This year, romance delivered unforgettable love stories in every shade, from sparkling, modern rom-coms to heartfelt second chances and richly reimagined classics. These stories reminded us why romance remains one of the most emotionally rewarding genres to listen to. With standout performances, layered storytelling, and characters who stay with you long after the final scene, this year's best romances reflect the full spectrum of love in audio. Whether you gravitate toward small-town charm, international escapes, fan-favorite tropes, or fresh takes on beloved tales, these are the titles that rose to the top and captured our hearts across the year in listening.
Save this list to your Library Collections, or explore more from the Best of 2025.
Janeites rejoice! This is the Pride and Prejudice adaptation you didn’t know you needed, but which is definitely set to become your repeat comfort listen. The chemistry between Darcy and Elizabeth—voiced by Harris Dickinson and Marisa Abela—is absolutely off-the-charts in this multicast, immersive dramatization. Also featuring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Bill Nighy, and Glenn Close (as a deliciously superior Lady Catherine de Bourgh), this all-star cast rivals every other adaptation I’ve devoured over the years, not that there isn’t always room for more Lizzies and Darcys in my life! Prepare to be swept away! —Emily C.
Carley Fortune has a flair for creating brilliant, atmospheric settings that make me feel like I’m truly living in the world she’s built. In One Golden Summer, we went to a beautiful lake where good things happen. Looking for the spark that she can only recall having after taking a photo one summer during her teens, Alice returns to Barry’s Bay with her recovering grandmother, hoping for a peaceful summer. Everything shifts when Charlie, the boy from the photo, comes roaring back into her life. AJ Bridel, who has performed all of Fortune’s titles, brings warmth to every deliciously slow-burning moment. As Alice and Charlie connected, I didn’t just root for their love, I felt like I was right there on the dock beside them. —Patty R.
Kennedy Ryan has a gift for tapping into real-life issues I and so many fortysomething women grapple with daily—dating after divorce, single motherhood, caring for aging parents—weaving these experiences into captivating romances. In the final installment in her Skyland series, we finally get Hendrix’s story. As everyone’s favorite rich auntie, she’s dedicated to her friends, career, and community, all while caring for her mother with Alzheimer's. When billionaire Maverick Bell enters the picture, their connection is immediate and electric. Ryan has truly saved her best for last, with narrators Wesleigh Siobhan and Jakobi Diem reuniting to close out this series on a high note. To hear more from Kennedy Ryan, listen to our interview. —Margaret H.
It's rare that a debut romance sweeps me off my feet, but Once Upon a Time in Dollywood did just that. Ashley Jordan has crafted an authentic romance about two damaged people learning to love themselves while building something real together. It's an unflinching look at modern relationships and all the messiness, healing, and real work love requires. Adenrele Ojo is one of my favorite OG romance narrators, and it was a joy to hear her, joined by Matt Haynes, bringing Eve and Jamie's journey to life. As if I didn’t cry enough at the happily ever after, the tears really started to flow during Jordan’s emotional author's note, which she reads herself. I can’t wait to hear what she writes next. —MH
I absolutely adored this follow-up to Bolu Babalola's Honey & Spice. Witnessing former college flames Kiki and Malakai rediscover their passion and navigate their second chance at love had me laughing, crying, and fanning myself in equal measure. Babalola’s writing sounds like pure poetry, and Weruche Opia’s masterful narration brings every scorching moment to life, making all the flirty banter sparkle with wit and heart. This transcendent romance reminded me why I fell in love with these characters years ago. You immediately want to hit replay once it’s finished to stay immersed in the rich, magical world Babalola's created. —MH
Sometimes you need a rom-com that makes you laugh until your cheeks hurt, and Meghan Quinn delivered exactly that with Till Summer Do Us Part. When Scottie gets caught in a workplace lie about having a husband, she ends up at a marriage camp with her improv-obsessed fake spouse, millionaire Wilder Wells. Quinn's signature humor shines as these two navigate ridiculous couples therapy sessions and summer camp shenanigans. Erin Mallon, Teddy Hamilton, and Stephen Dexter's performances are absolutely phenomenal, with each narrator lending the perfect comedic timing to this delightfully absurd premise. It's the perfect escape that balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuine heart and plenty of steam. —MH
I will follow Ali Hazelwood anywhere, even, apparently, into the Omegaverse (which was new to me before Bride)! One of the things I love most about her stories is the slow-burn pining away of it all. Placing that in a world where the main characters are biologically fated for each other takes the whole thing up about a million notches. I dare you not to fall head over heels for grumpy Koen and sunshiney Serena as they attempt to resist each other while trying to stay ahead of a murderous cult determined to take them down. Teddy Hamilton is at his growly best, paired in duet with Ellie Gossage, who is all sweetness and light. —EC
A full-on surprise trip back to the ’90s? YES, please! Kate is heading home after a rough day when she spots a Blockbuster and walks inside, only to discover she’s suddenly 19 again and it’s 1999. When Jordan enters, it just hits. Their connection feels soft, real, and a little bit heartbreaking in the best way. Helen Laser and J. F. Harding absolutely nail the vibe, pulling you right into the ’90s in a way that feels sweet, funny, and honestly kind of healing. If you grew up renting rom-coms on Friday nights and rewinding tapes before returning them, this listen feels like going home. —PR
Brynne Weaver’s latest is twisted, hilarious, and an incredible start to a new series. Cape Carnage might look like a charming coastal town, but it runs on secrets, murder, and a suspicious tolerance for bloodshed. Harper Starling is Carnage’s grumpiest gardener and fiercest protector, doling out vigilante justice with her trusty wood chipper and murder birds. When Nolan Rhodes shows up looking for revenge, he thinks Harper is his next target, but their meeting sparks a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers spiral filled with sharp banter, forced proximity, and tension you could cut with a knife. Narrators Samantha Brentmoor and Robert Hatchet are an absolute dream team—delivering all the funny, all the stabby, and all the spice. And that cliffhanger? It’s going to haunt me until I get book 2. —PR
Victoria Wilder’s Bourbon & Lies hooked me from the very first scene and never loosened its grip. This small-town, steamy romance sizzles and has the kind of slow-burn tension that elevates every moment of the story. Connor Crais and Samantha Brentmoor's performances were first and foremost HOT as heck!! They have this chemistry that turns every whispered secret and heartbeat of longing into an intense listening experience that I have not stopped raving about. Bourbon & Lies is the start of a series that has stayed with me long after I finished the final chapter, and I would follow these characters anywhere. To hear more from Victoria Wilder, listen to our interview. —PR
