Best of the Year: The 15 Best Romance Listens of 2022

Audible's Romance Audiobook of the Year, 2022

Julia Whelan is flawless in her performance as Nora Stephens, an uptight New York literary agent who is on vacation in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina—a city that seems to be her very antithesis. While there, she runs into her nemesis, a book editor who is in town for his own hidden reasons. Book Lovers by Emily Henry is a love letter to people who love stories—the people who write them, who sell them, who edit them, who read them, who listen to them, who escape into them. But it’s also a story about sisterhood and grief and belonging and, yes, true love. —Katie O.

Colleen Hoover is the not just the undisputed queen of #BookTok but of romance too. Her novels tend to leave a part of themselves in my mind and heart—It Starts with Us is no exception. Olivia Song and Arrow alum Colin Donnell amazingly narrate this thoughtful, beautiful, and necessary novel. Lily and Atlas’s story of breaking the cycle, and navigating their life after, left me crying happy tears and cheering for second chances at love. As one of the many who begged for a sequel, I didn't know how much I needed this title until it was released. On Behalf of CoHorts everywhere, thank you, Colleen! —Patty K.C.

Phillipa Soo of Hamilton fame once again lends her voice to a funny, insightful, and deliciously romantic novel from Lily Chu. The Comeback follows an ambitious lawyer who unwittingly falls in love with a member of a popular K-pop band—and must decide what she’s willing to risk for her happiness once their relationship goes viral and she experiences the darker side of his fan base. Chu delivers a beautiful story that weaves together complex issues of mental health, fame, cultural expectations, and anti-Asian racism while also making you swoon and laugh. —Margaret H.

I’ve spent many a summer day listening to the extraordinary Julia Whelan, who’s narrated some of my all-time favorite stories, but this one is extra special. Written and performed by Whelan, Thank You for Listening is a witty, fun rom-com that embraces fans and skeptics of the romance genre alike. It’s super smart without taking itself too seriously, telling the story of Sewanee Chester, a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel. It’ll leave you blushing with a perma-smile on your face. —Tricia F.

There’s no better duo than Wesleigh Siobhan and Jakobi Diem to lend their sexy, sultry voices to perform Kennedy Ryan’s Before I Let Go. Yasmen and Josiah Wade have been divorced for two years, but their lives are still intertwined between their kids and the restaurant business they share. Old feelings resurface as they discover new love, respect, and appreciation for each other. As a 40-something listener, I love that Ryan has written a second-chance romance that is mature, with characters who feel like people I know, and is rooted in the hard work of healing from heartbreak and loss. —M.H.

Ali Hazelwood has absolutely killed it again with her sophomore novel Love on the Brain, bringing us a whip-smart heroine fighting the good fight in the male-dominated STEM world. This is in part a classic enemies-to-lovers story but, as with every Hazelwood hero, there is way more than meets the eye. I enjoyed every minute of this fun and slightly suspenseful tale—with a delightfully nerdy and pitch-perfect performance by Brooke Bloomingdale—and I can't wait for what Hazelwood has up her sleeve next. —Emily C.

Like Feyi Adekola, the complicated protagonist at the center of You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty, I lost my husband five years ago—so I intimately understand what it’s like trying to build a new life for yourself after such a loss. Feyi’s move to New York City to pursue her art career launches a journey of self-discovery that finds her falling in love with the person she least expects. Nigerian author Akwaeke Emezi impresses with their first romance novel, while Bahni Turpin’s flawless narration charts the mixed feelings of moving on after you’ve lost the love of your life and the impossible choices Feyi must make as she navigates her new future. —M.H.

Jack Harbon’s Crimes of Passion is an audio lover’s dream. Told through podcast episodes and segments of audio outtakes meant to mirror a podcast’s recording process, this is a love story that almost feels like a behind-the-scenes documentary. As rival podcasters, Emery and Calvin are forced to play nice and work together, and we get a front seat to their enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Narrators Kevin Free and Ron Butler do a fantastic job of capturing their annoyance that simmers into romance, and their chemistry as performers perfectly mirrors the chemistry of their characters. With all of the snark, playful bickering, and audio magic so seamlessly rolled together, it’s the perfect morsel of feel-good listening. —Michael C.

A romance set in Napa’s wine country? Say less! Jasmine Guillory’s Drunk on Love follows Margot Noble, owner of a small winery who has a one-night stand–oops!–with her winery’s newest employee, Luke Williams. In a first for Guillory, Drunk on Love features duet narration from Heidi Franklin and Ryan Vincent Anderson, who adorably capture Margot and Luke’s undeniable chemistry. Coupled with the lush background of a Napa Valley vineyard, I savored this immersive listen like a rich, full-bodied pinot noir. A workplace romance featuring a strong lead who values her career just as much as her love life is absolutely refreshing. —M.H.

It doesn’t take long to fall for the titular character of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care. Covered in tattoos and unafraid to go after what she wants, Delilah is the embodiment of living life on her own terms—until she finds herself back in her hometown and directly in front of her childhood crush, Claire Sutherland. Author Ashley Herring Blake doesn’t shy away from the realities of life or love but still manages to deliver on all of the feel-good moments you could want in a romance. It’s the perfect mashup of Cinderella and Revenge of the Bridesmaids, and Kristen DiMercurio’s performance makes it impossible not to fall in love with the entire cast of characters. As an added bonus, the sequel has already been confirmed, meaning there’s still plenty more of DiMercurio’s stellar performance to come! —M.C.

I mean, it’s a new Molly Harper series, and there are witches and hot librarians and haunted mansions and charming townspeople. What else do you need? Oh, and Amanda Ronconi and Teddy Hamilton knock the performance out of the park, as one would expect. Riley was so fun to follow along with as she moves to Starfall Point, discovers her witchy heritage, and uncovers all the secrets in her inherited mansion. I loved that Teddy Hamilton got to play Edison—his slightly raspy voice was just so perfect for a frustrated librarian who wanted to discover the secrets in that historic mansion himself. I most especially love the way Molly herself describes Witches Get Stuff Done: as a delicious ghost pot pie. —Melissa B.

Abby Jimenez is not only the founder of the award-winning cupcake shop Nadia Cakes—she's also authored several stories that transcend typical rom-coms. Jimenez's novels take you on emotional journeys that tug at your heart strings long after the listen is done. Part of Your World finds a workaholic ER doctor’s path crossing with a small town mayor when her car gets stuck in a ditch. While Alexis and Daniel come from completely different worlds, Alexis ends up fitting seamlessly into Daniel's, but it's a little more complicated for Daniel to fit into hers. Listener favorites Julia Whelan and Zachary Webber make this an irresistible, unpauseable listen that is just as sweet as the cupcake dozen created by Nadia Cakes in celebration of the title's release. —P.K.C.

You can always rely on KJ Charles for a historical adventure that warms your heart and makes you laugh. In this one, a thief has a one-night stand with a lord, then robs him… and then accidentally shows up on the same lord’s estate looking for employment. What a scenario! Toby and Miles’s story was a treat of a novella that accompanied me through one very enjoyable Saturday run and stayed with me long after the last lines were spoken by narrators James Joseph and Ryan Laughton. Charles manages to get to the heart of the matter in her love stories, short or long, and Toby and Miles’s story was no different. —M.B.

After taking the romance listening community by storm with his signature baritone, fan-favorite narrator Joe Arden turned his attention toward writing his own story this year, penning his debut novel—self-narrated, of course. Like any great romance, The Chameleon Effect is equal parts swoony and steamy—and the premise is perfect for audio. Our hero William has struggled to find work as an actor, so he decides to create an alter ego: Liam, a Dubliner with a sexy Irish brogue. “Liam” wins an acting role over William, and the woman of his dreams, until his true identity is revealed. Listeners can delight in Arden’s accent-swapping, and a lovely cameo from Maxine Mitchell, who has co-narrated several romances with Arden, only adds to the magic of this heartwarming listen. —M.H.

I’ve always had a soft spot for historical romance, so a story set against the backdrop of the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris was candy for me. And as much as I love this genre, I’m well aware of how it has been historically (pun!) limited, dominated by stories featuring all-white casts of characters. Film properties such as Bridgerton have tried to combat this through the creation of alternate history, but what makes Adriana Herrera’s new novel so special is it’s all so completely rooted in reality. A BIPOC main character from Santo Domingo who heads up a rum distillery and travels to Paris to increase her sales has historical precedent, but it’s a story that hasn’t traditionally been told in romancelandia. I loved everything about this listen, from the distinct voices and personalities of the three “las leonas” to Nneka Okoye’s absolutely killer (and sexy) Scottish accent. I can’t wait to see what’s up next for Herrera's fearless trio. —E.C.