We had well over 3,000 votes in the first two rounds of this poll – wow! We knew you all were passionate about romance, but wow! We’ve now taken the top 150 books from both rounds and presented them here. This combines the starter nominations provided in Round One and the write-ins from Round Two and we ask you to vote for as many in this top 150 as you like. Every book you think belongs on a Reader Poll Top 100, tick that box!
From this, we’ll take the Top 100 and that will be our list. We’ll give you all one more chance to decide the ranking of the top 10 in the next round (Four), but this round is what determines the overall list. So, please – share it far and wide!
I am very happy with this list. Let the readers weigh in!
I am pretty stunned no Anne Stuart books made this list. That seems very odd.
There are quite a few authors I am surprised aren’t on it and some like Tessa Dare that I didn’t realize were so popular. I always find these lists really fascinating. Thanks again for all the hard work you all put into this!
No Stella Riley!? Can’t be right!
I’m shaking my head along with you on that one.
She’s not that well-known across the pond……
Yeah, sorry Caz, I’ve never heard of her!
Impossible!
Outrageous!
I really like this list, as it features a nice balance between older and newer romances.
I too was disappointed that Anne Stuart is missing as she is a longtime favorite, but perhaps there is not one single title that really stands out to readers. I think there was only one Meredith Duran here, and her _At Your Pleasure_ didn’t make the list, which is disappointing as I adore that book. I wish too that Elizabeth Kingston’s _The King’s Man_ made it. No Susanna Kearsley either.
On other other hand, my three favorite contemporaries, Penny Reid’s _Dating-ish_, Sally Thorne’s _The Hating Game_, and Lucy Parker’s _Pretty Face_ are all here along with lots of my favorite historicals. Can’t wait to see the final list soon.
Two Meredith Durans, thank heavens.
A Lady’s Code of Misconduct and The Duke of Shadows–her first and her second most recent. I do wonder if the Anne Stuart absence is somewhat attributable to the fact that she writes series. But no Black Ice? Or Reckless? Color me shocked.
Other authors I think were perhaps stunted by the series problem–Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins. They are huge sellers but both are known for multiple books.
There you go… Next in line? Top 20 Romance Series. ;)
We are actually planning that!
Did I miss Judith Ivory, or were there no Judith Ivorys on the list? And only one Kinsale?
I know! The lack of more Kinsales on the list is sad.
I too am very sorry to see Judith Ivory fading in popularity. She is still one of my favorites. _Untie My Heart_ is still in my Top 10. Happy though that _Flowers from the Storm_ is still in the mix.
You’re right! I absolutely loved “Dance”.
There are a lot of new authors in the list, which is great, but I still miss some of the original ladies. I found odd there’s not a single Lindsey in the list.
Interesting mix of books. I was pretty happy that some of my favorites were on there. I almost voted for Anne Stuart’s Reckless in the earlier voting, but for whatever reason I just didn’t.
I don’t see Alice Clayton’s Wallbanger on the list. It’s a fun read with good humor and one of my favorites to reread.
Here is the list: A Court of Mist and Fury – Sarah J. Maas A Duke of Her Own – Eloisa James A Gentleman’s Position – K.J. Charles A Hope Divided – Alyssa Cole A Hunger Like No Other – Kresley Cole A Lady Awakened – Cecilia Grant A Lady’s Code of Misconduct – Meredith Duran A Princess in Theory – Alyssa Cole A Promise of Fire – Amanda Bouchet A Rogue By Any Other Name – Sarah MacLean A Seditious Affair – K.J. Charles A Summer to Remember – Mary Balogh A Week to Be Wicked – Tessa Dare Act Like It – Lucy Parker Ain’t She Sweet – Susan Elizabeth Phillips Almost Heaven – Judith McNaught An Extraordinary Union – Alyssa Cole An Unnatural Vice – K.J. Charles Angels Blood – Nalini Singh Any Duchess Will Do – Tessa Dare Anyone But You – Jennifer Crusie Archangel’s Enigma – Nalini Singh Beard Science – Penny Reid Bet Me – Jennie Crusie Blue Eyed Devil – Lisa Kleypas Bollywood Affair – Sonali Dev Burn for Me – Ilona Andrews Dark Lover – J.R. Ward Dating-ish – Penny Reid Devil in Spring – Lisa Kleypas Devil in Winter – Lisa Kleypas Devil’s Bride – Stephanie Laurens Devil’s Cub – Georgette Heyer Do You Want to Start a Scandal – Tessa Dare Dragon Bound – Thea Harrison Dream a Little Dream – Susan Elizabeth Phillips Dream Man – Linda Howard Dreaming of You – Lisa Kleypas Duke of Midnight – Elizabeth Hoyt Duke of Sin – Elizabeth Hoyt Eleanor and Park – Rainbow Rowell Flowers from the Storm – Laura Kinsale Forbidden – Beverly Jenkins Frederica – Georgette Heyer Hate To Want You – Alisha Rai Heart of Obsidian – Nalini Singh Heaven Texas – Susan Elizabeth Phillips Him – Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy His at Night – Sherry Thomas It Had to Be You – Susan Elizabeth Phillips It Happened One Autumn – Lisa Kleypas It Happened One Wedding – Julie James Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte Kingdom of Dreams – Judith McNaught Kiss an Angel – Susan Elizabeth Phillips Kiss of Snow – Nalini Singh Knight in Shining Armor – Jude Deveraux Kulti – Mariana Zapata Lady Sophia’s Lover – Lisa Kleypas Lord of Scoundrels – Loretta Chase Lord Perfect – Loretta Chase Love Hacked – Penny Reid Love in the Afternoon – Lisa Kleypas Love Irresistibly – Julie James Lover Awakened – J.R. Ward Mackenzie’s Mountain – Linda Howard Magic Binds – Ilona Andrews Married by Morning – Lisa Klepas Marrying Winterborne – Lisa Kleypas Match Me If You Can – Susan Elizabeth Philips Mine ‘Til Midnight – Lisa Kleypas Miss Wonderful – Loretta Chase Montana Sky – Nora Roberts More than a Mistress – Mary Balogh Mr. Impossible – Loretta Chase Mr. Perfect – Linda Howard Naked in Death – J.D. Robb Natural Born Charmer – Susan Elizabeth Philips Neaderthal Seeks Human – Penny Reid Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover – Sarah MacLean Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake – Sarah MacLean Nobody’s Baby But Mine – Susan Elizabeth Phillips Not Quite a Husband – Sherry Thomas Once and Always – Judith McNaught One Good Earl Deserves a Lover – Sarah MacLean Outlander – Diana Gabaldon Paradise – Judith McNaught Persuasion – Jane Austen Pretty Face – Lucy Parker Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen Private Arrangements – Sherry Thomas Radiance – Grace Draven Ransom – Julie Garwood Ravished – Amanda Quick Ravishing the Heiress – Sherry Thomas Rock Hard – Nalini Singh Romancing Mr. Bridgerton – Julia Quinn Romancing the Duke – Tessa Dare Sea Swept – Nora Roberts Secrets of a Summer Night – Lisa Kleypas Simply Love – Mary Balogh Slave to Sensation – Nalini Singh Slightly Dangerous – Mary Balogh Smooth Talking Stranger- Lisa Kleypas Something about You – Julie James Something Wonderful – Judith McNaught Spectred Isle – K.J. Charles Sylvester – Georgette Heyer Tempest – Beverly Jenkins The Black Hawk – Joanna Bourne The Bride – Julie Garwood The Countess Conspiracy – Courtney Milan The Duchess Deal – Tessa Dare The Duke and I – Julia Quinn The Duke of Shadows – Meredith Duran The Forbidden Rose – Joanna Bourne The Governess Affair – Courtney Milan The Grand Sophy – Georgette Heyer The Hating Game – Sally Thorne The Heiress Effect – Courtney Milan The Iron Duke – Meljean Brook The Last Hellion – Loretta Chase The Legend of Lyon Redmond – Julie Anne Long The… Read more »
No Michelle Martins, Carla Kellys or any of the older trads. Woe!
No Carla Kelly shocked me, too, along with no Anne Stuart.
I think Carla Kelly is someone that suffers from not having one book that everyone agrees upon. She has a lot of different books that are peoples favorites but not one breakout, runaway favorite. I had a hard time choosing just one of hers as a write in on my ballot as there are several of hers I dearly love.
Shaking my head. This is so sad… No Judith Ivory or more books by Laura Kinsale? No Anne Stuart, Charlotte Brontë, Marsha Canham, Karleen Koen, Jennifer Donnelly, Jean Webster, Stella Rilley, Julianne Donaldson, Lavyrle Spencer, Judith Merkle Riley, Eva Ibbotson, Victoria Holt, M.M. Kaye, Laura Florand, Sharon Shinn, Susanna Kearsley, Robin Schone, Suzanne Brockmann, Jojo Moyes, Sarra Manning, Sophie Kinsella, Patricia Briggs. Karen Marie Moning, Laura Griffin, Sandra Brown…
I’m sorry but this is a mediocre list.
The NPR Best 100 Romance Novels list is the best of all.
I agree with you, not necessarily about the authors left out but about the lack of variety overall. If a novice romance reader were to tackle the books on this list they would come away with a pretty narrow impression of the genre. Do we really need that many titles by Quinn, Milan, Balogh, Charles, etc? I guess people vote how they vote, but the methodology seems flawed somehow if this is what it comes up with.
I’m from Spain. Maybe our standards about this topic are different here. No offence but IMHO this list justifies mental laziness and robbing readers of the true delights of ambitious fiction in the romance genre. I prefer to read a romance where the characters bring more to the table than just passion and sexual frustration. It’s time we stopped this pretence that mediocrity is equal to genius and that applies to the 85% of this list.
And yes, the methodology seems flawed but since I can’t take this list seriously, I couldn’t care less for the final outcome.
Have a look at the NPR top 100 Romances. It’s a great list.
via GIPHY
Take all you need my dear. Like Volatire once said: I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it…
By all means, share with us your far superior Spanish list.
You don’t have to like her opinion, but you should try to respect it. If you have a differing opinion, then great! While we should embrace our own opinions; we should also embrace the fact that everyone has different ones.
I agree with her. This list is awful. Top list my ass.
@Jill – It’s not her opinion that I take issue with. It’s her condescending, superior attitude that offends me. I don’t have to respect anyone who doesn’t respect others.
>Check’s NPR’s List
>List Overlaps AAR’s by about fifty percent and includes Suzanne Brockman’s mostly mediocre Troubleshooters series, Joanna Lindsay’s terrible Warrior’s Woman and at least one erotic romance.
>??
This is a list that is voted for by anyone who cares to take the time to press a button, so of course it’s going to have a number of currently popular choices. It’s not a “Siskel and Ebert” top 100 of anything by a professional reviewer. It’s a populist list. The point of it is to put a finger on the pulse of what romance buyers and readers like. There are tons of lists chosen by “experts” in the writing or romance field all over the internet if that is what you are looking for.
But thanks I guess for taking the time to post “you just don’t care”?
via GIPHY
Charlotte Bronte is on the list.
As well she should be. :-D
“Jane Eyre” was written by Charlotte Bronte. She’s on the list.
I didn’t see it at first. I can sleep peacefully now.
I’m so happy for you…..
Brockmann, Kinsella and Donaldson are mediocre, I’ve never heard of Florand or Shinn and Kearsley and Spencer were on the first top one hundred, which will be combined with this list.
I highly recommend Florand and Kearsley — two of my favorites. (Sorry, I’ve not read Shinn.) Please give them a try. They might end up on your top 100 list.
This is the list that is combined with the first two polls. From this list will come the Top 100. There will be a final poll to determine the top ten.
Ok, I hate to be the pedantic grinch here, but titles that begin with A, AN, or THE should always be alphabetized by the first letter of the second word; as in: DEVIL’S CUB, THE. There are just too many titles that begin with those articles to make alphabetizing by them feasible. (Sorry—twenty years in the tech-writing/copy-editing world die hard.)
Also, I’ve decided that my favorites are apparently not the favorites of my romance-reading sisters. No Anne Calhoun, Jill Sorenson, Jackie Ashenden? Oh dear.
This is the auto-sort by the high-end survey program we used. But we hear you.
I’ve read 57 of the titles on the list. At least I think so – I read most of those long ago when I could still find historicals I liked, and the irritatingly generic titles of series romance novels all blend into each other so that for some of them I’m not entirely sure if I’m remembering the right book. (I didn’t love any of those enough to vote for them so it wasn’t worth looking them up to check.)
I actually voted for 18, and some of those with misgivings since I don’t know how they would stand up to a reread now. But I loved them once, and nothing has come along to outshine them in my memory, so I suppose that counts for something. Certain authors like Julia Quinn and Mary Balogh get on my last nerve now, so I voted for my most fondly remembered of their books, from before I became jaded, or they did…..
I wonder if other readers are like me and vote for the recent reads that I know I love right now, plus old favourites that may be benefiting from rosy nostalgia?
Twinsies.
I agree with Dabney’s comment that some authors were disadvantaged by the series issue. I suspect many consistent authors who have several good series to their names will have their votes scattered among the series and, within a series, among individual titles. It could be that onlywhen voters focus in on say the first title in a series eg Naked in Death by J.D. Robb does the author attract sufficient votes to make the list. Perhaps we could have a blog discussion about various authors eg Nora Roberts, Mary Balogh etc and which series of theirs are the best. I always find it interesting to read people’s ideas about which are the best series by particular authors. If nothing else it gives me a suggested starting point for a new (to me) author.
It’s nice to see Judith McNaught hasn’t been forgotten since she hasn’t published anything new in years. Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Lisa Kleypas are a given on most “best” lists, but I’m also glad to see authors such as Julie James, Meredith Duran, Sherry Thomas & Joanna Bourne recognized.
I’m a little surprised that there aren’t more of Julie Anne Long’s books on the list. She has so many really good ones. I don’t think it’s because she writes series books; most stand on their own.
Yeah, with apologies, I would definitely not consider this list a true representation of the top authors and/or books in this genre, especially since so many very good writers have been left out and others have multiple books on the list, which must mean they’re work is more representative of the best. I have nothing against these ladies, but five Tessa Dares, four Sarah MacLeans, eight SEPs, twelve Lisa Kleypas?! Meanwhile, only one Kinsale and no Kearsley? My!
I think this always happens when it’s lists voted on and open to anyone. No matter what the subject. People who have read only one or two romances so far in their life but really liked them can vote for them. It’s like comparing “best restaurant” lists between profession food reviewers or bloggers or ones where anyone can vote. The populist lists often times find things like Olive Garden winning “Best Italian Restaurant” for the area and people get mad. But for a lot of people that’s what they know and like and that’s how they vote. I think this poll is really interesting and valuable but it’s like comparing the People’s Choice Awards or MTV Movie awards to the Oscars.
^^ This!
Maybe the title should be changed to the 100 romance people’s choice for this year and not the top 100 romances (of all time) … because, seriously, it really is not. Not even close.
We have used that term every time we’ve done this over the past 20+ years. We can have a discussion about what top means to each of us–is it what is most popular? best selling? best known? most lauded by academics? most likely to change the world? most loved? In this poll, top means the ones thousands of romance readers picked as the ones they felt justified being called “Top.”
no apologies necessary, Sandylynn! whether it’s a true representation or not, it’s what the readers are saying are the top of the genre. they wrote in their picks and they are voting for those titles in every round. lots of currently popular reads, others maybe just voting for favourite authors (of which, yes, there are multiples!), some cult faves, and lots of nostalgia factor. it’s been interesting to watch!
As someone who’s been reading romance since the 1970’s, I don’t know. I might have put about 20 of these books on my top 100 list and that’s being generous. It’s okay. I know what I like, but I’m just a little sorry that new romance readers aren’t getting a list that includes more really good authors instead of 12 books by one author, for example.
Marianna Zapata has two books here in this 3rd round. I haven’t read her books yet but I definitely want to change that.