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Happy New Year, friends! I read so many amazing romances this past year, some of which I already recommended this past summer, so it was a huge struggle to try and narrow down my top 10 but somehow, I managed. I’ll likely need to follow up with a post about my honorable mentions because there were just so many books that I wanted to feature. I even waded into the waters of reel-making and tried my hand at making a reel to showcase this list:
The following list is not in any particular order (I had a hard enough time narrowing down this list, I wouldn’t even know where to begin with ranking them), but here are my top 10 favorite romances I read in 2021:
1. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
A grumpy/sunshine (one of my favorite tropes), enemies-to-lovers, Schitt’s Creek-inspired romance, this is a must-read if you like dirty-talking heroes and great character development.
2. Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
Another grumpy/sunshine (are you noticing a pattern?), enemies-to-lovers romance with forced proximity and a whole lotta heart and depth. Find my full review here!
3. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Grumpy/sunshine, but make it academic, and add in a healthy dose of pining. Find my full review here!
4. The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle
Yep, you guessed it—grumpy/sunshine. But also really sweet and such an easy story to get wrapped up in. Find my full review here!
5. To Have and to Hate by R.S. Grey
Grumpy/sunshine (shocking, I know), with a marriage-of-convenience and age gap—so, basically, my dream book.
6. Isn’t it Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams
The Russian finally got his book! Truly the best in an already phenomenal series, this is a must-read for fans of the other books. Find my mini review here!
7. A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria
Second chance romance, bisexual representation, amazing steam—what more can you ask for? Find my full review here!
8. The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
I think this book taught me what love is. Find my full review here!
9. To Sir, with Love by Lauren Layne
This You’ve Got Mail retelling is as much a love letter to the original, as it is its own, sweet love story.
10. The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George
Pining and slow burn set against the gilded age—in short, perfection. Find my mini review here!
What were some of your favorite romances from 2021?
I received a review copy of The Charm Offensive from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has not impacted or influenced my opinions.
![Mediocre is a very comprehensive, well-researched book that turned so many things that I had taken for granted as being part of "history" on their head. It is thought-provoking and resonant while still feeling accessible. I ultimately gave this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for a couple of reasons, the first being that I found the way it was organized to be difficult to track, and the second being that while I really appreciated this book I didn't love how Oluo brushed past and even seemed to excuse Representative Omar's comments about Israel as being subject to misinterpretation. It is absolutely possible to appreciate the good that elected officials do while also still unpacking the harm that their words can also do.
[ID: Sarah holds up a copy of Mediocre—a book about the dangerous legacy of white male America—over her lap, sitting cross-legged on her bed. A blue cover of a book can be seen out of focus in the background]](https://thehireader.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)