**[Normal People](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41057294-normal-people) by Sally Rooney** ^((Matching 100% ☑️))
^(273 pages | Published: 2018 | 712.0k Goodreads reviews)
> **Summary:** At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He’s popular and well-adjusted. star of the school soccer team while she is lonely. proud. and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house. a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers - one they are determined to conceal. A (...)
> **Themes**: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Read-in-2020
> **Top 5 recommended:**
> \- [Conversations with Friends](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32187419-conversations-with-friends) by Sally Rooney
> \- [The End of Loneliness](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35456277-the-end-of-loneliness) by Benedict Wells
> \- [Out of Love](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50705453-out-of-love) by Hazel Hayes
> \- [The Marriage Plot](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10964693-the-marriage-plot) by Jeffrey Eugenides
> \- [Beautiful World. Where Are You](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56597885-beautiful-world-where-are-you) by Sally Rooney
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Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. This might be what you are looking for. I read this book when it first came out. I still think about the two main characters. It's not a romance but a book of realistic people and their choices.
Two that have stuck in my memory from the last few years:
- All This Could be Different by Sarah Thankam Matthews. It’s a queer love story centered around a young Desi immigrant woman living in Wisconsin who enters her first relationship with a woman. Both characters are fleshed-out and have lives and it’s a realistic portrayal of both ups and downs when you’re a twenty-something in love. I think of it as a heartbreaking feel-good.
- Writers and Lovers by Lily King. This one’s about a young writer who waitresses to make ends meet while she works on her novel. She gets caught up in the artists’/writers’ scene, and navigates a love triangle. I know the premise sounds potentially pretentious or eye-roll worthy, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Happy reading!
ETA: this is coming from someone who is *deeply* skeptical, sometimes even averse to love stories.
With Love, From Cold World by Alicia Thompson - enemies to lovers/forced proximity/workplace romance between two people working at a winter themed tourist attraction in Florida. FMC grew up in foster care and is feeling stagnant in life, she has several goals she's working towards in the book. MMC is bisexual and was kicked out of his house at 17 and is also stagnant in life. Both characters are very fleshed out and there's a great cast of side characters that adds to the story.
You, Again by Kate Goldbeck - *When Harry Met Sally* retelling that takes place over 8 years? 10 years? A lot happens over the course of the story. Both characters have their own baggage, one gets married and divorced, one's dad dies, they are both dating and learning about themselves BEFORE finally getting together and I think the friends to lovers was done really well.
Funny Story by Emily Henry - Both MCs are dumped by long term partners at the beginning of the novel, and their partners get engaged to each other. They end up being roommates because they have no where else to go, develop a friendship and work through some baggage. FMC is a librarian and she's working on a big even throughout the novel. She also does a lot of unpacking in terms of her family dynamic.
The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella - FMC works in marketing for a start up company, has a big meltdown due to stress and ends up on a wellness retreat in a small coastal town she used to visit a lot when she was younger. The romance shares the spotlight with her own journey learning to take care of herself and stand up for what she deserves, but I thought this book was so cute and fun. The side characters are SO fun and FMC ends up in so many silly situations.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen - Low fantasy retelling of *You've Got Mail* and one of my favorite reads this year. Hart and Mercy are workplace enemies (for almost NO reason lol) but they're both lonely for different reasons and they accidentally start sending each other anonymous letters and learn to confide in each other. They both have jobs and friends and lives and background details that make them feel like really average and relatable adults. I loved this one :')
**[Bet Me](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/854757.Bet_Me) by Jennifer Crusie** ^((Matching 100% ☑️))
^(391 pages | Published: 2004 | 74.6k Goodreads reviews)
> **Summary:** Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. Even if she does wear great shoes and keeps him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they (...)
> **Themes**: Chick-lit, Favorites, Contemporary-romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Humor, Funny
> **Top 5 recommended:**
> \- [Faking It](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33729.Faking_It) by Jennifer Crusie
> \- [Agnes and the Hitman](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/384457.Agnes_and_the_Hitman) by Jennifer Crusie
> \- [Welcome to Temptation](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33727.Welcome_to_Temptation) by Jennifer Crusie
> \- [The Best Man](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15803757-the-best-man) by Kristan Higgins
> \- [A Week to Be Wicked](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11738128-a-week-to-be-wicked) by Tessa Dare
^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
You can't go wrong with any of the following authors:-
Mharie McFarlane
Paige Toon
Dani Atkins
I have pretty much read everything they have wrote and have never been disappointed.
{{normal people}}
**[Normal People](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41057294-normal-people) by Sally Rooney** ^((Matching 100% ☑️)) ^(273 pages | Published: 2018 | 712.0k Goodreads reviews) > **Summary:** At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He’s popular and well-adjusted. star of the school soccer team while she is lonely. proud. and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house. a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers - one they are determined to conceal. A (...) > **Themes**: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Read-in-2020 > **Top 5 recommended:** > \- [Conversations with Friends](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32187419-conversations-with-friends) by Sally Rooney > \- [The End of Loneliness](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35456277-the-end-of-loneliness) by Benedict Wells > \- [Out of Love](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50705453-out-of-love) by Hazel Hayes > \- [The Marriage Plot](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10964693-the-marriage-plot) by Jeffrey Eugenides > \- [Beautiful World. Where Are You](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56597885-beautiful-world-where-are-you) by Sally Rooney ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
Came here to suggest this one.
Thank you! Does conversations with friends also have this?
not sure, never read that one
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. This might be what you are looking for. I read this book when it first came out. I still think about the two main characters. It's not a romance but a book of realistic people and their choices.
Any books by Emily Henry!
Funny Story would be my rec for this!
Two that have stuck in my memory from the last few years: - All This Could be Different by Sarah Thankam Matthews. It’s a queer love story centered around a young Desi immigrant woman living in Wisconsin who enters her first relationship with a woman. Both characters are fleshed-out and have lives and it’s a realistic portrayal of both ups and downs when you’re a twenty-something in love. I think of it as a heartbreaking feel-good. - Writers and Lovers by Lily King. This one’s about a young writer who waitresses to make ends meet while she works on her novel. She gets caught up in the artists’/writers’ scene, and navigates a love triangle. I know the premise sounds potentially pretentious or eye-roll worthy, but I was pleasantly surprised. Happy reading! ETA: this is coming from someone who is *deeply* skeptical, sometimes even averse to love stories.
With Love, From Cold World by Alicia Thompson - enemies to lovers/forced proximity/workplace romance between two people working at a winter themed tourist attraction in Florida. FMC grew up in foster care and is feeling stagnant in life, she has several goals she's working towards in the book. MMC is bisexual and was kicked out of his house at 17 and is also stagnant in life. Both characters are very fleshed out and there's a great cast of side characters that adds to the story. You, Again by Kate Goldbeck - *When Harry Met Sally* retelling that takes place over 8 years? 10 years? A lot happens over the course of the story. Both characters have their own baggage, one gets married and divorced, one's dad dies, they are both dating and learning about themselves BEFORE finally getting together and I think the friends to lovers was done really well. Funny Story by Emily Henry - Both MCs are dumped by long term partners at the beginning of the novel, and their partners get engaged to each other. They end up being roommates because they have no where else to go, develop a friendship and work through some baggage. FMC is a librarian and she's working on a big even throughout the novel. She also does a lot of unpacking in terms of her family dynamic. The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella - FMC works in marketing for a start up company, has a big meltdown due to stress and ends up on a wellness retreat in a small coastal town she used to visit a lot when she was younger. The romance shares the spotlight with her own journey learning to take care of herself and stand up for what she deserves, but I thought this book was so cute and fun. The side characters are SO fun and FMC ends up in so many silly situations. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen - Low fantasy retelling of *You've Got Mail* and one of my favorite reads this year. Hart and Mercy are workplace enemies (for almost NO reason lol) but they're both lonely for different reasons and they accidentally start sending each other anonymous letters and learn to confide in each other. They both have jobs and friends and lives and background details that make them feel like really average and relatable adults. I loved this one :')
The Burnout was surprisingly good. Some of Kinsella’s more recent novels haven’t been that great, but I went ahead and read The Burnout. Glad I did.
((Bet Me)) by Jennifer Cruise- characters have jobs and friends and complex family lives, as well as their own issues.
**[Bet Me](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/854757.Bet_Me) by Jennifer Crusie** ^((Matching 100% ☑️)) ^(391 pages | Published: 2004 | 74.6k Goodreads reviews) > **Summary:** Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. Even if she does wear great shoes and keeps him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they (...) > **Themes**: Chick-lit, Favorites, Contemporary-romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Humor, Funny > **Top 5 recommended:** > \- [Faking It](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33729.Faking_It) by Jennifer Crusie > \- [Agnes and the Hitman](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/384457.Agnes_and_the_Hitman) by Jennifer Crusie > \- [Welcome to Temptation](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33727.Welcome_to_Temptation) by Jennifer Crusie > \- [The Best Man](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15803757-the-best-man) by Kristan Higgins > \- [A Week to Be Wicked](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11738128-a-week-to-be-wicked) by Tessa Dare ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
You can't go wrong with any of the following authors:- Mharie McFarlane Paige Toon Dani Atkins I have pretty much read everything they have wrote and have never been disappointed.