The most recommended dating books

Who picked these books? Meet our 96 experts.

96 authors created a book list connected to dating, and here are their favorite dating books.
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Book cover of How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love

Minda Honey Author Of The Heartbreak Years: A Memoir

From my list on reads to get over your ex.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was the type of kid who tossed a coin in a fountain and wished that every day could be Valentineā€™s Day. So, itā€™s no surprise that my younger years were dominated by dating, love, and heartbreak. I learned enough about the matter to even have my own dating advice column for a few years. Mostly what Iā€™ve learned is how important it is to have compassion for yourself and to know youā€™re not the only one having a hard time finding your forever love. I hope these book picks bring you some comfort.

Minda's book list on reads to get over your ex

Minda Honey Why did Minda love this book?

I first learned about Logan Ury listening to the podcast This is Dating. While I was waiting on the second season to drop, I learned about Dr. Uryā€™s book.

Iā€™m not trying to be ageist, but it was refreshing to hear dating advice from a professional that isnā€™t older and hasnā€™t been married for decades. Uryā€™s dating years being more recent meant she gets the landscape modern daters are struggling to find love in. Her perspective was instantly more relevant to me.

There were also several knowledge gems that she dropped throughout her book that Iā€™d already learned the hard way, which gave me more confidence in giving the new-to-me information she presented a shot.

By Logan Ury,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Not Die Alone as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'A definitive guide for a generation navigating the murky waters of modern love' Esther Perel

A funny and practical guide to help you find, build, and keep the relationship of your dreams.

Have you ever looked around and wondered, "Why has everyone found love except me?" You're not the only one. Great relationships don't just appear in our lives - they're the culmination of a series of decisions, including who to date, how to end it with the wrong person, and when to commit to the right one. But our brains often get in the way. We make poor decisions,ā€¦


Book cover of Love Sick

Rebecca Dimyan Author Of Chronic: A Memoir

From my list on chronic illness to laugh, cry, and everything in between.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a woman who suffers from chronic illness, I am interested in sharing my experience and learning about other women who also suffer and survive their chronic conditions. I have had endometriosis, a painful disease, since I was a teenager. Iā€™ve always enjoyed stories about different kinds of chronic illnesses, and I appreciate the way pain and sickness can be translated into memorable books. 

Rebecca's book list on chronic illness to laugh, cry, and everything in between

Rebecca Dimyan Why did Rebecca love this book?

A candid often comical memoir about finding love and coming to terms with illness, Martin doesnā€™t shy away from the unflattering bits of looking for your soul mate while also dealing with the complications of MS.

Self-deprecating humor, unflinching depictions of award sexual encounters and unfortunate side effects (the chapter "Shit Happens has some quality toilet humor), this book will make you laugh out loud, which, in my opinion, makes this an exceptional memoir about chronic illness.

By Cory Martin,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

At 28, Cory Martin thought she had it all, a budding career as a writer in Hollywood, an apartment of her own, and a healthy obsession with yoga. But when she found herself on the floor of her apartment wailing into the phone, 'but I don't want to be sick, ' her entire world came crashing down.

A doctor had just revealed that she had Multiple Sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease, her good friend was getting married that weekend and the only people she wanted to call were her parents. In a time when she was supposed to be comingā€¦


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Book cover of Fourth and Long

Fourth and Long by Britt Belle,

Fourth and Long is a novel written in the first person with dual POVs.

Ellie: When I meet Slater, an infamous quarterback trying to salvage his career, I know better than to form expectations. Our relationship starts out casual, but I canā€™t help falling for him. The problem is, thatā€¦

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?

Iā€™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. Iā€™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. Itā€™s also a great premiseā€¦the hero who makes a bet with his friend to sleep with said friendā€™s very cranky ex-girlfriend.

Min has just been recently dumped by a man she didnā€™t love, but sheā€™s not in the mood to deal with any manā€™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 herā€¦


Book cover of To Night Owl from Dogfish

Danielle Svetcov Author Of Parked

From my list on for a 5th-grade book group.

Why am I passionate about this?

In addition to being an author of MG fiction, I run two book groups for kids, which means I spend lots of time in libraries, communing with kidsā€™ librarians, placing wagers on which books will win the Newbery, so that I can pass along great books to my groups. While there are all kinds of terrific MG books out there, I find that boisterous group meetings require something special ā€“ i.e. books with a controversial idea or character or act that merits debate/discussion. I remember when we read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler -- one girl just could not get past the idea that two kids left home without telling their parents. I love that sort of passionate objection!

Danielle's book list on for a 5th-grade book group

Danielle Svetcov Why did Danielle love this book?

An entire book group of girls decided to try sleep-away camp after reading this hilarious title. Constructed entirely of emails between anxious Avery Bloom (NYC) and gonzo Bett Devlin (Los Angeles), itā€™s about an unlikely friendship that is aided-and-abetted by the existence of the Internet and summer campā€¦and theatreā€¦and love-at-first-sightā€¦and unvarnished truth.

By Holly Goldberg Sloan, Meg Wolitzer,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked To Night Owl from Dogfish as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, 12, and 13.

What is this book about?

A REVERSE PARENT TRAP FOR A NEW GENERATION FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS HOLLY GOLDBERG-SLOAN AND MEG WOLITZER.

Avery (Night Owl) is bookish, intense, likes to plan ahead, and is afraid of many things. Bett (Dogfish) is fearless, outgoing, and lives in the moment. What they have in common is that they are both twelve years old, and their dads are dating each other.

Bett and Avery are sent, against their will, to the same camp for the summer vacation. Their dads hope that they will find common ground and become friends - and possibly, one day, even sisters.ā€¦


Book cover of Little Universes

Deborah Crossland Author Of The Quiet Part Out Loud

From my list on YA that made me cry.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have loved story since I was little, and Iā€™ve curated a life where it has always taken center stage in some or another. I was a high school English teacher for ten years, and have been a college professor for eight. But what really inspires me to write the books I do is my PhD in mythological studies. As a mythologist, Iā€™m lucky enough to be able to see why stories resonate with us for so long and use those same themes and metaphors to write my own. 

Deborah's book list on YA that made me cry

Deborah Crossland Why did Deborah love this book?

First of all, Heatherā€™s writing is so clear and so emotional, itā€™s hard not to get sucked into this world immediately. Second, the characters are so well-rounded.

You can feel their ache radiating off the page. The micro poetry Hannah leaves all over the city breaks my heart every time I read them, but what absolutely sends me is how the girls learned to process grief and all the other Big Emotions by making soup. This book easily has crossover appeal for both teens and adults.

By Heather Demetrios,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Little Universes as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Heather Demetrios's Little Universes is a book about the powerful bond between sisters, the kinds of love that never die, and the journey we all must make through the baffling cruelty and unexpected beauty of human life in an incomprehensible universe.

One wave: thatā€™s all it takes for the rest of Mae and Hannah Wintersā€™ lives to change.

When a tsunami strikes the island where their parents are vacationing, it soon becomes clear that their mom and dad are never coming home. Forced to move to Boston from sunny California for the rest of their senior year, each girl strugglesā€¦


Book cover of Carry On

Terry Bartley Author Of Tyranny of the Fey

From my list on casually queer sci-fi fantasy.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve always been a big fan of sci-fi and fantasy, especially anything involving superheroes or D&D-style adventure. For the longest time, I had to find queer representation through subtle glances and creative readings of characters. I loved these stories for the sci-fi and fantasy elements, but it was frustrating that every love story that came up was straight. It didnā€™t feel possible for queer love to be a part of a plot, and even when there was a queer character it had a ā€œvery special episodeā€ vibe to it. Finally, queer characters are becoming part of the story, and it doesnā€™t have to be a ā€œbig deal.ā€

Terry's book list on casually queer sci-fi fantasy

Terry Bartley Why did Terry love this book?

It took me months to pick up Carry On after it initially caught my eye on the bookshelf. It was everything I could have wanted.

It is a less problematic Harry Potter, if Harry and Draco ended up getting together. It shows a really authentic representation of unrequited queer love and recognizing oneā€™s own queer identity. It is character-driven, but also full of fun magic adventure. I love a book that knows how to give you exactly what you want.

By Rainbow Rowell,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked Carry On 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?

#1 New York Times best seller!
Booklist Editorsā€™ Choice 2015 - Youth!
Named a "Best Book of 2015" by Time Magazine, School Library Journal, Barnes & Noble, NPR, PopSugar, The Millions, and The News & Observer!

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there'sā€¦


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Book cover of Unsettled

Unsettled by Laurie Woodford,

At the age of forty-nine, Laurie Woodford rents out her house, packs her belongings into two suitcases, and leaves her life in upstate New York to relocate to Seoul, South Korea. What begins as an opportunity to teach college English in Asia evolves into a nomadic adventure.

Laurie spoon-feeds orphansā€¦

Book cover of Drawn That Way

Miel Moreland Author Of It Goes Like This

From my list on young adult about ambitious girls.

Why am I passionate about this?

I was an ambitious teen, and as I entered adulthood, my relationship with ambition has continually evolved. Those of us with marginalized genders sometimes have our ambition treated with suspicion or scornā€”by peers, family, or would-be mentors. I wanted to share books that donā€™t necessarily come to the same conclusion about ambitionā€™s role in our lives, but that all grapple with what it means to be ambitious in a culture where that is often seen as threatening or unladylikeā€”or where any sign of ambition gets one automatically labeled as ā€œunlikeable.ā€ I love these booksā€™ narrators, and I hope you will find something to love in them too. 

Miel's book list on young adult about ambitious girls

Miel Moreland Why did Miel love this book?

Hayley is thrilled to be accepted to a prestigious summer program for aspiring teen animators. But then only boys are chosen to direct the participantsā€™ short films, and that might only scratch the surface of the boysā€™ club culture within the program. The multiple forms of sexism Hayley experiences throughout are so real, they were painful to read (in the best, truest way), as I reflected on my own experiences with misogynistic gatekeepingā€”but the community and solidarity that develop throughout this fantastic novel are very satisfying. 

By Elissa Sussman, Arielle Jovellanos (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Drawn That Way as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 11, 12, 13, and 14.

What is this book about?

ā€œPacks a swoony punch along with its feminist rage.ā€ ā€”Maurene Goo, author of Somewhere Only We Know

Moxie meets the world of animation in this fresh, unputdownable novel about a teen girl determined to prove herself in the boysā€™ club of her dream industry no matter what it takes.

Hayley Saffitz is confident, ambitious, and intent on following in the footsteps of her hero, renowned animation director, Bryan Beckett. When sheā€™s given a spot in his once-in-a-lifetime summer program, Hayley devises a plan: snag one of the internshipā€™s coveted directing opportunities. Dazzle Bryan with her talent. Secure a job post-graduation.ā€¦


Book cover of 99 Erics: a Kat Cataclysm faux novel

Dawn Woolley Author Of Consuming the Body: Capitalism, Social Media and Commodification

From Dawn's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Artist Researcher Writer Feminist Reader

Dawn's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Dawn Woolley Why did Dawn love this book?

This book made me laugh out loud. I had to stop reading so I could share extracts with my partner because it was so funny. Described in the subtitle as a "faux novel" and recounting the author's experiences of going on dates with 99 people called Eric, it blurs the boundary between fiction and autobiography, which makes it even funnier.

The format of the book also allows the author to present a wide range of character vignettes that can be read as stand-alone short stories and feel like you are eavesdropping on some hilarious juicy gossip.

By Julia Serano,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked 99 Erics as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Kat Cataclysm is an ethically non-monogamous bisexual woman and absurdist short fiction writer. 99 Erics is a humorous account of Katā€™s experiences writing a book called 99 Erics, which is about her experiences dating ninety-nine different people named Eric. It is more surreal than slutty. Not that there is anything wrong with slutty.The book is largely comprised of humorous anecdotes from Katā€™s dates with various Erics; satirical takes on relationships, sexual conventions, language, the writing process, book publishing, online media, and tech culture; and Katā€™s smart yet silly digressions on a variety of topics, including the distorted nature of memories,ā€¦


Book cover of The Girl That Can't Get a Girlfriend

Emmarie Bee Author Of A Twist of Fate

From my list on LGBTQ+ manga/graphic novels.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™ve always loved cartoons and anime. Iā€™m also bisexual and non-binary. Growing up, gay representation was hard to come by, so when we did get it, we were always super excited, whether it was good or not so good. Luckily, Iā€™ve gotten to watch the world change and grow more accepting, but sometimes itā€™s still difficult to find good rep when you donā€™t know where to look. I try to fill my books with good representation so that my readers can feel seen in a way I didnā€™t, and I want to spread the word about some great LGBT manga that I love and made an impact on me.

Emmarie's book list on LGBTQ+ manga/graphic novels

Emmarie Bee Why did Emmarie love this book?

I canā€™t find another way to describe it - this book is just funny!

An autobiographical story about the authorā€™s struggles to find a girlfriend and the general difficulties of dating, this book kept putting me in my own feelings because I recognized so many of those emotions. I used to believe that dating in the gay community was easy. (Itā€™s not.)

I love it whenever someone manages to take an aspect of being gay and show the difficulties in a relatable or humorous way. I feel like almost everyone, gay or straight, can relate to the difficulties of dating. I also love that the author is not afraid to poke a little fun at herself in a healthy way. Sometimes, thatā€™s how you get through the struggle!

By Mieri Hiranishi,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Girl That Can't Get a Girlfriend as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From first crush to first crushed! The autobiographical manga about one woman's quest for the hot short-haired girlfriend of her dreams!

The autobiographical manga about one woman's quest for the hot, short-haired girlfriend of her dreams!

Mieri is an awkward, nerdy college student with no dating experience, and her previous crushes on fellow butch women have all ended in disaster. That all changes when she meets Ash and has her feelings returned for the first time. But when first love turns to first heartbreak, Mieri will do everything possible to win Ash back. Based on true events, this is aā€¦


Book cover of Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance

Ananya Devarajan Author Of Kismat Connection

From my list on young adult featuring Indian American characters.

Why am I passionate about this?

I specialize in writing Young Adult Fiction with an emphasis on the Romance genre, and my debut novel, Kismat Connection, releases from Inkyard Press and HarperCollins in Summer 2023. Growing up as an Indian American, I remember searching for bits and pieces of my identity in the media. Most of the time, I wouldnā€™t find any representation at allā€”so it wasnā€™t long before I decided that if I couldnā€™t find the representation that I so desperately wanted to see, Iā€™d have to make it myself. Kismat Connection was born from this moment in my life, and it will forever serve as the foundation for my career in publishing.

Ananya's book list on young adult featuring Indian American characters

Ananya Devarajan Why did Ananya love this book?

This is a young adult romance novel featuring Radha Chopra, a world-renowned Kathak dancer, who gives up her love of dance when a family betrayal comes to light. Radha is instantly a protagonist to root for, a strong, independent, and fierce Indian woman that we so rarely see in contemporary Western media. Nisha Sharma champions such genuine desi representation in this story, and it is absolutely a must-read for allā€”but especially for passionate and creative Indian American teenagers. 

By Nisha Sharma,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance 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?

Radha was on the verge of winning the world's biggest kathak dancing competition when a family betrayal shattered her dreams, and her confidence. Now, she's made a deal with her mum: study dance for a year at the Princeton Academy of Arts and Sciences and then leave that world forever. But if she's not a dancer, what is she? Could learning to cook - a way to connect with her absent father - become her new passion?
Jai, captain of the academy's Bollywood Beats dance team, is putting his hopes of going to medical school on hold because money isā€¦


Book cover of How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love
Book cover of Love Sick
Book cover of Bet Me

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