Love Stories to Match Your Favorite RomComs
ROUND UP
RomComs for Cozy Nostalgic Days
Romance novels inspired by your favorite 90s movies, Nora Ephron films, and epic love stories.
We all have that list of go-to movies that you can turn to when you need a good cry or just want to relive a happy memory — maybe one where you’re curled up under the comfiest blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and your best friend or maybe it was a rainy day at the beach and you’ve piled onto the couch with your sisters all sun-kissed from a day under the sun to watch your favorite romcom. Have you ever wanted to bottle up that feeling and have it live in the pages of a book that you can take with you everywhere you go for that dose of serotonin?
Well, these authors had that same desire and they delivered! From Nora Ephron classics to the Best of Audrey Hepburn, I’m sharing my favorite written romances reminiscent of our favorite on-screen love affairs. In honor of our March 2025 HoH Book Club pick: First-Time Caller by BK Borison (Amazon), we’re rounding up our favorite movie-inspired romance novels.
Victoria Loves RomComs for Cozy Nostalgic Days
These books live rent free in my head and on my bookshelf. They’re my go-to palette cleansers, and I have no shame in admitting that I read these over-and-over again — just like I rewatch these movies every year. They just fill my insides with flutter flies, and isn’t that the best feeling?
I hope that if any of the movies below are your favorites, you’ll give the corresponding book a try! Some of the references or mentions are more on-the-nose, while others are inspired by the movies. Let me know if you think it’s a fair match, or if there are others that should be on this list! Like a good movie, we can never have too many recommendations.
Curl up with one of these books and set the mood with our Cozy Nostalgic Days playlist (Spotify).
Favorite Scene
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RomComs for Cozy Nostalgic Days Recommendations
AUDREY HEPBURN: Beg Borrow or Steal by Sarah Adams (Amazon)
This entire series is based on Audrey Hepburn’s best movies, but this is my fave. Now, you know I love a next-door romance. Mix that in with some fiery enemies-to-lovers with juicy secrets, pranks and a blossoming friendship, and that’s pretty much a recipe for success in my book. In classic Sarah form, the dialogue is crisp, the banter is witty, the quips are refreshing. Much like the town of Rome! The characters are dynamic, beautifully complex, yet insanely relatable. The chemistry is off-the-charts and their friendship makes you wish you lived in their neighborhood just so you could witness their exchanges IRL (and maybe even partake in the hi-jinx).
Read my Sneak Peek!
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
YOU’VE GOT MAIL / SERENDIPITY: You, Again by X (Amazon)
Two strangers continue to be pulled together through chance encounters through the years. Although this enemies-to-friends-to-lovers does read on the slower side, the timeline jumps make it feel rather quick. And it all comes together in a rather agonizingly sweet way that ties together all the seemingly insignificant moments through the years making this reminiscent of a Nora Ephron masterpiece.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5
GOOD LUCK CHUCK: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez (Amazon)
Emma and Justin agree to date in an effort to break a curse where their exes find their soulmates after they break up. It’s everything we love about Abby’s books— serious topics and real-life challenges wrapped in beautiful moments and witty banter. This should be on your summer reading list.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
TOM HANKS: Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey (Amazon)
Unsurprisingly, when I’m not reading romance novels, I’m binging classic rom-coms and have Hallmark movies on an endless cycle. Kerry Winfrey has written the sweetest story that brings to life the most magical rom-com moments for her main characters.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
[HEADLINE]: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfield (Amazon)
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VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.25/5
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY: So Not Meant to Be (Cane Brothers #2) by Meghan Quinn (Amazon)
Inspired by Harry Met Sally (and the notion that men and women can’t be friends and work together). Picture classic scenes re-created and forced proximity that leads to flirty banter. These two co-workers may be enemies, but we know that’s not how it ends.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3/5
THE WRITERS BEHIND OUR FAVORITE ROM-COMS: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center (Amazon)
Emma is an aspiring screenwriter, but she’s postponed her dreams to take care of her family. When she’s presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rewrite a script for “her personal writing god,” the Charlie Yates, she makes the move to LA to pursue her dream! But when their meet-cute is a meet-fail, Emma very quickly learns she has an uphill battle ahead of her and Charlie wants nothing to do with it.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
The Best of the Best: Victoria’s Top Picks
SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE: First-Time Caller by BK Borison (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club Pick! Based on the classic romcom, Sleepless in Seattle, this fresh take will have you swooning within the first couple of pages. Friends, THIS BOOK WAS SO WELL-WRITTEN. I basically read every page aloud to James because I *needed* to share BK’s unworldly use of metaphor — she painted the most vivid scenes. You’ll read / hear the words, but you’ll *feel* them in every inch of your body from the squeeze of your heart to the free-fall of your stomach as it fills with butterflies.
Read my Sneak Peek!
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
CLASSIC NORA EPHRON: Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely (Amazon)
Once I started, I couldn’t stop. Friends to Lovers is exactly why I struggle with the combination of friends to lovers and second chance tropes. It just feels like someone has ripped my heart out and keeps squeezing it until it’s about to burst. This is where young love hurts… when you’re fearful, hesitant of losing what you have that you get in your own way and settle for what you think is the right thing to do instead of risking pain and loss — only to face it all anyway. Because when you deprive yourself of that love, you’re still losing. But being brave and taking the leap could mean you have everything to gain. Sally Blakely strikes that chord perfectly.
Read my Sneak Peek!
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
ALL THE ROMCOMS: Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club pick! A rom-com about rom-coms — can you think of anything more perfect? Yes, I can. THIS BOOK. Neighbors, childhood friends turned enemies with the potential lovers. A right-in-front-of-you, always been you type of love. *Swoon* !! Better Than the Movies is my middle school idea of high school romance come to life.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
Until the next chapter!
xo, Victoria
P.S. Craving more books featuring these sub-genres, tropes, and themes? Tap the links below.
