The Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) announced its annual awards with three wins for self-published authors, as well as novels from Headline, HarperCollins and Boldwood Books.

Trophies were presented in 11 categories during a ceremony in London last night for the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards, celebrating the best of romantic fiction.

The event was held at the Leonardo Royal London City Hotel in London on Monday evening (19th May). RNA president and author Sue Moorcroft presented the Contemporary Romantic Novel Award and RNA Chair while fellow writer Seána Talbot presented the remainder of the awards. The evening was hosted by author Brigid Coady.

What are the RNA Awards?

The Romantic Novel of the Year Awards, which began in 1960, celebrate the very best of romantic fiction and are highly respected within the UK publishing industry.

Over the past 64 years, winners have included bestselling authors Santa Montefiore, Joe Heap, Julie Cohen and Milly Johnson. The finalists represent both independent and traditional publishers, reflecting romantic fiction’s dynamic market.

The Romantic Novelists Association Awards 2025 winners are:

The Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers 

Love, Rebooted by Katy Summers 

The Fantasy Romantic Novel Award 

Now Comes the Mist by Julie C Dao

The Debut Romantic Novel Award 

Plot Twist by Breea Keenan 

The Romantic Thriller Award  

Whatever it Takes by Joy Wood 

The Festive Holiday Romantic Novel Award 

The Secret Santa Project by Tracy Bloom 

The Shorter Romantic Novel Award 

Camera Shy by Julia Boggio 

The Historical Romantic Novel Award 

The Wicked Lady by Elena Collins 

The Last Song of Winter by Lulu Taylor 

The Romantic Comedy Award 

Love Me Till Wednesday by Suzanne Lissaman 

The Contemporary Romantic Novel Award 

A Love Letter to Paris by Rebecca Raisin 

The Romantic Saga Award 

Secrets for the Three Sisters by Annie Groves 

The Popular Romantic Fiction Award 

All the Painted Stars by Emma Denny 

The judges for this year’s Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers included Moorcroft and Tanera Simons, director of Greenstone Literary. Moorcroft paid tribute to the novel, commenting: "I found it difficult to believe that Love, Rebooted is a debut. It’s well-paced, the characters jumped from the page, it grabbed my attention and didn’t let it go."

Moorcroft added of the awards overall: "The RNA is proud to celebrate the work and achievements of these talented authors, whose work represents the extraordinary strength, success and diversity of romantic fiction as a genre. Huge congratulations to our worthy winners and many thanks to our respected reader-judges, my fellow Joan Hessayon Award judges and to the awards volunteers, without whom the awards simply could not happen."

Sharon Ibbotson, the RNA Awards coordinator, said: "I am delighted to congratulate our winners on their well-deserved awards. Thanks also to our wonderful reader-judges, without whom these awards could not take place."

The association is also calling for engagement in the awards from those who wish to help judge – the Popular Romantic Fiction Award is voted for by readers, librarians, booksellers and book bloggers/reviewers. Readers who are interested in becoming a reader-judge for next year’s awards should contact Ibbotson at: rnaawards@romanticwriters.co.uk.

To find out more about the RNA visit: https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org/

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#RNARomanticNovelAwards2025 

*Photo Credit: Katie Hipkiss Visuals