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If you peruse the romance aisle at your local bookstore or library, you’ve probably noticed a trend quickly overtaking the genre: illustrated covers, especially in a cartoony, not very detailed style. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that style. Some of my favorite romances have a cartoon cover, and they can be done very well. On the other hand, sometimes the designs are so simple that the cover looks generic, with silhouettes of the vague shape of a person instead of specific characters. Regardless of quality of illustration, they can begin to blend together and flatten differences between styles, settings, tones, and subgenres. Are you picking up a cute, fluffy, closed-door romance or a dramatic, heart-wrenching, open-door romance? You likely won’t get many clues from the cartoon cover!
That’s why task #10 of the 2025 Read Harder Challenge is “Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.” It isn’t that there’s anything wrong with illustrated romance book covers, but because they’re so ubiquitous right now, it’s worth highlighting the books going against the trend and showcasing gorgeous, romantic, photographic covers. There’s a real art to them that deserves to be recognized.
Of course, all covers have a design element, so I’ve included covers that feature photography but are complemented by illustrated elements. You could also pick up a romance book with a typographic design. Honestly, I would still count it even if you used a romance cover featuring a painting, because the point of this task is just to bring some attention to something other than the standard cartoony cover.
I’ve tried to credit the cover designers and photographers, but unfortunately, that information is not always accessible.
Here are ten fantastic photographic romance covers to get you started. If you’re looking for more, try going through Harlequin’s catalogue, which is almost entirely made up of photographic covers!
An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera
It’s the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris, and the streets are full of sapphics. Manuela del Carmen Caceres Galvan is spending her last summer before marriage showing her paintings and thriving with her two friends in the city. Hearing Manuela has land she swore to never sell, Cora Kempf Bristol, Duchess of Sundridge, knows this is her chance to get ahead of her business rivals. They come to an agreement satisfying both parties: Manuela’s land in exchange for a fun and fearless summer with Cora. Their business proposal creates a hot summer and a scandalous path to happiness that could change their lives forever. —R. Nassor
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
Tia Williams hit it big with Seven Days in June, which is an incredible book. I think I may love this even more! It’s whimsical, imaginative, and beautiful. Ricki is a chaotic queen who goes against her family’s wishes to move to Harlem and start the flower shop of her dreams. There, she meets a mysterious man named Ezra, and the way they are drawn to each other is simply magical. As with Williams’s previous book, this book does go to some dark places. I did not find the book to be a bummer overall, though. It’s a rich exploration of lively characters and relationships with a swoony romance at the core. —Isabelle Popp
Cover design by Sarah Congdon. Cover photograph by Adrian McDonald.
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The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite
Lucy is the daughter of a famous astronomer who secretly worked on many of the mathematical calculations for her father’s discoveries. Catherine is a countess and widow who traveled the world with her husband to look at the stars. Looking for purpose after his death, she decides to fund the translation of an important French astronomy text. It turns out Lucy is the perfect person to complete the work. A gentle romance develops slowly between the pair. Both women are processing grief and trying to figure out how to make meaning out of their new lives. Their shared understanding and interest in science and astronomy provides a strong foundation to a relationship that faces challenges from social class distinctions and gender expectations of the time. —Alison Doherty
The Earl Who Isn’t by Courtney Milan
This book completes the Wedgeford Trials trilogy, which has been a delight from start to end. Apart from deftly told romances, this series points out how the British Empire resulted in a people from around the world living in Britain. Moreover, the mark these folks left, especially culinarily, persists to this day. In this book, Andrew is too busy growing long beans to care that he’s the rightful heir to an earldom. When his childhood friend (and one-night stand!) Lily returns from Hong Kong with proof of Andrew’s lineage, he has to figure out what he really wants out of life. Spoiler: it’s Lily. If you love a friends-to-lovers story that has lots of humor and heart, you will definitely want to pick this one up. —Isabelle Popp
Cover design by Courtney Milan. Cover photographs by Jenn LeBlanc at Studio Smexy.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole
Likotsi and Fabiola had a whirlwind love affair last time Likotsi was in town…until Fab broke it off without any explanation. When they meet again on the subway, Fab asks Likotsi to join her for tea, and Likotsi, looking for an explanation for what went wrong between them, agrees. What follows is a romantic night that takes them around the city while Fabiola slowly shares what’s been happening in her life that came between them. This charming second-chance romance is a novella, so it’s a quick read! —Danika Ellis
Going Public by Hudson Lin
There is no deal that operating partner Raymond Chao and his assistant Elvin Goh cannot close at Jade Harbour. Elvin doesn’t always agree with Raymond’s methods, but he cannot help but fall for his boss—and his longtime crush is beginning to fall for him too. That is until Raymond’s outside-the-box—and illegal—tactics land him in legal trouble. Elvin cannot help him this time, but can their relationship survive the fallout? This queer workplace romance has a corporate drama plotline that would make Shonda Rhimes proud. If you’re a fan of external stakes getting in the way of internal drama, this is the romance for you. —R. Nassor
Daring to Fall for the Prince by Heba Helmy
Heba Helmy is rocking the Harlequin Historicals with some great books featuring Egyptian characters, and this one is the first in a new series centering Egyptian princes?! Elise has written a few letters to Prince Saleem posing as her friend Lady Olive, but she has to spend a significant amount of time in close quarters unexpectedly when Olive disappears! Mystery and forbidden attraction in the Egyptian desert? Sign me up. —Jessica Pryde
To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins
The Women Who Dare series is set in the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War. Written by one of the best historical romance authors of our generation, Beverly Jenkins explores the lives and loves of African American protagonists in her historical romance book series. Her backlist is extensive, but this series is excellent if you want to start with a trilogy of some of her recent releases.
The last book, To Catch a Raven centers on a grifter forced to help the government recover the stolen Declaration of Independence. Part of her cover is a fake marriage that becomes less fake as the book continues. —R. Nassor
Cover design by Amy Halperin. Cover illustration by Anna Kmet.
The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley
Despite the downturned noses at her choice to remain unmarried, Philippa York defies her mother’s orders and works on reading instead. When a manuscript is stolen, she employs Thomasina “Tommy” Wynchester for help. Tommy further disguises herself as a baron to be able to work with Philippa to recover the manuscript and seem like a marriage prospect. While they’re solving the mystery together, Philippa finds out Tommy’s true identity and something stirs in her that she’s never felt for man. —Julia Rittenberg
Cover design by Daniela Medina. Cover illustration by Paul Stinson. Cover photography by Shirley Green Photography.
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Danika Ellis
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