2021 has been an interesting year to say the last. As readers though, we’ve had plenty of content to keep up going especially with romance books. Authors have made sure we got that good boost of serotonin to make us even a little happy while the world seems to be falling apart.
In particular, 2021 has introduced us to a plethora of debut authors, the return of some forgotten authors, and the ending of beloved series. All in all, 2021 has not been a bad year for publishing as a whole. While things have gotten delayed and pushed back multiple times, there have always been new books out there for us to check out.
As 2021 comes to a close though, most of us are either scrambling to meet our Goodreads goal or to read all of the books we planned to at the beginning of the year. With lists upon lists of anticipated reads, there have been plenty of hyped romance books in 2021. However, if you’re looking for a few more or just need a palate cleanser, then these books might just work for you.
Even if you’re not normally a romance reader, some of these books might be worth checking out as they have mass appeal. If you are a romance reader, be sure to comment and let us know the books you have on your end-of-the-year TBR.
The first romance book blew up on BookTok and must be on your TBR.
The first romance book you need to read before 2022 is “The Love Hypothesis” by Ali Hazelwood. This is easily one of the most popular romance books of the year and rightfully so as it’s been blowing up everywhere. If you haven’t heard of it, let’s get into a short yet spoiler-free synopsis of what the book is about.
This book follows Olive who is determined to give her friend permission to date her ex and to do that, she strikes up a bargain with a surly professor to fake-date him as a way to show her friend how happy she is. Shenanigans ensue from there and it’s a trope-filled romp from then on. While it can be a bit over-the-top at times, it’s clear why this book is appealing to both non-romance and romance readers.
If you can only get your hands on one book from this list, I’d suggest “The Love Hypothesis.” It was not my favorite romance of the year, but it’s clear the internet at large loves it.
These next two romance books are sizzling and sweet to help cap off the year.
Moving onto another contemporary romance, another big heavy-hitter this year was “It Happened One Summer” by Tessa Bailey. This one is a Schitt’s Creek-inspired romance featuring Piper, a spoiled rich girl who moves to a fishing town after some bad PR. While there, she meets Brendan, a grumpy fisherman with who she has an immediate connection. The two go back and forth before realizing that maybe they’re more alike than they’d like to say.
As with all Tessa Bailey novels, this book is incredibly steamy but also has a lot of heart and depth behind it. This is another one that seemed to blow up all over the Internet so it’s doubtful that you haven’t read it or heard of it at this point. This book honestly feels like the sunshine so it’s perfect to help you beat the gloom of the days turning dark at 5 pm.
Switching gears slightly, witchy romance books have been the vibe in the latter half of this year and the best of the bunch is “Payback’s A Witch” by Lana Harper. This one follows Emmy who is returning to her hometown for a tournament and the romance she has with a contestant along with the revenge pact the teams make to finally take down a popular witch family. It sounds like a lot but Lana Harper doesn’t overwhelm you at all.
This book is atmospheric as heck, features an f/f romance, and makes you feel all of the witchy vibes so it’s an excellent way to cap off the year. Everything about this book is magical and delightful without being over-the-top. If you pick up any witch book before 2022, it has to be “Payback’s A Witch.”
These last two romance books are some self-published delights you need.
Wrapping up this list, I had to include some self-published romances and the first one is “A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor” by Kathryn Moon. This book is not for everyone so be warned but it’s a reverse harem monster romance. If you’ve been on Booktube, you’ll know that monster romances are having a moment this year. However, “A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor” takes the cake when it comes to monster romance.
This book follows Esther who is employed at Rooksgrave Manor for her “services” and it’s her romance with the monsters who come to enjoy her company. This book is dark, gritty, and incredibly steamy. If you’re looking for something to fall into and just enjoy the fantasy of it all, then “A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor” is a must-read before 2022 when the sequel drops.
Last but certainly not least is the “Vegas Nights” series by Christina C Jones. This is a short three-book series of novellas published within 2021. Each book follows a different couple with lots of steam, unexpected tropes, and some light-dark moments. While each book is less than 100 pages, they all tell a full story and honestly, make you fall in love with each couple by the end of it.
Overall, there’s no way to go wrong when it comes to picking up a book by Christina C Jones. She’s one of the queens of Black romance books and her backlist is massive. Even if you don’t pick up a book she published in 2021, picking up one of her books is a must before 2022 gets here.
Which romance books do you need to pick up before 2022 is here? Any books you think I missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments.