The Burnout
Sophie Kinsella (Bantam)
As funny and perfectly plotted as all Kinsella’s books, but with an out-of-season coastal town setting that adds a bittersweet quality to this tale of young people’s anxiety and, eventually, huge love. Kinsella is justly lauded for her comedy – if she was a man, she’d have won the Wodehouse prize by now – but she also brings a wistfulness to her characters, and a sharp awareness of contemporary concerns, from consumerism to workplace etiquette to social media. Sasha in The Burnout is suffering from terrible anxiety, overwork and an always-on culture, and the book is true, sweet, sad, romantic and genuinely uplifting.
Iron Flame
Rebecca Yarros (Piatkus)
An absolute romantasy sensation. Iron Flame, the second book in the Empyrean Series set in the centuries-old Basgiath War College, landed in November, and a lot of people are very excited about it. Yarros is the true inheritor of Harry Potter and inspires Hunger Games levels of devotion, with extra dragons and sex. This is the only book in the last few years that has genuinely justified bookshop midnight openings, so you should probably get up to date now.
Everything’s Fine
Cecilia Rabess (Picador)
This controversial but addictive and extremely funny American romance mixes race and, in rather more incendiary terms, politics, and will find you rooting for both its gen Z high-flyers, despite yourself. As is a common occurrence these days, particularly for books by new female authors, a social media storm has erupted, in this case over whether you can use racial inequality as an obstacle to a good romance. Most people would defend the right of a young Black woman to write whatever the hell she pleases, but the book’s cleverness should overcome any objections. Rarely has the discovery of a secret Maga hat felt quite so consequential.
Tackle!
Jilly Cooper (Bantam)
It’s Jilly, and it has Rupert in it, and some horses. Jilly Cooper is a fundamental part of what it is to be British: witty, funny and completely and absolutely herself. Tackle! is set in the world of professional football, but probably best not used as a textbook. Between this and the forthcoming TV adaptation of her masterpiece, Rivals, 2024 looks like being a big Jilly year. Everyone! Wash your hair and spray on some Fracas, Rupert’s burning the stubble in the lower field!
Red, White & Royal Blue
Casey McQuiston (Macmillan)
Rereleased to coincide with the film, this ultra high-concept romance – what if the son of the US president (who is, of course, a woman) fell in love with the Prince of Wales? – is fun and completely adorable. Charmingly done, with a posh Heartstopper vibe.
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To browse all romance books included in the Guardian and Observer’s best books of 2023 visit guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.