Romantasy-Reading-List-1

Reading lists

22 must-read romantasy books

A Beautiful Evil

The eagerly anticipated new YA Greek myth re-imagining from Bea Fitzgerald, TikTok superstar and Sunday Times bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen. 
 
Pandora is the first human woman – made by the gods on Olympus for one simple purpose: to love and be loved by her new husband, the titan Epimatheos. 
 
The only problem? He wants nothing to do with her. 
 
Hurt and confused, Pandora struggles to find meaning in her new life. What's the point of being given all these gifts by the gods, if she can't get this infuriating, awful, frankly very rude man (with an admittedly quite nice face) to love her? Maybe she's failing at her life’s purpose. Or maybe she's destined for an entirely different one . . . ? 
 
As Pandora and Matheos work to uncover why she was created, that fated connection between them feels increasingly difficult to ignore. And with that comes terrible risk. Because Matheos’s traitorous brother, Prometheus, is a seer – and before the gods captured him he issued a final warning: that Pandora and Matheos’s love will be humanity’s doom. 
 
So . . . what do you do when faced with an all-powerful love . . . that just happens to threaten the end of the world? 
 
Pandora’s about to find out. 
 
A glorious sunshine/grumpy romantic re-imagining of the Pandora myth, from the bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen and The End Crowns All

Nobody is reinventing Greek mythology like Bea Fitzgerald – full of laughter, romance and drama, her books deliver brilliant ancient tales for a modern audience, and all set in the most beautifully realized magical world. I would read ANYTHING she writes.

Elodie Harper, bestselling author of The Wolf Den

Heartfelt, hilarious and inherently hopeful, A Beautiful Evil is a stunning reimagining – and reclamation – of the myth of Pandora. I fell in love with this story – the irresistible grumpy-sunshine romance, the piercing social commentary, and the lyrical, poetic prose. It is a powerful reminder that strength lies in our differences, and that hope is eternal. A joy from start to finish. Bea Fitzgerald has done it again!

Lauryn Hamilton Murray, author of Heir of Storms

Bea brings her wry, witty and utterly fresh perspective to the myth of Pandora, fleshing a much-maligned figure into a woman brimming with heart, joy and intellectual inquisitiveness. She cleverly turns a misogynistic story on its head, inviting the reader to consider Pandora's curiosity as a strength rather than a flaw - and encouraging us to question everything we've been told before in the process. Bea finds a brilliant and startling way to tie up the loose ends of myth and gives us a beautiful love story as well as the tale of a woman finding out who she is and what she wants. An empowering and thoroughly entertaining novel.

Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne

Fitzgerald has outdone herself with this masterful retelling of the myth of Pandora. Alongside the delightful grumpy-meets-sunshine romance and the thrilling plot of defiance is a reclamation of female agency, curiosity and hope - the very essence of being human. I absolutely loved it!

Kika Hatzopoulou, bestselling author of Threads That Bind

Bea keeps getting better and better with every reimagining that she writes. I didn't think I could love any story more than The End Crowns All, but here I am, obsessed with her spin on the infamous story of Pandora's jar. Brimming with Bea's wit and populated with unforgettable characters, A Beautiful Evil is a brilliant, bright and hopeful examination of female desire and agency. I devoured this book.

Costanza Casati, bestselling author of Babylonia

An enthralling and creative reimagining of the Pandora myth, infused with simmering romantic tension and a bright spark of hope. A Beautiful Evil absorbed me in Pandora's world from the first page until the final heart-rending moments.

H.F. Askwith, author of A Dark Inheritance

Bea Fitzgerald is a Sunday Times bestselling author and content creator who has swiftly become one of the UK's biggest YA stars. Her bestselling debut Girl, Goddess, Queen was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and won the Romantic Novelists’ Association Fantasy Romance of the Year. Her work has been translated widely across the globe. When she's not writing, she's entertaining her followers on TikTok and Instagram with her mythology-themed comedy account @chaosonolympus.

Pandora is the first human woman – made by the gods on Olympus for one simple purpose: to love and be loved by her new husband, the titan Epimatheos.The only problem? He wants nothing to do with her.Hurt and confused, Pandora struggles to find meaning in her new life. What's the point of being given all these gifts by the gods, if she can't get this infuriating, awful, frankly very rude man (with an admittedly quite nice face) to love her? Maybe she's failing at her life’s purpose. Or maybe she's destined for an entirely different one . . . ?As Pandora and Matheos work to uncover why she was created, that fated connection between them feels increasingly difficult to ignore. And with that comes terrible risk. Because Matheos’s traitorous brother, Prometheus, is a seer – and before the gods captured him he issued a final warning: that Pandora and Matheos’s love will be humanity’s doom.So . . . what do you do when faced with an all-powerful love...that just happens to threaten the end of the world?Pandora’s about to find out.A glorious sunshine/grumpy romantic re-imagining of the Pandora myth, from the bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen and The End Crowns All

The End Crowns All

The fierce, feminist and gloriously romantic new Greek myth re-imagining from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen. 
 
Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2025 
 
Love caused this war. At least, that’s what the stories will say. 
 
When Cassandra’s patron god, Apollo, offers her the gift of prophecy – and all the power that comes with it – she seizes the opportunity. But when she fails to uphold her end of the bargain, she discovers just how very far she has to fall. No one believes her visions, which all seem to be of one girl – a girl who is going to start a war. 
 
Helen fled Sparta in pursuit of love – but is finding it elusive. Now she must navigate the fierce politics and danger of the Trojan court - including from its princess, who seems intent on driving her from the city. . . 
 
But when war finally strikes, Cassandra and Helen must deal with more than just the army at their walls. Cassandra and Helen's fates are more closely tied - and seemingly tragic - than they could have ever imagined. How can you change your future when the gods themselves are dictating your demise? 
 
‘Thrumming with rivals-to-lovers friction and delicious slow-burn pining, The End Crowns All is a vibrant and romantic sapphic reimagining of the fall of Troy’ Laura Steven, bestselling author of The Society for Soulless Girls 
 
PRAISE FOR GIRL, GODDESS, QUEEN 
 
'a refreshing romp through Greek mythology' Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne 
 
'an electrifying romance and a witty, fiercely modern twist' Beth Reekles, author of The Kissing Booth 
 
‘A totally addictive read’ Elodie Harper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wolf Den 
 
‘bring[s] to life timeless gods, the complex intimacy of family bonds, a fierce protagonist and a passionate slow-burn romance’ Sue Lynn Tan, Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess 
 
‘gloriously funny and deeply swoony’ Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Make You Mine This Christmas

The End Crowns All is witty, romantic and a total joy. Bea completely flips the script, giving Cassandra and Helen agency to subvert their own destiny with dialogue that crackles with humour, love and fire! In short, this is the perfect summer read

Elodie Harper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wolf Den

This is a witty, sharp reimagining that overflows with heart. Bea Fitzgerald weaves ancient myth into a dazzling new story that is bold, compelling and a striking reflection on the power of storytelling. She is so very skilled in elevating the voices of women, giving them legends of their own that speak to a whole new generation of readers

Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne

Bea Fitzgerald's writing reminds me why I love reading so much – fresh, funny, smart, and full of wisdom and knowledge. The author expertly plays with the Greek myths, giving us a sexy, sapphic reimagining of the Trojan War that I couldn't put down

Costanza Casati, Sunday Times bestselling author of Clytemnestra

A snappy, sapphic reimagining of the Trojan War, The End Crowns All is a true epic about a love powerful enough to change fate

Thrumming with rivals-to-lovers friction and delicious slow-burn pining, The End Crowns All is a vibrant and romantic sapphic reimagining of the fall of Troy

Laura Steven, bestselling author of The Society of Soulless Girls

Sarah Underwood, bestselling author of Lies We Sing To The Sea

An absolute delight from start to finish.

Rosie Hewlett, bestselling author of Medea

Bea Fitzgerald is an author and content creator who is passionate about stories and fascinated by the way they endure and resonate through centuries. When she's not writing, she's entertaining her followers on TikTok and Instagram with her mythology-themed comedy account @chaosonolympus.

When Cassandra’s patron god, Apollo, offers her the gift of prophecy she seizes the opportunity. But when she fails to uphold her end of the bargain, she discovers just how very far she has to fall. No one believes her visions, which all seem to be of one girl – a girl who is going to start a war. 
 
Helen fled Sparta in pursuit of love – but is finding it elusive. Now she must navigate the fierce politics and danger of the Trojan court - including from its princess, who seems intent on driving her from the city. . . 
 
But when war finally strikes, Cassandra and Helen must deal with more than just the army at their walls. Cassandra and Helen's fates are more closely tied - and seemingly tragic - than they could have ever imagined. How can you change your future when the gods themselves are dictating your demise?

A Hades and Persephone fantasy romance from a growing TikTok superstar

Girl, Goddess, Queen

To hell with love, this goddess has other plans... 
 
Thousands of years ago, the gods told a lie: how Persephone was a pawn in the politics of other gods. How Hades kidnapped Persephone to be his bride. How her mother, Demeter, was so distraught she caused the Earth to start dying. 
 
The real story is much more interesting. 
 
Persephone wasn't taken to hell: she jumped. There was no way she was going to be married off to some smug god more in love with himself than her. 
 
Now all she has to do is convince the Underworld's annoyingly sexy, arrogant and frankly rude ruler, Hades, to fall in line with her plan. A plan that will shake Mount Olympus to its very core. 
 
But consequences can be deadly, especially when you're already in hell . . . 
 
A fierce, fresh and enormously fun YA fantasy re-imagining from a growing TikTok superstar. 
 
"Bring[s] to life timeless gods, the complex intimacy of family bonds, a fierce protagonist, and a passionate slow-burn romance." Sue Lynn Tan, Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess. 
 
"A richly woven, gloriously funny and deeply swoony exploration of the Hades & Persephone myth." Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Make You Mine This Christmas

Funny, fierce and feminist; this is a refreshing romp through Greek mythology. Bea Fitzgerald draws on her extensive knowledge to create this imaginative retelling, turning everything we think we know about Persephone and Hades upside down and recasting them as the stars of this unexpected, meticulously researched, empowering rom-com.

Girl, Goddess, Queen is simply divine. Bea has woven a classic myth with an electrifying romance and a witty, fiercely modern twist. Beautifully written, utterly glorious, and fabulously powerful, this is a definite must-read that should be at the top of everyone's TBR pile!

Beth Reekles, bestselling author of The Kissing Booth

Girl, Goddess, Queen is a true gem: joyfully irreverent and deeply thoughtful in equal measure

Sarah Underwood,  bestselling author of Lies We Sing To The Sea

A captivating debut! Girl, Goddess, Queen is an incredibly fun and wonderfully crafted reimagining of a beloved myth - bringing to life timeless gods, the complex intimacy of family bonds, a fierce protagonist, and a passionate slow-burn romance.

Sue Lynn Tan, Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

Girl Goddess Queen is a richly woven, gloriously funny and deeply swoony exploration of the Hades & Persephone myth, and I'm so excited for everyone to discover the marvellous talent that is Bea Fitzgerald.

Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Make You Mine This Christmas

A fresh feminist take on a classic myth, Girl, Goddess, Queen is ripe with yearning, humour and wit.

A clever and fresh feminist retelling that pulses with beauty and life.

Anna Waterworth, author of The Girl Who Grew Wings

The Sunday Times Top 10 Children's Bestseller. 
 
To hell with love, this goddess has other plans... 
 
Thousands of years ago, the gods told a lie: how Persephone was a pawn in the politics of other gods. How Hades kidnapped Persephone to be his bride. How her mother, Demeter, was so distraught she caused the Earth to start dying. 
 
Well, it's time to set the record straight. 
 
Persephone wasn't taken to hell: she jumped. There was no way she was going to be married off to some smug god more in love with himself than her. 
 
Now all she has to do is convince the Underworld's annoyingly sexy, arrogant and frankly rude ruler, Hades, to fall in line with her plan. A plan that will shake Mount Olympus to its very core.

Bea Fitzgerald

True crime meets juicy reality TV

Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of The Paris Widow

Rebecca McKanna, author of Don’t Forget the Girl

Shocking, addictive and utterly exquisite!

Then Things Went Dark is the perfect holiday thriller!

Natali Simmonds, author of Good Girls Die Last

Deliciously dark and moreish ... I could not put it down.

Lizzie Huxley Jones, author of Make You Mine This Christmas

It is such a tightly plotted thriller with plenty of twists and turns in store.

This is a twisting, psychological mine field that examines what people will really do for their five minutes of fame.

I loved every second of this sun-soaked nightmare.

Fitzgerald plays a scathing, thrilling game of worst case scenario, poking fun and critiquing dystopian reality TV tropes

Iman Hariri-Kia, author of A Hundred Other Girls and The Most Famous Girl in the World

Sharp, gripping, fun, and utterly brilliant.

Beth Reekles, author of The Kissing Booth

Fast-paced and addicting, I was gripped from the first page until the jaw-dropping conclusion.

Lucinda Berry, bestselling author of If You Tell a Lie

Six people land on a desert island ready to make their reality show debut. But three weeks and eighteen episodes later, five of the six contestants sit in a Portuguese police station, and none of them are winners. 
 
Because twelve million people were watching when Rhys Sutton died. The best friend, the rival, the girlfriend, the lover, and the sworn enemy are left standing. And no-one is talking. But how do you keep secrets when the world has been watching? 
 
Especially when, just a day before his murder, Rhys was the most hated man on television.

Bea Fitzgerald

Praise for Then Things Went Dark

True crime meets juicy reality TV

A true delight.

Shocking, addictive and utterly exquisite!

True crime meets juicy reality TV

A true delight.

Shocking, addictive and utterly exquisite!

True crime meets juicy reality TV

A true delight.

Shocking, addictive and utterly exquisite!

Books by Bea Fitzgerald

Articles featuring Bea Fitzgerald

22 must-read romantasy books

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter