there is nothing as delicious as a good romance novel.
When the world is a little too much, life is too stressful, and my twitter timeline is on fire, I turn to romance novels as a way to relax and heal my soul. the wide variety of subgenres, the emotional ups and downs of falling in love, the larger than life characters, the gripping love scenes, and a guaranteed happy ending provide a perfect balance between satisfying storytelling and escapism, and have been the only reason I’ve read something in recent years.
You are reading: Best new romance books
And to encourage everyone to read more romance novels, I’ve compiled this list of romance novels that, in this humble bookseller’s opinion, are worth picking up for your next read!
act your age, eve brown by talia hibbert
Most love stories don’t start with someone getting hit by a car (they’re fine), but Talia Hibbert is an author who can weave absolutely magical romance into even the wildest stories. Her latest romantic comedy follows Eve, a human incarnation of sunny chaos, and Jacob, an icy, uptight perfectionist, as they reluctantly work together to save Jacob’s B&B, providing heated attraction, hilarious antics, and a outrageously adorable romance. With two neurodiverse leads, excellent body diversity, and brilliant dialogue, Act Your Age, Eve Brown is a book to hug and savor.
royal battle by lucy parker
If you ever wished the Great British Party had more sexual tension, then I have the perfect book for you. A contestant on the Sunshine and Rainbows baking show and the dour, grumpy judge who eliminated her from the competition to win a coveted baking commission for a royal wedding – what could possibly go wrong?!
battle royal is a perfect introduction to lucy parker, who rose to fame with her equally wonderful celebrity london series. is a deliriously delicious treat guaranteed to make you smile, with top-notch banter and a rich emotional ride that will leave you gasping for more.
bomb by sarah maclean
Sarah Maclean was my introduction to the romance genre, and I love each of her books more than the last. There are various starting points for her books, but Bombshell is the first book in her most recent series: Hell’s Belles, which follows a gang of Victorian girls who are “determined to smash the patriarchy in every corner of London, from glittering drawing rooms of dance”. to dark alleys.” Yes, please, I’ll take a million.
Bombshell follows Lady Sesily Talbot, London’s most scandalous debutante, and Caleb Calhoun, an American businessman (ahem, smuggler), who have been dancing together for years, never quite succumbing to their mutual attraction. so far… *par par par par.*
deal with the devil by kit rocha
For those of you who prefer a bit of sci-fi with your romance, you definitely can’t go wrong with Kit Rocha. This paranormal and erotic sci-fi, fantasy, and romance duo have written nearly 20 books set in a post-apocalyptic world (lots of backstory!), and Deal with the Devil begins their new mercenary librarian series. That’s right, mercenary. librarians.
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In a crumbling United States in the near future, knowledge is key, and information broker Nina is determined to use hers to save those in need. This dangerous mission puts her on a collision course with Knox, the battle-weary leader of a rogue squad of super-soldiers fighting for survival. what follows is an action-packed dystopian adventure that will keep you turning pages long past your bedtime and sending you to the bookstore for book 2 as soon as it’s done.
the duke who doesn’t by courtney milan
As much as I love action, heartbreak and adventure, sometimes I just need to read a sweet small-town love story. the duke who did not provide that in spades. a small town in the English countryside with a large Asian community, an annual festival, a sensible young lady who lives her life by lists, and a charming and mischievous duke who may or may not own the whole town… what else? can be ordered? ?
The historical romance genre has a (well-earned) reputation for being overwhelmingly white. Courtney Milan is one of many authors who push back against the misconception that people of color in historical romance are somehow “historically inaccurate,” and she’s done an amazing job addressing diversity and inclusion in the romance genre. . Add in complex characters, fizzing banter, and tantalizing romance, and you get the complete package.
mile vane’s heart of blood and ashes
I’ll admit that romantic fantasy is a subgenre I have little experience with, but the few I’ve read have been absolutely enjoyable. This first book in Milla Vane’s Gathering of Dragons series is absolutely wacky in the best possible way: it’s got ripped barbarians, gorgeous princesses, searing love scenes, magic, monsters, enough politicking to put Game of Thrones to shame, and… dinosaurs? ?
Listen, you’ll have to trust me, I don’t know what else I can tell you except that A Heart of Blood and Ashes is so much fun and a fabulous read, and it’s made me want to read more romantic fantasy!
I’m so (not) over you by kosoko jackson
regardless of what kian andrews expects when ex-boyfriend hudson texts him after months of radio silence, it’s not a request to pretend they’re still dating for the benefit of hudson’s parents, and certainly he’s not being manipulated into being hudson’s plus-one for the season’s georgia wedding. As the catchphrase promises, fake boyfriends don’t always equal fake feelings, and as Kian and Hudson navigate their renewed (fake) relationship, they also have to deal with their own unresolved feelings for each other.
This adult romantic debut is fast-paced, hilarious, and heartfelt, and it’s a snappy update on the perennial fake-dating trope. kosoko jackson is definitely one to watch, and while you wait for her second adult romance, be sure to check out her young adult novels too!
first to arrive by alisha rai
Alisha Rai is a romance queen who would gladly follow into battle. her heroines are well-rounded, complex women who have fully formed lives, personalities, and ambitions, and her love interests are decent, sensible heroes who drink her respectable women’s juice on a regular basis. She also writes stellar romance, as she once discovered an employee at Taco Bell drive-thru when my car stereo automatically played my audiobook midway through the sex scene. it was a while.
The first is the last book in her modern love trilogy, but you don’t need to have read the first two to completely fall in love with makeup expert and internet influencer jia and bollywood starlet and hollywood wannabe dev. . Rai deftly manages to fit so much into her books on family, beliefs, self-respect, tradition, mental health, and more, and I can’t wait for you to read them.
love & other disasters by anita kelly
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Recently divorced Dahlia Woodson is determined to reinvent herself and make her mark as a contestant on America’s favorite cooking show. How unfortunate that her first move on her show is to fall flat on her face and shower the set with a tray of fish tacos, and the competitor behind her is so attractive it’s distracting.
London Parker, after announcing their pronouns on national television, is determined not to let anxiety, trolls, or the bumbling contestant in front of them sidetrack them from their cooking game. But love, of course, has other plans, and Dahlia and London’s simmering attraction soon blossoms into a full-blown, passionate, and mischievous relationship outside of the kitchen. but do they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after? (spoiler alert: they do!)
the queer principles of kit webb by cat sebastian
cat sebastian writes absolutely charming queer historical romance novels, and this one is no exception. Kit Webb, a reluctantly reformed highwayman who has put his thieving days behind him, is recruited for one last job by Percy, Lord Holland, a posh dandy in need of a good old-fashioned heist. What follows is a delicious game through shady cafes and opulent ballrooms, full of adventure, sparkling wit and a petit eat the rich. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
the libertine by scarlett peckham
The historical romance genre is awash with libertines: dissolute, handsome bums whose (usually) party lifestyle is tempered by their love for the novel’s heroine. I love reading about a devilish swinger who meets his romantic partner as much as anyone, but it’s undeniable that the trope is deeply enmeshed in outdated binary gender roles. men are allowed to be unrepentant libertines, but women almost never are. thank god for scarlett peckham.
seraphina arden is a “broke” woman who has embraced her outrageous reputation in pursuit of women’s equality. she writes radical pamphlets and lives her life exactly the way she wants, with wine-soaked nights, handsome lovers and all. Adam Anderson is a healthy, widowed Scottish architect with two young children to raise, a business to protect, and a strong aversion to scandal. Their casual summer fling soon turns into something more, and soon Seraphina and Adam have to deal with secrets from their past and how their ambitions and wishes for the future could ruin their future together. sexy, heartbreaking and empowering, I need the second book in the series immediately.
obscene street vendor series by various artists, iron circus comics
for those of you who like a little more romance… graphic (get it?!)… may I introduce you to the smut peddler series? These comic book anthologies are very nsfw, and are some of the most diverse and inclusive erotic and romance novels I’ve ever read. an incredible array of incredible artists contribute to these collections, which are all super diverse, weird and wicked and again I can’t stress this enough, very nsfw.
after its initial two anthologies, all subsequent peddlers have been themed, with the most recent being raunchy peddler: sleazy past (erotic comics set in the past) and raunchy peddler: silver (all featuring characters from over 40 years). really something for everyone in a street vendor of smut, so go ahead and grab one or five.
the viscount made me do it by diana quincy
This is an engaging historical romance with a hint of mystery. features Hanna Zaydan, a London bone girl of Arab descent, who slowly falls in love with her client Viscount, who, unknown to her, believes he has a lead on who murdered her parents many years ago…
diana quincy is an exciting new voice on the historical romance scene, and her writing is captivating and her romances sizzling. perfect to pick up for your next read!
you had me at hi by alexis daria
Soap darling jasmine and soap opera heartthrob ashton are at a career crossroads and will soon land starring roles in a new bilingual romantic comedy for the nation’s largest streaming service. The entire production, and their careers, depend on Jasmine and Ashton producing believable and sizzling chemistry, but a disastrous first impression and awkward rehearsals threaten to ruin the show from the start. what are you going to do? well, they obviously rehearse in private, digging beneath cold, professional exteriors to the fiery attraction below, with deliciously explosive results. this book is smart, sexy and one of my absolute favorites.
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