It’s the resident romance redneck back again to judge books based off their covers. We all know that the romance genre, like all genres, follows a specific equation. This includes what books will go viral. I’m making an educated guess as to which upcoming romance releases are going to be a hit with the masses. So while this judgment is based on the covers, it’s important to keep in mind that these are just predictions and no harm is meant by my opinions.
This is also an opportunity to appreciate some gorgeous covers made by some incredibly talented design teams! Though we’re all in this for the meat of the story, the curb appeal is important to get me to even pick up a book.
The Fixer Upper
Lauren Forsythe
Release Date: August 2
Described as a romantic comedy for exhausted women, The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe is sure to tickle the fancy of one too many BookTok and Bookstagram accounts upon it’s release! Aly, like many women, is a fixer who’s always finding a partner under the pretense of ‘I could fix him.’ This is for all the women who realize halfway through a long-term relationship that they’ve been carrying the entire weight of the emotional baggage. I can already tell you that people are going to relate to Aly’s storyline and can already see fans calling for a Netflix adaptation!
Ben and Beatriz
Katalina Gamarra
Release Date: August 2
Retell girlies are quaking in their boots with this Shakespearian reimagination. Ben and Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra is the retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, though instead of the serene background of Italy, readers are thrust into the poltical timeframe just after the 2016 election in America. These college-age characters sift through the traditional Shakesperian themes of love and deception while juggling their own beliefs. Definitely the facelift Shakespeare has been waiting for.
Husband Material
Alexis Hall
Release Date: August 2
The sequel to Boyfriend Material is finally upon us with Alexis Hall’s Husband Material! Fans no longer have to speculate the ending of Luc and Oliver’s story with the final installment of the Boyfriend Material duology! The first queer romantic comedy took us by storm, and I expect no less from the sequel! Much of the same tropes are back to entertain us in Husband Material by Alexis Hall! Personally, I’m ready to see the antics between Luc and Oliver kick up again!
The Hookup Plan
Farrah Rochon
Release Date: August 2
This is the third book in Farrah Rochon’s Boyfriend Project, an anthology collection of books that feature our favorite romance tropes. The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon caters to lovers of the enemies-to-lovers paired with fantastic banter to keep every character on their toes. Look, readers are going to go crazy when sparks fly between London and Drew at their high school reunion. However, the high is quickly dampened when that inevitable splash of reality hits the next morning.
Mr. Perfect on Paper
Jean Meltzer
Release Date: August 9
This is every early 2000s rom-com in a modern-day Jean Meltzer package! Mr. Perfect on Paper follows Dara Rabinowitz, the creator and CEO of J-Mate, a popular Jewish dating app. Dara has cracked the formula to eternal love for everyone… except herself. She knows what makes a perfect Jewish husband: he must be a doctor or lawyer, baggage-free (meaning no previous marriages or children), and he must be Jewish! What happens when Dara starts falling for someone who is in fact, the exact opposite of everything in her requirements? Readers are sure to fall in love with Dara and Chris and the ups and downs their relationship will go through.
Luck & Last Resorts
Sarah Grunder Ruiz
Release Date: August 9
I’ve always wondering if someone was going to make a romance novel of Below Deck and good news everyone! It’s finally happening! Luck & Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz is the love story of a chief stew and Irish chef! If I’ve learned anything from watching Below Deck, it’s that boat romances are perfect for one thing… the boat. The type of people who thrive on the boat are similar to our main character Nina, who relies on anyone. The one time she did was when she fell in love with Ollie, though she’ll never admit that to anyone but herself. Now with tensions rising because of Nina and Ollie’s unresolved past and the ultimatum served by Ollie, smooth sailing seems to be out of the question.
Love in the Time of Serial Killers
Alicia Thompson
Release Date: August 16
Phoebe Walsh is representing the babes who are obsessed with true crime. Obsessed with Criminal Minds? Read Love in the Time of Serial Killers. Love listening to true crime podcasts? Read Love in the Time of Serial Killers. Enjoy picking apart true crime docu-series on Netflix? Read Love in the Time of Serial Killers. Phoebe is a PhD candidate that is analyzing the true crime genre for her dissertation. Her fascination might be making her a bit paranoid because she’s currently convinced that her neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer. Or he could just be a really nice guy… but we all know the dangers of nice guys.
Lucy Checks In
Dee Ernst
Release Date: August 16
I can see a passage of this book being the main feature of a video on my feed. Lucy is a disgraced hotel manager who is now attempting to manage the Hotel Paradis in Rennes, France. This forty-nine year old is large and in charge of a derelict hotel that is in the heart of a tourist town. This is definitely not the fresh start that Lucy was hoping for, but perhaps its the jumpstart that Lucy needs. Just look at this cover image everyone. It’s going to glisten on your shelf! Lucy Checks In is going to check all your boxes for a second-chance romance!
(Not) Your Basic Love Story
Lindsay Maple
Release Date: August 23
Multicultural couples are gaining more and more representation and Lindsay Maple is one of the authors on that train! (Not) Your Basic Love Story is just that! Becky and her love interest Dev are the complete opposite fo each other. Though this is a light hearted romance, it deals with the very real problems that many multicultural couples go through. On top of that iconic insta-love trope, readers are going to experience the complicated family dynamics of Dev’s traditional Pubjabi family!
Love on the Brain
Ali Hazelwood
Release Date: August 23
Ali Hazelwood is back to please readers with Love on the Brain! Ali is once again giving us another “STEMinist rom-com” that we can sink our teeth into! This time, Bee Königswasswer has to work with her archnemisis Levi Ward. Levi is a fellow academic, but is also the most infuriating man in the existence of the world. Unfortunately for Bee, Levi kind of, sort of, saves the day when he keeps her from making a complete fool of herself the first day of her new job at NASA. With how well Ali’s last book did, I’m ready to be wowed again with her next enemies-to-lovers storyline!
Would You Rather
Allison Ashley
Release Date: August 23
Marriage of convenience! Marriage of convenience! Marriage of convenience! Marriage of convenience! Everyone knows how much I love the marriage of convenience trope, and it’s the whole premise of Would You Rather by Allison Ashley! Noah and Mia have been friends for years before the prospect of marriage was cooked up. Mia is currently being faced with the decision between a stable job with the medical insurance she needs and the opportunity to go back to school to pursue her dream. Noah comes up with the idea to get married so she can keep her insurance and go to school! Sometimes you wish you could just slip into a books plotline and other times… no that’s the only thing we wish with books!
You & I Rewritten
Chip Pons
Release Date: August 23
I don’t know about anyone else but I adore when books involve characters who work in the publishing industry! Things are on the up and up for Will Cowen, newest hire at one of New York City’s most renowed publishing houses. Everything is coming up Will, at least it was until he continuously puts the wrong foot forward every chance he gets. After yet another misstep in front of the big bosses, Chip unloads his frustrations to the cold and distant Graham Austin. Graham’s exterior cracks and a night of passion ensues between the two. Look, currently we’re all obsessed with forbidden and unexpected romances and You & I Rewritten by Chip Pons is all of this and more!
In the Event of Love
Courtney Kae
Release Date: August 30
Queer Hallmark romance. Need I say more? Don’t worry, of course I’m more than happy to talk about In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae! One of our main characters reminds me a a female Thor Bradley from TikTok, y’all know the guy who chops the wood? Morgan Ross has to evacuate Los Angeles after her job as an event planner imploded, forcing her to retreat to Fern Falls to reorient herself. While there Morgan is able to reconnect with her former best friend (crush) Rachel who is now a super buff lumberjane (ie female Thor Bradley). Morgan and Rachel put aside their feelings to save Fern Falls from corporate bigwigs who want to demolish the place. And nothing will come of their feelings. Nothing. Can you hear the disbelief in my voice?
Mixed Signals
B.K. Borison
Release Date: August 30
Relationship of convenience? Fake dating that turns real? Small-town romance? I love all of the above! Layla has lost all faith in men, and what’s worse is that she’s literally asking for the bare minimum from men. After yet another failed date and a much needed rescue from her friend Caleb, he offers her a deal. Caleb and Layla agree to a no-strings month-long relationship in which she will rate his boyfriend abilities and Layla’s faith in men will be restored. Along with Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison being a swoon-worthy story, the cover is also to die for and it’s also part of a series!
I’m pretty sure that I’m in the right on money as far as this. For more of my cover judgments, click here!