Most Romantic Books in the last 60 years
After a reader poll run as part of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s 60th anniversary celebrations, we can now share their picks of most romantic books of the last 6 decades – and their overall winner. Are your favourites on the list?
Voted for by the public and RNA members, a shortlist was drawn up and here are the winners by decade.
The winners:
1960s – Frederica by Georgette Heyer
1970s – The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
1980s – Riders by Jilly Cooper
1990s – Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
2000s – P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
2010s – Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Overall winner:
The final came down to two books with Bridget Jones’s Diary in a head to head with Riders by Jilly Cooper – and the winner:
Bridget Jones’s Diary!
Best-selling author and President of the RNA Katie Fforde said,
In Bridget Jones’s Diary, Helen Fielding gave us a new genre which has been endlessly copied but never surpassed. Romantic fiction is timeless and books written decades ago are still loved today. This is a wonderful list with some real classics on it. Read them all!
For more information about the RNA please visit www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org.
Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
