We’re so lucky now that there are a lot more lesbian romance novels than there used to be!
And there’s something for every taste, too. There are steamy ones (my personal favorite), ones that are funny and lighthearted, ones where a lesbian comes out to people, forbidden love, ones that are truly moving that will have you screaming and crying in equal measure, and there’s even a paranormal romance genre.
For this article, I thought I’d share with you my shortlist of the best lesbian romance novels around. To be honest, I like multiple genres and styles, so I was able to put a range of different books in my shortlist.
Anyway, here goes!
1. The Price Of Salt By Patricia Highsmith
This book tells of a passionate romance that begins through a chance between two lonely women.
The protagonist Carol is going through a bitter divorce, and as love blossoms between the two women, Carol finds that she has to choose between her child and her lover.
The book has been deemed a lesbian cult classic, and formed the basis of an acclaimed 2015 movie called Carol, which stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.
What I love about this book is that the characters defy traditional stereotypes of homosexuality, as well as being one of the most moving love stories of our time.
2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Despite the title of this New York Times bestselling, the relationships formed by protagonist Evelyn Hugo are not strictly heterosexual.
Evelyn is a Hollywood starlet, who has enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, and has now hired Monique to write her biography.
Evelyn is unequivocally bisexual, and her main love interest in the novel is a known lesbian.
The story becomes all the more poignant when the biographer Monique learns how she is connected to Evelyn’s story.
The novel is rich and complex, yet the chapters are short, and it’s not too long, making it a perfect beach read.
3. Written In The Stars By Alexandria Bellefleur
This bestselling, award-winning novel is everything you could want in a lesbian rom-com.
It features two starkly different women, skeptical Darcy and free-spirited Elle are set up on a date together, but it doesn’t work out. However, they end up having to pretend to various people that they are in fact together.
When these two opposites do begin to find themselves attracted to one another, it makes for a whimsical and heartwarming tale, that makes for perfect holiday reading material.
And I just love the nods to Pride And Prejudice and Bridget Jones!
4. Girlfriend Material: A Friends to Lovers Romance By Katia Rose
This is SUCH a sweet story. You’ve got two young women on a course together who are studying costume design, and they couldn’t be more different.
When Allison realizes that her friend, love-em-and-leave-em Kate can teach Alison a thing or two about seduction and flirting, a master course in flirtation ensues.
You can guess what happens next, they start to fall for each other, and their platonic flirtation project does not remain platonic for long!
5. Something’s Different by Quinn Ivins
This story is super fun! At first, it just seems silly, but as the novel progresses, it’s clear that there’s a real love story developing here too.
There are identical twins, Chloe and Caitlin, and they decide to switch places, so Chloe can meet a guy, while Caitlin pretends to be Chloe, to help keep Chloe’s job.
But while there, Caitlin starts to admire Chloe’s boss, Ruth. And better yet, the feelings may be mutual!
6. Destination You: An Age-Gap Lesbian Romance By J.J. Arias
This super steamy lesbian romance is a number one bestseller in the category of Hispanic American literature.
It follows the story of Taylor Lopez, now 27, who happens to bump into her former school teacher that she had the biggest crush on, Raquel Alonso.
And while their undeniable attraction to each other may feel wrong and forbidden at first, the two women soon find that they can’t keep their hands off each other, and they give in to their lust and desire for each other.
7. Tryst Six Venom By Penelope Douglas
This is the hottest lesbian romance book I’ve ever had the pleasure to read!
There’s Clay, who’s very prim, proper, and preppy, and never has a hair out of place in her Catholic school. Clay thinks she’s still pure as long as it’s not a guy touching her.
And in stark contrast there’s Olivia, dangerous and wild, and determined for a night with Clay that she’ll never forget.
(This book comes from a renowned erotic fiction writer, who also writes for heterosexuals and bisexuals too.)
8. Devil’s Advocate By T.B. Markinson And Miranda MacLeod
Talk about steamy and heated!
Ashley and Caitlin come from very different backgrounds, Ashley is determined to support what’s left of her working class family, while Caitlin is a woman who comes from money, born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
Ashley and Caitlin find themselves working for the same law firms, becoming fierce rivals. The stakes are high, and the chemistry is undeniable. And there’s humor thrown in the mix too.
9. Tipping The Velvet By Sarah Waters
This is historical fiction, set in the 1800s, when lesbianism wasn’t spoken of.
At the center of the story are Kitty, a male impersonator extraordinaire, and Nancy, who becomes enamored with Kitty while watching her at a show. Nancy not only meets Kitty in person, but also goes on to become her dresser.
Then the two of them decide to go into show business as a duo. Meanwhile, behind the curtain, they are free to admit their mutual attraction to one another, and an erotic affair ensues.
10. Just My Type: A Lesbian Vampire Romance By Lucy Bexley
Now this is a story to get your teeth sunk into!
It follows the 2000-year-old vampire as her meal at the hematology lab in a local university gets interrupted. She meets stunning doctor Annie, who is trying to cure a rare blood disease.
Annie is enraptured by this beautiful stranger, while Ero is interested in Annie as more than just a blood source.
It’s laugh out loud funny – I highly recommend it if you don’t mind a little gore.
11. She Gets the Girl By Rachael Lippincott
This is such a cute story!
It’s a Young Adult (YA) novel set in high school. And in addition to the lesbian romance trope, there’s also a coming of age theme, and addressing social anxiety.
The story involves Alex, an apparent flirting expert who knows how to get her girl, and Cora, who asks Alex to help her with her social anxiety and get her crush to notice her.
Their aim might be to get other girls to fall for them, but they start to fall for each other.
12. When Sparks Fly By Kirsten Zimmer
This really is a beautiful romance, and at the same time it’s also addictive, and you get really drawn to the character’s story and start rooting for them.
It tells of Britton, who has moved from foster home to foster home, and there’s a slow burn romance slowly but surely building between her and Avery when Britton moves in with Avery’s family.
There are twists and turns, and a lot of character development throughout.
It is a New Adult (NA) romance, and it features sexual content and erotic scenes.
13. Satisfaction Guaranteed By Karelia Stetz-Waters
This hilarious novel mixes business with battery operated pleasure!
Professional Cade becomes the owner of a sex toy store, Satisfaction Guaranteed, and she partners up with Selena, a fellow lesbian who has, unfortunately, taken an oath of celibacy.
But the business doesn’t seem to be doing well, and the ladies have to figure out a way to not lose their business, or each other.
14. She Drives Me Crazy By Kelly Quindlen
This lesbian romance has all the ups and downs of teen romance.
First, Scottie loses the first basketball game of the season to her ex-girlfriend, and then she gets forced to carpool with her beautiful enemy Irene.
To get back at her ex, and to bump her popularity on the social ladder, Scottie bribes Irene into taking part in an elaborate fake-dating scheme, where some very real feelings get revealed.
I recommend it, it’s really funny and just delightful.
15. Something to Talk About By Meryl Wilsner
This romantic story starts when Hollywood starlet Jo is photographed making her assistant, Emma, laugh on the red carpet, and rumors ensue.
The rooms spread, affecting every area of their lives, and people start treating them differently, so they play it down, repeating “no comment”.
But there’s a spark between them, and they need to decide whether to act on it, and risk fanning the flames of gossip.
You’ll be swooning and smiling long after you finish reading!
Wrap Up
I hope you’ve enjoyed browsing through my shortlist, but I can assure you that you’ll have an even better time reading the books – enjoy!