The best love stories all start with the same ingredients—two people and an undeniable connection. The best romances turn this simple recipe into swoon-worthy narratives that melt your heart, soothe your soul, and make you fall in love. Our top romances this year did that and so much more. From fresh listens written by perennial favorites to international newcomers who delighted us with their delicious debuts, we witnessed enemies become lovers, opposites attract, former sweethearts get a second chance, and icy grumps thaw under bright sunshine. With innovative sound design that pulls you into the story and phenomenal performances that will break your heart and put it back together again, there's a lot to love on our list of the best romances of 2023.
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With an immersive, dialogue-driven plot performed by a full cast—led by Audible favorite Santino Fontana—I devoured the laugh-out-loud banter of this truly endearing romance. College rivals paired up on a class project about love at first sight discover that their differing opinions on the topic could also lead to their own happily ever after. The accompanying soundscape of a busy café, trip to the zoo, and even a shopping mall excursion come to life thanks to spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, making me feel as if I were actually there. —Margaret H.
Briana (first seen in Abby Jimenez's Part of Your World) is going through it—her brother is chronically ill, her divorce is almost final, and she’s sure her new colleague Jacob is standing in the way of her promotion. What ensues is an enemies-to-fake-dating-to-lovers rom-com (with secondary characters that include a foul-mouthed bird) and an author’s note that left me sobbing for longer than I am willing to admit. Listener favorites Zachary Webber and Kyla Garcia were the perfect duo for this title, and rocked every part of their performances. This is Jimenez’s most personal novel yet and once again solidifies her as an auto-download for me. —Patty R.
A perfectionist meets a handsome, carefree, surfer type … what could possibly go right? Everything! From the moment I listened to the first chapter of The Honeymoon Crashers, it was clear that this audio experience was going to be an unforgettable one. In an attempt to break the Torres family “wedding curse,” Ami (from The Unhoneymooners) decides to surprise her twin sister Olive on her elopement by flying the entire clan out for her special day. When the best man, Brody, insists on helping with the wedding preparations, a reluctant Ami accepts. But is Ami saying yes to more than just wedding help? When the sparks start to fly, it sure does seem like it. With its multicast performance and incredible sound effects, I really just wanted to press play again once the listen was over. —P.R.
I can’t think of any better romance author-narrator pairing right now than Emily Henry and Julia Whelan. Whelan’s sparkling narration brings to life Happy Place, a second-chance romance set in Maine, complete with a cozy cottage and lovable friend group. Recent exes Harriet and Wyn must pretend they’re still together during a weeklong getaway to their happy place for one last hurrah. Alongside flashbacks to how they fell in love and then fell apart, Whelan beautifully navigates the emotional terrain as they slowly inch back together again. —M.H.
Leeanne Slade burst onto the romance scene—and straight into our hearts—this year with The Rebound, a dazzling debut from the UK performed by Claudia Jessie, best known for playing Eloise on Netflix’s Bridgerton series. After her boyfriend proposes, marriage-phobic Kitty takes a summer-long break to work on her commitment issues. Enter Leo, Kitty’s work nemesis, who claims he can cure her cold feet in 10 dates. As rapid-fire insults evolve into flirty banter, Jessie’s phenomenal performance amplifies the charms of Kitty’s journey of self-discovery and her sexy rebound romance with the person she least expects. —M.H.
Narrators Lila Winters and Sebastian York take us back to Knockemout for the utterly satisfying conclusion to Lucy Score’s steamy series. Things We Left Behind finally explores the enigmatic history between feisty librarian Sloane, who’s been a standout secondary character in the first two novels in the trilogy, and the mysterious Lucian, the childhood best friend of both of Knockemout’s previous male protagonists. The result is a gripping, enemies-to-lovers romance, mixed with a bit of suspense, that absolutely sizzles in your ears thanks to the dynamic duo of Winters and York. —M.H.
I couldn't imagine a better pairing than Wesleigh Siobhan and Jakobi Diem and their sultry voices to narrate Kennedy Ryan’s Coming Home. Twenty years after sharing a fateful kiss, college crushes Niomi and Touré are reunited during homecoming weekend at their fictional HBCU. A special musical performance from the Southern University marching band adds an authentic touch to the celebratory atmosphere, which sets the stage for a second chance at love. Ryan continues to wow with her mature romances deeply rooted in healing and vulnerability that take Black love and joy to the next level. —M.H.
Phillipa Soo of Hamilton fame once again lends her voice to an insightful and uplifting novel from Lily Chu, this time set in the world of luxury fashion. The Takedown follows an ambitious diversity and inclusion consultant who unwittingly falls in love with the handsome heir to the CEO of her company’s newest client. Chu has never shied away from tackling the tough stuff in her previous two novels, and here she digs even deeper, delivering a beautiful story that addresses complex issues of anti-Asian racism, mental health, intergenerational family dynamics, and corporate wrongdoing, while also making you swoon and laugh. —M.H.
I’ll be the first to admit that if my high school ex called, I wouldn’t exactly rush to pick up the phone. Luckily for Hannah Gold, when she needs the help of her ex, Ethan does answer the phone. As he agrees to help Hannah, they can’t help but go down memory lane, which may lead to more than the original ask. Liz Maverick’s Still Hung Up on You snuck up on me like Hannah’s call snuck up on Ethan, leaving me just as shocked that such a short story, with its excellent sound production and performances by Andrew Eiden and Luci Christian Bell, could leave me so satisfied. —P.R.
I've enjoyed every single installment of Evie Dunmore's suffragette-focused series, but this one may be the most nuanced, complicated (the languages narrator Elizabeth Jasicki has to pull off!), and very best yet. The hero, Elias, hails from the Levant (a historical term for the region that now encompasses Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon) and is visiting Catriona's father at Oxford under the auspices of scholarship. But his true motives, while righteous, were considered even more radical in his time than suffrage. So, while a tentative allyship emerges, Catriona and Elias make for strange but—unsurprisingly—very compatible bedfellows. A Gentleman's Gambit addresses head-on geopolitical issues that still impact our world today, while also connecting with the timeless human questions of what it means to truly belong. —Emily C.
Cat Sebastian is a queen of queer historical romance. Set in 1958, We Could Be So Good is a male/male romance with one of the strongest examples of the grumpy-and-sunshine trope. When scrappy, working-class reporter Nick strikes up a friendship with the boss’s son and heir to the family newspaper, we get a fantastically immersive and gripping story not just of queer love but of navigating class differences, overcoming trauma, and making your own community. And to top it all off, Joel Leslie’s characterizations of Andy and Nick are so enthralling that I kept forgetting there’s just one performer—he’s really that good. —Michael C
Elsie Silver’s Chestnut Springs series was one of my favorites this year, and as a special treat, each title features its own set of narrators that truly bring this small Canadian town to life. Stephen Dexter and Vanessa Edwin are perfectly cast to narrate Heartless, a grumpy/sunshine romance featuring a complicated single dad and his irresistible new nanny. Dexter and Edwin do more than give Cade and Willa their voices—they fall into these roles and become these characters. The heartfelt emotion and insane chemistry they deliver makes for an inspiring listen about letting go of the past, moving forward, and being loved so completely it takes your breath away. —M.H.
It’s hard to believe that The Art of Scandal is Regina Black’s debut. The former civil litigator gives us a masterclass in creating combustible chemistry as a wronged political wife seeks comfort in the arms of a handsome, and much younger, artist. Mela Lee has narrated several of my favorite romances over the years, and here she delivers nothing less than her best, showcasing incredible range in her signature dulcet tones. Revenge on a cheating husband has never been as sweet—or as hot—as what unfolds between Rachel and Nathan, and it's a testament to Black's storytelling that I found myself rooting for them the entire time. —M.H.
