Obsessed with the royals? If you answered yes, then you’ll love these royal romance books: Kings and queens, royal heirs, backstabbing nobles, diplomatic relations, cutthroat assassins and power beyond belief. No one ever said the royal life was easy.
Royalty has a certain appeal which makes it the perfect setup for stories, especially in the romance genre. Think rags-to-riches trope.
People love a story where the “commoner” catches the eye of a noble, falls in love, is met with blatant disapproval from the kingdom, manages to overcome these challenges and eventually comes out on top. Of course, there are many variations and add-ons to this story, but that’s the bare bones of the typical royalty trope.
These 16 must-read royal romance books will sweep you off your feet and dazzle your mind. Enjoy!
Royally Screwed by Emma Chase
“I was known before I was born and my name will be blazoned in history long after I’m dust in the ground. Infamy is temporary, celebrity is fleeting, but royalty…royalty is forever.”
Nicholas Pembrook is the crowned prince of Wessco. Young, handsome and dashing, Nicholas seems to have it all. Except that could not be farther from the truth. When his grandmother gives him an ultimatum requiring him to find a wife within five months, Nicholas flees to New York City.
Olivia Hammond is on her last leg trying to keep her family’s failing coffee shop and bakery afloat. During one snowy afternoon, Olivia is closing up when two guys walk through the door, Nicholas being one of them. Nicholas tries and fails to charm his way into Olivia’s “good graces” which she emphasizes with a pie to the face. royal romance books
Determined to get to know the woman who dared to smash apple pie in his face, Nicholas eventually sweeps Olivia into a whirlwind romance that forever alters their lives.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
“I’m sure I’ll feel much more grateful when I find a guy who thinks complex wiring in a girl is a turn-on.”
Cinder is a gifted mechanic who is belittled and overlooked by her step-mother and one of her step-sisters. The other step-sister looks up to Cinder. As a cyborg, Cinder does not have the same rights as humans. During a chance encounter, Cinder becomes irreversibly changed when her life becomes intertwined with Prince Kai’s. Thrust into center-stage, Cinder must navigate new and rocky terrain. With the fate of the world on their shoulders, Cinder and Kai will have to race against the clock before time runs out.
The Selection by Kiera Cass
“It’s always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome.”
When America Singer learns she is a Selected, one of the thirty-five girls competing for the heart of Prince Maxon, she is far from happy. It means ending her forbidden relationship with Aspen who is in the caste below hers.
What America never saw coming was Prince Maxon. Expecting a snobbish phony, America is shocked by the honest and sweet boy who proves her wrong at every turn. But there are twenty-four other girls who have their sights set on Maxon and they don’t plan to go down without a fight. Add in the escalating rebel attacks and you have yourself a high-stakes game of The Bachelor with a high-risk of losing your heart… literally.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
“Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It’s disgusting, and I can’t stop.”
Jude was seven-years-old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were whisked away by the murderer to live in Faerie. Ten years pass and all Jude wants is to fit in despite her own mortality. Swept into a deadly game of politics, Jude must stay on top of her game when things take a turn for the worst. With lives on the line and cunning faeries, Jude will have to stay one step ahead to come out victorious.
Prince Cardan is the youngest son of the High King: Cunning, charming, cruel and wicked, Cardan has a real mean streak when it comes to Jude. But the tides are changing. All it takes is one slipup to shift the balance.
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
“A person can be educated and still be stupid, and a wise man can have no education at all.”
This book is about the false prince. Connor is a nobleman who has a low status within the royal court. He plots a scheme that involves finding an orphan boy who he can train to become the lost prince Joran. The same prince who disappeared four years prior after an impromptu pirate attack during a voyage. Many people believed him to be dead; others carried hope.
The way Connor saw it — how hard can it be to fool the kingdom with an imposter as the prince? Connor recruits four orphans to compete for the role, including the tricky and scrappy Sage. There’s a lot of backstabbing (quite literally), sabotage, espionage, deceit, lies, and a hell of a lot of gameplays that are downright devious. royal romance books
The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon
“Swallow Daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ’til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ’til the hour. You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heav’n or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, daughter. Stay alive.”
Shifters, tellers, healers and spinners, oh my! If you have any interest whatsoever in the fantasy genre, then this will be right up your alley. With a shape-shifting king and a girl who can command anything to her will, it’s impossible to become bored.
The Royal Treatment by M.J. Summers
“You know, I just realized, you’re either a chauvinist or a coward, but I can’t decide which.”
“What?” I scowl at her.
“You heard me. You either think you are entitled to make her decisions for her, which would make you a chauvinist, or you’re too scared to go to her and put your heart on the line, in which case you are a coward. Very disappointing, either way.”
Tessa Sharpe: reporter turned blogger of The Royal Watchdog (among other sites) after getting smoochy with the boss. Suffice to say, the boss remained boss and married like a week later, so…lovely guy.
Prince Arthur: a guy who’s got charm for days and charisma seeping through his pores, I guess he’s kinda hard to resist. But for some people he’s a “lazy leech who does nothing for Avonia.” Really depends on the person…ahem, Tessa Sharpe.
The people of Avonia have grown tired of the monarchy and want it abolished. The prime minister plans on calling a referendum which spurs the royals into action, Arthur specifically. He decides to have their biggest public hater come live in the palace for two months to change his/her mind about them which will thereby influence the public.
That’s where Tessa Sharpe comes in. Unfortunately for her (fortunate for the entertainment of Avonia), Arthur announces his offer on a live broadcast which leads the vultures to a series of embarrassing events which you’ll have to read for yourself. royal romance books
Radiance by Grace Draven
“You make a very handsome dead eel, my husband,”
“For a boiled mollusk, you wear black quite well, my wife.”
Radiance involves a human princess, IIdiko, and an alien prince, Brishen, who are tasked to marry one another in order to unite their kingdoms. The two races find each other physically repulsive, so you can say this was a match made in the fiery pits of Tartarus. While they may not be physically attracted to each other, they share a kinship that goes beyond physical appearances.
If you enjoy couples who banter like an old married couple, Kai and IIdiko do that and more.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
“If it means something, take it to heart. If it means nothing, it’s nothing. Let it go.”
In 1521 England, Queen Catherine of Aragon’s inability to provide her husband King Henry VIII with a male heir has placed a strain on their marriage. As the cracks in the foundation of their marriage become more apparent, Thomas Boleyn and brother-in-law Thomas Howard hope to install Thomas’s youngest daughter Mary Boleyn as the king’s mistress. With help from Mary’s sister Anne, who recently returned from the French court, and her brother George, Mary quickly captures Henry’s attention. That is only the beginning. royal romance books
When Henry’s interest begins to wane, Mary must step aside as Anne takes center stage. Ambitious, confident, witty and assertive, Anne plans to win over the King’s affection, no matter what it takes.
However, sometimes the price is not worth the reward in the end.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.”
Prince Rhen is cursed by an enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth birthday. To break the curse, he must fall in love. Rhen thought that would be easy enough until he turned into a vicious monster that feeds on death and destruction. Until he murders his entire family and hundreds of his subjects.
Harper has never had the easiest upbringing. From an absentee father who left his family to deal with his mistakes, a mother who only has weeks left to live and a brother who underestimates her because of her cerebral palsy. When she sees what appears to be a kidnapping in action, Harper steps in and whacks the would-be kidnapper in the head…and ends up in Emberfall.
From there, she is thrust into this alternate world that is so much different than Washington, D.C. While there, she pulls off multiple escape attempts and gives Rhen and his commander Grey a run for their money. However, Harper may have just become their biggest ally in their fight against an invading army and a political uprising. royal romance books
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
“She was a dangerous, dangerous girl. A plague. A Mountain of Adamant who tore the iron from ships, sinking them to their watery graves without a second thought. With a mere smile and a wrinkle of her nose.”
The Wrath and the Dawn tells the story of eighteen-year-old caliph, Khalid, who takes a new bride each night only to have a silk cord wrapped around their neck each morning and a commoner, Shahrzad, who is intent on ending after her best friend falls victim to Khalid.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
“Anyone can betray anyone.”
Mare Barrow is a Red, a commoner living under the rule of the elite Silvers who possess god-like superpowers. When she finds herself working at the Silver Palace, Mare never expects powers rivaling that of the Silvers to emerge within her. Distrustful and fearful of Mare’s unknown powers, the Silvers declare her a long-lost Silver princess, now betrothed to a Silver prince.
With Mare’s life on the line, she must tread carefully. One misstep can spell her death.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
“Thinking about history makes me wonder how I’ll fit into it one day, I guess. And you too. I kinda wish people still wrote like that. History, huh? Bet we could make some.”
Alex Claremont, the first son of the United States, barely tolerates Henry, the Prince of England, and vice versa. In the aftermath of a particularly volatile verbal spar, the two are forced to play nice with one another when U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse. Still, no one ever said it was easy to build a friendship with your arch nemesis. As they truly get to know each other, their fake friendship blossoms and grows into something deeper they ever imagined.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
“Don’t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.”
Feyre is on the hunt when she comes into contact with a competing predator. With little thought, she kills the wolf which ends with her being dragged to a magical kingdom where she is to be put on trial for her crime. Her captor, however, piques her attention as he never travels without his jeweled mask in place. The question is, what is he hiding?
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
“Oh, we’re playing nice now? Shall we have tea first? Brew up a nice pot of kiss-my-ass?”
Meghan Chase is a high school student whose life changes over night when she learns her younger brother, Ethan, has been spirited off to Nevernever and in Ethan’s place is a changeling. Everything Meghan knew was a lie, from her half-faerie nature to her status as King Oberon’s daughter to the identity of her best friend Robbie who is actually Puck, the mischievous faerie of legends.
With Puck by her side, Meghan sets out to rescue Ethan. During her journey, Meghan finds herself at the center of a deadly war with the attention of a young prince who would rather see her dead than allow her into his ice-cold heart. royal romance books
Cheeky Royal by Nana Malone
“Listen to me. She’s a friend of mine. If I see you near her again, I’ll make your life very difficult. What she did to you on accident will seem like a walk in the park.”
Penny is following in her family’s footsteps by training and studying to become a part of the Royal Guard. With her recent string of mistakes, Penny is down on her luck and expects a reprimand when she is called to the King’s office. Instead, he gives her a special assignment that involves his son.
Sebastian may be the crowned prince, but he has no desire to ever become king. Hoping to find his long-lost brother, Sebastian plans to shift his responsibilities onto him and hand over the kingdom.
Sebastian never expected the charming and artsy neighbor ‘Len’ who he seems to always be running into. With every impromptu meeting, Sebastian finds himself falling for this mysterious girl, but what happens when the secrets come out?
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
“My name is Celaena Sardothien. But it makes no difference if my name’s Celaena or Lillian or Bitch, because I’d still beat you, no matter what you call me.”
This fantastic fantasy novel takes place in a land filled with magic, deception and danger. Assassin Celaena Sardothien is summoned to the castle where she is to fight in a competition with twenty-three killers, thieves and warriors. The prize: to serve as the king’s champion and her freedom. However, the Crown Prince doesn’t make it easy on her and the Captain of the Guard tries to help her. In a world where lies are common and death can come right after your next meal, the stakes are high. royal romance books