Romantic Novelists' Association Awards

RoNA Award
Awarded forExcellence in romance novel
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byRomantic Novelists' Association
First awarded1960
Websiteromanticnovelistsassociation.org/awards

The Romantic Novel of the Year Award is an award for romance novels since 1960, presented by Romantic Novelists' Association, and since 2003, the novellas, also won the Love Story of the Year (now RoNA Rose Award).[1]

In 2018, awards were given to men under their own names for the first time in the organisation's 58-year history.[2]

Awards

This award recognises the best long romance novels.

Winners

Love Story of the Year a.k.a. RoNA Rose Award a.k.a. Shorter Romantic Novel

This award (formerly the Love Story of the Year) recognises the best in category and shorter romance, serials in magazines are also eligible.

Winners

  • 2003: Illusion by Julia Wild (Heartline)
  • 2004: A Damnable Rogue by Anne Herries (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • 2005: A Family of His Own by Liz Fielding (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • 2006: Contracted: Corporate Wife by Jessica Hart (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • 2007: Marrying Max by Nell Dixon (DC Thomson)
  • 2008: Breakfast at Giovanni's by Kate Hardy (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • 2009: Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure by India Grey (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • 2010: Animal Instincts by Nell Dixon (Little Black Dress)
  • 2011: The Piratical Miss Ravenhurst by Louise Allen (Harlequin Historicals)
  • 2012: The Dangerous Lord Darrington by Sarah Mallory (HMB Historical Regency)
  • 2013: Beneath the Major's Scars by Sarah Mallory (HMB Historical Regency)
  • 2014: Bound by a Baby by Kate Hardy (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • 2015: Scandal’s Virgin by Louise Allen (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • 2016: Doctor... To Duchess? by Annie O'Neil (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • 2017: Christmas in the Boss’s Castle by Scarlet Wilson (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • 2018: Christmas at the Little Village School by Jane Lovering (Choc Lit)
  • 2019: Secret Baby, Second Chance by Jane Godman (Mills & Boon)
  • 2020: Miss Amelia’s Mistletoe Marquess by Jenni Fletcher (Mills & Boon Historical)
  • 2021: A Will, a Wish and a Wedding by Kate Hardy (Mills & Boon True Love)

Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year

This award recognises the best in category for mainstream romantic novels set in the present world or society.

Winners

Historical Romantic Novel of the Year

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel set pre 1960.

Winners

Romantic Comedy Novel

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel intended to be consistently humorous or amusing.

Winners

  • 2012: Please Don't Stop The Music by Jane Lovering (Choc Lit)
  • 2013: Welcome to Rosie Hopkin's Sweetshop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan (Sphere, Little Brown)
  • 2014: It's Raining Men by Milly Johnson (Simon & Schuster)
  • 2015: Just a Girl, Standing in Front of a Boy by Lucy-Anne Holmes (Sphere)
  • 2016: Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe by Milly Johnson (Simon & Schuster)
  • 2017: Out of Practice by Penny Parkes (Simon & Schuster)
  • 2018: The Summer Seaside Kitchen by Jenny Colgan (Sphere/Little, Brown)
  • 2019: Not Just For Christmas by Natalie Cox (Orion)
  • 2020: A Question of Us by Mary Jayne Baker (Aria Fiction, Head of Zeus)
  • 2021: Sunny Days and Sea Breezes by Carole Matthews (Sphere, Little, Brown)

Epic Romantic Novel of the Year

This award recognises the best in category for romantic novels that have a broad and sweeping scope. May be either contemporary or historical and may include time-slip.

Winners

Young Adult Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel in which the main characters are teenagers or young adults.

Winners

Paranormal or Speculative Romantic Novel a.k.a. Fantasy Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic novel that may be paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, time-slip etc.

Winners

Debut Romantic Novel

This award recognises the best romantic novel by a first-time author.

Winners

  • 2019: The Rules of Seeing by Joe Heap (HarperCollins)
  • 2020: The Forgotten Village by Lorna Cook (Avon, HarperCollins)
  • 2021: The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley (Bantam Press)

Romantic Thriller

This award recognises the best in category for a romantic thriller.

Winners

Romantic Saga

This award recognises the best in category for the best romantic novel featuring saga elements of characters overcoming social adversity, usually set in the past.

Winners

  • 2020: The Street of Broken Dreams by Tania Crosse (Aria Fiction, Head of Zeus)
  • 2021: Bobby’s War by Shirley Mann (Zaffre, Bonnier Books UK)

References

  1. ^ Awards by the Romantic Novelists' Association, 4 July 2012
  2. ^ Singh, Anita (13 March 2018). "New romantics: after 57 years, men break through at the Romantic Novel Awards" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Jojo Moyes wins RNA Romantic Novel of the Year | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com.
  4. ^ "Choc Lit scores two at the Ronas | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com.
  5. ^ Stock, Jon (17 May 2013). "Romantic Novel of the Year 2013: Jenny Colgan wins" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  6. ^ "Colgan wins at RNA awards | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com.
  7. ^ "Henry wins Romantic Novel of the Year Award | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com.
  8. ^ "Stirling's Struck is Romantic Novel of the Year | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com.
  9. ^ "Iona Grey wins Romantic Novel of the Year | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com.
  10. ^ "Romantic Novel of the Year goes to YA title Love Song | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com.
  11. ^ "Atkins wins Romantic Novel of the Year accolade | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com.
  12. ^ "Romantic Novel Awards – Winners Announced 2019".
  13. ^ "Romantic Novel Award Winners 2020".
  14. ^ "WINNERS for the 2021 Romantic Novel Awards".
  15. ^ "RNA unveils award shortlists and announces prize for Fenwick". The Bookseller. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  16. ^ "RNA Romantic Novel Awards 2023: Winners Announced". Romantic Novelists' Association. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  17. ^ "RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2024: Winners Announced". Romantic Novelists' Association. Retrieved 21 May 2024.