The Top 25 Romance Books of 2025 (with Nail Polish Pairings)

The Top 25 Romance Books of 2025 (with Nail Polish Pairings)

1. Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

Synopsis: A 23-year-old grad student and a 38-year-old successful man fall into a summer fling that tests what’s forbidden and what feels undeniable.
Trope: Age gap, forbidden romance, summer fling
Perfect OPI Pair: Got Myself into a Jam-balaya — a spicy coral-peach for daring love.

2. The Love Haters by Lara Ward Cosio

Synopsis: Two rivals bicker, clash, and eventually fall hard in this laugh-out-loud rom-com.
Trope: Enemies to lovers, rivals, opposites attract
Perfect OPI Pair: Stop It I’m Blushing! — playful pink for cheeky banter.

3. Twisted Love by Ana Huang

Synopsis: A billionaire with a dark past and a sunshine heroine collide in a love story full of secrets and danger.
Trope: Dark romance, billionaire hero, grumpy/sunshine
Perfect OPI Pair: Lincoln Park After Dark — vampy purple-black drama.

4. Wish You Weren’t Here by Christy Johnson

Synopsis: Two near-strangers fake a relationship on a tropical trip — until the fake turns very real.
Trope: Fake dating, vacation romance, forced proximity
Perfect OPI Pair: Teal the Cows Come Home — shimmery turquoise for vacation vibes.

5. Mate by Tate James

Synopsis: A paranormal hybrid finds her destined mate, only to discover fate has dangerous twists.
Trope: Fated mates, paranormal romance, possessive hero
Perfect OPI Pair: Black Cherry Chutney — stormy deep red shimmer.

6. Flirting Lessons by Penny Reid

Synopsis: A smart, funny queer rom-com about finding confidence and love in unexpected places.
Trope: Queer romance, opposites attract, slow burn
Perfect OPI Pair: Mod About You — pastel pink fresh as a crush.

7. Once You’re Mine by Claire Contreras

Synopsis: A stalker romance where obsession turns dangerously intoxicating.
Trope: Dark romance, obsession, morally grey anti-hero
Perfect OPI Pair: Midnight in Moscow — deep shimmering red-black.

8. Welcome to Pennycress Inn by Sarah Addison Fox

Synopsis: A cozy small-town inn is the perfect setting for warmth, found family, and new love.
Trope: Small-town romance, cozy vibes, found family
Perfect OPI Pair: My Chihuahua Doesn’t Bite Anymore — warm coral-red glow.

9. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Synopsis: Rival biographers in a seaside town discover love is the story they’re really writing.
Trope: Rivals to lovers, small-town, career clash
Perfect OPI Pair: You’re Such a BudaPest — romantic dusty lavender.

10. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

Synopsis: Dragons, politics, and romance collide in the third Empyrean book — a BookTok obsession.
Trope: Romantasy, dragon riders, high stakes
Perfect OPI Pair:Black Onyx — sleek and mysterious, like the supernatural pull.

11. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Synopsis: A queer astronaut romance set in the 1980s, blending space drama and intimacy.
Trope: Historical queer romance, high-concept love story
Perfect OPI Pair: Cosmo-Not Tonight Honey! — champagne pearl, space-age chic.

12. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai

Synopsis: A sweeping immigrant saga about love, longing, and connection across generations.
Trope: Literary romance, family saga, emotional depth
Perfect OPI Pair: Barefoot in Barcelona — warm neutral with cultural richness.

13. Best Woman by Rose Dommu

Synopsis: A trans rom-com full of wit, heartbreak, and joy, set against a wedding backdrop.
Trope: Rom-com, LGBTQ+ romance, wedding hijinks
Perfect OPI Pair: Pink Flamenco — bold hot pink for loud, proud love.

14. Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer

Synopsis: A camper-van road trip romance that proves home is wherever your love is.
Trope: Road trip romance, wanderlust, forced proximity
Perfect OPI Pair: Can’t Find My Czechbook — airy sky blue wanderlust.

15. Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

Synopsis: A dark romantasy of love, magic, and roses wrapped in shadow.
Trope: Dark fantasy romance, forbidden love
Perfect OPI Pair: Malaga Wine — sultry deep red.

16. The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye

Synopsis: Magical realism meets romance in a story about paper bouquets and second chances.
Trope: Magical realism, second chances, uplifting love
Perfect OPI Pair: Bubble Bath — soft blush pink for gentle hope.

17. Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings

Synopsis: A reunion romance where love gets complicated under the spotlight.
Trope: Second chance, celebrity spotlight, messy love
Perfect OPI Pair: Suzi Talks with Her Hands — bold, confident gray.

18. The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn

Synopsis: Two writers clash (and spark) in the publishing world.
Trope: Enemies to lovers, workplace romance, bookish banter
Perfect OPI Pair: I’m Not Really a Waitress — iconic bold red.

19. For the Record by Emma Lord

Synopsis: A rising musician falls in love backstage in this rockstar romance.
Trope: Rockstar romance, fame vs. love, forbidden attraction
Perfect OPI Pair: OPI Red — classic center-stage passion.

20. The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

Synopsis: A vow renewal brings two exes back together for a heartfelt second chance.
Trope: Second chance, marriage on the rocks, slow burn
Perfect OPI Pair: Alpine Snow — pure wedding-day white.

21. Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen

Synopsis: Chaotic wedding shenanigans lead to the sweetest rom-com romance.
Trope: Wedding rom-com, forced proximity, humor
Perfect OPI Pair: Big Apple Red — bold celebratory red.

22. First Time Caller by B.K. Borison

Synopsis: Two strangers begin a connection over the radio in a retro meet-cute romance.
Trope: Meet cute, retro vibes, epistolary twist
Perfect OPI Pair: Do You Lilac It? — nostalgic lilac purple.

23. Passion Project by Lobdon Sperry

Synopsis: An artist and muse discover that creativity isn’t the only spark between them.
Trope: Artist/muse, slow burn, workplace tension
Perfect OPI Pair: My Private Jet — shimmering charcoal chic.

24. Tusk Love by Thea Guazon

Synopsis: From Critical Role lore, an orc and human find love in this cult-favorite romantasy.
Trope: Romantasy, forbidden love, unlikely pair
Perfect OPI Pair: Things I’ve Seen in Aber-green — bold forest green fantasy.

25. Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey

Synopsis: A hockey rookie and a softball pitcher fake date during a wilderness competition — and the sparks are anything but fake.
Trope: Sports romance, fake dating, enemies to lovers
Perfect OPI Pair: Charged Up Cherry — bright, sporty cherry red.