Romance Book Awards
Comprehensive guide to awards for romance writers. From contemporary romance to historical and paranormal, find the perfect competition for your love stories.
About Romance Book Awards
Romance fiction, one of the bestselling book categories, has a rich tradition of awards celebrating excellence in the genre. Romance Writers of America (RWA) presents the prestigious Vivian Awards (formerly RITA Awards) for published romance and the Golden Heart for unpublished manuscripts.
Awards cover all romance subgenres including contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and inspirational romance. Many awards also recognize indie and self-published romance authors.
Major Romance Awards
Vivian Awards (formerly RITA)
Romance Writers of America's highest award honoring excellence in published romance fiction. Multiple categories.
Golden Heart Awards
RWA award for the best romance manuscript by an unpublished author. Launching pad for many bestselling authors.
Romantic Novel of the Year
RNA's top award for the best romantic novel published in the UK. Categories include contemporary and historical.
Romantic Book of the Year (RuBY)
Australian Romance Readers Association award voted by readers.
Romance Subgenre Awards
Indie Romance Awards
Romance Awards FAQ
What happened to the RITA Awards?
The RITA Awards were rebranded as the Vivian Awards by Romance Writers of America. The award continues to honor excellence in published romance fiction.
Can unpublished romance writers enter awards?
Yes! The Golden Heart Awards specifically recognize unpublished romance manuscripts. Many RWA chapter contests also accept unpublished work.
Do romance awards accept self-published books?
Most major romance awards now welcome self-published romance novels. The indie romance market has grown significantly, and awards have adapted accordingly.
What romance subgenres have dedicated awards?
Many subgenres have specific awards: romantic suspense (Daphne du Maurier), paranormal romance (PRISM), inspirational romance (INSPY Awards), and historical romance (various chapter awards).