“I’d never met a woman like you before. You told me to go to hell and made me look forward to the trip.”
There’s something undeniably magical about small-town romance novels. The charm of tight-knit communities, cosy settings and love stories that feel both intimate and heartwarming make them irresistible reads. Whether it’s the local coffee shop where sparks fly or the idyllic countryside where love blossoms, these stories transport us to places where romance feels all the more real. They’re the perfect escape from busy city life and the chance to immerse yourself in tales of love and community. Which is why here at What We Reading, we thought we would compile some of our favourite romantic books set in small towns. From heartwarming romance novels to stories packed with small-town charm, these are the tales that will tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh and perhaps even shed a tear or two in the process!
The Friend Zone (The Friend Zone #1) – Abby Jimenez
Kicking off our list of the best small-town romance novels is Abby Jimenez’s The Friend Zone. The story follows Kristen Petersen, a woman who doesn’t do drama, defends her friends to the hilt and who has no space in her life for men who don’t understand her. She’s also holding onto a big secret about a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.
Planning her best friend’s wedding is a bittersweet experience for Kristen – especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He’s funny, sweet and never offended by her sharp sarcastic outbursts. The only catch? Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen is well aware that he would be better off with someone else; yet, as their attraction intensifies, it becomes harder and harder for her to keep him at arm’s length.
Wait For It – Mariana Zapata
Mariana Zapata’s Wait for It is a slow-burn romance set in a quiet Texas neighbourhood that captures the magic of second chances and found family. The story follows Diana Casillas, a fiercely independent woman raising her two young nephews following a devastatingly tragic loss. Determined to give them a loving home, Diana sinks her energies into constructing a new life in a close-knit community.
Enter Dallas Walker, her handsome and reserved neighbour who appears determined to keep his distance. Yet, as their paths cross time and time again, a connection soon begins to blossom. Their journey is full of tender moments, witty banter and heartwarming struggles, perfect for any fans of slow-burn romance novels and small-town love stories.
Fix Her Up (Hot & Hammered #1) – Tessa Bailey
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey is a hilarious rom-com that combines a charming small-town setting with sizzling chemistry and heartfelt growth. Georgette ‘Georgie’ Castle is tired of being seen as the quirky, kid sister in her family’s tight-knit community. Determined to reinvent herself, she’s bracing to venture out of her comfort zone and prove that she’s capable of much more than running a clown business.
Which is where Travis Ford comes in. He is her brother’s best friend and the town’s ex-baseball star turned handyman. Nursing a battered ego and grappling with his new reality, Travis reluctantly agrees to a fake dating arrangement with Georgie to improve both of their reputations. However, what starts out as a humble beneficial ruse soon ignites genuine feelings that neither of them could have expected in this rom-com small-town romance novel.
Stealing Home (The Sweet Magnolias #1) – Sherryl Woods
Maddie Townsend may live in a town called Serenity and possess the best friends a woman could ask for, but her life is shattered in an instant when her husband walks with another young woman. With her three children heartbroken from the change, Maddie has plenty on her plate. To top it all off, after years out of the workforce, she is forced to demonstrate how business skills by planning the town’s only fitness spa for women.
When her son’s anger issues bubble over into his passion for baseball, the last thing Maddie expected was to develop feelings for his coach, the handsome Cal Maddox, and to learn that he has feelings for her too. But gossip travels quickly in small towns like Serenity, and Maddie and Cal’s relationship may soon threaten both their reputations and careers in Sherryl Woods’ sweet romance series, Stealing Home.
Virgin River (Virgin River #1) – Robyn Carr
One of the cosiest small-town romance novels that inspired the hit Netflix series, Robyn Carr’s Virgin River opens with the recently-widowed Melinda Monroe spotting an advertisement for a midwife practitioner position in Virgin River. Melinda hopes the small mountain town can be the perfect place to escape her heartache and re-energise the nursing career she adores.
But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of her arrival – the cabin she has been promised is a ramshackle dump, the roads are treacherous, and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realising her mistake, Mel decides to leave the town behind her. But a tiny baby left abandoned on a front porch quickly changes her plans, and former marine Jack Sheridan cements them into place.
Second Chance Summer – Morgan Matson
Caught between two exceptional siblings, Taylor Edwards never felt like she stood out, save for her history of running away when things get too complicated. Her father then receives unexpected, tragic news that leads to the last-minute decision to spend their summer together in the cramped quarters at their old lake house. Taylor hasn’t been to the summerhouse since she was a teenager, and returning to the lake reunites her with people she never thought she would see again. People like her former best friend Lucy and her first crush, Henry Crosby.
As the days lying on the beach turn to nights spent gazing up at the stars, Taylor discovers that she has a second chance – with family, friends and maybe even with love in Morgan Matson’s small-town romance novel, Second Chance Summer.
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The Bromance Book Club (Bromance Book Club #1) – Lyssa Kay Adams
Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott’s marriage is in major league trouble. He has recently unearthed a hugely embarrassing secret: his wife, Thea, has been faking the Big O. When he loses his cool at this revelation, it’s the final nail in the coffin for their floundering relationship. Thea files for a divorce and Gavin succumbs to his pride and fear getting the best of him.
Desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club consisting of Nashville’s most alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy regency named Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on how to save his marriage. However, it will take more than just flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless romantic to rediscover his inner Romeo and earn back his partner’s trust in Lyssa Kay Adams’ The Bromance Book Club.
The One Real Thing (Hart’s Boardwalk #1) – Samantha Young
Doctor Jessica Huntington works with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility. Loss and betrayal over the years have taught her to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life. But, when she comes across a series of old love letters in the prison’s library, she arrives at Hartwell’s seaside retreat to deliver them to their intended recipient.
She soon finds that the small town’s charm is irresistible and her instant attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny. Cooper Lawson has poured his energies into maintaining the pub his family have owned for generations; however, when Jessica steps into his bar, he is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her. Another one of the best small-town romance novels, Samantha Young’s Hart’s Boardwalk series is tender, poignant and heartfelt.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
