10 Delightful Romance Novels Full of Love & Laughs

Romantic Comedies: Our 10 Picks

Ideas For Your Real Life Romance

You may not be able to dramatically run to the airport or meet at the top of the Empire State Building, but there are plenty of ways that you can bring a little extra romance into your life.

• Cook dinner together
• Go for a hike or a bike ride
• Get together for a karaoke night
• Go bowling
• Have a picnic on a sunny day
• Play a boardgame or video game together
• Go to a roller rink
• Have a candlelit dinner
• Join a book club together

8 Great Romantic Comedy Films

1. 27 Dresses (2008)
2. Love Actually (2003)
3. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
4. 50 First Dates (2004)
5. You've Got Mail (1998)
6. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
7. Amélie (2001)
8. Never Been Kissed (1999)

History of the Romance Novel

Love stories can be traced all the way back to Ancient Greece, and some of the works from that time are still around, though most have been lost to history. The romance novel as we know it today was largely influenced by Jane Austen, who is still hailed as a master of the genre. Historical romance was made popular by Sir Walter Scott, who wrote many works of historical fiction in the early 19th century. British publishers Mills and Boon started releasing romance novels as hardback books in the 1930s, and by the 70s, the genre had become incredibly popular throughout Great Britain. Trying to accomplish the same success in North America, the publisher's parent company, Harlequin, started focusing on their marketing strategies in the US and Canada. They targeted women as their main audience, and tried selling their product in chain stores, monthly subscription services, and even supermarkets.

Where Does Love Come From?

In Depth

Stories that take a lighthearted approach to romance tend to revolve around two lovers and their humorous misadventures as they try to overcome the many obstacles keeping them apart. With that in mind, here are ten delightful romance novels full of love and laughs, listed in no particular order.

First up, at #1, we have "The Barbershop Girl" by Georgina Penney. Comedian and newspaper columnist Ben Martindale moves to Australia to escape the journalists pestering him about his latest scandal. There, he meets a quirky barber named Amy Blaine, who regularly dresses like a pin-up model. As they spend more time with each other, they start falling in love, but their relationship is threatened when Amy finds out that Ben has been writing snarky articles about her life.

Next, at #2, is "Done With Men" by Shuchi Singh Kalra. After several failed relationships, travel writer Kay decides that she's had enough of men. When her latest assignment sends her off to Goa, she's distraught to learn that one of her ex-boyfriends is there with his new partner. Deeply upset, Kay gets extremely drunk and falls off a balcony. At the hospital, she's instantly smitten by her doctor, Vivian D'Mello, but she isn't sure if she's ready to be with another man again.

At the hospital, she's instantly smitten by her doctor, Vivian D'Mello, but she isn't sure if she's ready to be with another man again.

At #3 is "Jacqueline and the Beanstalk" by Elle Lothlorien. Struggling landscape designer Jacqueline Guise takes the opportunity to spend the summer working on the garden of a mountaintop estate owned by the wealthy Gyant family. She's being watched over by the enigmatic Dane Gyant, who she's oddly attracted to despite his cruel disposition. When they start casually flirting with each other, Jacqueline is torn between pursuing a romantic relationship with Dane or leaving him due to his family's reputation.

Next up, at #4, we have "Will You Won't You Want Me?" by Nora Zelevansky. Marjorie Plum is going through a lot in her life. After losing her job and apartment, she's left directionless and wondering what to do next. When she moves into her new home in Brooklyn, she starts working for Gus, her roommate's brother who she's gradually falling in love with. When Mac, an old flame from high school, reconnects with her, she's forced to choose between the two men.

At #5 is "The Bad Behavior of Belle Cantrell" by Loraine Despres. Set in 1920, the story is centered on Belle, a suffragette who constantly challenges the social norms of her time. Still reeling from the death of her husband, she must learn how to adjust to her new life as a single mother running the family's plantation. Throughout the novel, she deals with all sorts of political squabbles brought by the men in her life, especially since one of the people working for her is in the Ku Klux Klan.

Throughout the novel, she deals with all sorts of political squabbles brought by the men in her life, especially since one of the people working for her is in the Ku Klux Klan.

Next, at #6, is "Love, Whatever That Means" by Aditi Mathur Kumar. Tina works for a TV news channel, and spends most of her free time with her loyal friends. Just when her life seems to be looking up, she finds out that her boss is a pervert who wants to take advantage of her. As she figures out how to deal with him, she also starts developing conflicted feelings for a soldier who's madly in love with her.

Next, at #7, is "A Pretty Mess" by Carla Caruso. Celeste Pretty is a professional organizer whose first ever client is celebrity health and fitness guru Natalia Samphire, who lives in the wealthy suburb of Astonvale. As she de-clutters Samphire's mansion, Celeste stumbles upon a plethora of blackmail material and other mysterious objects. Together with Lenny Muscat, the attractive builder who's renovating the house, she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her employer.

At #8 is "Spotless" by Camilla Monk. One day, awkward I.T. engineer Island Chaptal finds a hitman named March waiting in her apartment. He claims that he's been hired to retrieve an extremely valuable diamond that her late mother stole and hid around a decade ago. She reluctantly agrees to help March find what he's looking for by following clues that lead them to places all around the world. Along the way, Island learns more about her mother's dark past, and she starts falling for the killer she's traveling with.

Along the way, Island learns more about her mother's dark past, and she starts falling for the killer she's traveling with.

Next, at #9, is "Dear Dwayne, With Love" by Eliza Gordon. Dani Steele is a woman struggling to get into the acting industry as she's stuck with a dead-end job and an unsupportive family. She finds solace in writing for her blog, which is centered on her celebrity idol, Dwayne Johnson. When an opportunity to be in Dwayne's next film arises, Dani does everything in her power to finally make her dreams come true.

Finally, at #10, we have "Never Try To Explain" by Donna McDonald. Pressured by her friends, single mother Jellica goes on a date with an accountant named Greg Skyler. The encounter ends up with the two of them merely becoming friends, but over time, they develop romantic feelings for each other. When Greg starts helping Jellica with her finances, he uncovers shocking truths about her ex-husband, forcing his lawyer mother to intervene.