If there’s any period in a person’s life when they are most likely to run into someone that they have strong and compassionate feelings for, it’s during college when they are forced out of their comfort zone and have the opportunity to meet new people, while also learning more about themself and their romantic interests at the same time.
College is a period of maturity for many people, and a chance to reinvent themselves after high school, so it only makes sense that many authors have focused on the romance that can blossom throughout the college years within their own novels.
Admittedly, there are thousands of college romance novels out there, so choosing just one to sink your teeth into can be a lot harder than it needs to be.
We’re here to make this decision easier than ever by compiling 6 of the most well-acclaimed and popular college romance novels below for you to try out if you’re interested in getting stuck into this sub-genre.
1. The Hook Up By Kristen Callihan
Romance was the last thing Anna Jones had on her mind when she first entered college.
With her family expecting big things from her academically, the shy and timid young woman dedicated all of her time and energy towards her studies, but things don’t quite go to plan when she has a chance encounter with Drew Baylor, a hot and handsome renowned football player who keeps giving Anna these fiery and intense stares whenever they are in the same room.
While Anna initially rejects Drew’s advances, believing that this bad boy isn’t her type and is only trying to use her, they eventually end up having a one-night stand when their temptations get the better of them, but while Anna wants it to remain as a hookup, she can’t help wondering how her life could be if things went a little further.
The only problem is she’s going to need to get to know Drew better as a person first, and she might end up learning a lot of things that were better left unknown.
The relationship between Anna and Drew feels like it progresses very naturally as the story goes on, and with plenty of steamy and passionate sections also featured throughout the book, this is a story that demands your attention until the very last page.
2. The Dare By Elle Kennedy
Taylor is an insecure and docile Kappa Chi member who doesn’t fit in with the rest of her elegant and beautiful sorority sisters.
However, while she knows that these mean girls will try everything they can to make fun of her, she decides to join in with their games in an attempt to make some new friends at her new college.
It’s not long before the sisters issue a dare to Taylor, and it’s a challenge that she willingly accepts at first, but that eventually leads her down a road of seduction, romance, and reflections on her own self-worth.
Taylor’s mission is to ‘seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class’, and that young man just so happens to be Conor Edwards, a regular attendee at the raunchy Greek Row parties who has built quite a reputation for himself as a charmer among the ladies.
When Taylor approaches Conor in the hopes that she can get this silly dare over with, he actually decides to help her as the two ‘pretend’ to have something going on, much to the annoyance of Taylor’s sorority sisters, but what starts as a harmless game soon becomes something much more intimate, and potentially too much for Taylor to handle.
The Dare is a story all about taking risks, and the benefits that can come from moving out of your comfort zone, along with the fear of it all blowing up in your face when things don’t go according to plan.
3. The Studying Hours By Sara Ney
Jameson Clarke is well aware of all the jocks and womanizers who are known to roam the college dorms, in fact, she spends the majority of her time in the isolated rooms of her college library just to avoid these types of people.
They are always the ones taking the girls on a ride, having their fun, and eventually dropping them to find someone new, but what if the roles were reversed?
When Jameson runs into Oz Ozborne, a typical college frat boy who seems to love the sound of his own voice, she decides to seduce him, putting on a sarcastic and witty persona which is not the girl Oz was expecting.
However, while Oz is confused as to why this girl isn’t instantly falling for his devilish good looks and charm, there’s something about Jameson that he can’t get enough of and that he’s never seen in the many other girls he’s dated in the past.
This lighthearted and fun twist on the classic seductive jock trope that features in so many college romance novels makes this story incredibly enjoyable to read, with plenty of intimate and incredibly emotional moments sprinkled throughout to keep the reader engaged from start to finish.
4. Be With Me By Jennifer Armentrout
Ever since Teresa and Jace shared a change-your-life kiss, they can’t stop thinking about it, and more specifically, what their relationship could have become if their personal lives and responsibilities hadn’t gotten in the way.
In an attempt to move on with her life so that she can escape her wild fantasies, Teresa decides to go to college where she can focus on her studies and getting her dance career back on track, but even when she tries to distance herself from Jace, they just can’t help running into each other.
On top of all their mixed emotions and feelings, Jace has a very personal and deep secret that he’s keeping from everyone, even the girl he has been daydreaming about for all these years, but will this secret be enough to push Teresa away for good?
The theme of fate bringing two destined lovers together is very prominent in Be with Me, however, Jennifer Armentrout makes sure to put her own personal spin on this popular concept to make the story feel a lot more natural, and incredibly relatable to anyone who has ever had a hard time forgetting about that one special moment shared with a stranger from their past.
5. The Love Hypothesis By Ali Hazelwood
In this lighthearted story, we follow the lively and bubbly third-year P.H.D. candidate Olive Smith who doesn’t believe in romantic relationships, despite the fact that her best friend Anh is adamant that they are required for a person to live a truly happy and fulfilled life.
Olive decides to test this love hypothesis, not by getting to know a guy or signing up for a dating app, but instead, by kissing the first man she lays her eyes on, and the man that she shares a passionate kiss with just so happens to be the new young hotspot professor, Adam Carlsen.
As the two decide to participate in this ‘experiment’, they soon realize that keeping up the act is a lot harder than they initially thought it would be, especially since they need to hide their little secret from the rest of the students and teachers attending the college.
As the relationship develops and grows, the makeshift couple runs into plenty of hardships that force the two to question not only their compatibility but also what they want from one another, making for a story that perfectly balances being lighthearted and extremely emotional and heartbreaking when it needs to be.
6. The Perfect Game By J. Sterling
Cassie and Jack are both damaged individuals who have experienced the more harmful and darker side of relationships in their pasts.
This has made both of them weary of ever pouring their heart out to a person they like due to the fear of getting hurt, and while Cassie sticks to this promise, trying to steer as far away from the cocky baseball player as possible, Jack decides to try and follow his heart one final time, and chase this girl who could just be his ‘game changer’.
The book bounces between the perspective of both characters and the contrast between Jack, who desperately tries to get Cassie’s attention, and the barrier put up by the insecure Cassie who questions whether it’s even worth showing her vulnerabilities to someone who could break down her confidence all over again.
If you’re looking for a college romance story that explores themes of mistrust and forgiveness within love and relationships, The Perfect Game is a fascinating read that will stick with you long after you finally put it down.
Summary
College romance is one of the most popular romance sub-genres in the literary world, so it never hurts to read a few books for yourself to see what all the buzz is about.
Check out some of these excellent novels listed above which are all centered around the many emotions that come from experiencing love at such a young age during college.