The best swoon worthy romance novels with a side of chaotic family and friend groups

Why am I passionate about this?

I didn’t grow up with a close family, but I yearned for one. Which is why I gravitate towards books with a cast of characters who are family, or a found family. I also prefer romantic plots or subplots. Combining romance and amazing side characters that are close automatically hooks me. That’s why I always include these dynamics in the books I write. I write my books for my own entertainment and hope others who love romance with swoony leads and a fun cast of characters will find my book and enjoy it as much as I do. 


I wrote...

Thin Lines

By Rachel Bowen,

Book cover of Thin Lines

What is my book about?

Juliet is the daughter of the police commissioner, and with three brothers on the force, she’s the only Cavanaugh who isn’t one of New York’s Finest. She carries a stethoscope instead of a badge, but she stands strong alongside the thin blue line and will do anything to protect her family.

Noah has a family legacy to uphold as the fire commissioner’s son. His father is pushing him to raise ranks, but he loves having his boots on the ground. Fighting fires is in his blood, as is the age-old rivalry between the NYPD and FDNY. A chance encounter between the two leads to a summer of secret rendezvous. But summer only lasts so long, and secrets have a way of surfacing.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Save the Date

Rachel Bowen Why did I love this book?

The large family dynamic immediately pulled me into this story about family, love, and learning to let go of expectations.

As someone who wishes I had a large family, adores love, and needs help going with the flow, it was a perfect fit. The sibling camaraderie and bickering, and how they all talk in quick succession and sometimes over each other, gives a depth and reality to the interactions. I loved that part best. 

By Morgan Matson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Save the Date as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

From the author of Since You've Been Gone and The Unexpected Everything comes a dreamy story of summer romance and finding yourself, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen

Charlie Grant tries to keep her life as normal as possible. Hanging out with her best friend, pining for Jesse Foster - who she's loved since she was twelve - and generally flying under the radar as much as she can.

But sometimes normal is just another word for stuck, and this weekend that's all going to change. Not only will everyone be back home for her sister's wedding,…


Book cover of The Cheat Sheet

Rachel Bowen Why did I love this book?

Friends to lovers is one of the tropes I enjoy when done right, and this book does it right.

Add in the fake dating and the story is elevated to a thoroughly fun time. I loved the tension and secret pining between the two leads almost as much as the dynamic between Nathan (the male lead) and his teammates as well as the teammates with Bree (the female lead).

The scene where the football team helps Nathan make a playbook for getting out of the friend zone was one of my absolute favorites. Everyone’s personality shined and I love when friend groups are loud, fun, and chaotic. 

By Sarah Adams,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Cheat Sheet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Is it ever too late to leave the friend zone? Discover the heartwarming friends to lovers romance that became a sensation on TikTok—now with a new chapter and a Q&A with the author!

The friend zone is not the end zone for Bree Camden, who is helplessly in love with her longtime best friend and extremely hot NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. The only problem is that she can’t admit her true feelings, because he clearly sees her as a best friend with no romantic potential, and the last thing Bree wants is to ruin their relationship. But those abs .…


Book cover of Book Lovers

Rachel Bowen Why did I love this book?

The sisterly bond in this book and the hallmark parallels had me wanting to stay wrapped up in this cozy read as long as possible.

The mishaps along the way added a touch of humor that had me smiling as I read. And the interactions between ‘enemies turned lovers’ Nora and Charlie were great.

The coincidences that followed the main leads, like running into each other in a remote small town when both are from New York and didn’t know the other would be there and the fact Charlie’s mom owns the house Nora and her sister are renting made me want to keep reading and see what other situations the two would get in that would thrust them together. 

By Emily Henry,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Book Lovers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“One of my favorite authors.”—Colleen Hoover

An insightful, delightful, instant #1 New York Times bestseller from the author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2022 by Oprah Daily ∙ Today ∙ Parade ∙ Marie Claire ∙ Bustle ∙ PopSugar ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ Book Bub ∙ SheReads ∙ Medium ∙ The Washington Post ∙ and more!

One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn't see coming...

Nora Stephens' life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream…


Book cover of Even If I Fall

Rachel Bowen Why did I love this book?

This book. The love story and the scenes between the leads had me swooning.

Seriously, I loved every second of the tension between the main characters: Brooke and Calvin. Brooke’s brother is in jail for murdering his best friend, who was also Calvin’s older brother. And no one knows why he did it.

They live in a small Texas town and their families have, for obvious reasons, become enemies. Their love is forbidden, but they can’t stay away from each other, even when their families are so important to them.

At the same time, the shadow of Brooke’s brother murdering Calvin adds a complication to their budding romance. This book has love, family, and a mystery to unravel and I loved every second of it. 

By Abigail Johnson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Even If I Fall as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

“A moving, captivating story about the bonds of family and the restorative power of love.”
—Tamara Ireland Stone, New York Times Bestselling author of Little Do We Know 

Brooke and Heath should never have become friends, let alone fallen in love.

A year ago, Brooke Covington lost everything when her beloved older brother, Jason, confessed to the murder of his best friend, Calvin. Brooke and her family became social pariahs, broken and unable to console one another. Brooke’s only solace remains the ice-skating rink where she works, but she no longer lets herself dream about a future skating professionally.

When…


Book cover of Make It Sweet

Rachel Bowen Why did I love this book?

I love stories where neither of the main characters are looking for love, and sometimes are actively avoiding it, and then bam they meet someone they click with and can’t help but fall.

This is one of those books. Both leads are using a sprawling estate as an escape from their pasts and from people in general. They fall in love with the help of a meddling grandmother, forced proximity, baking, and off-the-chart chemistry.

The fact they fight it, and try to deny it, makes it all the more satisfying when they finally give in. 

By Kristen Callihan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Make It Sweet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Callihan comes a charming, emotional romance about redefining dreams and discovering unlikely love along the way.

Life for Emma isn't good. The world knows her as Princess Anya on Dark Castle, but then her character gets the axe-literally. The cherry on top is finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman. She needs a break, and sanctuary comes in the form of Rosemont, a gorgeous estate in California promising rest and relaxation.

Then she meets the owner's equally gorgeous grandson, ex-hockey player and current recluse Lucian Osmond, and she sees her own pain…


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What You Do To Me: A Novel

By Rochelle B. Weinstein,

Book cover of What You Do To Me: A Novel

Rochelle B. Weinstein Author Of When We Let Go

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Not only am I the author of seven women’s fiction novels, I’m a voracious reader who believes she was raised by Judy Blume and Sidney Sheldon. In our broken home, reading was an escape, a salve for the wound, a place where I felt heard and understood. My novels touch on deep emotions—real and relatable. If I don’t capture that feeling when I’m reading through my drafts, I dig deeper. And that’s the thing about a great book, that gut punch, that slide under my skin, I get you. There’s no better read than the one that pulls the heartstrings and gives you all the feels.    

Rochelle's book list on tugging on every one of your heartstrings

What is my book about?

What You Do To Me follows Rolling Stone reporter Cecilia James on the hunt to find the muse behind a famous love song, all while managing an estranged relationship with her father and boyfriend Pete.

Inspired by Hey There Deliah, the dual timeline stretches across the sunny beaches of 1970s Miami with star-crossed lovers Eddie and Sara, to the glittery music industry of 1990s LA. For music lovers and fans of that first, unforgettable love, What You Do To Me is the story of a love song with equal parts heart and harmony.

What You Do To Me: A Novel

By Rochelle B. Weinstein,

What is this book about?

From the bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends comes a moving novel of two unfinished love stories and the music and lyrics that bring them together.

Journalist Cecilia James is a sucker for a love song. So when she stumbles across a clue to the identity of the muse for one of rock’s greatest, she devotes herself to uncovering the truth, even as her own relationship is falling apart.

While writing an article for Rolling Stone, Cecilia works to reveal the mystery that has intrigued fans and discovers a classic tale of two soulmates separated by fate and circumstance. Rock…


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