If you loved Emily Henry’s third romance novel, Book Lovers, you might be on the lookout for Book Lovers read-alikes. Whether you enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers romance, reading about city people in a small town setting, the gentle exploration of the ways grief can shape us, or the sweet familial love story alongside the steamy romance, we’ve got books for you. Here are eight romantic books like Book Lovers for you to enjoy while you wait for Henry’s next novel, Happy Place, out April 25.
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
Themes in common with Book Lovers: grief, travel, resistance to love
Five years after the love of her life died, Feyi — encouraged by her best friend Joy — is ready to live again. She embarks on a series of casual hookups, complicated when one of them invites her to join him on vacation in the Caribbean. There she meets his father, a famous chef with a similar relationship to grief, and the two of them are drawn together.
By Any Other Name by Lauren Kate
Themes in common with Book Lovers: set in the book industry, New York City as a character
Romance editor Lanie has an opportunity to help reclusive author Noa Callaway with her latest novel. Only Noa is actually Noah, and working with him throws Lanie’s carefully curated life off balance.
In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer
Themes in common with Book Lovers: reluctantly working together, resisting attraction, New York City as a character
On the worst morning of Franny’s life, a stranger on the subway comes to her rescue by giving her his jacket when her dress rips open. Someone films it and the video goes viral, so when they meet again, the internet is rooting for them to get together. He hires her to design his new offices, but there’s something else there if they’ll just admit it.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Themes in common with Book Lovers: small town vs. big city, the life you expected vs. the love you want
ER doctor Alexis is a disappointment to her surgeon parents and keeps finding herself drawn back to the small town where her car slid off the road and local Daniel rescued her — followed by a steamy night together. But she can’t leave the city and the life she’s built for herself, even if it isn’t the life she wants.
Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
Themes in common with Book Lovers: set in the book industry, developing attraction over text/email, complex families, grief
Sewanee gave up acting after an accident took one of her eyes, and now she’s a successful audiobook narrator. When the author whose books started her career dies, she leaves behind a request: Sewanee co-narrating her last book with Brock McKnight, the extremely private narrator whose real identity no one knows.
The Stand-In by Lily Chu
Themes in common with Book Lovers: complex families, grief, enemies to lovers
Gracie looks like international movie star Fangli, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when she’s asked to be her double in public. Desperate for the money to take care of her mother, Gracie agrees, and has to work with Sam, Fangli’s co-star and presumed boyfriend.
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Themes in common with Book Lovers: set in the book industry, working closely with an author, insta-hate
Desperate to move up in her publishing career, Izzy volunteers to knock on Beau Towers’s door and find out why his memoir is late. He invites her to stay, and as she coaches him through his writing fears, she cracks his tough exterior and they fall in love.
Dating Dr. Dill by Nisha Sharma
Themes in common with Book Lovers: enemies to lovers, complex families, too stubborn to admit they have feelings
Kareena just wants to restore her classic car and fix up her late mother’s house, but her father drops a bombshell: he’s selling the house, and her only chance of buying it is to get engaged so she’ll get her inheritance. After an on-air fight with heart doctor Prem causes his investors to pull out, he proposes that they fake date so she can keep her home and he can save his business.
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