Hollywood makes the perfect backdrop for romance novels. After all, you’ve got meet-cutes galore, cinematically happy endings, and all the drama anyone could want in between. Plus, the players are already masters of disguise and pretend, making it a dream breeding ground for so many of the best tropes. Here are some of the ones that do it best.
Hollywood Roommates by Elizabeth Briggs
Wanna take wish fulfillment to the max? Get yourself Briggs’s reverse harem romance, which follows a teacher named Allie whose dire straits after a bad breakup force her to find a new place to live ASAP. Aaaand it just so happens that her best friend’s brother’s got some space…in the house he shares with two other sexy Hollywood actors…all of whom want a piece of her. It is absolutely as fun and sexy as it sounds, while also being extremely low on angst because, uh, let’s just say these guys did not miss that day in kindergarten when we learn to share.
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour
One of the most popular lesbian YA novels of all time, this gorgeous contemporary follows Emi, a passionate and talented set designer who’s just kicking off her career when a mysterious find at an estate sale leads her to Ava, a struggling actress in more ways than one. Together, they embark on the case of the letter Emi found, and all the while they’re slowly falling head-over-heels for each other, just when each one needs to find love most. (For more lesbian YA/NA Romance, check out The Gravity Between Us by Kristen Zimmer and Under the Lights by Yours Truly.)
Between the Lines by Tammara Webber
The first in bestselling author Webber’s Hollywood romance series introduces readers to Reid, a sexy actor who’s living up celebrity life. But being paired with a virtual unknown throws him for a loop, and he’s stunned to find that his chemistry with Emma is the strongest he’s had in a long time, especially considering who his last girlfriend was. But Reid’s not the only actor interested in Emma, and while he might not see indie actor Graham as a threat, he probably should. Love, life, and lights clash all over the place in this dramatic quartet. (For an f/f series devoted to Hollywood, check out The Hollywood series by Jae.)
Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre
Country girl meets Hollywood boy when newly single actor Cole Masten embarks on a project set in Summer Jenkins’s hometown of Quincy, Georgia, bringing his sexy swagger into a town that has no idea what to make of it. He isn’t supposed to get involved with anyone, and she isn’t supposed to get wrapped up in anything that could keep her in Quincy, but we all know how those sorts of plans go in Romancelandia…
Not in the Script by Amy Finnegan
This one may be for younger readers than the rest, but what I particularly love about it is that it’s so damn knowledgeable about the industry; it’s so clearly written by someone in the know. Emma’s a sweetheart who’s been unlucky in love when it comes to dating coworkers, but something about Jake just makes him irresistible. But Hollywood romances never work, not even when the guy you’re interested in is sweet and real and even his mom is amazing…right? (For more sweet m/f YA Romance, check out Catch a Falling Starby Kim Culbertson, Map to the Stars by Jen Malone, This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith, and my Behind the Scenes!)
