Christina & Lauren have been writing all kinds of stories together since 2009. This is not the first erotic romance they've ever written . . . but it is the first one under this name. Separated by the pesky state of Nevada, these co-author besties talk several times a day, agree that Ruby Pumps is the best nail polish color ever, and would, if given the choice, spend all day staring at the ocean from the San Clemente pier.
Fic (2013) Why Fanfiction Is Taking Over the World edited by Anne Jamison
Christina Lauren recommends
Home for the Homicides (2026) (Holly & Mark Mystery, book 1) Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey "A pitch-perfect blend of enemies-to-lovers tension, holiday chaos, and murder most merry, this is rom-com mystery at its finest. Smart, sexy, and wildly fun - we devoured it!"
The Good Parts (2026) Evann Normandin "A gripping, luminous love story that trusts the reader. The Good Parts is intimate, aching, and quietly profound - proof that romance can be both devastating and deeply wise."
First and Forever (2026) Lynn Painter "Sharp, funny, and impossible not to love. Lynn Painter delivers a rom-com win with crackling banter, swoony chemistry, and a fake-dating setup that feels fresh and irresistible. We were cheering from the sidelines the whole time."
Enemies to Lovers (2026) Alisha Rai "Alisha Rai - hands down, one of our favorite authors in the genre - manages to do something fresh every time she lowers her hands to a keyboard, and The Right Swipe is our favorite yet. It's smart, empowering, juicy, and exploding with voice. We love getting lost in her books and this one is the perfect pick for these warm and indulgent days of summer! We absolutely adored this book!"
Overdue (2025) Stephanie Perkins "Stephanie Perkins is the reason we write romance, and Overdue is the book her readers have been waiting for-voicy, immersive, and deeply romantic. Steph Perkins is an absolute icon!"
Anywhere With You (2025) Ellie Palmer "The rare book I wanted to start over again the very second I finished it, Anywhere with You is a witty, wise, and warmhearted treat. With her sparkling prose, delicious tension, and belly-laugh banter, Ellie Palmer has created an absolute smash of a romance. Straight to the top of my favorites pile!"
These Summer Storms (2025) Sarah MacLean "Money, sex, and intrigue, all wrapped in a sumptuous coastal setting - These Summer Storms is a great read, unputdownable from beginning to end!"
When Javi Dumped Mari (2025) Mia Sosa "When Javi Dumped Mari is the friends-to-lovers romance of my dreams! Voice-y and playful, sharp and sexy, this is Mia Sosa at her absolute best!"
Say You'll Remember Me (2025) (Say You'll Remember Me, book 1) Abby Jimenez "Somehow, Jimenez manages to keep getting better, and with her latest, she is at the top of her game. Say You'll Remember Me is funny and poignant, relatable and aspirational, heart-tugging and satisfying. It is, in a word, perfect."
Book Boyfriend (2025) Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley "Absolutely sparkling! With delicious friction and deft use of our most cherished tropes, Book Boyfriend is a love letter to the swooning, hopeful romance reader hearts out there, who are worthy not just of the lowest bar, but of the highest, most magical love story imaginable."
Temple of Swoon (2025) Jo Segura "It was everything I wanted: riotous fun, heart-clenching romance, and pitch-perfect characters!"
The Lodge (2025) Kayla Olson "A little mystery, a little escapism, and all romance . . . The Lodge is an absolute treat!"
Not in My Book (2024) Katie Holt "An absolutely sparkling debut! Not in My Book is an absorbing, hilarious love letter to romance fans everywhere."
A Fire in the Sky (2024) (Fire in the Sky, book 1) Sophie Jordan "Sharp, sexy, and blissfully salacious, The Scandalous Ladies of London is an adrenaline-soaked, romantic delight. I flew through this in one sitting, completely unwilling to stop until I reached the perfect last page. This book is precisely what I love most about romance!"
Take Me Home (2024) Melanie Sweeney "With razor sharp sexual tension and crackling banter, this is the frenemies to lovers book of my dreams."
It's Elementary (2024) (Mavis Miller Mysteries, book 1) Elise Bryant "Sassy and spirited, Elise Bryant's It's Elementary is the perfect puzzle to unravel under the covers. This cozy mystery isn't just about finding out who did it- it's about finding yourself along the way."
The Year of What if (2024) Phaedra Patrick "Anyone with a meddling family and too many exes will feel right at home in this escapist romp."
Under Your Spell (2024) Laura Wood "A fabulously engrossing read! With wit and charm, Laura Wood creates a magical world readers will want to dig into. Under Your Spell's epic sisterhood, healing journey, and slow-burn romance beautifully demonstrate how love can rock you to your core."
Birding with Benefits (2024) Sarah T Dubb "This book is unqualified joy! ... Readers will absolutely relish watching the love between John and Celeste take flight!"
Better Left Unsent (2024) Lia Louis "Such a brilliant premise and an unrelenting delight! I opened this one to peek and ended up reading it in one, breathless sitting. Voicy, hilarious, vulnerable, and triumphant, BETTER LEFT UNSENT is an absolute blast. Pure romance magic!"
You, Again (2023) (Dial Delights) Kate Goldbeck "This is a romance sung in perfect pitch! A spectacular debut!"
A Twisted Love Story (2023) Samantha Downing "Samantha Downing's writing is pure, twisted magic... will take you from the height of sexy, crashing-into-walls obsession to utter disbelief, loving every second."
Business or Pleasure (2023) Rachel Lynn Solomon "Both wisecracking and wise, edgy and vulnerable, Business or Pleasure skillfully balances everything that makes romance great. Simply put, it is an unputdownable, sexy riot! Rachel Lynn Solomon is a romance virtuoso and her readers have the best seats in the house."
On Earth as It Is on Television (2023) Emily Jane "Heartfelt, witty, and secretly romantic, On Earth as It Is on Television is a delightful and poignant story about what it is to be human and what we owe each other."
Kismat Connection (2023) Ananya Devarajan "There's something about a headstrong girl and a soft boy who falls first that is my book kryptonite, and Kismat Connection has it all and then some. A gorgeous debut about self-acceptance, love, and finding your own path."
This Bird Has Flown (2023) Susanna Hoffs "A little bit romance, a little bit rock-and-roll-this isn't just a book, it's a love song, and it should come as no surprise that Susanna Hoffs has crafted the perfect one to put on your playlist."
The Do-Over (2023) Suzanne Park "With depth and warmth and wit, The Do-Over is a beautiful, hopeful portrayal of second chances in life and in love. The carefully executed portrayal of anxiety, as well as the wonderfully engrossing love story make this read a pitch perfect read. I absolutely loved every word. Suzanne Park is a hidden gem in the romance world, and The Do-Over is her best book yet."
The Only Game in Town (2023) Lacie Waldon "The Only Game in Town is a hug in book form. I finished it with a happy exhale and immediately wanted to start it all over again."
For Her Consideration (2023) (Out in Hollywood, book 1) Amy Spalding "With vibrant prose, a setting that is both upscale glam and homey comfort, and a thrumming, pounding, romantic heart, For Her Consideration is pure romance magic."
The Vibrant Years (2022) Sonali Dev "I would give this book five stars for the concept alone, but it's Sonali Dev's trademark character depth and beautiful writing that really make The Vibrant Years shine. A gorgeous story of evolving female relationships and how love, hilarity, and the bonds between three generations of women help them thrive in even the fiercest winds of change."
Two Wrongs Make a Right (2022) (Wilmot Sisters, book 1) Chloe Liese "Absolute romantic perfection! Two Wrongs Make A Right is sexy, and smart, and achingly sweet. I absolutely adored every word."
Before I Let Go (2022) (Skyland, book 1) Kennedy Ryan "SPECTACULAR! Kennedy is doing something no one else in romance is doing right now. If you love angst with the most satisfying payoff, Before I Let Go is for you."
Anon Pls. (2022) DeuxMoi "Dazzling, propulsive, and delightfully juicy, Anon Pls. is the digital age's love letter to The Devil Wears Prada. Sexy, suspenseful, and so good you won't want to put it down - not even to check on the latest stories in Deuxmoi's feed. What an incredible debut."
Seoulmates (2022) Susan Lee "The perfect childhood friends-to-lovers story--full stop."
Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match (2022) Sally Thorne "Take everything you've come to love in a Sally Thorne novel: witty banter, a sexy, toe-curling romance, and voice that pirouettes off the page, but add one part Tim Burton. Dear reader, that is what's waiting for you, and we are OBSESSED. This is Sally Thorne at her absolute best."
The American Roommate Experiment (2022) (Spanish Love Deception, book 2) Elena Armas "A frothy, playful delight! In her slam-dunk follow-up to The Spanish Love Deception, Armas gives us the sunshine honey Lucas Martin, and strong, vulnerable Rosie Graham and throws them into a god-tier forced proximity romance that had me literally grinning so hard at the pages! Their chemistry was fire, but it was the way their genuine love and support for each other evolved on page that had me swooning. Armas's writing flows like a riveting conversation, pulling the reader in immediately, and these two characters truly leap from the page. Delicious fun from start to finish!"
A Hundred Other Girls (2022) Iman Hariri-Kia "The most delightful, absorbing, and hilarious book I have read in ages! An automatic favorite--there is nothing like this anywhere. Iman Hariri-Kia has that rare talent that comes along once in a decade."
The Bodyguard (2022) Katherine Center "I sit down with a Katherine Center novel the way many do in front of a favorite holiday meal: with salivating, wide-eyed anticipation. As always, Center's writing wallops readers with wisdom, wit, and a deep understanding of her dimensional characters. And The Bodyguard is pure, unvarnished delight. It sparkles bright with flirtation, banter, and the all-encompassing thrill of falling in love over a thousand tiny moments of connection. I closed this book with the biggest smile and the deepest, satisfied sigh."
Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic (2022) Lauren Ho "Sardonically witty, deeply relatable, and surprisingly vulnerable, Lucie Yi is a glorious take on modern romance. I read it in one take and then hated myself afterward for not savoring. A smart, sharp, laugh-out loud delight. Lauren Ho is at the top of her game."
The Dead Romantics (2022) Ashley Poston "The Dead Romantics was an absolute and unexpected delight. Voicy and quirky and fun; the pages will probably sparkle (but with black glitter)."
American Royalty (2022) (American Royalty , book 1) Tracey Livesay "This book was pure joy from start to finish! With the indulgent setting, the delicious steam, the sharp banter, and the deepest swoons, American Royalty is an absolute, pitch-perfect romance!"
A Little Too Familiar (2022) (Uncanny Romance, book 1) Lish McBride "A Little Too Familiar is a knock-it-out-of-the-park, magic on every page delight."
A Lady for a Duke (2022) Alexis Hall "Everyone needs to read this. Brilliance on every single page. Hilarious, witty, tender, and stunning. I love this book."
One Night on the Island (2022) Josie Silver "With Silver's dazzling voice, belly-laugh hilarity, and the coziest Irish setting you can imagine, One Night on the Island is a perfectly-executed and quintessential romantic comedy."
I'm So (Not) Over You (2022) Kosoko Jackson "With beautifully drawn themes of family ties, foundational friendships, and the importance of choosing a love that makes us better, stronger, and happier, here is the queer rom com the genre has been waiting years for! As tender and unflinching as it is uproarious and joyful, Kosoko Jackson's I'm So (Not) Over You is, quite simply--a spectacularly satisfying read."
The Love Hypothesis (2021) (Love Hypothesis, book 1) Ali Hazelwood "Contemporary romance's unicorn: the elusive marriage of deeply brainy and delightfully escapist...The Love Hypothesis has wild commercial appeal but the quieter secret is that there is a specific audience, made up of all of the Olives in the world, who have deeply, ardently waited for this exact book."
Honey Girl (2021) Morgan Rogers "With imagery that leaps from the pages, HONEY GIRL is a brilliant debut. A story about finding your place in the world, about finding love—and accepting it by learning to love yourself. Prepare for this one to vault its way to the top of your TBR pile."
Written in the Stars (2020) (Written in the Stars , book 1) Alexandria Bellefleur "With perfectly woven vulnerability and playfulness, Written in the Stars is a riotous and heartfelt read. I was hooked from the very first page!"
Beach Read (2020) (Beach Read , book 1) Emily Henry "Delightfully romantic and slyly poignant, Beach Read is brimming with crackling banter and engrossing prose. It has every flavor of booklover catnip: rivalry, creative struggle, family secrets, and the sweet head-over-heels tumble into love. Emily Henry's Beach Read is 2020's perfect anywhere read."
You Deserve Each Other (2020) Sarah Hogle "This book is the perfect dose of sweet, hilarious joy. It's masterful comedy plus tenderness, unique voice plus rich characters. Nicholas! Swoon! We are in love."
The Guinevere Deception (2019) (Camelot Rising Trilogy, book 1) Kiersten White "A rare and enviable mix of impeccable writing, heart-stopping action, lush scenery, and complex, relatable characters . . . brilliant!"
The Final Play (2019) (Branch Avenue Boys, book 3) Shelly Ellis "Shelly Ellis is a new favorite to our list."
Well Met (2019) (Well Met, book 1) Jen DeLuca "What a delight! This is enemies to lovers at its absolute finest, folks. DeLuca proves to be a master of creating characters you believe in and a storyline to keep you totally engrossed. Well Met is a hilarious, swoony, and captivating romance--hands down our new favorite feel-good novel of the year."
Devoted to Love (2019) (Devoted Lovers, book 2) Shayla Black "Black is a matter of her craft: a wordsmith, a storyteller, and an undisputed genre trendsetter."
Fix Her Up (2019) (Hot & Hammered, book 1) Tessa Bailey "Fix Her Up was a complete, utter, unrelenting delight."
Red, White & Royal Blue (2019) (Red, White & Royal Blue) Casey McQuiston "I took this with me wherever I went and stole every second I had to read! Absorbing, hilarious, tender, sexy—this book had everything I crave. I’m jealous of all the readers out there who still get to experience Red, White & Royal Blue for the first time!"
The Simple Wild (2018) (Simple Wild, book 1) K A Tucker "This book OWNS US. . . .This book is beautiful, y’all, and we are jealous you get to read it for the first time."
The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go (2018) Amy E Reichert "Written with a keen and tender awareness of the devotion between women across generations, The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go is a beautiful read. The characters are wonderfully imperfect, and their relationships are recognizably flawed, making their journey around and around—and finally back to—each other immeasurably satisfying. Bravo!"
The Kiss Quotient (2018) (Kiss Quotient, book 1) Helen Hoang "In just under 24 hours I devoured The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang and it was AWESOME. Adorable, sexy, smart. Exactly the book I wanted to read!"
Falling (2017) (High Stakes , book 2) Simona Ahrnstedt "This book left me absolutely breathless..."
Mr. Right-Swipe (2017) Ricki Schultz "This book gave me my absolute favorite feeling, laughing out alone in a room, chased immediately by the swoons."
