Today, I bring you my top ten favorite romantic pairings from the year. I feel like I’ve not been having too much variety between posts, but honestly, my top favorites this year shined in every way. There are a couple I haven’t talked about at all yet though so I’m very excited to share those with you.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Zaf and Dani are two of the best characters and I really loved the fake dating turned relationship. The reasoning behind the dating and the fact that they’re also friends? Perfection. I think the way this book ends is so confident in the direction of their relationship, but I think the way Dani really struggles to allow herself a personal life while chasing her ambitions is really, really well done.
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Serapio and Xiala had better be end game even if their love seems doomed and I’m pretty sure there’s no possible way this can work. There had better be some kind of way and I’m just going to have to have faith that Rebecca Roanhorse will come through for me because otherwise I will be crushed and cry a lot.
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
Nick and Naomi are the first couple to make me cry happy tears ever, I think. I love them with every fiber of my being and I want them to be happy forever and ever. Truly, the best couple right here.
Pretty Face by Lucy Parker
Look, Luc and Lily are pretty much everything. Something about their dynamic and the way their relationship eventually builds on such high mutual esteem is actually everything. I usually don’t like age gaps, but this one just swept me up and away and I loved it so much.
The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan
Honestly, the courtship between Jeremy and Chloe sort of solidifies them regardless of anything else. But there is also a “feels like home” line that just really gets me and sent me flying into cloud 9 deliriously happy.
Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey
Talk about a hard won HEA. Y’all. Rosie and Dominick fought for their love and something about the fight and the way they fall back together was really just absolute perfection. I loved everything about their HEA. I think both of them were a little ridiculous regarding communication, but I didn’t even care because I loved the way they went to this marriage therapist who was incredibly unconventional and just did the work. I love them.
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Darcy and Elle’s meet disaster to fake dating to true love adventure is such an incredible and emotional journey to go on. I love the way the two learned to care for one another and to sort of bandage the broken pieces of one another, not in a love heals all way, but in a, let me walk beside you and love you way. I really, really loved them.
Archangel’s Sun by Nalini Singh
Okay, genuinely, Titus and Sharine forever. They have some of the best banter and I love what they bring out in one another. It’s really magnificent to see Sharine really own who she is and to watch Titus get knocked on his ass.
The Rogue of Fifth Avenue by Joanna Shupe
Frank and Mamie really stuck with me. I think, for me, there’s something about the way Frank decided to prioritize Mamie over his reputation, his rules, and his profession and got something even better out it that just slayed me. Plus, Mamie knows exactly what she wants and I love her so much. CW for attempted sexual assault.
The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
Honestly, both Nicola and Rob and Anna and Ned’s storylines in here are magnificent and the slow, slow build of Anna and Ned’s relationship still made me fall in love with them. I mean, honestly, Ned isn’t even in the book for most of it! But when he is introduced!!!! Good stuff right there. I actually have so many feelings about this Slains series, I can’t even tell you. And the love stories in both? Amazing!
So there you have it! This list is incomplete, tbh, because there were so many books (obviously) where I loved the romantic pairings. So many. What were some of your favorites of the year?
xx
firewhiskeyreader 