From Sweet to Spicy, Here are the Most Popular Romantic Reads on TikTok

Newly graduated and starting her own business, Lily meets a young neurosurgeon resident, Ryle. Their attraction is instant, but differences in what they want out of the relationship send them different directions. That is, until six months later when they run into each other again. Their attraction grows and they veer closer and closer to relationship territory. It’s perfect…until it isn’t, and Lily’s ex comes into the picture to only complicate things further. Definitely listen to the TikTokers and check the trigger warnings before picking up this one.

Poppy and Alex used to be friends. They used to take off on wild adventures over the summer. Every summer. That is, until their falling out. Now, two years later, Poppy wants one more try. One more vacation to try to smooth things over. One more shot at, maybe, something more. Expecting nothing, she invites him along on a week-long trip and, surprisingly, he agrees. This summery, slow burn is sure to put a smile on your face.

It’s not easy to check off her bucket list when Chloe is chronically ill and chronically online. But, she’s doing it. Moving out, check. Next: getting drunk, riding a motorcycle, and sleeping with someone without feelings getting in the way. For the last one, Chloe knows just the man for the job. Now, all she needs to do is convince him. Named a Best Romance of 2019, Get a Life, Chloe Brown is as funny as it is sweet.

Piper is a social media influencer plagued by paparazzi. When she gets herself into trouble, she gets cut off and sent to a small town in Washington to run a dive bar. There, she meets local gruff fisherman Brendan, who insists she won’t make it two seconds. The pair butt heads and, as with any good enemies-to-lovers romance, attraction simmers just under the surface. It’s no secret everyone is in love with this Schitt’s Creek inspired romcom.

Lucy prides herself in everyone liking her, especially everyone at work. Everyone, that is, except for her office-mate Joshua. No, instead, they’re locked in a game of one-upmanship that never ends. They’ve agreed, if Lucy wins, she’ll be Joshua’s boss. If Joshua wins, Lucy resigns. Simple. But that hate turns into something different, leaving Lucy wondering if that’s all part of the game too. TikTok says you’re sure to love the banter and chemistry between these two rivals.

Biochemical engineer Liya is independent and happily so. When her parents throw a dinner party as a guise to set her up, she flees as soon as she can. Then, her ditched date, a lawyer, shows up at her office to try to keep her company afloat. It’s safe to say that neither of them are happy to see each other. But late nights full of banter turn into heartfelt discussions about their pasts. Maybe this time, Liya won’t make a break for the door.

New pediatrics resident Macy is content. She has her job and a fiancé who is financially secure: what more could she ask for? Who cares if her heart wasn’t exactly in it? But, when she runs into her first love, Elliot, she collides with the past and the feelings she had before. Will she stick with her secure, albeit boring, path or will she try again with the man who broke her heart? TikTokers describe this one as “heartfelt” and “beautiful” with lyrical writing they wouldn’t ever forget.

Eva and Shane had a week-long whirlwind when they were teenagers. But that was decades ago. Now, Eva is a bestselling erotica author and Shane an award-winning literary recluse. When they meet unexpectedly at a literary event, the same sparks from the past come back. Setting off on a seven-day summer affair, the pair reconnect. But, after what happened when they were teens, can they really trust each other? And, what comes next? Full of pop culture references and summer escapades, Seven Days in June is an emotional journey you’re not soon to forget.

Loosely based on Elizabeth Taylor’s life, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo centers around Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo as she tells reporter, Monique Grant, the story of her life. From Hugo’s early days in the 1950s to the present, she regales the journalist with love stories, drama, and friendship alike. As they grow closer and Hugo’s story progresses, it becomes clearer and clearer Monique wasn’t chosen by happenstance. Readers love the complex characters and the bisexual representation.

As indicated by the title, Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors is a retelling of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. But, this time, the leads are Dr. Trisha Raje, a neurosurgeon, and DJ Caine, a chef on the rise. Their paths cross when the Raje’s offer DJ a job, and then again when DJ’s sister needs the expertise of a neurosurgeon. They clash over assumptions they’ve each made about each other, but the more time they spend together, the less their assumptions seem accurate. Maybe they’re more similar than either of them thinks.

Everyone knows the story of Persephone and Hades, right? St. Clair, however, spins a new tale full of intrigue and romance in this modern retelling. Persephone, disguised as a human journalist, wants to live a normal life. But, after she meets the God of the Dead, Hades, her dream of an unassuming life are dashed. She must learn to cope in the Underworld, or her freedom will forever be out of reach. Feelings, no matter how forbidden, start to creep in.

Stella Lane needs practice in the whole dating category. Math has always been her world, so she missed that whole part of growing up. Her solution? Hire escort Michael Phan. He’s experienced, he’s gorgeous, and he needs money enough not to refuse her offer. Stella’s got a lesson plan and everything. Easy peasy, right? Love has no place here. Right? TikTokers love the representation of autism, the pair’s chemistry, and the totally unexpected way their no-feelings-attached arrangement quickly becomes something else.

Olive Smith has too much to do to care about love. She’s a third-year Pd.D. candidate, so where would she even find the time? But her best friend does and, in an effort to convince Ahn she’s putting herself out there, she kisses the first man she sees…Adam Carlsen, a professor. Thankfully, he agrees to keep the charade going to keep Ahn off Olive’s back. And, as it turns out, having Carlsen on her side gets her out of a dire situation that has her entire career on the line. Their experiment, though, proves different results than Olive predicted.

Drew Nichols doesn’t have a date to his ex’s wedding, which is totally unacceptable. By chance, he gets stuck in an elevator with Alexa Monroe, presenting the perfect solution to his problems: fake dating. Alexa agrees and the pair endure the wedding festivities together. And, maybe, they have a little more fun than either of them expected. After they depart to their separate homes, though, they can’t stop thinking about each other. Will they be able to handle the distance?

Elle Kennedy is another beloved author on TikTok, especially in the “spicy” category. The Deal is without a doubt Kennedy’s most recommended book on TikTok. This new adult college romp focuses on Hannah, newly scorned and lacking in the seduction area, and Garrett, aspiring professional hockey player with a GPA that puts his dreams in danger. Hannah and Garett seem to be the solutions to each other’s problems, until the sex leaves them both wanting more.

They started as pen pals, Misha and Ryen, when they were in elementary school. Years later, they’ve kept up writing each other about anything and everything. And they have rules. No social media, no phone numbers, no pictures. Then, Misha comes across the picture of a girl named Ryen who likes all the same things his pen pal likes. Coincidence? Definitely not. Now Misha knows, and meets Ryen, without her knowing it’s him, their vow is broken. Will their relationship survive these new parameters, or will they lose the connection they had on paper?

Getting shipped off to a boarding school in Paris was not part of Anna’s plans for her senior year. She had to leave behind her best friend, the job she loves, and the guy she’d been crushing on all at once. But, then she meets the gorgeous and charming Etienne St. Clair at school, and she thinks maybe boarding school won’t be so bad. One small problem, though: Etienne has a girlfriend. And, it’s serious. Anna, though, doesn’t think that’s any reason to give up, especially in a place as romantic as the City of Light.

Juliette’s touch kills. Literally. The last time she touched someone, she became a murderer — by accident, of course. To make matters worse, no one knows why she has this curse nor how to fix it. No, instead they lock her up so she doesn’t hurt anyone else. Enter Adam, Juliett’s new cellmate. A great idea, right? But then she learns she can touch him and he can touch her back and her small, isolated world grows. This YA take-down-the-system dystopia is rife with metaphor and lyrical writing that continues to charm readers across TikTok.