The best sweet romantic comedies that show how embarrassing moments can lead to a hot guy

Why am I passionate about this?

Why do I have expertise on embarrassing moments? I wish I could say I just enjoy watching other people occasionally squirm and nothing humiliating has ever happened to me. That would be such a lie, though. I’m an embarrassing moment waiting to happen. I rode to the vet with a cat who wanted to cling to the top of my head. I got stuck in a gas station in the middle of nowhere. I (nearly) locked myself out of my house in my pajamas. The only good thing about having embarrassing moments is that you can use them in your novels. And I do.


I wrote...

Just One Wish

By Janette Rallison,

Book cover of Just One Wish

What is my book about?

She’d go to the ends of the earth—or at least Hollywood—to save her brother’s life. Annika Truman has never considered "genie" as a career option, but maybe she should have. She’s convinced if she fulfills her little brother’s only wish before his cancer surgery, he’ll have a better chance of pulling through. The trouble is, Jeremy wants the actor who plays Teen Robinhood to pay him a visit. Steve Raleigh is handsome, cocky, and most likely unreachable. And worse, Annika only has a couple of days to find him and convince him to visit her brother. Still, she has to try.

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The books I picked & why

Book cover of Royally Rearranged: A Sweet Royal Romcom

Janette Rallison Why did I love this book?

At some point in life, every woman wanted to be a princess. The crown, the poofy dress, the loyal servants. (Now that I’m older, I’d be happy with just the servants.) This novel is pure wish fulfillment. It’s also a fun read—and as far as embarrassing moments go, getting glass splinters in your derriere in front of a hot guy definitely checks that box. Also, this book has lots of romantic tension. Always a plus.

The heroine was nice, funny, sweet, but also awkward at times—someone you’d want as a friend.

Book cover of The Cowboy Who Stole My Heart

Janette Rallison Why did I love this book?

First of all this book has a hot cowboy in it. *Swoons* As far as wish-fulfillment goes, I think most women would like to date a cowboy. Cowboys love horses, have muscles, and wear cool hats. I’m not sure why women ever stopped making men wear hats (top hats especially—every man looks better in a top hat) so I especially appreciate a man in a cowboy hat. 

However, I wouldn’t like a cowgirl’s schedule of getting up at the crack of dawn to do ranch work, which is why it’s so nice to vicariously live through this book. You get to date the hot guy but you don’t have to clean stables. Win-win!

Oh, and mixing up a guy with his twin brother and making a fool of yourself—also fun to read about.

By Melinda Carroll,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Cowboy Who Stole My Heart as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Only two things stand between Skye and the life she craves: a priceless necklace and a hot cowboy. Not necessarily in that order.

Skye Stanton enjoys catering for Aunt Judy’s reception center about as much as she likes sour milk and day-old sushi. But she’s trapped as long as Judy holds Grandma’s trust money hostage. So when Skye learns her family may have the rights to a stolen heirloom necklace, she hatches a plan to track down the jewels in exchange for sweet freedom.

For Dillon Wyle, the necklace doesn’t just represent money—it symbolizes loyalty, family, and the mother he…


Book cover of Austenland

Janette Rallison Why did I love this book?

I won’t start out this recommendation by admitting how many times I’ve read/watched Pride and Prejudice or by telling you about all the Jane Austen paraphernalia I have. (Ok, yes, I have the Jane Austen action figure.) I think it’s safe to say that a lot of us wish we could live in Jane Austen’s story worlds. So I loved the premise of this book: There’s a vacation place where women go and can have their own Mr. Darcy. 

Maybe the heroine almost gets kicked out, but hey, we like her all the more for it and root for her to get her man.

By Shannon Hale,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Austenland as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man-perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, however, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr.…


Book cover of Girl at Heart

Janette Rallison Why did I love this book?

Kelly Oram writes great YA romances. You sort of feel like you’re back in high school, but without the pressure of finishing your homework and remembering your locker combination. Everything embarrasses teens, so of course, there are some embarrassing moments in her books too. 

I liked this one because the heroine loved sports but had a hard time getting her teammates to see her for who she was. Sometimes we all just want people to see who we are and not what we do.

By Kelly Oram,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Girl at Heart as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

As the daughter of a successful Major League pitcher, Charlie Hastings has baseball in her blood. Unfortunately, being the only girl on her high school baseball team, Charlie has always been just one of the guys.When her best friend, and secret love of her life, asks another girl to the prom, Charlie is devastated. She’s tired of being overlooked by boys because she’s not like other girls. Suffering a massive identity crisis, she decides to hang up her cleats and finally learn how to be a girl.But with only two weeks until the state championships, the Roosevelt High Ravens can’t…


Book cover of A Man Worth Shaving For

Janette Rallison Why did I love this book?

First off, I love the title of this book. (No, don’t draw any inferences about my shaving habits from that sentence.) The book starts out with a meet-cute that involves a wardrobe malfunction, but you’ll love the heroine for taking it in stride. She’s a strong, professional woman through and through. Also, the hero in this book is really dreamy. I love a guy who is good. (Yes, I like the reformed bad boy too, but I love the guy who was never bad to begin with even more.)

By Michelle Pennington,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked A Man Worth Shaving For as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Our goodnight kiss should have been goodbye.

We meant it to be.

But Monday morning there was Logan Jennings, in my office, deciding the fate of the company I love...and my job.

I never should have said the things I said or let myself feel the things I felt because connections like this don't just go away. Even when you desperately need them to.

In two weeks, he'll be gone, and nothing will ever be the same.

A clean and hilarious romcom with lots of heart and sizzle. You've been looking for a book like this! Grab your copy now!



You might also like...

The Woodland Stranger: A Fairy Tale with Benefits

By Jane Buehler,

Book cover of The Woodland Stranger: A Fairy Tale with Benefits

Jane Buehler Author Of The Ocean Girl

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Storyteller Introvert Romantic Norm avoider Backyard birdwatcher

Jane's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

Burne’s been hiding out in the forest since deserting the King’s Guard. Each time he tries to return to the village, he begins to panic. And then one day, he encounters a handsome stranger picking flowers and hides behind a tree instead of talking.

He wants to be braver—and he’s about to get another chance. Because the stranger is Gray, a fairy and master of illusions who’s now following Burne home. And Gray’s got more on his mind than talking. Would a fairy that beautiful ever want someone like him? Stranger things have happened.

The Woodland Stranger: A Fairy Tale with Benefits

By Jane Buehler,

What is this book about?

Whoever said, Don't talk to strangers?


Burne hid behind a tree. He wanted to talk to the handsome man picking flowers at the edge of the forest, but he'd only flub it if he tried-he'd stumble over his words and blush bright red. And now the man is gone.


He tries to continue on to the village, but the same thing happens as always: his hands start shaking and panic wells up inside him. What if he runs into the bullies who tormented him in the King's Guard last spring? Ever since he deserted, he has hidden out in the…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in romantic love, cowboys, and Based on Pride & Prejudice?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about romantic love, cowboys, and Based on Pride & Prejudice.

Romantic Love Explore 828 books about romantic love
Cowboys Explore 72 books about cowboys
Based On Pride & Prejudice Explore 39 books about Based on Pride & Prejudice