10 Insta-Love Romance Books that Prove Love at First Sight is Real

Indigo is in the absolute pantheon of romance all-time greats. So if you want to dunk on insta-love, you’re just wrong! Hester Wyatt is a courageous worker in Michigan’s Underground Railroad. She agrees to hide Galen Vachon, aka “Black Daniel,” in her cellar. He’s an important Underground Railroad conductor who has abandoned a life of comfort to liberate people from slavery. And he falls head over heels for Hester the minute he meets her. The romantic moments and gestures in this book are simply unmatched.

Here’s an opposites-attract small-town romance with an absolute cinnamon roll of a main male character. Alexis is an ER doctor from a family of high achievers who look down on her. Because of a car accident, she meets Daniel, a carpenter and small-town mayor. On the surface, he doesn’t have a lot in common with her. But when that spark is lit, it cannot be extinguished, and their connection runs much deeper than a surface-level attraction. This is one of those books that will make you laugh and cry, all while you’re swooning.

If you want to kick it a little old school, Julie Garwood is your go-to for a good medieval romance. Judith is English, but she promised her childhood best friend, a Scot, that she’d attend her baby’s birth. Now Judith is being delivered to the Highlands by Iain Maitland, laird of his clan. Iain and Judith are instantly drawn to each other, but this is a fraught connection in medieval Scotland. This book has both sweeping romance and great female friendship, so it’s a winning choice all around.

Can I interest you in a queer hockey romance with insta-love? Bryce is a hockey star, and his sexuality is a secret to his fellow players. Over all-star weekend, he falls for Hunter, a player on another team. Who’s straight. Or is he? If you want a sweet romance with a queer awakening, and you want it to be really sincere with low angst, this is a great pick.

This gorgeous book follows Feyi, a young widow who is actively trying to move forward with her life. A potential new relationship is blooming, so she agrees to a fun little Caribbean vacation. And whoops, it’s insta-love with her new man’s father, Alim. The two of them connect over both having lost a love, among other things, and the taboo nature of their romance forces them to fight for it. It’s an unconventional romance, but such a good one.

The title really lets you know exactly how this book is an insta-love romance. When Brie receives a drink she does not want at a bar, she throws it back at the dude, only to hit the person behind him. That drink was a love potion, and that person was, you guessed it, a werewolf. But, like, a golden retriever of a werewolf. And now Brie needs to convince this creature that he doesn’t, in fact, love her. And naturally, she fails.

Love triangles are out; polyamory is in. Do you agree? If so, here’s a reimagining of Arthurian legend with a contemporary American setting. Greer fell in love with Ash at age 16, and Embry at age 20. Now Ash and Embry are the president and vice president of the U.S., and what is Greer supposed to do about that? It’s high stakes, it’s kinky, it’s got some political intrigue, and it does end with a cliffhanger if that’s not your thing. This first book in the completed trilogy is from Greer’s perspective, and the other two volumes follow Embry and Ash.

Here’s a quick shot of insta-love. In this novella, Hailey has decided to restore her ancestral home. A tragic fire changes everything and puts her in Ellis’ path. The two bond instantly, and it’s a little cosmic. I don’t want to spoil this delightful book, but if you like novellas about connecting with family history and you believe in soulmates, this is the book for you. This book expands on the world Christina C. Jones has created with the town of Blackwood, but you can read this on its own.

I love this book for its absolute messiness. Ellie agrees to marry Andrew for, as we like to call them, romance reasons. When she goes to spend the holidays with Andrew’s family, who shows up? Andrew’s sister, Jack, whom Ellie utterly fell in love with over the course of Christmas Eve day the previous year. The insta-love episode is in the past and slowly doled out to the reader, which made it really effective for me. I will be reading this one again now that the holiday season is nigh.

The set-up of this book is a ton of fun: Pretty Woman but with a male sex worker and a female client. Stella is on the spectrum, and she’s having trouble getting the hang of kissing, never mind sex. Naturally, she hires an expert for lessons. Enter Michael, the man of pretty much everyone’s dreams. The relationship between the two of them is sweet, steamy, and heartfelt. If you want an insta-love book that still has great character development, this is a fantastic pick.