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At my core, I’m a romance gal. I live for the soft moments, the banter, and getting into the tropes we love or love to hate. But what really makes a book stand out to me? When it reflects authentic, diverse lives — including stories where disabled people get to be front and center in their own love stories.
That’s why I put together this list of 8 standalone romance books and 3 series that feature disability representation — beautifully, boldly, and without apology. These books celebrate disability not as a tragedy or obstacle to be “overcome,” but as a part of everyday life — with all the messiness, joy, spice, and love that comes with it. 🧡
Because love is for us, too. We flirt. We fall in love. And we deserve our happy endings. So, whether you're looking for inclusivity, a little steam, or stories that just feel real — I hope there's something here for you.
Let’s get into it. 📚
Below are eight standalone romances and three series I adore or have added to my TBR List—each with joyful, heartbreaking, healing love stories. We’ll highlight:
- Genre/subgenre
- Disability representation
- Color connection to the Disability Pride Flag
1️⃣ Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rep: Amputee
Flag color: Red (physical)
A witty, flirty college-set romance where Jason— a veteran and a college instructor with a prosthetic leg, meets Reese— the sharp and quick-witted woman whose not afraid to challenge him. It brings heart, humor, and major steam. What makes Getting Schooled stand out isn’t just the banter or slow-burn love story, but how disability is normalized. Jason’s amputation isn’t sensationalized — it’s simply a part of who he is. Their enemies-to-lovers romance is journey about mutual respect, vulnerability, and healing.
2️⃣ Knot My Type by Evie Mitchell
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Rep: Spinal Tumors, Wheelchair User, Chronic Pain
Flag color: Red (physical)
Frankie — a sexologist, podcast host, and wheelchair user, is confident, witty, and fiercely independent. When she hires a rugged, broody handyman to help with an accessibility project, sparks fly in unexpected (and steamy) ways. Knot My Type doesn’t shy away from desire or humor — it leans into it. Frankie’s disability isn’t a limitation, but part of the story’s honesty. This lighthearted, trope-filled romance includes an upbeat love story infused with real representation that's inclusive, funny, and unapologetically body- and disability-positive.
3️⃣ Reel by Kennedy Ryan
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Emotional Drama
Rep: Discoid Lupus
Flag color: White (invisible), Green (sensory), & Red (physical)
When Neva, a stage actress living with Lupus, is cast in a groundbreaking biopic by an up-and-coming director, their creative collaboration quickly becomes something deeper. But with her illness affecting everything from energy levels to career dreams, Neva must navigate vulnerability on and off stage. Reel is emotional and sweeping, portraying chronic illness as an honest part of life, not something that diminishes a woman’s worth or desirability. It’s about legacy, love, and living boldly in your truth.
4️⃣ Hate Notes by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rep: Chronic Illness (To Avoid Spoilers)
Flag color: Red (physical) & White (invisible)
When bold, newly single Charlotte finds a love note stitched into a wedding dress, it leads her straight to Reed—a brooding real estate mogul who’s all sharp edges and buried secrets. Their chemistry? Instant and combustible. As snark turns to steam and guarded hearts start to crack open, Charlotte learns that Reed’s past—and his present—run deeper than she ever expected. Hate Notes blends sizzling banter and emotional depth, weaving chronic illness into a romance that’s as heartwarming as it is deeply human, proving vulnerability can be just as sexy as desire.
5️⃣ The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Rep: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Flag color: Gold (neurodivergent)
Stella Lane is brilliant with numbers but struggles with social cues and intimacy—something she attributes to being on the autism spectrum. Determined to get better at dating, she hires Michael, a charming escort with his own emotional scars, to help her learn the ropes. What starts as a calculated plan turns into something real, tender, and seriously steamy. The Kiss Quotient is a modern, inclusive twist on Pretty Woman—only this time, it’s the woman doing the hiring. With a refreshingly honest portrayal of autism—focusing on how Stella experiences the world and relationships differently, it celebrates neurodivergence, consent, and unexpected love in all the best ways.
6️⃣ Yes, & I Love You by Roni Loren
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rep: Social Anxiety Disorder, Selective Mutism
Flag color: Blue (psychiatric/emotional)
Hollyn is a hilarious, sharp-tongued entertainment writer—online. In real life, her social anxiety and selective mutism make everyday interactions feel like Olympic events. Enter Jasper, a charismatic improv actor with his own baggage, who isn’t just drawn to her—he sees her. What follows is a slow-burn romance full of warmth, humor, and undeniable chemistry. But what truly sets Yes, & I Love You apart is how it shows mental health and communication disabilities with nuance and compassion. Hollyn’s selective mutism isn’t something to "fix"—it’s part of how she navigates the world, and Jasper learns to meet her exactly where she is.
7️⃣ Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rep: Chronic Migraines
Flag color: White (invisible) & Green (sensory)
Eva Mercy is a bestselling author and single mom living with chronic migraines. When she reconnects with Shane Hall — a writer and old flame with his own demons — their love story unfolds over seven emotionally charged days. Seven Days in June is layered with trauma, tenderness, and sensuality. Eva’s migraines aren’t hidden or minimized; they’re written into her life, her parenting, and her creative process. It’s a story about second chances and surviving with softness in a world that demands hardness, and shows how love can navigate fluctuations in illness without losing warmth.
8️⃣ His Tesoro by Emilia Rossi
Genre: Contemporary Mafia Romance, Dark Romance
Rep: hEDS (Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), Wheelchair + Rollator User, Service Dog
Flag color: Red (physical)
Sofiya, living with hEDS and using assistive aids, doesn’t expect her arranged marriage to a mafia Don to offer anything close to comfort and safety—let alone desire. But Matteo is unexpectedly tender, learning how to care for her body, boundaries, and needs (in and out of the bedroom) with patience and precision. Showing you don’t have to be able-bodied to be absolutely irresistible, His Tesoro is deeply sensual, affirming, and kink-aware, with disability written into every part of Sofiya’s life without being the whole story. Proof that power and pleasure don’t require perfection—just the right partner.
📖 Series Spotlight
Perfectly Imperfect Series by Neva Altaj
Genre: Mafia Romance, Dark Romance
Rep: Various—each book includes disability or chronic illness representation (e.g., PTSD, Chronic Pain, Amputation, Sensory Impairment, Mental Health Conditions)
Flag color: The Full Spectrum
Neva Altaj’s Perfectly Imperfect Series isn’t just mafia romance—it’s a bold, heartfelt celebration of flawed journeys, where trauma and disability don’t define the hero or heroine—they enrich them. Whether it's a hero adapting to life with an amputation or a heroine managing invisible illness, each story highlights that strength comes in many forms and that these characters still command respect, power, and love— regardless of their challenges. The chemistry is gripping, the representation uplifts, and the steam is hot. If you like your romance bold, broken, and beautifully resilient, this series is for you.
The Brown Sisters Trilogy by Talia Hibbert
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Rep: Various: Fibromyalgia, Autism, Chronic Pain, Anxiety, ADHD
Flag colors: The Full Spectrum
The Brown Sisters Trilogy is a diverse, laugh-out-loud rom-com series following three very different sisters as they stumble into love while navigating life with chronic illness, anxiety, and neurodivergence. From Chloe’s journey with fibromyalgia, to Dani’s struggles with anxiety, to Eve and Jacob’s beautifully portrayed autistic love story—each book centers disability as a natural, powerful part of who these characters are. Talia Hibbert blends heart, heat, and humor into stories that celebrate self-worth, joy, and love that sees and accepts all of you. This series is a fantastic pick for readers looking for rom-coms with depth that give you a slow-burn + high-heat.
Bergman Brothers Series by Chloe Liese
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Rep: Various: Autism, Deafness (with hearing aids and cochlear implants), Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Migraines, ADHD
Flag colors: The Full Spectrum
Each book in this series focuses on a different sibling in a big, loud Scandinavian-American family full of love, banter, and beautifully diverse disability representation. Whether it’s an autistic heroine, a deaf soccer player, or a hero managing chronic illness, Chloe Liese's Bergman Brothers Series is a collection of feel-good, spicy stories with care, joy, and emotional depth—normalizing disability without losing the swoon. So if you're looking for a masterclass in inclusive, emotionally intelligent romance, be sure to add this series to your TBR List.
🌈 Why Representation Matters
These romances aren’t just about falling in love—they're about seeing ourselves fully: in passion, in pain, in everyday moments. Each flag color connection reminds us that disability is diverse, and representation needs to be too.
- ✨ Physical disabilities (Red): bodies that move differently, but still stand tall in love.
- ✨ Neurodivergence (Gold): minds that love deeply, uniquely.
- ✨ Invisible/Emotional (White/Blue/Green): struggles unseen on the surface, felt in heart and mind.
💬 Let’s Talk
I want to hear from you: Which romance featuring disabled characters will make your TBR List? Is there a book or series I should add? Drop your recs below or tag me on socials using #ExclusivelySouled.
If you want to learn more about Disability Pride Month, the flag, or what its colors represent, feel free to check out my post "What Disability Pride Really Means" to get a deeper dive.
Hashtags:
#DisabilityPrideMonth | #RomanceWithRep | #DisabilityRepresentation | #InclusiveRomance | #DisabledAndProud | #ExclusivelySouled | #LoveIsForEveryone | #DisabilityInLit
✍ Until next time,
Exclusively Souled ✌
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