Cosy Up With These 13 Swoony Small Town Romance Books
Clear space on your bookshelf – these 13 books will have you hooked throughout autumn-winter!
I love reading romance books. It’s one of my favourite pastimes. Romance books offer swoonworthy men, strong women, and most importantly, beautiful love stories with a dreamy happily ever after.
Romance books that are set in a small town offer a sense of escapism—much like fantasy stories, without the world-building. It’s like escaping into a town like Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls). In addition to the romance, these love stories set in a small town almost always offer community, bringing together a family, whether it’s a natural-born family or chosen family.
If you’re looking for a romance book set in a small town, look no further than those in this list!
When In Rome by Sarah Adams
Sarah Adams invites readers to the fictional town of Rome, Kentucky, and introduces Noah Walker, the eldest sibling of the Walker family and grumpy owner of a pie shop, and Amelia Rose, a popstar who has escaped her famous life for a sliver of R&R. When Amelia, or Rae Rose known to her adoring fans, finds herself stranded on the side of the road near grumpy Noah’s house, he has no choice but to do the neighborly thing and welcome her into his home. Little does he know she’s a world-famous pop star. Noah and Amelia’s banter is so irresistible that it will have you giggling and kicking your feet in the air.
Sarah Adams brings two incredible, strong characters with unbelievable chemistry together, but additionally, creates a magical small town that is Rome, Kentucky featuring many lovable side characters who you will meet again in the next two books.
Other books in the series: Practice Makes Perfect (Book 2), Beg, Borrow, and Steal (Book 3), In Your Dreams (Book 4, out in January 2026).
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Looking for a cosy romance book with a touch of fantasy to read in the fall? This cosy fantasy, set in a small coastal town in England, is filled with magic, spells and witches. It was enjoyable, fun, and honestly, pure light-hearted — but it also touches upon heavier topics like abandonment and grief. Mika, the main character, is a witch who resides in Britain.
She was raised by a senior witch, but apart from her and her club of witches (a coven, perhaps), Mika spent her childhood and early adult life feeling lonely and isolated. When she receives an invitation to tutor three young witches at a countryside cottage by the sea, she hesitates but ultimately accepts it. She arrives and is immediately met by an eccentric and loving group of people—a found family, she quickly discovers, and a big part of the entire story, who I wholeheartedly found myself looking forward to reading about. There, she gets tangled up in a few secrets, including one that includes the mysterious owner of the house. The eccentric family cares for three young witches and wants nothing but the best for them. Mika butts heads with the grumpy librarian, Jamie, but can’t ignore their growing chemistry. Though the romance isn’t the main plot, it adds to the happy, cosy feelings that this book sparks. The story revolves around the found family trope rather than only focusing on the romance.
Read if you love fantasy books. I particularly enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook!
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
While technically considered a romance book, I would describe this as a coming-of-age book for anyone in their late 20s.
The book follows Georgie Mulcahy as she travels back to her hometown after an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job as a personal assistant. Georgie is feeling stuck and unsure of what to do. However, she finds an old diary from her teenage years and uses that diary as a guidebook for getting started on a new path. Well, until she meets her new, unexpected roommate, Levi Fanning — the town troublemaker and current town hermit. Levi wants to stay to himself and be the quiet grouch that the town thinks of him as. But he offers to help Georgie with her notebook.
Even with the romance (and their strong chemistry) aside, I found this to be honest and deeply emotional. It was a great book to read if you’re feeling lost in your 20s or 30s.
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
I was mad at myself that I didn’t pick this up sooner. Honestly, the reason why I didn’t pick this book up sooner was because of the age gap. I hadn’t read any age gap romances before this one — I always got the ick. But this book will make you rethink everything you thought about age-gap romances — it’s tender, funny, and swoony in all the right ways.
This particular age gap showed the range of about 10 years, with Daniel, being in his late 20s, and Alexis, being in her mid-30s. Daniel proved that age is just a number, with a level of emotional intimacy and maturity that surpassed my low expectations. Alexis, an ER doctor, comes from a wealthy family. Escaping her life in the city, she stumbles upon the small town where Daniel Grant lives, reserving a room at the bed and breakfast that he owns. This story, although largely focusing on the romance, weaves classism into the plot. Overall, this book—and the community within the fictional town—made me want to pack up my belongings and move to a small town.
Other books in this series: Yours Truly (Book 2), Just for the Summer (Book 3).
Next Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin
Alexa Martin’s writing is hilarious, heartfelt, and at times, spicy. When I crave a romantic comedy to read, Alexa Martin’s name quickly floats to the top of my mind. This one follows two rivals who run for president of a neighborhood homeowner’s association (HOA). Collins has moved back in with her parents after losing her writing job and a breakup—she reminded me of Ava from the TV show Hacks—and feeling lost. She throws herself into the HOA, where she inevitably runs into her high school arch nemesis, Nathaniel Adams, who is running for re-election and wants nothing to do with Collins. The “rivals” banter made for fun and laugh-out-loud scenes, but their attraction only grows as their “hate” fades. Like Georgie, All Along, Collins’s story tugs at your heartstrings, particularly if you’re also feeling stuck.
Read if you love laugh-out-loud romantic comedies like Set It Up and The Hating Game.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
This one initially starts in New York, but largely takes place in a small town in North Carolina. Nora, dubbed the ice queen, vacations with her younger sister, Libby, in a small town in North Carolina that serves as the inspiration for Libby’s favorite romance novel; the author happens to be Nora’s client at her literary agency in New York. When Nora and Libby arrive, they set out to restore and “fix up” the local bookstore. Only Nora realizes that the bookstore is owned by the family of her arch nemesis, Charlie Lastra, who has come back to his hometown to help his family manage the bookstore. Nora and Charlie, who works in publishing like Nora, had met years prior and instantly disliked each other. Readers are taken through this small town, experiencing all of its little joys and quirks. Not only does the book focus on the beautiful love story between Charlie and Nora, but it also emphasizes a sister duo between Nora and Libby.
Read if you love Hallmark movies and books about books.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Find yourself missing The Summer I Turned Pretty on Prime Video? Check out the young adult book series that came out years ago. While it’s mainly light-hearted, it also carries those heavier topics that were emphasized in the show, including grief. Tune into the audiobooks, narrated by Lola Tung (Belly), Christopher Briney (Conrad), and Gavin Castelegno (Jeremiah). While I don’t typically gravitate towards young adult romance, I’m always a sucker for a love triangle. It keeps me on the edge of my seat.
Other books in this series: It’s Not Summer Without You (Book 2), We’ll Always Have Summer (Book 3).
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
If you find yourself wanting to live in a community like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls, then pick up this book by B.K. Borison — and the three other books in the series. Lovelight Farms follows two friends, Stella and Luca, who find themselves in a fake relationship to win a contest prize to save Stella’s Christmas tree farm. Little do either of them know that the feelings may have been real all along.
Other books in this series: In the Weeds (Book 2), Mixed Signals (Book 3), Business Casual (Book 4).
Wild Love by Elsie Silver
As a longtime fan of Elsie Silver’s cowboy romance books, I was ecstatic to hear about a new series that follows a fictional town of Rose Hill. Wild Love, book one, follows Rosie Belmont, who just moved back to her hometown after she left her job — and her horrible boss. She blasts back into Rose Hill and lands on Ford’s doorstep. Ford was labelled as the World’s Hottest Billionaire by the tabloids, but he’s retreated to a small town, where all he cares about is opening his own recording studio. But when a girl stumbles upon his doorstep and claims to be his 12-year-old daughter he never knew about, he has no choice but to welcome her in.
Not too soon after, Rosie, his best friend’s little sister, who’s not so little anymore, also lands on his doorstep, asking for a job, which he begrudgingly gives her. He balances taking care of this new daughter and trying to keep his feelings for Rosie at bay. But the more time he spends with Rosie, as this is a romance book … anything can happen.
Other books in this series: Wild Eyes (book 2), Wild Side (book 3)
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
Lyla Sage made her debut into the cowboy romance sub-genre with the bestselling novel, Done and Dusted. Her writing is so engaging that you don’t want to set it down. She invited us into a cosy atmosphere that is Rebel Blue Ranch, and introduced the ranch’s owners: the Ryder family. This story begins with Luke Brooks and Emmy Ryder. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke Brooks never had eyes for Emmy, until she returned to town after competing in the horse racing circuit. Luke had a rough childhood, but he found a family within the Ryder family, a family that you will quickly come to love (as Luke did) throughout the rest of this series. Emmy and Luke’s love story begins when Emmy comes back into town and runs into Luke.
Read if you loved Yellowstone, or wanted to watch it but desired more romance from it (like me).
Other books in this series: Swift and Saddled (Book 2), Lost and Lassoed (Book 3), Wild and Wrangled (Book 4).
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Casey McQuiston’s young adult romance is set at a high school in the deep South, and follows Chloe Green, who is immensely close to graduating at the top of her class — and moving out of Alabama, where her moms moved them to only a few years prior. Chloe is determined to be valedictorian, but her rival is prom queen Shara Wheeler, the principal’s daughter. But a month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and then… vanishes. With a touch of mystery, Chloe is left to find Shara, joined by Shara’s longtime sweetheart, Smith, and Rory, her bad boy neighbor with a crush. They embark on a quest to find Shara using the cryptic notes that she left behind. The story takes readers on multiple twists and turns, with one big unexpected one towards the end.
Think high school drama meets a scavenger hunt with a side of queer romance.
The Catch by Amy Lea
As the third book in a series following fictional influencers, The Catch follows fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen. She finds herself stuck and in need of a few partnerships, so she leaves her chic apartment in Boston and travels to a rural fishing village on the east coast of Canada, where she meets a grumpy lobster fisherman and bed-and-breakfast owner, Evan Whaler. He does not want any help from anyone, but after a boating accident lands him unconscious in the hospital, his family mistakes Melanie, who was on the boat with him, for his fiancee. They agree to carry on this fake engagement for the sake of the bed and breakfast and the Whaler family dispute over what to do with it, but after long hikes and campfire chats, Mel finds herself falling for this grumpy fisherman.
Read if you love While You Were Sleeping starring Sandra Bullock.
Other books in this series: Set on You (Book 1), Exes and O’s (Book 2).
Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter
If you can’t get enough of romantic comedies and all of the yearning and pining, turn your attention towards Lynn Painter’s young adult romance, Better Than The Movies. A hopeless romantic teen girl, Liz Buxbaum, joins forces with her obnoxious neighbor, Wes Bennett, to win the heart of her crush, Michael, who has returned to town. Along the way, Liz realizes that the guy she’s fallen for has been right under her nose all along.
Read if all you watch are romantic comedies, particularly You’ve Got Mail.
