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These bookish rom-coms bring swoonworthy protagonists to life as a woman lives out a storyline from her favorite author and a romance novelist’s fictional villain appears on her couch.
PREMIUM
All To Play For
Readers will appreciate the rom-com levels of banter and conflict that lead to an HEA in Juniper’s enemies-to-lovers F1 romance, third in the “Frontrunners” series (after Coming in Hot).
PREMIUM
Return to Sender
Parente’s debut is a delight, with characters whom readers will care deeply about.
In the sequel to Rook & Rebel, Crew delivers a deliciously sexy and adventurous biker romance, perfect for fans of Allie Oleander and Navessa Allen.
PREMIUM
The Summer Share
McKinlay (Love at First Book) offers an ode to summers on the beach, small towns, and love itself.
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If Books Could Kill
Full of adventure, a touch of the supernatural, plenty of kooky, adorable characters, and hilarious hijinks, Eberle’s highly original and fun debut is for fans of heartfelt, original rom-coms with strong bookish themes.
Sweet and sexy at once, rich with well-crafted characters and dialog, Long’s latest is yet another example of why she is one of the best historical romance writers in the business.
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Big Stick Energy
Fans of the first book in Bowen’s series will enjoy this sequel, which has even more focus on romance. Recommended for readers who want to delve into sports romance with unique workplace dynamics.
Holt’s (Not in My Book) novel has so much to savor: a large cast of lively characters, laugh-out-loud banter, a whimsical bookshop setting, an excellently executed slow-burn enemies-to-lovers storyline, and a bustling backdrop. Recommended for fans of emotional, steamy, bookish romances with strong Latine leads.
While a romance between a feisty, impoverished woman and a member of the upper crust isn’t anything new, Galen gives the trope a particularly good and fresh spin as she launches her “Heiress Hunters” series.
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The Romance Revival
While some of the thriller elements fall flat, the dialog is engaging, and Lauren’s (The Paradise Problem) longtime fans and new readers alike will cheer for Emery and Luca to find their way back to each other in this well-paced, engaging rom-com.
Duke’s latest (after Vampires Never Say Die) will put smiles on a lot of faces; it’s a perfect beach read.
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Second Chance Prince
Recommend to readers seeking an action-packed historical romance with friends-to-lovers and fake-engagement tropes and to fans of Sophie Irwin, Joanna Lowell, and Martha Waters.
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The Cupid Dilemma
Asher returns to her modern paranormal universe from the “Supernatural Singles” series, featuring delightful cozy chaos from the Greek pantheon. Hand to readers who love the fake-dating trope and rock-star romances.
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The Duke’s Bargain
This book will appeal to readers seeking a chaste Regency romance about reputation and redemption. Recommended for fans of Martha Waters, Virginia Heath, and Christina Britton.
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Married with Benefits
Palmer (Anywhere with You) brings readers another winning small-town romance, with characters who defy typical romance lead stereotypes even while the novel hews closely to the genre’s typical tropes. Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez.
PREMIUM
Romantic Hero
Greenwood’s newest follows in the footsteps of her previous novel, The Love of My After Life, combining tender warmth, hilarious hijinks, and a touch of the unknown to create a book made for staying up late to finish. While it’s perfect for any romantic comedy fan, this will also appeal to readers of cowboy romances.
PREMIUM
Drive Me Crazy
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a steamy sports romance about first loves and fast cars. Recommended for fans of Kelley Armstrong, Tessa Bailey, and Ali Hazelwood.
Whether characters are swooning from romantic moments or blood loss, listeners will be swept off their feet either way by Thompson’s exciting debut.
PREMIUM
Every Beat After
YA author Larson’s (Warriors of Wing and Flame) adult debut is perfect for romance readers who want a good cry along with their love stories.
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Extracurricular
Solomon’s (What Happens in Amsterdam) latest will suit readers looking for academia-set romances such as Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis.
PREMIUM
Ember
The second entry in Simone’s “Hunted Kingdom” series, after Huntsman) is a twist on “Cinderella” that amps up the violence. This fairy-tale retelling in mafia-romance form is ideal for readers seeking a gory and sexy enemies-to-lovers tale.
Painter’s (Maid for Each Other) sports romance is a laugh-out-loud, swoony delight from start to finish.
PREMIUM
Navy Captain’s Convenient Wife
Kelly (A Naval Surgeon To Fight For) presents a military, marriage-of-convenience Regency romance. The sex scenes are more proper than passionate, offering a sweet, but not steamy, love story.
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CEO’s Spanish Fling
As heart-wrenching as it is heartwarming, Lewis’s latest romance (after Italian Tycoon To Remember) is sure to lure readers in from the first page.
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The Scandalous Lady Mina
Temple (The Wrong Way To Catch a Rake) presents a sexy enemies-to-lovers Victorian romance. Readers will delight in this high-seas tale of perseverance and passion.
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Serving Up Off-Limits Love
A steamy mix of enemies-to-lovers and former-best-friends-to-lovers, Snow’s (Second Chance Alaska) contemporary romance has something for everyone in this “Amalfi with Amore” series launch.
Ankenman’s (Cinderella’s Bargain with the Billionaire) first in the “Love Under Construction” series is a perfect romance for readers who love watching the protagonists melt for each other.
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Match Made in Seville
Renae’s (Reunion with Her Highland Rival) fun and flirty contemporary romance offers humor, playful awkwardness, and a will-they-won’t-they storyline that combine to deliver a truly delightful read.
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Rescued by the Rakish Lord
Mallory (A Kiss To Stop a Wedding) presents a forced-proximity, hidden-identity romance set in the Georgian era; a fun, flirtatious story of reputation and responsibility.
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Code Name Gorgeous
Vaughan’s (Destination Weddings and Other Disasters) latest is an adrenaline-filled, globe-hopping delight with a romance that is as thrilling as the locales and glittering parties the characters visit.
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
PREMIUM
Some Kind of Famous
A must purchase that is sure to be popular with fans of Ashley Herring Blake and Casey McQuiston.
PREMIUM
Backslide
Great on audio and perfect for fans of books such as The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce and authors such as Rachel Lynn Solomon. This standout contemporary romance is sure to delight fans of lighthearted, closed-door love stories.
PREMIUM
Ladies in Hating
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an enemies-to-lovers Regency romance with a sexy, sapphic plot and a hint of the supernatural. Recommended for fans of Joanna Lowell, Lindz McLeod, and Jess Everlee.
PREMIUM
How To Break My Heart
Listeners seeking a cozy romance may want to look elsewhere. This uneven romance may appeal to fans of E. L. James, but it’s an optional purchase for most libraries.
PREMIUM
The Devil She Knows
A wonderfully fun rom-com with surprisingly deep philosophical questions and a well-rounded cast of characters.
PREMIUM
Pickle Perfect
A must-buy to keep up with the demand for sports romance and the growing pickleball trend.
PREMIUM
An Academic Affair
A standout performance that is highly recommended for fans of Ali Hazelwood. This will undoubtedly enhance romance collections for audiences who enjoy open-door, slow-burn literary love stories.
PREMIUM
I’m Gonna Get You Back
This audio may appeal to listeners seeking a short, sexy suspense. Currently available only in audio format, this is an optional purchase for most libraries.
PREMIUM
Holly and Nick Hate Christmas
Listeners looking for feel-good holiday fare will delight in this.
PREMIUM
Stranger Things Have Happened
West’s follow-up to her adult romance debut (We Met Like This) will suit the readers who’ve grown up reading her young adult novels and also for readers who enjoy Christina Lauren.
PREMIUM
Love and Other Side Effects
Duncan (Love Sick) writes an engaging contemporary romance with a flowing plot that supports a well-written and absorbing story.
A ragtag smuggler, buried treasure, fake dates, and more feature in these five feel-good, sparkling stories of summertime love.
PREMIUM
The MASH Up
Meyers’s debut is soaked in neon lights and nostalgia, offering a fun “what if?” love story and the real-life impacts of waking up from it. The relationships and Ruby’s realizations have universal appeal, but especially for patrons who miss Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers and Tiger Beat magazine.
PREMIUM
Reality Bites
TV writer Mass’s fiction debut offers a fun addition to the recent crop of reality TV-set romance novels.
PREMIUM
Fireworks
Woods’s enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance skillfully navigates the complicated emotions and backstories of the well-drawn, relatable protagonists.
PREMIUM
The Name Game
O’Leary (Swept Away) charmingly creates a memorable community of island characters and two distinct points of view in this chaste romance.
PREMIUM
The Magic We Made
Cabot returns to West Harbor (after Enchanted To Meet You) for another magical love story, this time with a skeptical heroine and a cinnamon-roll hero who’s obsessed with her. Hand to fans of Sarah Hawley and Erin Sterling.
PREMIUM
Winner Takes All
YA author Martin’s (Five Ways To Fall Out of Love) first foray into adult romance is an entertaining enemies-to-lovers story, which deftly balances the serious with the comedic, and combines emotional and workplace storylines into one sexy and satisfying read.
PREMIUM
The Duke’s Got Mail
While the film-inspired ending is predictable, the likable characters and humor make this an enjoyable read for fans of historical romance.
The perfect blend of steam, cowboys, women’s friendship, and Friday night lights. Fans of Lyla Sage and Lyssa Kay Adams will adore this charming series-starter from Martin (How To Sell a Romance).
A heartwarming romance with delightful grumpy/sunshine dynamics. Perfect for readers who enjoy small-town settings and the burning tension of opposites attract.
PREMIUM
Our Perfect Storm
Longtime fans will devour Fortune’s (One Golden Summer) latest, full of her signature lush Canadian scenery and dual-timeline storytelling. Good for all public libraries and contemporary romance fans.
Told in alternating viewpoints, this steamy and tender feminist Regency romance has plenty of enchanting characters and fun banter. Readers already ensconced in the Vasti-verse, and those new to Vasti’s (Ladies in Hating) work alike, will revel in her latest.
Griffiths creates dialog that sparkles, characters who readers will long to meet in real life, and scenes that simply entrance. She pulls it all off with an effortless feel but also with depth and nuance that makes the reading experience a pure pleasure.
PREMIUM
Dolly All the Time
Monaghan (It’s a Love Story) offers a beautiful read in which two unlikely characters come together and learn the meaning of love and acceptance in times of need.
PREMIUM
Fever Dream
A fun and charming series starter, with close ties to Silver’s “Chestnut Springs” series, this is perfect for dating-show aficionados looking for a chemistry-filled twist.
PREMIUM
The Summer of Lost Things
For those who’ve watched adventure movies such as The Goonies and wished for more kissing, Bennett’s new adult romance will satisfy as an entertaining vacation read.
PREMIUM
The Very Definition of Love
Benoit, author of the essay collection Well, This Is Exhausting, makes her fiction debut with a playful Regency romance.
Valentin’s debut is a delicious mix of genres with blood, magic, and awkwardness, slightly marred by stop-and-start narration.
PREMIUM
Isn’t It Obvious?
A gorgeous, queer-centric romance about adult friendships, acceptance, and vulnerability, recommended for every collection.
PREMIUM
Behind Enemy Bylines
Fuller (So Into You) brings the complexity of real life to her romance tropes. Hand to readers looking for a low-heat romance with a happy ending.
A standout debut that’s sure to please armchair travel enthusiasts and fans of Christina Lauren, Emily Henry, or Carley Fortune.
For listeners seeking a mythical, magical rom-com about destiny and danishes that is short but oh-so-sweet. Recommended for fans of Toshikazu Kawaguchi, TJ Klune, and Matt Haig.
PREMIUM
Bound
Hazelwood’s audio exclusive feels like a mash-up of Twilight and Ocean’s Eleven. Recommended for fans of Ann Aguirre, Sarah Archer, and Abby Jimenez.
PREMIUM
Love in Plane Sight
This entertaining, excellently narrated open-door romance is sure to satisfy fans of authors such as Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry, or Christina Lauren and will make for a popular addition to contemporary romance collections.
PREMIUM
The Marriage Method
In this latest installment of Matthews’s “Crinoline Academy” series (after Rules for Ruin), narrators Knowelden and Watt return with their lovely British accents to sweep listeners away to Victorian London. Recommend to those who also enjoyed listening to A Wallflower’s Guide to Viscounts and Vice by Manda Collins and those looking for historical romance with a central mystery plot.
PREMIUM
And Then There Was You
This is a perfect selection for romance fans looking for something new.
Cox’s and Ingram’s pitch-perfect performances elevate Kann’s (The Romantic Agenda) slow-burner beyond mere entertainment. A must-have for all collections.
PREMIUM
My Fair Señor
This contemporary romance has a great mix of banter, heat, and heart and will appeal to fans of authors such as Alexis Daria, Adriana Herrera, and Mia Sosa.
And Now, Back to You by B. K. Borison is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
PREMIUM
The Fortune Flip
Jessen (Yin Yang Love Song) writes a fun, unique story filled with Chinese traditions, and readers will enjoy Hazel and Logan’s charming connection.
PREMIUM
Second Chance Duet
Holguin’s (Up Close & Personal) contemporary romance about a woman trying to catch a break as a music composer while working with her least favorite person from college is an entertaining read and a must-buy for libraries.
PREMIUM
Two Can Play
This funny, sexy, workplace romance hits all of Hazelwood’s key notes: STEM, lovers who are also abiding friends, quick dialog, and sharp-eyed, knowing observation.
A particularly well-crafted sports romance from a talented new voice. Readers will be clamoring for more from Vellner.
Lindsay Lovise's steamy Victorian spy series sizzles with danger and attraction in these entries that offer well-crafted scenes, smart turns, and a vibrant, emotional, and engaging read.
To celebrate the joys of reading, browsing, and discovering new titles and to learn from our colleagues practicing readers’ advisory service in bookstores, LJ talks with Leah Koch, co-owner of the Ripped Bodice, an independent bookstore that focuses on romance novels, with locations in Los Angeles and Brooklyn.
Welcome to RA Crossroads, where books, movies, music, and other media converge, and whole-collection readers’ advisory service goes where it may. This month, Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation is the starting point for a winding path.
As readers always interested in finding and sharing titles, the book review editors launched a sure-bet survey last summer in advance of LJ’s yearlong celebration of our 150th anniversary. This month, we feature the romance genre. These are stories that follow the arc of a relationship as characters fall in love and navigate the various steps—both wonderfully swoony and heartrendingly rocky—along that path.
A slow-burn, small-town romance that beautifully demonstrates how food, family, and culture can bridge the past and present. Perfect for readers seeking emotional depth with a culinary heart.
PREMIUM
Soon by You
With funny, heartfelt dialogue, irresistible main characters, and a nuanced depiction of Modern Orthodox Jewish culture, YA author Adler’s (Come as You Are) adult debut will resonate with readers. For fans of Jean Meltzer and Rachel Runya Katz.
PREMIUM
Better Than a Duke
Enoch’s (A Duke Never Tells) latest is a charmingly play on The Parent Trap, moved to Regency London.
PREMIUM
Never Gamble Your Heart
Focused as much on the case as the romance, Lovise’s book sizzles with danger and attraction. Full of well-crafted scenes and smart turns, this is a good companion to works by Tessa Dare, Stephanie Laurens, and Erica Ridley.
PREMIUM
Boots Beneath Her Bed
Esposito’s debut novel features Grace’s healing journey alongside the warmth of a found family and the sizzle of a slow-burn, steamy romance. Readers will be hoping to return to Halcyon Ranch for the other Caldwell siblings’ stories.
PREMIUM
Don’t Fall in Love with Me
Jackson and Grace’s will-they-won’t-they relationship will be relatable to readers, and this well-paced romance, featuring rich, atmospheric descriptions of the setting, will be appreciated by new and longtime fans of Toon (What If I Never Get Over You) alike.
PREMIUM
Don’t Tell Me How It Ends
With a relatable and steamy slow-burn love story, a fun meet-cute, a vibrant cast of characters, and an emotional quarter-life crisis, Thurman’s (No Way, Wash Day) adult fiction debut will appeal to twentysomethings like Kaia and Ro and older readers wanting to revisit that era.
Forrester’s debut will charm readers, who will be cheering for Whit and Merritt to find a happy ending both in real life and on the page in this touching closed-door romance.
A particularly well-crafted sports romance from a talented new voice. Readers will be clamoring for more from Vellner.
PREMIUM
A Deal with a Debutante
This chaste Edwardian romance, an excellent start to YA author Bobulski’s (Remember Me) first adult series, has wide appeal.
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