The Best New Romance Novels to Fall in Love With in 2023

Therese Beharrie's "Single Dads Club" highlights the importance of love and community for a single father trying to raise his son. Rowan didn't think fatherhood was in the cards, but after a one night stand, his hookup leaves him and the baby without so much as a second glance. Rowan returns to Sugarbush Bay, South Africa, to find support from his family. That's where he meets Delilah, a reformed heiress who has changed her priorities from shopping to community building. Sensing Rowan's apprehensions about raising his child on his own, Delilah introduces him to a group of single fathers, with whom Rowan can finally face his fears about parenthood. He learns that opening up, especially to Delilah, could be just what he needs to start building a strong family.

Release date: June 6

Cat Sebastian's "We Could Be So Good" follows the tender love story building between two men in a bustling newsroom during the 1950s. Nick and Andy have little in common besides the fact that they work at the same newspaper. Nick grew up a hustler in Brooklyn and desperately wants to be good at his job. Andy is the son of the paper's owner and knows little of hard work, thus struggles to keep up with the quick pace of the newsroom. Whenever Andy slips up, it's Nick who comes to the rescue. The pair slowly develop a friendship, which then turns into something more. The 1950s is a dangerous time for queer people, and Nick and Andy will do anything to save their love from the potential harm of those around them.

Release date: June 6

In Charish Reid's delightful opposites-attract romance "Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up," a widowed bar owner and an adjunct professor take turns playing the boss. Despite being down on cash, Mickey is looking forward to starting a side gig as a bartender. Diego, the bar's owner who is struggling to keep his business running, doesn't see how Mickey's optimistic persona will fit in with the crew, but takes her on out of desperation for help. It's then a surprise when Diego learns that the summer course he's taking will be run by Mickey. As the pair get to see each other in their element, they can't deny that they like what they see.

Release date: June 6

"Same Time Next Summer" is Annabel Monaghan's expert-level entry for a perfect-for-the-beach summer romance. Stability is the main priority in Sam's life — it's why she has a stable but boring HR job and why she's marrying overwhelmingly Type A doctor Jack. When Sam heads home to Long Island to visit a potential wedding venue, the last person she expects to see is Wyatt, her high school sweetheart and the man who broke her heart. Now a professional singer, Wyatt has reentered Sam's life as charming and beautiful as ever, throwing everything she's planned for herself off kilter. Could one summer, filled with swoonworthy serenades, be enough to bring the former flames back together?

Release date: June 6

"Love, Theoretically," the latest from rivals-to-lovers expert Ali Hazelwood, follows the secret life of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway. Most people know Elsie as a whip-smart physicist, but many aren't aware that she also supplements her day job by acting as a fake girlfriend to high-paying clients. Her secret comes under threat when the rude older brother of one of her clients turns out to be Jack Smith, the cutthroat physicist in charge at MIT — and the person standing in her way of getting her dream job. But Jack isn't what Elsie expected. Even with their conflicting views on science (and her double life) nothing can stand in the way of the inescapable chemistry between them.

Release date: June 13

A twist on Jane Austen's "Persuasion," Uzma Jalaluddin's "Much Ado About Nada" follows an unmarried twentysomething who bumps into her ex at a convention. At the time, Nada Syed's life is not going the way she expected. She's still living at home, she's single, and her dreams of launching her start-up were sullied by a dishonest business partner. When Haleema, her soon-to-be married best friend, drags Nada to an annual Muslim conference to meet her fiancé (and in hopes of cheering her up), Nada is too distracted by the presence of her ex-boyfriend Baz. No one knows about Nada and Baz's history, and as much as they both would like to keep it that way, their chemistry hasn't disappeared. Perhaps what Nada really needs is to give her work, her ex, and herself, a second chance.

Release date: June 13

Kianna Alexander's "Can't Let Go" highlights the difficulties of transitioning from pals to lovers between two women in the same friend group. Barber Peaches Monroe and manicurist Jamie Hunt are friends for good reason. They both share a deep passion for their jobs, with Jamie hoping to head to college soon. When a drunken confession about her feelings for Peaches makes things awkward, Jamie suggests they smooth things over by heading on a road trip to the schools she's applying to. What should be an exciting trip full of new memories turns into a pileup of all the things unsaid and misunderstood, threatening to leave both their hearts, and the hearts of their onlooking friends, in pieces.

Release date: June 20

A cat loving social media influencer plays cat-sitter for a pet-avoidant NHL analyst in "A Love Catastrophe" from Helena Hunting. When internet personality Kitty Heart gets the call to watch a particularly spoiled cat, she's happy to do it. Miles Thorn is eager to have some help managing his mother's pet that's now in his care. But what they two don't share in passion for animals, they make up for in an undeniable attraction.

Release date: June 13

Onscreen love doesn't always translate into offscreen romance . . . or does it? In Ava Wilder's "Will They or Won't They," actors Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy are completely professional when the cameras are on while playing love interests on their paranormal hit TV show. But once the cameras are off, the two are often stewing in silence or at each other's necks. When Lilah left the show after season five, Shane thought that would be the last they'd see each other, but her return for the season nine finale has audiences in an uproar. Everyone wants the satisfaction of seeing these slow burn characters finally get together, and to keep everyone interested Lilah and Shane will have to play up their chemistry in real life, while denying that pretending to love each other isn't as hard as either had hoped.

Release date: June 27

Falling in love in a magical room could lead to devastation in Ashley Poston's enchanting romance "The Seven Year Slip." Clementine has committed most of her time to her busy career as a book publicist, often wishing she had more time to consider love. While visiting her late aunt's apartment, Clementine finds a visitor, a kind chef with a Southern drawl that makes her heart beat faster. But her aunt always warned her about falling in love in her apartment, and the pair soon realize Clementine exists seven years in the future. Clementine knows she shouldn't fall for Iwan, and finding a way to compete with the barrier of time could lead to Clementine's heartbreak.

Release date: June 27

A bachelorette party during Mardi Gras sounds like a dream, but for Sabrina Khan, the protagonist of Neely Tubati Alexander's "Love Buzz," it's not. At least until she meets Julian on their final stop of a night out and the spark between them leads her to question what could be. Sabrina has very few clues as to who her mystery man is, and she has no need to search for adventure considering she's finally on the path to becoming successful. Sabrina is caught between choosing the picture-perfect life she's created for herself and chasing down a passion that could threaten to burn her whole life down.

Release date: May 2

Sarah Adams brings back characters from "When in Rome" for a playful romp of their own in "Practice Makes Perfect," featuring a gardener and a bodyguard's practice dating sessions. Small-town life means that Annie Walker already knows of all of the options in her dating pool, and none of them seem to fit what she's looking for. Her brother Noah's preparation for his wedding to celebrity pop star Amelia Rose brings Amelia's devastatingly handsome bodyguard Will to town. To help her overcome her first-date jitters, Will and Annie begin to go on practice date sessions, but their connection might just be the one that deserves to be crowned official.

Release date: May 2

A destination wedding, a tantalizing ex, and a thrilling list of dares make an adventurous plot for Farah Heron's "Jana Goes Wild." Just because Jana Suleiman is flying off to Serengeti National Park as a bridesmaid for a friend's wedding doesn't mean she's letting her guard down around her ex Anil Malek again. Despite his unwavering love for their daughter, Jana has never gotten over the massive lie that broke them apart all those years ago. To distract herself, Jana takes on the bridal party's list of dares, cutting loose to forget. But her lack of inhibitions leaves her more vulnerable than she thought, and fighting off her rekindled feelings for Anil becomes more challenging. Jana is determined to remain unfazed through this wedding because getting back together with Anil would be wild . . . right?

Release date: May 2

Carley Fortune's "Every Summer After" found TikTok success, and her new romance, "Meet Me at the Lake," continues to dazzle. Ten years ago, Fern Brookbanks fell head over heels for Will Baxter in just 24 hours, but everything fell apart when, on their one-year reunion, he stood her up without so much as a phone call. Today, Fern has bigger concerns, like dealing with the aftermath of her mother's death, including the resort she's left for Fern to manage. But before she died, her mother called in a business consultant, and his appearance is a blast from the past for Fern. It's Will, and with him back in her life for the time being, Fern navigates her rekindled feelings and questions if Will is someone she can trust after everything they've been through.

Release date: May 2

Christina Lauren, the romance writing duo behind "The Unhoneymooners" and "The Soulmate Equation," proves there's no perfect science to creating chemistry in "The True Love Experiment." Many might be surprised that romance novelist Fizzy Chen is a stranger to true romance. Sure, she's had one-night stands and situationships, but never that head-over-heels sensation. A fated encounter with documentarian Connor Prince may offer a solution. Connor, desperate to create a new reality TV show, offers to center Fizzy as the star of his next project, following the romance author's journey to falling in love. While taping her romantic disasters on screen, Connor and Fizzy test their own chemistry off screen, and as they grow closer, the duo realize that the solution to their filming experiment could be one another.

Release date: May 16

Livy Hart's "Planes, Trains, and All the Feels" puts a playful spin on the film "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles." Choreographer Cassidy Bliss has places to be, namely the airport to get to her sister's wedding on time and without any fuss. But instead of smooth sailing, Cassidy gets into it with Luke Carlisle over a parking spot at the airport, causing both of them to miss their flights. Their last resort is driving together in the only available rental car to both of their destinations. What Cassidy couldn't have anticipated was how this road trip with Luke would open her heart up to falling in love, and her final destination might just be Luke's heart.

Release date: May 23

Jennifer Dugan's adult debut with "Love at First Set" follows fitness guru Lizzie, who takes her work at the gym seriously, even if her employer doesn't. When she's invited to the wedding of her boss's daughter, a drunken moment in the bathroom with another woman has unimaginable consequences. The woman in the bathroom was Cara, the bride-to-be, and Lizzie's impromptu speech talked her out of getting married. When James, Lizzie's best friend and Cara's brother, convinces Lizzie to "entertain" Cara in the hopes it'll keep her out of more trouble, Lizzie quickly realizes that what she wants more than anything is Cara for herself.

Release date: May 23

Don't we all miss summer camp? The characters in Bridget Morrissey's "That Summer Feeling" get the chance to attend an adult summer camp that sparks a new relationship between two attendees. Garland Moore isn't sure she still believes in the magic of love, not after her husband served her divorce papers on Valentine's Day. When new friends offer her a spot at their summer sleep-away camp for adults, Garland heads off in hopes of finding herself. Upon arrival, she runs into a man she had a brief, but hopeful, encounter with and starts to believe that maybe this camp is a good sign for her love life. Except she keeps spending all of her time with the man's sister, too, leading to a tangled web of emotions and drama summer camp has always been known for.

Release date: May 30

Elissa Sussman follows up the success of her #BookTok sensation "Funny You Should Ask" with "Once More With Feeling," a romance starring former pop stars potentially giving their careers — and each other — another chance. Katee Rose was once the pop star whose name was on everyone's lips. That was until she blew up her career by cheating on Ryan — her equally famous boy-band boyfriend — with Cal (another member of the band). Katee thought she'd leave life in the limelight behind, but when Cal shows up offering her a chance at stardom by starring in his Broadway play, it's a hard opportunity to turn away. But will getting involved with Cal again be the final nail in the coffin of her career, her heart, or both?

Release date: May 30

TJ Alexander whips up "Chef's Choice," another kitchen-set romance that will quench any reader's craving. When trans office worker Luna O'Shea is fired from her job, she's ready to move on and find the next thing to keep her preoccupied. Jean-Pierre, the trans heir to his grandfather's momentous culinary success, is in need of a girlfriend as the first step of procuring his inheritance, and Luna is on board, so long as she gets her own cut. The next step for the pair is to successfully create several Michelin-level dishes to prove Jean is ready to step into the culinary shoes of his grandfather, and he will require Luna's help. Despite her lack of prowess in the kitchen, nothing will keep Luna away from the life-altering amount of money Jean is offering — not super-hard recipes or the feelings for Jean she can't deny are growing.

Release date: May 30

"Even If the Sky Keeps Falling" gathers several romance heavy-hitters, including Taj McCoy, Farah Heron, Denise Williams, and many more, for a collection of interconnected stories taking place at what seems to be the end of the world. In "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better," rivals let go of their previous animosity to enjoy a final challenge together. "My Lucky Stars" follows two law students discovering their chemistry between library stacks. "All the Stars" forces exes who work for NASA to put aside their feelings to work together. High-pressure situations situate each of the stories, as friends, exes, and strangers face their feelings before it's too late.

Release date: May 30

Curtis Sittenfeld challenges the gender norms of the novel's titular genre, "Romantic Comedy." Getting people to laugh is fuel for Sally Milz, a sketch writer at the late-night comedy show The Night Owls. When her coworker Danny Horst begins dating celebrity actress guest star Annabel, Sally uses the moment to craft a cutting sketch about the differences when it comes to dating and appearances. Why is it that a charming, albeit average, man can pull a date with the It girl of Hollywood, but that scenario rarely happens when the gender roles are switched? Sally's answer comes in the form of Noah Brewster, a pop star with a notorious reputation for dating models, who is The Night Owls' latest guest appearance, and for some reason, she can't get him off her mind. Together, the pair become an unstoppable comedy duo during Noah's tenure on the show, but Sally knows that, in reality, girls like her and guys like him never get the happily ever after... or do they?

Release date: April 4

In Mazey Edding's "The Plus One," preparing for a wedding forces childhood rivals to fake being each other's dates. Type A psychiatrist Indira has her whole life shaken to its core when she catches her boyfriend cheating on her. Devastated by the revelation, Indira moves in with her brother Collin, who is preparing for his wedding, but finds Collin's best friend and her childhood nemesis Jude already staying there. When the wedding brings up an immense amount of stress for Jude and places Indira in direct sight of her traitorous ex and his new girlfriend, the two resolve to fake date for the remainder of the wedding events. It becomes clear that despite their constant bickering, the other's presence brings them a sense of stability they hadn't expected and that being together may be the best thing for both of them.

Release date: April 4

Abby Jimenez highlights the old-school charm of letter writing in "Yours Truly," her latest romantic endeavor following "Part of Your World." Dr. Briana Ortiz has no reason to like Dr. Jacob Maddox, the new ER doctor hired at the hospital right around the time of her promotion. To make matters worse, Jacob is frustrating to work with, giving her the impression that her feelings of disdain are mutual — until he surprises her with a heartfelt letter, that is. Jacob's vulnerability in his letters is a shock to Briana. It reveals another side of him that she's interested in getting to know despite both navigating through the emotional wreck of recent heartbreaks. When Jacob makes an offer that could alter the course of Briana's life, she questions if the depth of their relationship is more than she's ready to bear.

Release date: April 11

Lana Ferguson's "The Nanny" is a steamy second-chance romance starring a former OnlyFans worker and a single father in need of help. When therapy student Cassie Evans finds herself in desperate need of cash, she considers returning to her career on OnlyFans, which left her jilted after a connection with an anonymous fan ended abruptly. But when Cassie finds a live-in nannying position, she believes her problems are solved. When Cassie meets her employer, unbearably attractive single father Aiden, remaining entirely professional becomes a nearly impossible feat as their attraction builds. But when Cassie learns that Aiden was the anonymous fan who left her feeling dejected, she questions if she can ever fully trust him again, even after this surprising second chance.

Release date: April 11

"Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat" is Sonya Lalli's heartfelt swashbuckling romance about finding the power to be oneself. A vacation cruise with her family isn't exactly a situation Jasmine Randhawa had predicted for herself, but after a sudden breakup, perhaps a change is what she needs. When Jasmine realizes she'll be spending the next 10 days on a boat with seniors, fighting against the "problem child" reputation imposed upon her, she doesn't think things can get worse. Then, she discovers the only person her age on the ship is arrogant childhood friend Jake Dhillon. Jasmine and Jake initially feel they couldn't be more different: he is worshiped by the Punjabi community, while she struggles with her reputation. But soon, it becomes clear that the two share more in common than they knew, including everything they cannot say to their families.

Release date: April 18

In Carlyn Greenwald's "Sizzle Reel," a newly out bisexual cinematographer juggles the fate of her career and her burgeoning relationship with a celebrity actress. At 24, Luna Roth has just come out as bisexual. Considering that she has no queer sexual experience, Luna is shifting her focus from relationships to her cinematography career, which is an uphill battle now that she's navigating tricky power dynamics with her new boss. A run-in with gay actress Valeria Sullivan could offer Luna a solution to all her problems. If she can get into Valeria's good graces, she could get a job on the set of her new movie, and if something happens to develop between them, that wouldn't be a bad thing either. When Luna's relationship with Valeria becomes a conflict at work, Luna must decide if it's possible to keep her relationship and her dreams intact, or if it's time to roll the credits on love.

Release date: April 18

Despite being surrounded by romance novels at her family's bookstore daily, Tansy Adams has always struggled with real-life relationships. To get her family off her back about her relationship status, she pretends to date Gemma, the gorgeous book cover model she's sure she'll never actually encounter in real life. That is until real-life Gemma appears at the bookstore, threatening to blow up Tansy's whole story. But Gemma is actually in need of a partner since she can only access her inheritance if she's married, so Tansy's lie could work in both of their favors. Gemma promises to help Tansy with the bookstore's finances if they take a trip down the aisle. As their convenient arrangement lends itself to real feelings, it becomes clear that Gemma's family is willing to do anything to keep Gemma from her inheritance, even if it means destroying her relationship. Alexandria Bellefleur, author of "Written in the Stars" and "Count Your Lucky Stars," pens "The Fiancée Farce," a warm-hearted, sapphic marriage-of-convenience romance.

Release date: April 18

In Robbie Couch's Groundhog Day-esque rom-com "If I See You Again Tomorrow," one teen is stuck in a time loop of the same Monday for almost a year, until an appearance from a charming troublemaker changes everything. Clark Huckleton is on Day 310 of reliving Sept. 19 on an endless loop, carrying on with the same activities: school (where no one else seems to be on repeat) and therapy (where he talks about his difficulties with his mother). To Clark's surprise, Day 310 takes a major turn when Beau arrives in his class, the first time anything has ever been different about his redundant life. Throwing caution to the wind, Beau and Clark spend their day together doing everything differently and finding a spark in this sudden, new relationship. The only problem is, will Beau be there tomorrow, or will Clark be forced to return to a time loop without the only person who's made him feel ready to leave it?

Release date: April 18

From the bestselling author of "Beach Read," "People We Meet on Vacation," and "Book Lovers," comes "Happy Place," another dazzling summer romance from Emily Henry. Harriet and Wyn don't talk about why they broke up. That's how they've wound up as roommates during their friend group's annual getaway in Maine. Refusing to ruin the trip for everyone, Harriet and Wyn pretend they're still together, but it's getting hard to keep up appearances of a happy couple when they're supposed to have broken up. They'll only have to keep up the facade for one week, but while their relationship status has changed, what hasn't is how they feel when they're with each other. Faking it is impossible when their feelings haven't entirely gone away.

Release date: April 25

In Taj McCoy's "Zora Books Her Happy Ever After," a curious bookstore owner finds herself at the center of a messy love triangle between her favorite author and his brilliant best friend. Mystery author Lawrence Michaels is making an appearance at Zora Dizon's indie book shop, and it's her dream come true. She's been a fan of his work, and his face, for years, and when he asks her out after his reading, she couldn't be more thrilled. However, Zora's also drawn to Lawrence's perceptive best friend, writing teacher Reid. As she spends time with both friends, she realizes deciding on the better match isn't going to be easy. When Zora's intrigue about Lawrence leads to a damning revelation, both men's careers, and everyone's relationships are on the line.

Release date: April 25

Two hikers hope to extend their relationship beyond the trail in Anita Kelly's "Something Wild & Wonderful." Both Lex and Ben find themselves trekking across the Pacific Crest Trail on solo hiking trips. Lex starts to think it's fate when he keeps running into the cute hiker, and they begin developing feelings for one another as they brave the outdoors together. But while Ben and Lex are perfect for each other out in the wild and away from the distractions and troubles they left behind in the real world, when Ben gets an opportunity that would require him to leave the cocoon of their nature trip, the pair wonder if their blossoming relationship can survive the lives they must return to.

Release date: March 7

Gwenda Bond's "Mr. & Mrs. Witch" puts a magical spin on the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith. On the day of powerful witch Savannah Wilde's wedding, love quickly turns to bad blood when she learns Griffin Carter, the man she's promised to wed, is part of the organization charged with hunting supernaturals just like her and her coven. Tasked with taking out the other, Savannah and Griffin start a hunt for their formerly betrothed, but when they find a common enemy big enough to destroy both of their organizations, they put their differences aside to save their factions and maybe even rekindle the spark of their ill-fated arrangement.

Release date: March 7

"A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon'' is a paranormal romance debut starring a witch, a demon, and a bargain neither of them wants to make. Mariel Spark is a witch who prefers baking recipes to brewing potions, but when she accidentally summons Ozroth the Ruthless — a demon with a fearsome reputation — she knows that the only thing he wants is to strike a deal that could cost her everything. For Ozroth, bargaining with Mariel for her soul is the only thing that will fix his bruised reputation after a previously botched deal and will wait her out as long as he needs to, even if he has to pretend to be her boyfriend to avoid the growing suspicions of her family. Between a witch and a demon, sparks are bound to fly, but the romantic kind, neither of them expects. Suddenly, gaining Mariel's soul doesn't sound as appealing if it means losing her capability to love anyone, including Ozroth, for good.

Release date: March 7

"The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen" is KJ Charles's Regency-era romance starring a newly minted head of house and a smuggler reuniting after a steamy rendezvous. London clerk Gareth struggles with feelings of loneliness ever since his father abandoned him. One night with a handsome stranger briefly cures those feelings before the stranger disappears, leaving him lonely once more. News of his father's death forces Gareth to become the new heir of his father's estate and caretaker of his new house in the dangerous Marsh, where he comes upon a familiar face. Joss Doomsday is a smuggler and the stranger from that night long ago, and Gareth's arrival to the Marsh seems like fate, but placing his trust in anyone in the Marsh becomes a challenge, and both of their hearts might be at risk of breaking.

Release date: March 7

Trish Doller's road-trip romp "Off the Map" is filled with unexpected chemistry for a nomadic traveler and an aimless cartographer. Carla Black takes life one mile at a time as a woman who has no intentions of settling down in one place. When she arrives in Dublin for a friend's wedding, she plans to celebrate with loved ones and hit the road once again. But her plans may change when Eamon, a recently dumped cartographer, picks her up for the drive to the venue. What should be a short trip to see their friends becomes a journey unveiling their past hurts, and when the wedding is over, Carla must choose if staying on the go is really what she wants.

Release date: March 7

Denise Williams, author of "How to Fail at Flirting" and "The Fastest Way to Fall," develops three charming novellas set in the hustle and bustle of an airport in "Love and Other Flight Delays." In "The Love Connection," an airport pet groomer winds up in a fake relationship with a professional risk assessor on the day she finally approaches her frequent-flier crush. "The Missed Connection" follows two strangers on a secret rendezvous and their surprising reunion as professional rivals. Finally, in "The Sweetest Connection," best friends try to reveal how they feel about each other while trying to return a letter from the airport candy store.

Release date: March 14

In Lynn Painter's "The Love Wager," it's winner takes all — hearts included. Bartender Hallie Piper has made many mistakes, but hooking up with a stranger while working a wedding is going straight to the top of the list. For Jack, hooking up with Hallie is a part of playing the role of perpetual bachelor, but it's finally kicking in that maybe it's time to grow up. Both decidedly ready to make a change, Hallie and Jack start wing-manning each other's dates, and when they still can't find a perfect match, they motivate themselves with a wager: the first one to fall in love wins. When another wedding appears on Hallie's calendar, Jack attends as her fake boyfriend, and they start to blur the lines between friends or something more.

Release date: March 14

"Not That Kind of Ever After" by Luci Adams follows a romance hopeful named Bella Marble, whose life is nowhere near a fairy tale. Instead of becoming a successful writer, she's a receptionist at a press. Her best friend Ellie is getting married while she's grown weary of love after attending a series of uninspired dates. Off the advice of Ellie's frustratingly attractive brother Marty, Bella stops looking for her happily ever after and instead uses dating for fun and liberation. When she distorts a particularly terrible date in a story, suddenly she's gone viral, and people are craving more perfect date-night stories, but to tell them, Bella will have to find a way to actually have them first.

Release date: March 14

Lex Croucher's "Infamous" is a delightfully sapphic retelling of Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women." Eddie Miller and Rose have been best friends (and maybe something more) their whole lives. So when Rose is entertaining the prospect of marriage, Eddie starts questioning what life could look like without her. A new friendship with poet Nash Nicholson allows her to escape into the countryside to focus on her work. Still, she finds herself more focused on Nash than anything else, though Nash comes with his own drama as a desired socialite. With her feelings for Rose and Nash conflicting, Eddie will have to figure out who is really the person she wants to spend forever with.

Release date: March 21

A 19th-century Viennese hotel and a ball season that turns fatal set the stage for "Hotel of Secrets," Diana Biller's dazzling historical romance. The Hotel Wallner is Maria Wallner's sole priority. When it's selected as the exclusive Hotelkeepers' Ball venue, she hopes this will be her chance to restore the hotel's reputation and get their financial situation back on track. Handsome secret service agent Eli Whittaker is only at the Hotel Wallner to get more information about the American selling national secrets, who once sent a damning piece of evidence from the hotel. But when near-fatal coincidences keep putting Maria in danger, Eli's mission to get in and out is disrupted, and the only way to get his answers and keep her safe is to see this dramatic ball season through to its end.

Release date: March 28

In Sariah Wilson's "The Chemistry of Love," a cosmetic chemist with a hopeless crush on her boss is convinced to fake date his brother for mutually beneficial reasons. Anna Ellis can't interact with her boss, Craig, without her crush on him getting in the way. A run-in with Craig's brother, Marco, the company's CEO, leads to an interesting revelation: Marco wants to break up Craig's impending wedding, and the best way to do that would be to make him jealous by fake dating Anna. Anna and Marco strike a deal to get what they both want, but Anna finds her interests shifting further and further away from Craig and onto the understanding and compassionate Marco.

Release date: Feb. 1

Ann Liang's YA romance "This Time It's Real" delivers a heartwarming fake-dating plot set at an elite boarding school in Beijing. The Westbridge International School is Eliza Lin's latest challenge to conquer. Considering she and her family rarely stay long enough at any place to make friends, lying on a homework assignment about a relationship doesn't seem like too big of a deal. But then her essay goes viral, and all eyes are on her for #relationshipgoals inspiration. With a dream magazine internship and her reputation on the line, Eliza enlists classmate and actor Caz Song into a "strategic, mutually beneficial, and romantically oriented alliance" to further their respective careers. Their scheme goes swimmingly until Eliza realizes faking it isn't so easy when her partner is frustratingly wonderful. Getting real when she's always afraid of being left behind may be Eliza's greatest challenge yet.

Release date: Feb. 7

Romance readers awaiting Tessa Bailey's next will savor her playful secret-admirer romance "Secretly Yours." Hallie Welch's return to the Vos estate comes with plenty of memories of Julian Vos, her childhood crush. Helping take care of the estate's unruly garden, Hallie is surprised to find that the Julian she was once so fond of has turned into a decidedly grouchy professor, confirmed by the fact their personalities only clash now when they used to meld so well. But perhaps Hallie's feelings run deeper than she thought, because after a night out with the girls, she leaves Julian a letter anonymously revealing her long-held feelings for him. Julian is surprised someone has taken the time to confess their feelings but cannot focus on anyone else's feelings besides Hallie's. Their reunion seems destined, and despite his mission to finish a novel, Hallie proves to be a welcome distraction that he's not sure he can let go of.

Release date: Feb. 7

In "Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year," Rochelle Bilow whisks readers to Scotland for a warming romance between a former New York City food writer and a town handyman. When Ruby Spencer quits her job, she decides to throw a dart at a map, go anywhere it lands for a whole year, and finally write her own cookbook. Fate sends her to Thistletown, Scotland, where she is immediately charmed by the local pub and Brochan, the handyman who continues to come around to fix her rental. Bonding over their shared love of whisky, Ruby begins to see Thistletown less as a one-year stop and more as a possible fresh start for her life. When the beloved pub is threatened to be turned into a chain restaurant, Ruby turns to Brochan with hopes of keeping the pub and their blossoming love alive.

Release date: Feb. 14

Alexis Daria's tantalizing romance "Take the Lead" will seduce readers with its showmance-turned-real-romance saga. While working on the reality TV show "The Dance Off," dancer Gina Morales has never won or even made it to the finals. She's surprised when her new partner, the stoic star of a wilderness show, Stone, turns out to have moves that might take them to the end. And even though Stone is only here to help his family, he can't deny a sizzle between him and Gina both on and off the dance floor. As Gina and Stone develop real feelings off screen, the producers play up their chemistry on screen, leading to a social media frenzy that throws their secrets into the limelight and puts their careers on the line. Going for gold might have cost the pair everything, including their shot at true love.

Release date: Feb. 14

Is love a risk worth taking if you know how it will end? That's the question at the center of Kylie Scott's slightly fantastical romance "End of Story." Social media manager Susie is nursing a broken heart after a breakup, and she's grieving the death of her aunt Susan, who left her a house in desperate need of remodeling. Placing all her attention on transforming the house, Susie reluctantly calls on the help of her ex-boyfriend's best friend and contractor, Lars, for assistance. While breaking down a wall, the pair discover a divorce certificate dated 10 years into the future with their names on it. Susie and Lars work together to figure out what this piece of paper could mean for them, struggling when they realize it could hint at their potential future, but only if Susie is willing to give love another chance.

Release date: Feb. 14

Edward Underhill promises and delivers joy in YA romance "Always the Almost." Recently out trans student Miles Jacobson has hopes to beat a longtime rival at a piano competition and win back his ex-boyfriend, who broke up with him following his disclosure about his identity. His perspective changes when he meets a proudly out new student named Eric Mendez, whose confidence in himself draws Miles closer, despite his wish to rekindle things with his ex. With the biggest competition of his life looming and conflicting feelings for two different boys, Miles must hold onto his sense of self if he plans to win the show and the true object of his affection.

Release date: Feb. 14

YA author Amy Spalding pivots to adult romance with "For Her Consideration," a hopeful romance. A devastating breakup from years ago has left Hollywood agent and writing hopeful Nina Rice in a slump. The core of her job focuses on managing celebrity emails. Her latest client, Ari Fox, is a rising acting starlet who takes a hands-on approach to control her image, leading to some very interesting run-ins with Nina. Discovering her dreams of becoming a screenwriter, Ari pushes Nina to shoot for her dreams once more, and slowly but surely, the two grow more fond of each other — more than Nina is sure she's prepared for. Grappling with the scars of her past, Nina strives to find herself in time to save the first relationship that's made her believe in love.

Release date: Feb. 21

Falon Ballard's "Just My Type" pits relationship monogamist and writer Lana Parker against her ex-boyfriend in a writing competition that upends their usual beats. As the relationship columnist at her magazine, Lana's always had a partner at her side, until her boyfriend dumps her, leaving her heartbroken and without any material for her next column. When her boss suggests that Lana pivot to writing about being single, the challenge is upped when freelance writer and Lana's ex-boyfriend Seth enters the equation with a similar offer from her boss to write about finding a serious relationship after years of writing about the bachelor life. On the line is the opportunity for a dream job, but only one can win. As these unlikely coworkers slowly develop into something more, Lana and Seth's professional aspirations may take a backseat to love.

Release date: Feb. 7

Anonymous pen pals unknowingly become neighbors in Kristina Forest's "The Neighbor Favor." Lily Greene had finally found someone she could be herself with through her email exchanges with her favorite author, though she never really knew his identity because of his pen name. But when he ghosts her, Lila grows frustrated with her romantic failures and is determined to find a date for her sister's upcoming wedding. Her new neighbor, Nick, seems like the perfect candidate to help her in the romance department, considering he's smart, beautiful, and charming. Nick agrees to find Lila a date, but when he puts together that she was the email partner he had fallen for before going radio silent, he realizes setting her up with someone else could mean losing her for good. Forest dazzles in this sweet friends-to-lovers story with a twist.

Release date: Feb. 28

The fourth book in Katee Robert's "Dark Olympus" series, "Radiant Sin" follows retells the Greek myth of Apollo and Cassandra with a modern twist. It follows Cassandra Gataki, who is asked by the god Apollo to go undercover and attend a party with him as his plus-one. Their fake relationship escalates — and so does the heat.

Release date: Feb. 7

Breakout author Ali Hazelwood offers readers the ultimate deep dive into her successful STEM-inist novellas with her collection "Loathe to Love You." The three-in-one collection includes Hazelwood's 2022 digital releases brought to print for the first time, which all share the beloved enemies-to-lovers theme. The collection consists of the roommates-to-lovers romance "Under One Roof"; "Stuck With You," a fun play on the "locked in a room together" trope; and a wintery romance called "Below Zero." The collection also boasts a new exclusive chapter for readers craving more of Hazelwood's signature witty and charming novels. This collection will delight Hazelwood fans, new and old.

Release date: Jan. 3

Hitch a broomstick ride back to the magical universe of The Witches of Thistle Grove with Harper's third installment to the series, "Back in a Spell." Pansexual witch Nineve Blackmoore is over being heartbroken after her fiancée abandoned her at the altar, so she takes to every modern witch's go-to mode of finding love: dating apps. Her venture leads her to nonbinary Morty Gutierrez and a date Nineve looks forward to forgetting. Fate has other plans for the mismatched duo, though, as Morty soon develops their own powers and Nineve awakens to her own powers growing powerful beyond her control. The only explanation would be a magical connection the equivalent of marriage. Still, Nineve is convinced that's not what's happening — even if Morty seems to be the only person who truly sees her. Instead, they might be the first person to help her move on from the pressure of being a Blackmoore witch.

Release date: Jan. 3

"Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute" marks Talia Hibbert's side-splittingly hilarious rom-com YA debut. Celine Bangura has two goals: (1) gain an internship under the tutelage of her lawyer idol so she can flex on her absentee father and (2) avoid her former best friend Bradley Graeme after he dumped her to focus on being their school's new hotshot soccer star. When Celine lands the internship, the last person she expects to see there, Bradley, has gained entrance too. During their internship experience set out in the wild, the pair stop making jabs at each other long enough to realize how much they've missed their friendship. Easing back into a friendship and potentially something more, Celine will have to overcome the insecurities left by her father to make space in her life for bigger, better things.

Release date: Jan. 3

Playfully using the tried and true methods of rom-com classics, Jayne Denker's referential "The Rom-Com Agenda" is for anyone who's ever wished their life could be a rom-com. Willow Cove, New York, has nothing left for Leah Keegan to stay for, and raising funds to get out of town is her main priority. When she encounters Eli, a man attempting to bounce back from a proposal rejection, she convinces herself the sparks she feels between them are all in her head and uses the guidance of her favorite rom-coms to transform Eli into a perfect leading man for his would-be fiancee. But going from dud to stud only further fuels the attraction between Leah and Eli, and wedding bells may be around the corner, but the question is who will be the couple that makes it to the altar. Release date: Jan. 10

Lauren Kung Jessen's "Lunar Love" delivers a rivals-to-lovers tale for astrology fans. Olivia Huang Christensen is convinced she can find love in the stars for anyone except herself, even as the new owner of her family's Chinese zodiac–based matchmaking business. When she encounters Bennett O'Brien, the owner of ZodiaCupid, which takes her family's business concept online, Olivia must prove her family's tried and true methods beat Bennett's digital ones. So, Olivia and Bennett make a deal: they'll each find a match for each other, and whoever begins to catch real feelings loses. Upon meeting her match, Olivia is convinced she can win this deal; all she has to do is never admit that her business rival is the one who makes her feel like their love was written in the stars.

Release date: Jan. 10

No one loves a second chance romance more than bookstagrammer Tara Li Chen, the protagonist of Amy Lea's second Influencer book, "Exes and O's." Convinced the trope will lead her to the true love of her life, Tara decides to give her exes a second chance, rekindling old relationships to see what new sparks may arise. Her roommate, Trevor, doesn't see eye to eye with Tara when it comes to romance, but nonetheless becomes an ally in the ups and downs of revisiting former flames. During a livestream, audiences start to ship Trevor and Tara, forcing Tara to either continue down her beaten path toward her exes or give something brand new a chance.

Release date: Jan. 10

Kayla Olson's "The Reunion" begs the question: can former co-stars coming back together for a 20-year reunion resist the flame they lit as young starlets? Liv Latimer and Ransom Joel were beloved for their undeniable chemistry on screen as stars of the hit teen drama "Verge," but many don't know that the chemistry on screen was hard to resist IRL. Liv, never one for the spotlight, kept her feelings to herself, so the pair remained friends until a sudden fallout left their friendship fractured. Back on set together, Ransom is a movie star with the same old charm that makes falling into old routines feel too easy. But with social media chiming in with opinions on their dynamic and new castmates competing for their moment in the limelight, Liv and Ransom must decide between leaving what they had in the past or turning it into their new future.

Release date: Jan. 17

"A Guide to Being Just Friends" by Sophie Sullivan makes friendship a surprising hurdle. For Hailey, the hardworking owner of Get By the Cup salad shop, and Wes, a son of a recent divorce who's tired of dating, friendship should be easy. After a contentious first meeting, Wes makes an apology to Hailey. He soon discovers that despite his mantra of staying away from relationships, there's something about Hailey he can't help but want more of. And for Hailey, Wes provides warmth, but he's also a distraction from working on her business. Staying just friends is more complicated than it looks.

Release date: Jan. 17

Author of "Meet Cute" Helena Hunting brings charm, wit, and second chance romance in "Make a Wish." The most memorable experience Harley Spark has of her time as a nanny was with widower Gavin Rhodes and his daughter Peyton, until she almost kissed him. When Gavin quickly packed up his things and moved soon after their embarrassing moment, she took it as a sign and moved on to a new career. Nine years later, Gavin and Peyton walk back into her life, but this time it's Gavin who sees Harley in a new light, especially around her new boyfriend. Getting their connection back on track hits a standstill when wounds of the past come back to bite, and their wish for a new chance at love may go down in flames. Release date: Jan. 24

In Emma Lord's sweet YA romance "Begin Again," a first-year college student with a perfect plan must navigate her college experience when her plans fall through, and she finds her confidence shaken. Andie was disappointed when she received her rejection letter from Blue Ridge State, her dream school. When she gets the chance to transfer from her community college to Blue Ridge, it's her chance to get her life plan back on track. Her seemingly grumpy RA Milo is the only person who seems to know the right things to say when she needs it, and as Andie grapples with huge life changes, she'll learn there's beauty in starting over.

Release date: Jan. 24

"Behind the Scenes" by Karelia Stetz-Waters delivers a hopeful, romantic tale of two women unsure of what love has in store for them. Rose Josten enjoys her life as a business consultant, even though she can sense the crash of a midlife crisis wave coming her way. Upon meeting filmmaker Ash, however, the once beloved safety of her predictable life is traded in for a heartstopping romance she only wants more and more of. Ash can't deny how Rose makes her feel, but she isn't over a romantic disaster in her past that left her feeling wary of falling head over heels for anyone else. As they work together to get Ash's film financed, what's happening off-screen is what to watch.

Release date: Jan. 31

From the author that brought readers "Happily Ever Afters" and "One True Loves," Elise Bryant's YA novel "Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling" tackles the struggle of being one's true self. Becoming the star of a band is a new venture for 16-year-old Delilah, and she struggles with being at the forefront when she'd rather lay low in the background. Reggie loves everything nerd culture, especially D&D, but hides his passion from his family due to their judgment. Meeting on New Year's Eve, Reggie and Delilah find a kindred spirit with one another, and fate continues to draw them together with each holiday. As their connection deepens, they begin to confront the masks they've put on in their real lives while hoping that they can be their authentic selves with one another.

Release date: Jan. 31

Crackling with warmth and humor, Taleen Voskuni's debut, "Sorry, Bro," is an unmissable romance. Armenian American Nar just realized that, based on his proposal, she and her longtime boyfriend are not a match. With her mother's list of new Armenian candidates in her pocket, Nar heads to Explore Armenia, a series of Armenian events fostering a love of her culture. Amid the tempting food and delightful experiences, Nar can't seem to focus on any of the perfect men her mother picked out for her, finding herself focused on her beautiful new friend Erebuni instead. Their chemistry is undeniable, and Nar finally understands what it feels like to be loved and seen for who she is, but no one in her family knows she's bisexual. Erebuni is all she's ever wanted, but is Nar willing to risk upsetting her family's expectations? Or will the only person who she lets down be herself?

Release date: Jan. 31