Mary McLain/NPR
NPR has published its list of 100 great romance novels. The list was based on votes from the public (more than 18,000!), which were then winnowed down.
I didn’t read my first romance novel until my mid 30s. It was then that I realized romance is the only genre which typically has women at the center, and lets the heroine come out ahead in the end. And although I still read and appreciate other kinds of books, romance is what I turn to when the world feels heavy (and also what I write).
There are many books on this list that I have not read, but almost all my favorites are here: Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflowers series, Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton family, Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels, Jennifer Crusie, Courtney Milan, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and so many more.
If you already love romance, check out the list to see if your favorites made it, and to find new gems. If you’re not yet a romance reader, this list is a great place to start!
