There exists, in the vast sunburnt heart of Australia, a particular magic woven into the red dust and eucalyptus air—the sort of enchantment that only the finest Australian romance novels can capture. If you are seeking love stories set beneath the Southern Cross, tales of second chances blooming in vineyards and cattle stations, you have arrived at just the right place.
Here, dear reader, you shall discover the most splendid Australian romance novels of 2025 and 2026, from RUBY Award winners to beloved rural romances that shall make your heart flutter like a cockatoo taking flight at dawn.
Falling Down Under by Errin Krystal
If one were to bottle the essence of Australian romance—the warmth of an outback sunset, the intoxicating promise of second chances, the delightful chemistry between two souls who once loved and lost—one would have Falling Down Under, the first enchanting novel in the Seven Sisters Vineyards series.
Georgia Bailey, a London socialite who has tumbled rather spectacularly from fortune’s favour, finds herself returning to her grandparents’ vineyard in rural Australia. There, amidst the grapevines and the occasional resident kangaroo (for what Australian tale would be complete without one?), she reunites with Jared—her childhood sweetheart turned rather grumpy chef.
The book delivers what readers describe as “the ultimate second-chance romance.” As one utterly charmed reviewer proclaimed, it is “like spending a day with close friends after not seeing them for a while,” taking readers “through the full range of emotions but leaving them with a warm satisfied feeling.”
For those who adore the grumpy-sunshine dynamic—where a perpetually scowling hero meets his match in an irrepressibly sunny heroine—this tale delivers in abundance. The Australian setting rings gloriously true, with one Australian reader noting they “had to laugh at how accurate it was at times.”
Each book in the Seven Sisters Vineyards series stands complete on its own, with no cliffhangers to vex the reader—only happy endings to warm the soul.
Read a sample of Falling Down Under
Return to Hope Creek by Alyssa J. Montgomery
Winner of the 2025 RUBY Award for Long Contemporary Romance, this tale brings together two world-class athletes whose paths cross most unexpectedly. When former tennis champion Stella Simpson purchases half a rural property to heal from both a devastating car accident and a broken engagement, she discovers her former love Mitchell Scott—an NFL quarterback—has bought the other half. Forced proximity and old flames make for rather spectacular rekindling.
An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister
For those who fancy enemies-to-lovers seasoned with intellectual sparring, Dr Jodi McAlister has crafted a most delightful confection. Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals for thirteen years, and when they both desperately need the same university position, Sadie hatches a most peculiar scheme—marriage. A fake marriage, naturally. Though one suspects it shan’t remain entirely fake for long.
Cockatoo Cove by Maya Linnell
Set upon South Australia’s stunning Limestone Coast, this rural romance weaves together the tale of cattle stud owner Maggie West and Scottish winemaker Fergus Abernathy. With border collies, beaches, and baking aplenty, Maya Linnell has crafted another heartwarming gem. The author, who grew up in a small country town climbing towering gum trees, infuses each page with the richness of Australian rural life.
Karly Lane’s Rural Romance Collection
With over 600,000 books sold and twenty-five novels celebrating rural Australia, Karly Lane has become the veritable queen of Australian country romance. Her Callahans of Stringybark Creek series enchants readers with small-town charm, whilst standalone gems like North Star and Bridie’s Choice explore love blooming against the backdrop of sprawling Australian properties. Her newest offering, Needle in a Haystack, arrived in 2025.
The Farmer’s Wife by Rachael Treasure
The sequel to the iconic Jillaroo—the novel many credit with launching Australian rural romance—The Farmer’s Wife follows Rebecca Saunders as she confronts the realities of marriage, motherhood, and a struggling farm. Rachael Treasure, who has worked as a jillaroo, rural journalist, and station manager, writes with what critics call “true grit, wit and warmth.”
Fiona Palmer’s Outback Tales
From her tiny Western Australian town of Pingaring, Fiona Palmer has penned eighteen beloved novels that capture the essence of outback life. Her novel Matters of the Heart—a Pride and Prejudice retelling set in rural Western Australia—demonstrates her range, whilst her earlier works like The Road Home and Outback Heart remain reader favourites.
Fleur McDonald’s Detective Dave Burrows Series
Dubbed “The Voice of the Outback,” Fleur McDonald combines romance with rural suspense across twenty-four novels. With 950,000 book sales and a new four-book deal for The Prospect (set in lawless Kalgoorlie), she continues to captivate readers who crave both love and mystery beneath Australian skies. Her novel The Shearer’s Wife particularly showcases her talent for weaving romance through gripping rural narratives.
Nicole Alexander’s Historical Sagas
For readers who prefer their Australian romance steeped in history, Nicole Alexander delivers magnificently. A fourth-generation grazier whose family worked the same land from 1893 to 2020, she brings unparalleled authenticity to novels like The Bark Cutters and Stone Country. Her meticulously researched tales transport readers to Australia’s pastoral past whilst never forgetting the beating heart of human connection.
The Last of the Bonegilla Girls by Victoria Purman
Based upon the author’s own mother’s postwar migration to Australia, this sweeping historical novel follows three young immigrant women—from Greece, Hungary, and Italy—who form an unbreakable friendship at the Bonegilla migrant camp. Spanning decades of Australian history, it offers romance interwoven with themes of belonging, survival, and the enduring power of friendship.
Understanding the RUBY Awards
For those unfamiliar with Australian romance’s most prestigious honour, the RUBY (Romantic Book of the Year) Awards are presented annually by Romance Writers of Australia. These awards celebrate excellence across categories including Long Contemporary, Short Contemporary, Historical, Romantic Suspense, Speculative Fiction, and Diverse Romance.
The 2025 winners, announced at the RWA conference in Hobart, Tasmania, included Return to Hope Creek by Alyssa J. Montgomery and A Most Improper Duchess by Alivia Fleur. The 2026 awards shall be announced at the annual conference, typically held in August.
Where Australian Rural Romance Takes You
The best Australian rural romances understand that the land itself becomes a character. Whether set in South Australian wine country, the red dust of Queensland cattle stations, or the sweeping Western Australian wheat belt, these novels transport readers to places both vast and intimate.
From vineyard romance to outback suspense, from second-chance love stories to enemies-to-lovers academic adventures, Australian romance offers something for every reader who dreams of love beneath endless blue skies.
May you find yourself utterly lost in these pages, dear reader, and may the magic of Australian romance transport you to vineyards and cattle stations, to small towns where everyone knows your entire life story, and to love stories as warm and enduring as the Australian sun.
