Endearing College Romance Books

College overachiever, Summer Preston, dreams of becoming a sport psychologist. Unfortunately, her thesis professor just assigned her to cover the school’s hockey team for her research project. If there’s one thing she hates more than the sport, it’s the team’s captain, Aiden Crawford. Together, the two embark on a journey of self-discovery while unexpectedly falling for each other. Academic pressures and societal expectations are woven into this laugh-out-loud, enemies-to-lovers novel.

Named one of the 100 best YA novels of all time by Time, Nina LaCour’s award-winning story follows Marin, a college freshman struggling to move on after tragedy. When her best friend, Mabel, travels across the country to visit her, Marin has to face everything she’s been running away from headfirst. Emotionally heartbreaking, this poignant novel touches on themes like grief, loss, loneliness, and the importance of mental health.

Calling all dark academia lovers, this one is for you! This collection of short stories from acclaimed authors like Olivia Blake, Susie Yang, M.L. Rio, and more, features tales that dive into the sinister side of academia. Mysterious professors, halls full of hidden secrets, and forbidden romances can all be found here! Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, Ninth House, and The Magicians.

Whitney Curry is primed to have an epic semester abroad. She’s created the perfect itinerary after collecting every detail possible about Paris. Thus, she anticipates a grand adventure filled with vintage boutiques, her idol Josephine Baker’s old stomping grounds, and endless plays sure to inspire the ones she writes and directs! But all is not as she imagined when she’s dropped off at her prestigious new Parisian lycée. A fish out of water, Whitney struggles to juggle schoolwork, homesickness, and mastering the French language. Cue French tutor Thierry Magnon, a grumpy yet très handsome soccer star, who’s determined to show Whitney what she’s missing.

The love life of a university professor gets complicated when she ends up falling for the one guy with the power to destroy her career. With the perfect balance of humor, romance, and emotional depth, this heartwarming and uplifting story is about finding love and reclaiming life after tragedy.

This sparkling debut features a Taylor Swift-loving female protagonist, Rosie, as she heads to NYC to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. Unfortunately, her professor just assigned her to co-write a novel with her academic rival, Aidan. Tensions rise, but sparks also fly. This sweet and brilliantly crafted story is perfect for Elle Kennedy and Christina Lauren fans.

A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and a New York Times bestseller, Batuman’s debut novel follows Selin, the daughter of Turkish immigrants and a freshman at Harvard, as she balances academia and budding romantic relationships in the 1990s. Themes of romanticism versus reality and stepping into the adult world are beautifully portrayed in this coming-of-age story.

This TikTok sensation has it all: A slow-burn romance featuring opposites attract characters. Kendall Holiday is an introverted bookworm and Vincent Knight is the college’s popular basketball star. Their paths cross one night at the library where Kendall works. They may not have a lot in common, but their chemistry is undeniable. Fast-paced, full of witty banter, and a hint of spice, this sweet story will leave you with warm, feel-good feelings.

Named one of the best novels of the decade by Entertainment Weekly, this touching story explores the intricacies of friendship and love through Connell and Marianne, two Irish teenagers who grew up together and find themselves constantly crossing each other’s orbits. Themes of class differences, self-identity, and the emotional intricacies of relationships can be found within Rooney’s signature minimalist prose. This reflective and complex story has been adapted into an Emmy-nominated Hulu original series starring Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

Need more Sally Rooney? Dive into her bestselling debut novel, which was also adapted into a Hulu original series starring Alison Oliver, Sasha Lane, and Joe Alwyn. Frances is a 21-year-old college student in Dublin studying writing. Her world is rocked when she and her best friend, Bobbi, connect with an older married couple. Romantic entanglements flare between the four, and Frances’s life is changed forever. With her masterful prose, Rooney delivers beautifully complex, flawed, and relatable characters.

From Ali Hazelwood, AKA the queen of STEMinists, comes one of BookTok’s most popular romance novels. Somehow Stanford University Ph.D. student Olive Smith has found herself in a fauxmance with Adam Carlson, the school’s hotshot professor. With fake dating, grumpy meets sunshine, and lovable beta couples, it’s easy to see why this romance novel has become one of the most popular of its generation.

Opposites attract in this refreshing and smart contemporary romance! MBA student Caroline Sedlac and artist Adrian Landry may have met via an escort site, but romance is the last thing on the table. Caroline has a lot of money, but little life experience. She’s hoping Adrian will change that. Putting a new spin on the sugar daddy trope, this whimsical love story is perfect for Emily Henry and Talia Hibbert fans.

Hannah Grace and Elle Kennedy fans are sure to fall in love with this steamy sports romance! Maddie and Cameron’s spring break results in a friends-with-benefits agreement. But it’s not long before they really start to fall for each other. There’s just one problem, Maddie’s overprotective big brother also happens to be Cameron’s best friend. Told through dual POVs, this playfully fun read will keep you hooked until the last page!

Hailed as one of Vogue‘s most anticipated books, this coming-of-age story features Rachel, a university student in Ireland facing the complexities of the real world. Youthful idealizations clash with harsh realities as Rachel navigates financial woes, an affair with her married professor, and class dynamics. In Rachel’s realism, she’s relatable, witty, and even humorous in this novel the New York Times called “a gratifying, accomplished novel.”

Welcome to Scholomance, where students’ survival isn’t guaranteed. The school is ruthless, and monsters lurk at every corner. Refusing to use her power to kill, El Higgins struggles to survive in this perilous place. But for her rival, Orion Lake, she’s reconsidering this rule. Dark, witty, and full of immersive world-building, this enemies-to-lovers fantasy read is perfect for both YA and adult readers.