti on the Water by Leylah Attar (the writing and humor is absolutely fabulous!)
- One to Watch – Kate Stayman-London (my perfectly flawed heroine in a bachelorette version)
Flock and Exodus by Kate Stewart (first total rollercoaster feeling, then total free fall, later smashed on the ground with a HEA in the second book)
Harper: read Flock and Exodus. I’m shook. What a mess! It felt like a train wreck I couldn’t stop reading haha Every single character was so flawed and so well developed. I’ve never read a story like this one. It will for sure be in my list of best books of the year.
Melinda: Flock and Exodus by Kate Stewart. Both 5 stars too. Loved them.
Mony: After hearing so much about Flock and Exodus by Kate Stewart from your readers, I gave it a go. And – WOW – what awesome awesome blockbuster books!
Right now, having just finished and been blown away, I can’t really put words together about these books. I will say though it had a fantastic story, outstanding main and secondary characters, hot guys galore, interesting plot twists and mystery, lots of angst & emotion 😲 🤔 😍 😩 ☺️, plus plus plus. I dare you to start these books and not pull all-nighters… 8 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ LOL
- Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center (very inspiring book with older heroine and younger hero with lots of angst 😉 )
Girl Underwater by Claire Kells (total thrill of survival story in the cold)
DG: LOVED Girl Underwater!!!! To My understanding – this is Ms Claire Kells first novel…and it was a GRANDSLAM!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it! The writing was smooth along with the transition from past to present. Horrifying circumstances…then learning to cope with debilitating ‘triggers’…to finding true love along the way. Read it…love it…don’t ya wanna?!?! K ladies….just want to share *ya’ll know how excited I get about some books*….a definite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!!!!
Jen: Wow oh wow! Girl Underwater! One clicked it and it was amazing. Different from what I usually read but yet I couldn’t help think of On the Island. You will be rooting for Avery and her companions the whole book. 5 star read for me. I miss them already
Cheryl: …if you’re still looking for a book that will mess you up and keep you guessing about whether it is a HEA this one is it. It was so beautifully written and you felt the sense of despair/sadness that the heroine Avery felt. You would get glimpses of hope, only to have them snatched away.
- Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagan (inspirational, funny, hilarious love story)
Maryse: YAY!!!! I haven’t read any of these and two of them are from my favorite authors already (Leylah Attar & Kate Stewart), and the rest sound INCREDIBLE. Especially the Girl Underwater one. YIKES!!! Apparently I already one clicked-it a couple of years ago.
Maryse: That one was awesome. Wholeheartedly agree Lisa!!! Here’s my 4.5 star Book Review
Mony: Favourite opposites book is That Guy. 🙂
Jean: I just finished That Guy and loved it!
Michelle:
- The Last Letter Rebecca Yarros
- The Boy and his Ribbon series Pepper Winters
- Cruel Prince series A.Jade
- Ryan’s Bed Tijan
Severance N.N Britt
R. Renee: Severance is my favorite by her so far. That one gutted me!
Michele G: Severance by N.N. Britt…I love her stuff. It’s emotional and right up my “pass the Kleenex box” alley.
- Black Swan affair K.L Kreig
Sharon: Black Swan Affair. Solid 4.5 stars for me. It wasn’t what I was expecting. Actually kept me guessing! Nice amount of angst and pretty saucy too. It’s had to write a review without spoilers!
Maryse: Yep! That’s a good one (my Book Review)
Boy in a Band Lisa Loomis
Cheryl: Boy in A Band. It was SO good. A LONG drawn-out angst filled, seemingly unrequited love relationship. I am sitting here with tears running down my face still in shock at not only how it ended but at the events leading up to the end. …*sniffle, ugly cry*
- Boyfriend Bargain Ilsa Madden-Miles
Koolcat: Read Boyfriend Bargain and I loved it! It was a steamy college hockey romance that lacked an emotional punch. Loved Z and Sugar together!
Lisa M: I read Boyfriend Bargain over the weekend. I loved it. Couldn’t put it down & read way too late last night to finish it. Lots of angst, very emotional & just my kind of book!!
- Break my fall M Mabie
- Brooklyn & Beale Olivia Evans
Cheryl: I highly recommend Hollywood & Vine and Brooklyn & Beale. Anders, the H in H & V is an unapologetic, unfiltered manwhore and Josie is a strong, feisty h. This was the author’s first book and the second, B & B is just as good, if not better. Once you read book #1, you’ll want to read 2, just so good!! …Great interrelated series!!
Cheryl: Brooklyn & Beale …It reminds me of Thoughtless. The H is a rockstar but he is the one who can’t decide between the h and his current girlfriend. The first book by this author, Hollywood & Vine (which I also loved) is about a movie star and costume designer. Two different stories, but interrelated characters, so should be read in order.
Cake series J Bengtsson
Melinda: I’ve just read the most amazing book, it’s been on my Tbr forever. Anyway it’s called Cake by J Bengtsson. I absolutely loved it, it was like, 5 more mins then I will have a shower, then 30 min later Still reading. Playing the 10 more min Game then another hour has passed. Finally had breakfast at 12 pm, I’m on holidays at the moment, Thank god 😜
Then I read a bit more then another hour gone, Finally dragged myself away, carried the kindle with me. Trying to read while washing, Paying bills with the kindle Then read a little bit more , cooked dinner, Read more and finished 5 big stars
It’s about Casey an accounting student that works part time. Casey is a bridesmaid at her friends wedding. She gets partnered with Jake a world famous rockstar…
Kathy: Love, love this book. Maryse, you need to read this book!
John: Cake by J Bengtsson… it’s a fun book, but has some dark undertones…
- Love letter to Whiskey Kandi Steiner
Life after Taylah Bella Jewel
Tessa: I loved Life After Taylah. It’s such a great story, and angsty. It gave me that sad choked feeling and that happy, smiley feeling throughout the story.
Beverly: Just finished Life After Taylah and loved it. Couldn’t put it down. 5*s for me.
Lisa: I am reading Life After Taylah and I am loving it. I cant seem to put it down either.
- The Simple Wild K.A Tucker
Maryse: LOVED this!!!!!! 😀 Here’s my Book Review
Harper: the simple wild series is my favorite this year so far.
Mony: Simple Wild…one of my all time favourites
Trust Kylie Scott
Julie O: Trust by Kylie Scott and really liked. More of a mature YA book. Sometimes nice to read those and get away from all the hot and heavy sex scenes all the time. Not saying I don’t like but kind of nice to see it “high school”. Even tho we did all that stuff in high school the nitty gritty is not written down. Would definitely recommend.
Dalia: my favorites in Romance that I read this year but some were released earlier are:
- Mercy by Debra Anstasia
The Italian Heartthrob by N.J. Adel (my absolute favorite!) …An emotional roller coaster with a lot of angst. Ugly cry read and the best of 2020.
Lisa M: The Italian Heartthrob by N.J. Adel, loved it.It was one of those books I really wanted to skip to the end & read what happens because I needed to know right away & then read from where I left off.
- Everything for Her by Alexa Riley
- Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
Maryse: OH YES!! This one was unique and forbidden and fantastic! Here’s my Book Review
Julie O: I absolutely love BIRTHDAY GIRL and some of her others.
- AND The epic dark read The Italian Marriage by N.J. Adel (a must read for dark romance and mafia lovers) …it’s EPIC. so dark but EPIC!!!! N.J. Adel is my favorite author now lol
And some that have made our various favorites lists time and time again (and for good reason):
Joslyn: yup!!!
Cindy: Yessss!!!
Karen: Thoughtless for me too!
Carol: that’s my favorite also.
Maryse: But of course!!!!! One of my favorites too, though it makes SO many of our lists ’cause so many of us are crazy for it. Kellan. *swooooooooooon* Here’s my Book Review
Maryse: BOTH of them are my forever favorites. Agreed!!! LOVED Slammed. Still one of my CH favorites ever. Here’s my 5 star Book Review.
Lene: Slammed 💗 one of my all time favorites
Jeannie: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, I think this is the first book that made me cry.
Maryse: OH YESSS!! A forever favorite for so many of us!
Cindy: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young 😍
Maryse: LOVED it! Here’s my 5 star Book Review.
Maryse: I LOVED it too. SHE WENT THERE!!!!! HOLY. MOLY. Here’s my 5 STAR Book Review
Laurie: The Carnage series I have such a love/hate relationship with these books. I love how beautifully they were written that you feel all the emotions of the characters. But I hate them because I was devastated for weeks after reading them. I cried big fat ugly tears.
Maryse: Oh YES!!!! The first book is called “affectionately” amongst some in our crew as “the book that shall not be named.”
Jean: (I was going to also say “the book which shall not be named”…..which I’ve been wanting to read to see what all the hype is about)……you guys know which book, right?
Ela: OMFG I JUST FECKING GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!! IT’S THE BOOK THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED….
Erin: Taking Chances by Molly McAdams is my FAVORITE book of all time! 🖤🤍💔
Maryse: Yep!! Probably another book that some of us call ” the book that shall not be named” LOL!! 😉 Here’s my Book Review
Maryse: Another favorite for sure!! Here’s my 5 star Book Review
Peju: Fallen Crest by Tijan I Love everything by her!
Heather: Unbreak My Heart Nicole Jacquelyn and Nightingale Kristin Hannah!!
Maryse: OH YES!! I LOVE BOTH of those. Here are my reviews:
Oh I love that list!
Here are my favorites – however, they change all the time.
Moti on the Water by Leylah Attar (the writing and humor is absolutely fabulous!)
One to Watch – Kate Stayman-London (my perfectly flawed heroine in a bachelorette version)
Flock and Exodus by Kate Stewart (first total rollercoaster feeling, then total free fall, later smashed on the ground with a HEA in the second book)
Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center (very inspiring book with older heroine and younger hero with lots of angst ;-)…)
Girl Underwater by Claire Kells (total thrill of survival story in the cold)
Life and Other Near-Death Experiences by Camille Pagan (inspirational, funny, hilarious love story)
YAY Franziska!!! I’m adding these!! 😀
One of my go to rereads is That Guy by Kim Jones. The h is absolutely hilarious and so genuine. If I have stress in my life, this is the book I read. I probably have read it at least twice this year. River dance! Finger guns! Lol
That one was awesome. Wholeheartedly agree Lisa!!!
my favorites in Romance that I read this year but some were released earlier are:
Mercy by Debra Anstasia
The Italian Heartthrob by N.J. Adel (my absolute favorite!)
Everything for Her by Alexa Riely
Birthday Girl by Penelope
AND The epic dark read The Italian Marriage by N.J. Adel (a must read for dark romance and mafia lovers)
Oh I LOVE your list Dalia!! I added it. 😀
Some great books on the list but there a few of my favourites that no-one has mentioned yet
Me before You by Jojo Moyes – get ready for some ugly crying
Binding 13/ Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh – I’m a really quick reader so I love a long book I can really get my teeth into!
The Man I Love by Suanne Laqueur – well anything this author writes really but this was the book that got me started.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – I love the historical/paranormal romance blend of this series
Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan – fantasy romance at its best!
ooh…so many…short list…😉
Top Three!
Rock Chick #1 (Lee & Indy), Rock Chick #5 (Luke & Ava) by Ashley 🔥
Manwhore by Evans
—————————–
Midnight Blue by Shen (fave rock romance)
Mystery Man by Ashley (gah – hot hot guys)
Darkfever Series by Moning (Jericho Barrons!)
Just finished TJ Klune’s Tales From Verania series! OMG, I LOVED EVERY BIT OF THIS SERIES! It’s M/M and the cast of characters are BFF’s and were absolutely hilarious. There’s Sam, the wizard apprentice with a destiny of uniting the Dragons of Verania to help him defeat a dark villain . Knight Delicious Face, the commander of the royal army and Sam’s cornerstone/soulmate. Kevin the Dragon is the Beast from the East, whose favorite statement is, “Once you go Dragon, all the rest is laggin”! Kevin’s soulmate is a narcissistic Unicorn, named Gary (they refer to sex as a visit to Gary’s bakery, lol) and the adorable, loving, half-giant, named Tiggy! There’s so much familial love and adoration between Sam and his loved ones that I laughed & smiled through all four books!
YAY JOY!!!! 😀 I love him, and I’m featuring your recommendation in tomorrow’s Friday Finds.
I love posts like this. Thanks, Maryse. So many great suggestions up there for us to check out. I’ve read and loved some of them already, too. I have to agree with Sarah, The Last Hour of Gann is fantastic. I’ve never really got into any of the author’s other books, but that one is great. And I never would have read it if it wasn’t for this blog, so yay for the blog!
Some favs of mine – maybe everyone already knows about them, but there may be some who don’t, so here goes with a few favs:
Kulti by Mariana Zapata
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (not really a romance, but a fantastic book anyhoo)
Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren. (Will is still a fav book boyfriend/husband of mine)
Afterwards/Afterburn (two books) by Nia Forrester. I love her characters and writing so much.
And for my other fav type of book – historical romance:
Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh. Kind of a Pride and Prejudice type story with the cold duke who falls in love with a warm-hearted, funny woman and he so so doesn’t want to! Lovely book.
Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas. Lovely romantic story about a sweet, naive, slightly eccentric young lady who accidentally gets ‘ruined’ by being seen in a garden with a rake and they have to marry, much against her wishes. But they do fall in love…. *happy sigh*
Hey! I’m trying to find a book where the hero is a uncle and is the guardian of his nephew since the mother didn’t want him anymore and his dad is in the military or something like that. Also the heroine is the tutor for the kid. Can anyone help me?
Hi Christy!
I just posted your reader question here:
https://www.maryse.net/reader-questions/reader-question-the-book-about-the-hero-that-is-his-nephews-guardian-and-the-heroine-is-his-tutor.html
Keep an eye on it and let us know if you see the right guess. 🙂
So many books I had no idea existed!! I spent a good 30 min just downloading my next reads from this list and I haven’t even gone through all of them. Today I read Girl Underwater. I cried from page one to the epilogue. It’s so beautiful. The reviews on gr are horrible tough. I’m glad I didn’t look at them before reading.
Can’t go past Brightside Series by Kim Holden – amazing
Roya Carmen’s The Ground Rules Series, I still think a fourth book should be written
And N R Walkers Red Dirt Heart fabulous MM series
*THE HEART HAS REASONS: That Reason Knows Nothing Of by Martine Marchard!
*BEAUTIFUL DISASTER by Laura Spinella
*BOUND BY STEEL by Connie Lafortune
Thanks for this list.
Some of my most memorable reads.
The Swee Gum Tree by Katherine Allred
Before we were strangers Rene Carlino
How to kill a rock star Tiffanie DeBartolo
First Girl Child Amy Harmon
Black Tangled Heart Samantha Young
ok so its not actually a book but after my fifty shades obsession reached the its peak and i was all around the place,reading every book and fanfic i can find i found this blog called Wishingmrgreywashere where the author wrote a fan fiction about FSOG and i have not looked back since then, all books pale in comparison even the original fifty shades and my God it was better than the original book!! so much better.
its narration is like what if christian and Ana met when they both are attending Harvard in their freshman year. The writing is fantastic, the characters are so well defined yet she (the suthor) stayed true to the original characters, Christian’s possessiveness, Ana’s independence were still there while creating her own story line, i got an actual explanation about why christian wanted forever with Ana we get an Ellen resolution because one thing i had a problem with fifty shades is that women molested a 15 year old child and got no repercussion
, gahhhhhh just supperb …
it is a total of 4 books a) a different shades of fiffty b) a broken shades of fiffty c) a stronger shades of fifty and finally d) the final shades of fiffy
started reading it in 2015, its 2020… yeah still obsessed with it. it is just amazing.
Oh WOW that sounds incredible, Etsub and I LOVE when a story does that to you. I’ve read some fan fiction back in my early Twilight days that I LOVED. Also some Sookie Stackhouse fan fiction that I was pretty addicted to.
Great list so far!
Glad to see Punk 57.
I would also add:
Binding 13 and Keeping 13 by Chloe Walsh, From Rags by Suzanne Wright, Scoring Wilder, R.S. Grey.
The Sea of Tranquility by Katharine Millay
Puddle Jumping by Amber L. Johnson
The Future of our Past by Kahlen Aymes
Leo by Mia Sheridan
I second Boy in a Band, the feel of it has stuck with me for years.