Romance
Read Romance Classics in English
349 romance books at CEFR A2 to C2 — learn English by reading the stories worth reading. Select any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration read the page aloud, and save the vocabulary you meet. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
What are the best romance classics to read in English as a learner?
The best romance classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with The Bronze Bell, The Broken Cup and The Broad Highway. Each one is labelled with a CEFR level, any word you do not know is one selection away from a translation, and the narration reads the page aloud while it highlights the words.
- 349
- books
Level B2RomanceThe Boy Ranger; or, The Heiress of the Golden HornA young ranger races against time to save Dick Sherwood from a harsh frontier justice in the isolated settlement of Clontarf’s Post, where danger lurks in the shadows of the prairi…
Level B2RomanceThe Bow of Orange Ribbon: A Romance of New YorkIn 18th-century New York, amid blossoming gardens and rising trade, Joris Van Heemskirk navigates a world of political ambition and deep-rooted family pride, where love and legacy…
Level B2RomanceThe Border Riflemen; or, The Forest Fiend. A Romance of the Black-Hawk UprisingIn a rugged frontier cabin framed by wild beauty, a young woman faces the dark obsession of a dangerous suitor, sparking a tense struggle for her freedom and safety amid the loomin…
Level B2RomanceThe Border LegionIn a rugged Idaho borderland teeming with lawlessness and gold fever, Joan Randle confronts a wild mountain and a reckless love—torn between bitter resentment and undeniable passio…
Level B2MysteryThe Bishop's purseOn a brief train ride from Dover to London, an American girl’s unexpected charm captivates an English bishop, while a mysterious, sorrowful woman with a hidden past stirs curiosity…
Level B2RomanceThe BirthrightA man sets out to clear his name and reclaim the land he believes is his birthright, confronting family betrayal, dark rumors, and dangerous smugglers in a rugged Cornish landscape…
Level B2RomanceThe Big Blue SoldierAs World War I ends, Miss Marilla anxiously awaits the return of her nephew, Lieutenant Richard Chadwick, longing to see him in his soldier’s uniform and bask in the hero’s glow, w…
Level B2RomanceThe Beggar ManIn a bustling blouse factory, timid Faith navigates the harsh world of noisy machines and tough coworkers, forging an unlikely friendship with the bold and fierce Peg while confron…
Level B2RomanceThe Bars of IronIn a rugged Queensland town, a fearless young Englishman confronts a drunken bully, igniting a tense clash fueled by pride and passion.
Level B2Science FictionThe Bacillus of Beauty: A Romance of To-dayIn the bustling heart of New York, a man returns to find the woman he loved transformed beyond recognition, plunging him into a surreal mystery where beauty and identity blur in a…
Level B2RomanceThe Arizona CallahanAmid the wild, treacherous shores of the Beaver Islands, a fierce storm hides a mysterious boatwreck and a lone man battling the elements in a fragile canoe.
Level B2RomanceThe Alpine Fay: A RomanceIn a secluded Alpine valley, a proud baron fiercely protects his ancestral estate from an encroaching railway company determined to claim his land.
Level B2RomanceThe Adventure of Princess SylviaA spirited princess defies convention, dreaming not of a mere suitor but the Emperor himself—her ideal match in a world where royal blood and political power collide.
Level B2RomanceTerry: A Tale of the Hill PeopleIn the snow-covered hills, Terry, a young man torn between tradition and his own spirit, embarks on a winter hunt that leads him back to a rigid village where old codes rule and qu…
Level B2MysteryTempest-Driven: A Romance (Vol. 2 of 3)Torn between love and looming tragedy, Jerry O'Brien faces a desperate struggle as his friend Alfred’s life hangs in the balance, while shadowy legal battles over salmon weirs thre…
Level B2MysteryTempest-Driven: A Romance (Vol. 1 of 3)A mysterious woman pleads for help from a locked house where her husband lies ill, sparking a tense night of secrets and danger in a quiet London neighborhood.
Level B2RomanceTales of RomanceIn a richly wooded medieval England, an outlaw named Robin Hood defies the law to protect the poor and challenge the powerful.
Level B2RomanceTales of King Arthur and the Round Table, Adapted from the Book of RomanceIn a turbulent Britain without a king, a mysterious sword embedded in stone challenges knights to prove their right to rule.
Level B2RomanceSydney Lisle, the Heiress of St. QuentinOn a rainy London afternoon, young Sydney Lisle eagerly awaits the arrival of her family, clutching a letter that promises her first literary success and a guinea prize—launching h…
Level B2RomanceSweet Clover: A Romance of the White CityA recent Harvard graduate faces the bittersweet challenge of leaving college life behind while navigating family expectations and social invitations before embarking on a possible…
Level B2RomanceSusanOn the eve of a seaside trip, Susan’s sudden uncharacteristic behavior puzzles her employer, revealing the hidden depths behind her cheerful facade and sparking a delicate explorat…
Level B2RomanceSunshine and shadow, or, Paul Burton's surpriseIn a serene New England farm, Nettie Spaulding, a once-wealthy city girl, faces sorrow and change as she finds refuge with kind relatives by the lake, seeking hope and happiness am…
Level B2RomanceStubborn peopleIn a sun-scorched frontier town, stoic homesteader Jim Hunter battles stubborn pride and unyielding land, haunted by letters that stir both hope and bitterness.
Level B2RomanceStories of the RailroadAmidst the grit and grind of 1863 railroad life, a young fireman finds family and hope with the seasoned engineer James Dillon and his wife, who secretly plans a Christmas gift tha…
Level B2RomanceStella RoseveltA young orphan braves a terrifying Atlantic storm aboard a lonely steamer, finding unexpected comfort in the silent presence of a mysterious old man amid the ship’s desperate strug…
Level B2RomanceSome honeymoon!A steadfast businessman meets a captivating woman on a transatlantic voyage, sparking an unexpected romance that challenges his lifelong singlehood and business-first mindset.
Level B2RomanceSome buildersA man reeling from a devastating betrayal escapes the city’s strain for solitude in the countryside, where chance encounters and unexpected guests promise to challenge his pain and…
Level B2RomanceSoldiers of FortuneAt a high-society gathering, Alice Langham finds herself seated next to a mysterious cowboy with a wild past, while navigating the complexities of love and society's expectations.
Level B2MysterySix Feet FourA fierce mountain storm traps a diverse group of strangers at a remote road house, where secrets and suspicions brew as they await the arrival of a missing stagecoach driver.
Level B2RomanceSir Harry: A Love StoryA novelist-turned-vicar settles into the evocative Royd Castle, where moonlit glades and ancient walls inspire both literary dreams and tender hopes as he awaits his wife and the n…
Level B2RomanceSilver and Gold: A Story of Luck and Love in a Western Mining CampIn a rugged Western mining camp shadowed by a mysterious prophecy, a grizzled miner wrestles with fate, fortune, and a captivating artist’s love, as silver and gold symbolize choic…
Level B2MysteryShuddering castleIn a secluded Long Island castle, a reclusive family’s quiet life shatters when a scientist’s quest to contact Mars via radio sparks eerie phenomena and a mysterious visitor from t…
Level B2RomanceSheilah McLeod: A Heroine of the Back BlocksIn a remote South Pacific island, a rugged overseer clashes with a bold new missionary determined to impose his will, igniting a fierce battle of wills amid stunning tropical beaut…
Level B2RomanceSheavesIn a whimsical tale where the dead trader Hugh Grainger playfully haunts his Indian companions, children Jim and Daisy, bedtime stories unfold with humor and mystery, blending ghos…
Level B2RomanceSet in SilverTorn between her American roots and European sophistication, Audrie navigates friendship, ambition, and unexpected nerves during a summer in Switzerland.
Level B2RomanceScandalIn a dazzling New York summer, Beatrix Vanderdyke, society's brightest debutante, defies expectations by secretly consorting with Sutherland York, a charming yet controversial port…
Level B2Science FictionRuth's Marriage in Mars: A Scientific NovelIn a mystical hilltop sanctuary blending ancient faiths and psychic visions, a mysterious princess finds healing and spiritual awakening among a royal family dedicated to soul deve…
Level B2RomanceRustlers beware!A young cattleman joins a notorious gang led by hardened killers on a secretive and dangerous mission across Wyoming, unsure if the cause is noble or sinister.
Level B2RomanceRound Anvil Rock: A RomanceIn the shadow of ancient cottonwoods along the wide, peaceful river bends of 1811 Kentucky, a tender romance unfolds amid the whispers of the wilderness and the echoes of vanished…
Level B2RomanceRose of Old HarpethIn a charming rural setting, Rose Mary’s spirited hospitality and sharp wit meet Everett, an earnest man on a quest for oil in the Sweetbriar Valley.
Level B2RomanceRose o' the RiverA river-bound community stirs to life as Stephen Waterman, a true child of the Saco, embraces the river’s beauty and the promise of a new day—where nature’s charms mingle with the…
Level B2MysteryRosalind at Red GateA mysterious telegram summons a stranger to a secluded house at Annandale, thrusting the narrator into a web of enigmatic troubles and unexpected duties.
Level B2RomanceRockhavenOn the rugged island of Rockhaven, Jess Hutton’s unexpected sale of a granite quarry sets off a wave of change among fishermen and friends, stirring fortunes, rivalries, and buddin…
Level B2RomanceRobert Tournay: A Romance of the French RevolutionAgainst the backdrop of pre-revolutionary France, a servant’s son navigates the sharp divides of class and passion as noble alliances are forged without love, while revolutionary i…
Level B2RomanceRevelations of a Wife: The Story of a HoneymoonA newlywed woman confronts the realities of marriage, reflecting on her doubts, past pain, and the promise to record their journey.
Level B2FantasyRedcoat Captain: A Story of That CountryIn a whimsical army where elephants guard the fort and promotions depend on passing ABCs, a young Redcoat Captain named Tiny dreams of marrying Mabel and securing a cozy home amid…
Level B2RomanceRed HairA young woman, unexpectedly disinherited and branded an adventuress, faces a pivotal meeting with the man destined to inherit her home—and possibly her future.
Level B2MysteryRancho Del Muerto, and Other Stories of Adventure: by Various Authors, from "Outing"A paymaster and his cautious clerk arrive at a sinister Arizona ranch haunted by past murder and shadowed by a ruthless proprietor.