I was an emotional wreck after devouring JoJo Moyes's The Last Letter From Your Lover [1]. Immediately, the historical romance novel swept me off my feet, recounting the forbidden love affair of Jennifer Stirling and her mystery lover, who were torn apart before their story ever really began. Decades later, a modern-day journalist stuck in her career makes it her mission to piece their story back together for the local paper. It's an unbelievable story of hope, fear, and second chances. The fact that we're less than two months away from the Netflix premiere of TLLFYL's book-to-film adaptation [2] is too exciting to put into words, yet here we are.
For readers looking to add similar titles to their TBR pile [3], we recommend browsing our library ahead. Many of these resemble some of the bigger themes in TLLFYL such as prohibited love, destiny, soulmates, curiosity, and the notion of never giving up. Warning: tissues are not included.
Before We Were Strangers
In Renée Carlino's Before We Were Strangers [4], a Missed Connections post gives college sweethearts Matt and Grace a second chance to rekindle their relationship. It's been 15 years since they embraced each other goodbye on the stoop of their dorm building at NYU. Now, both grown adults, fate has brought them back together; however, they'll have to work through the last decade and a half in order to have any real possibility of a future. If you believe in soulmates, this book is for you.
Maybe One Day
Maybe One Day [5] by Debbie Johnson is a love story written in the stars. Jess found her soulmate in Joe, and when he up and left her, she believed her chance at a happily ever after went out the door with him. Then, years later, she discovers a crate stuffed with letters while cleaning out her mother's home. What she finds changes everything she learned 17 years ago. Jess has to know if Joe, her one true love and the father of her child, is still out there.
And Now You're Back
Didi Lang came back from her trip abroad with much more than a zest for travel; she also returned irrevocably in love with Shay Mason. For reasons you'll have to read to believe, Shay up and vanishes from Didi's life only to reappear 13 years later after his father's death. Engaged to be married, Didi loves where her life is at, but Shay has always had a part of her heart. Jill Mansell's forthcoming novel, And Now You're Back [6], is an endearing tale of star-crossed lovers.
The Lions of Fifth Avenue
Historical-romance readers will love The Lions of Fifth Avenue [7] by Fiona Davis, which takes place at the New York Public Library. Also written in dual timelines (1913 and 1993), this narrative follows Laura Lyons, the wife of NYPL's superintendent, and her granddaughter, Sadie Donovan. Laura is going to school to be a journalist. There, she unexpectedly begins to develop feelings for a source while on assignment. Fast-forward 80 years, Sadie is appointed as NYPL's curator, the very place her late grandmother once lived. The catch is, no one knows her familial connection to the historic building, and when things begin to go awry and theft comes into question, her family's name might literally go up in flames.
The Girl He Used to Know
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to bump into your first love years later as grown adults? To see the person they become — Did they marry and have kids? Have they left you completely in the past? That's what happens to the lead protagonists in Tracey Garvis Graves's The Girl He Used to Know [8]. Annika and Jonathan met as students at the University of Illinois, and their romance was a whirlwind until it all came crashing down. Still in Chicago a decade later, they run into each other out of chance. Is it destiny or pure coincidence?
The Lost Wife
Lena and Josef never thought they'd see each other again after their hometown was invaded by Nazis. Since then, Josef has moved on and is now remarried with a family and considered one of the most successful obstetricians in NYC. He also thinks Lena died during the war, then an out-of-the-blue encounter proves otherwise. From Alyson Richman, author of The Velvet Hours, comes The Lost Wife [9].
White Collar Girl
If young journalist Ellie Haworth could seek advice from a historical figure who once walked in her shoes, we bet it would be Jordan Walsh from Renée Rosen's White Collar Girl [10]. Jordan's family is made up of successful journalists, and she has the chops to be the same; if only she wasn't a woman in the mid-1950s. Pigeonholed as the society news reporter, Jordan is more than ready to prove her worth and land a story on the front page. When confidential information crosses her desk, it feels as though her prayers have finally been answered, but is dabbling in the political world really worth her big break . . . and risking her life?
A Woman Is No Man
As we learned in TLLFYL, following your heart sometimes means taking the road less travelled. The same could be said for 17-year-old Isra, who quickly finds herself uprooting her life in Palestine for Brooklyn, NY, where she'll marry a man chosen for her by her parents. Brooklyn, 2008: in a perfect world, Deya, Isra's 18-year-old daughter, would be heading off to college, not courting potential suitors picked by her grandmother. But with both her parents dead and no money to her name, Deya doesn't have much of a choice, or does she? A Woman Is No Man [11] by Etaf Rum is a multigenerational story of three Palestinian-American women trying to forge their own path under the pressures of their society and culture.
The Charm Offencive
Bachelor Charlie Winshaw is cast as the lead on a reality dating series, Ever After, with Dev Deshpande — who's a sucker for fairy tales — as his head producer. Dev has his work cut out for him as Charlie isn't really here to find love but rather to rebuild his bad-boy image. Things escalate when Charlie begins to notice that his feelings toward Dev are stronger than his feelings toward any of the women who are there to win over his heart. Dev is his boss — it's forbidden. He's also there to find a wife, not a husband. Alison Cochrun's forthcoming love story, The Charm Offencive [12], will sweep you off your feet.
The Book of Lost Friends
The Book of Lost Friends [13] by Lisa Wingate centres on three young adults in the post-Civil War South as they search to reconnect with lost family. Simultaneously, the book introduces first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, who finds herself in possession of a hidden book that could unveil the history of the little town of Augustine, LA, and the three women who fled 112 years ago.
A Thousand Letters
He wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, and her two-letter word response dismantled their relationship. It's been seven years; he hasn't returned any of her letters, and now he's back. She'll have to go the extra mile if she hopes to win back his heart. Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Moyes, Staci Hart's A Thousand Letters [14] is a modern-day Jane Austen that'll leave your heart aching and eyes wet.
53 Letters For My Lover
Told over the course of 30 years, Leylah Attar's 53 Letters For My Lover [15] follows Shayda Hijazi and Troy Heathgate — two individuals born on the same day who've lived polar-opposite lives on different sides of the world. When life (and Cupid) throws them a curveball, their worlds collide and it's almost too much to comprehend. They'll have to decide whether their love is really worth crossing oceans for.
The Left of Love
Meet Kennedi, a girl from the suburbs, who's desperate for independence and ready to explore her femininity at college. Meet Isaak, an up-and-coming performer with a murky past, who's willing to do whatever it takes to get his big break. On paper, there's no way these two could ever work, but you know what they say about opposites attract. Get ready to ugly-sob in Love Belvin's first novel in the Wayward Love trilogy, The Left of Love [16].
I Think I Might Love You
Jaclyn Love is Kadan Davenport's type, which he's trying to steer clear of as it clearly hasn't been working out for him. There's something different about her, though; her bold and cheeky attitude wins him over, and breaking his heart one more time might just be worth the risk. Christina C. Jones has captured the very essence of what makes rom-coms so swoon-worthy and delectable in her novella I Think I Might Love You [17].
The Last Anniversary
The Last Anniversary [18] by Liane Moriarty tells the story of two former lovers forced to reconnect after a family death. Thomas's aunt's dying wish was for the family mansion to be inherited by Sophie Honeywell, the very woman who broke Thomas's heart years ago. Things get even more awkward and complicated when Sophie unearths dark family secrets that aunt Connie kept hidden within the walls of the Scribbly Gum Island home, until now that is.