The Best One Bed Trope Books For Romance Lovers

There is a reason we invited Sarah Adler to the show- this romance book is AMAZING! 

Millie is on a heartfelt mission to fulfill her elderly best friend's wish of reuniting with a long-lost love from eighty years ago; she never anticipated that the pilgrimage from D.C. to Key West would be with her ashes in her backpack instead. 

She is determined to give Mrs. Nash the happily ever after she never had.

But in a sad twist of fate, her flight stays grounded due to a computer glitch, and Millie finds herself on an unexpected road trip with another reluctant traveler named Hollis. 

What neither could expect is that this is just the first of many hilarious hurdles that will lead them to be grounded once again in a small town of quirky characters reminiscent of Schitt's Creek.  

Who couldn't get behind a fictional bed and breakfast with paint-by-number Jesus art on the walls?

And when there is only one bed at the inn, what's a girl to do but claim she is married in this quirky environment?

Enhancing the storyline is a dual timeline story set in 1944 Key West, where we learn the beautiful love story that started the adventures of Rose and Elsie.

The two have immediate chemistry, and a secret love affair unfolds despite the era's restrictions.

Listen to our Sarah Adler interview on Book Gang in today's embedded player as she discusses her writing process and a unique fan fiction moment that had me searching for vintage sitcoms after this interview.  

Related- The Best Books for LGBTQ History Month

For the record, I've never met a Katherine Center book that I didn't love so I was thrilled Sarah brought this one to our show.

Center has the unique ability to write tenderhearted romances that hurt my face from smiling and laughing.

Hannah is the unlikely pint-sized bodyguard for many high-profile clients in this delightful romantic comedy.

When the famous actor, Jack Stapleton, needs a security detail due to an unhinged stalker fan, Hannah is assigned to the case. 

Jack must return to his family's Texas ranch after his grandmother's diagnosis, though, and he doesn't want to add stress to their family's life.

He asks Hannah to pose as his girlfriend for this trip, and then she can leave for her next assignment. 

As Hannah is fresh off a bad breakup, what better remedy than spending time in the sunshine with this handsome actor?

The one-bed trope takes a sweet turn as she's determined to maintain professionalism, initially insisting on sleeping on the floor. 

However, as the story unfolds, their connection deepens into a beautiful closed-door romance that is a favorite of Sarah Adler's and mine too!

Sarah Adler praised this unique twist on the "one bed" trope in this contemporary romance debut novel from O'Leary.

In this story, a man rents out his flat during the day to earn extra money while the renter uses it at night. 

Their paths rarely cross, but once they start corresponding through post-it notes, it creates an endearing connection to one another.

Adler adored the subversion of the "only one bed" trope in this novel that also embraces emotional themes with their backstory.

This Regency romance follows a determined woman who is passionate about geology and needs to recruit a charming local rake to accompany her on a road trip to Edinburgh.

Using the guise of elopement, they adopt various identities along the way. But, the one-bed trope REALLY comes into play when they pose as siblings, leading to unexpectedly funny situations. 

Adler praised this backlist series book published in 2012 as a fantastic Regency romance escape set in the 1800s. 

As this is the second in the Spindle Cove series, she encourages readers to start at the beginning with A Night to Surrender.

Related- The Best Books About Road Trips to Read Now

In this age-gap romance, a childhood actress named Grey Brooks faces a stalled career after her long-running TV show has ended.

Given her situation, she would do anything to get back into the spotlight, including accepting a scheme concocted by her publicist. 

Encouraged to engage in a little fake dating with an aging Hollywood star who has also been down on his luck could, ultimately, benefit them both. 

The problem is when they no longer mind playing pretend beyond the scope of their contract, including navigating that one-bed situation. 

If you love this, check out The View Is Exhausting one of my FAVORITE Hollywood romances written by a wife duo that shared their writing journey on the Book Gang podcast!

It is no secret that Julia Whelan is an incredible audiobook narrator.

Still, readers were in for a delightful surprise when she took us behind the scenes with an audiobook romance that developed between two audiobook narrators assigned to a legendary romance project. 

Sewanee once dreamed of being a famous actress, but a tragic accident forced her to switch gears and become an audiobook narrator.

When she's asked to narrate a romance novel alongside the enigmatic Brock McKnight, readers are given behind-the-scenes access as they talk through the scenes and coach each other on narration.

This steamy romance REALLY delivers on the audiobook experience as Whelan manages to narrate all the voices of her characters.

Whelan is fearless in embracing a trope. One line in the book reads, "It feels like we fell out of a Romance tree and hit every trope on the way down."

In a very meta moment, you can pre-order a copy of the spicy audiobook these fictional narrators were reading.

Between you and me, Julia Whelan's making some power moves in the audiobook industry by owning her content, and this is her first release under the catalog.

You can listen to my Julia Whelan interview on the Book Gang podcast as she discusses her job's beautiful surprises and successes. 

Patrons can also hear her tackle The Real Bookworm Challenge game show we host with our well-read guests.

This is my favorite Abby Jimenez book- there is a reason it was featured on our Best Fiction Books of 2023 list.

In this story, Dr. Briana Ortiz's life is in turmoil with a pending divorce, a challenging new colleague, and her brother's urgent need for a kidney transplant. 

After some abrupt encounters with her new colleague, Jacob Maddox, she is surprised to receive a handwritten apology letter that admits his struggles with social anxiety. 

The two begin corresponding through a format that feels comfortable for Jacob. Still, as they get to know each other more deeply, their correspondence evolves into heartfelt lunch dates and a gift she could have never expected. 

Jimenez artfully weaves in romance tropes like Briana and Jacob getting locked in a room overnight, which added a gorgeous moment in this charming story.

This romance novel is the second book in the Part of Your World series but it can be read as a satisfying standalone.

For the record, this is my favorite Rachel Lynn Solomon book.

This is the love story of two colleagues at a struggling local Seattle Public Radio station who create a talk show focused on breaking up despite never having been in a relationship.

They fabricate a romantic relationship to perfect the concept, delving into each other's lives to create the quirks and problems that make for entertaining listening. 

As they genuinely get to know each other, the lines between fiction and reality blur, and they discover that a real relationship is on the horizon. 

The included radio scripts for the show make this such an enjoyable and laugh-out-loud read that I couldn't put it down and create an immersive experience for the reader. 

This steamy second-chance romance is the first in the Skyland series and a perfect fit for readers craving emotional themes laced into their romance books. 

Yasmen and Josiah are navigating the complexities of co-parenting and the aftermath of a profound loss in their family.

As they navigate their dissolving marriage, they realize they're still navigating lingering feelings, which complicate their new love lives with other people.

This novel is an open-door romance, and due to the loss they are navigating, please check content warnings to see if this is a good fit. 

Once you finish, prepare for the second book in the Skyland series, This Could Be Us, that will BLOW YOU AWAY and hits store shelves this March!

We are excited to host the author on the Book Gang podcast to discuss her moving friends-to-lovers romance. 

This debut romance was such a hit that we featured it in our 2022 Best Beach Reads!

Lee is a dedicated communications director at a women-run electric car company, whose professional success contrasts her carefree life.

The plot takes an unexpected twist five years later when Lee must reunite with her old boyfriend to collaborate on a crucial clean energy bill, challenging her in all the best ways. 

Winstead documents Lee's history of heartbreak that often led to her impulse for relationship sabotage.

But as we learn more about her backstory, we understand Lee's choices.

This story thoughtfully pulls in a political backdrop that doesn’t lean into the negativity, has lots of chemistry between old flames, and loads of witty banter.

Lee is certainly not a traditionally lovable romance protagonist. That's why this novel is one of my recommendations for people as a great entry point to the genre.

The Boyfriend Candidate might be better fit for seasoned romance readers who prefer a more cozy protagonist. For the record, I loved them both! 

Related- Listen to the Ashley Winstead Interview

It's so interesting that this is one of the more polarizing Emily Henry books because I loved this friends to lovers romance filled with witty banter!

In this non-linear storyline, Poppy and Alex, initially acquaintances from college, unexpectedly discover they share a hometown connection that leads to them returning home together on a college break.

As they share a decade-long tradition of an annual vacation, their friendship took an unexpected turn two years ago.

To mend their bond, Poppy persuades Alex to embark on one last vacation, navigating a week filled with mishaps and revisiting the memories that shaped their relationship.

I enjoyed seeing the evolution of this relationship and how Henry utilizes flashback trips to help build deeper connections with these characters.

If you crave a book like When Harry Met Sally, this is the romance novel for you.

The author announced 3 Emily Henry movie adaptations in the works. Stay tuned for details on the People We Meet On Vacation movie news.

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other.

Unfortunately, their publishing house merged, and they now must work together as executive assistants to the two CEOs of the company.

Since they find each other intolerable, the two engage in passive-aggressive behavior to pass the time. 

However, the workplace rivalry between Lucy and Joshua takes an unexpected turn when they end up sharing a hotel room during a business trip.

I recommend this lighthearted, fast-paced romance book on audiobook for the perfect weekend escape. 

The Hating Game movie is available for streaming on Hulu when you finish the book.

Identical twin sisters Ami & Olive couldn't be more different. Ami always has the best luck, and Olive is always her poor, unlucky sister. 

When the entire wedding party gets food poisoning at Ami's wedding, Ami decides to forfeit her honeymoon to Olive and Ethan (the brother-of-the-groom) to both go in their place.

Unfortunately, Olive & Ethan have never gotten along but decide to form a temporary truce to take advantage of the free vacation. 

Being together in such close quarters muddies the waters, and they begin to uncover hidden layers of each other and surprising backstories about their siblings. 

For many years, this was my favorite Christina Lauren book, but Love & Other Words entered my reading life this past year, and this moved to slot #2!

This Emily Henry novel nails the one-bed trope, but it also offers a stunning found family trope among this group of friends.

Henry employs a split timeline narrative to gradually unravel the reasons for the breakup of a seemingly perfect relationship many months ago.

Now, Harriet and Wyn, our beloved couple in peril, are invited to an annual weeklong vacation at a Maine cottage, where they find themselves sharing a bedroom and hiding their secret from their closest friends. 

Henry still manages to crank out blockbuster books that never disappoint as we eagerly await her new book, Funny Story.

In the second book of The Trouble With Hating You series, two exes share not just the same apartment but also the same room and bed, as Preeti Patel navigates the challenges of her residency and family expectations. 

With lingering feelings and a chance at a second love, Preeti and Daniel must find a way to stand up and fight for each other before their second chance slips away.

Readers can enjoy this standalone romance novel.

I can admit that I'm more of a Lynn Painter young adult reader, but for romance readers craving more Lynn Painter moments, this adult romance is a favorite among our readers.

The book opens with a steamy first night between Hallie and Jack, who end up having a sexy adventure in a hotel bedroom at a wedding reception dinner where Hallie is bartending.  

While Hallie claims to be a little fuzzy on the details due to too many drinks, she remembers enough about this one-night stand to find Jack's profile on a dating app when she finally decides to get serious about her dating life. 

Creating a friendly, low-stakes wager on who will find love first enhances their friendship as they act as each other's wingperson through the online dating process. 

Rehashing their dating wins and losses, they know they can rely on each other regardless of the outcome. 

Of course, as you might expect, these moments become their favorite part of the night, but what seals their fate is their decision to fake a date for an upcoming wedding.

Enter the one-bed trope! 

Many readers have fallen in love with the audiobook performance by Kristen DiMercurio and Zachary Webber, offering shifting POVs that enhance the chemistry between these two characters.  

While this novel can be read as a standalone, knowing some overlapping characters from Mr. Wrong Number enhances the reading experience.

I accidentally read this out of order and felt it would have helped to read the first one.

Olive, a third-year Ph.D. candidate, rejects the idea that lasting romantic relationships exist.

But, using her scientific mind, she wants to convince her best friend just how accurate her hypothesis is, so she decides to kiss the first man she sees to prove she won't feel anything.

It turns out that the man she randomly selected for her experiment is her grumpy professor- a situation that becomes problematic when the two catch feelings for one another.

Hazelwood marked my first introduction to the fourth wall playfully being broken in the "only one-bed" trope. 

In a scene where Adam invites Olive to share a room at an academic conference with two beds, she responds, "There will only be one bed, for sure… It's always one bed."

I read this book on assignment for our wedding episode with Byron Lane to celebrate Big Gay Wedding in our The Best Wedding Themed Rom Com Books episode.

This popular sapphic romance stars Delilah Green, who reluctantly serves as the photographer for her stepsister's wedding. 

She discovers an unexpected connection and spark with one of her sister's friends, Claire. 

Against the backdrop of wedding preparations, Delilah and Claire navigate their complicated pasts and one-bed complications in this spicy romance. 

Related- The Best Books About Weddings

For readers that crave a Hallmark movie in a book, this first book in the Lovelight series has been a big holiday hit with readers. 

Lovelight Farms is a small business that has found itself missing its Christmas magic as it faces difficulties with bills and keeping up with the daily maintenance on this tree farm. 

The story turns unexpectedly  when Stella fabricates having a boyfriend for a cash prize contest, setting the stage for a delightful fake dating escapade with her best friend, Luka Peters. 

But if she can win the $100,000 cash prize, she can save the business.

Readers love the chemistry between these characters and describe this as a cozy book destination for winter.  

I recommend the audiobook for this one! 

Ghostwriter Chandler Cohen's career takes a surprising turn when her latest author doesn't recognize her, leading to an underwhelming one-night stand with a stranger.

To her shock, the potential new client for her next project is Finnegan Walsh, the beloved star of a teen werewolf series, and her recent fling, blurring their lines between business and pleasure. 

Solomon always thoughtfully weaves in mental health awareness storylines in her romances. In this novel, she tackles OCD and anxiety.

The author is also known for crafting beautiful stories with Jewish representation, but readers should note that this novel is spicier than her previous book.

The author shared that while the book is a standalone, but it completes her "women in journalism doing questionably ethical things" trifecta she had been working towards.

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This Booktok book gained a viral following and scooped up the Nominee for Best Romance (2021) and Winner for Best Debut Novel (2021) on GoodReads the year it came out. 

Catalina Martín faces a daunting challenge as she scrambles to find a date for her sister's wedding after her fabricated tale of an American boyfriend spins out of control. 

With only four weeks to spare and a transatlantic deception to maintain, she reluctantly accepts the offer of her infuriating colleague, Aaron Blackford. 

As Catalina gets to know Aaron Blackford, the two develop a surprising connection in Spain.

This novel is for our slow-burn romance readers who are okay with longer romance novels, as this novel is almost five hundred pages! 

The author announced the news of The Spanish Love Deception movie, so read the book before you watch the film!