The Greatest American "Fiction, Romance" Books Since 1990

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 290 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Fiction

Romance

The Romance category of books typically involves stories that revolve around romantic relationships between two or more characters. These stories often explore themes of love, passion, and intimacy, and may include elements of drama, suspense, or humor. Romance novels can range from sweet and innocent to steamy and erotic, and may be set in a variety of time periods and locations. Overall, the Romance genre offers readers a chance to escape into a world of love and romance, where anything is possible.

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  1. 1. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

    "Cold Mountain" is a novel set during the American Civil War, following a wounded Confederate soldier who deserts the army to make a perilous journey back home to his beloved. The narrative alternates between his arduous trek and the struggles of the woman he left behind as she tries to maintain their North Carolina homestead. The novel explores themes of love, survival, and the destructive impact of war on the human spirit.

  2. 2. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

    This novel is a historical fiction that provides a rich exploration of life in Japan before World War II, through the eyes of a young girl sold into the geisha lifestyle. The protagonist is trained in the arts of entertaining wealthy and powerful men, navigating a world of jealousy, love, and social politics. Her journey is one of resilience and survival as she strives to find personal happiness in a society that views her as a commodity.

  3. 3. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

    The novel follows a World War II nurse who accidentally time travels back to 18th century Scotland. There, she meets a handsome and brave Scottish warrior and is torn between her loyalty to her husband in her own time and her growing love for the warrior. As she becomes more entwined in the past, she must navigate the dangers of a time not her own, including political unrest and violence, while trying to find a way back home.

  4. 4. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

    In an unnamed South American country, a lavish birthday party is thrown for a powerful businessman, with a famous opera singer as the guest of honor. The party is interrupted by a group of terrorists who take everyone hostage, demanding the release of their imprisoned comrades. As weeks turn into months, the hostages and their captors form unexpected bonds. The story explores the relationships that develop under these extraordinary circumstances, and the transformative power of music and love.

  5. 5. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

    The novel tells the story of a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably, and his wife, an artist who has to cope with his frequent absences and dangerous experiences. Their love story endures many separations and dangerous experiences due to his condition. The story's central theme is the effects of time travel on their marriage and their passionate love for each other.

  6. 6. Mating by Norman Rush

    "Mating" is a novel that follows the story of a female anthropologist who is doing her fieldwork in Botswana. She falls in love with an eccentric and charismatic intellectual who has created a utopian matriarchal village in the Kalahari desert. The narrative explores themes of love, feminism, and idealism as it delves into the complexities of human relationships and societal structures.

  7. 7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

    This novel follows the poignant journey of two teenagers, both cancer patients, who meet in a support group and fall in love. Their shared experiences and unique outlook on life and death bring them closer together, and they embark on a trip to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author they both admire. Through their journey, they explore the harsh realities of living with a terminal illness while also experiencing the beautiful and tragic aspects of first love.

  8. 8. Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan

    This novel follows the lives of four African-American women living in Phoenix, Arizona, each of whom is "holding their breath" as they navigate their personal and professional lives. The women are all in their mid-thirties, successful, and single, struggling to find love in a world that seems to offer few prospects. Through their friendship, they support each other and learn to let go of their pasts, "exhale", and move forward.

  9. 9. Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon

    The novel is a historical romance that blends adventure, love, and time travel. It follows the story of a World War II combat nurse who is mysteriously swept back in time to 18th-century Scotland. There, she encounters clan rivalries, the harsh realities of life in the past, and a gallant Scottish warrior with whom she falls deeply in love. As she becomes entangled in the intrigues and dangers of a world that is not her own, she must navigate her dual existence and decide where her heart truly belongs.

  10. 10. Normal People by Sally Rooney

    "Normal People" is a novel that explores the complex relationship between two high school students from different social classes in a small town in Ireland. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, they form a strong bond that continues into their university years at Trinity College. The narrative follows their journey, filled with misunderstandings, miscommunications, and emotional intimacy, as they navigate their way through love, friendship, mental health issues, and the struggles of growing up.

  11. 11. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

    The novel is a reimagining of the ancient Greek epic of the Trojan War, told from the perspective of Patroclus, an exiled young prince who becomes the beloved companion of Achilles, the greatest warrior of his age. Their deep bond and affection for one another transform into a powerful love that defies the expectations of their society and the will of the gods. As they grow into men, their fates become increasingly intertwined with the legendary conflict at Troy, where honor, sacrifice, and destiny culminate in a poignant and tragic conclusion. The story explores themes of heroism, glory, and the humanizing effects of love against the backdrop of war and the capricious whims of immortals.

  12. 12. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

    Set in the 1950s on the fictional San Piedro Island in the northern Puget Sound region of the state of Washington, the plot revolves around the trial of Kabuo Miyamoto, a Japanese American accused of murdering Carl Heine, a respected fisherman in the close-knit community. The trial really serves as a means of exploring the inter-ethnic tensions of the post-WWII era, as flashbacks reveal the shared history of the island's residents including the forced internment of its Japanese population during the war. The novel also delves into the love affair between Ishmael Chambers, a local reporter, and Hatsue Miyamoto, Kabuo's wife.

  13. 13. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

    The novel intertwines the stories of Leo Gursky, a Holocaust survivor living out his twilight years in New York City, and Alma Singer, a 14-year-old girl trying to ease her mother's loneliness after the death of her father. Their lives are connected through a book, written by Leo in his youth as a tribute to his first love, that has been translated into English and published under a different author's name. As Alma investigates the true authorship of the book, their stories converge in a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the power of literature.

  14. 14. 11 22 63 by Stephen King

    "11/22/63" is a science fiction novel by Stephen King that follows the story of Jake Epping, a high school English teacher who discovers a portal that leads to 1958. After being convinced by his friend Al to use the portal to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Jake embarks on a journey through time to change the course of history. Along the way, he falls in love with a woman named Sadie and faces various obstacles that threaten to alter the timeline he is trying to change. The book explores themes of love, loss, and the consequences of trying to change the past.

  15. 15. Wild at Heart: The Story of Sailor and Lula by Barry Gifford

    The book tells the story of Sailor Ripley and Lula Pace Fortune, two young lovers from the South who embark on a terrifying and exhilarating journey across America. Sailor, a rebellious outlaw with a troubled past, and Lula, a passionate woman with a zest for life, face numerous challenges and dangerous situations, including encounters with eccentric characters and run-ins with the law. Their compelling, roller-coaster romance is a testament to the extreme lengths people will go to preserve their love amidst chaos and adversity.

  16. 16. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

    The novel is a poignant story of true love that survives the test of time and circumstance. The story is about a poor yet passionate young man who falls in love with a rich young woman, giving her a sense of freedom, but they are soon separated because of their social differences. The narrative is a recollection of the love story, read from a notebook by an elderly man to a woman suffering from Alzheimer's. The story is their story and it exemplifies the enduring power of love.

  17. 17. A Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham

    The narrative revolves around the lives of two boyhood friends navigating through their complicated lives in the 1980s. One of them is a bisexual man mourning the loss of his lover to AIDS, and the other is a straight man who's been in love with his friend since childhood. Their lives intertwine with a bohemian woman who dreams of having a child. The three of them form an unconventional family, exploring the complexities of relationships, love, and the concept of home.

  18. 18. The Duke and I: A Bridgerton Novel by Julia Quinn

    In this Regency-era romance, a young woman of marriageable age faces societal pressures to find a suitable match. When she forms a pact with a charming and rebellious duke, they agree to a ruse of courtship to stave off the advances of other suitors and meddling family members. However, as they navigate the complexities of their faux engagement, they find themselves drawn to each other in unexpected ways, challenging their initial intentions and leading them to confront the possibility of a genuine and deep-seated love. Their story is a dance of wit, romance, and the intricate social mores of high society, revealing that the path to true love is seldom straightforward.

  19. 19. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

    The book follows the lives of the Owens sisters, Sally and Gillian, who come from a long line of witches. Raised by their eccentric aunts after their parents' death, the sisters grow up learning about love and magic. However, they face an age-old curse that any man who falls in love with an Owens woman will meet a tragic end, leading them on a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and a struggle to overcome their family's dark past.

  20. 20. Margins by Terri de la Peña

    "Margins" is a compelling narrative that delves into the complexities of identity, culture, and sexuality through the lens of a young Chicana lesbian living in Southern California. The protagonist navigates the challenges of coming out to her traditional Mexican-American family while seeking acceptance and understanding. The novel explores the intersections of her life as she deals with the pressures of societal norms, the dynamics of her close-knit community, and her personal journey towards self-acceptance and love. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s, the story provides a poignant look at the struggles faced by LGBTQ individuals within the Latino community, highlighting themes of resilience, empowerment, and the quest for one's place on the margins of mainstream society.

  21. 21. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

    "Fates and Furies" is a novel split into two parts, providing two perspectives on a single marriage. The first half of the book, "Fates," is told from the point of view of the husband, Lotto, a charismatic but failed actor turned successful playwright, who views his marriage as happy and his wife as supportive. The second half, "Furies," is told from the perspective of his wife, Mathilde, revealing her hidden past and the sacrifices and manipulations she has performed to maintain their life together. The novel explores themes of love, secrets, and the different narratives created within a relationship.

  22. 22. He, She and It by Marge Piercy

    The novel is a cyberpunk story set in a post-apocalyptic future where a female protagonist, a brilliant cybernetic engineer, is tasked with training a highly advanced cyborg designed for combat. As she spends time with the cyborg, she begins to see his human-like qualities and eventually falls in love with him. The narrative is interwoven with a parallel story set in 1600s Prague about a rabbi who creates a golem to protect the Jewish community. The two storylines explore themes of artificial intelligence, what it means to be human, and the ethical implications of creating life.

  23. 23. If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson

    The novel is a poignant exploration of an interracial teenage romance in New York City, where two high school students from different worlds fall deeply in love. Despite the instant connection they feel, they must navigate the complexities of their families' expectations and societal prejudices. As they grow closer, they learn about the power of love and the pain of loss, while confronting the harsh realities of race and identity in contemporary America. Their relationship becomes a testament to the endurance of the human spirit and the impact of societal pressures on personal connections.

  24. 24. Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

    "Indigo" is a historical romance novel that takes place in the 19th century and centers around Hester Wyatt, a former slave who has found freedom in Michigan and is now a dedicated member of the Underground Railroad. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she shelters a wounded fugitive named Galen Vachon, a notorious Black Daniel who is also a conductor on the Railroad. As Hester nurses him back to health, a deep bond forms between them, blossoming into a passionate romance. Despite the dangers that surround them, including the threat of capture and the challenges posed by a racially divided society, Hester and Galen's love for each other and their commitment to the cause of freedom endure, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love to overcome adversity.

  25. 25. Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

    In this coming-of-age novel, two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle and Dante, form an unlikely friendship during the summer of 1987. As they navigate their way through adolescence, they uncover the complexities of their identities, family dynamics, and the world around them. Through their shared experiences, they discover the power of love, self-acceptance, and the profound mysteries that the universe holds.

Reading Statistics

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If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

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