Romantic Novel of the Year
This prestigious award recognises the very highest standards of romantic fiction and each year attracts best selling authors from around the world. Each year, more than one hundred novels are submitted by publishers, in the hope of winning this coveted title.
Eighty members of the public, all keen readers, then settle down to some very enjoyable entertainment. Each title is read and scored three times—with criteria including romantic content, readability, characters, plot, dialogue, style and ending. From these scores, a long list of twenty titles is selected. A panel of RNA members then selects the shortlist of six titles. Three external judges read each of the shortlisted books and select the overall winner.
The Romantic Novel of the Year Award was inaugurated in 1960 to recognise excellence in romantic novels and enhance the standing of the genre. Any novel that is first published in the UK (or simultaneously with other countries) during the year is eligible.
For latest information about the awards, please visit our News pages.
Further information
Please see ‘Downloads’ at the foot of this page to download a copy of the entry rules. If you are interested in being considered as a reader for the award, please download the application form at the foot of this page.
Please contact our Romantic Novel of the Year Administrator.
Previous winners
Previous winners of this award are:
- 2010: Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon (Hodder & Stoughton)
- 2009: East of the Sun by Julia Gregson (Orion)
- 2008: Pillow Talk by Freya North (Harper Collins)
- 2007: Iris & Ruby by Rosie Thomas (Harper Collins)
- 2006: Gardens of Delight by Erica James (Orion)
- 2005: A Good Voyage by Katharine Davies (Chatto & Windus)
- 2004: Foreign Fruit by Jojo Moyes (Hodder & Stoughton)
- 2003: Playing James by Sarah Mason (Time Warner)
- 2002: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (Harper Collins)
- 2001: Someone Like You by Cathy Kelly (Harper Collins)
- 2000: Dancing In The Dark by Maureen Lee (Orion)
- 1999: Learning To Swim by Clare Chambers (Arrow)
- 1998: Kiss And Kin by Angela Lambert (Bantam)
- 1997: The Hours Of The Night by Sue Gee (Century)
- 1996: Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher (Hodder & Stoughton)
- 1995: Change Of Heart by Charlotte Bingham (Doubleday)
- 1994: Consider The Lily by Elizabeth Buchan (Macmillan)
- 1993: Emily by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (Sidgwick & Jackson)
- 1992: Sandstorm by June Knox-Mawer (Weidenfeld)
- 1991: Phantom by Susan Kay (Transworld)
- 1990: Passing Glory by Reay Tannahill (Century)
- 1989: The Peacock’s Feather by Sarah Woodhouse (Century)
- 1988: The Juniper Bush by Audrey Howard (Century)
- 1987: A Better World Than This by Marie Joseph (Century)
- 1986: A Song Twice Over by Brenda Jagger (Collins)
- 1985: Sunrise by Rosie Thomas (Piatkus)
- 1984: A Highly Respectable Marriage by Sheila Walsh (Hurst & Blackett)
- 1983: Magic Flutes by Eva Ibbotson (Century)
- 1982: Zemindar by Valerie Fitzgerald (Bodley)
- 1981: The Red Staircase by Gwendoline Butler (Collins)
- 1980: Parson Harding’s Daughter by Joanna Trollope (Hutchinson)
- 1980 - Best Modern Award: Mr Rodriguez by Mary Howard (Collins)
- 1979 - Award Of Special Merit: The Emerald Peacock by Katharine Gordon (Hodder & Stoughton)
- 1979: Countess by Josephine Edgar (Macdonald & Jane)
- 1978: Merlin’s Keep by Madeleine Brent (Souvenir)
- 1978 - Best Modern Award: It Was The Lark by Catherine Macarthur (Macdonald & Jane)
- 1977: Every Man A King by Anne Worboys (Hodder & Stoughton)
- 1976: The Look Of Innocence by Anna Gilbert (Hodder & Stoughton)
- 1976 - Best Modern Award: The Moon Is Square by Margaret Maddocks (Hurst & Blackett)
- 1975: Vote For A Silk Gown by Jay Allerton (Troubadour)
- 1974: The Burning Lamp by Frances Murray (Hodder & Stoughton)
- 1973: The House Of Kuragin by Constance Heaven (Heinemann)
- 1972: The Pride Of Innocence by Maynah Lewis (Hurst & Blackett)
- 1971: Flower Of Silence by Joanne Marshall (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
- 1970: Cat On A Broomstick by Joanne Marshall (Herbert Jenkins)
- 1970: Thea by Margaret Maddocks (Hurst & Blackett)
- 1970: Broken Tapestry by Rona Randall (Hurst & Blackett)
- 1969: Comfort and Keep by Doris E Smith (Ward Lock)
- 1968: The Future Is Forever by Maynah Lewis (Hurst & Blackett)
- 1967: The Truth Game by Anne Betteridge (Hurst & Blackett)
- 1965: The Silver Answer by Margaret Maddocks (Hurst & Blackett)
- 1964: Journey from Yesterday by Suzanne Ebel (Collins)
- 1963: House Divided by Dorothy M Gray (Hurst & Blackett)
- 1962: Larksbrook by Margaret Maddocks (Hurst & Blackett)
- 1961: The Witches Sabbath by Paula Allardyce (Hodder & Stoughton)
- 1960: More Than Friendship by Mary Howard (Collins)
Downloads
Related files available for download:
