The Romantic Novel of the Year Award is an award for

romance novel A romance or romantic novel is a genre fiction novel that primarily focuses on the relationship and Romance (love), romantic love between two people, typically with an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. Authors who have contributed ...

s since 1960, presented by

Romantic Novelists' Association The Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) is the professional body representing authors of romantic fiction in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1960 by Denise Robins (first president), Barbara Cartland (first vice-president), Vivian Stua ...

, and since 2003, the novellas, also won the Love Story of the Year (now RoNA Rose Award).

Winners

Romantic Novel of the Year a.k.a. RoNA Award a.k.a. Popular Romantic Fiction

This award recognises the best long romance novels. * 1960: '' More Than Friendship'' by Mary Howard (Collins) * 1961: ''

Witches' Sabbath A Witches' Sabbath is a purported gathering of those believed to practice witchcraft and other rituals. The phrase became especially popular in the 20th century. Origin of the phrase The most infamous and influential work of witch-hunting lor ...

'' by Paula Allardyce (

Hodder & Stoughton Hodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.H ...

) * 1962: ''Larksbrook'' by Margaret Maddocks (

Hurst & Blackett Hurst and Blackett was a publisher founded in 1852 by Henry Blackett (26 May 1825 – 7 March 1871), the grandson of a London shipbuilder, and Daniel William Stow Hurst (17 February 1802 – 6 July 1870). Shortly after the formation of their partn ...

) * 1963: ''House Divided'' by Dorothy M. Cray (Hurst & Blackett) * 1964: ''Journey from Yesterday'' by Suzanne Ebel ( Collins) * 1965: ''The Silver Answer'' by Margaret Maddocks (Hurst & Blackett) * 1967: ''The Truth Game'' by Anne Betteridge (Hurst & Blackett) * 1968: ''The Future Is Forever'' by Maynah Lewis (Hurst & Blackett) * 1969: ''Comfort and Keep'' by Doris E. Smith (

Ward Lock Ward, Lock & Co. was a publishing house in the United Kingdom that started as a partnership and developed until it was eventually absorbed into the publishing combine of Orion Publishing Group. History Ebenezer Ward and George Lock started a p ...

) * 1970: ''Cat On A Broomstick'' by Joanne Marshall ( Herbert Jenkins) * 1970: ''Thea'' by Margaret Maddocks (Hurst & Blackett) * 1970: ''Broken Tapestry'' by Rona Randall (Hurst & Blackett) * 1971: ''Flower Of Silence'' by Joanne Marshall ( Harlequin Mills & Boon) * 1972: ''The Pride Of Innocence'' by Maynah Lewis (Hurst & Blackett) * 1973: ''The House Of Kuragin'' by

Constance Heaven Constance Christina Aimee Heaven (''née'' Fecher; 6 August 1911 – 12 April 1995) was a British writer of romance novels, under her maiden name, her married name and under the pseudonym Christina Merlin. In 1973, her novel ''The House Of Kura ...

(Heinemann) * 1974: ''The Burning Lamp'' by

Frances Murray Frances Murray is the pseudonym used by Rosemary Frances Booth, née Sutherland (born 10 February 1928, died 27 October 2019), a Scottish writer of children's and romance novels. In 1976, her novel ''The Burning Lamp'' won the Romantic Novel of ...

(Hodder & Stoughton) * 1975: ''Vote For A Silk Gown'' by

Jay Allerton Frances Paige is a British writer of over 40 romance, historical, suspense novels from 1969 to 2007, and she has also written under the pseudonyms Jane Wallace and Jay Allerton. In 1975, her novel ''Vote for a Silk Gown'' won the Romantic Nove ...

(Troubadour) * 1976: ''The Look Of Innocence'' by Anna Gilbert (Hodder & Stoughton) * 1976 - Best Modern Award: ''The Moon Is Square'' by Margaret Maddocks (Hurst & Blackett) * 1977: ''Every Man A King'' by

Anne Worboys Anne Eyre Worboys (1920 – June 2007) was a New Zealand-British writer of 40 romance and suspense novels. She also signed her novels as Annette Eyre and Anne Worboys, and under the pseudonym of Vicky Maxwell. In 1977, her novel ''Every Man A K ...

(Hodder & Stoughton) * 1978: ''Merlin's Keep'' by

Madeleine Brent Peter O'Donnell (11 April 1920 – 3 May 2010) was an English writer of mysteries and of comic strips, best known as the creator of ''Modesty Blaise'', an action heroine/undercover trouble-shooter. He was also an award-winning gothic hi ...

(Souvenir) * 1978 - Best Modern Award: ''It Was The Lark'' by

Catherine Macarthur Katherine (), also spelled Catherine and other variations, is a feminine given name. The name and its variants are popular in countries where large Christian populations exist, because of its associations with one of the earliest Christian sa ...

(Macdonald & Jane) * 1979 - Award Of Special Merit: ''The Emerald Peacock'' by

Katharine Gordon Katharine Elsie Bain Gordon ( Hogg, 12 June 1915 – 3 July 2005) was a British author who wrote eight romance novels from 1978 to 2001. For her debut novel, ''The Emerald Peacock'', she won in 1978 the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award, and ...

(Hodder & Stoughton) * 1979: ''

Countess Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

'' by

Josephine Edgar Mary Mussi, née Edgar (27 December 19072 March 1991), was a British writer of over 50 romance novels as Mary Howard, who also wrote over 10 gothic romance as Josephine Edgar. She is one of the two novelists to win three times the Romantic Nove ...

(Macdonald & Jane) * 1980: ''Parson Harding's Daughter'' by

Joanna Trollope Joanna Trollope ( ; born 9 December 1943) is an English writer. She has also written under the pseudonym of Caroline Harvey. Her novel ''Parson Harding's Daughter'' won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Ass ...

(Hutchinson) * 1980 - Best Modern Award: '' Mr Rodriguez'' by Mary Howard (Collins) * 1981: ''The Red Staircase'' by Gwendoline Butler (Collins) * 1982: ''Zemindar'' by Valerie Fitzgerald (Bodley) * 1983: ''Magic Flutes'' by

Eva Ibbotson Eva Maria Charlotte Michelle Ibbotson (née Wiesner; 21 January 1925 – 20 October 2010) was an Austrian-born British novelist, known for her children's literature. Some of her novels for adults have been reissued for the young adult market. Th ...

(Century) * 1984: ''A Highly Respectable Marriage'' by Sheila Walsh (Hurst & Blackett) * 1985: ''Sunrise'' by Rosie Thomas (Piatkus) * 1986: ''A Song Twice Over'' by Brenda Jagger (Collins) * 1987: ''A Better World Than This'' by Marie Joseph (Century) * 1988: ''The Juniper Bush'' by Audrey Howard (Century) * 1989: ''The Peacock's Feather'' by Sarah Woodhouse (Century) * 1990: ''Passing Glory'' by Reay Tannahill (Century) * 1991: ''Phantom'' by

Susan Kay Susan Kay (born 1952) is a British writer, the author of two award-winning novels: ''Legacy'' and ''Phantom''. Biography Kay was born on 1952 in Manchester, England. She worked as a primary school teacher until leaving to bring up a family, an ...

(Transworld) * 1992: ''Sandstorm'' by June Knox-Mawer (Weidenfeld) * 1993: ''Emily'' by

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (born 13 August 1948) is a British writer of historical, romance and mystery novels. She normally writes under her own name, but has also used the pseudonyms Emma Woodhouse and Elizabeth Bennett. Cynthia was born on 13 Aug ...

(Sidgwick & Jackson) * 1994: ''Consider The Lily'' by

Elizabeth Buchan Elizabeth Buchan, née Oakleigh-Walker (born 21 May 1948) is a British writer of non-fiction and fiction books since 1985. In 1994, her novel ''Consider the Lily'' won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association, ...

(Macmillan) * 1995: ''Change Of Heart'' by

Charlotte Bingham The Hon. Charlotte Bingham (born 29 June 1942) is an English novelist who has written over 30 mainly historical romance novels and has also written for many television programmes including '' Upstairs, Downstairs''; ''Play for Today''; and '' ...

(Doubleday) * 1996: ''Coming Home'' by

Rosamunde Pilcher Rosamunde Pilcher, OBE (''née'' Scott; 22 September 1924 – 6 February 2019) was a British novelist, best known for her sweeping novels set in Cornwall. Her books have sold over 60 million copies worldwide. Early in her career she was publis ...

(Hodder & Stoughton) * 1997: ''The Hours Of The Night'' by Sue Gee (Century) * 1998: ''Kiss And Kin'' by

Angela Lambert Angela Maria Lambert (née Helps; 14 April 1940 – 26 September 2007) was a British journalist and author. She is best known for her novels ''A Rather English Marriage'' and ''Kiss and Kin'', the latter of which won the Romantic Novelists' Asso ...

(Bantam) * 1999: ''Learning To Swim'' by Clare Chambers (Arrow) * 2000: ''Dancing In The Dark'' by Maureen Lee (Orion) * 2001: ''Someone Like You'' by

Cathy Kelly Cathy Kelly (born September 12, 1966) is an Irish writer of women's fiction and a former journalist. In 2001, her novel ''Someone Like You'' won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists' Association. Life and career Bo ...

(HarperCollins) * 2002: ''The Other Boleyn Girl'' by

Philippa Gregory Philippa Gregory (born 9 January 1954) is an English historical novelist who has been publishing since 1987. The best known of her works is ''The Other Boleyn Girl'' (2001), which in 2002 won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Roman ...

(HarperCollins) * 2003: ''Playing James'' by Sarah Mason (Time Warner) * 2004: ''Foreign Fruit'' by

Jojo Moyes Pauline Sara Jo Moyes (born 4 August 1969), known professionally as Jojo Moyes, is an English journalist and, since 2002, an award-winning romance novelist, #1 New York Times best selling author and screenwriter. She is one of only a few author ...

(Hodder & Stoughton) * 2005: ''A Good Voyage'' by

Katharine Davies Katharine Davies (born 1968) is a British writer of romance novels. For her debut novel, ''A Good Voyage'', she won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by Romantic Novelists' Association sponsored by FosterGrant Reading Glasses.

(Chatto & Windus) * 2006: ''Gardens of Delight'' by

Erica James Erica James (born 1960) is a British writer of twenty-four best-selling romance novels. In 2006, her novel ''Gardens of Delight'' won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists' Association., having been short-listed four ...

(Orion) * 2007: ''Iris & Ruby'' by Rosie Thomas (HarperCollins) * 2008: ''Pillow Talk'' by Freya North (HarperCollins) * 2009: ''East of the Sun'' by

Julia Gregson Julia Gregson (born 1947) is a British writer of short stories and novels. Her first published short story won Ryman's Literary Review Short story award. In 2009, her novel ''East of the Sun'' won the Prince Maurice Prize for Literary Love s ...

(Orion) * 2010: ''Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts'' by Lucy Dillon (Hodder & Stoughton) * 2011: ''The Last Letter From Your Lover'' by

(Hodder & Stoughton) * 2012: ''Please Don't Stop The Music'' by Jane Lovering (Choc Lit) * 2013: ''Welcome to Rosie Hopkin's Sweetshop of Dreams'' by

Jenny Colgan Jenny Colgan (born 14 September 1971, Prestwick, Ayrshire) is a Scottish writer of romantic comedy fiction and science fiction. She has written for the ''Doctor Who'' line of stories. She writes under her own name and also using the pseudonyms ...

(Sphere, Little Brown) * 2014: ''A Night on the Orient Express'' by

Veronica Henry Veronica Henry (born 1963) is a Sunday Times bestselling British novelist, TV script writer and journalist. She has sold over 2.5 million copies of her books worldwide in 25 languages and 30 territories. In 2014, her novel ''A Night on the Ori ...

(Orion) * 2015: ''Struck'' by Joss Stirling (Oxford University Press) * 2016: ''Letters to the Lost'' by Iona Grey (Simon & Schuster) * 2017: ''Love Song'' by

Sophia Bennett Sophia Bennett (born 1966) is a British crime novelist and children's writer. She was first published at the age of 42, and her novels have been published in more than 20 languages. Writing as SJ Bennett, she published the first in a series of ...

(Chicken House) * 2018: ''This Love'' by Dani Atkins (Simon & Schuster) * 2019: ''You Me Everything'' by Catherine Isaac (Simon & Schuster) * 2020: ''The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton'' by Anstey Harris (Simon & Schuster) * 2021: ''Sing Me a Secret'' by Julie Houston (Aria, Head of Zeus) * 2022: ''The River Between Us'' by

Liz Fenwick Liz Fenwick (born 1963) is an American writer of commercial fiction, living in Cornwall, England. She has published nine novels and two novellas taking her inspiration from Cornwall's history and landscape, and in 2017 was named "the queen of the ...

(HQ HarperCollins) * 2023: ''A Christmas Celebration'' by Heidi Swain (Simon & Schuster) * 2024: ''The Wedding Dress Repair Shop'' by Trisha Ashley (Bantam)

Love Story of the Year a.k.a. RoNA Rose Award a.k.a. Shorter Romantic Novel

This award (formerly the Love Story of the Year) recognises the best in category and shorter romance, serials in magazines are also eligible. * 2003: ''Illusion'' by Julia Wild (

Heartline "Heartline" is a song by British singer Craig David. It was written by David, Jonas Blue, and Sam Romans and produced by Blue for his seventh studio album, '' The Time Is Now'' (2018). The song was released as the album's lead single on 14 Septem ...

) * 2004: ''A Damnable Rogue'' by Anne Herries (Harlequin Mills & Boon) * 2005: ''A Family of His Own'' by

Liz Fielding Liz Fielding (born in Berkshire, England) is an awarded British writer of over 60 romance novels published by Mills & Boon since 1992. Biography Liz Fielding was born in Berkshire, England, UK. She was educated at a girls' Convent School in M ...

(Harlequin Mills & Boon) * 2006: ''Contracted: Corporate Wife'' by Jessica Hart (Harlequin Mills & Boon) * 2007: ''Marrying Max'' by Nell Dixon (DC Thomson) * 2008: ''Breakfast at Giovanni's'' by Kate Hardy (Harlequin Mills & Boon) * 2009: ''Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure'' by India Grey (Harlequin Mills & Boon) * 2010: ''Animal Instincts'' by Nell Dixon (Little Black Dress) * 2011: ''The Piratical Miss Ravenhurst'' by Louise Allen (Harlequin Historicals) * 2012: ''The Dangerous Lord Darrington'' by Sarah Mallory (HMB Historical Regency) * 2013: ''Beneath the Major's Scars'' by Sarah Mallory (HMB Historical Regency) * 2014: ''Bound by a Baby'' by Kate Hardy (Harlequin Mills & Boon) * 2015: ''Scandal’s Virgin'' by Louise Allen (Harlequin Mills & Boon) * 2016: ''Doctor... To Duchess?'' by Annie O'Neil (Harlequin Mills & Boon) * 2017: ''Christmas in the Boss’s Castle'' by Scarlet Wilson (Harlequin Mills & Boon) * 2018: ''Christmas at the Little Village School'' by Jane Lovering (Choc Lit) * 2019: ''Secret Baby, Second Chance'' by Jane Godman (Mills & Boon) * 2020: ''Miss Amelia’s Mistletoe Marquess'' by Jenni Fletcher (Mills & Boon Historical) * 2021: ''A Will, a Wish and a Wedding'' by Kate Hardy (Mills & Boon True Love)

Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year

This award recognises the best in category for mainstream romantic novels set in the present world or society. * 2012: ''Summer of Love'' by

Katie Fforde Katie Fforde, née Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming (born 27 September 1952), is a British romance novelist. Published since 1995, her novels are set in modern-day England. She is founder of the Katie Fforde Bursary for writers who have yet to s ...

(Century) * 2013: ''Recipe for Love'' by

(Century) * 2014: ''A Night on the Orient Express'' by

(Orion) * 2015: ''A Hundred Pieces of Me'' by Lucy Dillon (Hodder & Stoughton) * 2016: ''The Wedding Cake Tree'' by Melanie Hudson (Choc Lit) * 2017: ''Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe'' by Debbie Johnson (HarperImpulse) * 2018: ''Together'' by

Julie Cohen Julie Cohen may refer to: * Julie E. Cohen, American legal scholar in intellectual property and Internet law * Julie Cohen (documentarian) * Julie Cohen (TV producer) * Julie Cohen (novelist) See also *Julie Coin, French tennis player *Julia C ...

(Orion) * 2019: ''One Thousand Stars and You'' by Isabelle Broom (Michael Joseph) * 2020: ''A Summer to Remember'' by Sue Moorcroft (Avon, HarperCollins) * 2021: ''My One True North'' by Milly Johnson (Simon & Schuster)

Historical Romantic Novel of the Year

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel set pre 1960. * 2012: ''Highland Storms'' by Christina Courtenay (Choc Lit) * 2013: ''The Apothecary's Daughter'' by

Charlotte Betts Charlotte most commonly refers to: *Charlotte (given name), a feminine form of the given name Charles ** Princess Charlotte (disambiguation) ** Queen Charlotte (disambiguation) *Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, a city *Charlotte (cake), ...

* 2014: ''The Gilded Fan'' by Christina Courtenay (Choc Lit) * 2015: ''The Girl Who Came Home'' by Hazel Gaynor (William Morrow) * 2016: ''Letters to the Lost'' by Iona Grey (Simon & Schuster) * 2017: ''It Was Only Ever You'' by Kate Kerrigan (Head of Zeus) * 2018: ''The Designer'' by

Marius Gabriel Marius Gabriel (born 13 November 1954 in Mafikeng, South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are boun ...

(Lake Union Publishing) * 2019: ''The Temptation of Gracie'' by

Santa Montefiore Santa Montefiore (; born 2 February 1970) is a British author. Early life Santa Montefiore was born Santa Palmer-Tomkinson on 2 February 1970 in Winchester. Her parents are Charles Palmer-Tomkinson, formerly High Sheriff of Hampshire, and Pat ...

(Simon & Schuster) * 2020: ''The French Photographer'' by Natasha Lester (Sphere) * 2021: ''Rags-to-Riches Wife'' by Catherine Tinley (Mills & Boon Historical)

Romantic Comedy Novel

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel intended to be consistently humorous or amusing. * 2012: ''Please Don't Stop The Music'' by Jane Lovering (Choc Lit) * 2013: ''Welcome to Rosie Hopkin's Sweetshop of Dreams'' by

(Sphere, Little Brown) * 2014: ''It's Raining Men'' by Milly Johnson (Simon & Schuster) * 2015: ''Just a Girl, Standing in Front of a Boy'' by

Lucy-Anne Holmes Lucy-Anne Holmes is a British author, actress and campaigner. She is best known for founding the No More Page 3 campaign in 2012 to convince editors to cease publishing images of topless female glamour models on the third page of tabloid newspaper ...

(Sphere) * 2016: ''Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe'' by Milly Johnson (Simon & Schuster) * 2017: ''Out of Practice '' by Penny Parkes (Simon & Schuster) * 2018: ''The Summer Seaside Kitchen'' by

(Sphere/Little, Brown) * 2019: ''Not Just For Christmas'' by Natalie Cox (Orion) * 2020: ''A Question of Us'' by Mary Jayne Baker (Aria Fiction, Head of Zeus) * 2021: ''Sunny Days and Sea Breezes'' by Carole Matthews (Sphere, Little, Brown)

Epic Romantic Novel of the Year

This award recognises the best in category for romantic novels that have a broad and sweeping scope. May be either contemporary or historical and may include time-slip. * 2012: ''The Kashmir Shawl'' by Rosie Thomas (HarperCollins) * 2013: ''Dearest Rose'' by Rowan Coleman * 2014: ''The Fever Tree'' by Jennifer McVeigh (Penguin) * 2015: ''Pieces of You'' by

Ella Harper Ella Harper (January 5, 1870 – December 19, 1921), known professionally as The Camel Girl, was born with an extremely rare orthopedic condition that caused her knees to bend backwards, called ''congenital genu recurvatum''. Her preference to ...

(Avon) * 2016: ''The Secrets We Share'' by Emma Hannigan (Headline Review) * 2017: ''Little Girl Lost'' by Janet Gover (Choc Lit) * 2018: ''This Love'' by Dani Atkins (Simon & Schuster)

Young Adult Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel in which the main characters are teenagers or young adults. * 2012: ''Dark Ride'' by Caroline Green (Piccadilly Press) * 2013: ''Witchstruck'' by Victoria Lamb * 2014: ''Linked'' by Imogen Howson (Quercus) * 2015: ''Struck'' by Joss Stirling (Oxford University Press) * 2016: ''Crow Mountain'' by Lucy Inglis (Chicken House) * 2017: ''Love Song'' by

(Chicken House) * 2018: ''Ten Birthdays'' by

Kerry Wilkinson Kerry Wilkinson (born 4 November 1980) is a British author and sports journalist born in Bath, Somerset. In 2018, his book ''Ten Birthdays'' won the Romantic Novelists' Association award for Young Adult Novel of the Year. Along with Marius Ga ...

(Bookouture)

Paranormal or Speculative Romantic Novel a.k.a. Fantasy Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel that may be paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, time-slip etc. * 2017: ''Max Seventeen'' by Kate Johnson (Independent) * 2018: ''The Other Us'' by Fiona Harper (HQ) * 2019: ''Living in the Past'' by Jane Lovering (Choc Lit) * 2020: ''Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel'' by Ruth Hogan (Two Roads) * 2021: ''Echoes of the Rune'' by Christina Courtenay (Headline Review)

Debut Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best romantic novel by a first-time author. * 2019: ''The Rules of Seeing'' by Joe Heap (HarperCollins) * 2020: ''The Forgotten Village'' by Lorna Cook (Avon, HarperCollins) * 2021: ''The Authenticity Project'' by Clare Pooley (Bantam Press)

Romantic Thriller

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic thriller. * 2020: ''Knowing You'' by Samantha Tonge (Canelo) * 2021: ''The House by the Sea'' by Louise Douglas (Boldwood Books)

Romantic Saga

This award recognises the best in category for the best romantic novel featuring saga elements of characters overcoming social adversity, usually set in the past. * 2020: ''The Street of Broken Dreams'' by Tania Crosse (Aria Fiction, Head of Zeus) * 2021: ''Bobby’s War'' by Shirley Mann (Zaffre, Bonnier Books UK)

References

{{reflist Romantic fiction awards British literary awards Awards established in 1960 1960 establishments in the United Kingdom Novel awards