Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Pop star Ramona retires and goes to college. Psych professor Will is skeptical, but also attracted. Tons of flirting, banter, and steam here. And how is it that he can make her feel so normal? Loved their interactions and how he treated her like a person, not a celebrity. Aside from the very clear conflict of interest and the not that big of an age gap, I think these two were a really good match for each other. Delightful read.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
Thighs Wide Shut by Hayley Fleming (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. I’m on Harrison’s side of the argument here. All the way through. Even though we never get his POV. Emma and Harrison were best friends with underlying attraction all through college, until a huge falling out, and now they haven’t spoken in five years. Lucky (or unlucky) for Emma, she moves into the basement apartment right below Harrison’s. She’s still in need of some maturity and growth though. Basically, she “can’t” date because of her untreated vaginismus and she’s basically emotionally constipated because of it. It’s obviously a very real condition, but she seems to be unwilling to take steps to improve her condition through physical and cognitive therapy, while also being insecure in her dating life and never actually telling any of her potential partners about it. Even with her best friend telling her that penetration is not necessary for intimacy, Emma is still terribly insecure and believes that if she “fixes herself” then Harrison will never need to know. I’m not an expert here, but I’m pretty sure you’ve got to tell your partner there’s a potential for hurting your private bits, just in case.
Advance ebook provided by Dial Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
How to Be a Rich Old Lady by Amanda Holden (2026)
Nonfiction. Personal finance. Investing basics for the average person. This book goes over the general approach to retirement savings and general investments. Helps define some of the buzzwords you might hear all the time and give an easy approach to getting started. Good recap of the basics with tips on how to get started. For me, I like to check in on these finance advice books to make sure I’m on the right track.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Anything But a Lord by Kathleen Ayers (2026)
Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the London Vices series. Makes more sense to read this book in order, but basically, we’ve got the son and brother of a duke raised in a brothel. When Fletcher realizes he looks just like a duke, he uses the opportunity to sneak into balls and discreetly steal jewelry. And then he meets Helen, the companion of a flighty daughter of a marquess, and he gets all sorts of distracted by her. They don’t actually spend much time together over the course of the book, but Helen spends most of the time thinking she’s beneath him and that he’s a rogue. The plot picks up though when Helen realizes that Fletcher is not actually the duke and everyone’s in a lot more danger than we anticipated. Can’t wait for the next book of the series to see how the plot unfolds.
Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Books via NetGalley.
Fossil Feud by Maggie North (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Loved this book, highly recommend! Ripley is a somewhat disgraced paleontologist, after her ex-boyfriend stole her work and then accused her of the stealing. She’s on a privately funded dig to search for a not-yet-discovered dino. And then the stuffy professor James crashes her site because he needs her help uncovering a potential fraud. That is being perpetrated by her terrible ex. Of course Ripley and James together is a bad idea, mostly for her heart and her professional reputation, but these two definitely have sparks and can only stay away for so long. I love the idea of them teaming up together and working together throughout this book. And you know, also getting to know each other and opening up. Agh, it was so good.
Advance ebook provided by Dell via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House 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.
