8 of The Best Southern Romance Novels
Southern romance novels are one of the most popular genres of fiction in the United States.
This genre has been around for a long time and is still strong because it addresses some of the biggest issues Americans face. They are usually set in a small town and feature a romantic love story with many obstacles.
Southern romance novels are popular because they are written to appeal to the reader’s emotions. The genre reflects the Southern culture and heritage that is often set in small towns in rural America. This genre is also very popular with women, who are the largest demographic of romance novels.
The Best Southern Romance Novels
The genre is also known for its focus on family life, with many stories revolving around characters who come from large families. And if you are planning to get hooked to books and looking for the next adventure, then these8 Southern romance novels would be the best place to start.
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
1936 saw the publication of Margaret Mitchell’s iconic novel Gone with the Wind. It tells the story of Scarlett O’Hara and her family’s struggle during the Civil War and Reconstruction era.
In this book, Mitchell was able to convey her emotions through the use of metaphors and imagery.
For example, when Scarlett is waiting for a letter from Ashley Wilkes, she imagines him as a “tall soldier” who “will come riding up on his big black horse.” She also uses imagery to describe how Atlanta burns after Sherman’s army has passed through.
Scarlett O’Hara epitomizes the stereotype of the Southern belle, and readers will find it hard to forget the love triangle forged by her, Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler.
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
This is one of Nicholas Sparks’ many bestsellers set in North Carolina. A Walk to Remember is about a dying man named Landon who takes an emotional journey with his girlfriend, Claire, and her family during their time together.
A Walk to Remember received widespread critical acclaim and became a popular film starring Mandy Moore in 2002. The novel reminds us that in life each of us may find one great love, the kind that changes everything.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Required reading for many students, The Great Gatsby is a novel authored by F. Scott Fitzgerald about the wealthy Jay Gatsby and the excess of the Jazz Age.
Published in 1925, it explores themes of decadence, social class and corruption. The title comes from a comment by Daisy Buchanan that she married “a man who was great because he dreamed of being one.”
The romance of Gatsby goes far beyond the relationship between Daisy and Jay; the parties alone will have readers swooning.
Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper
Molly Harper is a beloved romance novelist renowned for “The Nice Girls” series. Sweet Tea and Sympathy was published in 2017 and follows the McCready family and how they survive in the small town of Lake Sackett, Georgia, while running the family business.
Sweet Tea and Sympathy is the first installment in the “Southern Eclectic” series. You can follow the lives, losses and loves of the family member and lead protagonist Margot Cary, a leading exclusive event planner in Chicago.
And with her stardom on the down, she has to take up a job at a small town in Georgia. Is she ready for everything that life throws at her?
Sweet Carolina Gals by Susan Child
Susan Child has a new novel in her “A Second Chance at Love” series that will surely bring a smile to every one of her readers. Follow the story of Linny Taylor in the offbeat Southern town of Willow Hill, North Carolina. On her honeymoon with her husband, Jack Avery, Linny is certainly in for a ride.
The story takes us through the ups and downs of her relationships and the challenge of being the perfect stepmother to a 12-year-old boy who is resisting Linny’s every effort to be a part of his life. And just when she thinks she has left her past behind, it comes barging through the gate. Who said the third time is the charm?
Little Love Affair by Lexy Timms
Little Love Affair is the first installment of the “Southern Romance” series by Lexy Timmins. Set during the American Civil War, it follows the story of Clara, in search of her brother and Jasper, an injured Confederate soldier stranded in enemy territory.
Clara and Jasper are on opposite sides of the conflict, but the heart wants what it wants.
Lies and Other Acts of Love by Kristy Woodson Harvey
After 60 years of marriage and five daughters, Lynn “Lovey” White knows a thing or two about life and the white lies we sometimes need to tell.
Her granddaughter, Annabelle, on the other hand, is as truthful as they come. She always does the right thing—that is, until she dumps her hedge fund manager fiancé and marries a musician she has known for three days. After all, her grandparents, who fell in love at first sight, have shared a lifetime of happiness.
But when Annabelle’s world starts to collapse around her, she discovers that nothing about her picture-perfect family is as it seems. Will she ever be able to find true love? Read an interview with Kristy Woodson Harvey about this book here.
Slow Heat in Heaven by Sandra Brown
Schyler Crandall had lived a long way from home. Now, fate brings her back to Louisiana to a family in crisis with their business going in tatters and secrets within secrets.
In Slow Heat in Heaven, everyone has a secret to tell. Be it the younger sister with her cruel lies; her husband who married the wrong sister; Jigger, the pimp with his plans; or Cash, a bad boy with his own angle.
Schyler’s childhood home is not the same safe place for her anymore. Will she be able to find love among all the lies and deceit?
Southern romance novels indeed have a charm that no one can deny. Even folks who are not bibliophiles will find themselves enthralled by the beauty of this genre. And the following books are an excellent place for one to start.
