You've Got Books: 10 Reads Inspired by '90s Rom-Coms
Fall is the ultimate comfort season for me. It's time for cozy clothes, comfort foods, comfort reads, and a rotation of favorite movies I've probably seen a hundred times. I tend to gravitate toward anything these days that makes me feel nostalgic, and a lot of those warm, fuzzy feelings trace back to when I was a kid in the '90s. Some of my favorite comfort movies came out during that decade, and I find myself returning to them as the days get shorter. I don't know what it is about fall that makes everything feel a little more romantic but whatever it is, '90s rom-coms feel right at home this time of year.
The meet-cutes, charming towns (mostly Seattle), almost-but-not-quite romances, and inevitable happy endings never seem to get old. And that same feel-good formula shows up in plenty of books, too. So if you're in the mood for reads that give you that nostalgic feeling, here are 10 reads inspired by some of the most memorable rom-coms of the '90s.
Pretty Woman (1990)
Pretty Woman is one of those '90s rom-coms that's become a classic, even if parts hit a little differently today. The fashion is still iconic, though, and the big-city glamour and Cinderella-inspired love story make it a memorable piece of '90s movie history.
If You Like Pretty Woman, Try:
The Kiss Quotient
by Helen Hoang
If Pretty Woman is your kind of unlikely-love-story classic, The Kiss Quotient offers a modern twist. Stella is a successful mathematician who hires Michael to help her navigate dating, but their practical arrangement soon turns into something neither of them planned.
Father of the Bride (1991)
Father of the Bride is one of my favorite movies of all time. Watching George Banks try to wrap his head around his daughter getting married while slowly losing his mind over the price of everything is peak '90s Dad. But Frank? Frank is my favorite. He's absolutely hilarious, and steals every scene he's in. Between the wedding chaos, the family dynamics, and all the little moments that make you laugh, it's one of those movies I can watch over and over again.
If You Like Father of the Bride, Try:
The Wedding People
by Alison Espach
If the wedding chaos in Father of the Bride is your vibe, The Wedding People is worth adding to your TBR. It’s full of wedding-week drama, unexpected connections, and the kind of characters you can’t help but get invested in.
singles (1992)
My older sister was obsessed with singles, and I never felt like I was cool enough to be watching it. Set in Seattle’s grunge scene, the movie follows a group of twenty-somethings navigating dating, friendship, and figuring out what they want out of life. Between the flannel, the soundtrack, and tangled relationships, it’s a pretty perfect snapshot of the early ’90s.
If You Like singles, Try:
High Fidelity
by Nick Hornby
Much like singles, High Fidelity by Nick Hornby mixes music, dating, and the occasional questionable life choice. Rob runs a record store and revisits his top five breakups, trying to make sense of his romantic history. It's a good pick for anyone who appreciates the soundtrack as much as the movie.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Sleepless in Seattle is one of the many movies on this list set in Seattle. I love stories where the characters don't know what we know, and watching them catch up is the best part. I'm also a big fan of the friendship between Rosie and Meg. Their dynamic is one of my favorite parts of the movie.
If You Like Sleepless in Seattle, Try:
The Flatshare
by Beth O'Leary
What if your next great love story started with a shared apartment and a stack of notes? In The Flatshare, Tiffy and Leon split a flat but work opposite schedules, so they get to know each other through little messages before they ever meet. It has that same fun anticipation as Sleepless in Seattle, where you’re waiting to see how two people will finally find their way to each other.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Four Weddings and a Funeral follows Charles, a charming but commitment-shy Brit who keeps running into the same American woman, Carrie, at weddings. Between awkward encounters, close friendships, and a few unexpected turns, he starts to wonder if he’s been looking for love in all the wrong places. It’s funny, a little bittersweet, and full of the kind of wonderfully awkward moments that make '90s rom-coms so good.
If You Like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Try:
One Day
by David Nicholls
For another story about timing, friendship, and two people who keep finding their way back to each other, pick up One Day. Emma and Dexter meet on graduation night and stay connected over the years, as their lives change and their relationship shifts. Like Four Weddings and a Funeral, it mixes humor with the more complicated side of love.
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
While You Were Sleeping is one of my favorites, mainly because the romance builds for a majority of the movie. You just know Lucy and Jack belong together, even as the whole situation gets more complicated. Watching them find their way to each other is so satisfying, I just love this movie!
If You Like While You Were Sleeping, Try:
Me Before You
by Jojo Moyes
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes brings that same emotional pull, following Louisa Clark as she takes a job caring for Will Traynor. Their connection starts out unexpectedly, but as they get closer, they change each other’s lives in ways neither could have imagined.
One Fine Day (1996)
One Fine Day is such a fun snapshot of '90s rom-coms, with Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney playing two single parents whose days go completely off the rails when they end up juggling work and their kids together. The '90s really loved the enemies-to-lovers trope.
If You Like One Fine Day, Try:
The Match
by Sarah Adams
In The Match, a professional matchmaker who helps others find love unexpectedly finds a connection of her own. Between family life and a romance she didn't see coming, it's a sweet, easygoing read about seeing what happens when you let someone surprise you.
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
People are OPINIONATED about My Best Friend’s Wedding, and I have to say I love this movie. The late '90s outfits, and that iconic poster are some of my favorite parts of this movie. It's one of those movies where the style alone makes it worth revisiting, even if Julianne's plan is questionable at best.
If You Like My Best Friend's Wedding, Try:
Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating
by Christina Lauren
In Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren, two friends decide to help each other find love, only to discover their own relationship might be worth looking at in a different way. It has that same will-they-won’t-they tension as My Best Friend’s Wedding, with two people figuring out that sometimes love looks a little different than you expected.
You've Got Mail (1998)
Did you read that in the AOL voice? Hard to believe this movie is nearly 30 years old. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks make their second appearance on this list with You’ve Got Mail, are you surprised? The bookstore setting doesn’t hurt, either. Two rival booksellers falling for each other online while competing in real life is such a good premise, and the '90s New York vibe makes it even better. And Tom Hanks, obviously.
If You Like You've Got Mail, Try:
To Sir, With Love
by Lauren Layne
To Sir, with Love is a modern-day setup of You've Got Mail. She starts falling for someone she meets through a dating app, but in real life, she can’t seem to get along with him. We love an enemies-to-lovers trope!
10 things I hate about you (1999)
I love, love, love 10 Things I Hate About You. Heath Ledger, the poem scene, Kat's quirky dad. It's one of those movies I think everyone should watch at least once, and it's just as good every time I watch it.
If You Like 10 Things I Hate About You, Try:
The DUFF
by Kody Keplinger
Bianca (like Kat) has no interest in high school popularity contests, but when things get complicated with her crush, she turns to Wesley, a notorious heartbreaker, for help. The DUFF has the same teen drama and sharp humor that make 10 Things I Hate About You so fun, with a heroine who has plenty to say and no interest in sugarcoating it.
Whether you grew up watching these movies or discovered them later, the '90s gave us some rom-coms worth revisiting. And just like your favorite movies, a good book can bring back that familiar feeling. Head to your library or open Libby to find your next comfort read.
Published Oct 13, 2026
Amanda Patton
Amanda is a creative marketing professional with 18 years of experience creating content across social media, print and digital marketing. She aims to create content that brings attention to public libraries and the important work they do through trending topics, nostalgia, humor, and more. Outside of work, you can find her behind her camera, thrifting, playing the piano, or stopping whatever she’s doing to pet a dog.