Top Romance Books of 2025 (So Far): Our Faves You Can’t Miss
2025 has already blessed us with some unforgettable love stories—messy, beautiful, spicy, and soul-crushing in the best way. Whether you're after enemies-to-lovers tension, small-town swoons, or the darkest morally grey book boyfriends, this list rounds up the top romance reads that have dominated our hearts (and carts) so far this year.
From hyped new releases to hidden gems taking BookTok by storm, here are the must-reads lighting up the romance world in 2025, handpicked for your next binge.
Leave Me Behind by K.M. Moronova
Tropes: Military romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found trust, strong FMC, forbidden
Why it made the list:
Our top read of the year so far—no contest. K.M. Moronova is one of our all-time faves, and Leave Me Behind proves exactly why. This book delivers high-stakes action, explosive chemistry, and a heroine who’s all grit and heart. Nell, the last survivor of a fallen squad, is thrust into a team that hates her on sight… and right into the arms (well, bed first) of the one man she absolutely shouldn’t be with—her cold, ruthless superior, Bones. What starts as a one-night escape spirals into something raw, complicated, and impossible to let go of. The emotional tension, the danger, the secrets—it’s everything we love about dark romance, but with camo and combat boots.
Kiss the Villain by Rina Kent
Tropes: Dark MM, student/teacher, enemies to lovers, obsession, morally grey MCs
Why it made the list:
Rina Kent takes us deep into the shadows with this dark MM professor/student romance that’s as smart as it is sinful. Set in the Legacy of Gods world, Kiss the Villain delivers tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. The dynamic between dutiful golden boy Gareth and dangerous criminal-turned-professor Kayden is pure fire—volatile, forbidden, and toeing every line in the best way possible. If you love layered villains, taboo tension, and power plays that spiral into obsession, you need this one on your TBR.
Psychotic Obsession by Leigh Rivers
Tropes: Possessive MMC, obsession, morally grey, dark romance, workplace tension, scientist heroine
Why it made the list:
Tobias Mitchell completely captivated us in The Edge of Darkness trilogy, and Psychotic Obsession takes us back to the beginning—when his dark spiral first began. Set before the events of the trilogy, this standalone gives readers a chilling look into the origin of his obsession with Aria Miller, a sweet, brilliant scientist who never stood a chance once Tobias set his sights on her. The tension is slow-burning but laced with danger, and once his mask slips? It’s over. This book is haunting, intense, and the perfect fix for readers who wanted more Tobias the moment they met him.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Tropes: Fantasy romance, slow burn, dragons, found family, rebellion, chosen one
Why it made the list:
One of the most anticipated releases of the year, Onyx Storm absolutely lived up to the hype. The stakes are higher, the betrayals cut deeper, and the tension between Violet and Xaden? Electric. After eighteen brutal months at Basgiath War College, the real war is here—and Violet must face impossible choices as she searches for the truth that could change everything. Rebecca Yarros weaves together heart-pounding action, deep emotional threads, and swoon-worthy romance with that signature tension we all fell in love with in Fourth Wing. Unputdownable from the very first page.
Irreversible by Jennifer Hartmann & Chelley St. Clair
Tropes: Captive romance, forced proximity, emotional trauma, vengeance, slow-burn connection
Why it made the list:
Jennifer Hartmann is one of our absolute auto-read authors, so when Irreversible dropped, we knew it was going to wreck us—in the best way. Co-written with Chelley St. Clair, this book is dark, intense, and achingly human. It throws you into the depths of captivity, where the only light is a stranger’s voice on the other side of the wall. Isaac and the heroine form a bond built on trauma, trust, and stolen moments of connection. It’s a love story wrapped in pain, hope, and survival—and we couldn’t put it down.
The Monster Trilogy by Rina Kent
Tropes: Mafia romance, revenge, disguise, obsession, arranged marriage, morally grey MMC, hidden identity, forced proximity
Why it made the list:
Rina Kent is one of our all-time favourite authors, and The Monster Trilogy completely consumed us. This three-book series is a wild, blood-soaked ride of revenge, power, and a love that shouldn't exist—but does. With Mulan-inspired undertones and an unputdownable mafia backdrop, this trilogy follows Sasha, a woman in disguise seeking answers, and Kirill, a cold, brilliant, emotionless monster who becomes obsessed with her. What starts as a lie turns into a dangerous, all-consuming connection—and the chemistry? Off the charts. From enemies to reluctant allies to something much darker and deeper, every book in this trilogy raised the stakes and broke us in all the best ways.
The Fabric of Our Souls by K.M. Moronova
Tropes: Dark romance, mental health rep, forced proximity, trauma bonding, opposites attract, hurt/comfort
Why it made the list:
This book broke us—in the best, most soul-crushing way. The Fabric of Our Souls is the one that introduced us to K.M. Moronova, and we haven’t looked back since. Raw, emotional, and drenched in angst, it’s the story of two broken people—one who craves death and one who refuses to let it win—brought together in the most unexpected way inside a rehabilitation center. Their pain is palpable, their banter is sharp, and their bond grows from something reluctant and messy into something deeply human. It’s a story of survival, of healing, and of the kind of love that threads itself through even the most shattered hearts.
Satanic Shadows by Leigh Rivers
Tropes: Fantasy romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, magical academy, human x immortal, fated mates vibes
Why it made the list:
Leigh Rivers did it again—this time stepping into fantasy romance and completely delivering. Satanic Shadows is addictive, sharp, and full of dark magic, mystery, and elite enemies-to-lovers tension. Seraphine is a human forced into an academy full of immortals, and her only way out is to survive her classes... and Dane Dalton. The Shadow Prince is cruel, cold, and impossible to ignore—and their chemistry? Off the charts. With a curse hanging over them and danger around every corner, this read is packed with angst, secrets, and just enough spice to leave you breathless.
Wolf.e by Paisley Hope
Tropes: MC romance, anti-hero, forced proximity, found family, emotional awakening, possessive MMC
Why it made the list:
Wolf.e took us by surprise in the best way—Paisley Hope is a new author for us, but after this? We’re hooked. Raw, violent, and emotional beneath its tough exterior, this MC romance follows Gabriel Wolfe, a man shaped by chaos and destruction, who finds himself unraveling when a woman crashes into his path. She’s light in his dark world—but don’t mistake this for a soft love story. It’s brutal, fast-paced, and full of bite. The writing is sharp, the tension is so good, and the emotional payoff? Worth every broken moment.
Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver
Tropes: Small-town romance, single dad, celebrity x normal guy, found family, opposites attract
Why it made the list:
Elsie Silver delivers every single time—but Wild Eyes might just be our favorite of the series. Set in the cozy, rugged charm of Rose Hill, this book follows a country singer trying to outrun the chaos of fame, only to run straight into a hot single dad with a heart of gold and a whole lot of charm. Weston Belmont is flirty, rugged, and impossible not to fall for—and his kids? Instant heartbreakers. The romance is warm, spicy, and emotionally rich, reminding us that sometimes love finds you right when you’re falling apart.
We’re only halfway through the year and already drowning in book boyfriends and tear-stained pages. These 2025 romances have set the bar so high—and we know there’s even more to come. Don’t forget to check back in December for our ultimate end-of-year wrap-up. Until then, happy reading (and obsessing)!
