12 Deliciously Complicated Workplace Romance Novels
These captivating workplace romance books blend romance complications like power dynamics, ambition, and forbidden love.
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If you love romantic stories filled with complications, you may be drawn to workplace romance novels–the complications are built in, when characters work together.
If this trope is your favorite, you may like stories that play with power dynamics, boss romances, or forbidden or secret love.
Whether the characters are on equal footing or have a power imbalance, the workplace setting helps to round them out more fully; these are people with skills, interests, and ambitions beyond the love story at the center of the novel. The romance itself can often be inconvenient in the face of these other things.
Whatever the situation or setting, these workplace romance novels offer no shortage of complications and interesting plot points. Here are some of my favorites:
Thank You for Listening
Author & Narrator: Julia Whelan
Publish Date: 2022
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Fiction
If you’ve read any of my audiobook reviews, you know that Julia Whelan is my favorite narrator. In Thank You for Listening, she brings her talents to her own romance book–while also lending it her deep knowledge of the genre and its tropes (the chapters are named for them!), as well as her experience as an audiobook narrator.
Sewanee had acting dreams that were cut short by a tragic accident, and she now narrates audiobooks–but avoids romance. When a famous romance author dies and leaves a request that she pair up with mysterious heartthrob narrator Brock McKnight to narrate her last book, the offer is too good to pass up–her grandmother needs hands-on care, and this would pay for it.
Before the two even meet in person, sparks fly over their text banter. This being a trope-filled romance, there are plenty of misunderstandings and complications, but the characters and their relationship are fantastic. I had a blast listening to this and didn’t want it to end.
Good Morning, Love
Author: Ashley M. Coleman
Publish Date: 2022
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Carli is a musician and songwriter, pursuing her art in her spare time while she works for a company that represents big-name talent. When she meets R&B star Tau Anderson, she is thrown for a loop when he pursues her–and her strictly drawn lines between her personal and professional lives become blurred.
There was a lot thrown into this modern romance, and what worked best was Carli’s creative pursuits. Give this a try if you’re up for a romance that’s heavy on the music industry angle.
Yours Truly
Author: Abby Jimenez
Publish Date: 2023
Genres: Romance
Briana Ortiz is an ER doctor who is used to a certain amount of stress, but her brother’s kidney failure, her pending divorce, and the new doctor in the ER who might steal her promotion have amped it up. Dr. Jacob Maddox has Briana’s hackles up–until he completely disarms her by sending her a letter. Soon they’re writing back and forth and have formed a friendship. When Jacob signs on to donate a kidney to Briana’s brother, she feels she has no choice but to do him a favor–one that brings them even closer together.
Jimenez has proven to write books that keep me hooked with amazing characters (someone find me a better male romantic lead than Jacob!), cute setups (the letters!), and realistic obstacles. Jimenez goes big on all the romance tropes, usually with a wink-nudge; I expect these things in romance, and when they’re done this well, I’m happy to go along for the ride.
Happily Never After
Author: Lynn Painter
Publish Date: 2024
Genres: Romance
When Sophie needs to call off her wedding but can’t do it herself, she turns to a professional wedding objector. Max has fallen into the odd job of objecting at people’s weddings when they need it, and once her own disaster of a wedding is over, Sophie is intrigued. She starts working with him and soon the sparks are flying. But since neither of them believe in love, it couldn’t possibly be anything more than chemistry–right?
This was cute and entertaining, and the “workplace” is certainly oddball. A good choice if you’re up for a premise that’s a little silly and will-they/won’t-they stakes that aren’t too high.
The Blue Bistro
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Publish Date: 2010
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Adrienne is new to Nantucket and desperately needs a job. Despite her lack of restaurant experience, Thatcher Smith hires her as the hostess. Thatcher himself is intriguing, but so is the talented and notoriously private chef, Fiona. Adrienne falls in love with life in the restaurant, while growing closer to Thatcher and trying to unravel the secrets surrounding Fiona.
This is perfect summer reading/listening; light and easy to follow, with enough gravitas to make me care about what happens next. Also, the food descriptions were mouthwatering!
The Love Hypothesis
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Publish Date: 2021
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Olive is a Ph.D. candidate in biology at Stanford, and she’s never been very interested in having a relationship. If only her friend, Anh, believed her. To convince Anh (so Anh will go ahead and date her ex), Olive finds herself kissing the very grumpy professor, Adam Carlsen. And then fake dating him. As these things go, “fake” starts to feel more real than she expected.
If you like the fake dating trope, an academic setting, and stories about women in STEM give this one a try.
How to Plot a Payback
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Narrator: Fiona Hardingham & Steve West
Publish Date: 2024
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Finn is a screenwriter who’s just been offered his dream job on the sitcom Neighbors. The only problem? The star of the show, Lavender Rhodes, is his old nemesis from his school days. She doesn’t realize it, but years ago she ruined his chances at an acting career–while launching her own. Finn would really like to get some revenge, and his role as a writer may give him the perfect chance. The problem? Lavender is perfectly charming, and Finn feels bad every time his attempts at small revenge backfire.
This was cutely written–dogs! A Friends-like show!–with kind of a ridiculous premise. There’s more comedy than romance in this rom-com, so if that’s your speed, you might like this one.
Famous for a Living
Author: Melissa Ferguson
Publish Date: 2023
Genres: Romance
Cat is a famous influencer who loves her life, but when a partnership with an app goes wrong, she is quickly canceled and humiliated. She needs to get away from the spotlight while the legal wheels turn, so her Uncle Terry offers her a position at the small Montana national park where he is a ranger. She is a fish out of water, but she soon grows to love the park and the people, even if ranger Zaiah despises the social media that is her livelihood. But they are attracted to one another–if only they can bridge the gaps in their differences.
I loved the national park setting and many of the side characters were great. There was a romance here, but it had a light touch–perfect for an easy, less-intense reading mood.
Romantic Comedy
Author: Curtis Sittenfeld
Publish Date: 2023
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Sally is a comedy writer on The Night Owls, a late-night improv show (obviously modeled on Saturday Night Live). She’s content behind the scenes and used to being around stars. When singer Noah Brewster hosts, she feels unexpected chemistry with him–and is surprised when he also seems to feel it (especially in a week when she’s written a sketch about the unlikelihood of such a scenario). Could it possibly work out between them?
Romance is not Curtis Sittenfeld’s usual genre and she often has a dark and biting tone, so I was curious how it would translate. It worked in this setting–the romance was surprisingly sweet and I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters.
What You Wish For
Author: Katherine Center
Narrators: Katherine Center and Therese Plummer
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
School librarian Sam loves her job at a school in Texas. After leaving behind her previous job–and an unrequited crush–she’s had a fresh start. But when that crush, Duncan Carpenter, shows up as the new principal of the school, she sees no option but to leave, knowing she’ll be in his thrall again.
But this Duncan is wholly changed and not the happy, charismatic man she remembered. When he starts imposing strict rules and operating the school like a prison, she knows she has to stay and push back.
The Rom-Commers
Author: Katherine Center
Publish Date: 2024
Genres: Romance
Emma Wheeler has long dreamed of being rom-com screenwriter, but her dreams were sidelined when she became a caretaker for her dad after an accident. When her friend and agent offers her a once-in-a-lifetime chance to help superstar screenwriter Charlie Yates rewrite his rom-com, Emma’s sister takes over caretaking duties and pushes her to go. Charlie has no use for her help, but when she rips his screenplay to shreds, he admits that Emma might know what she’s doing. For the next six weeks, Emma teaches Charlie about the art of the rom-com, but it turns out the “rom” may not just be in the pages of their screenplay.
Readers who are fans of rom-coms will love Emma’s passion for the genre and all the ways she convinces Charlie of their value. Katherine Center always builds great tension and creates characters you want to see happy (and together). While The Bodyguard still probably holds my top spot of Center’s books (those characters make a few cameos here), I loved the premise of this and flew through it.
Forget Me Not
Author: Julie Soto
Narrators: Callie Dalton & Teddy Hamilton
Publish Date: 2023
Genres: Romance
Forget Me Not is a second-chance romance novel with a bit of enemies to lovers thrown in. Ama is a wedding planner, and Elliot is a grouchy florist who hated the work until he met Ama two years ago. They fell into a romance, but she broke his heart. Now they’re working together on a celebrity wedding that’s huge for their careers, but the past–and their lingering chemistry–makes it difficult for both of them.
In alternating timelines–two years before (told by Elliot) and the present (told by Ama)–we’re treated to the slow unfolding of their relationship while witnessing the repercussions of its destruction in the present. This back-and-forth narrative is particularly effective on audio–both narrators are excellent. Heads up for some pretty spicy open-door scenes.
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