Romantic Novelists' Association

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The Romantic Novel of the Year Awards

The RNA’s Romantic Novel of the Year Awards are presented annually, recognising and celebrating the very best in romantic fiction.

Find out more about the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2026

  • The Romantasy/Romantic Fantasy Award

    For romance novels with elements where the reader needs to suspend disbelief, including speculative elements, magical realism, fantasy, science fiction, the paranormal, and timeslip. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

  • The Romantic Thriller Award

    For stories featuring a substantial thriller, suspense, mystery or crime story, alongside or fully entwined with a romance story. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

  • The Debut Romance Novel Award

    For the best romance novel by a first time author. Entries may represent any romance sub-genre. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

  • The Festive/Holiday Romance Novel Award

    For romance novels set substantially within a religious, non-religious, or cultural festival such as Christmas, Halloween, Passover, Valentine’s Day, spring solstice, Easter etc. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

  • The Shorter Romance Novel Award

    For shorter romance novels, serials or novellas. These may range from magazine serials, short stories, novellas, or shorter novels of no less than 30,000 words and no more than 60,000 words. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

  • The Saga Romance Award

    For novels set more than 50 years in the past, usually featuring characters overcoming social pressures or hardships alongside or fully entwined with a romance story thread. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

  • The Romantic Comedy Award

    For romance novels where comedic devices and humorous elements are used consistently. Can be set in any time period. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

  • The Historical Romance Award

    For novels set more than 50 years in the past where the romance forms a substantive and crucial part of the story. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

  • The Contemporary Romance Novel Award

    For stories in the here and now, where romance forms a substantive part of the story and features only closed-door and/or fade-to-black intimacy. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

  • The Joan Hessayon Award

    For debut novels that have gone through the RNA New Writers Scheme and have subsequently been published. Authors must remain in continuous membership of the RNA from the NWS to graduating to full member status to be eligible. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

    To enter, please apply directly to the Joan Hessayon coordinator. Click here to email.

  • The Contemporary Spicy Romance Novel Award

    For stories in the here and now, where romance forms a substantive part of the story and features open door, on the page, sex-positive intimacy that meets the RNA definition of romance. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

  • The Romance Bestseller Award

    For romance novels that have appeared in bestseller lists in any of the following: the New York Times, Sunday Times, Irish Times, The Bookseller Heatseekers, Amazon, Kobo or/and Apple TOP 100 bestseller list of a single book sold in the judging year. Novels may be independently or traditionally published.

The Winners Archive

Find out more about the authors who have taken home one of our prestigious trophies in previous years.

About the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2026

The Romantic Novel of the Year Awards are administered and awarded by the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Decisions made by the RNA board regarding these awards are final.

All books entered must meet the RNA’s definition of romantic fiction, which can be found here.

Books entered that do not meet the definition will be disqualified and no refund will be given.

The awards are open to members and to non-members of the RNA. 

They are given for the 12 categories above. 

Each entry will be judged by reader judges. 

A shortlist will be drawn of the 5 top scores (or more if there is a tie for fifth place). 

The shortlists for each category will be announced early in 2026, with the winner of each category being announced at the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards (RoNAs) event to be held in May 2026.

Entries may be submitted by a publisher, agent, editor, or author.

Key Dates

The awards are open for entry from Monday 28th July 2025 exclusively for RNA members (including associate members), and from Monday 15th August for all other entrants. 

Award entries close on 30th November 2025 for all entrants. (Unless the limit of 500 entrants is reached before then, in which case the Awards will close before this date.)

The winners of each category will be announced at an awards event in May 2026.

If you are not a member of the RNA  and wish to join, please click here for more information.

Entry Fees 2026

Member/Publisher/Agent – £30 per book (Publishers and agents pay £30 per entry even if their entrants are non-members).

Non-member, entering independently – £90 per book.

Authors, please avoid duplicate entries to the same category by you & your agent/ publisher as no refunds will be given. Please note; shortlisted authors are requested to be available for publicity purposes and to attend the awards event if possible. The RNA does not pay attendees to the awards event. It is the responsibility of the shortlisted authors and their agents/ publishers to ensure they book tickets to the awards event.

Email awardsadmin@romanticwriters.co.uk with any queries.

What is romance?

The Romantic Novelists Association exists to connect, support and champion writers to create their best romance and romantic fiction stories, as well as championing the genre.

Our definition of romance is:

A love story with a healthy relationship dynamic between the main characters that results in an uplifting, positive resolution.

Further clarification is provided below:

Essential elements

Relationship elements that mean the work is NOT a romance

Romantic fiction and women’s fiction may include romantic plots or subplots that do not end in a Happily Ever After or a Happily For Now. However, these plots should not include any problematic elements as listed above.