Having trouble filling up the long summer days? Nothing livens things up like a good love affair. These ten recommendations will have you blushing and swooning in the heat!
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
Slow Dance is a second-chance romance. Shiloh and Cary were best friends in high school, but then everything changed. They went their separate ways, and their lives didn’t end the way they had thought. Shiloh, who once dreamed of leaving Omaha, is divorced and living in her childhood house. Cary is still a bachelor in the Navy. What if it all had to happen so they could find each other again? I am a fan of Rainbow Rowell, so I was excited to hear that she was coming out with this adult novel. It was also recently chosen as a Reese’s Book Club pick!
What If It’s Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli
A meet-cute at the post office? Sign me up! This YA is a dual-POV narrative following Arthur and Ben. Arthur is in New York for a summer internship, and Ben is in summer school grieving a break-up. They enjoy the season together and believe that fate is real, but quickly learn that life can get more complicated than that. The fact that two best friends coauthor this makes it all the more fun.
Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
This one is a no-brainer! If you’ve watched the show but haven’t read the books yet, what are you waiting for? This steamy and elegant period drama is just the thing to take you out of a reading slump. Romance in the 1800s was full of societal rules, which made it so easy to break them. And when they’re broken, Lady Whistledown, the secret town gossip, will make it known to everybody. Brimming with tension and passion, Bridgerton is highly addicting!
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
This story turned out to be more about friendship than I expected, but the romance was still very engaging. We follow Dannie who has her whole life planned out, or at least the next five years. She’s going to get married to her boyfriend, get hired at her dream firm, and move to a nice neighborhood in NYC. But one night Dannie has a premonition where in five years her life is totally different. This was a beautiful novel about what we can control and what we cannot.
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
For fans of Red, White & Royal Blue and One Last Stop, this is for you! Theo and Kit had a brutal breakup, and now they’ve accidentally booked the same European tour…Awkward. A friendly game to see who can sleep with the sexy Italian guide turns into a full-on hookup competition. But maybe, after all, they just want each other. This is such a fun plot, and the sparks will fly!
Funny Story by Emily Henry
A fake relationship always makes for an exciting plot (Thank you, Shakespeare), and Funny Story does not disappoint. Daphne and Miles get dumped by their partners, who choose to be with each other instead. This fuels them to come up with an elaborate scheme to make their exes jealous: pretend to be a couple. Perhaps they needed to see themselves together to realize they were a good pair.
Heartstopper, Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
This beautiful graphic novel is a must-read! The series is about Charlie and Nick, two high schoolers who start as friends and become something more. In their relationship, Nick is the golden retriever type, and Charlie is the black cat. In this volume, Nick has to start thinking about universities, which is a difficult reality for them both. Will they be able to make the distance work? As always, you will fly through this book, and it will leave your heart warm after reading.
Illusion of Stars by Sarah Marie Page
I haven’t forgotten about you Romantasy lovers. This debut is a slow-burn narrative that follows Isabel, the Queen’s physician. When she learns that her best friend has been murdered she doesn’t have much to lose. Isabel discovers a nearby kingdom’s intent to overthrow the Queen’s empire and she devises a plan to seduce their general. The only problem is she starts to develop real feelings for him.
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
After being left at the altar, Elsy is ready for her annual book club retreat, where she can escape into a fictional world. But on her way there, she soon becomes stranded in Eloraton, the place from her favorite romance books. The town seems to be frozen in time, and a handsome bookshop owner wants to keep it that way. If you enjoy books about books, A Novel Love Story should be on your TBR
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega is a coming-of-age story featuring Charlie, a biracial girl whose mother always has something to say about her body. Charlie is a charming teen who loves to write fanfic, but her thin and popular best friend constantly gets more romantic attention than her. That is, until Brian comes around. Brian loves every part of Charlie, even the parts she’s self-conscious of, but will she believe him?
Whatever your taste, one of these titles will surely have you crushing hard!
Want more Romance Recs? Check out this article on the Best Romantasy couples.
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