Bestselling Authors Top 2018 Romantic Novel Awards Shortlist

8 February 2018: The shortlists are announced today for the 2018 RoNAs (Romantic Novel Awards) and feature Sunday Times Bestsellers, including Jenny Colgan, Milly Johnson, Trisha Ashley and Rowan Coleman, as well as two of the year's bestselling titles, How to Stop Time by Matt Haig and The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan. 

 

Romance continues to be one of the most popular genres, frequently appearing in bestseller lists in both print and ebook formats. Sales of romantic novels in the UK in the first half of 2017 were worth over £17 million, with a romance novel being purchased every two seconds.

Reverend Richard Coles, broadcaster, dancer and former pop star, will present the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) Awards for 2018 during a ceremony in the Gladstone Library, One Whitehall Place, London SW1 on 5thMarch.

There are seven award categories comprising the best in Contemporary Romantic Fiction, Epic Romantic Fiction, Epic Romantic Fiction, Paranormal or Speculative Romance, Romantic Comedy, shorter or category romance (The RONA Rose Award), and Young Adult Romance. This year's shortlists demonstrate the diversity of romantic fiction and show the genre to be in excellent health across traditional, digital and independent author publishing.

The winners of the seven categories will be announced during the evening and from these an overall winner will be selected to receive the RNA's highest accolade, the Goldsboro Books Romantic Novel of the Year. The Reverend Richard Coles will present the winner with the award and a prize of £5000.

Since its inception in 1960 the RNA has promoted excellence in romantic fiction. RNA Chair, Nicola Cornick, commented, "The breadth of fiction which features on this year's short list is a brilliant illustration of what a broad spectrum the romance genre encompasses. I'm delighted that this year's contending novels explore some profound and thought provoking themes. Our awards celebrate the many shades of romantic fiction, highlighting the wide appeal of the genre and some of the best examples from the last year."

David Headley, Managing Director of Goldsboro Books, commented, "The range of themes explored in this year's shortlist is a testament to the many facets of the romantic fiction genre. Goldsboro Books is delighted to be sponsoring the awards for a third year, and bringing these diverse and entertaining books to readers' attention." 

Previous winners have included Joanna Trollope, Freya North, Rosie Thomas, JoJo Moyes and Rosamunde Pilcher.

The 2018 RNA Awards will be announced and presented by the Reverend Richard Coles on 5th March in the Gladstone Library, One Whitehall Place, 2 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EJ.  The event starts at 6.30pm.
  

The Category Shortlists 

Contemporary Romantic Novel 

Together, Julie Cohen, Orion

The Picture House by the Sea, Holly Hepburn, Simon & Schuster

The Keeper of Lost Things, Ruth Hogan - Two Roads, John Murray Press

The Dangers of Family Secrets, Debby Holt, Accent Press

The Queen of Wishful Thinking, Milly Johnson, Simon & Schuster

Just For The Holidays, Sue Moorcroft, Avon Books

My Summer of Magic Moments, Caroline Roberts, HarperImpulse

Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage, Heidi Swain, Simon & Schuster

 

Epic Romantic Novel 

This Love, Dani Atkins, Simon & Schuster

What Was Rescued, Jane Bailey, Lake Union Publishing

A Winter Love Song, Rita Bradshaw, Pan Macmillan

The Man I Thought You Were, Leah Mercer, Lake Union Publishing

The Hourglass, Tracy Rees, Quercus

 

Historical Romantic Novel 

A Master of Litigation, Susan Leona Fisher, independently published

Besieged and Betrothed, Jenni Fletcher, Harlequin Mills & Boon Historical

The Designer, Marius Gabriel, Lake Union Publishing

Wives of War, Soraya M Lane, Lake Union Publishing

The Silk Weaver's Wife, Debbie Rix, Bookouture

 

Paranormal or Speculative Romantic Novel 

The Summer of Impossible Things, Rowan Coleman, Ebury Press

How to Stop Time, Matt Haig, Canongate Books

The Other Us, Fiona Harper, HQ

Max Seventeen: Firebrand, Kate Johnson, independently published

Hold Back the Stars, Katie Khan, Doubleday

 

Romantic Comedy Novel 

The Little Teashop of Lost and Found, Trisha Ashley, Black Swan

The Hygge Holiday, Rosie Blake, Sphere/Little, Brown

The Summer Seaside Kitchen, Jenny Colgan, Sphere/Little, Brown

The Little Clock House on the Green, Eve Devon, HarperImpulse

13 Dates, Matt Dunn, Lake Union Publishing

Little Teashop of Horrors, Jane Lovering, Choc Lit

 

RONA Rose for shorter romantic novels 

The Convenient Felstone Marriage, Jenni Fletcher, Harlequin Mills & Boon Historical

Wedding Bells by the Creek, Janet Gover, independently published

Their Double Baby Gift, Louisa Heaton, Harlequin Mills & Boon Medical

Christmas at the Little Village School, Jane Lovering, Choc Lit

The Mysterious Italian Houseguest, Scarlet Wilson, Harlequin Mills & Boon

 

Young Adult Romantic Novel 

Margot and Me, Juno Dawson, Hot Key Books

One Italian Summer, Keris Stainton, Hot Key Books

Ten Birthdays, Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture

 

 

 

A list of past winners can be found at www. romanticnovelistsassociation. org