Top 10 Bay Area Romance Books on My Radar
It’s a common sentiment to “write what you know,” but oftentimes this means certain places are more prominent settings in fiction.
The U.S. publishing industry is still headquartered in New York City, so even though San Francisco is the second most densely populated city in America, it only has a fraction of its literary recognition. According to Goodreads, approximately 1,000 novels are set in SF, while 3,000 are in NYC and nearly 5,000 are in London.
If you’re on the hunt for more books that feature the Bay Area—romance books, in particular—then this list is for you. I promise you’ll find a diverse set of voices that is sure to pull at your heartstrings.
(And in case you’re wondering why the infamous Danielle Steel isn’t included, no one with a half-billion-dollar net worth needs a blog post written about them. After all, none of these romance authors listed below is rolling in so much dough that they bought a San Francisco landmark and hid it by a gargantuan hedge. But I digress!)
Let’s jump into the top Bay Area romance books for the modern reader. Some of these are by my favorite authors, and most are up next on my to-be-read (TBR) list. All, however, would make excellent reads for the summer or any time of year.
Top 10 Bay Area Romance Books on My Radar
Fake Dating Fun
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory (2018)
Fake dating isn’t my favorite romance trope, but if there’s one anxiety I can sympathize with, it’s not having a plus-one to a wedding. The Wedding Date, my first read by Jasmine Guillory, tackles long-distance dating between LA and the Bay with humor and heart, but it’s the characters’ chemistry I remember years later.
The Dating Plan by Sara Desai (2021)
Sara Desai has been on my radar since I was gifted my mother-in-law’s Book of the Month copy of The Dating Plan, and I finally intend to dive into the book this summer. A marriage of convenience between a software engineer and a venture capitalist? Sign me up!
Steamy in Silicon Valley
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (2018)
I’ve already gushed about The Kiss Quotient as one of my top romances in the last five years, and it has yet to be dethroned. It has representation for both neurodivergence and sex work, all while being sweet and steamy as hell. I never knew I needed more ‘love coach’ stories in my life until this book.
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton (2012)
I recently asked the r/RomanceBooks subreddit for sexy San Francisco stories, and Wallbanger by Alice Clayton was a top suggestion. Based on the blurb alone, I’m not sure how much of the city these characters will actually experience, but I’m A-OK if they never leave the bedroom.
Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis (2016)
Sweet Little Lies is another Reddit recommendation that I’m excited to give a whirl. This friends-to-lovers romance between a tour boat captain and a pub owner doesn’t sound like your typical San Francisco love story, but hopefully, it will give me a newfound appreciation for meet-cutes in the Bay.
Naughty in Napa
Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey (2023)
I’ve read five of Tessa Bailey’s novels already, so she’s hands down one of my favorite authors—even though she writes so fast I can never keep up. Secretly Yours is still sitting on my shelf since its February release, but I’m looking forward to reading this Napa Valley romance, likely in the fall when I make my own visit to wine country.
Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory (2022)
It’s not a mistake that Jasmine Guillory is on this list twice, because I couldn’t feature Napa romances without including her latest release, Drunk on Love. Both Bailey and Guillory include themes around sabbaticals and burnout, of which I’m all too familiar. Here’s to hoping these North Bay books don’t go south in my star-ratings.
Perfect for Pride Month
You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan (2016)
I don’t often read young adult (YA) these days, but I always make exceptions for David Levithan, best known for Every Day and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. In You Know Me Well, he and his co-author Nina LaCour tell a tale of young, queer love from alternating points of view. I’m excited to know this story intimately well soon!
Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni (2023)
I had the opportunity to meet Taleen late last year before the release of her debut Sorry, Bro in January, and I can’t recommend it enough. As a fellow Armenian American, I was overjoyed to see our underrepresented culture. It’s proudly Hye and proudly bi, and I’m looking forward to reading everything Taleen writes next.
All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim (2023)
I always jump at a chance to support a local romance author’s debut work, so it was wonderful to meet Dominic Lim in person last week to celebrate the launch of All the Right Notes. Musicians and fans of Broadway are sure to love this showstopping, second-chance romance representing Bay Area Filipino and queer culture.
The Best Coast: Romance in the Bay Area
My Silicon Valley rom-coms aren’t ready for publication just yet, but I hope one day I’ll be included among authors like these for representing Romancelandia on the best coast.
Until then, grab a copy of these top ten books on my radar, and subscribe to stay updated on my own author journey.
Did I miss any awesome books set in the Bay Area? Comment below with your recommendations!