Top Ten Tuesday: Best Romance Subplots I Read in 2024

Top Ten Tuesday is a tag hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's prompt is "Love Freebie" in honor of Valentine's Day!

Happy Tuesday! In 2024, I kept track of all my favorite romance plots (some of them, I'm realizing, are more like the main plot versus a subplot ... but in general, I prefer my romance to be delivered via subplot, so we're sticking with the current title). I'm thrilled to finally share them!

Note: I have kept them in the order I read them, NOT in any kind of favorite/least favorite order. All covers are linked to Goodreads.

1. Ana and Vidar from Us Against You, by Fredrik Backman

"He starts to laugh; he does that when he's nervous. He will soon discover that when Ana gets nervous, she makes sarcastic jokes instead. If they spend their whole lives together, they might become the least suitable couple to encounter at a funeral: one who can't stop making jokes and one who can't stop giggling."

This quote sums up everything I love about Ana and Vidar. FREDRIK BACKMAN, WHY MUST YOU CRUSH MY HEART?!?

How I feel about Anna & Vidar: 😭

2. Jax and Tycho from Forging Silver into Stars, by Brigid Kemmerer

I don't have a quote for these two, but UGH THEY'RE SO LOVABLE! They're just two precious, damaged little sweethearts and I'm so happy they found each other.

How I feel about Jax & Tycho: 🥹

3. Kai and Zariya from Starless, by Jacqueline Carey

Starless was one of my favorite books from 2024, and I wish I'd pulled out a quote to represent these two ... I love how fiercely they protect and love each other.

How I feel about Kai & Zariya: 💥

4. Sam and Jamie from Throwback, by Maurene Goo

Cute high school romance with time travel! Really loved Throwback, and Sam and Jamie just added another level to the story. The fact that Jamie waited for her ...

How I feel about Sam & Jamie: 😊

5. Sam and Duncan from What You Wish For, by Katherine Center

These two were just so gosh darn cute!! I loved how their backstories shaped the assumptions they made about each other. The post-surgery part was the best!!!

How I feel about Sam & Duncan: 😍

6. Naftaly and Barsilay from The Pomegranate Gate, by Ariel Kaplan

The only way I can possibly explain why I love these two so much is by quoting two portions of the book, quite near the end:

"Barsilay grimaced. 'But you aren't real. You're only ... a figment.'

"He put his hands on Barsilay's face. 'Look at me. Look at me! I am flesh and blood, and I am trying like hell to save you.'

"Naftaly lowered his forehead to Barsilay's breast and wept. After a few moments, he felt Barsilay's fingers in his hair. His voice was little more than a rasp, and he said, 'If I wake, what will you give me?'

"'Anything you damn well please,' Naftaly said.

"Barsilay laughed a little. 'Only a fool would make so terrible a bargain.'

"'Lucky for you, that's just what I am.'

"Barsilay managed to still himself a bit, and he stroked his thumb beneath Naftaly's lower lip. 'Fools and brown eyes,' he said, 'have always been my weakness.'"

...

"Barsilay's chest rose, and he drew a great breath, and his eyes cracked open. Seeing Naftaly, he croaked, 'It's you.' Naftaly could only weep.

"'I was so afraid,' Barsilay said, 'that you weren't real.'"

How I feel about Naftaly & Barsilay: 💔

7. Luzia and Santángel from The Familiar, by Leigh Bardugo

More quotes:

"With his scullion in his arms, Santángel strode past the luckiest man in Madrid."

...

"'I'm fine,' she said, though her face was full of fear. 'Let me heal you.'

"'There's no time. You must run. Make a path through the woods and close it off behind you.'

"'I'm not leaving you.'

"'I cannot die, but you can. Get to San Sebastián. I'll find you. Please, if you value your life as I do, go. Trust me to meet you. Trust me to survive as I trust you to do the same.'

"'Santángel–'

"'I have begged for nothing in this life, but I am begging you now, Luzia. Go.'

"She pressed a kiss to his lips and ran."

How I feel about Luzia & Santángel: 💓

8. Peter and Ruby from Murder for the Modern Girl, by Kendall Kulper

Ruby doesn't like getting attached; she has several beaux, all of them good-looking bad boys whom she knows not to get too entangled with. But once she meets Peter the shapeshifter, she's done for; she can see inside his pure mind. It doesn't hurt that his true face is movie star hot, either. Even while she's using him, she's falling in love with him. (Note: I put this in here months ago, and I feel like this description, while it sums up why I love these two, is way too good for me to have written, but there are no quotation marks around it. I checked the Goodreads description of the book and it's not lifted from there ... maybe I wrote it?? Maybe I didn't?? Anyway, this is why I love Peter and Ruby.)

How I feel about Peter & Ruby: 😃

9. Emily and Wendell from Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, by Heather Fawcett

Not only are Emily and Wendell one of my favorite romance subplots, they're simply two of the best characters I've read for a long while. I love their personalities, and how Wendell called Emily "Em" and "my dear dragon". How he protects her with his magic.

"'You've done nothing but talk at me since I told you I loved you.'

"'Is that a problem?' For he hadn't said it as if it were. 'Were you expecting me to throw myself at you? Would you have then said a dozen pretty things about my eyes or hair?'

"'No, it would have been, "Get off me, you imposter, and tell me what you did with Emily."'"

How I feel about Emily & Wendell: 😁

10. Tress and Charlie from Tress of the Emerald Sea, by Brandon Sanderson

I can't believe how Brandon Sanderson got me so invested in Tress and Charlie's relationship with one conversation. These two are so precious!

How I feel about Tress & Charlie: 💘

Do you prefer romance as a subplot or as the main focus? Who are your favorite book couples?