5 Of The Best Age Gap Romance Books, Ranked By Reviews

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Romance stories in books, much like relationships in real life, take on countless forms and come in all shapes and colors. That's why the genre itself is so expansive. Some readers will gravitate toward the exciting friends-to-lovers dynamic, while others are obsessed with reading about second chance romances. And then there are those who are drawn to something a bit more specific: the age gap trope. 

Among the many romance tropes that exist, age gap relationships are often one of the most talked-about. The dynamic alone adds emotional tension that often unfolds in a slow burn, ultimately heightening the powerful attraction between two characters at two very different stages of life. That contrast, whether it be in experience, confidence, or even power, can make for a romance that feels especially layered and compelling.

Whether you've been looking to explore the trope for the first time or you're already a devoted fan of age gap romances, finding the right book makes a world of difference. And as always, with an endless number of options available, narrowing down your list of titles to add to your TBR can be an overwhelming challenge. That's why Women put together a list of the five best age gap romance books, and we've even gone ahead and ranked them based on real reader reviews.

"The Idea of You" by Robinne Lee may rank last on our list based on reader reviews, but it's important to remember that this ranking compares it with five other highly rated titles. So, while you're more than welcome to add it to your TBR last on this list, it's not a title to overlook when it comes to age-gap love stories. 

In fact, the book was so loved that Amazon MGM Studios released a film adaptation of the book starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine in 2024. The story follows Solène Marchand, who's trying her best to balance life as a single mom and her career. Just as she thinks she's found her footing, her life is completely upended by an expected whirlwind romance with a twenty-something lead singer of her daughter's favorite boy band, August Moon.

While Lee's book maintains a 4.2-star average from more than 40,000 Amazon reviews, it ranks last on this list due to its more polarizing reader response in comparison to the other four titles. The book was praised for its layered storytelling, but the unconventional ending left readers, who are accustomed to the standard happily ever after formula, feeling divided. Despite giving the title five stars, an Amazon reviewer warned readers, "THIS IS NOT A GENRE ROMANCE. I'm not going to spoiler tag this, but if you read romance, you go in with certain expectations, and I want you to understand, this does not fit the bill." 

Fourth on our list is "Problematic Summer Romance" by Ali Hazelwood, who is simply a natural at writing romance books that we can't wait to get our hands on. "Problematic Summer Romance" is the second book of the Not in Love series, and it's another one of Hazelwood's works that has fans so obsessed they've already brainstormed the dream cast in hopes of a film or series adaptation. While fans of the series will get to hear about Eli and Rue's wedding in Italy, the spotlight this time falls on Eli's 23-year-old sister, Maya. 

When Maya reunites with her brother's best friend Conor Harkness — a man fifteen years older than her who has long insisted that they could never be together as it would complicate things too much — she realizes her feelings never faded, and neither did the chemistry. Ultimately, the definitive boundaries Conor once drew seem blurrier than ever.

Many readers enjoyed the simmering tension between the two main characters and the Italian summer setting, but some couldn't help but feel that Hazelwood reiterated the age gap conflict way too much. Several reviewers noted that the repeated emphasis on the fifteen-year difference tended to overshadow other sources of tension. In comparison to Maya, whom readers loved and admired as a compelling protagonist, readers felt Conor came across as emotionally immature, citing his back-and-forth behavior toward Maya. For those readers, the imbalance created a disconnect, making Maya's long-standing devotion to Conor harder to understand. 

If you've been chasing after books that fill the void of "Heated Rivalry," and you'd love to read something other than sports romance, "Honeymoon for One" by Keira Andrews just may be what you need. When curating this list, we wanted to ensure variety, so we searched in hopes of finding an age gap romance that offers a different perspective. We just knew we hit gold when we saw so many people recommending "Honeymoon for One." 

The story is centered on Ethan, who thought he was marrying the love of his life — only to be left the night before the wedding. Seeking some clarity, Ethan decides to take the honeymoon trip to Australia alone, where he unexpectedly meets Clay, a divorced single dad. What begins as a friendship just may deepen into the most tender May-December romance.

Readers often describe Ethan and Clay's story as the perfect go-to when you're looking for romance that doesn't have you on edge or constantly second-guessing the outcome, but instead delivers a smooth read with low angst and a lot of warmth. Many also adored the unique storytelling Andrews took on as each chapter would alternate between Ethan and Clay's perspectives, which added so much emotional depth. Nearly 60% of 2,500+ Amazon reviewers gave the book five stars, and it maintains a 4.4-star average. 

Julie Anne Long's "What I Did For A Duke" is beloved by many readers who appreciate richly detailed historical fiction and age gap romance tropes. In a Reddit thread asking readers for their favorite age gap romance books, Long's book was mentioned in the most upvoted comment. People replied to the comment, "Wow, thank you for this rec! This is the most fun I've had reading anything in such a long time. Sharp dialogue, genuinely funny. Loved this story so much," with some readers saying they loved the book despite not being a fan of age gap romance stories. 

A Goodreads reviewer gave the book two thumbs up and five stars as they shared, "Absolutely adored the book. I enjoyed the banter between the characters..." A countless number of readers noted they enjoyed the book so much that they found themselves rereading it from time to time. An Amazon reviewer wished they could give the book more stars and added that the dialogue between the two main characters 'was outstanding as much as it was amusing. I caught myself smiling a lot as I got more and more wrapped up in their story.'

The Duke of Falconbridge is out for revenge on his greatest enemy, Ian Eversea, and the most strategic way to strike is by pursuing his younger sister, Genevieve, and making her fall in love with him. But what begins as a calculated seduction just may turn into a whirlwind age gap romance that upends all of his plans. 

Finally, "Kulti" by Mariana Zapata takes the top spot on this list, based on reader reviews. If you're obsessed with sports romance and you've been searching for your next read, Zapata's "Kulti" may be just the book for you. This book is a passionate age gap romance set against the backdrop of professional soccer.

When Sal's childhood soccer idol ends up becoming her coach, the admiration she once felt for him is quickly replaced by frustration and resentment. But secretly, there's also an undeniable spark they both can't seem to ignore. As their slow-burning romance unfolds, Sal may realize some lines are meant to be crossed.

"Kulti" was mentioned multiple times in Reddit threads discussing well-written age gap romances. A Redditor praised Zapata for various aspects of the book, such as 'the pace of the slow burn and the progression of their friendship,' adding, "I re-read it a lot and I'm not a re-reader!" For such a niche romance trope, the book has been rated by more than 157,000 readers on Goodreads and maintains an impressive 4.2-star average. Many readers were even giving updated reviews after rereading to say it was better the second, or even third, time around. 

There were two key factors we considered when curating this list. First, when it comes to niche tropes like age gap romances, they span a wide range of subgenres. From sports to historical fiction and even contemporary love stories, the options are truly endless. But in order to give our readers some variety, we didn't limit our selection to one or two styles. 

Instead, we remained open to all of the subgenres and different perspectives, and focused on identifying titles that earned strong reader reception across various platforms with established, engaged reading communities. The second key factor was ranking. Once we narrowed our list to five standout titles, we ranked them based on overall average ratings, reviews, and review volume. This ensures each title's placement reflects both quality and broad audience engagement. 

We made sure to prioritize consistency in reader feedback just as much as overall star averages. If the book had a high average rating yet received too many polarizing reviews, we factored that into its final placement. While this list is full of age gap romances, it's anything but repetitive or one-dimensional. There's a variety in tone, setting, and dynamic, and this list showcases just how versatile the genre can be.