Our Favorite Romances Set In Bookstores

Max Boyson looks good … from a distance. But up close and personal, the tattooed hottie Joelle Prima has been crushing on for the past year and a half has turned into the prime example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by his delectable cover. When she first learned about the massive renovation to the building they share, Joelle imagined that temporarily combining her Filipino bakery with Max’s neighboring bookstore would be the perfect opening chapter to their happily ever after. Reality, however … is quite different. But beneath Max’s grumpy glares, Joelle senses a rising heat — and a softening heart. And when they discover the real reason for the renovation, they’ll have to put both their business senses and their feelings for each other to the test.

A floating bookstore on a boat on the Seine, could there be a more perfect setting for a novel? Better yet, the bookstore is run by Monsieur Perdu, a self-described literary apothecary who can prescribe the perfect book to cure whatever ails the soul. He has helped countless people mend broken hearts and souls, but the only person he can’t seem to help, is himself.

As a self-proclaimed book hater, Drew Young didn’t anticipate inheriting her grandma’s bookstore, the Book Nook, and she’s in way over her head. Bestselling author Jasper Williams is a hopeless romantic. When he meets Drew at his Book Nook signing event, he becomes determined to show her the beauty of reading. He curates a book bucket list in exchange for her help exploring the local Denver scene for his current manuscript. When messy family ties jeopardize the future of the Book Nook, Drew is reminded that real life isn’t always big dreams and sweeping romance. But Jasper is the plot twist she never saw coming and he’s writing a happily ever after just for them.

Evie Starling needs a break from her humdrum life. So when the opportunity to take a holiday in the remote English countryside arises, and includes a job at the local bookstore, Much Ado About Books, Evie jumps at the chance. She quickly becomes enthralled with the villagers, especially Roane Robson, the local farmer who may make the prospect of going back to her real life impossible.

Despite managing bookstores on the same Boston street, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much — Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer. As their rivalry heats up, Josie and Ryan realize not all’s fair in love and war. And maybe, if they’re lucky, happily ever afters aren’t just for the books.

Thea Mottram is at a crossroads in life and decides to visit Scotland to take over her uncle’s home and antique book collection. She gets along with everyone except for the local bookshop owner whom she hopes to sell her uncle’s book collection. However, bickering with him leads to feelings she hasn’t experienced in a long time, and her short visit to Scotland may not be so short after all.

Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha’s Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in the Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series is a dream come true. If only she didn’t have to deal with Siobhan’s son, Kieran. He manages Siobhan’s bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn’t want Em around. Emily persists, and spending her days bantering with the annoyingly handsome mercurial Irishman only makes her fall more deeply in love with the new life she’s built. But as Siobhan’s novel progresses, Emily will have to decide if she’s truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.

Nina has everything she wants in life: A job in a bookstore, a great trivia team, and of course her cat Phil. When the father she never knew suddenly dies, she finds out she has family close by excited to meet her. Dreading to come out of her comfortable shell, Nina will have to decide if she’s ready to get to know new people in her life, including a potential suitor.

Their relationship is a publicity stunt. Only one of them knows it … When a former child actress meets a West Village bookseller, sparks fly and complications ensue in this queer homage to Notting Hill by the author of Just as You Are. But what’s meant to be temporary quickly turns into real feelings for both women. As the media scrutiny intensifies, each must decide what’s real, what’s not, and if true love is worth losing everything they believe is keeping them safe.