Out of His League (Briarwood High Book 1). Author Maggie Dallen. When tomboy Ronnie enters a new school and decides it's also time for a new name and a. The Burn (High School Bully Romance) (Diamond Lake High School Book 1) by K.L. Middleton, Cassie Alexandra, et al. 4.3 out of 5 stars 25.
It’s back to school season. You know what that means. Pen shopping. Crisp, blank notebooks. Romance novels. Okay … so maybe romance novels aren’t the first think people think about when it comes to school starting up again. But maybe you will after reading this list of 20 romance novels featuring students, teachers, college professors, and/or in a few cases a very very clever governess (yay Regency romances!). Full disclosure: I’ve included relatively few student-teacher romances on the list. It’s a popular trope, but I’m a teacher and unless it’s done really well I find those plot lines creepy (which I think my students and their parents would probably appreciate).
How Not to Fallby Emily Foster
Brilliant science student Annabelle Coffey is in lust with Dr. Charles Douglas, the post doctoral fellow in her lab. After graduation, they decide to embark on a physical relationship…but only until Annabelle leaves for medical school. Written by a professional sex educator, this romance novel is emotional, sex-positive, and super feminist.
Vision in Whiteby Nora Roberts
This is the first book in the romance legend’s Bride Quartet. It follows wedding photographer Mac Elliot’s romance with nerdy, safe English teacher Carter Maguire. Mac’s just looking for a fling to distract her from all the bridezillas she works with, but when feelings – real feelings – start to develop the fling turns into something more.
Black Irisby Elliot Wake (writing as Leah Raeder)
After a senior year of bullying and torment, Laney Keating is hoping college will be a clean slate. And at first it is, with deep friendships forming with patient Armin and fellow bad girl Blythe. But when her high school bully resurfaces, Laney decides to get revenge. This drug-filled, queer romantic suspense story is equal parts dark and sexy.
The Preacher’s Promiseby Piper Huguley
Set in Reconstruction Era Georgia, college-educated Amanda Stewart wants to fulfill her dead father’s dream of creating a school to educate their race. With this in mind, she leaves the North, determined to teach former slaves at an old plantation. But the mayor of this new town, Virgil, doesn’t want the help of a snobby Northern school teacher. His promise to his dead wife to make sure their daughter learned to read and write sways him to try to put their differences aside and work together to build a new community.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Oxford scholar and descendant of witches Diana Bishop works with vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont to discover the secrets of an ancient alchemical manuscript. The uncovered manuscript brings multitudes of magical creatures to Oxford’s Bodleian Library in search of lost, magical secrets hidden inside the book, but Diana is the one who, with Matthew’s help, must break the spell. This story is basically Twilight for academics.
Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Thirty-Four year old former child prodigy and physics professor Dr. Jane Darlington just wants one thing: a baby. Not a husband. Not a lover. Just a baby. She’ll even pretend to be a hooker for football star Cal Bonner to get one. Only when he finds out and wants to be involved, Jane gets more than she bargained for. This book is totally and completely wackadoodle, but the banter between Cal and Jane is top notch, and their romance is surprisingly sweet given the duplicitous premise.
The Gruntby Latrivia S. Nelson
Reformed bad girl and future librarian Courtney Lawless needs a way to pay for her last year of college. Recon marine Brett Black needs someone to help with his son after he returns home and finds out his wife is leaving them. Courtney takes a job as Brett’s live-in nanny. They find they are surprisingly compatible, despite a big secret Courtney is keeping. When Brett faces another deployment, he has to own up to his feelings and fight for the love he wants for him and his family.
The Do-Gooderby Jessie L. Star
College girl Lara Montgomery wants to make up for her bad girl past by promising to do one good deed for anyone who asked. Chief among her past bad deeds is the fact that when her brother died, she was hooking up with his very-not-single best friend, Fletch. Fletch just wants her to drop the martyr act because he thinks it keeps reminding everyone in town what they did. He wants to move on, but that’s hard when sparks still fly between the former friends.
Devil’s Brideby Stephanie Laurens
Set in Regency era England, Honoria Wethersby is a spirited governess determined not to marry, and Devil Cynster is the roguish Duke of St. Ives. The trouble begins when Honoria finds a dying young man in the woods and must spend the night in a cabin with him and his rogue cousin, (you guessed it) Devil. Alone and unchaperoned, Honoria has been compromised, and Devil is determined to make things right by marrying her all while trying to uncover the mystery of who killed his cousin.
Lie by Moonlight by Amanda Quick
This historical romance also features a governess with a peculiar name: Concordia Glade. The story begins with private investigator Ambrose Wells arriving at Aldwick Castle to investigate a mysterious death. Instead of the easy answers he expects, Ambrose finds Concordia and her four young students fleeing the burning castle, on horseback no less. As Ambrose and Concordia work together to solve the mystery and bring down a notorious criminal mastermind, a passion develops between them that will dramatically change both of their lives.
Treasureby Rebekah Weatherspoon
Alexis Chambers doesn’t have many happy memories from her last year of high school. The only one the formerly popular loner can think of is her sister’s bachelorette party. High school was a big disappointment, and Alexis doesn’t expect college to be much better. Then she finds out that Tricia, aka Treasure the stripper from her sister’s party, is in one of her classes. The two are drawn together, but their new feelings are threatened by facing up to each other’s pasts.
Love Story by Jennifer Echols
Erin Blackwell’s dream has always been to study creative writing in New York City. But when she refuses to major in Business and promise to take over her family’s horse farm, her grandmother gives her tuition money to the stable boy, Hunter Allen. Undeterred, Erin works two jobs to make her dream a reality. When Erin and Hunter end up in a creative writing class together, the two start subconsciously serving as inspiration for each other’s sexy short stories.
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
Harvard PhD student Eloise Kelly is heading to England to finish her dissertation on the Napoleonic era spies the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. She discovers a spy all of the historians have missed: the Pink Carnation. Unfortunately, Colin, a very handsome descendent of the Purple Gentian, is determined to keep his family secrets a secret. Sparks fly as this book follows Eloise and Colin’s modern day romance and the historical storyline of the spies Eloise is studying.
Break Your Heartby Rhonda Helms
At first, outgoing math major Megan Porter thinks her feelings for her new thesis advisor and cryptography professor are just a school girl crush. But after she starts decoding the hidden messages Dr. Nick Muramoto writes in the margins of her assignment and they share a passionate kiss, it becomes something that could threaten both of their futures. Full disclosure, I’m on the fence about this one. Usually student-teacher romance is a nonstarter for me, but I’m so here for the interracial romance and STEM aspects of the story.
Maybe Somedayby Colleen Hoover
When college senior Sydney finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend, she becomes intrigued with her musician next door neighbor, Ridge. He’s also attracted to her, but has a girlfriend back home. The two try to stay friends and music partners, but their feelings eventually become overpowering.
The Cinderella Dealby Jennifer Crusie
History professor Linc Blaise needs a fiancee to secure his dream academic job. Free-spirited Daisy needs some money to help support painting career. Despite their mismatched personalities, Linc and Daisy enter into a fake engagement that benefits both of them. But somehow the fake relationship spirals into a real wedding and their marriage starts to feel anything but pretend. Swoon!
Reunitedby Sabrina Sol
Former nerd Magdelena Cruise concocts a secret identity in order to share one night of passion with her high school crush, Will Hudson. The workaholic DA arrives expecting one night with a stranger not a high school reunion. Their chemistry is undeniable, but Magdelena’s deception might get in the way of them becoming anything more.
Easyby Tammra Webber
When Jacqueline is attacked by a classmate, Lucas is there to help save her. And when the two end up in the same class, they develop an instant bond. But then Jacqueline also begins having feelings for Landon, the sweet tutor who writes hilarious back and forth emails with her. Besides featuring some very – and I mean VERY – sexy scenes, this slow burn, college romance is also the story of Jacqueline working to regain her ability to trust and fight back against her attacker.
The Way to a Man’s Heartby Debbie Macomber
Over many nights in a Wichita diner, brainy waitress Meghan O’Day and professor Greg Carlyle bond over a shared love of classic literature. While discussing Chaucer, the two decide to take their relationship out of the restaurant and overcome the obstacles to find their own happily ever after.
Wild Invitationby Nalini Singh
This compilation of the Psy-Changeling series, includes Stroke of Enticement, where a leopard changeling, Zack, woos Annie, a young teacher who’s determined to protect her heart by never falling in love. This is a fun, silly romance with a decidedly animalistic twist.
Looking for college romance books? You’ve come to the right place! What do I mean when I say college romance books? Simply that it’s a romance novel—where the romantic storyline is the main plot—that takes place primarily in a college/university setting with at least one main character who is a college student. You might be wondering if romance books set in college are the same as new adult romance books, to which I would say: yes, sometimes, but not always! You might also be wondering: does this list include college sports romance books? Yes, yes, it does, more than one!
Enjoy and let me know in the comments which college romance books I had the audacity to leave off this list!
Treasure by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Alexis is a baby butch lesbian and college freshman who has been struggling lately with her mental health and parental disappointment. Trisha is a slightly older femme and a new transfer student who shows up in Alexis’s computer science class. Eastside hockey manager torrent. Trisha also happens to be the stripper that Alexis couldn’t keep her eyes off of a few weeks earlier at Alexis’s sister’s bachelorette party. Their mutual attraction is undeniable. But can their romance fit into Alexis’s mental health recovery plan and Trisha’s packed schedule of school, work, and family obligations?
As She Fades by Abbi Glines
On the night of high school graduation, Vale and her boyfriend Crawford are in a terrible car accident. Now instead of preparing for college, Vale is spending her summer with Crawford as he lies in the hospital in a coma and she prays that he is going to wake up. She’s hardly expecting to make friends with a college friend of Crawford’s older brother named Slate, who is also at the hospital visiting his dying uncle. But she does, and is shocked to find she is developing romantic feelings for him. When complications after Crawford wakes up destroys Vale’s plans, she ends up going to college on her own—where she again finds Slate. But their story is about to take a very unexpected turn.
Well Played by Katrina Ramos Atienza
This modern-day Pride and Prejudice re-telling is set in the Filipino city of Los Banos. “Elizabeth” in this story is Patrice Reyes, who is a junior at university and a star football/soccer player. Patrice is convinced this is going to be her best year yet: her team is set to win the championships, her grades are looking up, and she might be getting somewhere with her rock star crush. But being paired with the unbelievably nerdy and arrogant math geek Paul for a semester-long project is throwing a wrench in her great school year. You can guess what happens next.
Out on Good Behavior by Dahlia Adler
Frankie is the kind of young pansexual woman who can date anyone she wants (and not commit to them for long); but even she knows that eyeing the daughter of a southern Republican mayor is probably a bad idea. But Samara, the daughter in question, appears to have feelings for Frankie too: feelings that tell her wants a real relationship, not just a hook-up. Can Frankie figure out how to do a committed relationship and fight for the HEA she never knew she wanted? Can a party girl and a girl who likes to stay in her dorm and read YA make it? if you like this stand-alone novel in Adler’s new adult Raleigh University series, read the others!
Let’s Talk about Love by Claire Kann
Alice has her summer all planned out: working at the library to pay rent while prioritizing marathons of her favorite TV shows with delicious snacks and her BFFs. Her girlfriend was supposed to be a part of the plan, except she broke up with Alice when Alice told her about she was asexual. Alice has decided to swear off romance, until…she meets Takumi, a fellow library employee. Alice can’t stop imagining him in her life. But it’s a pretty scary risk to take: should she jeopardize their friendship for a potential romantic relationship? Not only might Takumi not reciprocate her feelings, he might not get her ace identity either.
Make It Count by Megan Erickson
Kat usually goes through tutors the same way that she goes through boyfriends: they bail once they realize how hopeless Kat is, whether it’s how her learning disability affects her school work or how the person she really is never seems to measure up to guys’ expectations. Right now she’s got a new boyfriend…but she’s having inappropriate thoughts about his best friend Alec, who just happens to be her new math tutor. When some secrets come to light, Alec is going to have to realize you can’t solve real-life problems with math equations and Kat is going to have to learn to trust that some people might like her not despite, but because of who she is.
Trade Me by Courtney Milan
Tina is dead-set on earning her degree and getting a good job so her parents never have to worry about making rent again. Blake is a sexy billionaire who’s set to inherit a technology company. When Blake makes an off-hand comment about what life is like as a poor person, Tina tells him he wouldn’t last one month in her shoes. To her surprise, he offers her a trade; she’ll live his life—including his income, car, and house—and he’ll live hers, for a month. But soon they’re trading kisses and personal secrets in addition to lives. With such different realities, is it even remotely possible they might have a future?
Undecided by Julianna Keyes
Nora’s first year of college didn’t go so well, what with her all-partying-no-studying strategy that landed her with criminal charges and failed classes, so she’s determined second year is going to be different. Her attraction to her new roommate’s best friend, Crosbie—a well-known party king and player—is not part of her new plan, which, as it turns out, is kind of boring. When Nora and Crosbie become friends, she’s surprised to find she likes who he is beneath the cocky veneer. But once Nora finds herself really falling for him, her biggest secret of all—which makes her misdemeanors and Fs look like nothing—threatens to ruin everything.
All of You by Christina Lee
Nursing student Avery is determined not to follow in her mother’s bad-decision-making footsteps when it comes to dating, so she restricts herself to uncomplicated hook-ups. When she meets her new hot tattooed upstairs neighbor, Bennett, she’s dying for a one night-stand. But Bennett’s the exact opposite of Avery: he’s looking for long-lasting love only, a resolution he’d made based on his own troubled upbringing. And he sees something special in Avery. Can both of them work through their childhood trauma? Can Avery finally open up to someone?
Charade by Nyrae Dawn
It’s the beginning of the unraveling Cheyenne’s perfect life that she has so meticulously crafted to bury bad memories of her past when she walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her at the beginning of her freshman year of college. She decides she needs a fake boyfriend to get back at her ex, and Colt might be the perfect guy for the job. Colt doesn’t even want to be going to college, but it was his mom’s dying wish that he got his degree, so he could hardly refuse. Soon Colt and Cheyenne’s fake relationship is becoming remarkably real as they try to forget about their pain by losing themselves in each other.
The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan
Anna wants to just finish college already so she can figure her life out. Dating sexy star quarterback Drew is definitely not going to help anything, but when a chance encounter leads to a mind-blowing one-night stand, Anna figures she can keep it casual, no harm done. Drew, however, is totally enamoured with Anna—especially how much she couldn’t care less about his fame and football trophies. He sets his sights on convincing her that he’s more than a hook-up and he’s sure that he has no option other than to succeed, as long as he treats it just like a football game: where he always wins.
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
In this Kate and Prince William inspired romance, American student Rebecca finds herself living down the hall at Oxford from Nicholas, the future king of Great Britain. Bex can’t help falling for the person behind the title. But dating him brings her into the spotlight in a way she could never have imagined and into a world that is unlike anything she has ever known. Dating Nick means adventurous ski trips and glamorous dinners at Kensington Palace, but it also means being swept up in a royal family with dark, tragic secrets and dealing with the horrible, invasive tabloid reporters. Is everything she will have to sacrifice worth it for love?
Smut by Karina Halle
Blake just needs to pass this elective creative writing course so he can graduate and move on to save his family’s flailing business. Amanda wants to graduate at the top of her creative writing class and prove to her family that writing is a viable career. When Amanda and Blake are forced to collaborate for a class project, neither is expecting how well it turns out. Given their resounding success, they decide to start publishing erotica to make money using a secret pen name—even though they can’t stand each other as people. When writing about sex turns to having sex and then turns to serious feelings, will their relationship survive being exposed as the authors of smut?
I Want it That Way by Ann Aguirre
Nadia is a serious student with big dreams who’s working hard to keep her scholarship and to support herself by working at a daycare. She doesn’t have time for a relationship. Daniel, aka Ty, has even less time: he works full-time as a construction manager, takes night classes, and became a single parent four years ago when the mom of his son left him and broke his heart. When Nadia and Ty’s paths cross after Nadia moves into Ty’s building, their mutual attraction is undeniable. But how on earth are they going to make time for a relationship, even if Ty could get past his baggage?
Catching Liam by Gennifer Albin
Jillian and her friends like to catch and release boys: you get all the fun and none of the heartbreak. When by her junior year of college her BFFs are all dropping like flies and entering real relationships, Jillian is the only one left standing and committed to their principles. Unfortunately visiting British student Liam doesn’t seem to be taking the hint, and keeps doing sweet things like staying the morning after sex and cooking her waffles. But, Jillian tells herself, he can only stay as long as his school visa allows, right? Should Jillian finally break her rule, and if she does, is she going to break her heart too?
Want more college romance books? Check out these Back to School Romance Novels. Want more sports romances in general, including some set in college? Read 100 Must-Read Sports Romances.
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Out of His League (Briarwood High Book 1). Author Maggie Dallen. When tomboy Ronnie enters a new school and decides it's also time for a new name and a. The Burn (High School Bully Romance) (Diamond Lake High School Book 1) by K.L. Middleton, Cassie Alexandra, et al. 4.3 out of 5 stars 25.
It’s back to school season. You know what that means. Pen shopping. Crisp, blank notebooks. Romance novels. Okay … so maybe romance novels aren’t the first think people think about when it comes to school starting up again. But maybe you will after reading this list of 20 romance novels featuring students, teachers, college professors, and/or in a few cases a very very clever governess (yay Regency romances!). Full disclosure: I’ve included relatively few student-teacher romances on the list. It’s a popular trope, but I’m a teacher and unless it’s done really well I find those plot lines creepy (which I think my students and their parents would probably appreciate).
How Not to Fallby Emily Foster
Brilliant science student Annabelle Coffey is in lust with Dr. Charles Douglas, the post doctoral fellow in her lab. After graduation, they decide to embark on a physical relationship…but only until Annabelle leaves for medical school. Written by a professional sex educator, this romance novel is emotional, sex-positive, and super feminist.
Vision in Whiteby Nora Roberts
This is the first book in the romance legend’s Bride Quartet. It follows wedding photographer Mac Elliot’s romance with nerdy, safe English teacher Carter Maguire. Mac’s just looking for a fling to distract her from all the bridezillas she works with, but when feelings – real feelings – start to develop the fling turns into something more.
Black Irisby Elliot Wake (writing as Leah Raeder)
After a senior year of bullying and torment, Laney Keating is hoping college will be a clean slate. And at first it is, with deep friendships forming with patient Armin and fellow bad girl Blythe. But when her high school bully resurfaces, Laney decides to get revenge. This drug-filled, queer romantic suspense story is equal parts dark and sexy.
The Preacher’s Promiseby Piper Huguley
Set in Reconstruction Era Georgia, college-educated Amanda Stewart wants to fulfill her dead father’s dream of creating a school to educate their race. With this in mind, she leaves the North, determined to teach former slaves at an old plantation. But the mayor of this new town, Virgil, doesn’t want the help of a snobby Northern school teacher. His promise to his dead wife to make sure their daughter learned to read and write sways him to try to put their differences aside and work together to build a new community.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Oxford scholar and descendant of witches Diana Bishop works with vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont to discover the secrets of an ancient alchemical manuscript. The uncovered manuscript brings multitudes of magical creatures to Oxford’s Bodleian Library in search of lost, magical secrets hidden inside the book, but Diana is the one who, with Matthew’s help, must break the spell. This story is basically Twilight for academics.
Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Thirty-Four year old former child prodigy and physics professor Dr. Jane Darlington just wants one thing: a baby. Not a husband. Not a lover. Just a baby. She’ll even pretend to be a hooker for football star Cal Bonner to get one. Only when he finds out and wants to be involved, Jane gets more than she bargained for. This book is totally and completely wackadoodle, but the banter between Cal and Jane is top notch, and their romance is surprisingly sweet given the duplicitous premise.
The Gruntby Latrivia S. Nelson
Reformed bad girl and future librarian Courtney Lawless needs a way to pay for her last year of college. Recon marine Brett Black needs someone to help with his son after he returns home and finds out his wife is leaving them. Courtney takes a job as Brett’s live-in nanny. They find they are surprisingly compatible, despite a big secret Courtney is keeping. When Brett faces another deployment, he has to own up to his feelings and fight for the love he wants for him and his family.
The Do-Gooderby Jessie L. Star
College girl Lara Montgomery wants to make up for her bad girl past by promising to do one good deed for anyone who asked. Chief among her past bad deeds is the fact that when her brother died, she was hooking up with his very-not-single best friend, Fletch. Fletch just wants her to drop the martyr act because he thinks it keeps reminding everyone in town what they did. He wants to move on, but that’s hard when sparks still fly between the former friends.
Devil’s Brideby Stephanie Laurens
Set in Regency era England, Honoria Wethersby is a spirited governess determined not to marry, and Devil Cynster is the roguish Duke of St. Ives. The trouble begins when Honoria finds a dying young man in the woods and must spend the night in a cabin with him and his rogue cousin, (you guessed it) Devil. Alone and unchaperoned, Honoria has been compromised, and Devil is determined to make things right by marrying her all while trying to uncover the mystery of who killed his cousin.
Lie by Moonlight by Amanda Quick
This historical romance also features a governess with a peculiar name: Concordia Glade. The story begins with private investigator Ambrose Wells arriving at Aldwick Castle to investigate a mysterious death. Instead of the easy answers he expects, Ambrose finds Concordia and her four young students fleeing the burning castle, on horseback no less. As Ambrose and Concordia work together to solve the mystery and bring down a notorious criminal mastermind, a passion develops between them that will dramatically change both of their lives.
Treasureby Rebekah Weatherspoon
Alexis Chambers doesn’t have many happy memories from her last year of high school. The only one the formerly popular loner can think of is her sister’s bachelorette party. High school was a big disappointment, and Alexis doesn’t expect college to be much better. Then she finds out that Tricia, aka Treasure the stripper from her sister’s party, is in one of her classes. The two are drawn together, but their new feelings are threatened by facing up to each other’s pasts.
Love Story by Jennifer Echols
Erin Blackwell’s dream has always been to study creative writing in New York City. But when she refuses to major in Business and promise to take over her family’s horse farm, her grandmother gives her tuition money to the stable boy, Hunter Allen. Undeterred, Erin works two jobs to make her dream a reality. When Erin and Hunter end up in a creative writing class together, the two start subconsciously serving as inspiration for each other’s sexy short stories.
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
Harvard PhD student Eloise Kelly is heading to England to finish her dissertation on the Napoleonic era spies the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. She discovers a spy all of the historians have missed: the Pink Carnation. Unfortunately, Colin, a very handsome descendent of the Purple Gentian, is determined to keep his family secrets a secret. Sparks fly as this book follows Eloise and Colin’s modern day romance and the historical storyline of the spies Eloise is studying.
Break Your Heartby Rhonda Helms
At first, outgoing math major Megan Porter thinks her feelings for her new thesis advisor and cryptography professor are just a school girl crush. But after she starts decoding the hidden messages Dr. Nick Muramoto writes in the margins of her assignment and they share a passionate kiss, it becomes something that could threaten both of their futures. Full disclosure, I’m on the fence about this one. Usually student-teacher romance is a nonstarter for me, but I’m so here for the interracial romance and STEM aspects of the story.
Maybe Somedayby Colleen Hoover
When college senior Sydney finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend, she becomes intrigued with her musician next door neighbor, Ridge. He’s also attracted to her, but has a girlfriend back home. The two try to stay friends and music partners, but their feelings eventually become overpowering.
The Cinderella Dealby Jennifer Crusie
History professor Linc Blaise needs a fiancee to secure his dream academic job. Free-spirited Daisy needs some money to help support painting career. Despite their mismatched personalities, Linc and Daisy enter into a fake engagement that benefits both of them. But somehow the fake relationship spirals into a real wedding and their marriage starts to feel anything but pretend. Swoon!
Reunitedby Sabrina Sol
Former nerd Magdelena Cruise concocts a secret identity in order to share one night of passion with her high school crush, Will Hudson. The workaholic DA arrives expecting one night with a stranger not a high school reunion. Their chemistry is undeniable, but Magdelena’s deception might get in the way of them becoming anything more.
Easyby Tammra Webber
When Jacqueline is attacked by a classmate, Lucas is there to help save her. And when the two end up in the same class, they develop an instant bond. But then Jacqueline also begins having feelings for Landon, the sweet tutor who writes hilarious back and forth emails with her. Besides featuring some very – and I mean VERY – sexy scenes, this slow burn, college romance is also the story of Jacqueline working to regain her ability to trust and fight back against her attacker.
The Way to a Man’s Heartby Debbie Macomber
Over many nights in a Wichita diner, brainy waitress Meghan O’Day and professor Greg Carlyle bond over a shared love of classic literature. While discussing Chaucer, the two decide to take their relationship out of the restaurant and overcome the obstacles to find their own happily ever after.
Wild Invitationby Nalini Singh
This compilation of the Psy-Changeling series, includes Stroke of Enticement, where a leopard changeling, Zack, woos Annie, a young teacher who’s determined to protect her heart by never falling in love. This is a fun, silly romance with a decidedly animalistic twist.
Looking for college romance books? You’ve come to the right place! What do I mean when I say college romance books? Simply that it’s a romance novel—where the romantic storyline is the main plot—that takes place primarily in a college/university setting with at least one main character who is a college student. You might be wondering if romance books set in college are the same as new adult romance books, to which I would say: yes, sometimes, but not always! You might also be wondering: does this list include college sports romance books? Yes, yes, it does, more than one!
Enjoy and let me know in the comments which college romance books I had the audacity to leave off this list!
Treasure by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Alexis is a baby butch lesbian and college freshman who has been struggling lately with her mental health and parental disappointment. Trisha is a slightly older femme and a new transfer student who shows up in Alexis’s computer science class. Eastside hockey manager torrent. Trisha also happens to be the stripper that Alexis couldn’t keep her eyes off of a few weeks earlier at Alexis’s sister’s bachelorette party. Their mutual attraction is undeniable. But can their romance fit into Alexis’s mental health recovery plan and Trisha’s packed schedule of school, work, and family obligations?
As She Fades by Abbi Glines
On the night of high school graduation, Vale and her boyfriend Crawford are in a terrible car accident. Now instead of preparing for college, Vale is spending her summer with Crawford as he lies in the hospital in a coma and she prays that he is going to wake up. She’s hardly expecting to make friends with a college friend of Crawford’s older brother named Slate, who is also at the hospital visiting his dying uncle. But she does, and is shocked to find she is developing romantic feelings for him. When complications after Crawford wakes up destroys Vale’s plans, she ends up going to college on her own—where she again finds Slate. But their story is about to take a very unexpected turn.
Well Played by Katrina Ramos Atienza
This modern-day Pride and Prejudice re-telling is set in the Filipino city of Los Banos. “Elizabeth” in this story is Patrice Reyes, who is a junior at university and a star football/soccer player. Patrice is convinced this is going to be her best year yet: her team is set to win the championships, her grades are looking up, and she might be getting somewhere with her rock star crush. But being paired with the unbelievably nerdy and arrogant math geek Paul for a semester-long project is throwing a wrench in her great school year. You can guess what happens next.
Out on Good Behavior by Dahlia Adler
Frankie is the kind of young pansexual woman who can date anyone she wants (and not commit to them for long); but even she knows that eyeing the daughter of a southern Republican mayor is probably a bad idea. But Samara, the daughter in question, appears to have feelings for Frankie too: feelings that tell her wants a real relationship, not just a hook-up. Can Frankie figure out how to do a committed relationship and fight for the HEA she never knew she wanted? Can a party girl and a girl who likes to stay in her dorm and read YA make it? if you like this stand-alone novel in Adler’s new adult Raleigh University series, read the others!
Let’s Talk about Love by Claire Kann
Alice has her summer all planned out: working at the library to pay rent while prioritizing marathons of her favorite TV shows with delicious snacks and her BFFs. Her girlfriend was supposed to be a part of the plan, except she broke up with Alice when Alice told her about she was asexual. Alice has decided to swear off romance, until…she meets Takumi, a fellow library employee. Alice can’t stop imagining him in her life. But it’s a pretty scary risk to take: should she jeopardize their friendship for a potential romantic relationship? Not only might Takumi not reciprocate her feelings, he might not get her ace identity either.
Make It Count by Megan Erickson
Kat usually goes through tutors the same way that she goes through boyfriends: they bail once they realize how hopeless Kat is, whether it’s how her learning disability affects her school work or how the person she really is never seems to measure up to guys’ expectations. Right now she’s got a new boyfriend…but she’s having inappropriate thoughts about his best friend Alec, who just happens to be her new math tutor. When some secrets come to light, Alec is going to have to realize you can’t solve real-life problems with math equations and Kat is going to have to learn to trust that some people might like her not despite, but because of who she is.
Trade Me by Courtney Milan
Tina is dead-set on earning her degree and getting a good job so her parents never have to worry about making rent again. Blake is a sexy billionaire who’s set to inherit a technology company. When Blake makes an off-hand comment about what life is like as a poor person, Tina tells him he wouldn’t last one month in her shoes. To her surprise, he offers her a trade; she’ll live his life—including his income, car, and house—and he’ll live hers, for a month. But soon they’re trading kisses and personal secrets in addition to lives. With such different realities, is it even remotely possible they might have a future?
Undecided by Julianna Keyes
Nora’s first year of college didn’t go so well, what with her all-partying-no-studying strategy that landed her with criminal charges and failed classes, so she’s determined second year is going to be different. Her attraction to her new roommate’s best friend, Crosbie—a well-known party king and player—is not part of her new plan, which, as it turns out, is kind of boring. When Nora and Crosbie become friends, she’s surprised to find she likes who he is beneath the cocky veneer. But once Nora finds herself really falling for him, her biggest secret of all—which makes her misdemeanors and Fs look like nothing—threatens to ruin everything.
All of You by Christina Lee
Nursing student Avery is determined not to follow in her mother’s bad-decision-making footsteps when it comes to dating, so she restricts herself to uncomplicated hook-ups. When she meets her new hot tattooed upstairs neighbor, Bennett, she’s dying for a one night-stand. But Bennett’s the exact opposite of Avery: he’s looking for long-lasting love only, a resolution he’d made based on his own troubled upbringing. And he sees something special in Avery. Can both of them work through their childhood trauma? Can Avery finally open up to someone?
Charade by Nyrae Dawn
It’s the beginning of the unraveling Cheyenne’s perfect life that she has so meticulously crafted to bury bad memories of her past when she walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her at the beginning of her freshman year of college. She decides she needs a fake boyfriend to get back at her ex, and Colt might be the perfect guy for the job. Colt doesn’t even want to be going to college, but it was his mom’s dying wish that he got his degree, so he could hardly refuse. Soon Colt and Cheyenne’s fake relationship is becoming remarkably real as they try to forget about their pain by losing themselves in each other.
The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan
Anna wants to just finish college already so she can figure her life out. Dating sexy star quarterback Drew is definitely not going to help anything, but when a chance encounter leads to a mind-blowing one-night stand, Anna figures she can keep it casual, no harm done. Drew, however, is totally enamoured with Anna—especially how much she couldn’t care less about his fame and football trophies. He sets his sights on convincing her that he’s more than a hook-up and he’s sure that he has no option other than to succeed, as long as he treats it just like a football game: where he always wins.
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
In this Kate and Prince William inspired romance, American student Rebecca finds herself living down the hall at Oxford from Nicholas, the future king of Great Britain. Bex can’t help falling for the person behind the title. But dating him brings her into the spotlight in a way she could never have imagined and into a world that is unlike anything she has ever known. Dating Nick means adventurous ski trips and glamorous dinners at Kensington Palace, but it also means being swept up in a royal family with dark, tragic secrets and dealing with the horrible, invasive tabloid reporters. Is everything she will have to sacrifice worth it for love?
Smut by Karina Halle
Blake just needs to pass this elective creative writing course so he can graduate and move on to save his family’s flailing business. Amanda wants to graduate at the top of her creative writing class and prove to her family that writing is a viable career. When Amanda and Blake are forced to collaborate for a class project, neither is expecting how well it turns out. Given their resounding success, they decide to start publishing erotica to make money using a secret pen name—even though they can’t stand each other as people. When writing about sex turns to having sex and then turns to serious feelings, will their relationship survive being exposed as the authors of smut?
I Want it That Way by Ann Aguirre
Nadia is a serious student with big dreams who’s working hard to keep her scholarship and to support herself by working at a daycare. She doesn’t have time for a relationship. Daniel, aka Ty, has even less time: he works full-time as a construction manager, takes night classes, and became a single parent four years ago when the mom of his son left him and broke his heart. When Nadia and Ty’s paths cross after Nadia moves into Ty’s building, their mutual attraction is undeniable. But how on earth are they going to make time for a relationship, even if Ty could get past his baggage?
Catching Liam by Gennifer Albin
Jillian and her friends like to catch and release boys: you get all the fun and none of the heartbreak. When by her junior year of college her BFFs are all dropping like flies and entering real relationships, Jillian is the only one left standing and committed to their principles. Unfortunately visiting British student Liam doesn’t seem to be taking the hint, and keeps doing sweet things like staying the morning after sex and cooking her waffles. But, Jillian tells herself, he can only stay as long as his school visa allows, right? Should Jillian finally break her rule, and if she does, is she going to break her heart too?
Want more college romance books? Check out these Back to School Romance Novels. Want more sports romances in general, including some set in college? Read 100 Must-Read Sports Romances.