Choose Your Next Romance Novel Based on Your Favorite Dessert

Chocolate Covered Donuts: Bet Me, by Jennifer Crusie
You want something a little bit bad, but also something you could totally get away with for breakfast. Eating a donut on the train is perfectly acceptable, and so is reading Bet Me, by Jennifer Crusie. The romance follows Min and Calvin, who start their courtship with a bet. Calvin thinks Min is cranky, while Min thinks Cal is a jerk. The result is a hilarious story, with a romance that fills your heart with joy (just like chocolate covered donuts). There’s, uh, also a scene at the end that will cause you to never think about donuts the same way.

Molten Chocolate Cake: Hate to Want You, by Alisha Rai
You want pure, rich seduction that makes you forget about anything other than what’s in front of you, which is exactly what Hate to Want You is offering. You will lose yourself in this steamy story of Livvy and Nicholas, exes who have a one night a year agreement (if you know what I mean). But when Livvy moves back to town, Nicholas just can’t seem to get her out of his head—even if he knows he must. The characters are compelling and things definitely get a little messy, but you will crave their happy ending.

Ice Cream Sundae: Neanderthal Seeks Human, by Penny Reid
You want something fun—something you can pick up any night of the week that will just make you feel happy. No big existential questions, no hard choices—just fun and flirty. That’s why you should read Neanderthal Seeks Human. Heroine Janie Morris is the exact type of character you’d want to be your best friend and take out to ice cream. She’s funny, smart, and awkward. After she loses her apartment, job, and boyfriend all in the same day, she’s taken pity on by Quinn—the very handsome security guard she’s been crushing on.

Lemon Meringue Pie: Royally Screwed (Royally #1), by Emma Chase
Pies range from sweet to savory, classic to trendy, fruit to custard. Basically, the humble pie does it all, and no one does as many pies as the British (if The Great British Bake Show is to be believed). That’s why the best book for you is Royally Screwed, which follows Crowned Prince Nicholas and waitress Olivia. Nicholas is used to girls falling all over themselves to be with him, which is the opposite of what Olivia does when she meets him. Instead, she throws a pie in his face. The humble pie becomes the first line in their love story.

Scones with Jam and Clotted Cream: How the Duke Was Won (The Disgraceful Dukes), by Lenora Bell
Arguably not a dessert at all, scones are a British tradition. A scone with some delicious home-made jam, topped with clotted cream? Perfection. Just like this debut Regency romance from Lenora Bell, How the Duke Was Won. A scandalous Duke needs a bride with a spotless reputation, naturally, but what he doesn’t know is that the lady he’s courting is only pretending to be Lady Dorothea. With delightful characters, breezy dialogue, and crazy antics, this is everything Regency romance readers crave.

Chocolate Chip Cookies: Take the Lead (Dance Off #1), by Alexis Daria
The important thing about cookies is they can be eaten anywhere—even on the move. Even if you’re say, dancing (though maybe you shouldn’t eat while dancing). But they are the perfect TV watching snack, which is why they pair so well with Take the Lead. Based around a televised dance competition (think Dancing with the Stars), this story follows Gina Morales, a dancer on her fifth season who’s never even made it to the finals. But she knows this year will be different. For one, her partner is the ruggedly handsome star from the Alaskan Wilderness reality show, Living Wild. Unfortunately, he simply has no interest in dancing.

Galaxy Cake (Or Galaxy Anything): Level Up (Fandom Hearts #1), by Cathy Yardley
Seen all over Facebook walls and Pinterest boards for months, the galaxy cake is stunning, yes, but it’s also cool. It’s a cake made for sci-fi fans, reminding them of movies set amongst the stars. So it deserves a book whose characters can appreciate it—a book like Level Up. The romance follows Tessa Rodriguez, a geeky introvert who wants to be promoted to video game engineer, and her co-worker/roommate Adam London, as they attempt to create a fandom-based video game in just 3 weeks.
What romances would you recommend based on a favorite dessert?