Celebrity Romance Books

Julie’s Favorite Celebrity Romance Books

This fake dating romance is about an up-and-coming actress and an older, reclusive actor.

Grey is eager for her next big role after her teen drama series just ended, and Ethan wants to produce the last script he wrote with his best friend, who died several years ago. They happen to share a publicist, who concocts a scheme to get them both the career-changing attention they need: a fake relationship.

These characters will stay with you long after you finish this sexy, witty, emotional book.

(While the plot sounds light, please take care while reading. This book deals with heavy topics such as grief and alcoholism.)

Remember that GQ profile of Chris Evans from about ten years ago that went viral? Funny You Should Ask is that profile in book form.

Told in dual timelines, it’s about a journalist, Chani, who’s hired to write a profile of actor Gabe, her celebrity crush, who’s just been cast as the next James Bond. The profile goes viral, and both Chani and Gabe’s careers take off. Ten years later, Gabe’s PR team wants them to reunite for another article.

Their lives have changed since that first article, but when they reconnect, the chemistry is still there. I loved watching these characters in the past and in the present as they found their way to an HEA.

This is a book I’ve shoved into friends’ hands and told them they have to read it—that’s how much I loved it.

My favorite type of fake dating is fake dating for publicity reasons, so I really enjoyed Contract Season.

When hockey player Brody and country music star Sea (short for Seamus and pronounced “Shay”) hook up after a friend’s wedding, they don’t expect it to be more than a one-night stand.

A few months later, after Sea’s had a massive hit song about Brody ghosting him, they see each other at an event—and a video of them goes viral. Sea’s management thinks faking a relationship with Brody will help his career as he navigates being outed, so the two begin to fake date. (If this makes you worried, I thought the storyline with Sea and Brody being outed was handled with care and sensitivity.)

I think you’ll love this one if you enjoy emotional romance between complicated leads and seeing characters really work for their HEA.

The Dating Playbook was one of my favorite books I read last year.

Taylor is a personal trainer looking to get her business off the ground, and Jamar is a former football player who wants back into the NFL. When he hires Taylor to train him, he’s clear with her that he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s preparing a comeback.

When reporters see them together, Jamar comes up with a plan to keep their training under wraps—he and Taylor will pretend they’re a couple. I love Farrah Rochon’s books because she writes such fully realized, well developed characters.

Taylor and Jamar’s individual journeys are just as compelling as their one as a couple.

This book is set in the world of telenovelas, and I had a ton of fun reading it.

It features two actors, Jasmine and Ashton, cast to star opposite each other in a new romantic comedy show for a streaming service. They’re both looking to take their careers to the next level—but they’re not expecting to fall for their co-star.

I loved the behind-the-scenes look at the making of a TV show, as well as the strong family relationships. There are also plenty of smoking hot sex scenes, because Ashton and Jasmine have chemistry for days.

You Had Me at Hola was an absolute delight.

Things are finally coming together for a Hallmarkesque screenwriter and recent divorcee. Her latest screenplay is being made into a movie and even better, they’re shooting at her house, with Leo, a down on his luck former A-List star.

Through early morning run ins, honest conversations and shopping trips with Nora’s adorable children, Leo and Nora catch real feelings. The romance between this mature couple is crisp and refreshing with high stakes for Nora and her children after her ex left the family.

I adored this book and while this one is low on steam, but high on heart and hope. You can check out my interview with the author. 

When Luke sends a tweet to reconnect with a lovely woman from an airplane ride, it goes viral. The next season of his home renovation show could use some publicity, so his network throws out the possibility of a fake relationship.

This may be just what Audrey needs to finally launch her photography business, so she agrees. As they feed the social media machine, Luke and Audrey grow closer and things go from Just for Show to Real very quickly.

I loved the honest communication between these two; you’ll fall in love with both of them. The fact that Luke wasn’t an A-List celebrity was so fun. It made the store more relatable, but still had all the magic of a celebrity romance.

Any book by Kennedy Ryan is almost impossible to review because she knocks it out of the park every single time.

Reel is a gorgeous celebrity romance with Neevah, an up and coming stage star and Cannon, a director. Their romance is woven against the backdrop of the movie they’re shooting, a Harlem Renaissance biopic.

Reel is emotional, raw, gorgeous and it transports you straight to the movie set.

If you’re a fan of audiobooks, I highly recommend this one. The full cast brings this story to life in a way that I’ll never forget. A must read!

Marcus is a famous TV star who uses his fan-fiction persona to vent about his frustrations regarding his popular character. April is deep into fan-fiction and cosplay, but keeps her internet persona and fangirling underwraps.

When she decides to reveal her secret identity, the internet goes wild – with criticism. Marcus catches wind and asks her on a date. As they grow closer, Marcus realizes April is his closest fan-fiction. He can’t come clean for the risk of losing his job, but he knows April deserves the truth.

I really enjoyed this one, and the fan fiction element is so fun. It’s a great reminder to unabashedly love the things that bring you joy & make no apologies for your fandom.

Noah, a former boy band star looking for a second chance, meets Bee, a plus-size adult film star when they’re both set to star in a Christmas themed Hallmark type movie.

Bee tries to keep her sex-worker past under wraps until after filming, but Noah recognizes her, which is easy to do because he subscribes to her ClosedDoors account.

I loved that Bee was a huge fan of Noah’s growing up. This made their hook-ups so fun, I almost squealed. This one is a great mix of laughs and deeper subjects like sexuality, sex-work, grief and mental health all play a role. And let’s be honest, I am such a sucker for anything with a boy bander.