The Emma Romance Book Awards 2024

The RSJ Online Romance Book Convention, sponsored by Diverse Writers and Readers International, is delighted to reveal the top finalists for the Emma Romance Book Awards 2024! The Emma Awards, known as the premier book awards for diversity in romantic literature, is an annual event that recognizes authors of color and their excellence in published romance novels, novellas, and women’s fiction featuring diverse and multicultural protagonists (such as Black, African-American, Latino, Hispanic, Asian, biracial, and more) that are often underrepresented in the publishing world.

This Year’s Romance Book Awards 2024 Competition

The romance book awards 2024 competition was fierce, with every entry shining bright in its own way. The results were exceptionally close, reflecting the incredible talent across diverse subgenres of romance. Each story brought something unique to the book awards 2024 table—whether it was a heartfelt modern love story, a deep dive into cultural connections, or a thrilling adventure that kept us on the edge of our seats. To all participants: thank you for sharing your incredible stories with us because your creativity and talent truly stood out, making this year’s selection process both challenging and inspiring.

Mark your calendars for the announcement of the Emma Romance Book Awards 2024 winners on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. Let’s keep the excitement alive as we continue to celebrate these brilliant authors and their remarkable works! Please join us in congratulating these outstanding book awards finalists:

EMMA BOOK AWARDS 2024 FINALISTS

Judged Book Categories

BEST CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
“A Day in the Life of Strangers” by Harper Black
“Love on the Byline” by Xio Axelrod
 “The Thing About Home” by Rhonda McKnight

BEST INTERRACIAL ROMANCE
 “The Better Half” by Alli Frank & Asha Youmans
 “One Season with the Duke” by Addy Du Lac
 “They Say Love Conquers All” by Lotchie Burton

BEST ROMANTIC COMEDY
“Lost in Liberia” by Saharra K. Sandhu
“Bookworm” by Cookie O’Gorman
“French Vanilla Seduction” by Sharon Blount

BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
“Whispers of the Raven” by Tiana Laveen
“The Wrong Seat” by Natasha D. Frazier
“Homicide At Vincent Vineyard” by Denise N. Wheatley 

BEST NOVELLA ROMANCE
 “Double Happiness” by Jen Trinh
 “Doctor Know” by Mel Walker
“His Montana Star” by Shirley Hailstock

BEST PARANORMAL/SCI-FI ROMANCE
“I’ll Stop the World” by Lauren Thoman
 “Three Wishes” by Anne Shade

DEBUT AUTHOR OF THE YEAR
“One Season with the Duke” by Addy Du Lac
“A Day in the Life of Strangers” by Harper Black
“I’ll Stop the World” by Lauren Thoman

BEST BOOK COVER
“One Season with the Duke” by Addy Du Lac
“The Thing About Home” by Rhonda McKnight
“Double Happiness” by Jen Trinh
“Whispers of the Raven” by Tiana Laveen
“Love on the Byline” by Xio Axelrod
“Homicide At Vincent Vineyard” by Denise N. Wheatley
(All submissions in the Judged Book Award categories are automatically entered into the Best Book Cover category and have been voted on by anonymous readers.)