Best of the Best Romance Books of 2023
My meta-analysis of 20 year-end romance book lists to find out which books appeared on the most lists.
Every year I get overwhelmed by the plethora of year-end romance book lists that get published. When brainstorming my vision for Romancing the Data, the first idea I had was to analyze all of the existing year-end lists to see which books came out on top – a "best of the best" list.
I know it's rather late in 2024 to still be talking about the best of 2023, but I wanted to test out my methodology and figured I would share the results.
As such, I present to you the Best of the Best Romance Books of 2023: my meta-analysis of 20 year-end romance book lists to find out which books appeared on the most lists.
Note: This list has been compiled based on research and should not be considered my own personal recommendations or endorsements.
The Data
Here are the 20 year-end romance book lists that I used in my meta-analysis:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Book Riot
- BookPage
- BuzzFeed
- Entertainment Weekly
- Fated Mates
- Goodreads
- Kirkus Reviews
- Kobo
- Library Journal
- Marvelous Geeks
- New York Times
- Not Your Mom's Romance Book Club
- Powell's Books
- Publishers Weekly
- She Reads Romance Books
- ThriftBooks
- Washington Post
- What We Reading
The Results
Based on my analysis, 12 books rose to the top and appeared on 4 or more best-of-the-year lists. Given that there are numerous ties on the list, I've ranked the tied groups in descending alphabetical order by title for the sake of simplicity.
Note: Commissions may be earned from the links on this page.
12. Wildfire by Hannah Grace
The second book in the Maple Hills series follows two summer camp counselors who reconnect after a sizzling one-night stand.
11. Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score
This book focuses on Nash Morgan, the town’s police chief, who struggles to recover emotionally and psychologically from the near-fatal shooting recounted in the series’ first book.
10. Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
A small-town sweetheart and an emotionally unavailable bad boy try to find some common ground in this chemistry-filled romance.
9. The Long Game by Elena Armas
A disgraced soccer exec reluctantly enlists the help of a retired soccer star in coaching a children's team in this smalltown love story.
8. The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
Sparks fly when a romance writer and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the ultimate Hollywood love story – but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script.
7. The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate…only to discover he lives seven years in the past.
6. Knockout by Sarah MacLean
The next Hell’s Belles novel about a chaotic bluestocking and the buttoned-up detective enlisted to keep her out of trouble (spoiler: She is the trouble).
Entertainment Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Kobo, Marvelous Geeks, Washington Post
5. Ana María and the Fox by Liana Del la Rosa
A forbidden love between a Mexican heiress and a shrewd British politician makes for a tantalizing Victorian season.
Book Riot, Fated Mates, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Marvelous Geeks
4. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Kobo, She Reads Romance Books, ThriftBooks
3. Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
A ghostwriter and a struggling actor help each other on the page and in the bedroom in this steamy romantic comedy.
Amazon, BookPage, Entertainment Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, New York Times, Powell's Books
2. Happy Place by Emily Henry
A couple who broke up months ago make a pact to pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BuzzFeed, Goodreads, Kobo, Powell's Books, ThriftBooks, What We Reading
1. Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match.
Barnes & Noble, Book Riot, Goodreads, Kobo, Marvelous Geeks, Not Your Mom's Romance Book Club, She Reads Romance Books, ThriftBooks, What We Reading
Next I'm working on a meta-analysis of all-time best romance book lists. Stay tuned.
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