9 Great Book Club Choices With Romantic Elements

	Title	Author(s)	More by the Author
1.	Soulmates	Jessica Grose	Sad Desk Salad
2.	Something Like Happy	Eva Woods	The Thirty List
3.	At Wave's End	Patricia Perry Donovan	Deliver Her
4.	A Window Opens	Elisabeth Egan	N/A
5.	By the Book	Julia Sonneborn	N/A
6.	Girl in the Afternoon	Serena Burdick	N/A
7.	Public Relations	Katie Heaney & Arianna Rebolini	Would You Rather?
8.	One Way or Another	Colleen Coleman	Don't Stop Me Now
9.	August and Everything After	Jennifer Salvato Doktorski	The Summer After You and Me

5 Online Book Clubs You Can Join

Oprah's Book Club: A multi-platform group that focuses on inspiring stories
Books @ Work: Aimed at bringing office workers together through reading
The History Book Club: Great choice for fans of historical non-fiction
Andrew Luck Book Club: Features two books each month - one for kids and one for adults
Goodreads Choice Awards: Features works that have won the Goodreads Choice Award

Why You Should Join or Start a Book Club

In Depth

Getting together with friends to discuss a good book over a plate of snacks or a glass of wine is a great way to socialize and stay well-read. While there are all kinds of novels out there, works with a touch of romance are a sure-fire way to kick off a rousing discussion. Should she have taken him back? Will they or won't they? Does he really deserve her? These are the kinds of questions you and your friends can ask and answer together after you read one of these nine books, listed here in no particular order.

#1: "Soulmates" by Jessica Grose. Dana is a respected lawyer in New York City. She thinks that her relationship with her ex-husband, Ethan, is just a part of her misty past, but after learning about a murder-suicide case where her former lover is implicated, she realizes that she is not completely over him. She is convinced that she knows Ethan very well, since they've spent so much time together. Dana cannot believe that Ethan is capable of killing someone and ending his own life. The protagonist decides to investigate the case herself.

#2: "Something Like Happy" by Eva Woods. Annie feels that she is too old to be stuck in her miserable life. She has a boring job and an irritating roommate. She lives in a dirty flat, and looks after her sick mother. Her situation changes when she meets Polly, a free-spirited and optimistic person. Because of a medical condition, Polly only has a few months to live, but instead of dwelling on the thought that she is dying, she wants to make one happy thing each day, and she would like Annie to join her. The book is not exactly a romance novel, but it teaches readers how to fall in love with life.

The book is not exactly a romance novel, but it teaches readers how to fall in love with life.

#3: "At Wave's End" by Patricia Perry Donovan. Faith is a workaholic chef for a high-end Manhattan restaurant. Her passion for her job seems a lot stronger than her bond with her mom, Connie, with whom she often fights. When her mother calls her to let her know that she has won a free stay in a hotel in Jersey Shore, Faith suspects that the contest is a scam. She rushes to the coastal town to warn her mother and is greeted by a destructive hurricane. The aftermath of the storm is devastating. Faith needs to choose between helping other people and saving her relationship with her mom, or going back to the city and acting like nothing has changed.

#4: "A Window Opens" by Elizabeth Egan. Alice is the epitome of a successful woman. She has a rewarding career, a loving husband, and three wonderful children. To her friends' envy, Alice seems like she has it all. When her husband decides to switch jobs, the main character thinks that she is ready to embrace the changes that come with it. But things aren't as easy as she wants them to be. Her father becomes sick and her relationship with her family starts to fall apart.

#5: "By the Book" by Julia Sonneborn. Anne is an English professor at a local college in California. She is one of the candidates for the school presidency and knows that she not only wants the position, she deserves it. Unfortunately, the electoral body picks Adam, Anne's ex-fiance, instead. Though she is disappointed, she convinces herself that there are many other things that she can do with her life. She spends more time writing a book, taking care of her aging father, and focusing on her dating life. But no matter how much she tries avoiding Adam, there is no denying that she is still in love with him.

She is one of the candidates for the school presidency and knows that she not only wants the position, she deserves it.

#6: "Girl in the Afternoon" by Serena Burdick. Set in Paris during the mid-1800s, this novel tells the story of Aimee, a young woman who aspires to become a well-known painter. The protagonist likes Henri, a man she has known since childhood. Back when they were still kids, Aimee's family took him in and raised him. As they age, her feelings for him evolve from friendship to romance. But before she can confess her affection, Henri goes missing. In the middle of a war, Aimee goes out to look for him.

#7: "Public Relations" by Katie Heaney and Arianna Rebolini. Rose wants to be successful in the PR company where she works. One day, her boss leaves her the responsibility of negotiating with Archie, a famous British performer. She feels the pressure of winning the singer's trust and re-branding his image. She suggests that Archie team-up with indie star Raya for a make-believe romance. Archie agrees, under the condition that Rose will be his personal publicist. The plan goes well for Archie as his popularity starts to rise again. But Rose is conflicted about how to keep up a professional relationship now that she is attracted to her artist.

#8. "One Way or Another" by Colleen Coleman. Katie is a struggling cook who has a monotonous job in a nursing home. She is embarrassed that at her age, she still lives in her friend's house. She is heartbroken after her boyfriend leaves her for a chef position on a cruise ship. Her confidence is at its all-time low until she meets Martha, an 80-year-old woman who teaches her to live life to the fullest. With the help of Martha, Katie's condition gradually improves. When she has the chance to be a full-fledged chef, her ex returns. Now, Katie needs to decide whether she will continue chasing her dream, or give love another try.

She is heartbroken after her boyfriend leaves her for a chef position on a cruise ship.

#9. "August and Everything After" by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski. Quinn isn't sure what she wants to do after high school. Unlike her goal-driven younger sister, she doesn't have any plans for her future and is reeling from the tragic loss of her best friend. The constant pressure from her mom and the people around her makes her want to escape her home life. She decides to spend her summer in Jersey Shore with her aunt. There, she meets Malcolm, a young musician who also has his share of emotional baggage. As Quinn gets to know Malcolm better, she sees hope in finding true love and rediscovering herself.