Are you new to romance books and looking for the best romance books to read? Don’t Worry! We have compiled a list of 30 Romance Books to Read Online for Free without spending a dime.
Avid romance novel readers can also find romance books that are worth reading in this list. We compiled this list considering all popular subgenres of romance novels, from free classic romance novels to historical romance novels online free, and other subgenres of romance.
In this article, we will not only provide you with free romance books to read online, but we will also share with you some of the best websites to read or download romance books. Without any further ado, let’s get started!
What are Romance Books?
Romance books are fictional books that focus on the development of a romantic relationship between two people.
Romance books can be categorized into different subgenres, which include:
- Contemporary Romance
- Historical Romance
- Paranormal Romance
- Romantic Suspense
- Regency Romance
- Inspirational Romance
- Science Fiction Romance
- Erotic Romance
- Young Adult Romance e.t.c.
List of the Top 10 Websites to Read/Download Romance Books for Free
All thanks to the websites that provide free romantic novels, you can now get romance books without spending a dime.
Below are the 10 best sites to read or download romance books for free:
List of Romance Books to Read Online for Free
Below are the 30 romance books to read online for free:
#1. Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: June 1, 1991.
Outlander set around the time of the Second World War, centers on Claire Beauchamp, an ex-army nurse, who travels through time to 1743 while on a second honeymoon with her husband. During the time travel, Claire meets and falls in love with Jamie Fraser.
Outlander is the first novel in the Outlander series. The novel won the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Best Romance of 1991.
#2. Jane Eyre
Author: Charlotte Bronte
Sub Genre: Gothic Romance
Publication Date: 16 October 1847.
Jane Eyre tells the story of Jane Eyre, a young orphan raised by Mrs. Reel, her cruel, wealthy aunt, and her lover Mr. Rochester, the bloody master of Thornfield Hall.
#3. Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: 5 January 2012.
Me Before You tells the story of Louisa Clark, who unfortunately lost her job at a cafe after the owner announced that he was closing the shop. She takes a badly needed job from Will Traynor, who became paralyzed after a motorcycle accident.
#4. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
Author: Sarah MacLean
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: 30 March 2010.
The novel tells the story of Lady Calpurnia Hartnell, a lady who is tired of following the rules and decides to break all the rules and start living the life she has been missing.
To do this, Callie will need a partner, this is when Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston was introduced to the story.
#5. Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Sub Genre: Regency Romance
Publication Date: 28 January 1813.
Pride and Prejudice are set in the rural parts of England in the 19th century. The novel centers on the relationship between Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich landowner, and Elizabeth Bennet, the younger daughter of a country gentleman.
Pride and Prejudice is one of the most popular novels and among Jane Austen’s most popular novels.
#6. Sense and Sensibility
Author: Jane Austen
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: 1811.
Sense and Sensibility tell the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, as they come of age.
The novel also revolves around Marianne, their sister, and John, their half-brother.
#7. The Thorn Birds
Author: Colleen McCullough
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: April 1977.
The Thorn Birds is set primarily in Drogheden, a fictional sheep station in Australia. This novel focus on the clearly family, especially the only daughter, Meghann “Meggie” Cleary.
According to Wikipedia, the novel is the best-selling book in Australian history and has sold over 33 million copies worldwide.
#8. Vision in White
Author: Nora Roberts
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: 28 April 2009.
Vision in White is the first book in the Bride Quartet series, followed by Bed of Roses.
The Bride Quartet series centers around a wedding planning enterprise owned by four childhood friends. Vision in White tells the love story of Mackensie “Mac” Elliot, a wedding photographer, and Carter Maguire, an English professor.
#9. A Walk to Remember
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: October 1999.
A Walk to Remember is about the romantic relationship between two teenagers, Landon Carter, who is a high school rebel, and Jamie Sullivan, a Reverend’s daughter.
The novel is one of those romance novels that will make you cry. So, be ready.
#10. Bared to You
Author: Sylvia Day
Sub Genres: Contemporary Romance, Erotica Romance
Publication Date: 3 April 2012.
Bared to You centers around Eva Tramell, a twenty-four-year-old woman, who was sexually abused in her childhood. Eva finds it difficult to forget about her past.
She eventually fell in love with Gideon Cross, a young billionaire, who is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. The two lovers must find a way to heal each other so they can build a healthy relationship.
Bared to You is the first book in the Crossfire series, followed by “Reflected in You”, which was published in October 2012.
#11. Dark Lover
Author: J.R. Ward
Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publication Date: February 19, 2005.
The novel revolves around the romantic relationship between Wrath, the only purebred vampire left on the planet, and Beth Randell, a half-breed who is unaware of her heritage.
Dark Lover is the first book in the “Black Dagger Brotherhood” series.
#12. The Time Traveller’s Wife
Author: Audrey Niffenegger
Sub Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Publication Date: 2003.
The Time Traveller’s Wife tells the story of Henry de Tambe, a man with a genetic disorder that let him travel through time involuntarily, and His wife, Clare Abshire, who has to cope with his disorder.
The novel had received several nominations and won two awards: Exclusive Books Boeke Prize and a British Book Award.
#13. The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Sub Genre: Young Adult Romance, Realistic Fiction
Publication Date: January 10, 2012.
The Fault in Our Stars tells the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl with thyroid cancer that spread across her lungs.
Hazel attends a cancer support group where she meets and falls in love with Augustus Waters, a 17-year-old boy, who is a survivor of osteosarcoma.
#14. The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult Romance
Publication Date: May 11, 2004.
The Truth About Forever tells the story of a young lady, Mary Queen, who is trying to recover from the sudden loss of her father and also say goodbye to her lover, Jason who is going away to Brain Champ.
The author, Sarah Dessen thinks “Truth About Forever” is the most complicated book she has written and was definitely the hardest.
#15. Emma
Author: Jane Austen
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: December 1815.
The novel revolves around Emma Woodhouse who decides to start matchmaking after her friend and former governess, Miss Taylor married Mr. Westin, a rich widower. Her matchmaking abilities had a lot of devasting effects.
Emma is the fourth novel written by Jane Austen, published in three volumes.
#16. Along for the Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Sub Genres: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult Romance
Publication Date: June 16, 2009.
Along for the Ride is about Auden West, who just finished high school and decides to spend her summer before college in the beach town of Colby, where her father, his wife, and new baby live.
Austen met with Eli, an intriguing loner, and a fellow insomniac, and starts spending her nights with him to make up for her lost childhood.
#17. Bet Me
Author: Jennifer Cruise
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: 2004
Bet Me is about Minerea “Min” Dobbs, a 33-year-old woman who got dumped by her boyfriend, David, three weeks before her sister’s wedding.
David ended their relationship because Min refused to have sex with him. To get back at Min, David bets Calvin “Cal” Morrisey $10,000 that he can’t get Min into bed within a month. Fortunately, Min overheard their conversations and decides to play along.
Bet Me won a Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Contemporary Single Title in 2005.
#18. What I Did for a Duke
Author: Julie Anne Long
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: 2011.
The novel tells the love story of Genevieve Eversea and Alexander Moncrieffe, the Duke of Falconbridge. Genevieve Eversea has been in love with Lord Harry Osborne for three years. Henry has all the qualities Genevieve is looking for in a man.
Genevieve was expecting Harry to propose to her but Harry told her he has plans to propose to her best friend Lady Millicent Blekenship. This made Genevieve devasted.
After Alexander caught Ian Eversea, Genevieve’s brother in bed with his fiance, he decides to revenge by ruining Ian’s Sister, Genevieve.
What I Did for a Duke is the fifth book in the Pennyroyal series. If you love to read enemies turned lovers romance novels, then you will enjoy this novel.
#19. The Duchess War
Author: Courtney Milan
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: December 6, 2012.
The Duchess War is the first novel in the “The Brother Sinister” series.
The novel tells the love story of Robert Blaisdell, the North Duke of Claremont, a man who is determined to repair the wrongs committed by his father, and Wilhelmina “Minne” Purshling, a woman who has dark secrets.
#20. Lord of Scoundrels
Author: Loretta Chase
Sub Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Publication Date: 1995.
The novel tells the love story of Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain, and Jessica Trent, a beautiful young woman, who is determined to save her nitwit brother, Bertie, from the destructive influence of Sebastian.
Lord of Scoundrels is volume 3 of the Scoundrels Series. The novel won a Romance Writers of America RITA Award for “Best Short Historical” in 1995.
#21. Morning Glory
Author: Lavyrle Spencer
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: March 26, 1998.
Morning Glory is about the romantic relationship between Will Parker, a man who served time for killing a Texas prostitute, and Ellie Dinsmore, a widow, pregnant, with two small boys, living on a ramshackle farm.
#22. The Hating Game
Author: Sally Throne
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: August 9, 2016.
The novel centers on the hate (later turned love) relationship between Lucy and Josh, who works for a book publishing company and share an office.
#23. The Viscount Who Loves Me
Author: Julia Quinn
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: 5 December 2000.
At 29 years of age, Anthony Bridgerton decides it’s time to marry and carry on the family line. Anthony is scared of falling in love because he believes he will die young like his father.
He plans to marry Edwina Sheffield but her sister, Katherine “Kate” Sheffield thinks he’s not good enough for her sister and won’t let him marry her.
Anthony and Kate despise each other but eventually, Kate falls in love with Anthony.
#24. The Notebook
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: October 1, 1996.
Allie, a woman who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease can’t remember Noah, her lover. Everyday Noah comes to read from an old notebook to her. The notebook contains their love story. Noah reads to her, hoping that one day she will remember him.
#25. The Kiss Quotient
Author: Helen Hoang
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: June 5, 2018.
The Kiss Quotient is about Stella Lane, an autistic woman who hired an escort, Michael Plan to practice intimacy with other people.
#26. The Bride Test
Author: Helen Hoang
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: 7 May 2019.
The Bride Test is about Esme Tran, a hotel maid, and Khai Diep, an autistic man who is convinced he can’t love. While in search of a better life for herself and her daughter, Esme agrees to be in an arranged marriage with Khai Diep.
#27. The Wedding Date
Author: Jasmine Guillory
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: 30 January 2018.
The Wedding Date is the first series in the Wedding Date series, followed by The Proposal.
The novel tells the love story of Alexa and Drew. Alex and Drew get stuck in an elevator, before they are freed, she agrees to pretend to be his fake girlfriend at his ex’s wedding.
#28. It Ends with Us
Author: Colleen Hoover
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: 2 August 2016.
It Ends with Us tells the story of Lily, a young college graduate living in Boston. Lily met Ryle Kincaid, a resident surgeon. As she is developing feelings for Ryle, Atlas, her first love, reappears and challenges the relationship between Lily and Ryle.
#29. The Love Hypothesis
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: 14 September 2021.
The Love Hypothesis is about Olive, a Ph.D. student who wants to convince her best friend that she has moved on and she is dating. In an attempt to prove this, She kisses Dr. Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor, and well-known ass.
After the kiss, Adam and Olive agree to fake a relationship to prove to her friend that she’s happily dating.
The Love Hypothesis has received a lot of positive reviews from Entertainment Weekly, Shelf Awareness, and Publishers Weekly.
It was named Amazon’s Best Romance Novel of 2021.
#30. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: June 13, 2007.
Monique Grant, an unknown magazine reporter, is selected by Evelyn Hugo, an old Hollywood movie icon, to write a biography of her life which will contain all the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life, and of course about her seven husbands.
Monique doesn’t know why she was chosen but she is determined to use the opportunity to jumpstart get her career. But unknown to her that her life intersects with Evelyn’s own in a tragic and irreversible way.
We Also Recommend:
Conclusion
These free romance books are provided by free websites to download books online. You can either read it online or download it.
Regardless of the type of romance books you read, there are several websites to find romance books, some of which we have mentioned in this article.
The good news is most of these websites are free to use, which means you no longer have to pay to get romance books.
We have now come to the end of this article, which of these romance books is your favorite? Let us know in the Comment Section.