Puck by Samantha Allen (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. First of all, the romance plot is a distant secondary plot here and fairly shallow. The main story is really fun and entertaining though. Puck is our favorite nonbinary friend of the old college crew and works on a reality TV show that involves breaking up couples. When two mismatched college friends decide to get married, Puck has a plan to sabotage the whole thing on the week of the wedding. It’s all sorts of messy and there’s a whole cast of characters to play with here, but unfortunately, the maid of honor Robyn is throwing a wrench in all the plans. Robyn is doing her best to make sure that the wedding events go smoothly and is outwardly very stern and dismissive of Puck. Secretly though, she’s showing up in Puck’s room for some extracurricular activities. Why? Not sure. Not totally explored here, since we only get Puck’s POV. Mostly entertaining, but light on the romance.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

A Promising Kiss by Alexa Aston (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 8 of the Captivating Kisses series. I love books by this author because they are such an easy comfortable read. I know exactly what I’m going to get out of this series. Someone has a tragic backstory, usually the main character who’s not part of the overarching family of the series, they meet their new partner, and it’s pretty much love at first sight. In this case, Matthew becomes a duke at age 12, rescues his mother from an asylum, and then spends his adulthood rescuing other women from the same fate. He meets Verina when she’s visiting her cousin, who’s married to his best friend. Pretty straightforward situation here, made better by the fact that he’s totally impressed by her competence and compassion. I like knowing exactly what I’m getting here with this book and it did not disappoint.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.

The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Bancroft Sisters series. Plenty of chaos and humor and slow-growing affection. Bookish Harriet and rakish Alexander are caught in a compromising situation, and there’s no guarantee that Alexander will do the honorable thing. So Harriet ends up kidnapping him for an elopement. The banter and not-quite flirting between these two is so fun to read, plus they’re most definitely attracted to each other, despite agreeing on a marriage in name only. I really couldn’t put it down and I loved watching these two dummies fall in love. Audiobook is duet narration. If you love bluestocking-rake pairings or if you love the humor that’s typically found in Tessa Dare books, you’ll love this one too.

Advance ebook provided by Zando Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

You Had Me at Heist by Christina Britton (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Wimpole Street Widows Society series. Tragic prologue for Iris, whose mother passes away, then there’s a fire at her home, covering up the fact that her mother’s plant research journals are stolen. Fast forward five years and Iris overhears that a certain dastardly lord is claiming the work as his own. The widows band together to uncover the man’s plots and find the lost journals. Of course, there’s a guard in the way. Oliver is a disgraced Bow Street Runner who works for the lord and suspects that something isn’t quite right. Despite his attraction for Iris. She’s keeping secrets, he’s distracted by her general forthright nature, and these two people are most definitely falling in love. Most of the book, I was just waiting for them to get it together and team up against the villain, instead of having Oliver being loyal to his employer. Loved this book and this series.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

Reasons to Be Loved by You by Hannah Brown (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Loved this one. Nikki is slightly adrift in her LA influencer lifestyle, still sort of recovering after her humiliating experience on a reality TV dating show when she finds out that her fiance had a secret girlfriend back home the whole time. She’s at home in Georgia with her family for her birthday and the 4th of July, when even more drama unfolds. Her younger brother has brought his new girlfriend, who was in fact the secret girlfriend of her own ex-fiance. Messy. Oh, and she comes with her dad and brother Nate, who is super cute and definitely has sparks with Nikki. Oh, and then the brother gets engaged and they’re planning and throwing an impromptu wedding. Nikki and Nate are the only ones questioning the speed of the thing, so they team up for some honest conversations and maybe some minor sabotage. It’s mostly Nikki dealing with her feelings, her family, and how to approach her future and whether that LA life is where she wants to be.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Heart Beach series. This one was a lot of fun. Jeremiah has told his family that he wasn’t able to visit the family beach house recently because of a new girlfriend, and then his mom invites the new girlfriend to come along, except he doesn’t have a girlfriend at all. He has a chance meeting with Noelle, who is a bridesmaid-for-hire as a side gig, and he proposes a fake dating contract for hire. She needs to money to go back to school, so she goes along with it. Except it’s totally clear that these two are attracted to each other and get along great. Add in some messy family dynamics and it’s the perfect setup for summer drama. Loved seeing Noelle get along with Jeremiah’s family and for him to work out his own issues with them. Dual POV.

Advance ebook provided by Berkley Romance via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Love the banter here in this rivals to lovers romance. Sloane is a wedding photographer and storm chaser dealing with a codependent mother and two slightly unreliable younger brothers. She’s on her annual storm chasing trip, hoping to photograph an image that will win the cover contest of a coveted magazine. But she’s dealing with the annoyingly arrogant Wes along the way. He takes way too many risks on the road, flirts with too many other people, and is generally not reliable enough to tempt Sloane. And then they get stuck together and actually maybe start talking and connecting. The tension here is great, and Wes turns out to be the most supportive person in Sloane’s life. Loved this book so much.

Advance ebook provided by Berkley via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord by Shana Galen (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Heiress Hunters series. I absolutely love when our two main characters have to team up to solve a problem. Something about the competence of them working together. Delightful. Ok, so we have Tamsin, an impoverished woman who is trying to locate her two younger siblings who have been bought by a chimney sweep. And then we’ve got Garret, who catches her stealing at a ball, chases her down, learns her story, and then decides to help her. Meanwhile, he’s got his own family troubles with his parents being in debt and needing Garret or one of his three brother to marry an heiress for money. (Hence, the Heiress Hunters series). He’s too distracted by Tamsin to pursue an actual heiress seriously, and he’s busy helping her find her siblings anyway. Loads of hijinks and adventure here, even though we never leave London. Loved this book and can’t wait to read more.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lakshmi (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. More about family than the romantic relationship, but a whole mess of chaos during a two-week Indian wedding celebration. Simran and Leo have only just barely gotten together, when she’s called by her cousin home to New Jersey for a family wedding. Simran grew up in India, was orphaned as a teenager, and lived with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in America. Until she couldn’t handle the overbearing stifling nature of her aunt anymore and moved out. She’s been estranged from her family for five years, and the stress of returning is a lot. And then her new boyfriend Leo accidentally drops by for the engagement party, and chaotic shenanigans ensue. The cousins all decide that they should let Leo pretend to be the groom’s friend and ingratiate himself among the family. Funny, emotional, and all the things I love in a messy family.

Advance ebook provided by Pamela Dorman Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Samantha Spük: Paranormal Wedding Planner by Aleese Lin (2026)

Paranormal romance. Standalone novel. The premise of this was a lot of fun, but I think the book slowed down for me somewhere around the middle. The romance is a distant secondary plot to the one where Sabby is embracing her not-so-beige life. So Sabby is taking care of business after her grandmother’s death, but is somehow cursed to be stuck in Salem, and now she’s accidentally a wedding planner for paranormal beings. It’s total chaos with a talking head sidekick and a pixie wedding assistant. And most of the weddings have things that go wrong. The side plot is that she’s sort of dating Hanry, but it’s totally not serious because as soon as she can, Sabby is back to her boring accountant life in New York. Fun and kooky read.

Advance ebook provided by Saga Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Game of Rogues by Julie Anne Long (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 9 of the Palace of Rogues series. This book is the epitome of yearning. The kind that punches you in the gut, makes you teary, and also makes you believe in love. Guinevere goes to gaming hell owner Gabriel to plead her case to cancel her naive brother’s debts, but it doesn’t go well. And then they both end up boarding at the Grand Palace on the Thames, so continually interact in our cozy boarding house. It’s feisty bickering between these two, which is super humorous to read. But then it turns to care and compassion as they start to learn each other’s motives. Anything between them is impossible due to their social stations, but you can feel every emotion that they eventually feel for each other. The very best sort of romance.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Harper Collins Audio. Final print book provided by Avon Books.

Tropesick by Lauren Okie (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. This book had so much messy angst. The setup reminded me a lot of How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang, except we’re left in suspense for most of the book to learn how Katie’s brother and Tyler’s best friend had died eight years ago. Katie and Tyler were neighbors and friends and maybe more, until her brother died and Tyler walked away from her with no explanation. And now they’re stuck working together to ghost write a romance novel for an eccentric recluse. The push and pull between these two will definitely punch you in the gut, and I was hanging on to find out what ruined their past and how they could possibly build a future. Loved it.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by LibroFM.

The Open Era by Edward Schmit (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Austin has made it to the US Open for the first time and in this universe is the first openly gay player to do so. But he’s just trying to live his life and play good tennis. All of the media attention and stress is not helping his anxiety problem and he’s constantly worried that he’ll end up fainting during a match. Also, not helpful, the really handsome Diego who is running hot and cold with Austin’s friendship and affections. The whole thing is told from Austin’s POV, so we really don’t know what’s going on inside Diego’s head here. When they’re hanging out together, it’s easy to see how Diego is really fun and friendly, but it’s a lot less endearing when he ghosts Austin. I liked this book, but I think I liked Thirty Love by Tom Vellner better for closeted queer tennis romance. See also: Set Point by Meg Jones.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Sometime This Century by Samantha Silva (2026)

Speculative romance. Time travel from present day America to Regency-era England. Standalone novel. The main plot here was fun, but it didn’t feel much like a romance book since the romance plot was so secondary. Annabel is a writer who is visiting England to deal with her boss’s inherited estate. She’s got a fixation on all things Austen and Regency period, so she’s looking forward to the experience. There’s even a Regency society that throws events. Except, she’s actually traveling back in time. At some point in present-day, her influencer sister Cassandra and vlogging sidekick Billy show up, and then all three of them travel back in time to a ball and then get stuck there. Most of the plot is these three trying to go back to their own time and trying to blend in with society and not get caught. Oh, and Annabel may have a suitor in the Darcy-like Henry, but like, we barely know the guy, so it’s hard to be invested.

Advance ebook provided by Harper Perennial via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Harper Audio.

In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Jess goes on a bad date on her birthday, gets mugged, and wakes up in Ireland. She spends a whirlwind day with Eamonn and pretty much falls in love with him in a weekend. But she may actually be dreaming or hallucinating or something. The premise is a little magical, but the emotions and the way Jess and Eamonn get to know each other is very real. Loved seeing them connect and care for each other. Can it be a slow burn if it happens in a day? It definitely felt like it.

Advance ebook provided by Berkley via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Flirty Rotten Scoundrels series. Outspoken Ruby is pretty much a walking scandal, so she and her three friends scheme to visit Cornwall, pretending to be a princess’s ladies in waiting. They find a run-down house instead, filled with a merry band of pirates. One of whom had most recently forged some ancient statues and is hiding his own identity. But Captain Malcolm Archer fails at all his attempts to scare Ruby and her friends out of the house, and falls for her instead. Loved their plotting and scheming and how they were both keeping secrets. I especially love when they start teaming up for a common cause. Funny and steamy and delightful.

Advance ebook provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

---

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Snowed Inn by Valerie Bowman (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Honeycrisp Orchard series. Maria’s trapped on the East Coast for Christmas due to a snowstorm, so her friend Ellie invites her to stay at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn. And that’s where her total opposite, sort of enemy Jesse works. They got off on the totally wrong foot because he insulted her designer clothes and upscale attitude, and then she looked down on his flannel woodsiness. They’re both just assuming the wrong things about each other, with a healthy dose of general insecurity from prior heartaches. Being stuck together in a small town makes them confront their differences and actually get to know each other though. Definitely a perfect small town cozy holiday romance.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Print book provided by Avon Books.

Bound and Unbound by Ali Hazelwood (2026)

Paranormal romance novella duology. Both novellas are super quick reads and doesn’t take much to uncover the paranormal nature of the people in the story. In Bound, Vero is a grad student who somehow ends up being a very talented art forger. Viktor seeks out her services, but is all mysterious about the project. And you know, his very expensive and highly secure mansion. Vero and Viktor end up spending a lot of time together and she’s clearly wary of his backstory. It’s a slow burn romance here that is delightful to read about. In Unbound, Lilit has an on-off relationship with Roman and we get a lot of time skips in this story as she reminisces about how they meet. There’s also some danger and political jockeying among Lilit’s peers, so we get to see how that mystery gets solved. Overall, fun reads.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. This book has been getting so much hype that of course I picked it up on release week. Parker is a novelist whose career was basically destroyed by book critic Selina three years ago. He’s plucked himself up and is releasing a second book, which again, totally eviscerated by Selina. A chance meeting at a party and a viral video of a verbal confrontation has pitted them against each other on social media. Goes to show that all press is good press because now Parker’s book is picking up steam. It’s all sorts of messy and they’re most definitely enemies, so I’m wondering when and how the romance is going to happen. It’s the slowest of slow burns and they don’t really spend much time together on page. When they do, the banter is great and when we get there, the angst is super emotional. I enjoyed this book a lot and I think it looks at the world of publishing, literary review, and social media with an interesting lens.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

---

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath (1997)

Historical romance. American West. Don’t know where to start with Lorraine Heath’s massive backlist? Here. Start here. Texas Destiny in Book 1 of the Texas Trilogy and will bring you all the feels. Our guy Houston is all sorts of wounded and is sent to pick up his big brother’s mail order bride from the train station. They’ve got a two week journey back to the farm and everything that can go wrong does go wrong, including falling in love with each other. When they get to their destination, the story doesn’t stop there. We have the brother to deal with, poachers, violence, and more.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath (1998)

Historical romance. American West. Texas Glory is the second book of the Texas Trilogy and we have a marriage of convenience here between rival families. It’s a few years after the events of the previous book and we have our man Dallas itching for an heir. It’s definitely a slow burn on this one, and the back half of the book is full of drama that will ultimately lead to the third book.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Texas Splendor by Lorraine Heath (1998)

Historical romance. American West. Takes place five years after the events of the previous book. Um, don’t read the summary on this one if you don’t want plot spoilers for the previous book. However, it’s safe to say that this is little brother Austin’s book and he meets a lonely young woman living by herself and her dog. I started reading this book and smelled something shady going on… and was both delighted and saddened I was right. Another emotional rollercoaster from Lorraine Heath!

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Texas Legacy by Lorraine Heath (2019)

Historical romance. American West. Book 4 of the Texas Trilogy revisits our beloved Leigh family many years down the line, when our baby Faith is now fully grown. Also, my favorite wingwoman here is cousin Maggie.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

---

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries (2013)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Duke’s Men series. Max and Lisette team up to track down her missing brother because he may have information about Max’s presumed dead brother. Except it’s kind of a mess because Lisette’s brother is wanted for horse-thieving in England and she doesn’t want Max, the duke, to cost him his life or job. Max and Lisette end up traveling together to France and need to pose as a married couple to save her reputation. He also thinks he cannot marry for love because he’s doomed to die of madness like his father. (Spoiler: it’s not hereditary, the dad had syphilis). Action-adventure-mystery here with a large dose of self-denial.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

When the Rogue Returns by Sabrina Jeffries (2014)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Duke’s Men series. Second chance romance after everyone’s been lied to. Tragic prologue for Isa and Victor, who get caught up in some royal jewel thieving, orchestrated by Isa’s sister and brother-in-law. Ten years later, Victor has finally got a clue about his missing wife’s whereabouts in Scotland. She’s been living there under an assumed name as an imitation jeweler all these years. It’s a messy confrontation between them, but they quickly reunited once the truth of her sister’s betrayal comes to light. But they’re both hesitant to actually trust each other, and there’s still more danger ahead. Add in a bumbling baron and a country house party, and there’s loads of drama.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

How the Scoundrel Seduces by Sabrina Jeffries (2014)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Duke’s Men series. Ooh, I love a mystery here. So Lady Zoe has a family mystery to solve and hires an investigator to solve it. Except Tristan is being annoying combative and prickly, probably because he’s attracted to Zoe while hating the aristocracy. There’s fighting and flirting and kissing and loads of drama here. Especially because they’ve got a big question of inheritance on the line. Loved this addition to the series.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Dorinda and the Doctor by Sabrina Jeffries (2014)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3.5 of the Duke’s Men series. Super short novella. The duchess is playing matchmaker with widowed Dorinda and the local doctor Percy. Lucky for them, they’ve had a crush on each other the whole time. But Dorinda is struggling to get close to a man because her late husband sucked and she feels totally insecure for being barren. But you know, Percy is perfect, so they get together pretty quickly.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

If the Viscount Falls by Sabrina Jeffries (2015)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Duke’s Men series. Last in the series. Disinherited second son of a viscount, Dom, engineers for his fiancee, Jane, to jilt him when he’s in dire circumstances. Twelve years later, he has inherited the title, Jane is engaged to someone else, and she needs help locating her missing cousin. It’s lots of angry bickering between these two as they both misjudge each other and the missing cousin’s character. But you know, it’s a second chance romance and they’re still in love with each other. Dom just has to get over his high-handed controlling nature and actually have a discussion with Jane about their future. I love reading books where our characters have to team up to solve a mystery, and this was another excellent one.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

The Gilded Rose by Joanna Shupe (2026)

Historical romance. Gilded Age New York. Standalone novel. The setup here is imagining if Belle had married Gaston before meeting the Beast and Gaston is truly an abusive husband. Caroline is carefully courted and married to the most handsome man in New York, only for things to turn ugly right after the wedding. Zane is our reclusive beast who was badly scarred in his youth, and is all sorts of grumpy and gruff. Except he has a soft spot for Caroline, especially as he gets to know her when she’s working on inventorying his library. They’re both terribly insecure and damaged by their circumstances. This book kept me reading to find out how Caroline gets herself out of danger and away from that brute of a husband.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

You’re the One That I Haunt by Katie Jung (2026)

Paranormal romance. Standalone novel. I kind of hate when we spend most of the book with the protagonist being attracted to the wrong person, but always glad when they turn their attention to the right person. Libby’s longtime crush and best friend Carter is engaged to be married and she somehow stumbles on his not-so-dead cousin Trip in the form of a ghost of sorts. Trip needs Libby’s help in breaking a family curse, so they’re thrown together pretty often. Plus, Libby is the only person who can see or talk to Trip. It’s all tangled up with Carter, his family history, and his fiance. I’d say Libby is the one who needs more of the emotional growth here and definitely needs to grow a backbone. I really enjoyed the family curse and mystery aspect of the book and how the curse eventually gets broken.

Advance ebook provided by Penguin Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair by Ashley Herring Blake (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Clover Lake series. Loved this book so much and how Sasha and Margot uncovered a whole history of Margot’s ancestor. Let’s back up though. Sasha is all sorts of emotionally damaged after the sudden death of her parents; she’s been aimlessly wandering for years and writes a semi-intoxicated letter to the family who holds the keys to a legendary ghost story that her parents were chasing for years. Sasha gets the go ahead to start working on her documentary, but finds a total hiccup in the form of Margot, who is stodgy and combative and super protective of herself and her family. But of course, the attraction is searing and both of these people need to learn to open up. We mostly lead with a friends with benefits situation, but feelings are definitely catching. Seriously emotional and I loved it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Ruined by the Wrong Earl by Tina Gabrielle (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Daughters of Scandal series. Nora is trying to get out of an engagement to a much older man, so she decides to ruin herself with a rake during a house party. Except she slips into the bed of an upstanding grumpy earl instead. Devon wants to avoid scandal due to his political aspirations, so he does the honorable thing and proposes marriage. Nora is not interested at all because she’s a biologist studying sea shells, but he’s actually both emotionally and financially supportive of her scientific pursuits. They agree to a marriage of convenience and won’t fall in love. Aside from the part where they’re attracted to each other and actually like each other. Loved seeing them be each others’ allies and spend time together after they get married. I’m curious to see what happens next in the series with Nora’s sisters. And does Devon’s best friend get a story too?

Advance ebook provided by Harlequin Books via NetGalley.

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

---

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Damned If I Do by Alexandria Bellefleur (2026)

Paranormal romance. Standalone novel. In the same universe as The Devil She Knows. Effie is a demon, newly engaged to one of the princes of hell, but in a bit of a contractual snafu. Turns out when she married her human husband Finn about 400 years ago, they bound their souls together. So technically, she’s still married, even as a demon, and Finn has been reincarnated many times over. She’s got to find him, and get him to renounce the vows, so she can marry her fiance. Finn’s playing tough though, feeling totally drawn to Effie, and refusing to let her go. It’s messy and angsty and so much fun to read.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

How the Scoundrel Seduces by Sabrina Jeffries (2014)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Duke’s Men series. Ooh, I love a mystery here. So Lady Zoe has a family mystery to solve and hires an investigator to solve it. Except Tristan is being annoying combative and prickly, probably because he’s attracted to Zoe while hating the aristocracy. There’s fighting and flirting and kissing and loads of drama here. Especially because they’ve got a big question of inheritance on the line. Loved this addition to the series.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Miss Beresford and the Beast by Mimi Matthews (2026)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Daughters of Somerset series. Charlotte is a bit impetuous, gets injured at a beastly earl’s decrepit castle, and has a spot of amnesia while she’s there. Magnus is scarred and injured from his naval service and has a terrible reputation in the village around the estate due to some shameful secrets of his past. But of course, Charlotte sees right through the gruffness and falls for him anyway. I love that she comes to his defense at every opportunity and tries to show him of his own worth. Third generation of our favorite Somerset families, starting with The Work of Art.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Love Felt Like This by Julia Olivia (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Loved this book so much. Definitely warm and cozy and an absolute delight. So Beverly is trying to revive her children’s puppet show, but is having a rough go of it. She meets rock star Griffin by chance at a late night variety show. And he’s also struggling with writing his next album after becoming full-time Dad to 2-year-old Ava. Basically, they’re both in a bad place, but somehow decide to team up so that Griffin can help write songs for Beverly’s show. But see, the setup is just the beginning. Because their chemistry is insane and Griffin is such a great grumpy dad, and his kid is super sweet, and we get to go back to Beverly’s small mountain town for awhile. Ugh, words cannot describe, you just have to read it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

See You Next Tuesday by Kate Stayman-London (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Ten years of yearning and miscommunication and misjudgment of each other. Ugh, this was such a good book. Anya and Gabe have been at odds everytime they cross paths. Someone ends up saying the wrong thing, the other one gets defensive, and they go right back to hating each other. Despite the simmering attraction between them. Oh, we get so many time jumps here and so many instances where they have a chance to get together. Loved the yearslong yearning.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

---

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Blue Jean Summer by Maggie Gates (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Wilder Estate series. Modern day marriage of convenience so that Hayes can keep his inheritance. After his grandfather passes away, there’s a stipulation in the will that Hayes needs to transfer some land to his wife in order to keep the estate, but the trouble is he doesn’t have a wife. Luckily, Catherine is the perfect candidate for him, needing funds to support her proposed agricultural initiative for kids. We’ve even got an evil half-brother who wants to see Hayes fail. Loved seeing these two get to know each other and fall in love. And I love when Hayes is strong, supportive, and caretaking. Great setup of the friend group and future books in the series.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Damned If I Do by Alexandria Bellefleur (2026)

Paranormal romance. Standalone novel. In the same universe as The Devil She Knows. Effie is a demon, newly engaged to one of the princes of hell, but in a bit of a contractual snafu. Turns out when she married her human husband Finn about 400 years ago, they bound their souls together. So technically, she’s still married, even as a demon, and Finn has been reincarnated many times over. She’s got to find him, and get him to renounce the vows, so she can marry her fiance. Finn’s playing tough though, feeling totally drawn to Effie, and refusing to let her go. It’s messy and angsty and so much fun to read.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

If the Viscount Falls by Sabrina Jeffries (2015)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 4 of the Duke’s Men series. Last in the series. Disinherited second son of a viscount, Dom, engineers for his fiancee, Jane, to jilt him when he’s in dire circumstances. Twelve years later, he has inherited the title, Jane is engaged to someone else, and she needs help locating her missing cousin. It’s lots of angry bickering between these two as they both misjudge each other and the missing cousin’s character. But you know, it’s a second chance romance and they’re still in love with each other. Dom just has to get over his high-handed controlling nature and actually have a discussion with Jane about their future. I love reading books where our characters have to team up to solve a mystery, and this was another excellent one.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Isn’t He Romantic? by Adib Khorram (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Love on the Vine series. Arya is getting older, his friends are coupled up, and his work and parents are a mess. His life gets more complicated when he ghosts a one-night-stand Ben, and then runs into him a few weeks later. Ben has his own issues with a slightly stalkery ex-boyfriend, so he asks Arya to pretend to be his boyfriend. What could possibly go wrong? Except everyone catches feelings but doesn’t know what to do with them. Arya because he’s had a poor example of love growing up, and Ben because he’s insecure after his ex-boyfriend’s mistreatment. It all goes exactly how you think it would, in all the best ways.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Hachette Audio.

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

---

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Love Felt Like This by Julia Olivia (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Loved this book so much. Definitely warm and cozy and an absolute delight. So Beverly is trying to revive her children’s puppet show, but is having a rough go of it. She meets rock star Griffin by chance at a late night variety show. And he’s also struggling with writing his next album after becoming full-time Dad to 2-year-old Ava. Basically, they’re both in a bad place, but somehow decide to team up so that Griffin can help write songs for Beverly’s show. But see, the setup is just the beginning. Because their chemistry is insane and Griffin is such a great grumpy dad, and his kid is super sweet, and we get to go back to Beverly’s small mountain town for awhile. Ugh, words cannot describe, you just have to read it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan (2023)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Beach town second chance romance here. Sam is back at her parents’ beach house with her new fiance to check out a wedding venue, but her ex-boyfriend Wyatt from a decade ago is staying at the house next door and distracting her. We get a bunch of time jumps here as we learn how those two got together and fell apart and how it plays into Sam’s life in the present. And how her city personality with her fiance is very different from her personality as a kid and teen and at the beach with her free-spirited parents. It’s messy and emotional and I really enjoyed it.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Thank You for Remembering by Emily Harding (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Amnesia romance. Marnie wakes up in the hospital after having hit her head and has no memory of the past year. Turns out her boyfriend is her ex-boyfriend and she lives in a new apartment that she doesn’t recognize at all. Helpful neighbor Ben helps her find her way around the city and revisit some landmarks from where she’s got some mementos. But like, we can totally see where this story is going right? Neighbor Ben definitely means more the Marnie than she realizes, but the stress of not knowing for sure is still lingering. I enjoyed all the wandering around Boston, since I went to college there, and now I want a lobster tail.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

How the Scoundrel Seduces by Sabrina Jeffries (2014)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Duke’s Men series. Ooh, I love a mystery here. So Lady Zoe has a family mystery to solve and hires an investigator to solve it. Except Tristan is being annoying combative and prickly, probably because he’s attracted to Zoe while hating the aristocracy. There’s fighting and flirting and kissing and loads of drama here. Especially because they’ve got a big question of inheritance on the line. Loved this addition to the series.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Dorinda and the Doctor by Sabrina Jeffries (2014)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3.5 of the Duke’s Men series. Super short novella. The duchess is playing matchmaker with widowed Dorinda and the local doctor Percy. Lucky for them, they’ve had a crush on each other the whole time. But Dorinda is struggling to get close to a man because her late husband sucked and she feels totally insecure for being barren. But you know, Percy is perfect, so they get together pretty quickly.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

---

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

First Earl I See Tonight by Anna Bennett (2018)

I love a great marriage of convenience story. Our heroine here is being blackmailed and needs access to her dowry money, so she proposes to a destitute lord who needs his share of the money too. He’s worried she’ll regret it, so he invites her to visit his broken down manor. Hilarious.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duke Is But a Dream by Anna Bennett (2019)

The younger sister of Book 1’s heroine somehow gets into a bar fight and gets knocked in the head and loses her memory. A stern and stuffy duke rescues her and brings her home. Amnesia isn’t my favorite trope because we’re usually just waiting for some calamity to happen when the person regains their memory, but I do love a cold starchy duke.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

When You Wish Upon a Rogue by Anna Bennett (2020)

This book is my fave of the series. We have the third friend of our little friend group looking for a place to host meetings and so she breaks into a vacant shop. The shop ends up not being very vacant and the owner is an insomniac who realizes the young lady is oh-so-very soothing for his sleep. They make a bargain to help him sleep and of course they fall in love and it is absolutely delightful.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

---

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.