Discover our guide with the best authors like Catherine Bybee to add to your reading list.
Catherine Bybee writes in the romance genre, from paranormal romances to sweet stories of contemporary love, her novels are vastly popular. Bybee is a number one Wall Street Journal bestselling author and her books have also been featured in The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages and her International Bestselling Not Quite series is famous worldwide.
If you’ve worked through this author’s back catalog, starting with The Weekday Brides series that marked Bybee’s arrival on the scene, you’ll no doubt be keen to find writers who can equally capture your attention, pull on your heartstrings, and keep you frantically turning the pages.
For more recommendations, you might also enjoy exploring authors like Harlan Coben, authors like Gillian Flynn, best detective novel series.
Must-Read Authors Like Catherine Bybee
1. Kresley Cole, Active 2003 -
Kresley Cole is a New York Times bestselling author and a must-read writer for fans of Catherine Bybee’s paranormal romance tales. Cole is best known for the Immortals After Dark series, which tells the story of the Lorekind - mythical creatures made up of warring factions that secretly walk among humanity. The latest installment in this epic series, Munro, is the newest novel in the Immortals After Dark collection; Munro can be read as a standalone story.
Cole’s world-building continues to evolve in 2025, with new releases expanding the Immortals After Dark universe and introducing contemporary elements that resonate with modern readers while maintaining the supernatural romance that fans love.
“He had told her that he avoided mortals, and that was true, but for a short time in his endless life, he’d had a mortal son. Tàmhas.”
Kresley Cole, Munro
2. Kendra Elliot, Active 2012 -
The Bone Series books by Kendra Elliott have sold more than three million copies since the first title in the collection, Hidden, was published in 2012. The author skillfully weaves romance with suspense to create edge-of-your-seat stories that readers of Catherine Bybee will relish. If you raced through The Bone Series and are keen for more of the same, Elliott’s Columbia River series has some familiar characters!
Elliott’s ability to blend romantic tension with thriller elements has made her particularly popular in 2025, as readers increasingly seek stories that combine multiple genres for a more immersive reading experience.
“Now the old cases were back in the limelight and his name had erupted out of the archives like a submerged cork bobbing to the surface.”
Kendra Elliott, Hidden
3. Kelly Elliott, Active 2012 -
Readers who fell in love with Catherine Bybee’s bittersweet novel When It Falls Apart will adore Searching for Harmony by Kelly Elliott. When firefighter Preston Ward is involved in a particularly harrowing call-out, his life is changed - but meeting Harmony Preston could be the panacea he needs. Elliott’s books are known for their strong women, hot, protective men, and beautiful backdrops, and this one is no different.
Elliott’s focus on small-town settings and community-centered romance has found renewed popularity in 2025, as readers seek comfort reads that emphasize connection and belonging in an increasingly disconnected world.
“Every Princess deserves her Happily Ever After. Follow your heart.”
Kelly Elliott, Searching for Harmony
4. J.R. Ward, 1969 -
J.R. Ward is one of the pen names used by American author Jessica Bird, who writes popular paranormal romance novels such as the bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood and Lair of the Wolven series. Ward has won the Romance Writers of America award three times and appeared on the New York Times annual bestseller list. If you’re new to this author, why not start your next reading adventure with the first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood collection, Dark Lover?
Ward’s vampire romance series continues to attract new readers in 2025, with the author expanding the Brotherhood universe through spin-off series and exploring contemporary themes while maintaining the dark, intense romance that defines her work.
“Some bridges you crossed on your own, no matter who drove you to the edge.”
J.R. Ward, Dark Lover
5. Carolyn Brown, 1948 -
Since publishing her first novel, Love Is, in 1999, Carolyn Brown has become a much-loved writer of historical and contemporary romance. Sweet cowboy romances are Brown’s trademark, and Long, Hot Texas Summer will make a great addition to your summer reading list. The book follows Loretta Jackson, who, along with her teenage daughter, must return to Lonesome Canyon Ranch, something she’s sworn she’d never do. There, she’ll have to work with Jackson, her ex-husband, who - unfortunately for Loretta, is just as handsome as she remembers.
Brown’s cowboy romances have experienced a resurgence in 2025, with readers drawn to the escapism and traditional values portrayed in her small-town Texas settings, offering a comforting contrast to modern complexities.
“Change is never easy. We fight to hold on and we fight to let go.”
Carolyn Brown, Long Hot Texas Summer
6. Lorraine Heath, Active 1994 -
Lorraine Heath writes widely within the romance genre, from contemporary paranormal romance stories to steamy historical bodice-rippers like The Outlaw and the Lady. She also uses several pen names, including Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, which she says help her to find different, distinctive narrative voices.
Heath’s novel, Always to Remember, was the recipient of the RITA award for Best Short Historical Romance in 1997, and nearly twenty of Heath’s books, to date, have made it onto the USA Today bestseller list. The author enjoys listening to audio recordings of thunderstorms while writing, which she says helps her to focus.
Heath’s versatility across historical periods has made her work particularly appealing in 2025, as readers appreciate authors who can seamlessly transition between different romance subgenres while maintaining consistent quality.
“She stared up at him with the greenest eyes he’d ever seen.”
Lorraine Heath, The Outlaw and the Lady
7. Marina Adair, Active 2015 -
Marina Adair is a million-copy-selling author and the pen behind the popular St. Helena Vineyard series. Adair writes vibrant, fun, and flirty contemporary romances perfect for feel-good holiday reading. She specializes in stories set in small towns, featuring characters with big personalities…just as in real life, some are looking for love, while others find it unexpectedly!
As she’s such a prolific writer, you may be wondering which of Adair’s novels to begin with - Situationship is a great place to start, exploring the drama and joy of falling in love and the dynamics of the typical modern family.
Adair’s contemporary approach to romance, incorporating modern dating challenges and family dynamics, has resonated strongly with 2025 readers who appreciate stories that reflect current relationship realities.
“His touch gave her a full-bodied shiver, which had nothing to do with the lack of clothes.”
Marina Adair, Situationship
8. Larissa Brown, Active 2014 -
Readers who couldn’t get enough of Catherine Bybee’s time travel romance books that began with the MacCoinnich Trilogy are sure to devour the novels of Larissa Brown, particularly her debut title, Beautiful Wreck, which was published in 2014. This tale is set in fictional Iceland of the tenth century and is an epic love story that crosses the borders of place and time and remains widely read nearly a decade after it first appeared.
Brown’s intricate approach to time travel romance, with careful attention to historical detail and cultural authenticity, has found a dedicated following among readers seeking more sophisticated takes on the time travel trope.
“Now in the 22nd century, everyone lived—to some degree—in a world that had happened before. We studied and debated and reanimated the words and fashions of a hundred yesterdays and adopted them as though we’d run out of original things to be.”
Larissa Brown, Beautiful Wreck
9. Eliza Knight, Active 2015 -
Historical romance fans may just find their new favorite author in Eliza Knight! Her novel, The Mayfair Bookshop, features a time-hopping narrative that simultaneously follows Nancy Mitford, the most well-known socialite of the 1930s and a modern-day book curator desperate to effect change in her life. This critically acclaimed bestseller was published in 2022 and boasts a cast of memorable characters and a meticulously researched plot. Knight hosts the popular podcast, History Undressed when she’s not writing.
Knight’s multimedia approach to historical romance, combining her writing with podcasting and social media engagement, has made her particularly relevant to 2025 readers who appreciate authors who connect across multiple platforms.
“She was one of the six sparkling Mitford sisters, known for her stinging quips, stylish dress, and bright green eyes. But Nancy Mitford’s seemingly dazzling life was really one of turmoil: with a perpetually unfaithful and broke husband, two Nazi sympathizer sisters, and her hopes of motherhood dashed forever.”
Eliza Knight, The Mayfair Bookshop
10. J.T. Geissinger, Active 2015 -
J.T. Geissinger is an Amazon bestselling author known for her smart, sexy romances, pacy plots, and compelling characters. As well as the Queens and Monsters, Slow Burn, and Dangerous Beauty series, Geissinger has published several stand-alone novels, including Rules of Engagement.
Pen Pal is one of Geissinger’s most popular novels featuring the character Aidan Leighrite - a 35-year-old handyman and Kayla- a 33-year-old children’s book illustrator. This intriguing and haunting story of betrayal, vengeance, and love gets hearts racing as the plot unfolds.
Geissinger’s psychological approach to romance, incorporating elements of suspense and moral complexity, has gained popularity among readers seeking more emotionally sophisticated contemporary romance.
“The first letter arrived the day my husband was buried. It was postmarked from the state penitentiary, and contained a single sentence: I’ll wait forever if I have to. It was signed by Dante, a man I didn’t know.”
J.T. Geissinger, Pen Pal
11. Anita Clenney, Active 2011 -
Paranormal romance and suspense addicts will enjoy curling up with one of Anita Clenney’s novels, which offer oodles of mystery and adventure and are perfect for getting lost on a rainy day. The first book in the author’s popular The Relic Seekers series is Guardians of Stone and is the perfect introduction to Clenney’s novels. Here, readers will meet Kendall, a fierce heroine who can give Indiana Jones a run for his money and accompany her on her quest to find four powerful relics.
Clenney’s action-adventure approach to paranormal romance, featuring strong female protagonists in archaeology and treasure hunting scenarios, appeals to readers seeking more adventurous romance narratives.
“Anyone can become dangerous if given the right motivation.”
Anita Clenney, Guardians of Stone
12. Robyn Carr, Active 1980 -
Catherine Bybee and Robyn Carr are often mentioned in the same sentence - both are known for their sweet and sassy romance series that get their readers hooked from the first page. Carr has written more than fifty novels to date, and readers particularly love her Virgin River series, which inspired the Netflix show of the same name. Title sixteen in the collection, Bring Me Home for Christmas, peaked at number one on the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Barnes and Noble bestseller lists. In 2016, RITA bestowed on Robyn the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award.
Carr’s Virgin River series has experienced massive renewed popularity in 2025 following the continued success of the Netflix adaptation, bringing her small-town romance formula to new audiences worldwide and cementing her status as a contemporary romance icon.
“Becca’s decision really hadn’t been as spur of the moment as she had pretended. A lot of planets had converged and she found herself planning, quickly. Rich had been talking about this hunting trip for weeks, with good old Denny—the guy she once thought she was going to marry.”
Robyn Carr, Bring Me Home for Christmas
