Awards

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Each year ARRA holds awards for the best romance books in a number of categories. The ARR Awards recognise favourite romance fiction for the previous year as chosen by ARRA members.

The finalists for the 2025 awards were announced on 15 February 2026. They are shown below. Winners will be announced at a special gala dinner in Perth on Sunday 29 March 2026.

Tickets for the awards dinner are available here.

Favourite Paranormal Romance 2025

  • Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh
  • Because the Night by Kylie Scott
  • Ghosted by Amy Hutton
  • Good Spirits by BK Borison
  • It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle
  • Mate by Ali Hazelwood
  • Poison Ivy by Shannon Curtis
  • Shadow’s Heart by Kresley Cole
  • Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz

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Favourite Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Futuristic Romance 2025

  • A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
  • Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
  • Archangel’s Ascension by Nalini Singh
  • Last Chance to Save the World by Beth Revis
  • Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
  • Red City by Marie Lu
  • Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
  • The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
  • The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

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Favourite Historical Romance 2025

  • Lady Elizabeth’s Winter Stranger by Anna Campbell
  • Scandal, Secrets and the Marquess by Karla Kratovil
  • Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife by Anna Campbell
  • The Elusive Earl by Grace Burrowes
  • The Nanny’s Handbook to Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes by Amy Rose Bennett

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Favourite Contemporary Romance 2025

  • A Very English Christmas by Jane Porter
  • An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister
  • Rebel Bride by Kate Meader
  • Settling the Score by Clare Connelly
  • The Bad Bridesmaid by Rachael Johns
  • The Lightning Ridge Ladies by Fiona McArthur
  • The Payback Plan by Amy Andrews

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Favourite Short or Category Romance 2025

  • After-Hours Proposal by Trish Morey
  • Cupid Country Challenge by Cathryn Hein
  • Cupid Country Chance by Cathryn Hein
  • Holding Out for a Hero by Dakota Harrison and Fiona Marsden
  • How to Lose a Cowboy in Ten Days by Kaz Delaney
  • One Starry Christmas Night by Barbara Hannay
  • The Cowboy Takes a Nanny by Kaz Delaney
  • The Midwife’s Christmas Miracle by Fiona McArthur
  • The Outback Cowboy’s Christmas Baby by Kelly Hunter
  • The Venice Reunion Arrangement by Michelle Douglas
  • Their Patchwork Family by Fiona Marsden

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Favourite Romantic Suspense 2025

  • Bonded in Death by JD Robb
  • Challenging Her Protector by Charlee James
  • Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong
  • Framed in Death by JD Robb
  • Nowhere to Hide by TC Jensen
  • Risky Passion by Kendall Talbot
  • Risky Romance by Kendall Talbot
  • Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms by Claire Kingsley
  • The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold by Ally Carter
  • The Honey Pot Plot by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
  • Whispers and Wildfire by Claire Kingsley

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Favourite Continuing Romance Series 2025

  • A Mayfair Christmas Romance series by Anna Campbell
  • Hope Creek Series by Alyssa J Montgomery
  • Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole
  • In Death series by JD Robb
  • Literary Lovers series by Jodi McAlister
  • Love at Langley Park series by Jane Porter
  • Not in Love series by Ali Hazelwood
  • Psy-Changeling Trinity series by Nalini Singh
  • The Karma Club series by Amy Andrews, Clare Connelly, Pippa Roscoe and Rachael Stewart
  • The Parasol Academy series by Amy Rose Bennett
  • With Love, From Kurrajong Crossing series by Dakota Harrison and Fiona Marsden
Favourite Debut Romance Author 2025

  • Brooke Crawford
  • Chrissie Bellbrae
  • Elise Helliwell
  • Holly Brunnbauer
  • Libby Iriks
  • Mandy Louise
  • Megan Wild
  • Melissa Finch
  • Rian Birch
  • Saskia Anders

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Favourite Australian Romance Author 2025

  • Amy Andrews
  • Anna Campbell
  • Clare Connelly
  • Emma Mugglestone
  • Fiona Marsden
  • Fiona McArthur
  • Jodi McAlister
  • Kali Anthony
  • Kelly Hunter
  • Rachael Johns
  • Trish Morey

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MEMBERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

Favourite Australian-set romance 2025

  • An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister
  • Deadly Games by Hope Everly
  • In the Long Run by Emma Mugglestone
  • Rough Stock by Mel A Rowe
  • Sharing Forever in Hope Creek by Alyssa J Montgomery
  • The Bad Bridesmaid by Rachael Johns
  • The Lightning Ridge Ladies by Fiona McArthur
  • The Outback Cowboy’s Christmas Baby by Kelly Hunter
  • What Did I Miss by Holly Brunnbauer

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Favourite romance couple 2025

  • An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister (Sadie and Jonah)
  • Bonded in Death by JD Robb (Eve and Roarke)
  • Comeback by Rebecca Jenshak (Archer and Sabrina)
  • Dating Dr Love by Rachel Dove (Chloe and Logan)
  • In the Long Run by Emma Mugglestone (Genevieve and Knox)
  • Murdered in Shadows by Tanya Nellestein (Ashleigh and Chad)
  • Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (Maya and Conor)
  • Rough Stock by Mel A Rowe (Craig and Izzy)
  • Settling the Score by Clare Connelly (Sienna and Aiden)
  • Sharing Forever in Hope Creek by Alyssa J Montgomery (Callie and Jack)
  • The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley (Aurienne and Osric)
  • The Lightning Ridge Ladies by Fiona McArthur (Bella and TJ)
  • The Payback Plan by Amy Andrews (Paige and Oliver)

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Most original story in a romance 2025

  • Better Than the Real Thing by Brooke Crawford
  • Good Spirits by BK Borison
  • In the Long Run by Emma Mugglestone
  • Second Chance Under the Mistletoe by Kandy Shepherd
  • Settling the Score by Clare Connelly
  • Sharing Forever in Hope Creek by Alyssa J Montgomery
  • The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton
  • The Honey Pot Plot by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
  • The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
  • The Lightning Ridge Ladies by Fiona McArthur
  • The Payback Plan by Amy Andrews
  • Woodstock by Michelle Montebello
  • Yours Until Forever by Nina Levine

 

Winners from previous years can be found here: