Romance readers, this one is for you. Today I bring you book recommendations! And not just any book recommendations… Contemporary romance with awesome audiobook companions.
Most of these have super-cheap or even FREE options… especially if you have Kindle Unlimited and/or Audible Escape subscriptions.
Ready? Let’s get into it!
1. Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
Audiobook narrated by Teddy Hamilton, Seraphina Valentine
What I love about Long Shot:
Sports Romance | Slow Burn | Forbidden Love | Second Chance
This book completely blew me away. It was so dark and emotional. Iris is such a powerful character who goes through so much. Then there’s August, a biracial NBA player who has the patience of Job. He was so noble yet so sexy. The chemistry between these two is off the charts. I couldn’t put it down, and I quickly picked up the next in the series (and loved it, too!).
Listen free with Audible Escape
2. The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole
Audiobook narrated by Regina Hall, Mindy Kaling, Feodor Chin, Therese Plummer, Dina Pearlman, Neil Hellegers, Adenrele Ojo, Kyla Garcia
What I love about The A.I. Who Loved Me:
Sci-Fi Romance | Amnesia | Second Chance | Artificial Intelligence
For audiobook lovers, this is a true delight. Not only do you get a full cast, you get sound effects for a complete immersive experience. Trinity Jordan is such a likable character whose life is not what it seems… even to her! And when her neighbor’s nephew moves in, there’s instant attraction. Li Wei, it turns out, is not what he seems, either! He’s such a gentleman and so protective of Trinity… and there’s a twist that will have you on the edge of your seat, but sit back and enjoy.
Listen free with Audible Escape
3. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Audiobook narrated by Ramon de Ocampo
What I love about Red, White & Royal Blue:
Enemies to Lovers | LGBTQ+ | New Adult | Royalty
Alex Claremont is the son of the soon-to-be first female president of the United States, and Prince Henry is heir to the throne of Britain with all the responsibility that entails. For both, image is everything! They hate each other, but forced to play nice, they find reasons to become the best of friends… and a whole lot more. Their relationship was a secret to everyone, and when the truth came out (pun intended), the result was epic. This story was so adorable and so much fun, It was young love at its finest, and a slow burn that grows brighter with every passing chapter.
4. Heidi’s Guide to Four Letter Words by Tara Sivec and Andi Arndt
Narrated by Andi Arndt
What I love about Heidi’s Guide to Four Letter Words:
Rom Com | Boy Next Door | Podcast
If there’s one thing to say about Heidi’s Guide, it’s that it’s downright hilarious. Heidi lives a sheltered life, so she decides to try something new and start a podcast where she drinks wine and says whatever comes out of her mouth. It’s awkward and oh-so-funny. And her parents are cringey in a laughable kind of way, and the hot guy next door has no idea what he’s getting himself into!
Listen free with Audible Escape
5. The Wish Collector by Mia Sheridan
Audiobook narrated by Zachary Webber, Virginia Rose
What I love about The Wish Collector:
Beauty and the Beast | Scars | Second Chance | Magical Realism
Clara is a lonely ballet dancer new to New Orleans. Jonah is scarred inside and out, the monster of Windisle, his self-imposed prison, where people share their deepest wishes on the wall of the old plantation. A story of shame and triumph, of loneliness and love, and the miracle of two hearts connecting despite the strongest of barriers between them.
Read free with Kindle Unlimited | Listen free with Audible Escape
6. The Protector by Elin Peer
Audiobook narrated by Noelle Bridges, John Masterson
What I love about The Protector:
Futuristic | Alpha Hero | Strong Female Lead | Opposites Attract
It’s 400 years in the future, where men are few and women rule the world. Except for the area formerly known as Canada and Alaska, which is inhabited by the Men of the Northlands, a group of strong men, who refuse to be ruled by women. This book is smart and fun. It’s almost enemies to lovers with a gladiator vibe. The future can be so advanced and yet so primitive at the same time, and the chemistry between Christina, a historian sent to the Northlands for research, and Boulder, the man assigned to protect her during her stay, is explosive.
Read free with Kindle Unlimited | Listen free with Audible Escape
7. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Audiobook narrated by Lynn Chen
What I love about Crazy Rich Asians:
Opposite Sides of the Tracks | Forbidden Love
Nicholas Young is the heir to the Young Empire in Singapore, but he’s so hunky and down to earth. His girlfriend there in the States, Rachel Chu, had no idea his family was obscenely rich. This story was so fun to read. It’s summery and lavish and full of drama, drama, drama. The audiobook, though, gives you that extra something, bringing to life those little Chinese slangs and catching that gossipy flavor and Nick’s mother’s staunch disapproval like no other. The audiobook took this story up two notches, for sure! And if you’ve seen the movie, you better believe, the book was better!
8. Wanderlust by Lauren Blakely
Audiobook narrated by Richard Armitage, Grace Grant
What I love about Wanderlust:
Fish Out of Water | Forbidden Lovers | Paris Paris Paris! | Love With An Expiration Date
The one thing above all other things about this book I loved so much was that Griffin’s chapters were narrated by Richard Armitage… you may know him as Thorin Oakenshield in the Hobbitt movies! But aside from that, Joy is in Paris working for a perfume lab. She also keeps a “scent” themed blog that is just amazing. And when the handsome, flirtatious stranger with the British accent ends up being her translator on the job, it’s a wrench in her plans and a reason to see him all the time, all wrapped into one. And this story is just absolutely beautiful. Seriously. Amazing.
Listen free with Audible Escape
9. Mister O by Lauren Blakely
Audiobook narrated by Sebastian York
What I love about Mister O:
Cyrano | Best Friend’s Younger Sister | Forbidden Love | Friends to Lovers
Here’s a rare romance novel that’s written completely from the Hero’s perspective. Nick Hammer writes a comic book hero, Mister O, saving damsels in distress one “O” at a time. Harper is his best friend’s sister, and she’s kind of awesome and you can’t help but just love her. Nick and Harper are friends, and she enlists his help teaching her how to win a man. Nick has it bad for Harper, though, and it sucks pretending to woo a woman when you’re secretly in love with her yourself. Best of all, if you haven’t experienced the awesomeness that is Sebastian York, you’re in for a treat, especially in those steamy scenes!
Listen free with Audible Escape
10. The Muse by L.M. Halloran
Audiobook narrated by Shaun Grindell, Charlotte North
What I love about The Muse:
Forbidden Love | Professor-TA | Physical Disability | Tortured Past
This book, like all L.M. Halloran books, has such lyrical prose and such depth of emotion. Iris is a grad student and TA in her last year of college. She has such a tortured past with scars both visible and hidden. Professor James Beckett, bestselling author and award-winning poet, is the new head of the Creative Writing Department. Brilliant and obnoxiously sexy, he’s more dangerous than Iris knows. This is a slow burn romance with lots of forbidden love chemistry, but the back stories of these characters will make this story come to life. Also, the references to Alice in Wonderland (all the best people are) are superb.
Read free with Kindle Unlimited | Add-on the audiobook for $7.49
