14 Romance Books to Get You Out of a Reading Slump

We’ve all been there. The terrible, awful place known as the reading slump. If this is the first time it’s happened to you, don’t despair. If you’re a seasoned veteran, welcome back to hell. 

Isn’t reading one of my favourite things? You ask yourself. Why, oh why, then, can I only get through a page or two before my brain shuts down and suggest a casual doom scroll as more appealing?

The secret to breaking out of it is both terrifying and reassuring. It’s the un-put-downableness of the book. Some of these may not be typically marketed as romances, but all have romantic elements to the story. So here are 14 books to help get you out of a reading slump and back into the pages. 

**As always, we like a bit of dark with our romance here, so check your trigger warnings. **

1. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The captivating story of the rise and fall of a fictional 1970s rock band. The intense chemistry of the characters and chaos of fame drives this one. Don’t expect a happy romance, but do expect the love to knock you around.

Read It For: The storytelling style is so unique that you will fly through it without even realising. A great one for getting out of a slump as it’s written in an interview-style format that will have you obsessively page turning before your brain can object. 

2. Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh

Follows a rising rugby star and a shy protagonist who moves to a private school after dealing with a series of bullying. Johnny is gentle and caring with our fragile protagonist and once you unravel the layers of this story you will be hooked.

Read It For: Exceptional emotional depth and character personal struggles. The unraveling of the story combined with the romance plot makes it binge worthy. 

3. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Follows Alice, a middle-age almost divorced mother who wakes up one day having forgotten the last decade of her life.

Read It For: An easy read that is a thought-provoking and unexpected second chance romance. 

4. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

This workplace romance follows enemies Lucy and Josh as they fight it out for the promotion at their company.

Read It For: Intensely sexy slow-burn spice. You’ll be flipping the pages just begging for these two to finally take it all the way. 

5. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo 

Follows Lira, a siren who loses her song, in this tale of mermaids, pirates and princes.

Read It For: Compelling and twisty plot that’ll keep you up til dawn before you realize the sun has risen. 

6. Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

A gripping read about anonymous pen pals whose real-life meeting doesn’t go as expected.

Read It For: Emotional intensity. The divide and depth between the characters has the perfect amount of raw emotion to make it a non-stop read. 

7. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

A warrior princess is sent to infiltrate an enemy kingdom through marriage. It’s immersive and action-packed without being too heavy.

Read It For: Incredible world-building and characters. There’s just something about this book that not only pulled me out of a slump but makes me come back again and again and again. 

8. The Kiss Thief by L.J. Shen

Dark romance fans will devour The Kiss Thief. With forced marriage, power dynamics, and emotional tension, it’s dramatic in the best way.

Read It For: If you enjoy a bit of youthful naivety, this book is a great one to keep you hooked. 

9. Nanny for the Neighbors by Lily Gold

Chaos ensues when a baby is dropped on the doorstep of three single men.

Read It For: Reverse harem, but surprisingly wholesome. 

10. Dangerous Secrets by Amy Barnett

Follows Sage, as she navigates the arranged marriage and all the secrets that follow her mafia father's death.

Read It For: Twisty plot that has you second-guessing everything until the very last page. 

11. Dangerous Promises by Amy Barnett

A follow up to Dangerous Secrets - the story continues as Sage seeks her revenge. Read book one first. Serious spoilers.

Read It For: Sure to keep you binging out of your slump after you’ve finished book one. 

12. Intent to Kill by Amy Barnett

Adam Vandemilio returns to his crime driven hometown to seek revenge and win back his love.

Read It For: The criminal underworld of 1980s tropical Floridian city makes a great backdrop to a twisty story. 

13. The Deal by Elle Kennedy

This hockey romance follows Garrett and Hannah as they make a deal to pretend to date, until it becomes a little less pretend.

Read It For: It’s fun, flirty, and incredibly readable. Exactly what you need when reading feels like a chore.

14. You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

You Deserve Each Other follows an engaged couple who secretly try to sabotage their relationship.

Read It For: The laughs. This book is witty and hilarious. 

The key to escaping a reading slump isn’t forcing yourself through “serious” books, it’s finding stories that make you feel something. Whether it’s the addictive drama of Dangerous Secrets, the swoony tension of The Hating Game, or the emotional depth of Binding 13, the right book can remind you why you fell in love with reading in the first place.

So pick one, get cozy, and don’t worry about how fast you read. Just enjoy the story. Your reading spark will come back before you know it.

Until next time

Amy <3