I read a lot of romance this year, but most of it was rereads, so this category is rather thin.

After Hours at Dooryard Books (2025) Cat Sebastian

Self-published

Kelsey Bowman

Cat Sebastian’s recent self-published books have the best covers, evoking the era in which they are set, while being eye-catching and different from other similar books.

I can’t quite place what the art reminds me of, which is going to bug me, but I love the line drawings and the font that evokes the late 60s and that yellow lamplight one characters is in and the other is avoiding.

Historical, Queer

The Most Unusual Haunting of Edgar Lovejoy (2025) Roan Parrish

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Cover art by Jillian Goeler

This cover evokes ghosts, but not horror (important). The house looks old and mysteries, but not especially haunted.

I don’t love the color, but that’s a me thing.

This isn’t one of my favorite covers of theirs, but it’s eye-catching.

Fantasy, Queer

The Lords of Bucknall Club series by J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry

An Affair for Aumont  (2022)(#5),  A Scandal for Stratford (2022)(#6)

Cover art by Mitxeran

More minimalist covers that caught my eye while browsing.

I love the attention paid to the clothes. even though they are only minimally depicted.

Historical, Queer, Fantasy

The Lords of Bucknall Club: A Case for Christmas (2021), A Sanctuary for Soulden (2021), An Affair for Aumont (2022), A Scandal for Stratford (2022)

Self-published won out this category, but there wasn’t much competition.

• Self-published: 3
• Sourcebooks Casablanca: 1

The Books of 2025