The 10 Greatest Romance Books of the 21st Century, Ranked

1 day ago 9

The-Fault-in-Our-Stars-Shailene-Woodley-Ansel-Elgort

Published Sep 9, 2026, 6:22 PM EDT

Luc Haasbroek is a writer and videographer from Durban, South Africa. He has been writing professionally about pop culture for eight years. Luc's areas of interest are broad: he's just as passionate about psychology and history as he is about movies and TV. He's especially drawn to the places where these topics overlap.

Luc is also an avid producer of video essays and looks forward to expanding his writing career. When not writing, he can be found hiking, playing Dungeons & Dragons, hanging out with his cats, and doing deep dives on whatever topic happens to have captured his interest that week.

Romance is one of the eternal genres, taking on new forms for every generation. The last-quarter century has seen love stories dominate the bestseller lists while also bringing in elements from other genres, like fantasy, historical fiction, literary drama, and even mythology.

Without further ado, here are some of the finest romance books of the 21st century so far, from the angsty realism of Sally Rooney to the sweeping, mythic heartbreak of Madeline Miller.

10 'Lover Awakened' (2006)

"Love wasn't about possession. It was about appreciation." Lover Awakened is the third installment in J.R. Ward's immensely popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It centers on Zsadist, a traumatized vampire warrior and former slave, and Bella, an aristocratic vampire who develops feelings for him despite his troubled past. Although that setup may sound like pure post-Twilight pulp, Ward actually handles it with a lot of emotion and nuance, ensuring that Zsadist is more interesting than your typical "tortured" alpha love interest.

Indeed, he is genuinely broken, hostile, and considers himself completely unworthy of love, and, when we first meet him, he does not have the mental capacity for much beyond vengeance. His character development over the course of the story is thus surprisingly satisfying. In other words, this is the kind of solidly crafted paranormal romance that will please the subgenre's fans.

9 'The Time Traveler's Wife' (2003)

"I never understood why Clark Kent was so hell-bent on keeping Lois Lane in the dark." The Time Traveler's Wife boasts a killer premise that it mostly pulls off: protagonist Clare Abshire falls in love with Henry DeTamble, a man afflicted with a rare condition that causes him to involuntarily travel through time. He experiences their relationship out of chronological order, forcing them both to grapple with uncertainty and the strange consequences of time travel.

The story that follows is a fun, gripping cross-pollination of romance and time-travel tropes, with intricate plotting and well-realized main characters. The book's non-linear structure mirrors Henry's experience, allowing readers to piece together the relationship from different points in time, and making for some enjoyable 'aha' moments in the third act as certain details eventually come together. Not to mention, the time travel begins to be a kind of metaphor for randomness and sheer bad luck.

8 'Twilight' (2005)

Hands holding apple in cover of 'Twilight' by Stephenie Meyer

"And so the lion fell in love with the lamb." Yes, yes, Twilight. While many people love to hate it (and the movies were admittedly pretty bad for the most part), the original books are solid and undeniably influential. Indeed, books like Fifty Shades of Grey wouldn't exist without its blueprint. The first book weaves an archetypal love story about teenager Bella Swan and centuries-old vampire Edward Cullen, fusing Mills & Boon with Dracula.

This recipe captivated millions of readers, inspired countless imitators, launched one of the largest literary franchises of the 2000s, and helped popularize supernatural romance on an unprecedented scale. The wave of writing Twilight kicked off has not subsided yet, with romantasy continuing to dominate the bestseller lists. Though far from perfect, the novel does serve up a juicy plot, and, if you dig a little deeper, it does touch on relatable feelings of young adult sexual tension and rebellion.

7 'Brooklyn' (2009)

"Sometimes the future is dictated by what you are, rather than what you want." This is one of the defining books by Irish novelist Colm Tóibín, and it was adapted into a strong movie starring Saoirse Ronan. Brooklyn tells the story of Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman who emigrates to New York in the 1950s in search of opportunity. But as she gradually builds a new life and falls in love with Italian-American Tony Fiorello, unexpected circumstances force her to return to Ireland, where she faces a difficult choice between two futures.

Psychological realism and subtle storytelling are at a premium here. Unlike many love stories driven by dramatic twists or grand gestures, Brooklyn focuses on everyday decisions and quiet emotional conflicts, and it unfolds in a relatable slow-burn. It all feels organic and authentic, elevated further by Tóibín's masterful, understated prose.

6 'The Song of Achilles' (2011)

The book cover for 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller

"He is half of my soul, as the poets say." The Song of Achilles was the debut novel by Circe author Madeline Miller, who excels at retelling Greek mythology. It recounts the story of Patroclus and Achilles from Patroclus's perspective, adding a fresh dimension to the legend. Beginning with their childhood friendship and continuing through the events of the Trojan War, the novel explores a relationship that grows into a profound and tragic romance.

Miller’s writing is intensely lyrical, befitting the subject matter, yet she also focuses on the emotional stakes, not just those of prophecy and destiny. For instance, while the rest of the world views Achilles as a weapon or a god, Patroclus loves him simply as a man. This creates a brilliant, agonizing tension, and portrays the iconic hero in a wholly new light. What a gem of a book.

5 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' (2017)

"People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth." The title character of this historical romance-drama is an aging Hollywood icon who recounts her extraordinary life story to journalist Monique Grant. Through Evelyn's memories, we learn about her rise to stardom, her seven marriages, and the secret love that shaped her life more than any of her husbands ever did. The result is both a glamorous Hollywood saga and a moving love story.

Indeed, the title is a total misdirection. The core romantic arc is a decades-long, forbidden relationship between Evelyn and her Hollywood rival-turned-lover, Celia St. Set between the 1950s and the 1980s, their romance is forced into the shadows due to the rampant homophobia of the era. Taken together, the book makes for a symphonic picture of various kinds of relationships, whether platonic, pragmatic, or passionate.

4 'The Amber Spyglass' (2000)

"I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die." The capstone of the brilliant, philosophically rich fantasy saga His Dark Materials, The Amber Spyglass is an epic story involving parallel universes, religion, and destiny, but its emotional heart is the relationship between Lyra and Will. Over the course of the trilogy, their friendship evolves into something deeper, culminating in a beautiful, bittersweet romance.

In the third act, the characters realize their love for each other, and they share an idyllic time together. It's a pure, intense depiction of young romance, and, in the context of the plot, it's literally the most important thing in the universe. However, it's also doomed. Lyra and Will come from different worlds, meaning that they can never truly be together, not in the long-term. Author Philip Pullman fills our hearts only to break them.

3 'Call Me by Your Name' (2007)

"Call me by your name and I'll call you by mine." The film version is iconic, but even many of its fans may not know that Call Me By Your Name actually started out as a novel. Set during a summer in 1980s Italy, it centers on seventeen-year-old Elio Perlman, whose life changes when Oliver, an older graduate student, arrives to stay with Elio's family. What begins as curiosity and attraction slowly develops into an intense and transformative romance.

Most romance stories derive their tension from external obstacles. However, Call Me By Your Name is more about vulnerability and self-discovery. Elio's struggle to understand his own feelings becomes just as compelling as the relationship itself. He's a rich, three-dimensional character, and the book gives us privileged access to his thoughts. Elio’s narration perfectly captures the overthinking, the constant second-guessing, and the sheer desperation of teenage desire.

2 'The Fault in Our Stars' (2012)

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations." While Looking for Alaska is the stronger book overall, The Fault in Our Stars struck the culture like a thunderbolt, going on to sell over 23 million copies worldwide. Their relationship develops against a backdrop of illness, uncertainty, and mortality, yet the book repeatedly defies 'cancer book' tropes. Rather than a dour drama or contrived feel-good statement, it's a witty, intelligent, entertaining, and refreshingly honest portrait of young love.

Both of the protagonists are smart and well-read people and, through them, author John Green engages with genuinely difficult questions around meaning and suffering. The core of the book's philosophy is captured in Hazel's famous eulogy: "You gave me a forever within the numbered days." It is better to be loved deeply than to be loved widely, The Fault in Our Stars tells us.

1 'Normal People' (2018)

"Life offers up these moments of joy despite everything." This book made a literary star out of author Sally Rooney, while also laying the foundation for the terrific TV series starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. Normal People introduces us to Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan, two young people from a small Irish town whose lives become intertwined throughout their teenage years and early adulthood. Their relationship evolves through friendship, romance, separation, and reunion as they struggle to understand themselves and one another.

In particular, Normal People is very incisive about the subtle emotional dynamics that shape relationships. Miscommunication, insecurity, social pressure, and personal growth all influence the connection between Connell and Marianne. Their bond is messy and complex, defined by pain as much as joy. This authenticity resonated with readers, making Normal People perhaps the defining romance book of the 2010s.

Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality Quiz Which Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most? Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek

Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one.

🚀Star Wars

💍Lord of the Rings

🧙Harry Potter

👑Game of Thrones

🖖Star Trek

FIND YOUR UNIVERSE →

What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning? Every universe is built around a different answer to this question.

ABeing part of something larger than myself — a cause, a rebellion, a fight for freedom that outlasts me. BThe journey itself — the places I'll go, the companions beside me, the world I'll discover on the way. CLearning — unlocking what I'm capable of, understanding the world's hidden mechanics, growing into something more. DLegacy — the name I leave behind, the power I build, the mark I make before the world moves on without me. EUnderstanding — exploring what exists beyond the horizon and asking what it means to be alive in a universe this vast.

NEXT QUESTION →

Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit? The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully.

AA galaxy of planets, each with its own culture — connected by conflict, trade, and the Force. BAncient lands of breathtaking beauty, deep history, and a creeping darkness at the edges. CA world hidden inside our own — full of wonder, community, and magic waiting to be learned. DA brutal, beautiful continent where power is everything and every alliance is a calculation. EA future where humanity has reached the stars — and must decide what kind of species it wants to be.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you prefer your conflicts resolved? The shape of a world's conflicts tells you everything about its soul.

AThrough sacrifice and courage — someone has to make the impossible choice so others don't have to. BThrough fellowship — the impossible becomes possible when the right people walk the same road. CThrough growth — confronting what you fear, understanding what you lack, and becoming equal to the challenge. DThrough strategy — outthinking, outmaneuvering, positioning yourself so the outcome was never in doubt. EThrough dialogue — finding the third option, the peaceful resolution, the answer that doesn't require a body count.

NEXT QUESTION →

Who do you want beside you when things get difficult? Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for.

AA small crew — a pilot, a rogue, a warrior — each broken in their own way, unbeatable together. BA fellowship of different kinds of people, bound by purpose and deepened by the long road. CFriends who grew up alongside me — who knew me before I knew myself, and stayed anyway. DAllies whose loyalty I've earned — and tested — and whose ambitions align with mine, for now. EA crew of brilliant, curious, principled people from every corner of known space.

NEXT QUESTION →

What is your relationship with power? How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are.

AI want to use it to protect — and I'm terrified of what I might become if I'm not careful. BI distrust it. The most important power in this story is the courage to give it up. CI want to earn it — through knowledge, through effort, through becoming someone worthy of it. DI want to wield it. Preferably before someone else decides to wield it against me. EI want to understand it — its structures, its limits, its ethical dimensions. Power without accountability is the real threat.

NEXT QUESTION →

How does your universe treat good and evil? A world's moral architecture tells you more about it than any map.

AThere is a dark side and a light side — and the choice between them is always present, always personal. BEvil is real and ancient and patient — and goodness, however small, is the only thing that can undo it. CGood and evil are real, but they live inside people — and people are complicated, always capable of both. DGood and evil are mostly a matter of perspective and proximity. Power is the only honest currency. EEvil is usually the result of ignorance, fear, or broken systems — and understanding it is the first step to solving it.

NEXT QUESTION →

What role would you naturally fall into? Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying?

AThe reluctant hero — ordinary origins, extraordinary moment, changed forever by the choice to act. BThe unlikely carrier — the one nobody expected to matter most, quietly bearing the weight of everything. CThe student — not yet who I'll become, learning through every mistake, growing into something the world needs. DThe player — sharp enough to see the game for what it is, ambitious enough to try to win it. EThe explorer — drawn to the unknown, driven by curiosity, most alive when standing somewhere no one has stood before.

NEXT QUESTION →

What do you ultimately believe about the future? The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you.

AThat hope is real — that even in the darkest galaxy, a new hope is always possible. CThat even the smallest person can change the course of the future, if they have the courage to try. CThat love and friendship and doing what's right will matter in the end, even when everything says otherwise. DThat the wheel keeps turning — that power shifts, winters end, and what endures is those willing to fight for it. EThat humanity — or whatever we become — is capable of extraordinary things, if we choose to be.

REVEAL MY UNIVERSE →

Your Universe Has Been Chosen You Belong In…

Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose.

Star Wars

You believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast.

You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance.
You'd find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources.
Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story.
The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is.

Lord of the Rings

You understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world's beauty is worth protecting even at great cost.

Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate.
You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival.
Tolkien's universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance.
Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world.

Harry Potter

You believe that love, loyalty, and doing what's right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise.

The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle.
You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete.
Harry Potter's universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying.
That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely.

Game of Thrones

You see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it.

Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation.
You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don't confuse the world as it is with the world as you'd like it to be.
Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer.
Winter always comes. You are already prepared.

Star Trek

You believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation.

Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear.
You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is.
The Federation is the universe's most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better?
You don't just hope that's possible. You think it's the only thing worth working toward.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

Read Entire Article