Mollie Stewart, Marketing Manager

A romantic novel I love 💗 

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: it’s a modern classic for a reason – I finally read this on holiday last year and it’s just beautiful. With mythical gods and goddesses, gorgeous writing and a captivating, passionate romance at its centre, I found it near-impossible to put down.

A romantic novel I’ll be reading this summer 💗 

You Are Here by David Nicholls: like everyone else, I loved the Netflix adaptation of One Day which came out this year. I have yet to read a David Nicholls, but I plan on heading out into the countryside with his latest now that the summer weather has finally decided to arrive.

Last year, Hannah shared her love of Romantic Comedy and Prep, and recommended Queen Charlotte.

Hannah Marshall, Head of Marketing

A romantic novel I love 💗 

I didn’t think Emily Henry would ever be able to top Book Lovers for me, but with the arrival of her new novel Funny Story this year, I’m thrilled to say that I was wrong! Utterly charming, completely addictive and with an MMC and MFC that you can fall head-over-heels for, this is the friends-to-lovers romantic comedy that I will be recommending to everyone this summer. I’ve also been talking non-stop about Honey since I read an advance copy back in March. A debut novel about the heady but rocky rise of a pop singer in the early noughties, this isn’t strictly a romance, but there is plenty of romantic drama and it’s the perfect summer book with its soundtrack of Britney, Christina and N-Sync.

A romantic novel I’ll be reading this summer 💗 

Few authors can write complicated and (sometimes painfully) truthful love stories as brilliantly as Sally Rooney, and so I’m absolutely desperate to read her new novel, Intermezzo – a story of two grieving brothers and the women they turn to in the wake of their father’s death. It’s out in September, but very fortunately, along with fellow mere mortals SJP and Ayo Edebiri, I’ll be getting an early read of it on my summer holiday this year. I already know I’m going to be obsessed.

Last year, Hannah shared her love of Persuasion and recommended The View Was Exhausting and The Kiss Quotient.

Kate Baron, UK Sales Manager

A romantic novel I love 💗 

Happy Place by Emily Henry: this really is Emily Henry doing what she does best. The story is set on holiday with four friends, but two of those are pretending not to be exes. It is hilarious, but also tugs at the heartstrings and will most definitely keep you entertained whilst sitting on your sun lounger!

A romantic novel I’ll be reading this summer 💗 

Love Me Do by Lindsay Kelk: I’ve always had Lindsay Kelk on my TBR pile as one of the best romance writers out there, but this summer I’ll be jumping into one of her more recent books, which is set in the Hollywood Hills and features a very hot man-next-door. Can’t wait!

Last year, Kate shared her love of Cleopatra and Frankenstein and My Year of Rest and Relaxation.

Phoebe Williams, Marketing Manager

A romantic novel I love 💗 

I took Dolly Alderton’s Good Material on holiday with me earlier this year and raced through it over two days. Following heartbroken Andy after his break-up with three-year girlfriend Jen, this book is full of witty and heartfelt observations on surviving heartbreak – the perfect poolside read that had me sniggering to myself on my sunbed.

A romantic novel I’ll be reading this summer 💗 

Thanks to my manager, Hannah Marshall, I’m fully on the Emily Henry train – she hasn’t failed me yet! I even succumbed to buying the Waterstones hardback edition of Funny Story, her latest novel, which includes two wronged exes and a fake relationship.

Last year, Phoebe shared her love of Small Worlds and recommended Beach Read.

Hannah Turner, Publicity Manager

A romantic novel I love 💗 

One Day by David Nicholls: I recently re-read this after watching the amazing Netflix adaptation, and it still makes my heart burst in the same way it did fifteen years ago. There’s no one that can write love quite in the same way as David Nicholls.

A romantic novel I’ll be reading this summer 💗 

I must be the only romance fan that has never read any Emily Henry, so I’m saving Happy Place and Book Lovers for a week in Italy.

Last year, Hannah shared her love of Call Me by Your Name and recommended Honey & Spice.

Mallory Ladd, International Sales Director

A romantic novel I love 💗 

I absolutely love Mhairi McFarlane and have been reading her for over ten years now, always eagerly awaiting her next book. If you want a good place to start, I’d go with Who’s That Girl?, which coincidentally has a sequel that’s just come out, You Belong With Me, which will be at the top of my summer-holidays reading pile this year.

A romantic novel I’ll be reading this summer 💗 

Aside from the new Mhairi McFarlane, I’ll be reading the new David Nicholls (along with 90% of the UK population, it would appear), and I’ve saved the latest from Ali Hazelwood for the perfect beach read!

Last year, Mallory shared her love of The Hating Game and recommended Between Us and You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty.

Jess Kim, Deputy Marketing Director

A romantic novel I love 💗 

A friend of mine asked me to do a reading at his wedding recently. His pick of extracts was a fantastic blast from the past and a reminder of what an absolute banger Submarine by Joe Dunthorne is. Can you think of anything more romantic than the below?

‘Oh diary, I love her, I love her, I love her so much. Jordana is the most amazing person I have ever met. I could eat her. I could drink her blood. She’s the only person I would allow to be shrunk to microscopic size and explore me in a tiny submersible machine. She is wonderful and beautiful and sensitive and funny and sexy. She’s too good for me, she’s too good for anyone! All I could do was let her know. I said: “I love you more than words. And I am a big fan of words.’

A romantic novel I’ll be reading this summer 💗 

The absolute plethora of praise for Kaliane Bradley’s mega-hit The Ministry of Time has made clear how clever, original and witty it is, but not enough reviewers have talked about how damn minxy it is! So much sultry heatwave-in-London frisson, askance loaded exchanges and all those great elements of a total rom com classic. Big summer romance energy.

Sophie Clarke, Marketing Manager

A romantic novel I love 💗 

Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift is set over one seemingly idyllic summer’s day in 1924. Housemaid Jane Fairchurch has no mother to visit and instead spends the day in the bed of her long-term lover: a gentleman and heir betrothed to a ‘suitable match’. A close observation of intimacy, class and life’s sliding doors, this is a searing novella with an unforgettable ending.

A romantic novel I’ll be reading this summer 💗 

All Fours by Miranda July has been described as ‘an irreverently sexy novel about a woman upending her life’ . . . I’m intrigued. A semi-famous artist announces her plan to drive cross-country from LA to NY, ends up in a nondescript motel and entirely reinvents herself. I’ve heard great things about this story of one 45-year-old woman’s quest for a new kind of freedom and her exploration of sexuality in perimenopause. I can’t wait to dive in.

Simi Toor, Children’s Communications Assistant

A romantic novel I love 💗 

The A Court of Thorns and Roses series has taken TikTok by storm, and it’s no surprise! The series is packed full of epic world- and character-building that allow you to completely delve into the unexpected and truly beautiful romance that unfolds throughout the series. I mean, who doesn’t love enemies-to-lovers?

A romantic novel I’ll be reading this summer 💗 

This summer I will be reading the fifth book in the Bridgerton series, To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn. I absolutely loved the Netflix series, and the books are full of charm and are an easy read, perfect for a lazy summer!