We are delighted to announce the winners of our prestigious Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2025. Trophies were presented in eleven categories during a ceremony in London last night.

The Romantic Novel of the Year Awards, which began in 1960, celebrate the very best of romantic fiction and are highly respected within the UK publishing industry. Over the past 64 years, winners have included bestselling authors Santa Montefiore, Joe Heap, Julie Cohen and Milly Johnson. The finalists represent both independent and traditional publishers, reflecting romantic fiction’s dynamic market.

RNA Chair, Seána Talbot said: “The RNA is proud to celebrate the work and achievements of these talented authors, whose work represents the extraordinary strength, success and diversity of romantic fiction as a genre. Huge congratulations to our worthy winners and many thanks to our respected reader-judges, my fellow Joan Hessayon Award judges and to the awards volunteers, without whom the awards simply could not happen.”

Sharon Ibbotson, the RNA Awards Coordinator, said, “I am delighted to congratulate our winners on their well-deserved awards. Thanks also to our wonderful reader-judges, without whom these awards could not take place.”

The awards ceremony was held at the Leonardo Royal London City Hotel on 19th May. RNA President and Sunday Times Bestselling Author Sue Moorcroft presented the Contemporary Romantic Novel Award and RNA Chair and award-winning author Seána Talbot presented the remainder of the awards. The evening was hosted by prize-winning author Brigid Coady.

The Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers

The Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers (sponsored by the Estate of the late Dr David Hessayon) was also awarded at the ceremony by Maryam Oliver, writing as Melissa Oliver, who won the Award in 2020 and is now its Coordinator. The Award is open to authors whose novels have gone through the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme (NWS) and are subsequently accepted for publication. More information can be found here.

The judges for this year’s Award included Sue Moorcroft, RNA President and Tanera Simons, Director of Greenstone Literary. Sue Moorcroft paid tribute to the novel, commenting: “I found it difficult to believe that Love Rebooted is a debut. It’s well-paced, the characters jumped from the page, it grabbed my attention and didn’t let it go.” Tanera added: “I so enjoyed Love Rebooted by Katy Summers: the chemistry between our two love interests jumped off the page, and the writing was particularly engaging and accomplished for a debut. The diversity of characters and representation of neurodiversity also made this a stand-out read for me.”

The RNA’s Popular Romantic Fiction Award

The RNA’s Popular Romantic Fiction Award is unique in that it is voted for by readers, librarians, booksellers and book bloggers/reviewers.

Readers who are interested in becoming a reader-judge for next year’s awards should contact Sharon Ibbotson, the Awards Coordinator, at: rnaawards@romanticwriters.co.uk.

Download the Awards brochure

THE CATEGORIES AND WINNERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

The Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers

Love Rebooted by Katy Summers (Audible Original)

The Fantasy Romantic Novel Award

Now Comes the Mist by Julie C. Dao (Podium)

The Debut Romantic Novel Award

Plot Twist by Breea Keenan (Headline)

The Romantic Thriller Award

Whatever it Takes by Joy Wood (Self Published)

The Festive Holiday Romantic Novel Award

The Secret Santa Project by Tracy Bloom (HarperCollins)

The Shorter Romantic Novel Award

Camera Shy by Julia Boggio (Self Published)

The Historical Romantic Novel Award

The Wicked Lady by Elena Collins (Judy Leigh) (Boldwood)

The Last Song of Winter by Lulu Taylor (Macmillan)

The Romantic Comedy Award

Love Me Till Wednesday by Suzanne Lissaman (Self Published)

The Contemporary Romantic Novel Award

A Love Letter to Paris by Rebecca Raisin (Boldwood)

The Romantic Saga Award

Secrets for the Three Sisters by Annie Groves (HarperCollins)

The Popular Romantic Fiction Award

All the Painted Stars by Emma Denny (HQ)