A dark thriller set mainly in GLASGOW
Ten Great Love Stories set in CALIFORNIA
13th September 2025
Ten great love stories set in California. California provides a vibrant and diverse backdrop for love stories, capturing the essence of both sun-drenched romance and more complex relationships. From the golden beaches of Malibu to the bustling streets of San Francisco, some of the state’s iconic landmarks become integral characters in these books.
The state’s unique blend of cultural influences, from surf influence to Silicon Valley innovation, offers an endless well of settings, making California an ideal place for writers seeking to write unforgettable tales of love.
Here are ten of our favourite love stories set in the State.
Between Boyfriends by Sarka-Jonae Miller – SAN DIEGO
At first glance, twenty-one-year-old Jan Weston has it all: a gorgeous boyfriend, fun friends, and wealthy parents who take care of all those pesky credit card bills.
Then her boyfriend dumps her, her friendships fall apart, and her parents cut her off. Suddenly without money, without a man, and without a plan, it’s time for Jan to grow up.
Determined to get her life back on track, Jan decides it’s time to make it on her own. Can she find her way as a single lady in San Diego? Can she fix her friendships, her job prospects, and her hair? And can she keep her vow that she’ll never date again, even after she meets a guy who just might be perfect for her?
Good-bye To All That by Margo Candela – HOLLYWOOD
Getting ahead in Hollywood poses a challenge for Raquel Azorian, a lowly marketing assistant at a major production company, and while she has ambition, energy, and smarts, the heroine of Candela’s wry latest doesn’t have a mentor or even a boss who can hold it together. Determined to chart a course that will save her job and yield a well-deserved promotion, Raquel goes Working Girl, calls on her few friends, and begins making big plans. When a sexy superior takes an interest in her, there’s equal potential for success and disaster: meanwhile, her parents and brother have plenty of problems and lean on Raquel for help. Candela (More Than This) combines a cunning wit with a deep understanding of the office politics specific to the entertainment industry to create a frantic atmosphere and a near breathless momentum as the story barrels toward an ending that’s anything but your focusgrouped happy fade-out.
Sweet Waters by Julie Carobini – CALIFORNIA COAST
A woman with a broken heart, a firefighter with a past, and the secrets that can only complicate things …
In this small-town romance, jilted Tara leaves home to chase after the fairy tale life she once knew in Otter Bay. Soon she meets handsome but complicated firefighter Josh–and several mysterious faces from long ago.
But what happens when lies unfold and the fairy tale turns out to be a bad reality show instead?
Despite their second chance at love, Tara and Josh find themselves at odds with family, their faith, locals at the Red Abalone Grill—and each other.
Can they face their truths together … and be set free?
The California Club by Belinda Jones – HOLLYWOOD, SAN DIEGO, YOSEMITE
When Lara Richards jets off to glamorous California, the last thing she’s expecting is to find her old friend Helen transformed from a clipboard-clasping frump into a shimmering surf goddess. The secret of her blissful new life? The mysterious California Club.
So the offer of guest membership – one wish, guaranteed to come true by the end of their stay is one Lara and her friends can’t resist. Could this be Lara’s chance to win her best friend Elliot’s heart after ten years of longing? Or does the fact that he’s travelling with his brand new fiancée mean that Lara will have to come up with a new dream…?
Undeniably You by Jewel E Ann – PALO ALTO
One crazy dog—one awkward vet—one naked pool guy—and one life-changing month in California to make friends, fall in love, and twist fate.
Who gets paid to walk a dog and recline by the pool all day? Sydney Montgomery, aspiring museum curator and professional house-sitter, that’s who.
When her aunt and uncle need a house and dog sitter for thirty days in Palo Alto, Sydney can’t turn down the chance to be closer to her sister in L.A. Within twenty-four hours of her arrival, Sydney’s cleaning up runny dog poo, taking an uncooperative pooch to a handsome yet awkward vet, and being rescued from the bottom of the pool by a naked “pool guy.”
Lautner, “pool guy,” has a hot body and a cool persona. With eyes of iridescent blue oceans, he is mesmerizing, sexy, and addictive. What he is not—the pool guy.
Dr. Lautner Sullivan is a college wide receiver turned pediatric resident. He knows how to woo a woman with flowers, pastries, and sweet tea. Lautner is every girl’s dream, but Sydney is not every girl. She’s immune to rainbows, fairytales, pixy dust, and the “L” word.
The attraction is immediate, the friendship is earned, and the love is undeniable. Thirty days is their forever, but forever is not long enough.
Blood and Sand by Elizabeth Hunter – SAN DIEGO
Dead women are showing up in the desert east of San Diego, and no one understands why. When the story comes to the attention of reporter Natalie Ellis, she can’t help but make comparisons to the tragic deaths she’d investigated years ago. Are these women the victims of a serial killer, or something even more insidious?
Bodies may be piling up in his sire’s territory, but water vampire and feared enforcer, Baojia, is stuck entertaining the rich and clueless at a club in San Diego. He’s taken his exile with all the grace he could muster, but his patience is starting to thin.
Sparks fly when mortal and immortal are thrown together, and Natalie comes face to face with a reality that was lurking in the corners of her life. Pursuing the truth could cost Baojia everything, including the mortal woman who has earned his grudging respect.
I Heart Hollywood by Lindsey Kelk – LOS ANGELES
Celebs, sunshine and beautiful boys…enough to lead a girl astray?
Angela Clark can’t believe her luck… she’s an English girl living in New York with a dream job at hip magazine The Look and a sexy boyfriend.
Her latest assignment takes her to Hollywood to interview hot actor and fellow Brit James Jacobs.Thrown in at the deep end she heads west with best friend Jenny dreaming of Rodeo Drive and Malibu beach.
Soon Angela discovers that celebrity life in Hollywood is not all glamour, gloss and sunshine. Despite his lady-killer reputation, the only person who seems genuine is James.
Then a paparazzo snaps them in an uncompromising position and suddenly Angela is thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons…
Can she convince all those close to her – especially her boss and her boyfriend – not to believe everything they read? And will Hollywood ever win Angela’s heart?
Summer Nights by Allie Spencer – SAN FRANCISCO
There’s nothing quite like a holiday with your boyfriend.
Flora Fielding can’t wait for Barney to join her in San Francisco so they can begin their dream holiday. Until Barney dumps her, leaving her stranded. Luckily, Flora’s cousin Bella lives in San Francisco and, with nowhere else to go, Flora pitches up at her door.
As a singer in an Abba tribute band, Bella’s life is a whirlwind of gigs, sparkly jumpsuits and nights on the town. And as Flora gets caught up in the excitement, she doesn’t have time to worry about her broken heart.
In fact, she’s so distracted that before she knows it she’s running along a moonlit beach with a very handsome stranger.
On A Night Like This by Ellen Sussman – SAN FRANCISCO
They met in high school, but had nothing in common: Blair Clemens, a Bohemian chick who kept to herself, and Luke Bellingham, the golden boy – rich handsome, and destined for greatness. Now, years later, Luke has fulfilled his early promise and become an acclaimed screenwriter. Blair is a struggling single mother with a teenage daughter, a job as a chef, and a tragic secret that will test all her emotional resources. Still as feisty and offbeat as ever, Blair loves only her daughter – until she crosses paths once again with Luke Bellingham. Now Blair is faced with the decision of a lifetime: what to do when the right man comes along…but at the wrong time.
This Is One Moment by Mila Gray – CALIFORNIA
Didi Monroe’s waited her whole life for the type of romance you see in the movies, so when Hollywood heartthrob Zac Ridgemont sweeps her off her feet, Didi believes she might finally have met the one.
While Zac’s away filming for the summer, Didi begins her internship at a military hospital in California. There, she meets wounded Marine Noel Walker. Frustrated on the outside and broken on the inside, Walker’s a pain-in-the-ass patient who refuses all help.
Yet Didi can’t help but be drawn to him, and though he’s strictly out of bounds it soon becomes impossible to ignore the sparks flying between them.
As the attraction simmers into dangerous territory, Didi finds herself falling hard for a man she knows is going to break her heart. Because Walker doesn’t believe in love or happy ever afters. So what possible future can there be?
Then tragedy hits, shattering both their worlds, and Didi is forced to choose between fighting for love or merely falling for the illusion of it.
Enjoy our selection of love stories set in California!
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