100 books like Crazy for You

By Jennifer Crusie,

Here are 100 books that Crazy for You fans have personally recommended if you like Crazy for You. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Pride and Prejudice

Maia Correll Author Of Dare to Au Pair

From my list on romances that lead to character transformation.

Why am I passionate about this?

Ever since my younger years, I’ve spent many hours dwelling within the realms of my imagination, daydreaming myself into whirlwind romances from slow-burn to forbidden and everything in between. Why? The best answer I can give right now is my love of love, my innate understanding that the invisible string that pulls two people so fiercely together at the right time and place ultimately are the connections and relationships that propel us into up-leveling ourselves, evolving into our next best versions. So when I read, watch, or write romance, it’s beyond the physical–it’s emotional, mental, and truly spiritual.

Maia's book list on romances that lead to character transformation

Maia Correll Why did Maia love this book?

I return to this book time and again because of the captivating connection Elizabeth and Darcy share. It’s not just the tension on the surface, but it’s what goes on emotionally and psychologically with them that has me enchanted.

Austen does a fantastic job of portraying how love will sneak up on you when you’re not even looking for it, how it will push you to face the parts of yourself you’ve been avoiding for too long and to stand boldly in your authentic character while holding compassion for another’s perspective.

Every time I read this book, I feel I know the characters at a more intimate level as new fractals of their personalities and behaviors shine through.

By Jane Austen,

Why should I read it?

39 authors picked Pride and Prejudice as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One of BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World.

Jane Austen's best-loved novel is an unforgettable story about the inaccuracy of first impressions, the power of reason, and above all the strange dynamics of human relationships and emotions.

Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is illustrated by Hugh Thomson and features an afterword by author and critic, Henry Hitchings.

A tour de force of wit and sparkling dialogue, Pride and…


Book cover of The Last Devil to Die

Anni Rose Author Of Recipe for Mr Right

From my list on humorous Happy Ever Afters (with animals).

Why am I passionate about this?

Writing (and reading) have been my happy places ever since childhood. I love being able to lose myself in the characters and storyline of a book. Life can be too serious at times, so what could be better than escaping into a fictional world and romantic comedy, especially if the hero or heroine has a pet! Books in this genre have always been my preferred choices and it felt only natural when I started writing to try stick to this ideal. When not writing, reading or walking the dog, trying out new recipes is also one of my favorite pastimes, naturally, my characters also have a favorite treat that I might just have slipped in.

Anni's book list on humorous Happy Ever Afters (with animals)

Anni Rose Why did Anni love this book?

This is book 4 in the series, so please don’t read it first. Richard’s four main characters, all interesting people in their own rights with complex relationships, formed “The Thursday Murder Club” in Book 1. 

Okay – not a romantic comedy, more a cozy crime mystery set in an old people’s home, but you get the impression reading any of his books, that Richard really loved writing them and spending time with his characters, which makes all of them such a joy to read.

Lots of twists and turns, but the crime is solved in the end – so a Happy Ever After of sorts and the author keeps throwing in lighter moments to keep you reading and smiling through to the end. There is a dog in this one too.

By Richard Osman,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked The Last Devil to Die as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A new mystery is afoot in the fourth book in the Thursday Murder Club series from million-copy bestselling author Richard Osman

You'd think you be allowed to relax over Christmas, but not in the world of the Thursday Murder Club.

On Boxing Day, a dangerous package is smuggled across the English coast. When it goes missing, chaos is unleashed. The body count starts to rise – including someone close to the Thursday Murder Club--as our gang face an impossible search, and their most deadly opponents yet.

With the clock ticking down and a killer heading to Cooper’s Chase, has their…


Book cover of Rivals

Anni Rose Author Of Recipe for Mr Right

From my list on humorous Happy Ever Afters (with animals).

Why am I passionate about this?

Writing (and reading) have been my happy places ever since childhood. I love being able to lose myself in the characters and storyline of a book. Life can be too serious at times, so what could be better than escaping into a fictional world and romantic comedy, especially if the hero or heroine has a pet! Books in this genre have always been my preferred choices and it felt only natural when I started writing to try stick to this ideal. When not writing, reading or walking the dog, trying out new recipes is also one of my favorite pastimes, naturally, my characters also have a favorite treat that I might just have slipped in.

Anni's book list on humorous Happy Ever Afters (with animals)

Anni Rose Why did Anni love this book?

Jilly Cooper is for me, a go-to author when I need to take life a little less seriously. 

I discovered Rupert Campbell Black in Riders. It wasn’t love at first read. I didn’t much care for him until I started to read the second in this series. A fabulous, fun romp with laugh out loud moments (and of course animals) set again in Rutshire - Rivals. 

Divorced, Rupert is now Minister for Sport. A great book; in that this is Rupert’s journey to love and his own Happy Ever After. I defy anyone not to read it and love him by the end. 

Jilly Cooper is a wonderful storyteller, with a glorious sense of humour. 

Alert – plenty of sex scenes, from the queen of the “bonk-buster”!

By Jilly Cooper,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Who will take the Cotswold Crown?

Into the cut-throat world of Corinium television comes Declan O'Hara, a mega-star of great glamour and integrity with a radiant feckless wife, a handsome son and two ravishing teenage daughters. Living rather too closely across the valley is Rupert Campbell-Black, divorced and as dissolute as ever, and now the Tory Minister for Sport.

Declan needs only a few days at Corinium to realise that the Managing Director, Lord Baddingham, is a crook who has recruited him merely to help retain the franchise for Corinium. Baddingham has also enticed Cameron Cook, a gorgeous but domineering…


Book cover of Starting Over

Anni Rose Author Of Recipe for Mr Right

From my list on humorous Happy Ever Afters (with animals).

Why am I passionate about this?

Writing (and reading) have been my happy places ever since childhood. I love being able to lose myself in the characters and storyline of a book. Life can be too serious at times, so what could be better than escaping into a fictional world and romantic comedy, especially if the hero or heroine has a pet! Books in this genre have always been my preferred choices and it felt only natural when I started writing to try stick to this ideal. When not writing, reading or walking the dog, trying out new recipes is also one of my favorite pastimes, naturally, my characters also have a favorite treat that I might just have slipped in.

Anni's book list on humorous Happy Ever Afters (with animals)

Anni Rose Why did Anni love this book?

I was introduced to Sue Moorcroft’s writing when she was published by my publisher, Choc Lit (part of Joffe Books Ltd now). She is another beautiful writer, who has the whole storytelling shebang down to a fine art. Her characters are realistic, believable people. Every word is carefully chosen; the plot moves on at a pace. 

I wasn’t sure I’d like or even empathize with Tess or Ratty when I first started reading this. Tess bumps, quite literally, into Ratty, so not the smoothest start. They both have flaws and are definitely not sure about each other. But it wasn’t long before I found it difficult to put down. 

As I began to understand the characters, I found myself willing them to get together and find their Happy Ever After.

By Sue Moorcroft,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Starting Over as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Tess Riddell reckons her beloved Freelander is more reliable than any man - especially her ex-fiance, Olly Gray. She's moving on from her old life and into the perfect cottage in the country. Miles Rattenbury's passions? Old cars and new women! Romance? He's into fun rather than commitment.

When Tess crashes the Freelander into his breakdown truck, they find that they're nearly neighbours - yet worlds apart. Despite her overprotective parents and a suddenly attentive Olly, she discovers the joys of village life and even forms an unlikely friendship with Miles. Then, just as their relationship develops into something deeper,…


Book cover of Crudo

Bridget van der Zijpp Author Of I Laugh Me Broken

From my list on women who travel far from home to gain perspective.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of three novels that all explore contemporary notions of fidentity. In 2016 I received a scholarship to travel from New Zealand to Berlin for three months and fell in love with the city. I ended up staying there for nearly four years, until the pandemic started. As a writer I liked the way that being detached from your regular life, and living in a country where you are unfamiliar with the language and the rules, makes you alert to the quirks. It helps you to gain a fresh perspective about the place that you came from, and also the place that you are in.

Bridget's book list on women who travel far from home to gain perspective

Bridget van der Zijpp Why did Bridget love this book?

A Kirkus review aptly described this novel as “mysterious, bizarre, frustrating, weirdly smart and pretty cool”. 

It’s mostly a fiercely intelligent exploration of both political and personal crises in 2017, the year of Trump and Brexit. Radical feminist Kathy has also fairly inexplicably agreed to get married. Pre-wedding she travels to a resort in Italy with her fiancé where she tumbles through a range of highly-emotive stances on intimacy and closeness.

After an argument about prosciutto and fig ciabattas with her husband “she hated him, she hated any kind of warmth or dependency, she wanted to take up residence as an ice cube in a long glass of aqua frizzante.”  Her fury quickly dissolves “anyway they sorted it out” and the novel travels brilliantly onwards.

By Olivia Laing,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

"She had no idea what to do with love, she experienced it as invasion, as the prelude to loss and pain, she really didn't have a clue."

Kathy is a writer. Kathy is getting married. It's the summer of 2017 and the whole world is falling apart. Fast-paced and frantic, Crudo unfolds in real time from the full-throttle perspective of a commitment-phobic artist who may or may not be Kathy Acker.

From a Tuscan hotel for the superrich to a Brexit-paralyzed United Kingdom, Kathy spends the first summer of her forties adjusting to the idea of a lifelong commitment. But…


Book cover of Bet Me

Joss Wood Author Of Confessions of a Christmasholic

From my list on romance when life gets a bit real and want to hide.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an author of over seventy romance books and have been a romance reader all my life. I think the first book I wrote (at the age of eight) featured a kiss. Yes, I was precocious, but in my defense, I was spying on my much older sister and her boyfriend at the time. Reading and writing romance is my passion, and I love spending my days creating independent, intelligent, and feisty heroines and hot, smart, modern men. I’m lucky enough to spend my days doing what I love. I hope you love the books on my list, and that they bring you as much pleasure (and an escape from reality) as they did me.

Joss' book list on romance when life gets a bit real and want to hide

Joss Wood Why did Joss love this book?

This is a seriously funny book full of great dialogue. It’s also a great premise…the hero who makes a bet with his friend to sleep with said friend’s very cranky ex-girlfriend.

Min has just been recently dumped by a man she didn’t love, but she’s not in the mood to deal with any man’s ****. Cal is stupidly handsome, successful, and charming, but he needs to be brought down a peg or ten. This is opposites attract romance with lots of heart!

By Jennifer Crusie,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

The beloved New York Times bestselling novel, now with an exclusive letter from Jennifer Crusie in celebration of its tenth anniversary

This is New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Crusie's novel about long shots, risk management, true love, and great shoes. . . .

Minerva Dobbs knows how to work the odds.
Calvin Morrisey always plays to win.

But when they face off, neither one is prepared.
Because when real life meets true love, all bets are off. . . .

Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her…


Book cover of The Charm Offensive

Paul Michael Winters Author Of Together in a Broken World

From my list on queer people living their best lives.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up in a time when it was nearly unheard of to be out in high school. This led to a very lonely and isolating childhood, with few role models and almost no queer fiction. I'm dedicated to making it easier for the next generation by providing joyful stories about queer people living their best lives. My stories feature proud queer people, where being queer is simply an aspect of their personalities and doesn't dominate the plot. People imitate art, and by providing positive examples of happy queer people, I hope to make the world a more accepting place, one story at a time.

Paul's book list on queer people living their best lives

Paul Michael Winters Why did Paul love this book?

This book was a fascinating, humorous, and emotional look inside the reality TV industry while also being a wonderful queer romance and serious look at mental health and overworking.

I particularly liked that the main characters were flawed and fallible but also loveable, a hard mix to achieve. The story features a bisexual awakening, which is often tricky to pull off well in queer fiction but was handled in an excellent and believable way. While queerness does come up as an issue, since the Bachelor-like contestant is supposedly straight, the topic is handled with grace and rarely dominates the story.

By Alison Cochrun,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Charm Offensive as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A MOST ANTICIPATED ROM-COM SELECTED BY * BUZZFEED * LGBTQ READS * BUSTLE * THE NERD DAILY * ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT * FROLIC MEDIA * AND MORE!

A BEST BOOK PICK BY * HARPER' S BAZAAR * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

"The Charm Offensive will sweep you off your feet." -PopSugar

In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy-reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch-an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.

Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it's no wonder then that he's spent his career crafting…


Book cover of In a Jam

Katherine E. Webb Author Of Champagne Kisses: A Curvy Romance

From my list on romance where the plus-sized heroine gets her man.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a plus-sized woman of color, and I feel women like me are woefully underrepresented in romance books. Too many times, I read a book claiming to feature a “curvy heroine”, only to find she’s a size 6, or just wears baggy clothes. Even worse, some novels make plus-sized female leads lose weight before they get their happily ever after! There are great books out there that show love comes at any size and they deserve to be showcased.

Katherine's book list on romance where the plus-sized heroine gets her man

Katherine E. Webb Why did Katherine love this book?

This book is one of the few slow burns I enjoyed, and the spice was worth waiting! Each scene between Noah, the grumpy single dad, and Shay, the plus-sized heroine, was laced with tension and attraction.

The characters were three-dimensional rather than merely archetypes, though I wasn’t too overwhelmed with backstory. This small-town romance was the epitome of sweetness.

By Kate Canterbary,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked In a Jam as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When Shay Zucconi's step-grandmother died, she left Shay a tulip farm-under two conditions.


First, Shay has to move home to the small town of Friendship, Rhode Island. Second-and most problematic since her fiancé just called off the wedding-Shay must be married within one year. 


Marriage is the last thing in the world Shay wants but she'll do anything to save the only real home she's ever known.


Noah Barden loved Shay Zucconi back in high school. Not that he ever told her. He was too shy, too awkward, too painfully uncool to ask out the beautiful, popular girl. 


A lifetime…


Book cover of Well Met

Sam Parks Author Of You've Got Chain Mail

From my list on romance so you can swoon and geek out at once.

Why am I passionate about this?

I wholeheartedly believe that embracing your geeky side is an important part of life and self-discovery. When romance novels incorporate nerdiness, it gives characters (and therefore readers) the ability to understand themselves and what they want on another level, and to gain the courage to pursue what they want. I know that my own forays into TTRPGs, LARPing, Ren Faires, and other such interests have helped shape me as a person. I’m more confident and embodied because I embrace my inner geek, and I want that for my characters and my readers, too. That’s why I want to read and write as many of these stories as possible!

Sam's book list on romance so you can swoon and geek out at once

Sam Parks Why did Sam love this book?

I grew up going to Renaissance Faires, and there’s something so romantic and escapist about them. So when I came across this book (and the rest of the series), I knew I had to read it. I had already written my own Ren Faire romance, which made it even sweeter.

It was so immersive, and it expertly toed the line between swoon-worthy escapist romance and realistic story beats and characters. I especially loved the descriptions of the Ren Faire setting, and I still think about the hunky MMC! The rest of the series is fab as well, continuing the Ren Faire focus whilst exploring new stories and romances.

By Jen Deluca,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Well Met as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

All's faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author Jen DeLuca.

Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?

The faire is…


Book cover of Take a Hint, Dani Brown

Katherine E. Webb Author Of Champagne Kisses: A Curvy Romance

From my list on romance where the plus-sized heroine gets her man.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a plus-sized woman of color, and I feel women like me are woefully underrepresented in romance books. Too many times, I read a book claiming to feature a “curvy heroine”, only to find she’s a size 6, or just wears baggy clothes. Even worse, some novels make plus-sized female leads lose weight before they get their happily ever after! There are great books out there that show love comes at any size and they deserve to be showcased.

Katherine's book list on romance where the plus-sized heroine gets her man

Katherine E. Webb Why did Katherine love this book?

Talia Hibbert’s characters have so much depth; this book is no exception. I saw myself in the curvy lead, Dani Brown, as she’s always looking for signs to lead her in the right direction.

It was great to see her warm relationship with her sisters, even though they are all so different. But I absolutely loved seeing her flirtatious friendship turned fake relationship with former rugby player Zafir Ansari grow into true love. Plus, the spice was top-notch!

By Talia Hibbert,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Take a Hint, Dani Brown as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Talia Hibbert is a rockstar! Her writing is smart, funny, and sexy' Meg Cabot

'The author's charm and wit sings off the page in this delightful fake-romance fare' Bolu Babalola, bestselling author of Love in Colour

USA Today bestselling author Talia Hibbert returns with another charming romantic comedy about a young woman who agrees to fake date her friend after a video of him 'rescuing' her from their office building goes viral - perfect for fans of Sally Thorne, Jasmine Guillory and Helen Hoang!

Danika Brown knows what she wants: professional success, academic renown and an occasional roll in the…


Book cover of Pride and Prejudice
Book cover of The Last Devil to Die
Book cover of Rivals

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