Romance, intrigue, jealousy – ingredients for a thrilling love story? Which books are topping the current sales list? With our romance novel check you can keep track of things.

The best romance novels in November 2023: current bestsellers

If you’re looking for a new romance novel, you can quickly lose track of everything to choose from. Here are the top 10 rankings of the current bestsellers, based on Amazon’s sales charts. The ranking is updated regularly.

1. Don’t give a damn, I’ll take the alpaca – Jana Portas
2. New Beginnings – Lilly Lucas
3. A summer and a whole life – Kristina Valentine
4. WWS Pixi-Box 293: Pixi’s favorite fairy tales – various
5. Like snowflakes in love – Martina Gercke
6. Refuge for Cora -Susan Stoker
7. Of Course Boss – Mia B. Meyers
8. Dirty Deal: temporary love -Crystal Kaswell
9. Love in Darling Harbor – Ava Avery
10. That moment when Santa Claus cleaned my living room – Franziska Erhard

Last updated on November 16, 2023

What is a romance novel?

A romance novel is a literary genre that primarily focuses on romantic relationships between the main characters. These novels usually tell stories about love, passion, relationships and emotional bonds. The plot can take place in historical times, contemporary settings or fantasy or science fiction worlds.

Typically, the development of the romantic relationship between the protagonists is the focus of the action. This can include conflicts, obstacles and challenges that the characters must overcome.

Romance classics: the most famous romantic books

Of course, whether you like a story or not depends on the individual preferences of the reader. However, there are many classic romance novels that are highly regarded by critics and readers alike. Here is a selection of world-famous romance novels that have gone down in literary history:

• “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen: Considered one of the greatest romance novels of all time, this 19th-century novel tells the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.
• “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë: tells the moving story of Jane Eyre, an orphan who works as a governess and falls in love with her employer, Mr. Rochester.
• “The Lady of the Camellias” by Alexandre Dumas the Younger: This story about the tragic love between Marguerite Gautier and Armand Duval is a classic of world literature.
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: This novel is a story of unrequited love and revenge in a dark and stormy setting.
• “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel García Márquez: This contemporary classic tells the story of a lifelong love between Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza.
• “The Lady with the Dog” by Anton Chekhov: A short story describing the extramarital affair between Dmitri Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna.
• “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare: This drama is one of the most famous love stories of all time and tells of the tragic love between two young lovers from feuding families.
• “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell: This historical romance novel is set during the American Civil War and tells the story of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler.
• “The Diaries of Cassandra” by Dodie Smith: a charming love story set in England in the 1930s.

Romance genres: These are the most common subcategories

• Historical romance novel: takes place in the past and delves into historical eras and societies; Social norms and challenges of the past are examined
• Contemporary romance novel: deals with modern relationship and love dynamics
• Romantic comedy: combines romance with humor and is often written in a light and entertaining way; emphasizes the comical aspects of relationships and romantic misunderstandings
• Erotic novel: places an emphasis on sexual attraction and intimacy between characters; may contain explicit scenes and sexual themes
• Romantic Suspense: combines the love story with a crime or thriller; Love is still in the foreground, but at the same time, for example, an exciting murder case is uncovered
• New Adult: In this subgenre, the protagonists are young adults who have just left school behind them. Most of them are between 17 and 26 years old. The central themes are self-discovery and university or working life, but the focus is also on parties and love. These novels are often written in youth language and are aimed at a corresponding target group.
• Paranormal/fantasy romance novel: In this subcategory, supernatural elements come into play, such as vampires, werewolves, witches, or other supernatural beings involved in romantic stories.
• Science fiction romance: Similar to fantasy novels, but in a futuristic or science fiction setting; may include technological innovations, space travel, and extraterrestrial cultures
• LGBTQ+ romance novels: These novels focus on romantic relationships between characters belonging to the LGBTQ+ community and explore themes related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Chick lit: These novels often focus on the experiences and relationships of modern women and may contain humorous or satirical elements.
• Second chance romance: In these stories, the main characters meet again after a breakup or a long time and have a second chance at love.

Clichés in romance novels

Romance novels tend to have certain clichés or recurring plot elements. These clichés can help fulfill readers’ expectations, as they often look for certain romantic conventions. Here are some of the most common clichés in romance novels:

• The first impression: The main characters often have unfortunate first impressions of each other, which are later overcome as they get to know each other better.
• The enmity that turns into love: Two characters often start the story as enemies or have a strained relationship that turns into love over time.
• The rich or powerful lover: One of the main characters is often wealthy, powerful, or famous, while the other character comes from a more humble background. This difference can lead to conflict and tension.
• The best friend or girlfriend as a love interest: Romantic relationships often develop between long-term best friends or girlfriends.
• The misunderstanding or the secret: A common stereotype is the presence of a misunderstanding or a well-kept secret that threatens the relationship.
• The rescue or the heroic act: One character may get into trouble and be saved by the other, leading to a deepening of emotions.
• The engagement that is broken: One of the main characters may already be engaged at the beginning of the story, but this engagement is broken as the story progresses to make room for the new love.
• The happy ending: The protagonists overcome conflicts or challenges, find each other, get married or start a family.

Clichés in romance novels don’t have to be a negative quality feature. They can serve as proven formulas for telling romantic stories. Authors can creatively interpret and subvert clichés to create unique and interesting love stories.

Happy endings in romance novels – common, but not a must

Seeing the main characters overcome their challenges gives readers a feeling of satisfaction and optimism. As a result, happy endings are a common feature in romance novels.

However, there are also stories that end openly or even sadly. Romance novels without a happy ending can often make the story feel more realistic because they explore aspects that readers know from their own experience. An open or tragic ending can add depth to a story and provide a different perspective on the themes of love and human relationships.

Ultimately, the choice of ending depends on the author’s intention. The genre and the expectations of the reader also play a role. A good romance novel should, above all, explore the characters’ feelings and make their world tangible – regardless of whether the story ends well or not.