10 best romcom BookTok books to read in Australia in 2025
An influential social media creator has slammed critics of romance novels, arguing the backlash against the genre is rooted in sexism.
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If there’s one thing Gen Z will do, it’s surprise you. While our elders stress about our screen time and how it’s rotting our brains, many of us are actually putting technology to good use and turning to something a little more old-fashioned.
Enter: #BookTok.
The TikTok hashtag has evolved into a global phenomenon with over 370 billion views and over 52 million videos, according to Forbes.
RELATED: Best BookTok books
RELATED: Best romantic fiction novels
In this sizeable corner of the internet, BookTokers spend hours discussing and analysing their favourite books, with romantic-comedy being a particular favourite.
While many outside the BookTok community dismiss romance as simply “porn”, it’s clear that this, frankly sexist, criticism is unwarranted.
Jack Edwards, the self-titled “Internet’s resident librarian”, has over 2.8 million followers combined on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.
Defending the much-maligned genre, he says: “It’s not just a romance. Love is one of the things we think about our entire lives.
“On your deathbed you will be thinking about the ones that you love. Why shouldn’t we make art about it?
“And why shouldn’t we give our criticism of art that dignity to think about it as an important form and important medium of self-expression?”
It’s a sentiment echoed by creators throughout the BookTok community, including Australian BookToker Belle Therese.
Below, she reveals her top ten favourite romantic-comedy novels that have gone viral on BookTok. She also explains how she got into BookTok and addresses some of the common misconceptions that still persist.
BEST BOOKTOK BOOKS
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle, $17.70 (down from $22.90)
An engaged couple who decide to play pranks on each other in order to get their counterpart to call off their wedding.
First Time Caller by B.K Borison, $14 (down from $22.99)
A single mother’s quest for love as she joins a reluctant radio show host’s late night matchmaking broadcast.
Passenger Princess by Morgan Elizabeth, $6.35 (via Kindle)
The romance between a newly crowned pageant queen and her grumpy bodyguard on a three-month victory tour around the US.
The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, $14.15 (down from $22.99)
A quiet baseball star and his sister’s best friend become roommates and “fake date” in this opposites attract sports romance.
Holding the Reins by Paisley Hope, $17.70 (down from $22.99)
A steamy small town romance where a reformed bad boy grapples with feelings for his best friend’s little sister.
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks, $17.70 (down from $22.99)
In a small town in Galway, Ireland, a vibrant animator and a gloomy funeral homeowner spark an unlikely friendship that leads Lark to help Callum find a wife.
Heartless by Elsie Silver, $12 (down from $22.99)
A grumpy single dad hires an untameable redhead to babysit his son over the summer.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, $17.67 (down from $22.99)
The rivals to lovers relationship between the First Son of the United States and the Prince of Wales.
Wildfire by Hannah Grace, $12 (down from $22.99)
A one-night stand left unresolved leads to simmering tension when Russ and Aurora are stuck working together at the same summer camp.
To Love Jason Thorn by Ella Maise, $26.62
Childhood best friends now turned successful actor and author decide to “fake-date” when they both become attached to the movie adaptation of Olive’s novel.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below, Belle shares more about her love of reading and BookTok and also addresses some of the common misunderstandings that still persist around the romantic comedy genre.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT BOOKTOK AND ROM-COMS?
“I think there’s a misconception about BookTok that we’re all recommending the same books, and that generally the books are all overtly ‘spicy’ and have a lacking plot. But BookTok has so many different creators out there who recommend books that I haven’t even seen or heard of before, and those are the people I really gravitate towards! Rom-coms get a lot of flak because there is a select group who will argue that they aren’t ‘real literature’. Rom-coms are supposed to be silly, with delicious banter and swoon-worthy love interests! They don’t take themselves too seriously and that’s the beauty of them.”
WHAT MADE YOU FIRST GET INTO READING?
“Gosh, I’ve loved reading since I was quite young, including throughout my teenage years. While back then I was mainly reading young adult/romantic fantasy, I found my love of romance and romcoms in 2022 when I discovered BookTok and got back into reading as an adult! BookTok then became an amazing way to share my love of reading with more people.”
WHY DO YOU FOCUS ON ROM-COMS? WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THEM?
“Romance and romcoms are now my primary genre, and one of my favourite things about them is the level of escapism. Some might think you’d need to read a fantasy to experience this. However in a romcom, I can be the beauty pageant queen who travels around the country with her hunky bodyguard, I can dance around in an old kitchen to the ‘Summer of 69’ with the wind in my hair, I can fake-date my roommate who just happens to be a very famous basketball player. Whether I’m in a small town in Canada, or partying with the prince and the son of a president in a karaoke bar, these books transport me. They’re swoon worthy, spicy and overall, leave you with a heart full of warm and fuzzies.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ROM-COM THAT YOU’VE DISCOVERED THROUGH BOOKTOK?
“It has to be one that’s on this list! I first heard about Passenger Princess by Morgan Elizabeththrough my favourite BookTok creators and fell in love when I read it myself because it was so unexpectedly brilliant. I love the ‘princess and her bodyguard’ trope, so when I heard someone say it was going to be a beauty pageant queen and the grumpy (hot) bodyguard who was forced to drive her around the country for three months, I knew I had to read it! I’ve never read anything more ‘Barbie-coded’ than this. It could see it so vividly in my head, it was just so much fun from beginning to end.”
WHAT IS THE MOST UNDERRATED ROM-COM BOOK?
“A romcom that I think is severely underrated is actually Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks. It’s the story of Lark, a bubbly animator who moves to Galway in Ireland for a fresh start who unknowing moves in next door to a funeral home, currently being run by gentle-giant, Callum. The two form the sweetest friendship and Lark offers to help him find a wife in order to keep ownership of his business. This book has so many layers. It’s cheesy, it’s incredibly romantic but also has emotional plot lines on both sides of this pair that will bring tears to your eyes. It’s just a really special book.”
WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF ROM-COM BOOK FOR BEGINNERS?
“I’d say start with something fun! To Love Jason Thorne by Ella Maise a wholesome romance between an actor and an author who happen to have been childhood friends. When Olive’s book is adapted for screen and Jason is playing the leading man, they fake-date each other to create hype around the film.”
HOW DO I CHOOSE A ROM-COM I WILL ACTUALLY LIKE?
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“Definitely look for themes and tropes you would enjoy! Remember that just because a book is popular doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you – this is the beauty of it! BookTok is full of so many different reads for every taste, so don’t feel pressured to follow the hype. I know it sounds obvious, but reading the blurb is super helpful. Have a little look around. Maybe cowboys interest you, or a romance between a single dad and his hot-headed nanny. You might enjoy the sound of an engaged couple playing pranks on each other to try and call off their wedding, or two college students who are stuck working together at the same summer camp after an unresolved one-night stand. There’s something different for everyone on this list, so I hope if you are new to the genre, that something piques your interest to make you fall in love with rom-coms just as much as I did.”
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