The Best Romance Audiobooks, Recommended by Booksellers

Our Perfect Storm

By Carley Fortune, narrated by AJ Bridel & Jack Copland

“If slow burn, friends to lovers where he is down bad is your vibe then this will be the book for you! Our narrators were such a joy to listen to and I loved the flashbacks to their childhood memories together. A perfect summer read! “

— Heather, The Flora Shelves

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates

By Shailee Thompson, narrated by Stefanie Kay & Patrick Zeller

“This one reads like if your favorite romcom and your most unhinged true crime binge had a chaotic little baby.
Thompson threads flirty banter through a razor-sharp revenge plot that turns dating culture inside out.”

— Julia Young, Four Seasons Books

Next Level Love

By Shameez Patel, narrated by Shahjehan Khan & Jensen Olaya

“A delightful, no-spice romance. A playful yet deep story about two people who have met before, and develop a deep connection online, but don’t know it when they meet irl. Gave me warm fuzzies!”

— Mel, Devonport Bookshop

When the Tides Held the Moon

By Venessa Vida Kelley, narrated by Joel de la Fuente & Lee Osorio

“This love letter of a novel is a soulful historical fantasy with a vibrant, show-stopping backdrop. I highly recommend it for lovers of all things Puerto Rican, queer, and just a little bit magical. There was an extensive amount of research and love poured into this novel. Kelley’s commentary on identity hit so close to home for me. Then, there is the boundless love that grows resplendent between Benny, our brave Boricua blacksmith, and Rio, our merman adrift from home who is filled with so much heart and soul. To find your home within another being is so deeply transcendent and personal, and Kelley has crafted a love story for the ages.

Quick note for these narrators too: Oh my goodness. Benny and Rio and the entire menagerie were so beautifully brought to life in this audiobook. I am so happy and grateful to have heard it in this form.”

— Sanya, The Book Bin

Broken Country

By Clare Leslie Hall, narrated by Hattie Morahan

“Broken Country is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking books I have ever listened to. You would think with a love triangle that you would dislike one or even two of those involved but you can’t help but love and feel really sorry for all involved, because there was definitely heartbreakingly true love and loss. This is a story that you won’t soon forget. You will cry more than once, and you will hope that somehow there will be a way to make everything right. And, in the end there is understanding, forgiveness and grace.”

— Nancy, Fiction Addiction

The Ministry of Time

By Kaliane Bradley, narrated by George Weightman & Katie Leung

“A blend of history, science fiction, mystery and love story. I haven’t listened to something this good since Outlander. Would recommend to customers, co-workers, friends and family.”

— Stacey, Murder on the Beach Mystery Store

This Book Made Me Think of You

By Libby Page, narrated by Zadeiah Campbell-Davies

“This book was a total love letter to book lovers everywhere. Through Tilly’s grief, she rediscovers herself and her love of books. I was completely drawn in by the premise of Tilly’s late husband gifting her a year of books. It was so romantic and thoughtful. I was constantly in a cycle of tearing up and smiling while reading. It’s so hard to describe how perfect this book was. It was a testament to the community you can build without even noticing. There are people out there affected by kindness you might not even think twice about. The entire cast of characters was wonderful. Alfie and Tillie will stay on my mind for a long time!”

— Juliana, Inklings Book Shoppe

Thank You for Listening

By Julia Whelan, narrated by the author

“Not only is Thank You For Listening a love letter to the romance genre, it is a love letter specifically to romance audiobooks. Julia Whelan is a delight as both a writer and a narrator, bringing us a compelling story about love, loss, and self acceptance.”

— Emma, Books Inc.

Before I Let Go

By Kennedy Ryan, narrated by Wesleigh Siobhan & Jakobi Diem

“A beautiful, second-chance, romance story that is also contemporary and makes you feel hopeful, sexy, and exposed. Filled with friendships, familial bonds, hard conversations, black love, and soul food, Ryan takes you on a ride you don’t want to get off, but might leave you a little teary-eyed! “

— Q’Nefertahri, Undercover Books & Gifts

Love Radio

By Ebony LaDelle, narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt & JaQwan J. Kelly

“Smooth, sweet and radiating with Black love and joy, Love Radio is everything you want in a contemporary YA romance. Prince is a radio DJ with his own show, where he doles out love advice. Dani is an aspiring writer and incredible student. When their paths cross in the library, sparks fly. I loved how deep each of these characters were, with their own struggles and strengths. Their flirtatious banter and their chemistry and creativity are totally engrossing, and it’s impossible not to hope these two go the distance, even from the very first track.”

— Tildy, Belmont Books

Legendborn

By Tracy Deonn, narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

“If you’ve been thinking about trying audiobooks, this is a great starting point! The reader, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, completely transported me to the Southern Gothic world of a secret society on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill (down to the hot sauce on hash browns). With a complex magic system intricately tied to ancestry and world history, Arthurian legend, demon battles, and just enough romance, this was one of those books that I thought about when I couldn’t have it playing in my headphones! Deonn is a master, bringing Brianna, the main character, to name and disrupt white male supremacy while working through the grief of her own story and that of her mothers before her. I also loved the queer representation in secondary characters, including a squire with they/them pronouns.”

— Kim, Lark & Owl

XOXO

By Axie Oh, narrated by Greta Jung

“I love a forbidden romance story – especially if it’s a forbidden romance with a K-Pop idol! An undercover K-Pop idol meets a high school cellist at a karaoke bar. Sparks fly, but what happens next since their lives are worlds apart?”

— Amy, Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers

Fourth Wing [Dramatized Adaptation]

By Rebecca Yarros, narrated by Full Cast

“What could make a dragon book even better, you ask? What about EPIC DRAGON ROARS while you’re reading?! This
“Dramatized Adaptation” of Fourth Wing is so much fun with a full acting cast, sound effects, and soundtrack.”

— Megan, Homeward Books Collective

The Knight and the Moth

By Rachel Gillig, narrated by Samantha Hydeson

“I think this is one of my favorite books…ever? If you like medieval vibes, strange gargoyles, a delicious romance, and a quest to stop corrupt power in a fantasy realm, this book is perfect for you. Seriously, I cannot recommend it enough!”

— Claire, Mostly Books

The Poet Empress

By Shen Tao, narrated by Eric Yang & Katharine Chin

“A stunning debut! Poetry is a vessel for magic and women are forbidden to read in the crumbling Azalea Dynasty. In a desperate act to save her starving village Wei Yin offers herself as palace concubine to the heir of the empire, and is forced to navigate not only court politics but also the prince’s taste for violence. The Poet Empress beautifully weaves together Wei’s desire to survive with her struggle to remain good in a world that rewards cruelty, and I loved witnessing her journey. I treasure books that make me think and make me cry, and this one did both!”

— Nia, Black Bond Books

The Jasad Heir

By Sara Hashem, narrated by Rasha Zamamiri & Peter Ganim

“This duology is one of the best romantic fantasies I’ve read in such a long time! The world was incredibly immersive and complex, you will fall in love with every single character, and the tension-filled romance was done so well! Our FMC Sylvia would be beating the life out of the MMC Arin, and he’d just be happy she was close enough to touch him. Talk about down bad! If you’re in a romantic fantasy slump or feeling fatigued by books that are too similar: pick this duology up! I’m obsessed with Sylvia and Arin and I think you will be too!”

— Kate, Canvasback Books

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

By Roseanne A. Brown, narrated by Jordan Cobb & A.J Beckles

“A story of magic, champions, and romance, A Song of Wraiths and Ruins is a great start for the duology. Malik and Karina’s paths are intertwined in a way that they can’t even expect and before the fifty year comet fades from the sky, they’ll come to find out how deadly that can be. I absolutely loved this story. I had the pleasure of listening to it on Libro.fm and the performance was masterful. There are two protagonists so there are two different voices. I was at the edge of my seat when I listened.”

— Kaitlin, Story on the Square

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

By Heather Fawcett, narrated by Ell Potter & Michael Dodds

“Meet Emily Wilde, one of the leading experts on the fair folk and faerie world. Emily is a dedicated, introverted professor with an eye and heart for magic, but where she excels at academia, she struggles at people skills. When she travels to the faerie populated town of Ljosland to work on her Encyclopaedia, the last person she expects to find there is her academic (and frustratingly handsome) rival Wendell Bambleby. Charming where Emily is reserved, Wendell begins to help Emily with her research, slowly but surely helping her become friendly with the town’s inhabitants. But as Emily and Wendell work together to uncover the secrets of the fay world, Emily begins to wonder if Wendell’s own mysterious past is something worth exploring. With a dark faerie world and a charming-yet-frustrating love interest, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is cozy academia fantasy with a historical setting that is perfect for readers of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and Howl’s Moving Castle!”

— Kelly, Mysterious Galaxy Books

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea

By Rebecca Thorne, narrated by Jessica Threet

‘Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne is a delightful queer cozy fantasy. It’s very soothing and low stakes. There’s a lot of books and a lot of tea and a little bit of dragons and being hunted by an evil queen. I loved the two main characters, and I adored watching their relationship develop. Also, the narrator was amazing.”

— Anna, Katy Budget Books

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping

By Sangu Mandanna, narrated by Samara MacLaren

“Sangu Mandanna is now one of my autobuy authors, her stories are so cozy and warm and easy to sink into—and this audiobook was so sweet and fun and quirky.”

— Kitty, Beyond the Covers

Lights Out

By Navessa Allen, narrated by Elena Wolfe & Jacob Morgan

“Dark romance but with a golden retriever stalker. The banter in this book is fantastic. Jacob Morgan is a fantastic narrator as always. Elena Wolfe does a great job as well! 5 starts for me!”

— Taylor, One More Chapter Bookstore LLC

The Book of Azrael

By Amber V. Nicole, narrated by Ruthie Bowles

“He is the ‘world-ender, an immortal king plagued with the demons of his path and she’s an Ig’morruthen who sold her soul to save her sister. These two mortal enemies are thrust together to battle unworldly creatures and precure an ancient relic that might not even exist. The Book of Azrael is perfect if you love your FMCs morally grey and laced either attitude, your MMs grumpy and plagued with inner turmoil.”

— Trina, Moonlit Chapters

Leather & Lark

By Brynne Weaver, narrated by Samantha Brentmoor & Eric Nolan

“The romance is intense, and the main plot keeps you glued with genuinely hair-raising moments […] For fans of slow-burn romance, dark thrills, and intense chemistry, this is a wild ride.”

— Megan, Black Bond Books

Great Big Beautiful Life

By Emily Henry, narrated by Julia Whelan

“Steamy as a Georgia summer and heartwarming as freshly baked biscuits, Emily Henry’s new rom-com is full of humor, unforgettable characters, and romance. Julia Whelan’s narration brings the story to life. The perfect summer read!”

— Laura, Bookmiser

Love, Theoretically

By Ali Hazelwood, narrated by Thérèse Plummer

“I love this book so much! I cried halfway through at the job offer reveal because I felt so emotionally connected and related to Elsie that it was too much not to feel what she felt. This is by far my favorite Ali Hazelwood book yet – so much STEM, so much spice, many laughs, terrible jokes, and heartfelt connections. I really enjoyed Elsie and her struggles and journey through the academic world and coming to terms with who she is. Also – Jack! Definitely perfect book boyfriend material and a complex character. <3 This is a comfort book and the perfect audiobook escape!”

— Anna, The Well-Read Moose

How to End a Love Story

By Yulin Kuang, narrated by Katharine Chin & Andrew Eiden

“Can you fall for the one person who shattered your forever love story? Yulin Kuang’s debut novel is for literary fiction romance fans – it’s written like a dream, with twists that develop into such heart-wrenching moments that you’ll revel in the knowledge that Helen will get her HEA. It’s a book that celebrates life and how we cope with tragedy. It’s beautiful, it’s hot.
You’ll love it so much you’ll wonder where Kuang has been all this time.”

— Coco, Phoenix Books

First Time Caller

By B.K. Borison, narrated by E.J. Bingham & Hathaway Lee

“A refreshing romance that was almost painfully sweet. I took my time listening to this one and it felt like microdosing conversation hearts.”

— Sam, The Painted Porch Book Shop

The Pairing

By Casey McQuiston, narrated by Emma Galvin & Max Meyers

“Looking for a romance with second chances, European adventures, and plenty of laughs? The Pairing by Casey McQuiston delivers just that, as exes Theo and Kit are forced to team up on a European food and wine tour, turning it into a competitive (and chaotic) hookup challenge. But as old sparks reignite, things get a lot more complicated than they planned -trust us,
you’ll be hooked from page one!”

— Sarah, Pop Fiction Bookstore

The Palace of Eros

By Caro De Robertis, narrated by Caro De Robertis

“In this Psyche and Eros retelling, De Robertis subverts the long-held tradition of wifely inferiority, naivete, and one-sided faithfulness. Breaking the laws of gender, sex, and immortal-mortal relations, Eros and Psyche enter into a relationship previously unrecognized by their world. I wouldn’t want to mock this riotous feminist retelling by assigning it a ‘spice level’ or attributing a certain number of hot peppers to Eros and Psyche’s eroticism and unique marriage, but trust me, this book is as steamy as it is brilliant. Pick up this novel for a magical dose of mythology, godly machinations, and curative female furor. “

— Josh L., The Underground Bookshop

A Lady for a Duke

By Alexis Hall, narrated by Kay Eluvian

“If there are two things in this world that I love, it is historical romance and trans rights. And OOH BABY let me tell you, I got both!!! This is a slow burn friends to lovers story. It has it all: sexy dukes, female friendships, regency era passive aggressiveness, and fancy balls. Plus if you are worried about their being any emphasis on transgender suffering, I promise you it does not! It is all trans happiness, love, and joy. It was such a breath of fresh air and exactly what queer people need. I can only hope we get more books like this in the future.”

— Ruthie, Underground Books

Kiss Her Once for Me

By Alison Cochrun, narrated by Natalie Naudus

“Settle in with this cozy Queer holiday romance showcasing a great cast of characters including (but not limited to) two fun boozy grandmas and an ill-tempered non-binary family friend with gushy center. Set in a snowy mountain cabin with loads of festive hijinks! Dual timelines; Quickly resolved miscommunication tropes; Force proximity; and one of the cutest snow day impromptu dates ever!”

— Zinna, A Great Good Place for Books

She Gets the Girl

By Rachael Lippincott & Alyson Derrick, narrated by Natalie Naudus & Valentina Ortiz

“The is one of those uplifting, so-cute-you-have-to-squeal books! The authors nailed the vibes of an excellent 90s rom-com (except it’s right now and sapphic.) The narrators capture Molly and Alex brilliantly! She Gets the Girl is as cute, bright, and as full of joy as a night at the roller rink.”

— Kaitee, River Bend Bookshop

Yerba Buena

By Nina LaCour, narrated by Julia Whelan

“A Nina LaCour Novel (noun): a kiss on your forehead as you’re tucked in at night, a cathartic cry in the shower, a perfectly made cup of coffee in your favorite mug, a well-mixed cocktail condensation sweating down the sides of the glass on a hot summer night, a sad song on the radio on a long drive, a familiar face in an unexpected place, feeling at home in quiet spaces, and out of body in familiar places. Yerba Buena is everything you’d want from Nina LaCour’s adult debut. Two young women, each laden with generations of burdens and hope find each other and fall in love. But circumstance has never been kind to either. Each wants so desperately to find the footing that feels most right to them, constantly mis-stepping on their way to becoming better partners, better sisters, better workers and the person they want to be.”

— Cassie, Wellesley Books

Honey Girl

By Morgan Rogers, narrated by York Whitaker

“This will be the most beautiful love story you read this year. This story curves and twirls and spirals along a golden, sparkly path of whirlwind romance and great expectations and finding one’s true self, and making mistakes and accepting imperfection and learning to change plans and go with the flow. Honey Girl is beautiful and lovely and you will laugh and you will cry and you will read passages aloud because they are as delicious as the first sticky sweet bite of a ripe orange straight from the tree. This book will transport you into the stars where you will dance among the constellations and marvel at the raw beauty of it all. As Grace Porter fell in love with Yuki Yamamoto, I fell in love with Honey Girl.”

— Ryan, Gibson’s Bookstore

Ander & Santi Were Here

By Jonny Garza Villa, narrated by Avi Roque

“Sometimes, you pick up a book, not knowing much about it, and are caught up in the characters’ lives, hoping and wishing for the best for them. Ander & Santi was that way for me (especially on audio; Avi Roque is fantastic narrator) – I found I cared about both Ander and Santi, and was invested in their future together. Which, for me, is all the hallmarks of an excellent story, well-told.”

— Melissa, Watermark Books

Heated Rivalry

By Rachel Reid, narrated by Tor Thom

“This gay hockey romance had me giggling & kicking my feet while I stayed up late to finish it. An easy and addictive read that got me hooked on the whole series, but this one is my favorite! These boys were so fun and sweet and angsty. I got deeply attached to them both, and it was such a pleasure to watch their romance develop over years of secret, ‘casual’ trysts that turn into so much more. Read if you like enemies to lovers, banter, and spice. And DEFINITELY watch the TV show if you get the chance! (& read the 2nd book in Shane and Ilya’s love story, The Long Game!) “

— Isabelle, Scorpio Books

The Prospects

By KT Hoffman, narrated by Shaan Dasani & KT Hoffman

“How can you not be romantic about baseball? I had a massive grin on my face the entire time I was reading this sweet, sexy romance between the first trans man to play pro baseball and his college-teammate-turned-minor-leagues-rival. I could almost hear the crack of the bat, smell the ballpark popcorn, and feel Luis and Gene’s heartbeats as they slowly open up to each other. But you don’t have to care about baseball to enjoy this book! The Prospects is a fresh, funny, optimistic story that pulls at your heartstrings and sweeps you up in the heartswelling emotions of a scrappy team whose eccentric players become one another’s chosen family.”

— Rebecca, Quail Ridge Books

For the Fans

By By Nyla K., narrated by Javi Wilder & Corvin King

“Hot! HOT!! HOTTT!!! An engaging storyline and some good ole dirty smut leaving nothing to the imagination is what you will find if that is what you seek. Look no further if you want an MM romance that is taboo with amazing narrators.”

— Q’Nefertahri, Undercover Books & Gifts