What Is a Smart Romance? Books for Emily Henry Fans
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If you love Emily Henry, Annabel Monaghan, or Carley Fortune, you’re already reading what we call Smart Romance — love stories with heart and craft.
In this week’s episode of the What to Read Next Podcast, I chatted with Rena Rani, the writer behind the Substack Smart Romance, about the rise of up-market romance and how this subgenre is redefining what readers want from love stories.
✨ What Is a “Smart” or Up-Market Romance?
Think of Smart Romance as the middle ground between commercial and literary fiction.
These are books that balance emotional payoff with beautiful prose, complex characters, and grounded storytelling. You still get the swoon, but the focus is on interiority — who these characters are, what they want, and how love helps them grow.
As Rena said during our chat, “It’s not about losing the romantic arc — it’s about deepening it.”
If you’ve ever finished an Emily Henry book and thought, I felt that, you’ve experienced exactly what Smart Romance aims for: stories that make you think and feel in equal measure.
💕 Authors Defining the Genre
The current wave of up-market or smart romance is being shaped by authors who’ve blurred the line between rom-com and women’s fiction.
Writers like:
- Emily Henry (Funny Story, Happy Place)
- Annabel Monaghan (Same Time Next Summer, Summer Romance)
- Carley Fortune (This Summer Will Be Different, Every Summer After)
Their novels are emotionally resonant, deeply introspective, and beautifully written — proof that commercial love stories can also be literary.
📚 Smart Romance Book Recommendations from the Episode
During our conversation, Rena shared some incredible under-the-radar picks that capture that same up-market energy.
The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Oakie
A quiet, emotionally rich story about love, grief, and what happens when life doesn’t follow the plan.
Why you’ll love it: Poignant, introspective, and full of heart.
You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon
An academic rivals-to-lovers story told with lyrical prose and poetic rhythm.
Why you’ll love it: Sharp banter meets tender vulnerability.
August Lane by Regina Black
A music journalist and an artist collide in this clever, mixed-media romance told through podcast transcripts and interviews.
Why you’ll love it: It’s inventive, emotional, and unlike anything else you’ve read.
The Art of the Scandal by Regina Black
After a public scandal, a woman learns how to rebuild her life — and love — on her own terms.
Why you’ll love it: Smart, sexy, and full of self-reinvention.
Heavy Hitter by Katie Cotugno
A messy, unflinching celebrity-meets-athlete story about ambition, attraction, and what we owe ourselves.
Why you’ll love it: Realistic, emotionally raw, and impossible to put down.
32 Days in May by Betty Corrello
A tender, introspective love story that’s as much about healing as it is about romance — and a Smart Romance Book Club pick.
Why you’ll love it: Quietly devastating in the best way.
💌 About Smart Romance (Rena’s Substack)
If you’re the kind of reader who loves a good love story and a good sentence, you’ll want to subscribe to Rena’s newsletter.
Smart Romance is a Substack devoted to analyzing the craft behind modern romance novels — exploring tropes, prose, and trends shaping today’s book market. She writes for readers and writers who believe romance deserves thoughtful conversation.
🎧 Listen to the Episode
You can listen to my full conversation with Rena Rani wherever you get your podcasts — just search What to Read Next Podcast or listen here.
We cover everything from Nora Roberts’ legacy to how YA writers are influencing adult romance today.
Related Posts
- Books Like Book Lovers by Emily Henry
- We read One Big Beautiful Lie by Emily Henry, so You Don’t Have to
📣 Final Thoughts
Talking to Rena reminded me why I love this genre so much. Romance isn’t “just fluff” — it’s a mirror of our emotional lives, and Smart Romance proves it’s capable of as much literary depth as any other genre.
If you’re looking to fall in love with love stories again, this episode is the perfect place to start.
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