Christina Lauren’s Top Standalone Romances: Your Complete Reading Guide
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If you’re a romance fan, you’ve likely come across the dynamic writing duo Christina Lauren. Known for their sizzling chemistry and heartfelt storytelling, Christina Lauren first burst onto the scene with Beautiful Bastard, a high-heat romance that sparked a popular 10-book series. In recent years, they’ve pivoted to standalone novels, building an impressive backlist full of must-read stories.
In this post, I’m sharing the top 10 standalone Christina Lauren novels you need to add to your TBR. But before we dive into the list, let’s take a quick trip back to my author interview with Christina and Lauren from October 2020, where they talked about how they met, their writing process, and a few of their own favorite book recommendations.
Author Interview: Christina Lauren
In our 2020 interview, Christina and Lauren discussed their writing partnership, how they collaborate to create such seamless stories, and even some must-read book recommendations. Tune in to the episode here: Listen to the interview.
Best Christina Lauren Books You Should Read Now
The Unhoneymooners
Trope: Enemies to Lovers
Spice Level: Low
Setting: Hawaii
Olive Torres is used to bad luck, while her sister Ami is the golden girl—until a wedding disaster leaves Olive stuck on a Hawaiian honeymoon with her sworn enemy, Ethan. As the two pretend to be newlyweds, Olive finds herself wondering if she might actually enjoy Ethan’s company after all.
Roomies
Trope: Marriage of Convenience
Setting: New York City
Holland Bakker impulsively marries her street musician crush, Calvin, to solve his visa issues. But as their fake marriage helps launch Calvin’s Broadway career, their feelings for each other might become more real than either expected.
Love and Other Words
Trope: Second Chance Romance
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Macy Sorensen has buried her emotions for years, but when she reconnects with her first love, Elliot, everything comes rushing back. Told through alternating timelines, this novel explores young love, heartbreak, and the power of second chances.
My Favorite Half-Night Stand
Trope: Friends to Lovers
Setting: University
Millie Morris is one of the guys—until a half-night stand with her best friend Reid complicates their friendship. As Millie creates a fake online dating profile, she must confront her feelings or risk losing Reid forever.
In a Holidaze
Trope: Friends to Lovers
Spice Level: Low
Setting: Utah, Christmas Cabin
Maelyn Jones is stuck in a time loop during her family’s Christmas vacation. As she relives the same holiday over and over, she tries to figure out what will finally make her happy—including, perhaps, a romance with her longtime crush.
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating
Trope: Friends to Lovers
Vibe: Laugh-out-loud
Josh and Hazel are polar opposites who have known each other for years. While they set each other up on terrible blind dates, the real chemistry might just be between them.
The Soulmate Equation
Trope: Fake Dating / Enemies to Lovers
Genre: STEM Romance
Single mom Jess Davis is skeptical of GeneticAlly, a DNA-based matchmaking service. When her match is the company’s founder, River Peña, Jess is hesitant—but their undeniable compatibility might just change her mind.
Twice in a Blue Moon
Trope: Second Chance Romance
Setting: Movie Set
Tate Jones never expected to see her first love, Sam Brandis, again—especially not on the set of her big Hollywood break. Fourteen years after their whirlwind romance, Tate must confront the past and decide if their love can get a second chance.
Autoboyography
Trope: YA Romance, M/M Romance
Setting: Utah
Tanner Scott is a bisexual teen who falls for Sebastian Brother, a devout Mormon mentor in his writing class. As Tanner navigates his growing feelings, this heartwarming and emotional story tackles identity, faith, and love.
Dating You / Hating You
Trope: Enemies to Lovers
Setting: Hollywood Workplace Romance
Carter and Evie hit it off right away—until their competing jobs at the same Hollywood talent agency turn their budding romance into a hilarious battle of sabotage. But can they put their rivalry aside to find real love?
Wrapping Up
Christina Lauren’s stand-alone novels are packed with a delightful mix of humor, heart, and unforgettable characters. Whether you’re looking for laugh-out-loud moments or tender, emotional reads, these 10 novels are perfect additions to your romance TBR.
Loved this list?
If you’re looking for more great reads, be sure to check out our Top 10 Summer Nantucket Novels by Elin Hilderbrand! Whether you’re a fan of beachy escapes or character-driven stories, Hilderbrand’s books are perfect for your summer reading list.