A New York Times bestselling author has shared five of her top reading recommendations, perfect for lovers of the romance genre. Ally Carter is best known for her young adult (YA) spy fiction, including the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society series. Her latest novel is The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold, an action-packed rivals-to-lovers romcom for adults.
“‘What’s your favourite romance novel?’ is a question I hear all the time, but like so many things, my favourites vary depending on the day, the season, and—most of all—the era I find myself in,” she explained. “From the time I got seriously into romance until now, I’ve gone through a few reading eras, and here are just a few of my favourites.”
My YA Era
“I started my career in YA, and one of my favourites from that era is Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins. It asks the question ‘What if Scotland had its own royal family? And what if you were an American girl going to boarding school there, only to realise that your new roommate (and potential girlfriend) is their princess?'”
My Historical Romance Era
“After YA, my first deep dive into romance came via historicals. If you’re new to historical romance, you can’t go wrong with the queen herself: Lisa Kleypas. Lisa has a few different eras, but a great place to dive in is with her most recent series, beginning with Cold-Hearted Rake.
“Devon Ravenel just inherited an earldom he doesn’t want, a crumbling estate he can’t afford, and a rambunctious family no one—even Devon himself—can resist. (You’ll fall in love with them, too. I promise.)”
My Sports Romance Era
“I liked hockey books long before hockey books were cool, and they don’t get any better than Moonlighter by Sarina Bowen. It’s a bodyguard romance about an off-season hockey star who gets roped into working for his family’s personal security firm for the summer.
“It’s also a billionaire romance about a woman who finds her life falling apart when she realizes she’s pregnant and now has to face her abusive ex at a corporate event in Hawaii. It’s also friends-to-lovers and fake dating and one of the best books I’ve ever read about standing at the crossroads of your life and the choices that shape where you go next.”
My Spooky Season Era
“As the air turns crisp and the coffees turn pumpkin-flavoured, it’s definitely time to return to the era of the witchy romance, and Celestine Martin is one of the giants of the genre.
“With three books in her Elemental Love series, I’d recommend starting at the beginning with Witchful Thinking. It has everything I love in a spooky season read: a charming town, a fabulous heroine, and an old crush that has been ‘haunting’ her in ways that have nothing to do with the supernatural for ages.”
My Paranormal Era
“Honestly, Ali Hazelwood has become an era unto herself for me, but one book holds the title of both my favourite Ali Hazelwood book and my favourite paranormal romance, and that is her amazing Bride.
“In a world where vampires, werewolves and humans have been at war for centuries, peace rests on the marriage of a powerful alpha werewolf and his bride, who happens to be the world’s worst vampire. Funny, rich, and utterly unputdownable, Bride is easily one of my all-time favourite reads.
“In fact, it might be time for a re-read in preparation for the release of the companion novel, Mate, in October.”
You can buy Ally Carter’s latest book, The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold, now from Waterstones or Amazon.