Fall in Love With Author Ana Huang’s Favorite Romance Novels

And get the scoop on her newest release, The Defender.

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Beloved author Ana Huang knows romance — and her own writing is likely to make your heart melt. So she’s the perfect candidate to tell us which treasured romance novels she returns to again and again.

You’ve probably seen other readers discussing Huang’s work online: She’s massive on BookTok, and her 2022 book Twisted Love (the first in her Twisted series) was a runaway hit. Now she’s back with a brand-new title, The Defender, out Oct. 28. It’s the second installment in the Gods of the Game series that began with 2024’s The Striker, but it can also be read as a standalone, if you prefer to jump right in.

What’s The Defender about? It’s the kind of engaging romance fans have come to expect from Huang: A superstar soccer player ends up crossing paths with the daughter of his legendary coach, and although they’re both facing personal trials of their own, their chemistry quickly becomes too intense to resist. As the sparks start to fly, both characters must ask themselves if the temptation is worth the risks.

You can pick up a copy here, but if you breeze through it in no time — which is definitely a possibility with Huang’s writing — there are plenty more engrossing, romantic tales to keep you occupied. And who better to help you pick one than Huang herself? We asked the author to share five favorites, so read on for her go-to recommendations.

The cover of "The Defender" and a headshot of author Ana Huang
Author photo by Emilio Madrid

Ana Huang’s favorite romance books

It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

Huang: “Lisa Kleypas is one of the queens of historical romance, and It Happened One Autumn is hands-down my favorite book from her. A proper, controlled English earl who reluctantly falls for a headstrong American heiress? The premise is basically catnip for the “opposites attract” theme lover in me. Marcus and Lillian are swoony, hilarious, and at times dramatic, and I could read 300 more pages about them and not get tired of it.”

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Huang: “Sweet, sensual, and charming, The Kiss Quotient is an utterly delightful romance that had me in my feels from page one. The characters were flawed but likable, and their chemistry was palpable. The male main character, Michael, is a professional escort who’s hired to teach the heroine, Stella, about sex and intimacy, but their story is about so much more than physical attraction — it’s also about learning how to step outside your comfort zone, overcome your insecurities, and love yourself. The perfect heartfelt read.”

Play of Passion by Nalini Singh

Huang: “Singh’s Psy-Changeling series is a paranormal romance classic at this point, and while I love many installments in it — including Heart of Obsidian, which I’ve shouted out as a favorite more times than I can count — I can’t forget about the absolute giddiness I felt reading Play of Passion for the first time. The dynamic between the playful, charming Drew and his lieutenant Indigo is so fun, and I loved watching their courtship rituals unfold over the course of the book. Their push-and-pull tension had me reading way past my bedtime, but I have zero regrets.”

Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews

Huang: “This is a series, so perhaps I’m cheating a bit, but it’s also one of my comfort reads, so I’d be remiss if I excluded it from the list. The delicious slow-burn romance between the ultra-powerful Connor ‘Mad’ Rogan and detective Nevada Baylor is set against an urban fantasy backdrop where Rogan and Nevada have to join forces in order to save Houston from a super-powered threat. The found-family trope is as heartwarming as the romance, and the action scenes had me devouring every page until I got to the end.”

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Huang: “A rom-com that delivers on both the rom and the com? I’m sold. The relationship between ‘certified hot mess’ Eve and type-A perfectionist Jacob unfolds with the perfect amount of humor, spice, and emotional depth. Throw in some banter and a cozy bed and breakfast setting, and it’s basically the perfect fall — or year-round — read.”

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