Reader Recommended Interracial Romance Books

THIS LIST HAS BEEN UPDATED 12-29-2020!!!

There’s been great demand for this list, wanting more books with an interracial romance theme, AND a master-list of all of our favorites for us to pick and choose from, and we’re on it!! We’ve already got quite a few awesome recommendations but I want to add to it.

I wanna make it HUGE!!

LestaGirl: People always overlook inter racial romance! Can we please have a bit more representation up in here

Linda: I would love to read an inter-racial couple’s love story.

Teehee456: I love all the books but what I really hope for in her New species book is a woman that is African American or even not just black but Hispanic or both even idk she is a great author I love the series hope to read another soon

Chinny: Please can I get African American romance books or those with diverse characters. I’ve been reading since I was a teenager but lately I have no desire to cos most books reflect one race. Tbh, I did not mind earlier in my life but now I sorta do.

READER RECOMMENDED INTERRACIAL ROMANCE BOOKS:
Behind the Bars (Music Street Series) by Brittainy C. Cherry <– A HUGE favorite in our crew!!

Leslie M: Behind the Bars by Brittainy Cherry
THIS. BOOK. *shakes head in disbelief* This is not a typical Leslie book. This is a rip your heart out multiple times/ugly cry so much your eyes are puffy type book. It is so emotional it makes It Ends With Us look like childs play. (the story is nothing like IEWU, except the hiccuping sobs it gave me)

This is a must read for all you book masochists. Seriously guys….YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!! I don’t even like depressing books and this sucked me in.

Now it is a dual POV, but I promise you, there is no angst lost. I don’t want to say too much but this is a super powerful and emotional read. Please do a BR sometime so I can chime in on it and talk spoilers.

Jean: LESLIE!!!!! YOU WERE SO RIGHT ABOUT BEHIND THE BARS!!!! YES, I’M SCREAMING!! YOU GUYS HAVE TO READ IT…..JUST SIMPLY AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! …Amazing! You MUST read this book! It’s heartwrenching and beautiful and gah!!!! Just read it! Seriously!

Leslie M: Ok, so Jean is gushing to me about how much she loved Behind the Bars and instead of squeeing what do I do? Bawl! Yup, cried like a baby remembering the emotions of that beautifully heartbreaking story. Jeesh! I need to get a grip. And yes, everyone who likes the tearjerkers needs to read it.

Jenn: “Behind the Bars” actually I finished it this morning. I do not know how that was the first book I have ever read my this author. She is a word wizard that one. I fell hard for Elliott; and fell completely apart reading this book . LOVED IT and not an easy loved it….but definitely earned.

Michele G: Oh yes …I finished Behind the Bars. It was a great book. I haven’t reviewed it yet but it will probably be a 4 1/2 star for me.
Tessa: I was up late last night finishing Behind the Bars by Brittany C.

Cherry. GAH, so good, though there was a very heartbreaking part.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory <— Kathy is happy about these Goodreads choices:

I did enjoy the Wedding Date. It is an interracial romance that takes place in the Bay Area/LA and since I am originally from the Bay Area it made it for interesting to read. Her new book is on this list. Loved the The Kiss Quotient

The Hard Count by Ginger Scott <— Kathy P recommends this one, too!

Kathy P: One more to add is The Hard Count by Ginger Scott. Great book!

Tessa: I finished reading Hard Count by Ginger Scott. Sooooo good. It had that hate to love thing, a strong set of secondary characters, and the book was way more than a romance or a football story. I have yet to be disappointed by this author.

Jaime: I finished The Hard Count this morning. Really lovely story with some themes that are really relevant – especially this week. A five star read for me.

Lady Luck (Colorado Mountain Series Book 3) by Kristen Ashley <— The author told us that the hero was inspired by “The Rock” *swooooooons* P.S. Here’s my 5-STAR Book Review

Diana: My most fav absolute coveted book memorabilia is my autographed copy of Lady Luck by Kristen Ashley because that is my fav book in the whole world so when that book was published I went bonkers.

Kirstyn: Ty from Lady Luck by Kristen Ashley. Makes me want to read it again right now!

Jennifer: I hated then LOVED Ty from Lady Luck by KA. Although several of her characters fall into this catagory for me! She seems to always be able to pull such emotion from her readers. She is an Amazing author!

Tamika: …something about Ty from Lady Luck that I can’t resist. The strong quiet ones always get to me.

Jan has some for us! She says:

I’m in lerve with Nia Forrester’s romances about African-Americans. I just read and enjoyed the new one, Snowflake, which was kinda NA as well. But I prefer her books about more mature couples.

The Commitment series is fabulous. My favs are probably Afterwards & Afterburn (2 connected books) plus The Fall (owym). The Come Up is good too. IMO she is one of the best CR writers out there. You just get so sucked in to the lives of her characters.
I agree about Ty too. 

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren has a Korean-American H.

The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran has a H who is part Indian/part English. (HR)

Natasha M: I cannot recommend Nia Forrester enough. Her style of writing is so smooth and real. She’s an auto-buy for me. Mariana Zapata too.

Jan: Ooh I’m loving seeing more Nia Forrester fans. She’s a fav of mine and I feel like not enough people know how great her books are.

The Director and Don Juan: The Story Sisters #2 (The Blueberry Lane Series) by Katy Regnery <— Jan found us this one!

Jan: The Director and Don Juan by Katy Regnery. Alice falls for Carlos, a Puerto Rican guy who works for her.

The Seduction of Dylan Acosta: A Novel (The Acostas Book 1) by Mia Forrester <— Jan recommends this one too!

Jan: Also by Nia Forrester, The Seduction of Dylan Acosta, about a Dominican baseball player who is in NY to play for the Mets. He falls in love with Dylan who is (I think) African American. It’s a little while since I read it so not totally sure, but it’s definitely got the Dominican connection. The sequel/companion book, The Education of Miri Acosta (The Acostas Series Book 2), is about a young Dominican-American woman who also falls for a Dominican baseball player who’s joined the Mets.

Rebel Hard (Hard Play Book 2) by Nalini Singh <— Jan found us this one, too!

Jan: Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh is a recent CR set in New Zealand that features characters from Indian/Fijian/New Zealand cultures.

Heaven and Hell by Kristen Ashley <— JulieO says this one!!!

Julie O: One of my favorite Kristin Ashley books is HEAVEN AND HELL. I don’t think many people read it but Sam is the hottest H alpha in my 5. Definitely belongs on this list.

Kini: The most under appreciated KA book is the fantastic Heaven and Hell. It’s a stand alone. And it’s got all the usual KA elements. There’s just something about Kia and Sam that gets me every single time. It’s my go to comfort book. I’d vote Sam as my number one KA man.

Lori: Heaven and Hell is one of my favs. The h, in an abusive marriage, for years thought about the H, a famous sports star, a fantasy, to escape her reality. After the death of her husband, they meet by chance, and off their story goes. Sam is awesome, super hot, protective but of course has his own issues to deal with.

Tracy: I just finished Heaven and Hell and like all her books it was awesome! I love Sam!! But I do love all Kristen Ashley’s men!!

A Hundred Thousand Words by Nyrae Dawn <— Pia recommends this one!

Pia: A hundred thousand words by Nyrae Dawn. It’s a m/m read and I’m 50% in and love it

Vérité (Love At Center Court Book 1) by Rachel Blaufield <— Kathy P recommends this one! The author describes it as”…a new adult contemporary romance dispelling stereotypes regarding college jocks and quiet girls…”

Verite by Rachel Blaufield. It is a sports romance talking place in college which deals with inter racial dating, 4.5 for me!

Robyn recommends these:

• Maldeamores: (Lovesick) and Malentendido (Misunderstood) by Mara White. Loved these books! Angsty and definitely on the forbidden side.
• I think Mara White’s Heightsbound series also follows this trope.
• The Colorblind Trilogy by Rose B Mashal is excellent.

Nancy found us these:

• Juicy by Pepper Pace
• Luna and Sol: A Forbidden Love Story by A.M. Kusi

Master of the Abyss (Mountain Masters & Dark Haven Book 3) by Cherise Sinclaire <— Kat recommends this one!

Kat: If you are looking for more “ahem… Alternative” bdsm books, I would try Cherise Sinclair’s master of the mountain and master of the abyss over the shadowlands series because the shadowlands gets a bit too hardcore for me. The master duo is lighter.

…has some more graphic and exhibitionist play but still lighter than the shadowlands series. The heroine is biracial and has abandonment issues. The hero has lost confidence in himself as a Dom after a sub committed suicide. It also involves a 3rd party stalker/murderer after the heroine.

In the Fields by Willow Aster <— AMY LOVED IT!!

Amy: …you would probably really like In the Fields by Willow Aster. That one was GREAT and so different for me with the whole racial bias issues (I think I remember some of that in LoM, right?), but some stuff happens in ITF that I was *not* expecting, and I ended up being sucker punched followed by a lot of tears. Keep it on your radar.

The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon <— MUCH LOVED in our crew!

Tessa: Three words. Law of Moses. I knew from all of you saying it’s good I might like it, but WOW. I cried, I laughed, I wanted to hug myself and twirl. *grins* LOVED IT! I went into this totally blind and I’m glad I did. Just wow.

Jean: Best book I’ve read this year, The Law of Moses! So great! Can’t stop thinking about it weeks later! …simply the most beautiful story…

Janet:  I just finished The Law of Moses. It was gripping – very moving – put it high up on your TBR list…

Anais: Amy Harmon’s The Law of Moses is luminous – like all of her books.

Once Perfect (Shattered Past Book 1) by Cecy Robson <— Debi recommends it!

Debi: Hey Maryse, this is my first time writing on your website but I’ve been following it for a long time. I just finished Once Perfect and if it’s not on your TBR list is should been it was so good. Teo is this supper hot Latino; bouncer / underground mma fighters, not the typical alpha male (which is usually my thing), but so sweet, kinda a big strong, hot, teddy bear.

This book had some really funny comments and some really really sad stuff, mostly from both characters past. Plus you think you whats going on then all the sudden your thrown off with some surprises. Anyway, totally worth reading.

Tempt (Take It Off Book 3) by Cambria Hebert <— Sada loved it!

Sada: Now for Tempt. My absolute fav so far. A girl, small plane, and a hot Latino pilot!!!! Plane crash on a desert island. Love triangle in a deserted island? Yes!!!! Worth the time to read!! I give them all 10 stars out of 5!!!

Wait for It by Mariana Zapata <— Anais reminds us of this awesome author!!!

Anais: Mariana Zapata’s books are often Latina heroines with some of our favorite alpha hero’s.

Maryse: THAT’S RIGHT!!! I LOVE her heroines. My favorite book by her – and one of my all time favorites was Wait For It!!!

Seduce Me at Sunrise (Hathaways Book 2) by Lisa Kleypas <— bev recommends this one!

bev: …Seduce Me At Sunrise is about Win and Kev. Win comes from a very tight knit happy family and they take Kev in. Kev is Romany and is looked down on by most. This and because of other reasons he is always trying to keep her at a distance.

Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell <— much love for this one amongst our crew!!

MichelleS: Good old fashioned Historical Romance! He’s such an Alpha! Love that. Protective & Moody. They say he’s mean as a snake, but he’s so gentle with her.

bev: Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold. Gave me a jolt of happy and now keep thinking of the book, even though just re-read it not long ago. I want someone to read it. Lol. Just do. The Michelles I’ve rec’d it to. Maryse I want just for fun cause it, I don’t think, her usual. So, if picking one book you want someone to read what book? And who do you think it fits and who for fun? (he’s half-indian)

Beast by Pepper Pace <— Patty recommends this one saying: White male/black female

Patty: Here goes my first ever post on this fabulous website that has been my go to place for book recommendations. I love this list!

My number one all time favorite book of all time (Did I say that already?) has to be Beast, by Pepper Pace. It’s a “beauty and the beast” type of story with a Heroine who is on her own journey towards health, and a hero, Beast, who helps her on her journey. I’ve read and listened to this book countless times.

Black Butterfly: Alpha Male Bad Boy Romance by Sienna Mynx <— recommended by Shannon

Shannon: Black Butterfly by Sienna Mynx is similar to 50 shades, not as good as it or Bared to you but I really enjoyed it. It has an overbearing rich guy just like Christian who falls for a ballet dancer the first time he sees her but she has issues with his past of how many women hes been with and how possessive he is. Anyway I think it is a good one to add to your list and if you haven’t read it you definitely should

Stephanie Black Butterfly by Sienna Mynx Multi-cultural Romance… !
S. Camargo: I loved this read! All Sienna Mynx’s reads are awesome!

TICK TOCK (EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Book 1) by Jane Harvey-Berrick <— RECENT RELEASE & Amal LOVED it!

Amal: I just completed Tick Tock by Jane Harvey-Berrick and boy does this woman know how to lay out the details. It wrecked me! no jokes!

Being a Muslim I usually stay away from books that tend to spark hate and debate on religion and war but this was so well written, thoroughly researched and objectively painted.

This book did highlight the harsh truth about Syrian conflict and that deserves a major applause. It may have been fiction but it was oh so real, every minuscule detail was well researched.

The characters, Amira and James had the same mission in mind and although their romance was not well- developed, I suspect intentionally so, their love for each other was a battle itself. Jane brought forward such gusty topics, conflict of religion, different continents and nationalities, losses and how none of those conflicts matter when it comes to finding and having good friends.

I found out that there is a sequel to this book containing more. I can’t wait!!

Gardens of Water: A Novel by Alan Drew <— WHOA! MUSLIM GIRL FALLING FOR AMERICAN BOY ALERT! This one sounds GREAT!! Her family is celebrating their young son, and their older daughter resents it.

“For her, there was no such festive observance–only the wrapping of her head in a dark scarf and strict rules that keep her hidden away from boys and her friends. But even before the night of the celebration, İrem has started to change, to the dismay of her Kurdish father. What Sinan doesn’t know is that much of her transformation is due to her secret relationship with their neighbor, Dylan, the seventeen-year-old American son of expatriate teachers.”

Captive Bride by Bonnie Dee <— bev enjoyed this one!!

bev: I’m liking Captive Bride so far. It takes place in 1870 San Francisco. Her family sent her over from China to what they think is a marriage, but he want to use her in one of his pleasure houses. She runs and finds help in the hero’s mercantile, who is a vet of the Civil War and trying to run for office. They do bot understand a word the other says.

Small Great Things: A Novel by Jodi Picoult <— JODI PICOULT ALERT!! She’s a delivery nurse…”…During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she’s been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene? Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime…”

Val: This was a really hard read for me. And I loved it. It’s tough. But I really think so important for people to read!!!

Angela: I agree, what an amazing lesson in a really great story. Socially relevant, although difficult to accept.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell <— Anais reminds us about this one! P.S. I loved it too and here’s my review.

Anais: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. I love stories that have strong Asian male hero’s or lead characters. Park has so much depth and is written to share insight to his culture while being relatable as an Asian-American teen.

MichelleS: I just finished Eleanor and Park. Just knowing that this book sat on my Kindle, unread for months…. ….. man, that was so good. I am giving it 4.5 stars – the ONLY thing keeping it from 5 stars is the ending. I needed just a wee bit more. Maybe an epilogue? Something. Just something!!! So sweet. So good. Just a great reading experience, you know? You guys were so right.

Tessa: Park’s parents, OMG, awesome. Love the granny. Just LOVE her. It was sweet, and a good slow burn romance. The end, though? Book two, now! 10 years later epilogue. SOMETHING!

Allison: I adored Eleanor and Park. Read it on your recommendation.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han <— Anais also recommends this one!

Anais: Also- To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han and the sequels are great books with a stand-out Asian-American heroine.

Jeanie V: Just finished To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before last night. I loved it and I hate reading about young love or characters in high school, BUT, the writing was so gooooood and the story really surprised me. It kept me guessing the whole time.

bev: To all the boys I’ve loved before is super sweet but super YA too. Sometimes I just love those.

marina: I have been obsessed with the movie “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”. Watched it twice in 24 hours this week. Soooo good and now I really want to read the books. Somehow I missed the posts here a couple years ago right?

Grip Series by Kennedy Ryan <— Jaime K recommends these!!

Jaime K: I usually just lurk but I have to recommend Flow and Grip by Kennedy Ryan! Flow is the prequel and should be read first. Such a great story!

Etsub: Ohhhhh… goody. Grip and still by Kennedy Ryan (I don’t know why many haven’t read this, bit I think I can honestly say it is one of the best books I have read. Also FYI they are two books)

Leslie M: Oooh, that Grip series by Kennedy Ryan is calling my name now that Still is out.

Scarlet Stone by Jewel E. Ann <— MichelleS recommends it!

MichelleS: Scarlet Stone, by Jewel E. Ann. Really really good! Slow burn.

CC recommends these: Best IR authors

• Sienna Mynx
• Mallory Monroe (the President girlfriend) readers favorite
• Ancelli
• Latrivia Welch
• S.W. Frank
• Tiana Laveen
• DJ Parker

Leslie recommends these:

Leslie: I love interracial romance and I’m sure I have more to rec.

• Burn for You (Slow Burn Book 1) by J.T. Geissinger
• How about Love, in English by Karina Halle?
• Oooh, and I Want Candy: A Novel (Bigler, NC Book 2) by Susan Donovan.

Kim recommends: Anything by Theodora Taylor and or Xyla Turner

Olga recommends this one:

Hi Maryse,

Love that you have some interracial recommendations on your blog. I have one book that I think is pitch perfect. It checks off the rockstar and interracial boxes and I keep it in my go to list of stories I’ve loved – “Crush” by Crystal Hubbard, It’s so good-promise you won’t be able to put it down. It’s about a woman, who’s a journalist and is sent by her paper to review a rockstar’s concert and is almost crushed into the stage by the crowed. The love story is delicate, but so perfectly  plotted and well-written.

– Olga

Jan: Oh I remembered another one. His Revenge Baby by Theodora Taylor. A Japanese businessman and an African-American woman. This book wasn’t my usual style of read, but I did end up reading the whole thing anyway. She starts off as his paid mistress (ikr) but it turns to lerve. Some industrial espionage. Some family dynasty melodrama. And there must have been a baby cos it’s in the title but I can’t remember that bit LOL. I do remember the start was pretty out there when she was ‘auditioning’ for her job. Eek!

Sarah: I love Collaboration by Michelle Lynn. It was my first read in this genre and I loved it. A rapper and a country singer made for a really interesting read.

Marion recommends these:

• I highly recommend White Male (The Carter Files Book 1) & the sequel Black Female (The Carter Files Book 2) by Kim J. West. I thoroughly enjoyed them.
• Also Behind the Curtain by Beth Kerry.
• The Sun Is Also a Star (Yoon, Nicola) by Nicola Yoon
• All the books by Kennedy Ryan & Nia Forrester

JJs Mama: If you haven’t read Maureen Smith then you are missing out on one of the best writers around. Right up there with KA. Start with Wicked Games and then pick up The Swede! You will thank me and hunt me down to buy me a cocktail!!

Maggie: My new novel fits as interracial romance. Healing with the Ex-Army Next Door. Ex-army Alex never dealt with his PSTD, till Iraq war survivor Amira settles next door. Soon, they connect & fall in love. But still, Alex doesn’t believe that the solider who destroyed Amira’s world deserve a HEA with her or if she knew she’d forgive.

Okay let’s add more, shall we?!! Let me know what your favorite interracial romances are, and I’ll add them! 😀

➔➔➔  Looking for more of our favorite recommendations? Browse our “Ultimate Favorites Lists” here. Are you in the mood for a certain kind of story? Browse our favorite “genre/trope categories” here and our reader favorites lists too.

➔➔➔  Love this genre? Check out more Interracial Romance features and reviews on my blog.