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.
In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. They’re not really rivals: clearly this guy Sebastian has had a crush on Quincy since high school. But when they finally get together, it’s like fate coming together. So Quincy is a super smart, super talented, self-employed meteorologist who’s in the running for a job with the National Weather Service. Sebastian is a super arrogant, somewhat famous, national news-appearing meteorologist who’s burnt out from his New York City life and spending hurricane season in Florida. He’s also the brother of Quincy’s best friend Mia. There’s a big overlapping friend group here that forces Quincy and Sebastian together a lot over the Summer. And when they start teaming up for storm chases and social media reporting, it turns into so much more. Ugh, I love how Sebastian is so impressed by Quincy and how he sticks up for her.
Advance ebook provided by Atria Books via NetGalley.
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.
Second First Dates by Gabriella Gamez (2026)
Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Librarians in Love series. Dual POV here, but Leti’s the one who needs the transformation along the way. She’s ready to date again, matches with Julian on an app, and then doesn’t realize she’s already been on a date with him four years ago until the current date is happening. Oh, and then it turns out he’s her brother’s best friend and roommate who lives in her apartment building. Totally awkward. And then they sort of become friends while he helps her with her dating apps. But Leti’s got major family drama that Julian is now stuck in the middle of. And some major trust issues. Poor Julian has his work cut out for him to win her over. Family drama aside, we’ve got some frank discussions between Leti and Julian on what it means to be on the ace-spectrum and demisexual.
Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Love You More by Emily Giffin (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Finally, a second chance romance that is told in the before chunk and the after chunk, not a mix of flashbacks. We’ve got Billie, a big deal doctor in NYC, who is recently engaged to Dean. But then she gets a phone call from her hometown ex-boyfriend Mick with devastating news. She’s got to head back home to deal with that and of course revisit all her old feelings. I haven’t read an Emily Giffin book in a long time, but I loved this one. This book was so good at stirring up emotions, in the best way.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
Just for the Season by Rachel Griffiths (2026)
Historical romance. Standalone novel. Charlotte is in a whole mess of trouble after sneaking into a scandalous party and the queen has basically told her she needs to marry. Easy peasy, let’s gather all the suitors at a house party. Except most of her suitors suck and she’s left with her uncertain feelings for Wolfgang, her brother’s best friend tasked with looking after her while the brother is out of the country. And of course, Charlotte and Wolfgang have a history of exchanging letters and growing feelings, until it all went wrong. We’re moving in fairly predictable historical romance plot lines, but made more humorous with a meddling grandmother. And the best scenes involve Charlotte telling off her terrible suitors.
Advance ebook provided by Gallery Books via Edelweiss. Advance print book provided by Gallery Books. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Not that Kind of Proposal by Victoria Lavine (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Gracie and Jude bond upon first meeting at his grandmother’s funeral, but it last about two seconds because then she finds out Jude is planning to sell the estate where she works and lives as a wedding planner. Oops. And then they’re quickly enemies as Gracie tries to get Jude to see the beauty of love and weddings and all of that. But they’re both kinda broken people. Gracie is barely recovered from a past heartbreak and business venture gone bad, Jude has secrets locked up in a NDA, and now they’re teaming up to plan Gracie’s ex-boyfriend’s wedding. Messy and emotional and they can’t quite stay away from each other.
Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.
Rogue Around the Edges by Lydia Lloyd (2026)
Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Scoundrels of Parkhorne Hall series. Malcolm is the illegitimate older brother of a country gentleman and generally uncomfortable around society, making his brother’s house party an awkward experience. He’s constantly saying the wrong thing in front of Scarlett, the beautiful older sister of one of his brother’s prospects. She’s pretty much a spinster by society’s standards, so she doesn’t realize that Malcolm is genuinely attracted to her. It’s awkwardness and miscommunication between these two until they realize they really should be friends. And maybe more.
Advance ebook provided by Tule Publishing via BookSprout.
The MASH Up by Laura Marie Meyers (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. This one was really fun. Ruby is super practical and risk-averse and her life has not turned out like any of the pieces of the MASH game she played when she was 13-years-old. And when she blacks out on her 35th birthday, she’s totally shocked to wake up in her MASH dreamland. Oh, and her brother’s best friend Penn is there too. Who she hates. But maybe does not hate. Ruby’s relearning her life in this alternate universe, learning to let herself live a little, and also falling in love with the least expected guy. I loved MASH-Ruby and her technicolor wardrobe.
Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
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.
Married with Benefits by Ellie Palmer (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Omg, this book made me laugh so much while I was listening/reading it. So Lainey is perpetually scraping by for cash, drives a run-down car as a not-Uber, part of the gig economy of her small tourist town in Wisconsin, and also suffers from bad health insurance on top of her chronic migraines. She meets Elliot when he’s a passenger in her rideshare, is instantly attracted, and then things take a sour turn when he tries to evict her from her house. But it’s ok, because she technically owns the house due to decades-long squatters’ rights. And then somehow she and Elliot enter into a marriage of convenience so she can have his fancy health insurance and so he can maybe convince her to sell him the house. Their flirting is delightful on top of all the calamities that befall them throughout this book. There’s so much going on, you have got to read it.
Advance ebook provided by Putnam Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
Return to Sender by Stephanie Parente (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Ooh, this book was so messy and emotional. Violet is guardian to her 14-year-old sister Phoebe after the sudden death of their father, and she’s dealing with a sullen closed-off teenager. Until they receive a letter returned to the previous occupant of their apartment. Of course Phoebe opens the letter and gets all emotionally invested in the story there. Violet is excited to see a spark of life in Phoebe after all this time. So now, they track down the letter writer, a Benji Dexter, and try to get the letter to its intended recipient. Dex is the grumpiest of grumps, but somehow friendly and caring of Phoebe. The three of them end up on a cross-country road trip to deliver the letter, and Violet and Dex grow closer along the way. It’s definitely a slow build of friendship, trust, and more here, with the road trip forcing everyone out of their comfort zones. I loved this book.
Advance ebook provided by Dial Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.
Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly (2026)
Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Loved this one. Influencer Poppy teams up with chef Jack to reopen his late mentor’s restaurant in small town Florida. This is after some public humiliation for both of them at her father’s fancy restaurant in New York City. The grumpy chef and sunshiney influencer are constantly bickering, but definitely grow closer along the way. And it was nice watching them learn more about each other and find a new purpose in life. This book reminded me a lot of It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey, in a good way, because I love that grumpy-sunshine pair working on a team project.
Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by HarperCollins Audio.
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.
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