A Roundup of Small Town Romance Books
I love reading romance books — that’s no secret if you’ve been reading this blog for a while. I love the happily ever afters, the swooning, and the emotional depth between these two characters. I love the “will they or won’t they” that always comes with these romance books, whether it’s very subtle and quick to resolve, or takes up the entire plot of the book and doesn’t get resolved until the very end — and for some books, the very end. (Iykyk.)
More specifically, I love reading romance books set in a small town. Maybe it’s the Gilmore Girls fan in me, or the country music fan in me, but I love the feelings that I get when I see a community rallying around the main couple. It’s almost like a found family — another favorite trope of mine. And for some of these books, the community is a big reason why I rated them four or five stars.
If you’re looking for a romance book set in a small town, consider some of these recommendations!
When In Rome by Sarah Adams
I will read anything that Sarah Adams writes. I am a devoted fan of her books, and have been for quite some time. Her “Rome, Kentucky” series, now comprised of three published books (with one on the way), truly has magic in it. This first book in the series, When In Rome, features Noah Walker, the eldest sibling of the Walker family and owner of a pie shop. He has three younger sisters and is a big grump. When Amelia, or Rae Rose known to her adoring fans, finds herself stranded on the side of the road near his house, he has no choice but to do the neighborly thing and welcome her in. Little does he know she’s a world-famous pop star. There’s a grumpy/sunshine trope in this one, but their banter and chemistry is so irresistible that it will have you giggling and kicking your feet in the air. I loved this book so much, but I also really loved the second book, Practice Makes Perfect — my favorite romance book of all time! Sarah Adams wrote incredible characters, and additionally, created a magical small town that is Rome, Kentucky featuring many lovable side characters who you will see again in the next two books — and hopefully the fourth book that releases within the next two years. Highly, highly recommend this book.
Other books in the series: Practice Makes Perfect (Book 2), Beg, Borrow, and Steal (Book 3).
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
I loved this small town romance book! It was more of a “coming of age” book for anyone in their late 20s.
The book follows Georgie Mulcahy as she travels back to her hometown after an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job as a personal assistant. Georgie is feeling stuck and unsure of what to do. However, she finds an old diary that she wrote as a teenager and uses that diary as a guidebook for getting started on a new path. Well, until she meets her new, unexpected roommate, Levi Fanning — the town troublemaker and current town hermit. Levi wants to stay to himself and be the quiet grouch that the town thinks of him as. But he offers to help Georgie with her notebook. As this is a romance book … things happen.
But even with the romance aside, I found this to be honest and deeply emotional. It was a great book to read if you’re feeling lost in your 20s or 30s. This is a must-read! Great for a beach read.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
This was my first book I’ve ever read by Abby Jimenez. Let me just say: I was mad at myself that I didn’t pick this up sooner. Honestly, the reason why I didn’t pick this book up sooner was because of the age gap romance. I hadn’t read any age gap romances before this one, and to me, age gaps in romance books gave me the ick. But I was so wrong after reading this one!
This particular age gap showed the range of about 10 years, with the male main character (MMC), Daniel, being in his late 20s and the female main character (FMC), Alexis, being in her mid-30s. Daniel is one of my favorite book boyfriends! He really proved that age is just a number — he showed a level of emotional intimacy and maturity that surpassed my low expectations. It made me want to pick up my belongings and move to a small town. If you like When In Rome by Sarah Adams, you will like this book. Alexis, comes from the city and is a doctor, and she comes from a wealthy family. She stumbles upon the small town where Daniel Grant lives, and stays in the extra room in his bed and breakfast.
Their relationship was so good! Abby Jimenez writes beautiful love stories. One trope that I haven’t read a lot of, she writes “casual fling” tropes. Where the two characters enter into a casual fling, but then their feelings develop more and more and can’t just stay in a casual fling. This was prevalent in this one — and the next two books in this interconnected stand-alone series. I really loved the mature relationship between Alexis and Daniel. To be honest, Alexis annoyed me at certain parts of the book, but that’s only because of her initial upbringing!
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
If you scroll through #romancebooks on Booktok, then you’re bound to find Beach Read by Emily Henry. And for good reason! Besides the incredible romance between Gus and January, the book takes place in a small, seaside beach town in Michigan. What a great small town romance book to read when you need to unwind, de-stress, and relax — hopefully on the beach!
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Another Booktok favorite that takes place in a seaside town! I love Tessa Bailey and anything she writes. This is one of my favorite uses of the grumpy/sunshine romance tropes — Brendan Taggert is a grumpy fisherman who butts heads with a new tourist, Piper Bellinger, who has come to town with her sister, Hannah, to visit their late father’s bar (and renovate it). This reminded me a lot like Schitt’s Creek, with Piper being like Alexis. If you love Schitt’s Creek, then go ahead and give this one a try!
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
If you love Emily Henry, and haven’t read Book Lovers, stop reading this blog post and go read it! While it took me a couple of tries to really, really love this book, I highly recommend it. The magic that Emily Henry puts in these books.
This one, while initially starts in New York, takes place largely in a small town in North Carolina. Nora (dubbed the ice queen) goes on vacation with her younger sister, Libby, to this small town in North Carolina that serves as the inspiration for Libby’s favorite romance novel; the author happens to be Nora’s client, as Nora works as a literary agent in New York. When Nora and Libby arrive, they set out to restore and “fix up” the local bookstore. Only Nora realizes that the bookstore is owned by her arch nemesis’s family. Enter: Charlie Lastra. Charlie works in publishing in New York but has come back to town to help his family’s bookstore. He and Nora met years prior and became rivals based on a petty disagreement. Throughout the book, we are taken through this small town, experiencing all of its little joys and quirks. That, and we get to be a witness to the beautiful love story between Charlie and Nora, and the amazing sister duo that is Nora and Libby.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Bookstagram raved about this debut from Carley Fortune a few years ago. It follows Sam and Percy and their summer friendship they maintained during their childhood and teenage years. But after one mistake Percy made, it wrecked their friendship. Now Percy spends her days in the city, living her life. But one call brings her back to the small town, and right into Sam’s arms. This is a great book to read on a dock by the lake!
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
If you find yourself wanting to live in a community like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls, then I highly recommend you pick up this book by B.K. Borison — and the rest of the series. Pronto.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Season three comes out this summer, and Team Conrad girlies, this is our season! I am past the age demographic for this book, but it was so much fun. It was easy, light-hearted, but it also carried a few heavy topics, too. I highly recommend listening to the series on audio! It’s narrated by Lola Tung (Belly), Gavin Castelegno (Jeremiah), and Christopher Briney (Conrad).
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Flawless by Elsie Silver
Elsie Silver puts magic in these cowboy romance books, I swear. I highly recommend starting with her Chestnut Springs series … and continuing with it! While Flawless isn’t Bookstagram’s favorite, I loved this one so much — and Rhett Eaton, the male main character in this one. And while you’re at it, go pick up the next book, Heartless, that follows his brother, Cade Eaton. Everyone on Booktok and Bookstagram loves that one. You probably will too.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Rein Me In by Kayla Grosse
If you’re in your cowboy romance era, then go ahead and pick this one up! This follows Blake, a barrel racer who returns home to process her grief and help her family’s ranch. There, she runs into Gavin Montgomery, her late brother’s best friend. He’s always pined after her, but she didn’t notice it. Now, as she’s back in town, what will happen?
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Loving Romeo by Laura Pavlov
Another cowboy romance book, because they’re addicting. This one surprised me! I didn’t think I was going to like this one as much as the Chestnut Springs series, but Laura Pavlov drew me in with amazing characters with intriguing backstories and an unbelievable chemistry. These two characters in this one, Demi and Romeo, follow the grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract type — only her opposite is that she comes from money, he doesn’t. And her family did things to his family that aren’t okay. Highly recommend picking this one up! The small town of Magnolia Falls will also draw you in.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
Another cowboy romance, because why not? Lyla Sage’s debut novel hooked everyone. And I do mean everyone who read this. Her writing is so engaging that you don’t want to set it down! She enticed us all with Luke Brooks and Emmy Ryder. A brother’s best friend romance, Luke Brooks is Emmy’s older brother’s best friend from childhood. He had a rough childhood, but he found a family within the Ryder family, a family that you will quickly love (as Brooks did) throughout the rest of this series. When Emmy comes back into town after a career as a barrel racer, she runs into Brooks and the rest is history.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Probably the only YA romance on this list besides The Summer I Turned Pretty, but just as good. Casey McQuiston’s book set at a high school in the deep South, following Chloe Green, who is so close to graduating and getting out of Alabama, where her moms moved them to for high school. Chloe is determined to win valedictorian, but her rival is prom queen Shara Wheeler, the principal’s daughter. But a month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes. There’s a bit of mystery with this one, as Shara also kissed her longtime sweetheart, Smith, and Rory, her bad boy neighbor with a crush. They embark on this quest in the small town to find her, using the cryptic notes that Shara left behind. Really loved how this played out! Highly recommend to read in the spring or summer when you need a light-hearted book.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Wild Love by Elsie Silver
Okay. This is the last cowboy romance book, I swear. After you finish reading the last book in the Chestnut Springs series, may I direct your attention to her new Rose Hill series? (The third one came out this month!) This follows Rosie Belmont, who just moved back to her hometown of Rose Hill, after she left her job and her horrible boss. She blasts back into Rose Hill and lands on the doorstep of Ford. Ford was labeled as the World’s Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is opening his own recording studio. But when a girl (not Rosie, lol) stumbles upon his doorstep and claims to be his 12-year-old daughter he never knew about, he has no choice but to welcome her in. And then Rosie, his best friend’s little sister, also lands on his doorstep, asking for a job — which he begrudgingly gives her. He balances taking care of this new daughter and trying to keep his feelings at bay for Rosie, but as this is a romance book … anything can happen. Loved this one, loved Rose and Ford so much, and highly recommend this book by Elsie Silver. And the next two books!!
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
The Catch by Amy Lea
I love Amy Lea’s writing. My favorite of hers is Exes and O’s, but if I’m recommending small town romance books, I’m pointing you to The Catch. This is a part of her influencer series, so this follows fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen, who lives in Boston. She finds herself stuck and in need of a few partnerships, so she goes to a rural fishing village on the east coast of Canada. Where she meets a grumpy lobster fisherman and bed-and-breakfast owner, Evan Whaler. He does not want any help, but after a boating accident lands him unconscious in the hospital, with Melanie there, Mel is mistaken for his fiancee by his family. They agree to carry on this fake engagement for the sake of the bed and breakfast and family dispute over what to do with it, but after long hikes and campfire chats, Mel finds herself falling for this grumpy fisherman.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter
One more YA romance, but this one is worth it! If you love rom-coms, all things yearning and pining, and romance in general, then this is for you. A hopeless romantic teen girl, Lix Buxbaum, joins forces with her obnoxious neighbor, Wes Bennett, to win the heart of her crush, Michael, who has returned to town. Along the way, Liz realizes that the guy she’s fallen for has been right under her nose all along.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Stealing Home by Sherryl Woods
Have you watched Sweet Magnolias on Netflix? Did you know it’s based on a book? If you love the town of Serenity, may I introduce you to the first book in the series, Stealing Home. It follows Maddie Townsend after her divorce from Bill Townsend, after it was discovered he was having an affair with a nurse at his practice — and she’s pregnant. Maddie is devastated, but determined to carry on and raise her three children. The story also follows her best friends, the sweet magnolias, supporting her in the process (while also going through a bit of their own drama as well). I thoroughly enjoyed this! A great small town romance book to read on the beach or on your patio.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory
I will read anything Jasmine Guillory writes. While not my favorite book by her, Drunk on Love follows Margot Noble who runs her family’s winery with her brother. Desperate for a break, she has a one night stand with Luke, a stranger she met in a bar. However, he’s no stranger. Luke is the new winery’s newest hire! He’s fresh off his high-salary tech job and in need of a break because of burnout. Set in Napa Valley, this is a great book to get wrapped up in the pages while nursing a glass of wine.
Buy on Amazon, Bookshop.org.
