For the Love of the Rom-Com
Must Have Been Love: My Ongoing Love Affair with Nora Ephron Rom-Coms
Lately, I’ve been escaping the noise of the world by leaning into media that has always brought me joy and light. Comfort rewatches, cozy reads, stories that remind me why I fell in love with romance in the first place. For me, that always circles back to the classic rom-coms of the ’90s and early aughts.
And at the center of that obsession? The queen herself—Nora Ephron.
There’s just something about her films. The humor. The sparkling banter. The dynamic side characters who are just as memorable as the leads. Cities that feel alive, moments that are ordinary and extraordinary all at once. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rewatched When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, or Sleepless in Seattle. They’re timeless comfort food for my heart.
Because books are where I spend most of my life, I’ve also found romance novels that carry that same energy: humor, messy family dynamics, swoony banter, and a deep love for characters in all their imperfect glory.
Here are a few I think you’ll adore if you’re craving that Nora Ephron glow:
Rom-Com Reads with Big Ephron Energy
- Must Have Been Love (The Fitzgeralds, #1) by Carrie Elks – A heartfelt romance that delivers the family drama and emotional swoon of a classic rom-com.
- Running from a Rock Star (Brides on the Run, #1) by Jami Albright – A comedy of errors with zany hijinks and a tender center. Very When Harry Met Sally vibes.
- Sugarcoated by Erin Nicholas – Sweet and sexy with humor that lands—like a perfect Ephron diner scene.
- Angerbang by Avery Flynn – Enemies-to-lovers firecracker with banter sharp enough to cut glass.
- The Wedding Dilemma by Mariah Ankenman – Big family chaos, heart, and humor—pure screwball fun.
- Against the Grain by Lainey Davis – Honest, quirky, and rooted in complicated family ties that make the romance shine brighter.
- A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña – Fake dating with meddling families and heart to spare.
- Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen – Laugh-out-loud funny, sexy, and full of confidence—exactly the kind of heroine Ephron would love.
- In a Jam by Kate Canterbary – Found family and small-town messiness with banter to match.
- For nEver by Aurora Rose Reynolds – Big feelings, big humor, and big heart.
- Everyone I Have Kissed Since You Got Famous by Mae Marvel – Clever and charming, the kind of rom-com story that feels like it should be on the big screen.
- Nanny and the Nerd by Krista Sandor – A laugh-filled, heartfelt romance full of quirky chemistry and that classic rom-com sparkle.
- The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa – Sharp enemies-to-lovers with meddling families and laugh-out-loud moments.
- Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – It may be political fantasy, but the banter and swoony grand gestures are peak rom-com.
- Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood – Hazelwood always nails the laugh-cry balance, just like Ephron did.
If you’re as in love with rom-coms as I am, you’ll want to check out Episode 267 of Buzzing About Romance: Rom-Com Queens Talk Banter, Love & Laughs. I was joined by some of my favorite rom-com authors to chat all things banter, joy, and why this subgenre will never go out of style. It’s the perfect companion listen to this list.
Nora Ephron made falling in love look fun, messy, and inevitable. These books do the same—reminding me that joy belongs in storytelling, even when life feels heavy.
So tell me: what’s your comfort watch or read when you need joy? Is it Meg Ryan walking through a bookstore, or is it a romance novel that makes you laugh-snort and swoon at the same time?
