Savanna, Associate Editor

Whether they’re set in an opulent country estate, a small town or within the arena of international politics, the best romances of 2019 refuse to shy away from the uglier, harder or more complicated parts of life—which only makes their happy endings that much more powerful.

10. Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Real talk: My initial notes for this book simply read, “I think Lisa Kleypas is a witch.” There is truly something magical about how every year, Kleypas delivers a rigorously researched, beautifully written, extremely sexy romance. Devil’s Daughter is a light, frothy concoction in which every witticism lands with aplomb—many courtesy of hero West Ravenel, a self-reformed rake who is one of Kleypas’ most endearing creations.

9. A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole

To be clear, Alyssa Cole’s other 2019 release, An Unconditional Freedom, could easily be on this list as well. But I have to go with A Prince on Paper, not just because I love royal escapism and Prince Harry stand-ins, but also because I found Johan and Nya’s relationship almost unbearably lovely. Two people who feel unknowable—Nya because she’s been trained to fade into the background, and Johan because he’s constructed a public persona at the expense of his interior self—finally being seen by one another? Swoon.

8. Reverb by Anna Zabo

Over the course of this series, Anna Zabo has built a very special cast of found-family rock stars and the people who love them. You can feel Zabo’s love for their characters radiating from each carefully chosen word, just as the love the members of Twisted Wishes have for one another spills out into their work. Reverb was a perfect capper to a delightful series.

7. The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

If I were to do a “funniest romances” list, Tessa Dare’s work would consistently rank at or near the top. All of her novels are astonishingly funny, but her finest work demonstrates how humor can both hide and process pain, and how people who cling to light and joy are often the people who need it the most. All this to say, only Dare could pull off a book that contains a climactic baby goat birth, some truly horrible childhood trauma, many jokes about terrible vegetarian food and a very moving love story.

6. The Rose by Tiffany Reisz

What do you do after writing an erotic novel so masterful, so impressively fearless that it becomes a genuine internet sensation? (Seriously, read The Red if you haven’t yet.) If you’re Tiffany Reisz, you write a sequel just as smart, just as sexy and even more boundary-pushing. The Rose takes all the baroque, purple-prose-delight of The Red, mixes it with equal parts Greek mythology and dry British wit, and throws in keen observations on sexuality and spirituality for good measure.

5. The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

Helen Hoang has proved that the fantastic Kiss Quotient was no fluke with the warm, charming The Bride Test. This funny, emotional tale of recent immigrant Esme and her potential groom, Khai, pays tribute to Hoang’s mother’s life experience, celebrates the resilience and love of single mothers and provides another fascinating, affirming look at life on the autism spectrum.

4. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

Linda Holmes, the beloved host of NPR’s “Pop Culture Happy Hour” and noted romance enthusiast, made her fiction debut with a love story that reads like if Nora Ephron wrote a Hallmark movie. Cutesy small towns are somewhere near the bottom of my list of preferred romance settings (yes, I also hate Hallmark holiday movies, COME AT ME), but Evvie Drake Starts Over won me over in approximately five pages. It’s a marvelous, effortlessly funny romance, and hopefully Holmes will write many, many more.

3. Teach Me by Olivia Dade

I think about this book all the time—about how unassuming yet utterly magical it is. A poignant, aching slow-burn romance between two high school history teachers, Olivia Dade’s Teach Me decries the pettiness and bureaucracy of the educational system while still celebrating the dedication and impact of its two leads. And the distinct unglamorousness of Teach Me only makes its romance that much more miraculous—two flawed, fascinating people falling in love, overwhelming workloads and terrible bosses be damned.

2. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Self-published phenom (and total joy on Twitter, just FYI) Talia Hibbert bestowed her talents on a whole new audience with her first traditionally published novel, Get a Life, Chloe Brown. Hibbert’s buoyant wit and knack for detailed characterization shine on every page, to the point that I frequently muttered “dear god” to myself when yet another of her sentences metaphorically smacked me in the face with how good it was. It takes a real talent to craft characters so endearing and complex that you feel like you’re falling in love with each of them as they fall in love with each other.

1. Red, White & Royal Blue By Casey McQuiston

Casey McQuiston’s debut arrived with a bang this summer after months of hype—its tropetastic plot and Instagram-ready cover having catapulted it to the top of most-anticipated lists. And lo and behold, it was even better, richer and endlessly rereadable than readers could have hoped. As deeply cathartic as it is screamingly funny, as sweepingly romantic as it is incisively political, Red, White & Royal Blue is a book-long example of why romance is an important, vital genre. In creating a fictional world that readers fell in love with, it became a clarion call for a better, more inclusive reality.

Hype can be deafening in a post-Gone Girl, post-Girl on the Train world. Here are the 10 books that delivered thrills, chills and then some.

10. The Lost Man by Jane Harper

Harper continues to mine the history and terrain of her Australian homeland to thrilling effect in The Lost Man, which shows just how frightening and isolating the Outback can be.

9. The Bone Fire by S.D. Sykes

A classic and confounding locked-room mystery with a particularly terrifying setting—an island fortress bolted shut against the horrors of the Black Death.

8. The Last by Hanna Jameson

This genre-bending novel neatly embraces dystopian fiction and murder mystery, with the Omega Man starkness of the former and the requisite twists and turns of the latter.

7. Paper Son by S.J. Rozan

S.J. Rozan skillfully weaves Chinese-American history into her narrative, adding texture and nuance to an already cracking good mystery.

6. Tell Me Everything by Cambria Brockman

The simple sell for this book is The Secret History—same college setting, same focus on the difficult group dynamics of early adulthood—but with no Greek mythology. Oh, and one of the students is a well-meaning sociopath.

5. The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair

Brimming with wit and joie de vivre but sneakily poignant under its whimsical surface, The Right Sort of Man is an utter delight and a fantastic kickoff to a new series.

4. Bad Axe County by John Galligan

With occasional sharp shots of humor and hope amid the devastation, John Galligan’s rural crime thriller is a layered exploration of the ways that long-held secrets and shame can reach far into the future.

3. Conviction by Denise Mina

In this fresh thriller, excerpts from a podcast weave throughout Anna McLean’s travels, during which she comes face-to-face with the woman who once almost killed her, the full details of which are (of course) not immediately revealed. It’s a deliciously clever premise that fully delivers.

2. Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman

Lippman explores the world of women in journalism and life in Baltimore in this panoramic 1960s-set mystery.

1. Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke

Few suspense novelists demonstrate a better grip of political and racial divides than Attica Locke, who introduces characters and locales you will want to visit again and again in this atmospheric thriller.

You shall find no discourse about the merits and meaning of illustrated covers here, beyond me declaring which of them I think are pretty. (Although I find the raging debate about said covers and whether they’re misleading or infantilizing to be endlessly fascinating.) And while we’re on the subject of things I won’t be doing, I’m not ranking these because I’m not an art expert. My very professional criteria for inclusion are how much I cooed over a cover when I first saw it and/or how quickly I lobbed it at my long-suffering BookPage colleagues’ heads to try and make them also coo at it.

Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet
Art by Craig White, art directed by Dawn Adams

Her eyes say, “I can and will kill you if I have to,” but the colorful supernova explosion behind her tells you that Bouchet’s sci-fi romance isn’t all doom and gloom.

Bad Influence by Stefanie London
Designed and directed by Dawn Adams

Sometimes, all you need is an incredibly attractive man and a suitably suggestive title.

The Rose by Tiffany Reisz
Designed by Kathleen Oudit

Erotica can be tricky. Tantalizing, simple images often work best, but it’s difficult to come up with something that will stand out in a sea of similarly restrained covers. The way that old-fashioned dress is carelessly slipping off the model’s back perfectly evokes the book’s blend of starchy humor and easy sensuality.

A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole
Designed by Nadine Badalaty, illustrated by Aleta Rafton, Mashala matching set by Trofina Joy, photograph by Shirley Green Photography (couple); © Zuboff—Dreamstime.com (balcony); © Mikel Trako/Shutterstock (city)

I don’t know what sort of sexy alchemy is going on with Alyssa Cole’s covers, but the chemistry between the cover models is palpable every single time. The gorgeous color scheme and very hot pose of A Prince on Paper make it my absolute favorite of all her books’ covers.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Designed by Kerri Resnick of Wednesday Books, illustrated by Colleen Reinhart

McQuiston’s debut would have been a hit with or without its millennial pink cover, but the sheer Instagrammability of this jacket certainly helped. So did the fact that the title takes up practically the entire image, making it impossible to forget just which book caught your eye while you were scrolling through your feed.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Art direction and design by Emily Osborne, illustration by Colleen Reinhart 

The art for Hoang’s sophomore novel is in conversation with the jacket of her debut sensation, The Kiss Quotient, but foregrounds heroine Esme and her journey to empowerment through education. Also, that dotted heart from the jet stream is too cute for words.

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev

This is such a great use of the cartoon trend. The beautiful, somewhat old-fashioned design hints at the privilege and wealth of the Rajes, a family descended from Indian royalty who find love in Dev’s latest series. And the little details in the rest of the cover tell you exactly what you’re about to read—a modern, food-obsessed, multicultural update of Jane Austen’s classic romance.

The Rogue of Fifth Avenue by Joanna Shupe
Illustrated by Jon Paul Ferrera, photograph by Michel Legrou/Media Photo

Whew. Now that is a clinch. Also, major points for not going the way of Ye Olde Ruffled Shirt That Is Inexplicably Open to the Navel. That suit is fabulous and hot.

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
Art direction and design by Rita Frangie, illustration by Farjana Yasmin

Gorgeous but simple, Jalaluddin’s cover art makes a statement about the religion and ethnicity of her characters in truly glamorous fashion.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
Designed and illustrated by Colleen Reinhart 

Another fantastic illustrated cover—adorable, a great use of color and a fun nod to the novel’s home improvement plot.

One Fine Duke by Lenora Bell
Designed by Guido Caroti, art by Paul Stinson, photograph © Fly Media Drone/Shutterstock (daisies); © Michael Frost Photography

This is just full-on, old-school romance fantasia to the extreme, and I love it. It’s pitch-perfect for Lenora Bell’s sparkly, fun-as-can-be historical romance.

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
Cover art © Gene Mollica

I cackled with glee when I saw this cover, and that is a high compliment. The GOWN. The COLORS. The SPARKLES. A good cover lets you know what awaits you, and Sapphire Flames is as balls-to-the wall, unabashedly and exuberantly fantastical as its cover.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
Art direction and design by Rita Frangie, illustration by Farjana Yasmin

It was only a matter of time before historical covers also tried out the cartoon trend, and this cover makes a strong case for why they should continue. There are so many clever touches here—the cameo/silhouette treatment of the couple’s faces, the old-fashioned sketch of the building behind them, the blazing bright modern colors. And the cherry on top is that adorable stamp treatment of the series name.

A Little Light Mischief by Cat Sebastian
Designed by Patricia Barrows, illustratated by Frederika Ribes, photographs © Jenn LeBlanc/Illustrated Romance

I don’t know how to explain what I’m about to say but: This is a perfect visual representation of a sigh. Just utterly lovely, soft and soothing.

Once a Spy by Mary Jo Putney
Illustration by Jon Paul, art direction by Janice Rossi-Schaus

Every time I feature a Putney cover, I end up saying some variation of “Oh my dear god.” But this has to be the most magnificent Putney cover yet. This woman is on a horse in a war zone in a bright red gown. This woman is serving us Napoleonic grandeur. I rest my case.

My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh
Designed by Amy Halperin, illustrated by Jon Paul Ferrara

Leigh’s tropetastic new romance gets a fittingly over-the-top depiction on this jacket. The unabashedly neon 80s color scheme is unusual for the subgenre, and halo emanating from the “suddenly hot without his glasses” man is just delightful.

The post-holidays winter blues are in full swing, but there’s a silver lining—an entire year’s worth of fabulous mysteries and thrillers lie ahead.

The Better Liar by Tanen Jones
Ballantine | January 14

Tanen Jones is out to give the almost painfully heterosexual “domestic thriller” a welcome shot of queer energy. Her debut, The Better Liar, is impeccably crafted with an ending to die for.

The Janes by Louise Luna
Doubleday | January 21

Tough as nails PI Alice Vega returns in Luna’s follow-up to 2018’s Two Girls Down, continuing a series that represents the very best in modern noir.

Hi Five by Joe Ide
Mulholland | January 28

IQ is back for another adventure, told in Ide’s inimitable voice. The genius L.A. PI jut wants to be normal—but knowing him, that won’t last long.

Perfect Little Children by Sophie Hannah
William Morrow | February 4

Hannah’s latest may have the creepiest premise of the year. Beth sees her ex-best friend, Flora, after more than a decade has passed. But Flora’s young children appear to be the exact same age.

A Divided Loyalty by Charles Todd
William Morrow | February 4

It is truly uncanny how Charles Todd manages to continue not one, but two historical mysteries series at such a steady pace and consistent quality. Next up is a chilling and truly puzzling new case for Inspector Ian Rutledge, involving stone circles, an unidentified woman, and possibly, one of his colleagues.

The Chill by Scott Carson
Emily Bestler | February 11

This Stephen King-esque thriller centering on a creepy, possibly haunted reservoir grounds its fantastical premise with empathetic character work and sharp detail.

Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Agora | February 11

Moreno-Garcia’s magnificent, evocative fantasies are consistently wonderful, and it’s very exciting to see her turn her talents to a noir thriller.

No Bad Deed by Heather Chavez
William Morrow | February 18

While driving home one night, Cassie Larkin rescues a woman being attacked by a man, who then steals her car to make a quick getaway. And that’s when things get creepy, because he now has her name and her address from her registration. When her husband disappears a few days later, Cassie assumes the worst.

The Last Passenger by Charles Finch
Minotaur | February 18

Finch’s prequel series, which tells the story of a young and untested Charles Lenox, comes to a close in this 1855-set mystery.

The Holdout by Graham Moore
Random House | February 18

A smart, deeply satisfying legal thriller, The Holdout is the book to read if you’ve been missing “American Crime Story,” especially the first season covering the O.J. Simpson trial.

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
William Morrow | March 3

Years ago, bookseller Malcolm Kershaw wrote a blog post listing out the eight most perfect murders in fiction. Now, it’s pretty clear someone is mimicking the murders on his list. Swanson’s fiendishly clever love letter to classic mysteries only gets crazier from there.

The Deep by Alma Katsu
Putnam | March 10

I am personally very frightened of the ocean, so this book is seemingly designed to give me nightmares. Taking place on both the Titanic and its lesser-known sister ship the Brittanic, Katsu’s historical thriller posits that the Titanic sank due to something ghost-like and watery and nefarious.

A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn
Berkley | March 10

Veronica Speedwell has another mystery to solve in Victorian London, but this time Jack the Ripper is stalking the alleyways and public panic is reaching a fever pitch.

The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian
Doubleday | March 17

When ER doctor Alexis’ boyfriend disappears during a cycling trip to Vietnam, the secrets she begins to uncover cast doubt on their entire relationship in the latest thriller from the phenomenally talented Bohjalian.

The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben
Grand Central | March 17

A gloriously pulpy premise—a boy found living feral in the woods, who 30 years later searches for another lost child—in the hands of a thriller master.

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
Berkley | March 17

I’m sure someone, somewhere, is writing a really interesting paper on why we’re all so fascinated with Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Wrobel’s debut picks up after the damage has seemingly been done, and Rose Gold Watt’s abusive mother, Patty, is released from prison. But for some twisted, possibly vengeful reason, Rose Gold welcomes her back home.

The Herd by Andrea Bartz
Ballantine | March 24

The founder of an elite, women’s-only working space (yes, it’s basically The Wing) is murdered in Bartz’s sophomore thriller.

The Last Tourist by Olen Steinhauer
Minotaur | March 24

Steinhauer brings back Milo Weaver for another adventure as a new breed of Tourists threaten the stalwart CIA agent.

Who Speaks for the Damned by C.S. Harris
Berkley | April 7

The Sebastian St. Cyr series is among the best of Regency mysteries, and this time St. Cyr is investigating the death of Nicholas Hayes, who was believed to have died 15 years before St. Cyr stumbles upon his corpse.

A Stroke of Malice by Anna Lee Huber
Berkley | April 7

And now onto another Regency sleuth, Lady Darby, whose holidays are marred by murder in Huber’s eighth historical mystery starring Kiera Darby and her dashing husband, Sebastian Gage.

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones
St. Martin’s | April 7

Having recently wrapped her Charley Davidson series, Jones kicks off a new mystery series—but this time it’s all garden-variety humans, and no urban fantasy monsters in sight.

Hid from Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Minotaur | April 7

Spencer-Fleming’s first mystery in seven years takes place over three separate timelines as cops from three different generations try to catch the same serial killer operating in upstate New York.

Camino Winds by John Grisham
Doubleday | April 28

Grisham returns to the deceptively peaceful locale of Camino Island for another adventure starring novelist Mercer Mann.

He Started It by Samantha Downing
Berkley | April 28

Downing’s debut, My Lovely Wife, was an enjoyably nasty thriller centered on a particularly toxic marriage. Next up—a particularly toxic family in He Started It.

The Goodbye Man by Jeffery Deaver
Putnam | May 12

Expert tracker Colter Shaw returns, and this time he’s tracking down two white teenagers accused of a horrific hate crime.

Lone Jack Trail by Owen Laukkanen
Mulholland | May 26

Laukkanen’s Deception Cove was an expertly crafted thriller with a surprisingly sweet center, so we’re excited for another adventure starring Mason Burke, Jess Winslow and the dog they both love.

A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair
Minotaur | June 9

Montclair’s debut, The Right Sort of Man, was the rare historical mystery was sprightly, moving and just a joy all around. So I was already excited for her second Sparks & Bainbridge mystery, even before I learned that the ladies’ next case will be investigating Philip Mountbatten, the future husband of Elizabeth II.

The Mist by Ragnar Jónasson
Minotaur | June 23

Detective Hulda is back and Jónasson will be throwing another horribly scarring case at her in this terrifying tale of an isolated cabin, a snowstorm and a murder.

The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Grand Central | June 23

Guillermo del Toro’s writing a thriller??? This book will follow a rookie FBI agent, but knowing del Toro, there will probably be some gorgeously designed, supernatural evil involved in the mysterious events Odessa Hardwicke sets out to investigate.

The Golden Cage by Camilla Läckberg
Knopf | July 7

The Swedish mystery queen will be making a bit of a change of pace in this standalone psychological thriller following a billionaire’s wife out for revenge on her terrible husband.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Dutton | July 7

As is tradition, Sager will be putting his own clever spin on a classic horror/thriller trope this July. This year it’s the haunted house, a la The Amityville Horror.

Dead Man Dancing by John Galligan
Atria | July 14

Galligan’s dark, painfully relevant Bad Axe County was one of my favorite thrillers of last year, and Dead Man Dancing sounds like a powerful follow-up.

The Grove of the Caesars by Lindsey Davis
Minotaur | July 28

Roman private investigator Flavia Albia is out to catch a serial killer who operates in a sacred grove in Davis’ eighth mystery starring the adopted daughter of her other beloved detective, Marcus Didius Falco.

It’s time to start taking stock of all the amazing titles released in the first half of 2020! To kick things off, we’re turning to you, our wonderful readers. Here are the 20 books you’ve liked the most.

1. The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

More complicated, weirder and far more haunted than Station Eleven, the new novel from Emily St. John Mandel defies all expectations.

2. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Smart, witty and even a bit sly, this penetrating social commentary is also one of the year’s most enjoyable novels.

3. Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

A killer takes inspiration from classic mysteries in this wickedly clever new thriller.

4. Hid From Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Hid from Our Eyes is an exciting return to a beloved series, as well as an intriguing entry point for readers new to the world of Russ, Clare and Millers Kill.

5. The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata

As intriguing as the plot may sound upfront, it can’t speak to the otherworldly beauty of Michael Zapata’s writing.

6. The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

This exceptional work of historical fiction offers insight into the rippling effects of extremism.

7. The Regrets by Amy Bonnafons

For the heartbroken and heart-hungry, there’s no better book than Amy Bonnaffons’ debut novel of haunted love.

8. Hill Women by Cassie Chambers

Hill Women is a quietly moving, powerful memoir in which Cassie Chambers praises the fortitude, intelligence and strength of Appalachian women.

9. The Lady’s Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey

The Lady’s Handbook for Her Mysterious Illness is a stirring, inspiring rallying cry and an engaging, harrowing and often hilarious personal story.

10. The Escape Artist by Helen Fremont

Concealed within Helen Fremont’s polished family image was a Jewish refugee, a traumatized survivor and children wrestling with mental illness.

11. Afterlife by Julia Alvarez

In one moving scene after another, Julia Alvarez dramatizes the sustaining power of stories.

12. When Time Stopped by Ariana Neumann

When Time Stopped is filled with heartbreaking, spine-tingling stories about Ariana Neumann’s father and his dramatic past as a Jewish refugee in WWII Berlin.

13. Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon

Nancy Grace Augusta Wake is a woman so extraordinary that your first instinct might be to believe she is imaginary, like James Bond.

14. The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren

Fans of Lauren will be delighted with their latest romance, and newcomers should look forward to beginning what will become a lifelong love affair with the author duo.

15. Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker

At the center of Hidden Valley Road are 12 children, six schizophrenia diagnoses and two parents navigating a meager mental health care system in America.

16. The Chill by Scott Carson

This fast-paced, frenzied tale of survival against both natural and supernatural forces will leave you gasping for air.

17. Little Gods by Meng Jin

Crossing continents and spanning decades, Meng Jin’s intimate, emotionally complex debut novel is an awesome achievement.

18. Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb

Bess Kalb's heartfelt, hilarious memoir pays tribute to her beloved—and opinionated—grandma.

19. All Adults Here by Emma Straub

Emma Straub’s writing is witty, informal and deceptively simple, drawing readers in as if they’re having a conversation with a close friend.

20. Deacon King Kong by James McBride

Deacon King Kong is an incredibly funny novel, with sharp comedic language and precise timing that never lets up.

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