Purple is my favorite color.
I’ve had an affinity for nearly all shades of purple from lavender to plum for as long as I can remember, so I decided it would be fun to put together a list of books I’ve enjoyed that feature purple (or at least purplish) covers.
Many of them are romantic comedies, since that’s one of my most-read genres. But there are also some contemporary romances, historical fiction, a sci-fi/fantasy option, and one dual timeline mystery.
I hope you find a new purple book to try from this list! I might even decide to do more color-themed lists, so be sure to let me know what your favorite color is!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I might make some extra coffee money at no extra expense to you if you buy something through one of my links. Read more about that here.
Amazon Description:
Can a librarian’s matchmaking mischief lead to a love that rewrites their stories?
If the covers of every romance book ever published didn’t convince librarian Evangeline Kelly that she isn’t heroine material, her fiancé calling off their wedding when she lost her hair to alopecia did. But what’s a girl head over heels for love to do when her feelings are unrequited? Matchmake, that’s what. Armed with library patrons’ check-out histories, she’s determined to make at least one love connection–even if it’s not her own.
Tattoo artist Tai Davis is used to people judging him with a single glance, so it doesn’t surprise him when the town’s quirky new librarian believes his bad-boy reputation without giving him a chance. He can’t help being intrigued by her, though, so when he discovers Evangeline’s secret matchmaking scheme, he’s not above striking a bargain with her. She just has to agree to one date with him for every time she uses his hometown knowledge to set up library patrons on a romantic rendezvous. The deal is made, but in the process, they both might learn you can’t judge a book–or each other–by the cover.
Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire
Amazon Description:
I will NOT fall for the smart-mouthed, pretty-boy billionaire who owns Oakley Island. But his yacht is another story …
Love and happily-ever-after? It’s not for me. I’m much happier keeping everyone at arm’s length, focusing on my government cybersecurity work. But then I push things a little too far and hack my way into trouble. When I need to lay low and stay off the radar for a bit, what better place to do so than on Oakley Island with my sisters?
With limited housing options, I reluctantly agree to stay on the yacht of the very annoying Benedict King—the billionaire who has been messing—flirting?—with me since we met. I did NOT agree, however, to a voyage out to sea. But I wake up to find the yacht that should be docked and empty somewhere in the Atlantic with two government agents tasked with babysitting me and one Benedict King.
Who also lied about being my boyfriend. Typical rich man—thinking he can take whatever he wants. But he won’t take my heart. Not even when I see his softer side, see behind his walls, see the real man behind the reputation. Honestly, this might be more dangerous than any of the other trouble I stirred up. Because if I fall for Benedict King, I’m not sure there’s any hope of rescue.
Amazon Description:
Evie told herself not to fall for her pro-hockey crush. But when she sees him holding her baby girl, all bets are off.
When Evie moves South to the same mountain town where her childhood crush plays pro-hockey, she arms herself with all the reasons why she can’t fall for him again.
Number one: Alec is her best friend’s much older brother.
Number two: She’s recently divorced and does not need another man in her life. At least not anytime soon.
Number three: With a four-month-old daughter, she has zero time for dating.
Trouble is, Evie doesn’t know another soul in North Carolina, so when her rental floods before she’s even moved in, her only option is to crash with Alec for a few weeks. When she protests, he insists it’s what he’d do for his sister, and that’s basically what she is to him. But all these years later, the unexpected chemistry between them definitely says otherwise.
A new relationship is risky when Evie is still licking her wounds from her divorce, and she has no idea if Alec has any desire to be a dad. His sister already warned he isn’t the type to settle down. But she can’t make herself care about any of that. Not until she’s already fallen, and it might be too late to save herself from another heartbreak.
Amazon Description:
Sometimes what you think you want and what you actually want turn out to be different things . . .
Rosie Waterman has one dream: to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn’t been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does–puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she’s been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie’s been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?
When she’s offered a job as the director of a regional theatre’s production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance–even though she’s only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she’ll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the “regional theatre” is actually in a retirement community, and the “actors” are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.
Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn’t turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It’s not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?
Amazon Description:
It’s the most hateful time of the year…
There’s only one thing Olivia Griswold hates more than Christmas: her brother’s best friend, Aaron Marino. The NHL’s favorite playboy has hordes of adoring fans, but to her, he’s still the cocky jerk she’s loathed since high school.
So, when Olivia’s plans go awry and she’s forced to spend the holidays with her roommates from hell, the last thing she expects is for Aaron to offer her a place to escape. His place, to be exact.
In return, all she has to do is be his date to his hockey team’s charity gala. It seems like an offer too good to refuse, but Olivia soon discovers that sleeping behind enemy lines is a dangerous game—especially when the enemy looks like that.
She knows she’s playing with fire, but she’s got it under control. No matter what, she’s not going to let herself get burned again. And they do say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer…
Amazon Description:
Clementine has accidentally freed a British genie from his ancient British teapot, and she’s not thrilled about it.
However, appalled by Alaric’s living conditions—and grudgingly impressed by his jawline—she vows to set him free. But before he can join the human world, he must prove he can live like a human—and he must do it in one month, or he’ll fade away for good. As Clementine and Alaric embark on a series of How to be Human lessons, and as they pretend to date in order to discourage the men trying to woo her thanks to a wish gone wrong, the two of them discover that being human is more complex than they expected—and that love can be found between the unlikeliest of pairs.
Amazon Description:
She could be the one.
I’ve spent twelve years caring for my niece Maddie who I adopted after my sister died. Having a daughter has made me picky when it comes to the women I spend time with. But when I spot MJ at a mutual friend’s wedding, something draws me toward her.
My friend tells me to forget about her, but how can I when she becomes Maddie’s art teacher and our paths cross again?
I ask her out, she turns me down. Rinse and repeat. But I don’t plan on giving up any time soon. My instincts are always right, and they’re telling me Meadow Jane Carter might just be my future wife.
Amazon Description:
What do I have to lose by letting Nora use my kitchen? Apparently, my heart.
It’s been three years since my last relationship blew up like an atomic bomb. I haven’t dated since and would be totally happy to stay single forever – if the extrovert in me wasn’t so darn lonely.
When my sister-in-law introduces me to Nora and not-so-subtly suggests that I should let her use my kitchen for her online cooking show, I quickly decide it’s a win-win. Nora will have a nice place to film and I’ll get home-cooked meals and some company out of the deal.
What I’m not counting on is that the more time we spend together while she teaches me to cook on camera, the more drawn I am to this beautiful, funny, overthinking woman. She’s kind and supportive, can cook the heck out of anything, and brings out the best in me. It seems like she’s into me too, but can I trust her? Is she actually keeping secrets from me or is the trauma of my past messing with my perception?
As the show and our relationship continue to grow, I know I need to decide if exploring a future with Nora is worth the risk.
Amazon Description:
He’s Hollywood’s biggest star. She wouldn’t know him from the pizza delivery guy.
I’m a wildlife biologist in a tiny mountain town, not some kind of law-breaking celebrity stalker. At least not on purpose. It was an accident when I wandered onto the property of one of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars. Five minutes ago, I’d never even heard of Flint Hawthorne. I definitely didn’t know he lives in Silver Creek.
When I’m detained for trespassing, the last thing I expect is to trade my handcuffs for a designer gown. All I wanted was permission to conduct my research on a remote corner of his estate. Now I’m walking the red carpet of a Hollywood movie premiere as Flint’s (very fake) girlfriend.
At least, the relationship is supposed to be fake. But the way he slips his arm around me, his breath tickling my ear, the chemistry feels like something real. The trouble is, I’m not really built to handle his fast-paced celebrity life. Most days, I prefer the company of squirrels to people. I should be glad we’re only pretending. I’m just not sure my heart got the memo.
Amazon Description:
People who say keep your enemies closer never took a road trip with a guy who hated their guts.
A month ago, my identity as Dr. Love was a secret. A month ago, I thought I was getting engaged. A month ago, I wasn’t stuck with the guy who hates me most in the world.
Now… if I don’t make nice with my #1 hater, I might lose my book deal. Without that, I’m not sure what I have left.
But when I’m forced on a publicity tour with everyone’s favorite guy, the guy who says I ruined his relationship, I didn’t know how low I could go. At every stop, I get roasted and he gets more revered.
You would think after a while, I would hate him too. And you would be very, very wrong…
Amazon Description:
Amelia Pembroke is in a unique position in Regency England: She can obtain financial freedom. But in order to do so, she must marry one of two gentlemen. The trouble is, she might be falling in love with another man entirely.
1819, Kent, England: Everything changed the moment Amelia became heiress to Moorington Cross. A young widow and patient at Cluett’s Mesmeric Hospital, Amelia is stunned to learn that her doctor–and the only father figure she’s ever known–has altered his will naming her his primary beneficiary. Such an opportunity is beyond what any Regency-era woman could dare to dream–especially one with a sleeping disorder that finds her falling asleep at the most random of times.
There is, however, a perplexing condition attached to the will: she must wed one of two named men, wholly unknown to her. Doing so would provide her with a secure future. But how can she marry one of these men when her heart is intrigued by the charming solicitor, Mr. Hawkins?
Everything takes on a new sense of urgency–and danger–when Mr. Cluett is found dead in his bedchamber only hours after announcing his updated will. Now Amelia only has thirty days to decide which man she will marry. But she is just as determined to uncover the truth of her benefactor’s demise with the help of Mr. Hawkins. After all, this sudden turn of events couldn’t merely be a coincidence–could it?
Amazon Description:
Greta Nilsson’s trip west to save her ailing little sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.
Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He’ll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt’s ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family with Greta. But when old insecurities and surprising revelations arise, can a union born out of desperation survive?
Amazon Description:
When a mysterious man turns up at Grace’s family-run inn, there’s instant attraction. But she’s already got a lot on her plate: running the Bluebell Inn by herself now that her siblings and co-owners have moved on, getting her new store Blue Ridge Outfitters off the ground, and coping with a childhood event she’d thought was long past.
A gunshot wound has resurrected the past for secret service agent Wyatt Jennings, and a mandatory leave of absence lands him in Bluebell, North Carolina. There he must try and come to grips with the crisis that altered his life forever.
Grace needs experience for her new outfitters business, so when Wyatt needs a mountain guide, she’s more than happy to help. As their journey progresses, Wyatt begins opening up to Grace, and he finds himself drawn to Grace’s fresh outlook and sense of humor.
There’s no doubt the two have formed a special bond, but will Wyatt’s secrets bring Grace’s world crashing down? Or will those secrets end up healing them both?
Amazon Description:
After Aggie Dunkirk’s career is unceremoniously ended by her own mistakes, she finds herself traveling to Wisconsin, where her grandmother, Mumsie, lives alone in her rambling old home. She didn’t plan for how eccentric Mumsie has become, obsessing over an old, unsolved crime scene–even going so far as to re-create it in the dollhouse.
Mystery seems to follow her when she finds work as a secretary helping to restore the flooded historical part of the cemetery. Forced to work with the cemetery’s puzzling, yet attractive archeologist, she exhumes the past’s secrets and unwittingly uncovers a crime that some will go to any length to keep quiet–even if it means silencing Aggie.
In 1946, Imogene Grayson works in a local factory and has eyes on owning her own beauty salon. But coming home to discover her younger sister’s body in the attic changes everything. Unfamiliar with the newly burgeoning world of criminal forensics and not particularly welcomed as a woman, Imogene is nonetheless determined to stay involved. As her sister’s case grows cold, Imogene vows to find justice… even if it costs her everything.
Other Read. Eat. Repeat. book lists you might enjoy:
- 19 Fantastic Fairytale Retellings
- 14 Clean Hockey Romances
- 8 Single Parent Rom-Coms You’ll Love
- Christmas Book Guides
Amazon Description:
I am finally over my crush on Duke. Completely done.
Duke’s always been like a big brother to me … a big brother with abs of steel, a heart of gold, and those dimples that make my heart rate double whenever he smiles. As far as Duke’s concerned, I’ll always be his best friend Chris’ little sister—the little girl who dunked his Darth Vader action figure in Elmers glue and glitter.
Even if Duke noticed me, it wouldn’t matter. I’m so off limits, I may as well be wearing an outfit made entirely of caution tape. We both know Chris would enlist a special ops tactical team to hunt Duke down if he ever pursued anything beyond friendship with me.
Good thing I’m over Duke. One hundred percent attraction-free, that’s me. Well, mostly … until I accidentally send him one of my usual scrambled texts (thank you, autocorrect) … and he thinks I’m hitting on him. I’m mortified enough to momentarily consider relocating someplace obscure like Greenland. I can never show my face around town again. I’ll buy a parka and an ice pick and learn to love fish. A lot.
But then Duke answers my text… Am I dreaming? He’s not mad. He’s not even making fun of me. In fact, it seems like he might be flirting back. I guess I might not be completely over this crush after all. Just don’t tell my brother.
Amazon Description:
A 6’5 NHL goalie walks into a bar and meets the love of his life… no, this isn’t the start of a bad joke.
I had a chance encounter in a dimly lit bar that led to an earth-shattering kiss with a beautiful stranger. But the next morning my world is rocked again–when I walk inside my team captain’s house and see her.
Farrah Remington isn’t a mysterious stranger after all, she’s the little sister of my captain and best friend. A woman firmly off limits to anyone on the D.C. Eagles. Now, I have to pretend that kiss never happened. But the more I see Farrah, the hotter our chemistry burns, and the stronger our connection grows—until we can’t resist each other any longer.
Sneaking around isn’t ideal, but what my team captain doesn’t know won’t hurt him (or piss him off in the middle of Stanley Cup playoffs). I’m with my dream girl and my team is sailing through playoffs… until the truth comes out.
Now my captain hates me, I can’t keep pucks out of my net to save my life, and the woman I love won’t speak to me. Can I save my relationship, my friendship, and enough goals to help the D.C Eagles finally win the Cup… or will I get shut out of Farrah’s life forever?
Amazon Description:
Nova’s job is to harvest dream threads from unaware humans to sustain her sunless planet against a malicious parasite. But on one particular night, she enters the dream of a boy who knows her-who has been dreaming of her for a long time. And in that moment, everything changes.
Arlo’s dream-girl always told him about a wonderous world beyond his imaginings, but he never thought that world could be a real escape from the traumatic realities he daily faces. Until the night that Nova becomes more than just a dream. Now Arlo must decide if escaping his trauma is worth the cost of following his dream-girl into a new reality.
As Nova and Arlo draw ever closer together, so too does the darkness in both their worlds grow stronger. In the end, it just might turn out that the only way to defeat the nightmares plaguing both their lives is for them to face the possibility of eternal separation.
Amazon Description:
A desperate prince.
A daring outlaw.
A dangerous flirtation.
In the Wilds of Kandala, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade has been watching people suffer for too long. A mysterious sickness is ravaging the land and the cure, Moonflower Elixir, is only available for the wealthy. So every night, she defies the royal edicts and sneaks out, stealing Moonflower petals and leaving the elixir for those in need.
In the palace of Kandala, Prince Corrick serves as the King’s Justice, meting out vicious punishments and striking fear into the hearts of agitators and outlaws. Corrick knows he must play this role convincingly–with a shortage of elixir and threats of rebellion looming ever closer, the King’s grip on power is tenuous at best, and Corrick knows his brother is the kingdom’s best hope for survival.
But when an act of unspeakable cruelty brings the royal and the outlaw face to face, the natural enemies are faced with an impossible choice–and a surprising spark. Will they follow their instincts to destroy each other? Or will they save the kingdom together . . . and let that spark ignite?
Amazon Description:
A fairy-tale journey of intrigue and romance that reimagines the classic Pied Piper story.
A plague of rats. A giant beast outside the village walls. A host of missing children. And one young woman determined to save her people.
In 1424 Hamlin, Katerina faces threats from all sides. An outbreak of rats has overtaken the village, a mysterious beast is on a killing rampage of the village’s children, and Katerina’s evil stepfather is a dark presence inside the walls of her own home. Katerina is determined to hunt and kill the Beast of Hamlin herself before more lives are lost.
When Steffan, the handsome but brash duke’s son, comes to town seeking glory and reward, Katerina decides he might be the ally she’s been looking for—even though the only gentle thing about him seems to be the sweet music he plays on his pipe. But there’s more to Steffan than she suspects, and she finds herself drawn to him despite her misgivings.
Together Katerina and Steffan must stop the enemy from stealing the children of Hamlin. But their interference might create an even worse fate for the entire village.
5 Bonus Middle Grade Picks:
You don’t have to be a kid to read these amazing middle-grade novels! From a rogue robot to a novel in verse to a modern classic, these books for kids are sure to delight readers of all ages.
Amazon Description:
In Lee Bacon’s novel The Last Human, in a future when humans are believed to be extinct, what will one curious robot do when it finds a girl who needs its help?
In the future, robots have eliminated humans, and 12-year-old robot XR_935 is just fine with that. Without humans around, there is no war, no pollution, no crime. Every member of society has a purpose. Everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Until the day XR discovers something impossible: a human girl named Emma.
Now, Emma must embark on a dangerous voyage with XR and two other robots in search of a mysterious point on a map. But how will they survive in a place where rules are never broken and humans aren’t supposed to exist? And what will they find at the end of their journey?
Humorous, action-packed, and poignant, The Last Human tells a story about friendship, technology, and challenging the status quo no matter the consequences. It’s not just about what it means to be a robot—it’s about what it means to be a friend.
Amazon Description:
Zander Olinga’s grandmother is the owner of the fabled Number Nine Plaza, the spectacular nineteen-story skyscraper. The Nine, as it’s called, has everything imaginable, including a massive Ferris wheel on its rooftop, monorail tracks suspended from its ceiling, and twenty-five glass elevators. But there’s something evil looming in the shadows, and strange accidents start befalling the guests.
When Zander and his friend Natasha come across a series of inscriptions hidden throughout the walls of The Nine, they discover that the clues will lead them to a magical object which protects the store’s very existence. With the future of The Nine on the line, the pair are determined to recover the mysterious object before the luxury plaza and its many guests are destroyed.
Amazon Description:
When twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up waking up to a nightmare. She’s alone—left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned.
With no one to rely on, no power, and no working phone lines or internet access, Maddie slowly learns to survive on her own. Her only companions are a Rottweiler named George and all the books she can read. After a rough start, Maddie learns to trust her own ingenuity and invents clever ways to survive in a place that has been deserted and forgotten.
As months pass, she escapes natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. But Maddie’s most formidable enemy is the crushing loneliness she faces every day. Can Maddie’s stubborn will to survive carry her through the most frightening experience of her life?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Amazon Description:
Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go.’
When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in front of him, it’s the start of another far from ordinary year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter. Sirius Black, escaped mass-murderer and follower of Lord Voldemort, is on the run – and they say he is coming after Harry. In his first ever Divination class, Professor Trelawney sees an omen of death in Harry’s tea leaves… But perhaps most terrifying of all are the Dementors patrolling the school grounds, with their soul-sucking kiss…
Amazon Description:
Moonpenny is a tiny island in a great lake. When the summer people leave and the ferries stop running, just the tried-and-true islanders are left behind. Flor and her best, her perfect friend, Sylvie, are the only eleven-year-olds for miles and miles—and Flor couldn’t be happier. But come the end of summer, unthinkable things begin to happen. Sylvie is suddenly, mysteriously, whisked away to school on the mainland. Flor’s mother leaves to take care of Flor’s sick grandmother and doesn’t come back. Her big sister has a secret, and Flor fears it’s a dangerous one.
Meanwhile, a geologist and his peculiar daughter arrive to excavate prehistoric trilobites, one of the first creatures to develop sight. Soon Flor is helping them. As her own ability to see her life on this little lump of limestone evolves, she faces truths about those she loves—and about herself—she never imagined.