Must-Read Rom-Com Novels for Fans of The Hating Game

by Emily Henry

Best-selling romance novelist January Andrews is suffering extreme writer's block after finding out her parents weren't the perfect couple she thought they were.

When she retreats to her dad's secret Lake Michigan beach house in a last-ditch effort to meet her next book deadline as a romance writer, she finds another distraction instead.

Her college English-department rival lives next door and is suffering from his own bout of writer's block.

This was one of our favorite books from 2020! It was also a Book of the Month selection, so you can add it onto one of your future boxes!

by Christina Lauren

If you're a fan of the undeniable chemistry between Lucy and Josh in The Hating Game, you'll undoubtedly adore Christina Lauren's Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating. This rom-com masterpiece follows the unconventional love story of the quirky Hazel and the steadfast Josh, who have been friends since college but never thought of each other as anything more. That is, until they embark on a series of hilarious and disastrous double-blind dates.

Throughout the book, we see their undeniable chemistry, palpable sexual tension, and the eventual realization that they may have been looking for love in all the wrong places. With its witty banter, delightful characters, and swoon-worthy romance, Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is a must-read for anyone who loves a good rom-com.

by Sariah Wilson

This witty romance follows Madison, who grew up wealthy but gave up her inheritance to follow her own dreams of being a teacher. Sadly, her teacher salary isn't enough for anything close to her dream apartment. After looking at some very scary options, her realtor/aunt suggests a unique living arrangement.

Another client, Tyler, needs a roommate who will care for his dog while he travels for work and who will do a bit of cleaning as well instead of paying rent. The only caveat is that he was burned by his last relationship and only wants someone with no chance of pursuing him. Madison pretends to still be in a solid relationship because she really needs somewhere to live, and it soon becomes clear how little she knows about cleaning.

But she has a big heart, great intentions, and wins over the dog. Will Tyler be able to follow his own rules?

by Beth O'Leary

When night-shift worker Leon needs some extra cash to help a family member, he decides to get a roommate.

The problem is that he has a one-bedroom apartment, with one bed. So he places an ad for someone to sleep in his bed while he's at work. They'll never be home at the same time, but it's still a crazy plan. Thankfully, it's just the solution newly-single Sophie needs.

They start communicating through fiesty post-it notes as they try to figure out the ground rules of their strange arrangement. This banter back and forth made us laugh out loud multiple times. Soon Tiffy and Leon find themselves falling for each other, but there's a catch - Tiffy is in a bad relationship with her ex-boyfriend. These side stories add extra depth beyond your typical rom com.

We both recommend listening to The Flatshare as the narrators are perfect and add to the British charm.

by Rachel Lynn Solomon

With 10 years of experience, radio host Shay is beyond frustrated with her new co-worker, Dominic, who thinks he learned it all in the master's program he just finished.

The station is struggling, so Shay pitches a new show - The Ex Talk - featuring exes giving relationship advice. The pitch goes a little TOO well, and Shay gets a big yes, with the caveat that she co-host the show with Dominic since they clearly dislike each other and already act like exes. It's almost the opposite of a workplace romance!

As the show grows thanks to their funny on-air banter, their relationship off the air gets more complicated and STEAMY. This one contains some R-rated bedroom scenes.

by Sarah Hogle

This debut comedy has been described as a funny lovers-to-enemies-to lovers tale.

When Naomi and Nicholas separately both get cool feet three months before their wedding, they find out whoever cancels is financially responsible for the nonrefundable wedding bill.

Can either of them get the other person to cancel? Or will they rediscover love through pranks and sabotage?

by Abby Jimenez

Sloan has struggled to get her life back on track for two years since her engagement ended. When a dog, Tucket, wanders into her life she finally begins to heal.

Everything is looking up until Tucker's owner finally reaches out. He's a musician who has been on tour and now wants Tucker back.

As they compete over Tucker, flirty messages turn into calls. What will happen when they finally meet face to face?

This is a stand-alone book, but Sloan did also appear in Abby Jimenez's debut novel, The Friend Zone.

by Samantha Young

Imagine already being upset that you have to travel home to the funeral of a childhood friend, and then having EVERYTHING GO WRONG on the trip.

And THEN, a guy steals your first-class seat that was finally going to get you to the funeral. Not okay!

Of course, this is a rom com, so as you can guess, the interactions between Ava and Caleb don't end at the ticket counter.

by Christina Lauren

When two high-powered agents at competing firms in Hollywood find out their firms are merging, they're left vying for the same job. The competition squashes the previously budding-romance between them as sparks turn to sabotage.

We also recommend The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren!

by Abbi Waxman

Quirky Nina Hill is quite happy alone with her life of books, bookclubs, and her trivia league. Things start to change when she catches the eye of a rival trivia captain.

While she's trying to figure out what's happening in her love life with trivia guy, she's also blindsided by an entire extended family she didn't know existed.

Nina is perfectly quirky and you'll enjoy reading along as she navigates through things she never expected to encounter.

by Sariah Wilson

Juliet is working hard to grow her dog grooming business when her best friend needs a big favor. Her future mother-in-law runs a company that provides seat fillers to Hollywood award shows. It's an easy gig. She just has to move around to sit in any temporarily empty seats so the audience looks full the whole time. And she must do that without speaking to all the celebrities in the audience.

Except she's forced to speak to heartthrob Noah, whose poster she had on her wall as a teenager. Her night and life take an unexpected turn as their relationship builds, but it's all based on one lie that can cause everything to fall apart.

by Katherine Center

After a tragic accident immediately after becoming engaged, Margaret is stuck in a hospital bed trying to face her new reality. Her previously perfect life is changing in every way.

When she's assigned the toughest physical therapist at the hospital, her nurse doesn't think it will be a good match. Margaret understands when she realizes the other therapists are smiling and encouraging and Ian is...not.

But can he still help her heal?

by Kerry Winfrey

Annie Cassidy makes a living writing ridiculous Buzzfeed-esque articles, but she dreams of writing rom com screenplays like Nora Ephron.

She also dreams of finding not the actual Tom Hanks, but her own perfect leading man, ala Tom in Sleepless in Seattle or You've Got Mail.

When her town becomes the set of a new romantic comedy movie, she's horrified that the leading man has a less-than-Tom Hanks reputation.

But is he really the same person the gossip blogs say he is?

If you're obsessed with the rom-com world as much as Annie, you'll love all the pop culture references through this book. It's not groundbreaking literature, but it's an entertaining light read.

by Elena Armas

Catalina's sister is getting married across the ocean in their family's Spanish hometown in four weeks...and Catalina needs an American boyfriend to join her. She accidentally lied to her family about her relationship status and would rather fake a relationship than disappoint her Abuela.

When noisy and always annoying co-working Aaron Blackford offers his services as her fake date, she's not eager to agree. Sadly, she also doesn't see any other options...should she agree to this crazy plan?

The Book Girls Say...This rom com is beloved by the Tik Tok crowd and even won a Goodreads award, so we're including it on the list. But be warned, it was one of Melissa's least favorite romances of all time. There isn't much chemistry for most of the book and then it escalates from 0 to 100 in the steam department, but not is a way Melissa found very sexy.