Hannah Rossiter’s Shelfie
Let's address the elephant in the room. I promise I haven't specially curated my bookshelf for this. This is just my Type-A personality out in full force. Not featured are the hundreds of other books that I'm (affectionately) hoarding for the day I can make my dream of having a reading room a reality.
I'm an Editor of romantic fiction by day. Eight years in, I still have to pinch myself sometimes - "Yes, Hannah - this actually is your job!". But, in the words of Tim from About Time: "For me, it was always going to be about love". And my shelves definitely reflect that.
Starting with Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth. If you haven't read this yet, please do. Astute and tender in its portrayal of first love, this is a book that I return to every summer. With the sand between the pages to prove it.
Next, Not in My Book by Katie Holt. My goodness is this a great book. If you're looking for chemistry with a capital C, look no further. The author truly said: "Enemies to lovers? Leave it to me." My favourite debut of 2025, hands down.
Next up Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. It goes without saying that this book is brilliant. But the way that it transported me back to when I was a teenager, falling in love with fantasy for the first time, is why it has my heart in a chokehold. What a treat it was to be reminded of the rush of your first love, through Rebecca's tender exploration. You may also be noticing an enemies to lovers trend, here...
Also The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce. If you're looking for a second chance romance done perfect, this is the book. After a three-year hiatus, my Queen will be back with her long-awaited third book and I CANNOT WAIT. This author makes your heart ache in the best possible way.
Last but not least, First Time Caller by B.K. Borison. My reading journal is filled with lines from this book. A testament to how damn good the author is at conveying emotional connection. Lucie and Aiden are forever tucked away in my heart for safe keeping.
I could continue to wax lyrical about romantic fiction for hours, but I'll call it a day here. I'm off to re-read All About Love by Bell Hooks, after hearing that it inspired Olivia Dean to write The Art of Loving. Listen to “Let Alone the One You Love” and “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” - who am I kidding, the whole album, really - if you want to hear about love in all its multitudes.
Hannah Rossiter is an editor living in London. When she's not working, she can be found cafe-hopping, deep diving into tennis rivalries and embarking on knitting projects that will lead to numerous crises.
Shelfies is edited by Lavie Tidhar and Jared Shurin.
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