Every product on this page was carefully chosen. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through a link. See my full disclosure.
If you’re already planning your 2026 reading calendar, same. This upcoming romance lineup has everything I look for in a great love story: second chances that actually hurt a little, fake dating that spirals fast, enemies who very clearly want to kiss, and emotional stakes that go way beyond just “will they, won’t they.”
These are the romances I’m genuinely excited to get my hands on — the ones with messy feelings, high tension, and characters who feel like real people making imperfect choices. Whether you’re in the mood for cozy, angsty, swoony, or all three at once, these upcoming romance books are firmly on my radar.
January Romance Books 2026
The Odds of You by Kate Dramis (Jan 6)
If you love a good “oops, we’re fake dating” romance with actual heart behind it, this one sounds like a winner. Sage is a stressed-out author running from writer’s block, Theo is a charming British actor who accidentally gets her pulled into a tabloid swirl, and somehow their Comic Con misunderstanding turns into…well, something neither of them can deny. And when Sage escapes to Scotland to clear her head, Theo shows up again — which is honestly the best kind of miscalculation.
Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey (Jan 20)
Marriage of convenience + lifelong pining + a Yankees catcher who’s basically Golden Retriever Boyfriend Energy? I’m in. Madden has been in love with Eve forever, and when she suddenly needs stability (and health insurance), he swoops in with a proposal. She only agrees if they keep it secret — but this is Tessa Bailey, so the “fake” part doesn’t last long. It’s messy, steamy, and full of that signature yearning she does so well.
Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen (Jan 27)
I’m such a sucker for a “marriage on the brink” romance, and this one adds forced proximity on a Hawaiian cruise — which honestly feels dangerous in the best way. Roslyn and Liam are divorcing, grieving, and pretending everything’s fine for one last family trip. Fake smiles, shared cabins, old habits creeping back in… it’s giving second chances and emotional reckoning. Sink-or-swim romance lovers, this one’s for us.
February Romance Books 2026
Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake (Feb 3)
This one is giving summer heat, art drama, and the most deliciously complicated setup: April ends up rooming with the woman who unknowingly stole her ex-fiancée. Sparks, tension, and hate-at-first-sight vibes? Absolutely. But as they teach art classes at a lakeside resort and compete for a huge career opportunity, their prickly dynamic softens into something surprisingly tender. A quietly emotional, beautifully queer slow burn.
Just For the Cameras by Meghan Quinn (Feb 3)
If you’re in the mood for a grumpy/sunshine sports romance with full-on rom-com chaos, this has your name all over it. Graydon is a surly football star who wants zero publicity; Maple is a zookeeper who loves her flamingos more than most people. When they’re shoved into a PR stunt together, the banter starts flying — and the fake flirtation quickly starts feeling real. It’s messy, funny, and the chemistry is off the charts.
Promise Me by Sara Cate (Feb 10)
This is pure angst, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Declan and Colin were everything to each other — until one night changed it all. Now Colin’s back, engaged to someone else, and Declan has exactly one week to decide whether to risk his heart (and his family’s expectations) or lose the love of his life forever. I’m bracing myself for yearning, regret, and some truly devastating “what if” moments.
Still Into You by Erin Connor (Feb 10)
Second-chance romance + music industry drama is my catnip, and this one hits both. Sloane finally lands the interview of her dreams…with the rock star ex she never got over. The tension between career ambition and unresolved love is deliciously messy, especially when the truth she wants to tell clashes with the story everyone else expects. I’m anticipating longing looks, old wounds, and a love that refuses to stay in the past.
And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Feb 10)
SEP is back with another Chicago Stars romance, and it’s bringing retro-feeling charm with a modern twist. Dancy, a former Hollywood It Girl, hides out at her old boyfriend’s lake house — only to find he’s now a superstar quarterback with a very justified grudge. Forced proximity, old sparks, a rescue dog, and a whole lot of emotional cleanup give this second-chance romance that classic SEP blend of humor and heart.
And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison (Feb 24)
Think When Harry Met Sally but with battling meteorologists snowed into an assignment they can’t escape. Jackson is a rule-following radio host; Delilah thrives on chaos and adventure. When they’re sent to cover a historic storm, their rivalry melts into unexpected friendship…and then something warmer. It’s opposites attract with cozy winter vibes and a slow-burn chemistry that sneaks up on both of them. Forecast: 100% chance of swoon.
March Romance Books 2026
No Matter What by Cara Bastone (March 3)
If you love emotional, grown-up second chance romances, this one feels like a heart-squeezing knockout. Roz and Vin are married but barely speaking after a traumatic accident changes everything. When Roz signs up for figure drawing classes — and Vin ends up volunteering as her model — they finally start seeing each other again in all the ways that matter. Tender, intimate, and hopeful in the most human way.
Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian (March 3)
Cat Sebastian doing contemporary enemies-to-lovers? I’m already sold. Simon and Charlie have spent a decade sniping at each other on the set of a sci-fi show, but when they agree to fake a friendly front for the press — and end up on a reluctant road trip — their bickering starts to look a lot like flirting. It’s nerdy, tender, awkward, and beautifully slow-burny.
In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde (March 3)
If you’re here for high-stakes workplace tension, this MLB romance is serving. Reese is the league’s first female team owner, under constant scrutiny and determined not to slip. Emmett is the team’s fiery, opinionated field manager who absolutely pushes her buttons. Their chemistry crackles, their arguments spark, and trying to keep things professional? Impossible. A power-duo romance with real bite.
Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score (March 10)
Zoey needs a career comeback, not a relationship — especially not with her tall, steady, heartbreakingly wholesome landlord. Gage wants a wife, not chaos. They agree they’re wrong for each other…until one night proves otherwise. Between the small-town charm, family drama, and opposites-attract tension, this one feels like pure Lucy Score: messy, funny, heartfelt, and addictive.
Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner – March 10
Reality TV + second chance romance + a superyacht? Say less. Ember is living her dream on a Mediterranean show…until the producers bring in Finn, the boy who once broke her heart. With cameras following their every accidental touch and every not-so-accidental argument, their unresolved history is impossible to hide. It’s angsty, dramatic, and perfect for readers who love a little emotional turbulence. I need popcorn for this.
How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh (March 10)
A writer/editor forced proximity romance set in a crumbling Irish estate? It’s giving cozy, chaotic, and irresistibly flirty. Ciara inherits her father’s unfinished fantasy finale — and staring down a deadline with a massive case of writer’s block. Enter Sam, the editor sent to “help” (read: annoy) her into finishing the book. As summer heats up, so does their connection, and suddenly the real love story might be happening off the page.
Thirty Love by Tom Vellner (March 10)
If you want a tennis romance, this debut is bringing all the heat. Leo is desperate to win the US Open before thirty, Gabe is the rival he can’t stop thinking about, and the pressure — from his father/coach, from the sport — is crushing him. When Gabe drops a bombshell announcement, Leo’s whole world shifts. Competitive tension + longing + big emotional stakes = yes.
Love Song by Elle Kennedy (March 17)
I loved The Deal and Him, so I trust Elle Kennedy to deliver a swoony second chance romance. Blake is hiding at her family’s Tahoe home after a breakup, determined to avoid men…until Wyatt, the musician who once bruised her pride, shows up too. Their chemistry is undeniable, their timing is terrible, and one perfect summer turns into the kind of love that leaves a mark. When life tears them apart, the question becomes: can they ever find their way back?
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez (March 24)
Abby Jimenez is the queen of heartfelt chaos, and this premise is such a gut punch: Larissa befriends the perfect guy — except she met him the same night she ended up dating his best friend. Now they co-parent a scruffy little dog, share book recs, and pretend their connection is totally platonic. It’s tender, funny, and full of “right person, wrong moment” heartbreak that feels so painfully real.
April Romance Books 2026
The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn (April 7)
I am such a sucker for second-chance self-love stories, especially when they take place in Paris. When Layla heads to her ex-sister-in-law’s wedding (already a bold move), the last thing she expects is to get stuck fixing the wedding she accidentally complicates — alongside the grumpy best man who pushes every one of her buttons. I love that this romance tackles heartbreak, healing, and the scary idea of risking your heart again. And the Paris setting? Yes please.
Start at the End by Emma Grey (April 7)
I love a story that makes me wonder what if — and this one sounds like it will hit me right in the feelings. Audrey and Fraser have that once-in-a-lifetime, soulmate connection… until one tragic moment changes everything. I’m expecting a cathartic, emotional read, and honestly? I’m here for it.
Pieces of the Night by Jennifer Hartmann (April 7)
I know Jennifer Hartmann is going to crush my heart and I’m willingly signing up anyway. This one follows two artists pulled together by trauma and late-night music sessions — only to become supernova-level famous. I love stories where passion and creativity collide, especially when timing is messy and feelings are too big. If you enjoy romances that burn deep and hurt a little (okay… a lot), this is definitely one to watch.
Happy Ending by Chloe Liese (April 14)
Fake dating your best friend on vacation? I didn’t even need to know more — I was already in. I love that Thea and Alex started as a petty attempt to get back at their exes and somehow turned into… real connection. A world-class chef, a custody battle over the dog (relatable), and two very stubborn divorcés who might be falling without meaning to. Chloe Liese always melts my heart with sweetness and humor, so I’m fully expecting a serotonin boost.
Don’t Fall in Love With Me by Paige Toon (April 14)
I’m totally drawn to romances about first love that refuses to fade. Grace has spent years trying to move on from Jackson — only for him to reappear with a job offer she can’t refuse. Throw in a gorgeous French setting, a best-friend-turned-fake-love interest, and a love triangle thick with history? I’m already anxious to know who her heart really belongs to.
Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West (April 14)
Fake engagement therapy?? I have never seen that setup before and I am obsessed. Sutton’s juggling a failing restaurant, a toxic family situation, and a breakup — so what better time to lie through couple’s counseling with an infuriatingly hot stranger? I love that this one leans into chemistry, chaos, and the blurry line between pretending and actually falling. It sounds like an absolute blast.
Good For Her by Tylor Paige (April 28)
Revenge romance + Hollywood setting + an ex who wants back in? I am riveted already. Evie is back to take down the powerful men responsible for her mother’s death — and Sebastian, the ex who still gets under her skin, wants to help. The pitch gives me “final girl meets dark romance with a side of murder” energy, and honestly, that sounds delicious. If you like your love stories fierce, dangerous, and a little wicked — this should be high on your list.
May Romance Books 2026
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune (May 5)
Carley Fortune really said best friends → wedding disaster → accidental honeymoon and I am thriving. Frankie and George have been inseparable since childhood — the kind of bond that can survive everything… except maybe unspoken feelings. When her fiancé bails the morning of the wedding (the audacity), George swoops in with a wildly reckless plan: take the honeymoon anyway. Together. I love messy love stories where timing is terrible and the only way forward is to finally face the truth.
First and Forever by Lynn Painter (May 12)
This setup had me grinning immediately. A die-hard football fan goes viral after roasting the team’s star player on live TV… and now they have to fake date to fix the PR nightmare? Yes, please. I love a couple who bickers their way into chemistry, and the whole “pretend we like each other but oops actually we do” thing never gets old for me. I’m expecting fun banter, sports tension, and that moment when the guy realizes the stunt isn’t a stunt anymore — which is always such a delight.
The Shippers by Katherine Center (May 19)
Give me a cruise ship, childhood best friends, and unresolved heartbreak and I’m instantly invested. JoJo heads out to her sister’s destination wedding determined to rewrite her messy love history — and instead ends up partnering with the actual boy who broke her heart. The forced proximity? The fake flirting to make someone else jealous? The sunburn care and slow dancing and “why did you leave?” tension? I’m already swooning. Katherine Center always nails heartfelt growth mixed with adorable chaos, and this sounds like peak summer-romance bliss.
Fever Dream by Elsie Silver (May 19)
Elsie Silver launching a new cowboy series? I’m already buckled in. Emmett signs up for a reality dating show purely to save his family ranch — zero romance intentions — until Julia shows up and ruins his plans by being irresistible. I love forbidden setups where everyone says “do not fall for them,” and then the universe laughs. Reality-show love + small town + rivals-to-lovers heat = yes, it will hurt and yes, I will love every second. Bring on the stolen kisses and bad decisions.
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan (May 26)
Fake dating in your late 30s while juggling parenthood and hometown drama? That’s exactly the kind of life-stage romance I adore. Dolly is a single mom trying to hold everything and everyone together when she collides with Stewart — wealthy, inconveniently attractive, and suddenly in need of a pretend girlfriend. Their pretend partnership starts practical… until sunset boat rides and toe-curling chemistry ruin the plan.
June Romance Books 2026
Father Material by Alexis Hall (June 2)
I will follow Luc and Oliver anywhere at this point, and apparently that includes parenthood chaos. They’ve survived fake dating, real dating, almost falling apart, moving in together — basically every rom-com milestone — and now they’re wondering if it’s time to level up. Enter Spud: the tiny, furry baby that sends them spiraling into “uh-oh, are we parents now?” territory. I adore romances that explore what happily-ever-after actually looks like, and this one sounds heartfelt, hilarious, and full of that classic Alexis Hall charm.
The Open Era by Edward Schmit (June 2)
I’m obsessed with sports romances that mix high-pressure competition with high-voltage feelings, and this debut has all of that on center court. Austin Hardy becomes the first openly gay man to play in a Grand Slam, and the sudden spotlight sends his anxiety spiraling — especially when his biggest distraction is Diego Cruz, the too-charming rival he definitely shouldn’t be crushing on.
You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings (June 9)
Messy band drama + best friends who maybe aren’t just friends? Sign me up. Cubby’s dreams get torpedoed by her toxic ex, and suddenly the whole world is watching rumors swirl about her and her two closest bandmates. It sounds chaotic, emotional, musically angsty, and deeply tender — aka perfect Mazey Eddings vibes.
Good at Being Alive by Elizabeth O’Roarke (June 16)
We’ve got grief, fake honeymooning, a travel-agency-on-the-line reality show, and a buttoned-up Brit who was absolutely not prepared for a heroine like Bex. I love when characters are total opposites who keep surprising each other — especially while jet-setting across Europe and pretending to be wildly in love. There’s emotional healing, “oh no we’re flirting,” and that slow shift from performing romance to actually living it. My suitcase is packed.
Reasons to Be Loved by You by Hannah Brown (June 23)
Set at a lakeside Fourth of July wedding and fueled by juicy family secrets? Yep, I am sold. Nikki is determined to stop her brother from marrying her reality-TV-ex’s ex (because… chaos!), but the real danger is how fast she’s falling for the bride’s brother instead. I love a rom-com where the sabotage plans keep turning into stolen kisses. Add in self-worth journeys and sisterhood vibes, and this sounds like such a fun, heartfelt beach read.
Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie (June 23)
Breakup bangs, international impulsivity, and a hot Scottish footballer offering a place to stay… I mean, she’s living the fantasy. Abby’s sworn off romance while piecing her life back together, but Lachlan’s charm and loneliness keep pulling her close — even with a mysterious wife complicating everything. I love slow burns where the line between “roommates” and “problematic levels of yearning” gets thinner by the day. Give me banter, scandal, and self-discovery in a brand-new city.
July Romance Books 2026
The Final Score by Lana Ferguson (July 7)
A hockey player in crisis and a grad student who refuses to deal with one more arrogant man… until this one starts showing cracks beneath the confidence. Forced proximity, emotional vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry? That’s my trifecta. I love when two people who are barely holding it together accidentally become each other’s soft place to land — and then realize they never want to let go.
Love You More by Emily Griffin (July 7)
This is one of those “what if the first love you never got over came back when your life was finally figured out?” stories that rip your heart in two. Billie is engaged and thriving — until a phone call from the past sends her home to confront all the feelings she buried. I’m bracing for nostalgia, heartbreak, and big life choices that don’t have easy answers. Sometimes love stories aren’t neat… and that’s what makes them powerful.
Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt (July 14)
A tender, hopeful friends-to-lovers story where grief and joy coexist. Bea is determined to honor her best friend’s legacy — even if it means starting over with a plan she never imagined. Silas offers her a safe place to land, but their old friendship starts blooming into something neither was ready for. I love romances that feel like healing wrapped in a hug, and Tarah DeWitt always delivers big heart with big swoons.
Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon (July 14)
A former pop star craving anonymity falls for the professor who absolutely should not be flustered this easily. Rachel Lynn Solomon writes chemistry like nobody else — I’m already imagining the tension in every classroom scene. I love age-gap academia romances when they’re handled with nuance, and this one brings fame, identity struggles, and that irresistible “we know this is bad but we can’t stop” pull. Spicy, emotional, unforgettable — I cannot wait.