Trope

Clean Small Town Romance Books

Small town romance is genre fiction's version of going home. The bakery still has the same owner from when your mom was a kid, and the football coach's son is now the football coach. For me, the community is what makes this trope work. It's never just the setting. The whole town becomes a character.

The clean small town romance here leans into all of that. Front porches, Friday night dinners at the church, the diner where everybody's coffee order is on file. The hometown someone swore they'd left for good shows up more than once. Every book here is clean and no spice, and most stay closed door if any of that even comes up.

The setting does so much of the work in small town romance that explicit scenes feel beside the point. Romantic tension can carry over six weeks of running into each other at the post office, and that's the whole story. Some of what's on this page: the bakery inheritance plot, the veterinarian who keeps showing up at the rancher's gate, and the homecoming reunion that turned into something more.

Cover of Girl Meets Grump by Hailey Gardiner

Girl Meets Grump

Hailey Gardiner

#1 in Kitt's Harbor

Cover of Stuck With My Christmas Crush by Francesca Spencer

Stuck With My Christmas Crush

Francesca Spencer

#4 in Sweet Christmas Kisses

Cover of Eloise and the Grump Next Door by Jenny Proctor

Eloise and the Grump Next Door

Jenny Proctor

#1 in Oakley Island

Cover of Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan

Same Time Next Summer

Annabel Monaghan

Cover of Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp

Checking Mr. Wrong

Anne Kemp

#3 in Love in Maple Falls

Cover of But He's My One Regret by Annah Conwell

But He's My One Regret

Annah Conwell

#2 in But He's a Carter Brother

Cover of Off Limits by Nola Morgan

Off Limits

Nola Morgan

#4 in Burch Mountain

Cover of Call My Bluff by Erin Chesnut

Call My Bluff

Erin Chesnut

#2 in Cypress Valley Sweethearts

Cover of Stay this Christmas by Genny Carrick

Stay this Christmas

Genny Carrick

#3 in Magnolia Ridge

Cover of Christmas Games and Candy Canes by C.P. Cabaniss

Christmas Games and Candy Canes

C.P. Cabaniss

#1 in Glenwood Harts

Cover of Meddling Under the Mistletoe by Melissa Grace

Meddling Under the Mistletoe

Melissa Grace

Cover of The Valentine's Bet by Kristine W. Joy

The Valentine's Bet

Kristine W. Joy

Cover of How to Kiss Your Best Friend by Jenny Proctor

How to Kiss Your Best Friend

Jenny Proctor

#1 in How to Kiss a Hawthorne

Cover of Unspoken Hearts by Rebekah Bertram

Unspoken Hearts

Rebekah Bertram

#1 in Ashwood Creek Series

Cover of Of Love & Beer by Amanda Darcy

Of Love & Beer

Amanda Darcy

Cover of Misfortune and Mr. Right by Savannah Scott

Misfortune and Mr. Right

Savannah Scott

#4 in Only Magic in the Building

Cover of The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

The Summer of Yes

Courtney Walsh

Cover of Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh

Everything's Coming Up Rosie

Courtney Walsh

Cover of The Wild Card by Emma St. Clair

The Wild Card

Emma St. Clair

#4 in Love Stories in Sheet Cake

Cover of Date Yourself a Grinch by Savannah Scott

Date Yourself a Grinch

Savannah Scott

#3 in Have Yourself a Merry Little Romance

Cover of Merry Ex-mas by Courtney Walsh

Merry Ex-mas

Courtney Walsh

Cover of Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair

Runaway Bride and Prejudice

Emma St. Clair

#5 in Appies Hockey Romance

Cover of 8 Things NOT To Do This Spring by River Ford

8 Things NOT To Do This Spring

River Ford

#4 in Seasons of Sugar Creek (The Fletcher Family)

Cover of Blossoms & Breezes by Lindsay Rochester

Blossoms & Breezes

Lindsay Rochester

#4 in Laurel Falls

Cover of Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

Practice Makes Perfect

Sarah Adams

#2 in Rome, Kentucky

Cover of Later on We'll Conspire by Kortney Keisel

Later on We'll Conspire

Kortney Keisel

#6 in Christmas Escape

Cover of Petals and Plot Twists by Jenny Proctor

Petals and Plot Twists

Jenny Proctor

#3 in Only Magic in the Building

Cover of A Home For Christmas by River Ford

A Home For Christmas

River Ford

#1 in Seasons of Sugar Creek (The Fletcher Family)

Cover of Catch Me If I Fall by River Ford

Catch Me If I Fall

River Ford

#2 in Seasons of Sugar Creek (The Fletcher Family)

Cover of Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson

Falling Like Leaves

Misty Wilson

Cover of Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin

Love in Overtime

Melissa Baldwin

#4 in Love on Thin Ice

Cover of The House on Firefly Beach by Jenny Hale

The House on Firefly Beach

Jenny Hale

#2 in Firefly Beach

Cover of You Met Me There by Abigail Nadine
Sep 30

You Met Me There

Abigail Nadine

#2 in Hearts of Maple Lake

Cover of As You Ice It by Emma St. Clair

As You Ice It

Emma St. Clair

#7 in Appies Hockey Romance

Cover of My Wife by Ellie Hall

My Wife

Ellie Hall

#2 in Love in Hockey Town

Cover of Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

Nora Goes Off Script

Annabel Monaghan

Cover of A Heart Creek Wedding by Lynn Gale

A Heart Creek Wedding

Lynn Gale

#4 in Return to Heart Creek

Cover of Resorting to Romance by Jennifer Shirk

Resorting to Romance

Jennifer Shirk

#1 in Sunny Banks

Cover of A Sugarcoated Second Chance by Francesca Spencer

A Sugarcoated Second Chance

Francesca Spencer

#6 in Valentine's Midlife Meet Cute

Cover of Ellie Vs The New Year's Kiss by River Ford

Ellie Vs The New Year's Kiss

River Ford

#5 in Seasons of Sugar Creek (The Fletcher Family)

Cover of Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter

Bookshop by the Sea

Denise Hunter

Cover of Love Never Happens on Valentine’s Day by Francesca Spencer

Love Never Happens on Valentine’s Day

Francesca Spencer

#2 in Love Never Happens

Cover of Pumpkin Everything by Beth Labonte

Pumpkin Everything

Beth Labonte

#1 in Autumnboro Sweet Romance

Cover of The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

The Holiday Swap

Maggie Knox

Cover of Spur of the Moment by Juliana Smith

Spur of the Moment

Juliana Smith

#1 in Willow Creek

Cover of Summer Ever After by Kortney Keisel

Summer Ever After

Kortney Keisel

#1 in Falling for Summer

Cover of Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

Summer Romance

Annabel Monaghan

Cover of Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter

Before We Were Us

Denise Hunter

Cover of The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck

The Wedding Dress Christmas

Rachel Hauck

Cover of Our Marry Little Christmas by Ellie Hall

Our Marry Little Christmas

Ellie Hall

Cover of Off the Wall by Julie Christianson

Off the Wall

Julie Christianson

#6 in Only Magic in the Building

Cover of Falling Back to You by Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht
Aug 25

Falling Back to You

Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht

#3 in The Reluctant Romantics

Cover of No Kisses for the Neighbor Next Door by Francesca Spencer

No Kisses for the Neighbor Next Door

Francesca Spencer

#1 in Love Never Happens

Cover of Rent Yourself an Elf by Savannah Scott

Rent Yourself an Elf

Savannah Scott

#1 in Have Yourself a Merry Little Romance

Cover of Romancing the Grump by Jenny Proctor

Romancing the Grump

Jenny Proctor

#4 in Appies Hockey Romance

Cover of Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall

Skating and Fake Dating

Ellie Hall

#4 in Love in Maple Falls

Cover of Shattered Hearts by Rebekah Bertram
Aug 26

Shattered Hearts

Rebekah Bertram

#2 in Ashwood Creek Series

Cover of Summer at Firefly Beach by Jenny Hale

Summer at Firefly Beach

Jenny Hale

#1 in Firefly Beach

Cover of Sunshine & Cinnamon by Lindsay Rochester

Sunshine & Cinnamon

Lindsay Rochester

#1 in Laurel Falls

Cover of But He's My Fake Fiancé by Annah Conwell

But He's My Fake Fiancé

Annah Conwell

#3 in But He's a Carter Brother

Cover of The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson

The Cul-de-Sac War

Melissa Ferguson

Cover of He's So Not My Valentine by Savannah Scott

He's So Not My Valentine

Savannah Scott

Cover of Seas the Dating Coach by Laura Langa

Seas the Dating Coach

Laura Langa

#1 in Wilks Beach

Cover of Mr Fake Husband Grump by Francesca Spencer

Mr Fake Husband Grump

Francesca Spencer

#1 in Mr Grumps

Cover of Returning to Romance by Jennifer Shirk

Returning to Romance

Jennifer Shirk

#2 in Sunny Banks

Cover of Signed, Sealed, and Smitten by Melanie Jacobson

Signed, Sealed, and Smitten

Melanie Jacobson

#7 in Only Magic in the Building

Cover of Catch Yourself a Snowmance by Savannah Scott

Catch Yourself a Snowmance

Savannah Scott

#2 in Have Yourself a Merry Little Romance

Cover of A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham

A Brewed Awakening

Pepper Basham

Cover of Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen

Fake-Off with Fate

Whitney Dineen

#1 in Love in Maple Falls

Cover of A Flair for Trouble by Kristen Bahls

A Flair for Trouble

Kristen Bahls

#1 in Teachable

Cover of Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter

Love, Unscripted

Denise Hunter

Cover of Cleared for Love by Nora Lane
Aug 20

Cleared for Love

Nora Lane

#2 in For Love

Cover of Harvest Moon by Denise Hunter

Harvest Moon

Denise Hunter

#3 in A Riverbend Romance

Cover of Stay with Me by Erin Chesnut
Sep 28

Stay with Me

Erin Chesnut

#3 in Cypress Valley Sweethearts

Cover of Christmas with a Crank by Courtney Walsh

Christmas with a Crank

Courtney Walsh

Cover of The Buy-In by Emma St. Clair

The Buy-In

Emma St. Clair

#1 in Love Stories in Sheet Cake

Cover of In Every Chapter by Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht

In Every Chapter

Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht

#2 in The Reluctant Romantics

Cover of Raine, Raine, Run Away by India Tungate

Raine, Raine, Run Away

India Tungate

#1 in The Covewood Series

Cover of But He's My Grumpy Neighbor by Annah Conwell

But He's My Grumpy Neighbor

Annah Conwell

#1 in But He's a Carter Brother

Cover of The Camellia Made of Stone by Nathan 'Rifle' Hamilton

The Camellia Made of Stone

Nathan 'Rifle' Hamilton

Cover of Promise You the Moon by Lindsay Rochester, Tiffany Noelle Chacon
Sep 22

Promise You the Moon

Lindsay Rochester, Tiffany Noelle Chacon

#1 in Love in Starlight Valley

Cover of Wildflower Falls by Denise Hunter

Wildflower Falls

Denise Hunter

#4 in A Riverbend Romance

Cover of Home Run Heart by Hailey Gardiner

Home Run Heart

Hailey Gardiner

#2 in Kitt's Harbor

Cover of Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay

Of Literature and Lattes

Katherine Reay

Cover of My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh

My Phony Valentine

Courtney Walsh

#1 in Holidays With Hart

Cover of The Friend Face Off by Grace Worthington

The Friend Face Off

Grace Worthington

#3 in Love on Thin Ice

Cover of Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire by Emma St. Clair

Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire

Emma St. Clair

#3 in Oakley Island

Cover of A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter

A Novel Proposal

Denise Hunter

Cover of Clean Out of Luck by Carina Taylor

Clean Out of Luck

Carina Taylor

#5 in Only Magic in the Building

Cover of Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love by Emma St. Clair

Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love

Emma St. Clair

#4 in Oakley Island

Cover of Love Never Happens with your Brother’s Best Friend by Francesca Spencer

Love Never Happens with your Brother’s Best Friend

Francesca Spencer

#3 in Love Never Happens

Cover of Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods

Goalie and the Girl Next Door

Elsie Woods

#5 in Love in Maple Falls

Cover of Love at First Skate by Ellie Hall

Love at First Skate

Ellie Hall

#6 in Love on Thin Ice

Cover of Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor

Absolutely Not in Love

Jenny Proctor

#2 in Appies Hockey Romance

Cover of Just Don't Fall by Emma St. Clair

Just Don't Fall

Emma St. Clair

#1 in Appies Hockey Romance

Cover of Riverbend Gap by Denise Hunter

Riverbend Gap

Denise Hunter

#1 in A Riverbend Romance

Cover of The Parent Playbook by Elsie Woods

The Parent Playbook

Elsie Woods

#5 in Love on Thin Ice

Cover of The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

The Bodyguard

Katherine Center

Cover of Mad About Yule by Genny Carrick

Mad About Yule

Genny Carrick

#1 in Love in Sunshine

Cover of Once Upon a Boyband by Jenny Proctor

Once Upon a Boyband

Jenny Proctor

#1 in Midnight Rush

Cover of Only a Game by Taylor Epperson

Only a Game

Taylor Epperson

#1 in Starlight Springs

Cover of Merritt and Her Childhood Crush by Jenny Proctor

Merritt and Her Childhood Crush

Jenny Proctor

#1 in Oakley Island

Cover of Memories of Summer by River Ford

Memories of Summer

River Ford

#3 in Seasons of Sugar Creek (The Fletcher Family)

Cover of Behind Enemy Bylines by Kathleen Fuller

Behind Enemy Bylines

Kathleen Fuller

Cover of Can't Help Falling by Courtney Walsh

Can't Help Falling

Courtney Walsh

#3 in Sweater Weather

Cover of A Heart Creek Second Chance by Lynn Gale

A Heart Creek Second Chance

Lynn Gale

#2 in Return to Heart Creek

Cover of Mistletoe Meet Up by Larissa Hommes

Mistletoe Meet Up

Larissa Hommes

Cover of Tied Up for Love by Nora Lane

Tied Up for Love

Nora Lane

#1 in For Love

Cover of Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Better Than the Movies

Lynn Painter

Cover of Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin

Soulmates and Slapshots

Melissa Baldwin

#6 in Love in Maple Falls

Cover of Her Goal by Ellie Hall

Her Goal

Ellie Hall

#3 in Love in Hockey Town

Cover of That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe by Julie Christianson

That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe

Julie Christianson

#4 in Abieville Love Stories

Cover of Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O'Keeffe

Offside and Off-Limits

Kate O'Keeffe

#2 in Love in Maple Falls

Cover of His Jersey by Ellie Hall

His Jersey

Ellie Hall

#1 in Love in Hockey Town

Cover of A Heart Creek Christmas by Lynn Gale

A Heart Creek Christmas

Lynn Gale

#1 in Return to Heart Creek

Cover of Joy to Noel by Tracy Baack

Joy to Noel

Tracy Baack

#2 in Christmas in Noel

Cover of The Bluff by Emma St. Clair

The Bluff

Emma St. Clair

#2 in Love Stories in Sheet Cake

Cover of Almost By Design by Jenny Erlingsson

Almost By Design

Jenny Erlingsson

Cover of Mistletoe Fall Out by Larissa Hommes

Mistletoe Fall Out

Larissa Hommes

#2 in Mistletoe Meadows

Cover of The Escape Plan by Katie Bailey

The Escape Plan

Katie Bailey

#8 in Only Magic in the Building

Cover of The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair

The Serendipity

Emma St. Clair

#1 in Only Magic in the Building

Cover of The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington

The Icing on the Cake

Grace Worthington

#7 in Love in Maple Falls

Cover of The Cupid Chronicles by Courtney Walsh

The Cupid Chronicles

Courtney Walsh

#2 in Only Magic in the Building

Cover of The Road Back to Love by Tina Cyr

The Road Back to Love

Tina Cyr

#1 in It Happened Up North

Cover of The Magic of Sea Glass by Jenny Hale

The Magic of Sea Glass

Jenny Hale

Cover of Have Yourself a Legendary Christmas by J. P. Sterling

Have Yourself a Legendary Christmas

J. P. Sterling

#1 in Timeless Christmas Tails

Cover of Get Lost with You by Sophie Sullivan

Get Lost with You

Sophie Sullivan

#2 in Rock Bottom Love

Cover of Falling into Fiction by Victorine E. Lieske

Falling into Fiction

Victorine E. Lieske

#1 in Fictional Hearts

Cover of Saved by Noel by Tracy Baack

Saved by Noel

Tracy Baack

#1 in Christmas in Noel

Cover of The Pocket Pair by Emma St. Clair

The Pocket Pair

Emma St. Clair

#3 in Love Stories in Sheet Cake

Cover of Matched With My Christmas Crush by Francesca Spencer

Matched With My Christmas Crush

Francesca Spencer

#11 in Letters to Mrs. Claus

Cover of Flurries & First Love by Lindsay Rochester

Flurries & First Love

Lindsay Rochester

#3 in Laurel Falls

Cover of When in Rome by Sarah Adams

When in Rome

Sarah Adams

#1 in Rome, Kentucky

Cover of The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter

The Second Story Bookshop

Denise Hunter

Cover of No Room in the Inn by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

No Room in the Inn

Gracie Ruth Mitchell

Cover of Meet Me At Midnight by Monique Brasher

Meet Me At Midnight

Monique Brasher

#2 in Enchanted Hollow

Cover of Fight for Me by Erin Chesnut

Fight for Me

Erin Chesnut

#1 in Cypress Valley Sweethearts

Cover of Fake Dating for the Summer by Francesca Spencer

Fake Dating for the Summer

Francesca Spencer

#4 in Midlife Meet Cute Beach Reads

Cover of Underneath Sunset Skies by Makenzie Hinkemeyer

Underneath Sunset Skies

Makenzie Hinkemeyer

#1 in Sunset Bay

Cover of But He's My Roommate by Annah Conwell

But He's My Roommate

Annah Conwell

#4 in But He's a Carter Brother

Cover of Meeting Me, Loving You by Abigail Nadine

Meeting Me, Loving You

Abigail Nadine

#1 in Hearts of Maple Lake

Cover of Her Part to Play by Jenny Erlingsson

Her Part to Play

Jenny Erlingsson

Cover of Captured for Love by Nora Lane

Captured for Love

Nora Lane

Cover of The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton

The Hideaway

Lauren K. Denton

Cover of A Very Merry Matchup by Becca Kinzer

A Very Merry Matchup

Becca Kinzer

Cover of Penalties and Proposals by Anne Kemp

Penalties and Proposals

Anne Kemp

#7 in Love on Thin Ice

Cover of Madeleine's Mistletoe Meet Cute by Ellie Hall

Madeleine's Mistletoe Meet Cute

Ellie Hall

#4 in Christmas Kisses & Cookie Crumbs

Cover of The Holiday Stand-in by Kortney Keisel

The Holiday Stand-in

Kortney Keisel

Cover of The Rebound Play by Kate O'Keeffe

The Rebound Play

Kate O'Keeffe

#2 in Love on Thin Ice

Cover of Breaking the Ice by Whitney Dineen

Breaking the Ice

Whitney Dineen

#1 in Love on Thin Ice

Cover of Hurricane Season by Lauren K. Denton

Hurricane Season

Lauren K. Denton

Cover of The Christmas Letters: A Heartwarming Feel-Good Holiday Romance by Jenny Hale

The Christmas Letters: A Heartwarming Feel-Good Holiday Romance

Jenny Hale

Cover of Betting on You by Lynn Painter

Betting on You

Lynn Painter

Cover of Beauty and the Bad Boy by Sarah Sutton

Beauty and the Bad Boy

Sarah Sutton

#1 in Beauties and Boys

Cover of Love & Shooting Stars by Lindsay Rochester

Love & Shooting Stars

Lindsay Rochester

#2 in Laurel Falls

Cover of When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor

When Alec Met Evie

Jenny Proctor

#6 in Appies Hockey Romance

Cover of A Groom of One's Own by Emma St. Clair

A Groom of One's Own

Emma St. Clair

#3 in Appies Hockey Romance

Cover of Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter

Mulberry Hollow

Denise Hunter

#2 in A Riverbend Romance

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