# Rakish Leads, Romance Reads
It's almost Valentine's Day but really, any day is a good day for a romance read. But with so many titles to choose from, where do you even start?
With Bridgerton (Season 4, Part 2) coming out later this month, you might be in the mood for a Historical (or Alternate History) Romance. Shondaland isn't the only place to find inclusive historical romance. And if you like a bit of fantasy mixed in with your romance, you're spoiled for choice.
Sports romance is also trending, especially with the popularity of Rachel Reid's Game Changer series (the inspiration for the hit TV series, Heated Rivalry). But maybe you've already read all of those books (or you've already placed a hold). Now what?
There are great read-alikes like Emily Rath's Jacksonville Rays series (with a bonus local tie-in). But there are also tons of other titles, with everything from hockey players to baseballers.
If all else fails, go on a "Blind Date with a Book." Look for these and other themed displays at your local library. However, if you'd prefer to choose your rake, rogue or romance sub-genre, keep reading!
Read More of What You Like with Novelist Plus
Want to get matched to books based on your interests, mood, and vibe—with lists and read-alikes curated by real book lovers? With Novelist Plus, you can mix and match your favorite genres, themes, and subjects to find your next read.
For a quick, ready-made list, try some of their Curated Lists like:
Note: After you log in to Novelist with your library card and PIN, click on "Access Options" to see which of the recommended titles from each list are available in the Library's catalog. You can also click on the "Title read-alikes" button for even more ideas.
Suggestions for the 2026 Jax Stacks Reading Challenge
If you were so inclined, you could definitely complete this year's challenge by reading only romance titles. Let us know if you do!
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A book read by a Library Book Club in 2026
- Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Yang
- Lore Olympus. Volume 1. by Rachel Smythe
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A book on an "everyone should read this" list
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
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A book in the Zine, Local Author, or Indie Florida collections
- Pucking Around by Emily Rath
- Girl with No Name by Archer Grid
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A book that fits a previous year's challenge category
- The Princess and the Grilled Cheese by Deya Muniz (graphic novel)
- The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune (Neurodivergent MC)
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A book that takes places over 24 hours (or less)
- Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield
- Time Loops and Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau
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A book with a "punny" title
- Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce
- The Nightmare Before Kissmass by Sara Raasch
- My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Follmuth
- Love at First Spite by Anna Collins
- The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar
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A book set somewhere you have lived or visited
- Only Lovers in the Building by Nadine Gonzalez (Florida, Miami)
- Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
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A book written by or about a celebrity
- Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
- Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
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A book about the Olympics or an Olympian
- Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
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A Bildungsroman or a coming-of-age story
- All-Nighter by Cecilia Vinesse
- On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Kelly
- And They Were Roommates by Page Powars
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A western, fiction or nonfiction
- Wild Love by Elsie Silver
- Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
New to Jax Stacks? Find rules and all 16 challenge categories listed at jaxlibrary.org/JaxStacks. Starter recommendations for each category can be found on our blog.
Writer's Lab: Writing the Romantic Comedy
Want to try your hand at writing romance? Learn the basics of structuring a romantic comedy story or screenplay in this 90-minute hands-on workshop with Hurley Winkler from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at Beaches Branch Library. Using clips from classic rom coms like When Harry Met Sally and You've Got Mail, we'll discover ways of crafting romantic characters and scenarios for the page and screen. No writing experience required to join!
Register for this free workshop on our Events calendar.
Looking for age-appropriate romance books for teens? There are lots of great options:
