You know that feeling when you finish a really good book and you just sit there for a moment, staring at the last page? That’s what a great romance novel does to you. It stays with you long after you’ve closed it.
2024 has been a quiet year for new Indian romance releases compared to the boom we saw in the 2010s. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t beautiful stories waiting to be discovered. Let me walk you through what’s been happening in the Indian romance scene this year.
The State of Indian Romance in 2024
Here’s the thing about Indian romance novels. After the explosion of campus romances and heartbreak stories in the early 2010s, the genre has been evolving. Authors are experimenting more. They’re moving beyond the typical boy-meets-girl-at-college formula. Some are adding mystery. Others are blending romance with social commentary. A few brave ones are even tackling uncomfortable topics like mental health and abuse within love stories.
But I have to be honest with you. When I started researching 2024 releases specifically, I found that most of our beloved romance writers haven’t published new books this year. Durjoy Datta, Ravinder Singh, Sudeep Nagarkar, Preeti Shenoy – the names we grew up reading – they seem to be taking a pause. Or maybe they’re working on something big that’ll release next year.
So instead of giving you a fake list of “top 10 new releases” that don’t actually exist, let me share something more honest. I’ll tell you about the authors and books that are actually making waves in Indian romance right now, including both recent releases and those timeless ones that people are still picking up in 2024.
1. “The Unproposed Guy” by Bhavik Sarkhedi and Suhana Bhambhani
This one’s been dominating the lists. The novel explores modern-day romance, delving into the complexities of relationships, unspoken emotions, and societal expectations.
Kevin, the protagonist, is that guy we all know. The one who’s unsure of himself, has awkward encounters with women, and drowns in a sea of memories. It’s a hilarious, delightful, and relatable book with modern themes including marriage, love, desire, friendship, and ambitions. Taletel
What I love about this book is how real it feels. It doesn’t promise you a perfect love story. It shows you the messy, confused, sometimes funny reality of being young and trying to figure out love.
2. “Liberal Hearts” by Nayantara Violet Alva
Here’s something fresh – a rags-meets-riches love story of Namya and Vir written by Nayantara, a 26-year-old author who currently works at JioCinema.
The book follows Namya’s insecurity about her looks, her anxiety to fit in with the privileged crowd in her posh college, and her journey of falling in love. Nayantara’s characters are genuine, her writing is unpretentious and her story, very readable.
What’s interesting is that Nayantara is the daughter of Anuja Chauhan, one of India’s most beloved romance writers. But she’s carved her own voice. Her story feels authentic because she writes from experience – the anxiety of not fitting in, the confusion of being in your twenties, the mess of modern relationships.
3. Anuja Chauhan’s “The Fast and the Dead”
This romance-comedy-murder-mystery published in October 2023 Aquamarine Flavours has been a major talking point in 2024.
Now, technically this isn’t a 2024 release, but people are still discovering it this year. And honestly, Anuja Chauhan never goes out of style. She’s renowned for her delightful romantic comedies set against the backdrop of Indian societal norms, capturing hearts with her engaging narratives and unforgettable characters.
The book is about ACP Bhavani Singh solving murders in Habba Galli, Shivajinagar, and yes, there’s romance woven into all the mystery. Because that’s what Anuja does best – she hides her social commentary beneath layers of humor and romance.
4. “I Too Had A Love Story” by Ravinder Singh
You might be thinking – wait, this isn’t a 2024 release. You’re right. But here’s the thing about this book. It’s a poignant tale that unravels the profound journey of true love, based on the author’s own experiences, delving into the blissful beginnings of a relationship and the heart-wrenching twist of fate that transforms joy into tragedy.
People are still reading it in 2024. College students are still crying over it. Because some love stories are timeless.
Ravin and Khushi’s story, their engagement preparations, and that devastating evening before their engagement – it hits different when you know it’s real. That the author actually lived through this pain.
5. “Wish I Could Tell You” by Durjoy Datta
This contemporary romance explores the complexities of love, loss, and the impact of social media on relationships, following the lives of Ananth and Anusha, who are connected through a crowdfunding website aimed at helping people in need.
Ananth believes in the goodness of every person he meets. He’s driven by this intense urge to help those in need. And then he meets people whose stories break his heart and change his perspective on everything.
What Durjoy does brilliantly is showing how love isn’t always romantic. Sometimes it’s about loving humanity enough to want to save it.
6. “2 States” by Chetan Bhagat
Another “old” book that refuses to leave bestseller lists. The novel follows Krish and Ananya, two individuals from distinct Indian states, as they navigate the complexities of convincing their traditional families to accept their relationship.
It’s probably the most relatable love story in the Indian demographic – it’s not just about the boy and the girl, but about two families, two cultures, and the madness of trying to bring them together.
Every Indian couple dealing with family drama while planning their wedding sees themselves in Krish and Ananya. That’s why it still sells.
7. “The Boy Who Loved” by Durjoy Datta
The narrative unfolds into a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the indomitable human spirit as the protagonist, Raghu, embarks on a soul-stirring journey filled with emotional twists as he navigates the complexities of relationships.
Raghu carries the burden of not helping his best friend when he drowned in a swimming pool, which haunts him, keeping him far from making anyone close to him as a friend or lover. But when Brahmi appears, he can’t help but care and long for her.
This book asks a difficult question – can you love someone when you’re still drowning in guilt? Can healing and love happen at the same time?
8. “A Half-Baked Love Story” by Anurag Garg
Set against the backdrop of college life, the novel weaves a tale of unrequited love, emotional turbulence, and the pursuit of happiness with relatable characters and a narrative that tugs at the heartstrings.
The title itself tells you what you’re getting into. It’s not a complete love story. It’s half-baked. And isn’t that how most first loves are? Incomplete. Messy. Raw.
Anurag Garg doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He shows you the real, sometimes ugly side of young love.
9. “Like a Love Song” by Nikita Singh
The novel follows the journey of a young woman navigating the harmonies of life and love while pursuing her passion for music, blending emotions and melody seamlessly.
What makes this book special is how it treats music not just as a backdrop but as a character itself. The protagonist’s love for music is as important as her romantic journey.
Because sometimes, you need to fall in love with yourself and your passion before you can fall in love with someone else.
10. “Your Dreams Are Mine Now” by Ravinder Singh
Set on the Delhi University Campus, this is the story of Arjun and Rupali – Arjun is a Delhi boy who wants to bring change and has strong political ambitions, while Rupali is a small-town girl who is shy and devoted to her studies.
A shocking incident on campus and the ensuing student protest bring them together, but this will not be an easy path to tread, and the two lovers have to really brave it out.
This book shows that love doesn’t always happen in coffee shops and college festivals. Sometimes it happens in the middle of protests and political chaos. And that kind of love, born from shared values and fights for justice, hits different.
The Honest Truth About 2024
Look, I wish I could give you ten brand-new romance novels from 2024. I wish our shelves were overflowing with fresh stories of love in the time of Instagram, dating apps, and quarter-life crises.
But the truth is, the Indian romance scene has slowed down. Maybe our writers are taking time to create something even better. Maybe the market is shifting. Maybe readers want different stories now – stories that don’t just show love, but question it, challenge it, complicate it.
What I’ve noticed is that the books from 2010-2015 era – the ones by Durjoy, Ravinder, Chetan, Preeti – they’re still selling. Still being read. Still making people cry and smile and believe in love.
And maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe it means those stories were so good that they didn’t need to be replaced. They just needed to be rediscovered by a new generation.
What Makes a Great Indian Romance Novel?
After reading dozens of these books, I’ve realized something. The best Indian romance novels aren’t just about love. They’re about:
Family. Because in India, you don’t just fall in love with a person. You fall in love with their entire family, their culture, their food, their festivals.
Real problems. Not just “will they get together?” but “will their families accept them? Can they afford to build a life together? What happens when dreams and love pull you in different directions?”
The small moments. Train journeys. Chai at 2 AM. Sharing earphones. Walking someone home. The moments that don’t seem big but change everything.
Growth. The best romances show you how love changes people. How it makes you braver. How it forces you to confront your worst fears and your best dreams.
A Note to Fellow Romance Readers
If you’re reading this because you’re looking for your next great love story, I have advice for you.
Don’t just chase the new releases. Sometimes the best book for you right now was written ten years ago and has been sitting on a shelf, waiting for you to discover it.
Pick up books by authors who aren’t famous yet. Give indie writers a chance. Read the free samples on Amazon. Take risks.
And most importantly, remember that every love story you read is teaching you something. About love, yes. But also about yourself. About what you want. What you’re willing to fight for. What you’ll never compromise on.
Final Thoughts
The Indian romance novel isn’t dead. It’s just changing. Evolving. Growing up with us.
We’re not satisfied with simple love stories anymore. We want complexity. We want to see mental health addressed. We want diverse love stories – LGBTQ+ romances, inter-caste relationships, long-distance love in the age of technology, second chances at 40, finding love after trauma.
And I think Indian authors are listening. They’re working on these stories. They might not all be out in 2024, but they’re coming.
Until then, we have these beautiful books. Old and new. Famous and undiscovered. Each one a reminder that love, in all its messy, complicated, beautiful forms, is worth writing about.
Worth reading about.
Worth believing in.
So pick up a book. Any book from this list. Let yourself fall into someone else’s love story. And who knows? Maybe it’ll inspire you to write your own.
Because every love story deserves to be told.
Even yours.
Especially yours.
What’s your favorite Indian romance novel? Have you discovered any hidden gems recently? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear your recommendations!
