Romantic Novelists' Association Awards

The Romantic Novel of the Year Award is an award for romance novels since 1960, presented by the Romantic Novelists' Association, and since 2003, for novellas, as the Love Story of the Year.

Winners

Romantic Novel of the Year a.k.a. RoNA Award a.k.a. Popular Romantic Fiction

This award recognises the best long romance novels.

1960: More Than Friendship by Mary Howard
1961: Witches' Sabbath by Paula Allardyce
1962: Larksbrook by Margaret Maddocks
1963: House Divided by Dorothy M. Cray
1964: Journey from Yesterday by Suzanne Ebel
1965: The Silver Answer by Margaret Maddocks
1967: The Truth Game by Anne Betteridge
1968: The Future Is Forever by Maynah Lewis
1969: Comfort and Keep by Doris E. Smith
1970: Cat On A Broomstick by Joanne Marshall
1970: Thea by Margaret Maddocks
1970: Broken Tapestry by Rona Randall
1971: Flower Of Silence by Joanne Marshall
1972: The Pride Of Innocence by Maynah Lewis
1973: The House Of Kuragin by Constance Heaven
1974: The Burning Lamp by Frances Murray
1975: Vote For A Silk Gown by Jay Allerton
1976: The Look Of Innocence by Anna Gilbert
1976 - Best Modern Award: The Moon Is Square by Margaret Maddocks
1977: Every Man A King by Anne Worboys
1978: Merlin's Keep by Madeleine Brent
1978 - Best Modern Award: It Was The Lark by Catherine Macarthur
1979 - Award Of Special Merit: The Emerald Peacock by Katharine Gordon
1979: Countess by Josephine Edgar
1980: Parson Harding's Daughter by Joanna Trollope
1980 - Best Modern Award: Mr Rodriguez by Mary Howard
1981: The Red Staircase by Gwendoline Butler
1982: Zemindar by Valerie Fitzgerald
1983: Magic Flutes by Eva Ibbotson
1984: A Highly Respectable Marriage by Sheila Walsh
1985: Sunrise by Rosie Thomas
1986: A Song Twice Over by Brenda Jagger
1987: A Better World Than This by Marie Joseph
1988: The Juniper Bush by Audrey Howard
1989: The Peacock's Feather by Sarah Woodhouse
1990: Passing Glory by Reay Tannahill
1991: Phantom by Susan Kay
1992: Sandstorm by June Knox-Mawer
1993: Emily by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
1994: Consider The Lily by Elizabeth Buchan
1995: Change Of Heart by Charlotte Bingham
1996: Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher
1997: The Hours Of The Night by Sue Gee
1998: Kiss And Kin by Angela Lambert
1999: Learning To Swim by Clare Chambers
2000: Dancing In The Dark by Maureen Lee
2001: Someone Like You by Cathy Kelly
2002: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
2003: Playing James by Sarah Mason
2004: Foreign Fruit by Jojo Moyes
2005: A Good Voyage by Katharine Davies
2006: Gardens of Delight by Erica James
2007: Iris & Ruby by Rosie Thomas
2008: Pillow Talk by Freya North
2009: East of the Sun by Julia Gregson
2010: Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon
2011: The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
2012: Please Don't Stop The Music by Jane Lovering
2013: Welcome to Rosie Hopkin's Sweetshop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan
2014: A Night on the Orient Express by Veronica Henry
2015: Struck by Joss Stirling
2016: Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey
2017: Love Song by Sophia Bennett
2018: This Love by Dani Atkins
2019: You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac
2020: The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris
2021: Sing Me a Secret by Julie Houston
2022: The River Between Us by Liz Fenwick
2023: A Christmas Celebration by Heidi Swain
2024: The Wedding Dress Repair Shop by Trisha Ashley
2025: All the Painted Stars by Emma Denny

Love Story of the Year a.k.a. RoNA Rose Award a.k.a. Shorter Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best in category and shorter romance, serials in magazines are also eligible.

2003: Illusion by Julia Wild
2004: A Damnable Rogue by Anne Herries
2005: A Family of His Own by Liz Fielding
2006: Contracted: Corporate Wife by Jessica Hart
2007: Marrying Max by Nell Dixon
2008: Breakfast at Giovanni's by Kate Hardy
2009: Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure by India Grey
2010: Animal Instincts by Nell Dixon
2011: The Piratical Miss Ravenhurst by Louise Allen
2012: The Dangerous Lord Darrington by Sarah Mallory
2013: Beneath the Major's Scars by Sarah Mallory
2014: Bound by a Baby by Kate Hardy
2015: Scandal’s Virgin by Louise Allen
2016: Doctor... To Duchess? by Annie O'Neil
2017: Christmas in the Boss’s Castle by Scarlet Wilson
2018: Christmas at the Little Village School by Jane Lovering
2019: Secret Baby, Second Chance by Jane Godman
2020: Miss Amelia’s Mistletoe Marquess by Jenni Fletcher
2021: A Will, a Wish and a Wedding by Kate Hardy
2022: A Proposal to Risk Their Friendship by Louise Allen
2023: The Earl’s Mysterious Lady by Louise Allen
2024: Cinderella’s Deal with the Colonel by Jenni Fletcher
2025: Camera Shy by Julia Boggio

Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year

This award recognises the best in category for mainstream romantic novels set in the present world or society.

2012: Summer of Love by Katie Fforde
2013: Recipe for Love by Katie Fforde
2014: A Night on the Orient Express by Veronica Henry
2015: A Hundred Pieces of Me by Lucy Dillon
2016: The Wedding Cake Tree by Melanie Hudson
2017: Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson
2018: Together by Julie Cohen
2019: One Thousand Stars and You by Isabelle Broom
2020: A Summer to Remember by Sue Moorcroft
2021: My One True North by Milly Johnson
2022: A Sky Full of Stars by Dani Atkins
2023: A Cottage Full of Secrets by Jane Lovering
2024: Evergreens by Liam Brown
2025: A Love Letter to Paris by Rebecca Raisin

Historical Romantic Novel of the Year

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel set pre 1960.

2012: Highland Storms by Christina Courtenay
2013: The Apothecary's Daughter by Charlotte Betts
2014: The Gilded Fan by Christina Courtenay
2015: The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor
2016: Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey
2017: It Was Only Ever You by Kate Kerrigan
2018: The Designer by Marius Gabriel
2019: The Temptation of Gracie by Santa Montefiore
2020: The French Photographer by Natasha Lester
2021: Rags-to-Riches Wife by Catherine Tinley
2022: A Waltz with the Outspoken Governess by Catherine Tinley
2023: The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre by Natasha Lester
2024: The Night She Met the Duke by Sarah Mallory
2025: Joint winners The Wicked Lady by Judy Leigh and The Last Song of Winter by Lulu Taylor

Romantic Comedy Novel

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel intended to be consistently humorous or amusing.

2012: Please Don't Stop The Music by Jane Lovering
2013: Welcome to Rosie Hopkin's Sweetshop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan
2014: It's Raining Men by Milly Johnson
2015: Just a Girl, Standing in Front of a Boy by Lucy-Anne Holmes
2016: Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe by Milly Johnson
2017: Out of Practice by Penny Parkes
2018: The Summer Seaside Kitchen by Jenny Colgan
2019: Not Just For Christmas by Natalie Cox
2020: A Question of Us by Mary Jayne Baker
2021: Sunny Days and Sea Breezes by Carole Matthews
2022: Joint winners Mr Right Across the Street by Kathryn Freeman and The Promise of Summer by Bella Osborne
2023: Take a Chance on Greece by Emily Kerr
2024: You’ve Got This by Maxine Morrey
2025: Love Me Till Wednesday by Suzanne Lissaman

Epic Romantic Novel of the Year

This award recognises the best in category for romantic novels that have a broad and sweeping scope. May be either contemporary or historical and may include time-slip.

2012: The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas
2013: Dearest Rose by Rowan Coleman
2014: The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh
2015: Pieces of You by Ella Harper
2016: The Secrets We Share by Emma Hannigan
2017: Little Girl Lost by Janet Gover
2018: This Love by Dani Atkins

Young Adult Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel in which the main characters are teenagers or young adults.

2012: Dark Ride by Caroline Green
2013: Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb
2014: Linked by Imogen Howson
2015: Struck by Joss Stirling
2016: Crow Mountain by Lucy Inglis
2017: Love Song by Sophia Bennett
2018: Ten Birthdays by Kerry Wilkinson

Paranormal or Speculative Romantic Novel a.k.a. Fantasy Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel that may be paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, time-slip etc.

2017: Max Seventeen by Kate Johnson
2018: The Other Us by Fiona Harper
2019: Living in the Past by Jane Lovering
2020: Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan
2021: Echoes of the Runes by Christina Courtenay
2022: A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
2023: I Let You Fall by Sara Downing (author)
2024: Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald
2025: Now Comes the Mist by Julie C. Dao

Debut Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best romantic novel by a first-time author.

2019: The Rules of Seeing by Joe Heap
2020: The Forgotten Village by Lorna Cook
2021: The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley
2022: Two Metres From You by Heidi Stephens
2023: Always by Your Side by Julie Haworth
2024: Be More Octopus by Suzanne Lissaman
2025: Plot Twist by Breea Keenan

Romantic Thriller

This award recognises the best romantic novel featuring a substantial thriller, suspense, mystery or crime story, alongside or fully entwined with a romantic story.

2020: Knowing You by Samantha Tonge
2021: The House by the Sea by Louise Douglas
2022: All That We Have Lost by Suzanne Fortin
2023: Six Days by Dani Atkins
2024: The Dance Teacher of Paris by Suzanne Fortin
2025: Whatever it Takes by Joy Wood

Romantic Saga

This award recognises the best romantic novel featuring saga elements of characters overcoming social adversity, usually set in the past.

2020: The Street of Broken Dreams by Tania Crosse
2021: Bobby’s War by Shirley Mann
2022: The Mother’s Day Club by Rosie Hendry
2023: A New Start for the Wrens by Vicki Beeby
2024: A New Start at the Beach Hotel by Francesca Capaldi (author)
2025: Secrets for the Three Sisters by Annie Groves

Festive Holiday Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best romantic novel set in the winter festive season featuring Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, New Year etc.

2022: Winter at Cliff’s End Cottage by Sheila Norton
2023: This Year’s for Me and You by Emily Bell (author)
2024: Only for Christmas by Tracy Corbett
2025: The Secret Santa Project by Tracy Bloom