The Greatest Romance Authors of All Time

JANE AUSTEN. Of course, we have to celebrate the one who helped to start it all. Two centuries after her death, Jane Austen’s lived-in and sparkling tales of Regency-era drama and love amid stifling social mores still feel as fresh and entertaining as they did during the author’s lifetime.

Where would we be without Pride & Prejudice and Persuasion? You’ll be hard pressed to find a romance author not influenced by Austen in some way. Austen’s eye for detail and quick wit makes her books as relevant in 2026 as the 1810s.

NORA ROBERTS. If there is a modern queen of romance then it’s probably Nora Roberts. Both inspired and highly prolific, Roberts’ works have sold hundreds of millions of copies and helped to mainstream romance publishing for an entire generation.

Whatever kind of romance you’re into – contemporary, historical, suspense, paranormal – Roberts has a book or ten for you. And because she’s not busy enough, she also writes sexy futuristic crime novels under the pseudonym J.D. Robb. Hail to the Queen.

BEVERLY JENKINS. The romance genre has long struggled to diversify its output, with progress often being incremental. For many years, Beverly Jenkins was an exception, leading the charge for inclusive romance and writing acclaimed historical, contemporary, suspense, and inspirational romance novels that put Black protagonists in the spotlight.

Check out the Women Who Dare series, focused on life in the aftermath of the Civil War, and the Destiny trilogy, which includes strong independent women (and pirates!), for examples of Jenkins at her best.

LORETTA CHASE. Some romance books are so legendary that they form the very foundations of the genre for legions of readers. If you love historical romance then you know about Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. It might be the platonic ideal of a steamy enemies-to-lovers Regency tale, complete with an outcast cad and a feisty heroine who won't give in so easily.

But Chase’s legacy doesn’t begin and end with one book. She’s been leading the charge of thrilling, sexy, and endlessly gripping historical romances for decades. We sat down with the legend herself to find out what makes her tick—read her 10 questions here.

JULIE JAMES. If you love your romances contemporary, sparky, and full of delicious tension, Julie James is for you. The one-time lawyer swapped court cases for stories of attorneys, FBI agents, and screwball-esque wit that blend comedy, romance, and suspense.

James’s contemporaries are the platonic ideal of the subgenre, full of witty characters, high-stakes drama, and the kind of red-hot chemistry that could cause a forest fire! Without James, we wouldn’t have the current era of BookTok-approved enemies-to-lovers trend or those mischievous protagonists who blend comedy and steaminess in equal measure.

JOHANNA LINDSEY. When Johanna Lindsey started writing romance novels in the '70s, it was on a whim, but her first book, Captive Bride, was such a success that it became her new career. After that, all of her novels became bestsellers, with more than 58 million sold worldwide!

Lindsey was part of the first wave of romance, chock full of alpha Vikings, family sagas, pirates on the high seas, and even sci-fi drama! And yes, she had Fabio on her covers!