The Most Anticipated Love Stories of 2026
Your Ultimate Guide to the Must-Read Romance Releases of 2026
There’s something magical about a fresh year of romance releases. That moment when publishers start quietly dropping announcements, the cover reveals, the “Add to Goodreads” frenzy, and the knowledge that somewhere out there your next comfort read or favorite fictional soulmate is already on the way.
And friends, 2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for romance. Spice levels? Elevated. Tropes? Troping (is that a word?). Comfort reads? Plentiful. Preorder energy? Already dangerous to my credit card.
If you’re looking for the best new romance books coming out in 2026, I’ve rounded up the most anticipated titles, author comebacks, sequel news, and the trends that will define the new year in all things romance.
Time to build that TBR. Let’s go.
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Why 2026 Is Already a Huge Year for Romance
Before we jump into specific books, here’s why the buzz for 2026 romance releases is unusually loud:
1. Blockbuster series are dropping new titles.
Several major series that exploded on BookTok between 2021–2024 are releasing long-awaited next installments. Readers are feral for these answers.
2. Big-name authors are returning after multi-year breaks.
And when a romance author disappears, you know they’re cooking something devastating (in the best way).
3. Romantasy is fully mainstream now.
We’re getting bigger worlds, bigger twists, and bigger spice levels. If you love your romance with danger, magic, wings, fangs, or a kingdom to overthrow, 2026 is your era.
4. Contemporary romance is shifting more emotional.
Think: grief healing arcs, rediscovering identity, the “I’m not ready to date but somehow you’re undoing me” kind of love.
5. There’s a boom in cross-genre romance.
2026 is full of:
paranormal-light
cozy fantasy romance
romantic thrillers
horror-romance blends
dark academia love stories
Romance is branching out and publishers are clearly betting big.
Top Romance Books Coming in 2026: My Most Anticipated List
Below are the standout 2026 romance releases worth preordering early, building Pinterest boards around, or quietly screaming to your book club about.
Rings of Fate
By Melissa de la Cruz
Release date: January 6, 2026
Summary
Aren Bellamore has perfected the art of survival: run a bustling tavern, dodge persistent suitors, and keep her dreams of a bigger life locked safely behind sarcasm and stubbornness. Fairy tales? Absolutely not. She serves ale, not destiny.
But when a near-fatal encounter thrusts her into the path of Prince Dietan—the brooding royal rumored to be dying from a curse no one dares name—Aren’s ordinary world shatters. The prince carries the Rings of Fate, ancient relics whose magic is slowly consuming him. His one chance at breaking the curse? A perilous journey he can’t take alone and a partner bold enough to play the role of his bride.
Aren wants out of her suffocating life. Dietan needs someone who won’t crumble under pressure or his charm. Their fake engagement promises mutual convenience, nothing more.
Yet as they trek through treacherous landscapes, clash with creatures born of nightmare, and outwit schemes that could topple kingdoms, their sham betrothal becomes harder to pretend. Banter turns into trust. Danger turns into desire. And the girl who never believed in destiny finds herself tangled in one.
Now the fate of two realms and two reluctant hearts hinges on whether a cynical barmaid and a cursed prince can rewrite a story that was supposed to doom them both.
Perfect for readers craving humor, heart-pounding adventure, and that slow-burn spark that refuses to stay fake.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Jealous Rage
By Sav R. Miller
Release date: January 6, 2026
Summary
Avernia College has always been a nest of secrets, but none are as volatile as the ones Professor Sutton Dupont carries. With a legacy steeped in blood and a career he’s barely holding together, Sutton survives by staying disciplined, distant, and absolutely off-limits. Until a late-add freshman walks into his lecture hall and detonates every boundary he’s built.
Elle Anderson isn’t the bright-eyed college kid she pretends to be. At twenty-five, she’s fled the wreckage of her Hollywood dreams and slipped into Avernia hoping to disappear. But anonymity becomes impossible the moment she locks eyes with Sutton—her enigmatic professor whose quiet control masks a hunger that mirrors her own.
Their chemistry is immediate, intoxicating, and wholly forbidden. What begins as a single reckless kiss spirals into a dangerous entanglement neither of them is equipped to survive. Because Sutton’s past isn’t just dark—it’s lethal. And Elle’s secrets have sharp edges of their own.
At Avernia, desire doesn’t just break rules—it rewrites them. And as their obsession deepens, Sutton and Elle must decide whether they’re willing to risk the truth, their futures, and possibly their lives to keep tasting the one thing they were never meant to have: each other.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Order of Royals (Blue Swans, 2)
By Jude Devereaux
Release date: January 6, 2026
Summary
In book 2 of the Blue Swans series by Jude Devereaux, in the glittering yet treacherous world of Bellis, Princess Aradella has learned that survival is an art, especially when the crown you’re meant to inherit is controlled by the ruthless queen who raised you. Under Queen Olina’s watchful eye, Aradella lives a life shaped by duty and danger, every step shadowed by political traps she can never quite escape.
But everything shifts when the princess begins forging quiet alliances in the most unlikely places. Among them is Tanek, a swansman with ties to ancient magic, and his son Mekos, whose calm strength and unwavering loyalty spark something Aradella never expected, hope.
Across the stars, Earthling Kaley Arens finds herself drawn deeper into the mysteries of Bellis, caught between the familiarity of home and the irresistible pull of a world rich with enchantment and someone who makes leaving her old life behind feel all too tempting.
As secrets buried beneath Bellis’s polished court begin to surface, Aradella and her companions must navigate a maze of deception, forbidden power, and fragile alliances. Every revelation brings them closer to a truth that could shatter the monarchy, and every step forces Aradella to decide whether she will continue playing the part written for her or seize the future her heart is beginning to imagine.
A sweeping tale of loyalty, courage, and star-crossed love, Order of Royals blends courtly intrigue with lush fantasy, proving that even in a world ruled by magic and manipulation, destiny can be rewritten, and love may be the most powerful force of all.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Blood & Roses
By Callie Hart
Release date: January 20, 2026
Summary
Zeth Mayfair has built a life out of violence, loyalty, and clean-cut boundaries, do the job, keep your head down, don’t ask questions. In Seattle’s criminal underground, he’s the man people fear for good reason. But when his employer expands into something Zeth swore he’d never touch, trafficking stolen women, his carefully compartmentalized world fractures.
Enter Sloane Romera: a fiercely competent trauma doctor whose life has narrowed to one desperate mission, finding her missing sister. Every legitimate lead has dried up, every door has slammed shut. The only way forward lies deep inside the city’s darkest corners and the only person with access to those shadows is the last man she should trust.
Their alliance begins as a business arrangement. Zeth has information, Sloane has the courage to chase it, but the lines between hunter, protector, and temptation blur fast. Zeth is dangerous in every possible sense, all sharp edges and smoldering charm. And Sloane, with her steady hands and unshakable resolve, threatens to unravel the parts of him ruthlessly kept on lockdown.
Together, they’re pulled into a web of betrayal, violence, and forbidden desire as they search for Sloane’s sister. Each secret they uncover brings them closer to the truth, and closer to each other, raising the stakes far beyond a simple transaction.
Dark, addictive, and pulse-pounding, Blood & Roses is a story of two damaged people colliding in a world built on sin and discovering that even in the blackest shadows, something fierce and transformative can take root.
Preorder on Amazon | Bookshop.org
Catch Her If You Can
By Tessa Bailey
Release date: January 20, 2026
Summary
Madden Donahue has spent years behind home plate, and just as long quietly orbiting Eve Mitchell, the whip-smart, velvet-voiced owner of a downtown burlesque club. She’s been his unshakable crush since high school, but while he’s become a rising star for the Yankees, Eve has perfected the art of keeping him at arm’s length.
When Eve unexpectedly becomes the temporary guardian of her sister’s two kids, life gets chaotic fast. Madden steps in with an offer that’s equal parts outrageous and irresistible: marry him so she, and the kids, can get the health benefits and stability she desperately needs. It’s a simple solution, at least on paper.
Eve’s been fighting her feelings for Madden for years, but old loyalty stands in the way. Her best friend once “claimed” him as a teenage fantasy crush, and Eve isn’t about to risk the few close relationships she has. Not after growing up with a reputation the town never let her forget. So she agrees to the marriage, but only if it stays a secret. She won’t let her world collide with Madden’s polished, public one.
But Madden has zero intention of being a silent, background husband. The moment they share a roof, the chemistry they’ve both been dodging snaps into place. Teasing turns into heat. Protectiveness turns into devotion. And suddenly the catcher who’s always played the long game is done waiting on the sidelines.
Now Madden just has to prove to Eve that what they’re building is bigger than convenience, bigger than fear, and absolutely worth stepping into the spotlight for.
A funny, steamy, heart-forward friends-to-lovers romance, Catch Her If You Can is all about second chances, found family, and the kind of love that refuses to stay hidden.
Preorder on Amazon | Bookshop.org
Once Upon a Song
By Nadine Wells
Release date: January 23, 2026
Summary
Ana thought a singing job at the glamorous Hôtel de Neige would be her ticket to a dream life, a place of glittering chandeliers, applause, and a sense of belonging. But behind the grandeur, the hotel holds shadows that don’t belong in any fairytale. Sinister sleepwalking episodes, cryptic threats from a mysterious ballerina, and a haunting phantom in white quickly turn Ana’s dream into a chilling puzzle.
As she uncovers the fate of the hotel’s previous singer, Ana realizes the stakes are higher than she ever imagined. Trust is a luxury she can’t afford, not with secretive coworkers, not with the magnetic yet elusive manager, Dimitri. In this Gothic tale of ambition, desire, and danger, Ana must decide how far she’s willing to go for her moment in the spotlight and whether the price of belonging might be more than she can survive.
Preorder on Amazon | Bookshop.org
Dove
Paisley Hope
Release date: January 27, 2026
Summary
Layla Monroe has spent years trying to outrun the shadows of her parents’ mysterious deaths. What the world saw as tragedy never sat right with her, and the deeper she digs, the more their secrets twist into her own life. She’s barely keeping afloat, until a violent storm and a chance detour lead her straight into the path of the one man she’s been taught to fear.
Sean “Ax” Hunter is the Hounds of Hell MC’s Sergeant at Arms, a former Marine with a mind that never quiets and a reputation that makes most people run the other way. Precision is his currency. Violence is his language. And yet, the minute he meets Layla, bruised, brilliant, and burning with questions, he feels something he hasn’t in years: focus.
Their worlds shouldn’t collide, but they do when Layla reluctantly accepts Ax’s offer of a short-term job. Two weeks. Enough money to get her through school. All she has to do is help him recover from injuries and pretend the sparks between them aren’t catching fire.
But being near Ax forces Layla to confront a terrifying possibility, this man who unsettles her, challenges her, tempts her, might also be linked to the truth she’s spent years chasing. And Ax, drawn to Layla in a way he can’t explain, knows getting close to her could expose secrets capable of destroying them both.
As danger surges from every direction, the MC’s enemies, buried family sins, and the brutal codes of outlaw life, Layla must decide whether to keep running, or trust the monster who might be the only one strong enough to protect her.
Dark, emotional, and achingly intimate, Dove is a story of found family, broken souls, and the fragile hope that love can take root even in the harshest places.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Just for the Cameras
By Meghan Quinn
Release date: February 3, 2026
Summary
Graydon St. John has perfected anonymity, no press, no scandals, no smiles. As the Foghorns’ famously stoic defensive end, he’d rather lift weights in total silence than endure even one forced interview. So when the league orders him into a PR partnership at the San Francisco Zoo, he’s certain it’ll be the longest day of his life.
Then he meets Maple Baker.
Maple is sunshine in scrubs: passionate about her flamingos, fiercely protective of her animals, and absolutely unimpressed by Graydon’s growly attitude. She’s got a job to do, a flock to care for, and zero interest in babysitting some football player who treats her habitat like enemy territory.
But when cameras start clicking, the fake smiles turn into real banter. Their staged partnership, meant to soften Graydon’s image and boost zoo visibility, suddenly has an unintended side effect: heat. Lots of it.
As their chemistry becomes impossible to hide, viral clips and fan speculation explode, pushing Maple into an uncomfortable spotlight she’s spent years avoiding. And when buried family drama resurfaces, she finds her carefully built world wobbling.
Graydon, who’s spent his whole career refusing to let anyone close, is the last person Maple expects to steady her. Yet he’s the only one willing to push back against the narrative, protect her reputation, and show her the gentleness hiding beneath all that muscle and scowl.
Now their PR stunt is spiraling into something neither can script or control—and Graydon must decide whether stepping into the spotlight for real might be worth it, if Maple is by his side.
A charmingly chaotic blend of slow-burn attraction, flamingo feathers, and heartfelt vulnerability, Just for the Cameras is fake dating at its funniest and love at its most unexpected.
Preorder on Amazon | Bookshop.org
Stolen Midnights
By Katherine Quinn
Release date: February 3, 2026
Summary
In the glittering, treacherous city of Andalay, where the ruling Fates choose who is blessed with magical gifts and who is left powerless, secrets are worth more than gold, and the wrong truth can get you killed.
Damien has learned to survive by staying invisible. A hard-edged thief with no illusions about the cruelty of Andalay’s elite, he takes a job he knows is dangerous: steal a priceless magical gift destined for Wren Hayes, the beloved “princess” of Ward One. But the moment he snatches the locket, everything spirals. Inside it lies a picture, his picture, an impossible revelation that ties his fate to Wren’s in ways he never imagined.
Wren has lived her whole life in a world of polished lies. As the cherished face of her district’s upper class, she’s expected to smile, perform, and obey, even as she questions the Fates’ so-called blessings. When a thief crashes into her carefully curated life with a stolen gift that exposes Andalay’s ugliest truths, the façade begins to crack.
Forced into an uneasy alliance, Damien and Wren are pulled into the shadows of a city where power is hoarded, magic is manipulated, and the lords who rule will do anything, absolutely anything, to keep their thrones. As danger closes in and the chemistry between them intensifies, they must decide not only who to trust, but who they’re willing to become when the truth finally comes to light.
Darkly enchanting and steeped in intrigue, Stolen Midnights blends sharp-edged romance with a mystery that threatens to topple the fate-bound world they’ve always known.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Read my review of this book here: Book Review: Stolen Midnights by Katherine Quinn
Wicked Onyx
By Debbie Cassidy
Release date: February 10, 2026
Summary
Nightsbridge Academy isn’t a school, it’s a proving ground. A labyrinth of ancient magic, ruthless students, and secrets the Imperium would kill to protect. It’s the last place someone like me is meant to survive.
I’m the final Onyx of a disgraced bloodline, cursed generations ago and stripped of the power that should run through my veins. I grew up as an outcast, marked by a crime my family swears they never committed. But when my mother dies and leaves behind a single clue, a hidden text buried somewhere within Nightsbridge, I finally have a chance to expose the truth and reclaim everything we lost.
Entering the Academy gives me access, and places me in the jaws of the very institution that destroyed my family.
Finding the book should be simple. Keeping my head down should be doable. But Nightsbridge is alive with terrors, horrors that stalk the shadows, echoes that whisper my name, and classmates who’d gladly finish what the Imperium started.
And then there are the two men I should avoid at all costs. One watches me like he can see the secrets carved into my bones. The other protects me with a loyalty I haven’t earned. Both make my curse flicker and twist, like something inside me is waking.
But affection is dangerous here. Desire even worse. If either discovers why I’m truly at Nightsbridge, I’ll be dead long before I reach the text.
Still, I can’t turn back. The Imperium branded my family as traitors, stole our magic, and condemned us to extinction. They believe the truth is buried. I intend to dig it up. Even if the Academy swallows me whole.
Wicked Onyx is a story of vengeance, forbidden magic, and the razor’s-edge choices of a girl determined to rewrite the fate her enemies crafted for her.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Crown of War and Shadow
By J.R. Ward
Release date: February 17, 2026
Summary
Sorrel has spent her entire life keeping her head down, hiding the strange magic that marks her as a curse in the eyes of her village. All she wants is a place where she can belong, far from the whispers, the fear, and the duties she never asked for. But when the Fulcrum begins to fail and demons slip into the mortal world, her quiet existence shatters. Sorrel is chosen by fate, and by a power she barely understands, to journey across the deadly Badlands and return a long-lost crown to the Queen who may be the last hope of stopping the world’s unraveling.
Sorrel is no hero, but she’s desperate, determined, and in need of someone dangerous enough to get her to the capital alive.
Enter Merc: a notorious, battle-worn mercenary with a reputation as sharp as his blades and eyes that see far too much. Sorrel bargains for his protection with the only thing he demands, one unforgettable night in his bed. The reluctant partnership that follows is fraught with tension, secrets, and a slow-burn chemistry that flares hotter than the desert sun.
But the deeper they travel into the Badlands, the clearer it becomes that Merc is hiding truths that could upend everything Sorrel believes. And as ancient threats awaken, betrayals tighten like snares, and desire blurs the line between duty and longing, Sorrel must decide whether she’s willing to trust the man who terrifies her, tempts her and might be her fated match.
Epic, emotional, and deliciously slow-burn, Crown of War and Shadow launches a sweeping romantasy series full of dark magic, dangerous bargains, and a hero who will burn the world down before he lets her fall.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Read my ARC review of this book here: Arc Review: Crown of War and Shadow by JR Ward
And Now, Back to You
By B.K. Borison
Release date: February 24, 2026
Summary
In And Now Back to You, B.K. Borison delivers a cozy, snow-drenched opposites-attract romance between two meteorologists who can’t seem to avoid each other, or the sparks that fly every time they meet. Jackson Clark is a meticulous, schedule-loving radio forecaster who prefers life neat and predictable. Delilah Stewart is his total opposite: a spirited field reporter who chases storms with equal parts passion and chaos. When a record-breaking blizzard forces them into an unwilling partnership, their professional rivalry becomes a crash course in compromise, chemistry, and unexpected connection. Delilah challenges Jackson to loosen up, while Jackson helps her prove she’s more than just an on-air daredevil. As the storm intensifies, so does their friendship and the feelings neither of them planned for. But once the snow settles, they’ll have to decide if their mountain-top magic can survive the return to real life.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
The Library of Amorlin
By Kalyn Josephson
Release date: March 3, 2026
Summary
Kasira Gray has spent her life surviving on instinct, charm, and a con artist’s knack for slipping into any role she needs. But her latest mistake landed her in chains, working off a brutal prison sentence by hunting the magical creatures that roam Kalthos. She’s resigned herself to danger and drudgery until the kingdom’s ambassador arrives with an offer too tempting to refuse.
Freedom, if she infiltrates the most revered magical institution in the six kingdoms: the Library of Amorlin.
Disguised as the new assistant librarian, Kasira steps into a breathtaking world of enchanted stacks, secret passageways, and mythical beasts roaming between shelves. For the first time, she glimpses a life filled with curiosity instead of survival. But every moment she spends among the tomes draws her deeper into the very place she's meant to betray.
Then there’s Allaster, the stoic, alluring librarian she’s been assigned to undermine. He’s infuriatingly observant, frustratingly guarded, and hiding monstrous truths behind his cool facade. As sparks of slow-burn tension flare between them, Kasira’s careful plan grows dangerously tangled with feelings she cannot afford.
But the library holds its own secrets, ancient powers stirring in the shadows and both Kasira and Allaster have pasts ready to tear everything apart.
When the con finally comes due, Kasira must decide whether the future she was promised is worth the cost of destroying the one place, and the one person, that makes her want to stay.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Across the Vanishing Sky
By Catherine Cowles
Release date: March 3, 2026
Summary
Braedyn Winslow swore she’d never set foot in Starlight Grove again. The town stole too much, her innocence, her sense of safety, and the best friend who vanished without a trace. But raising her young son alone means facing the ghosts she left behind, and Brae returns determined to uncover the truth that’s haunted her for years.
What she doesn’t expect is Dex Archer.
Silent, scarred, and half myth in the mountain town he refuses to leave, Dex carries a past as violent as the father he and his brothers have spent their lives outrunning. To the locals, he’s a warning. To Brae, he’s the first person who makes her feel safe. When threats begin shadowing her search for answers, Dex becomes the only one willing to stand between her and the danger closing in.
Drawn together by shared wounds and a connection neither of them trusts, Brae and Dex find themselves tangled in a slow-burning, impossible-to-ignore pull. The closer Brae gets to unraveling the mystery of her friend’s disappearance, the clearer it becomes that someone in Starlight Grove wants the past to stay buried, and they’re willing to do anything to keep it that way.
But Dex has survived darkness before. And for Brae, he’ll step back into it without hesitation.
In a town full of secrets, their hearts may be the only truth left worth fighting for.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
In Her Own League
By Liz Tomforde
Release date: March 3, 2026
Summary
Reese Remington has spent her life fighting for a seat at the table, only to finally claim the biggest one in baseball. As the first female owner in the league, she’s smart, strategic, and more than ready to lead her team to victory. Too bad the world only sees a woman out of her depth, waiting for her to slip. With every move scrutinized and every decision dissected, Reese can’t afford a single misstep.
Especially not one with the team’s infuriatingly handsome field manager.
Emmett Montgomery bleeds baseball. After a celebrated playing career and years spent shaping the team from the dugout, he’s not thrilled to suddenly answer to a new owner, particularly one who seems determined to challenge him at every turn. But the more time he spends with Reese on road trips, late-night strategy meetings, and heated arguments behind closed doors, the more he glimpses the fire beneath her icy exterior. She’s brilliant, driven, and far more vulnerable than she ever lets on.
Their chemistry is undeniable. Their banter? Electric. Their attraction? A ticking time bomb for both their careers.
As the season intensifies and the stakes get higher, Reese is reminded daily of just how many people expect her to fail. Falling for her field manager might be the fastest way to prove them right. But resisting him is becoming its own impossible challenge, and it’s getting harder to tell whether keeping her distance is protecting her dreams or breaking her heart.
Because in baseball, and love, the biggest wins come from taking the risk.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
It Seemed Like a Good Idea
By Lauren Blakely
Release date: March 3, 2026
Summary
Running a lavender farm in a sleepy small town should come with peaceful mornings and the occasional bee sting, not a full-time bodyguard who looks like trouble wrapped in tattoos. But when her actress twin sister brings a movie production (and a swarm of paparazzi) home, our sunshiney heroine suddenly finds herself needing protection from the chaos she never asked for. Unfortunately, the man sent to keep her safe is the same broody, too-hot-for-his-own-good guy who slipped out of her bed, and her life, before their night together could truly ignite.
Now he’s back, glowering at her from behind his stubble, stepping between her and every camera in town, and moving into her cozy farm cottage where, of course, there’s only one bed. What starts as forced proximity and leftover frustration quickly sparks into late-night confessions, forbidden tension, and a chemistry they both swore they were done with.
But he’s a wanderer with an exit date. She’s rooted deeply in the town she loves. And while a summer fling sounds simple, their hearts have other plans. In a story filled with lavender fields, small-town meddling, mistaken identity, and grumpy/sunshine gold, they’ll have to decide whether their “bad idea” might actually be the best one of all.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
The Wings that Bind
By Briar Boleyn
Release date: March 10, 2026
Summary
Chaos may have cracked Bloodwing Academy wide open, but the real storm is only just beginning. After the devastation of winter, losses that still ache like fresh wounds, Nyxaris is trying to hold onto what remains of her world. But Sangratha isn’t finished testing her.
Another dragon has risen from the depths and this one is under the control of two power-hungry highbloods who will spill as much blood as it takes to unravel ancient secrets buried at the realm’s borders. Their ambition is lethal, and their cruelty threatens to turn the entire kingdom into a battleground.
Florence, Nyx’s closest friend and steadfast anchor, was pulled back from death only by the intervention of a dragon whose bond with her runs deeper than anyone understands. Now, Nyx must watch as Florence grapples with a connection that could either empower her or consume her whole.
And then there’s Blake. The boy who tormented her, then loved her, then shattered everything between them. His latest betrayal nearly cost Nyxaris everything. Yet beneath the guilt and the shadows, something in him has shifted. He carries a secret much darker than his past sins, and despite every reason not to, Nyx finds herself drawn into his orbit again, unsure whether he’ll be her downfall or her salvation.
With Bloodwing Academy reeling from scandal, a new headmaster with dangerous intentions, and loyalties fracturing under pressure, Nyxaris faces a year that promises nothing but peril. Magic is changing. Enemies are rising. And the ties between dragons, riders, vampires, and the highblood elite are tightening into a snare that could strangle them all.
One thing is certain, survival won’t come without sacrifice, and some bonds might be stronger, and deadlier, than blood.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Queen of the Night Sky
By Amalie Howard
Release date: March 17, 2026
Summary
In Queen of the Night Sky, the breathtaking finale to Amalie Howard’s Starlight Heir duology, destiny burns brighter than the stars, and love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
Sura has saved her kingdom, but the cost is steep. The boy she once loved now wears a crown, and darkness is creeping through his veins, twisting her magic and their bond into something unrecognizable. When betrayal shatters her world, Sura is thrust beyond the borders of Oryndhyr and into the mysterious realm of Everlea, where dragons soar and gods still whisper.
There she meets the Night King, Darrius, a figure from her dreams made flesh, a man who might hold the key to her fate, or her undoing. As ancient prophecies awaken and war threatens to swallow both their worlds, Sura must embrace her power as Starkeeper and face the truth that light and shadow were never meant to exist apart.
Lush with Indian and Persian mythological inspiration, Queen of the Night Sky is a spellbinding romantasy full of fierce magic, cosmic destiny, and the kind of love that defies the heavens.
To read my review of The Starlight Heir, book 1 in the series, click here.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Love Song
By Elle Kennedy
Release date: March 17, 2026
Summary
Blake Logan swears she’s done with love, especially after a breakup that leaves her confidence shattered and her summer plans in ruins. Fleeing to her family’s quiet Tahoe lake house, she’s determined to spend the season healing in peace. No men. No drama. No revisiting humiliating teenage crushes.
Enter Wyatt Graham. Older, maddeningly attractive, and the musician who once broke sixteen-year-old Blake’s heart with a single rejection. He’s the last person she expects to find on her dock. He’s also fighting his own battles: a stalled career, pressure from all sides, and a creative spark that’s all but extinguished. What neither of them anticipates is how quickly the old spark between them ignites into something hotter, something neither of them can pretend away.
Blake isn’t the girl he remembers, and Wyatt definitely isn’t the safe choice she promised herself. Their chemistry is slow-burn wildfire, turning stolen glances into late-night confessions, and one kiss into a whole summer of maybes.
But when tragedy strikes, their fragile connection fractures, leaving both of them grieving something that never fully had the chance to begin.
Years later, fate throws them back into each other’s orbit. The ache is still there. The attraction is stronger. And the question they once ran from now demands an answer: Was that summer just a beautiful mistake, or the beginning of their real love story?
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Starside
By Alex Aster
Release date: March 24, 2026
Summary
For centuries, the realms of Starside and Stormside have stood divided; immortals in one, mortals in the other. Both shaped by a war no one alive remembers. Every fifty years, the barrier between them cracks open, allowing a select few to chase the kind of magic that can rewrite a life. Power, wealth, healing, or revenge.
Aris wants only the last. As a girl, she watched a goddess reduce her village to ash. Now, armed with nothing but grit, grief, and a blacksmith apprentice’s skills, she enters the king’s brutal Culling. Winning means earning a place among Starside’s fifty challengers, and finally stepping into the gods’ territory. Losing means death.
But the Culling reveals something no one expected. Aris can claim a legendary sword, the kind of weapon meant for immortals, not mortals like her. Suddenly she’s not just a competitor, she’s a threat, a prize, and a target marked by every House in Starside.
Crossing the gate throws Aris into a world where beauty hides monsters, ancient creatures hunt the night, and immortals fear what crawls beneath their own soil. And at her side, whether she wants him there or not, is Harlan Raker, the king’s lethal guard with a past entwined painfully with her own. His betrayal once cost her everything. His protection now might be the only thing keeping her alive.
But Aris carries a secret that could shatter both realms, a truth tied to the flames that destroyed her family. And when it comes to light, not even the gods will be ready for the reckoning she intends to bring.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
The Night We Met
By Abby Jimenez
Release date: March 24, 2026
Summary
The Night We Met is a heart-tangling, slow-burn contemporary romance about timing, friendship, and the one choice you never realized would shape everything.
Larissa is a survivor of side hustles, student debt, and questionable life decisions. One of which happened after an unforgettable concert months ago. She didn’t know it then, but that night she crossed paths with the man who would become her best friend, Chris. They’re now inseparable, bonded over late-night book swaps, passionate bread debates, and the chaotic Yorkie they somehow co-parent.
Life with Chris feels easy in a way nothing else ever has. Except for one brutal catch: Larissa didn’t go home with him that night, she left with his best friend. And that split-second choice means Chris is firmly, painfully stuck on the sidelines while Larissa builds a life with someone else.
As Larissa starts to see cracks in the life she chose, Chris keeps trying to be the steady, supportive friend she deserves, even if it means breaking his own heart a little more every day. But when the truth between them becomes impossible to ignore, Larissa has to ask herself: If the right person came into your life at the wrong time, was it truly the wrong time, or just the wrong choice?
An emotionally rich, laughter-laced love story about second chances, impossible decisions, and the moment you finally choose the life, and love, you want.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Game On (Into the Darkness, Book 3)
By Navessa Allen
Release date: March 31, 2026
Summary
Game On returns to the razor-edged world of the Into the Darkness series with a deliciously toxic clash between two people who should never want each other—and absolutely do. Tyler Neumann has spent years hunting down the father who abandoned him, and revenge is the only ending he’s interested in. When his search leads him straight to the powerful McCormick family, he decides their daughter, Stella, is the perfect way in. To him, she’s leverage wrapped in privilege, and he’ll use her however he needs to burn her world down.
Stella McCormick, tattoo artist and black sheep of her elite family, spots Tyler’s trouble-from-a-mile-away energy the moment he walks into her shop. So when he corners her into a fake-dating scheme that drags him into her family’s glittering social circles, she agrees with full, blistering hatred. But their constant bickering quickly turns into heat neither of them can outrun, and the lines between manipulation and desire blur fast.
As Tyler embeds himself deeper into Stella’s life, his vengeance plan collides with the one thing he didn’t expect—feelings he can’t sabotage. And when Stella uncovers the real reason he targeted her, both have to decide whether love is worth fighting for…or if destroying each other is the only ending they’re capable of.
Dark, funny, and explosively steamy, Game On delivers an enemies-to-lovers showdown where hate, lust, and loyalty become the most dangerous game of all.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Rites of the Starling
By Devney Perry
Release date: April 7, 2026
Summary
In the much anticipated follow-up to Shield of Sparrows, Calandra’s five fractured kingdoms are teetering on the brink of destruction as the deadly crux migration draws near. In the chaos that follows a monstrous attack, the princess-turned-Guardian is violently separated from the man she loves, and thrust into a cursed realm where every shadow hungers and every choice demands courage she’s not sure she has.
Lost, hunted, and burdened with protecting a young girl who depends on her for survival, she is captured by a powerful priest whose motives are as tangled as the magic tearing the realm apart. With danger stalking her every step, Calandra must confront the darkest truths about her lineage, her power, and the destiny she’s spent her life avoiding.
But the path forward offers more than terror. It offers revelation. A forgotten warrior’s fate is somehow entwined with her own, and the secrets she uncovers could save, or doom, the world she loves. If embracing her crown means becoming something fearsome, something other, something powerful, then Calandra must decide whether to rise into the role the realms demand or to sacrifice everything for the man she cannot lose.
Because some monsters are born. Others are made. And Calandra is about to learn which one she is.
To read my review of Shield of Sparrows, book 1 in the series, click here.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Stranger Things Have Happened
By Kasie West
Release date: April 14, 2026
Summary
Sutton’s life is a slow-moving disaster. She’s juggling a restaurant she can’t physically be at, a mother who treats her caregiving like a mild inconvenience, and a breakup delivered via phone like a bad customer service call. Therapy would probably help, but signing up for couples therapy with a total stranger just to help her best friend prove a point? Absolutely not. And yet, after one too many cocktails and one too many guilty memories about the friend she drifted from after high school, Sutton finds herself fake-engaged to Elijah, the infuriatingly attractive man who somehow makes smugness look sexy.
The mission is simple: show Tara’s therapist that fake love is easy to spot. What could go wrong? Well, for starters, Sutton and Elijah have a little too much chemistry. Their “pretend” sessions start feeling dangerously real, and the more they share, the more Sutton realizes she isn’t just faking a relationship, she’s revealing pieces of herself she’s never dared to say out loud.
As the charade deepens, Sutton is forced to confront old wounds, fractured friendships, messy family ties, and the possibility that the only lie left in the room is pretending she’s not falling for Elijah. In this charming, heartfelt romcom, fake dating becomes the spark that just might push Sutton toward the truth she’s been avoiding: sometimes the most unexpected connections are the ones that finally make you feel seen.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
The Ballad of Falling Dragons
By Sarah A. Parker
Release date: April 28, 2026
Summary
The Ballad of Falling Dragons sweeps readers back into a world of ancient magic, dragon-forged destinies, and a love powerful enough to burn kingdoms down.
After the shattering truths uncovered in When the Moon Hatched, Raeve’s world is no longer her own. She’s no longer just the fierce, battle-scarred survivor she fought to become. She is Elluin Neván, the lost royal everyone believed dead. She is also the woman bound, by fate and forgotten memory, to Kaan, the formidable king of the Burn whose loyalty runs as deep as his fury.
Thrust into a new life built on secrets she can barely grasp, Raeve must navigate the fragile lines between who she was, who she’s become, and who she’s expected to be. Court politics simmer, old enemies rise, and dangerous alliances form as she and Kaan race to unite fractured realms on the brink of collapse.
But reclaiming her crown means confronting the past she buried, and the love she left behind. And the closer Raeve moves toward her destiny, the more the dragons stir, ancient, vengeful, and ready to test whether her heart is strong enough to hold the fire of a queen.
Epic, emotional, and blisteringly romantic, this sequel blends reunion romance, royal intrigue, and high-stakes magic into a breathtaking tale of identity, power, and the flames we choose to rise from.
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Blood Bound
By Ellis Hunter
Release date: April 28, 2026
Summary
In the magic-scarred world of Arturea and Vatra, power is maintained by a brutal tradition: every generation, two heirs, one witch and one dragon rider, must duel to the death for control of the Heart, the very source of magic itself. For Astrid, the last Nachstern witch, that destiny has always been a death sentence. Cursed by an ancient pact and carrying the hopes of her blight-stricken people, she travels into enemy lands prepared to make her final stand against Prince Zryan, a dragon rider whose power is legendary.
But far from the royal battlegrounds, Skylar is simply trying to survive. A sharp-tongued performer with a grudge against the crown, she and her troupe arrive in Vatra hoping to earn coin from the swelling crowds gathering for the duel. When her best friend disappears under suspicious circumstances, Skylar’s search pulls her straight into the heart of royal intrigue, whether she likes it or not.
As rebellion brews and magic trembles on the edge of collapse, Astrid and Skylar’s paths collide in unexpected, life-altering ways. Bound by prophecy, loss, and the growing awareness that their world is teetering toward destruction, the two young women must challenge the roles they were born into. Because the real battle isn’t just for the Heart, it’s for the truth behind the ancient covenant, the people they love, and the future of magic itself.
High-stakes, character-driven, and rich with tension, Blood Bound sets the stage for a sweeping fantasy romance where destiny is deadly, dragons rule the skies, and every choice demands a sacrifice.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Read my review of this book here: ARC Review: Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter
The Sea Spinner
By Julie Johnson
Release date: April 28, 2026
Summary
In this highly anticipated sequel to The Wind Weaver, Rhya Fleetwood is a storm barely contained. With Caeldera shattered, friends buried or bleeding, and Pendefyre pulling farther from her with every choice he makes as king, Rhya is left grappling with magic she barely understands and emotions she can no longer outrun.
When fate drags her to the unpredictable Water Court, Rhya’s world tilts once more. Among the crashing tides and shifting loyalties of Llŷr, she must face the truth about her own raw, untamed maegic, and the unsettling pull she feels toward Soren, the enigmatic Water King whose calm depths reveal just as many dangers as they do answers. His guidance forces her to question everything: the Remnant she’s meant to become, the war looming on the horizon, and the desires she’s tried so hard to shove down.
But darkness is gathering. Old enemies wait for the perfect moment to strike, and Rhya’s heart is no longer the only thing at risk. To survive the rising tide, she’ll have to decide which flames to nurture and which to let drown.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Fury Bound
By Sable Sorensen
Release date: May 5, 2026
Summary
Meryn Cooper never wanted a crown, but now that destiny has placed one on her head, she faces a kingdom ready to tear itself apart. Nocturna is fractured by old secrets and simmering resentment, and every decision Meryn makes is a battle. The nobles question her legitimacy, the Bonded whisper of betrayal, and the commoners doubt the queen who rose from the ashes of a lie. With her fierce direwolf, Anassa, at her side, Meryn must navigate a political landscape where one misstep could cost lives, including her sister Saela’s.
The only person she can truly rely on is the last man she ever expected, Stark Therion, the intimidating Alpha whose growls once felt like promises of war. But Stark’s loyalty cuts deeper than she ever imagined, and his presence sparks a dangerous, undeniable pull. As he helps Meryn tap into a power she never knew she possessed, the lines between hate, desire, and fate blur beyond recognition.
Dark forces stir in the shadows, hunting her crown, her kingdom, and the fragile bonds she’s clinging to. To save the people she loves, and the future Nocturna deserves, Meryn will have to decide what she’s willing to sacrifice and who she’s willing to become.
Because in a world of wolves and monsters, fury reigns and hearts are the cost.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Broken Dove
By Dani Francis
Release date: May 12, 2026
Summary
Wren Darlington has finally escaped the gilded cage of the Prime-controlled capital, but freedom comes with its own battlefield. After risking everything to sabotage Silver Elite from the inside, she now shelters behind Mod lines, where suspicion runs deep and loyalty is a fragile currency. While Cross Redden, her former commander, forbidden lover, and the man she still aches for, continues his covert mission within Prime ranks, Wren throws herself into the heart of the Uprising, determined to help topple the regime that stole her future.
But revolution is never simple. Inside the Mod base, alliances shift like sand, and every whispered secret feels like a ticking fuse. Worse yet is the unexpected return of Grayson Blake, hotshot pilot, undercover operative, and once Wren’s closest confidant. Gray understands her in a way no one else does, perhaps even better than Cross. His presence awakens old feelings and new doubts, forcing Wren to confront the war waging inside her chest.
As the conflict between Mods and Primes intensifies, Wren becomes a critical piece in a fight that could remake the Continent, or destroy it entirely. With Cross hiding truths of his own, Gray challenging everything she thought she wanted, and the rebellion demanding more than she ever intended to give, Wren must decide not only what she believes in, but who she’s willing to bleed for.
Because victory always costs something. And this time, the price may be her heart.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
First and Forever
By Lynn Painter
Release date: May 12, 2026
Summary
Duffy Distefano has always worn her heart and her team colors proudly. But one disastrously misunderstood moment with the Minneapolis Coyotes’ mascot sends her spiraling from devoted fan to public enemy number one. Suddenly the internet is convinced she’s the villain of game day, and Duffy would very much like the ground to swallow her whole. Instead, she gets an invite to explain herself on national TV.
What she does not expect is to be sharing the couch with Connor Cunningham, superstar tight end, face of the franchise, and the last person she wants to see while she’s trying to salvage her reputation. Their on-air banter sparks instantly, equal parts sharp, chaotic, and weirdly charming, and viewers latch on to their chemistry like it’s the fourth quarter of the championship game.
Sensing PR gold, the Coyotes push Connor to keep the momentum going with a very public “date.” Duffy knows it’s all for show, and Connor believes she knows it too, except she doesn’t. And the more time he spends with her, laughing, teasing, and watching her love the team the way he once did, the harder it becomes to remember where the act is supposed to end.
Caught between a fake storyline, real feelings, and a truth he’s terrified will break her trust, Connor risks the one thing he’s never fumbled before, his heart. Because with Duffy, everything feels effortless and losing her would be the biggest mistake of his career.
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Fever Dream
By Elsie Silver
Release date: May 19, 2026
Summary
Emmett Bush has one goal: save his family’s struggling farm before everything they’ve built is lost. The quickest way to earn the money? Star on a wildly popular reality dating show, Romance Ranch, and play the charming bachelor America can’t resist. Love isn’t part of the plan. It’s barely even a consideration.
Then Julia Silva shows up—and derails everything.
As the sharp-tongued, whip-smart location consultant for the show, Julia knows all too well who Emmett is: the enemy. The little sister of his fiercest rival, she was raised on stories of Emmett’s arrogance and danger. Besides, she’s sworn off romance entirely. The last thing she needs is a bull-riding heartbreaker with a hero complex.
But despite every reason to keep their distance, their chemistry snaps tight and fast. What starts as irritation turns into banter, then sparks, then something far more dangerous. Soon, they’re sneaking around behind production crews and camera crews, stealing moments in the shadows while America watches him pretend to fall for someone else.
The problem? Emmett isn’t acting anymore. Just not with the woman the world expects.
With the show closing in on its dramatic finale, Emmett is forced to choose between the role he agreed to play and the woman he’s fallen impossibly, irrevocably in love with. And Julia must decide if risking her heart is worth betraying the brother who’s always protected her.
On set, they’re rivals. Off camera, they’re a fever neither of them can shake.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Dolly All the Time
By Annabel Monaghan
Release date: May 26, 2026
Summary
When life backs Dolly Brick into a corner, she doesn’t crumble, she strategizes. So when this hardworking single mom packs up her son and heads back to her coastal hometown for the summer, it’s with one mission: keep her family afloat and save the beloved house her dad and brother are about to lose. She’s busy putting out fires, juggling responsibilities, and pretending she’s not exhausted when fate tosses her one more complication, in the form of Stewart Whitfield.
Stewart is everything Dolly has no time for: wealthy, brusque, painfully good-looking, and freshly wounded from a public breakup that has the entire town buzzing. When Dolly stops to help him during his moment of spectacular humiliation, he surprisingly offers her an arrangement, one that involves fake dates, strategic appearances, and giving the Whitfield name a much-needed PR glow-up.
Dolly agrees, thinking she can keep her heart out of it. But as staged outings turn into late-night conversations, society events blur into shared smiles, and their carefully choreographed kisses start feeling dangerously real, she begins to question every rule she’s lived by. Stewart isn’t at all who she expected, and he might be the first person to make her feel truly supported.
Caught between old habits and a new kind of hope, Dolly has to decide whether she can let herself lean on someone else. Because what started as pretend just might be the most real thing she’s ever had.
Preorder on: Amazon | Bookshop.org
Father Figure
By Alexis Hall
Release date: June 2, 2026
Summary
In Father Material, Alexis Hall returns to the beloved world of Luc and Oliver with a heartfelt, witty, and tender continuation of their story. This time she explores love, growth, and what it really means to build a family.
After fake dating turned real, breakups turned reconciliations, and near-weddings turned into domestic bliss, Luc and Oliver have finally found their rhythm together. Life is good, mostly. But as their friends start hitting new milestones like promotions, marriages, and babies, Luc and Oliver begin to wonder what’s next for them.
Their answer first comes in the form of Spud, a small, wriggly ball of fur who brings chaos and joy in equal measure. Yet as they open their hearts to their new puppy, the couple starts to imagine something even bigger: expanding their family in ways they never thought possible.
With Hall’s signature blend of humor, warmth, and emotional honesty, Father Material is a deeply romantic, laugh-out-loud exploration of commitment, vulnerability, and the messy, beautiful evolution of love after “happily ever after.”
Preorder on Amazon | Bookshop.org
Nobody’s Quest
By Alyssa Day
Release date: June 2, 2026
Summary
Altarra has spent a century under the shadow of a goddess no army can stop. Morrigan, deity of war, has crushed kingdoms and prophecies alike, leaving only a single, grim certainty behind: nobody can defeat her.
So when the goddess Artemisen appoints Soli Graymind, a quiet girl from the lowest caste battling her own darkness, as the realm’s final hope, the world assumes it’s over. Soli is not a hero. She’s not chosen in the storybook sense. She is simply, a nobody.
But Soli isn’t sent into the fire alone. Fate gathers five more lost souls to her side, each carrying bruised pasts and broken futures:
a thief without a Guild
a noble stripped of title and fortune
a sorcerer who has stopped believing in magic
a warrior who’s forgotten what honor is
a displaced prince who is infuriating, magnetic, and the one person Soli can’t seem to ignore.
They’re misfits. Underdogs. Last picks. And yet, together, they form the only quest that still stands between Altarra and annihilation.
As the group journeys through a land scarred by divine war, they begin to discover the strength hidden in their flaws, the power in their pain, and the dangerous hope that maybe destiny got it right, just in the most unexpected way.
Because sometimes the only ones capable of saving the world are the ones it stopped believing in long ago.
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Lightwing
By Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Release date: June 2, 2026
Summary
I'm currently deep into Hallow, book one in the Crown of Hearts & Chaos series, and let me tell you, I’m already obsessed. While I’m still making my way through all the twists, spirits, and sinful tension, Lightwing promises to take everything even darker and sharper.
Trapped inside the fortress of the man who now swears he wants her dead, our heroine faces a destiny as wild and unforgiving as the forest that marked her. The Great Elm has bound her to a task only triumph, or death, can release her from, and every revelation pulls her deeper into a world ruled by spirits, oaths, and dangerous desire.
Hendrix Bane, once an uneasy ally, is now a sworn enemy steeped in corruption and wrath. His castle is her cage, his fury a constant threat—and the spark they once shared is now nothing but ash. Yet the tension between them burns with a ruinous heat that’s hard to deny or resist.
With her sister missing again and doubts clawing through her resolve, she’s forced to question everything she thought she accomplished in the forest. Was her survival a victory, or the start of something far more catastrophic? And how can she fulfill her impossible task when the only person who can help her is the one man determined to destroy her?
Dark magic, twisted fate, and a dangerously enthralling enemies-to-lovers pull collide in a sequel that raises every stake.
To read my full review of Hallow , book 1 in the series, click here.
Preorder on Amazon | Bookshop.org
Light Wielder
By Rachel Schneider
Release date: June 9, 2026
Summary
Four years have passed since Jovie made the choice that shattered everything, stealing King Edmond’s magic to save his life and, in the process, breaking Acker’s trust beyond repair. Her sacrifice ignited a devastating war that now stretches across kingdoms, pulling the innocent Maile people into the crossfire. Determined to protect them, Jovie buries her own heart, suppressing the pull of the Matching Bond and trying to forget the boy she once loved, even as his presence lingers in her dreams.
Acker has spent those same years locked in duty: fighting his father’s war, trapped in a political marriage, and carrying the weight of Jovie’s betrayal like a bruise he can’t stop touching. Yet the Bond between them refuses to die. Through their shared dreams, a connection he’s learned to manipulate, Acker watches Jovie from afar, torn between longing and the loyalty demanded of a prince.
But when Acker uncovers the truth behind his father’s reclaimed magic and the dark alliance King Edmond has forged, he’s forced to confront the future he’s been avoiding. The battlefield is shifting, the stakes are rising, and both Jovie and Acker must choose where their loyalties lie and whether the bond that once united them is strong enough to survive the war it sparked.
Love may be their greatest weakness, or the only force capable of turning the tide.
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The Raven at the Ash Door
By K.A. Linde
Release date: June 16, 2026
Summary
In an alternate New York where magic pulses beneath the pavement and monsters walk unnoticed beside mortals, the fragile balance between worlds is beginning to fracture. Ever since the revelations that shook the Holly Library, the city has felt different—hungrier, darker, alive in a way that whispers of something stirring beneath its surface.
When a mysterious door carved with a raven sigil appears overnight in the middle of the city, its presence sends shockwaves through every magical faction. Some believe it’s a warning. Others claim it’s an invitation. And a few fear that it’s the beginning of a reckoning long overdue.
Thrust back into the shadows she thought she left behind, our heroine finds herself navigating a New York charged with danger and possibility. Old enemies rise in new shapes, alliances shift like smoke, and the monsters of the city, human and otherwise, circle ever closer to the oak door’s secrets.
But opening the door may unravel more than power. It may reveal the truth about the city’s past, the monsters who built it, and the thin line separating hero from hunted. And when a rogue thief with secrets of his own steps back into her life, the stakes become far more personal than she ever intended.
In a world where every choice demands a price, the raven waits and the door will not stay closed forever.
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Night Witch
By Jaymin Eve
Release date: June 23, 2026
Summary
Year two at Weatherstone College was supposed to be a clean slate. Instead, it feels like walking straight back into the storm. After barely surviving the monsters and dark magic that nearly destroyed her first year, our witch is returning shaken, stronger and more confused than ever about the infuriating spellcaster who keeps stealing her breath.
Logan Kingston should be her enemy. He’s dangerous, secretive, and far too good at getting under her skin. Yet the explosive connection between them refuses to fade, no matter how hard she tries to outrun it. Logan knows more than he’s saying, and every smirk, every “accidental” touch, every protective growl only tangles their fate further.
But Weatherstone is changing. Shadows are thinning, creatures are stirring, and long-buried truths are finally clawing to the surface. As the magic around them grows darker, and her powers more unpredictable, she’ll have to decide who she can trust when the lights go out.
Because when the truth hits, it won’t just reshape her future. It might burn the world down.
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A Forsaken Prophecy
By Stacey McKewan
Release date: July 14, 2026
Summary
War is tearing through Belavere Trench, and the fragile balance between the powerful Artisans and the rebellious Craftsmen is crumbling fast. Caught at the center of it all are Patrick, now the last true Alchemist, and Nina, the only earth Charmer alive. Once reluctant allies, now fractured by secrets and betrayal, the pair find themselves imprisoned deep within Artisan territory with no clear way out.
Their escape comes at a steep emotional cost: Patrick is abruptly reunited with the father he thought lost, while Nina is forced to trust Theo, the first love she never expected to see again. But survival is only the start. An ancient prophecy hints at a hidden well of idium, magic enough to shift the war’s outcome forever, if the trio can uncover it before the Artisan forces close in.
As they race through volatile Craftsman towns, old loyalties fray, buried feelings resurface, and enemies close ranks. With every step, Patrick and Nina must decide whether the fate of their world matters more than the scars they left on each other… or whether their tangled past might be the key to saving everything.
Preorder on Amazon | Bookshop.org
The Lion & The Deathless Dark
By Carissa Broadbent
Release date: August 4, 2026
Summary
Ten years of unbroken night have left the world carved into two realms, those who hunt, and those who hunger. Kyrene has survived by becoming the former: a hardened bounty hunter armed with a goddess-blessed blade and a grief she carries like a second weapon. But vengeance has a price, and when a single desperate act turns her into prey for both mortals and gods, Kyrene’s time is running out.
Her only lifeline comes from the last person she should trust: Septimus, the silver-tongued vampire prince with motives as shadowed as the eternal dusk they live under. He offers her a dangerous bargain, one final hunt, one impossible target. The gods themselves.
Bound by fragile necessity, Kyrene and Septimus plunge into a world of ancient prophecies, forgotten curses, and monsters far older than vampires. His secrets are sharp enough to draw blood; her rage is powerful enough to burn through destiny. And somewhere in the darkness, a slow, perilous pull forms between them, one that could destroy them long before any god does.
But Kyrene has a singular purpose, to kill the goddess of vampires and end the cycle of suffering that stole everything from her. If love stands in the way of vengeance, then love will be the next thing she buries. Because in a world ruled by blood, desire is the deadliest threat of all.
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Queen of Shadow
By PC Cast
Release date: August 4, 2026
Summary
In 200 BCE on the mist-wreathed Isle of Skye, Scáthach, warrior-queen, seer, and daughter of an Underworld goddess, stands as both protector and judge of the warriors who seek her legendary training. With the Sight coursing through her blood, she moves between the mortal realm and the world of gods, always balancing the dangerous weight of fate on her shoulders.
Her order is shaken when Cuchulainn, the infamous hero of Ulster with a reputation for brutal rage and divine strength, arrives demanding her guidance. He seeks mastery over the fury that defines him—and absolution for the destruction left in his wake. Scáthach agrees to train him, but every shared lesson, every clash of will and weapon, stokes a connection that defies her carefully controlled destiny.
As the two grow closer, an old rivalry flares. Aife, Scáthach’s cunning half-sister, sees an opportunity to seize power and to claim Cuchulainn’s loyalty for herself. With her kingdom threatened and her heart in dangerous territory, Scáthach must decide what kind of queen she will become.
To protect Skye and the man who’s become entwined with her future, Scáthach may have to descend into the Underworld itself. There, among gods, shadows, and impossible bargains, she faces the ultimate test: whether she can reshape fate or become its next sacrifice.
Preorder on Amazon | Bookshop.org
The Wrath Gods Reap
By Abigail Owen
Release date: November 17, 2026
Summary
The Wrath Gods Reap brings the Crucible series to its explosive, heart-thundering conclusion as the gods tighten their grip, the challenges turn lethal, and the line between duty and desire becomes razor thin. After surviving two brutal rounds of the gods’ twisted competition, our heroine faces a final trial designed not just to break her body, but to unmake her soul. The mortal realm hangs in the balance, alliances fracture under divine pressure, and every choice carries a cost the gods are all too eager to collect.
And then there’s Hades, the enigmatic god whose shadow has haunted her steps from the beginning. Their slow-burn connection finally ignites under the weight of this last reckoning, forcing them both to confront what they’re willing to sacrifice, and who they’re willing to defy.
Packed with mythology-fueled danger, knife-edge strategy, and emotional payoffs that have been simmering since book one, The Wrath Gods Reap delivers a finale that feels both epic and achingly intimate. It’s survival, rebellion, romance, and divine wrath, woven into a last stand readers won’t forget.
Preorder on Amazon | Bookshop.org
This list is only a small preview of what’s coming in 2026. For full updates on new releases, be sure to subscribe to the blog and follow along on my social channels.
Honorable Mentions: Late-2026 Romance Releases Worth Watching
These upcoming romances don’t have cover art or full summaries yet, but the anticipation is already building. Consider this your gentle nudge to add them to your Goodreads shelves once available, set those author notifications, and maybe go ahead and catch up on previous books before the next installments drop.
Book 3 in the Astrellian Heirs Series by Morgan Kielisch
If you’ve been around the blog for a minute, you already know I’m a huge fan of Morgan Kielisch. I featured her in my Indie Author Spotlight, and I raved about The Awakening of Gods, book 1 in the Astrellian Heirs series, an addictive mix of political intrigue, slow-burn tension, and the kind of worldbuilding that sinks its claws in early.
When I went to Morgan’s release event for book 2, The Reckoning of Gods, she mentioned that she’s anticipating Book 3 will arrive toward the end of 2026. No details yet, but considering how book 1 ended (and what I’ve heard about the chaos in book 2, which I have waiting for me on my TBR shelf!), this third installment is shaping up to be a big one for romantasy readers.
If you haven’t started the series yet, now is the perfect time. You have plenty of time to dive into The Awakening of Gods and The Reckoning of Gods before the next adventure drops.
Follow Morgan Kielisch on Instagram @authormorgankielisch or TikTok @authormokielisch to be notified about her upcoming releases!
Drawn to Your Spirit (Skyline Hearts #2) by Jules Ackwood
Another beloved indie author returning in 2026 is Jules Ackwood! I also featured Jules in an Indie Author Spotlight. She made a splash with her debut, Drawn to Your DNA. It’s heartfelt, fresh, and beautifully written, no surprise that it’s picking up glowing reviews all over the place.
The sequel, Drawn to Your Spirit, is expected by the end of 2026, and while we don’t have a summary yet, we do know this: the Skyline Hearts series blends warmth, emotional depth, and a unique romantic lens that makes it stand apart in the contemporary romance space.
If you loved the quiet intimacy and character-driven storytelling of Book 1, you’ll want to keep your eye on this release. And if you haven’t met Jules’ characters yet, this is your friendly reminder to go fix that.
Stay up-to-date on Jules Ackwood’s releases by following her on Instagram @jules.ackwood!
Book 2 The Runic Histories of Efelldor by Ruth Cantu
Another indie fantasy romance author gearing up for a huge 2026 is Ruth Cantu! Ruth, who I recently featured in an Indie Author Spotlight and whose debut Eleutheria I absolutely adored reviewing, continues to build one of the most intriguing fantasy worlds I’ve stepped into this year. And as a treat for fans, she’s currently working on Eleutheria 1.5, giving us Maddox’s POV (coming spring 2026).
The sequel to Eleutheria (book 2 in The Runic Histories of Efelldor series), is anticipated for Fall 2026. Even without an official summary yet, here’s what we do know: Ruth’s worldbuilding is deep, ancient, and addictive, and we only got a taste of Efelldor’s magic, politics, and mysteries in book 1.
If Eleutheria left you itching to explore more of this rich universe (same), then this sequel needs to be on your radar. And if you somehow haven’t met these characters yet, consider this your friendly reminder to fix that and read Eleutheria before Book 2 drops.
Follow Ruth on Instagram @RuthCantuAuthor or TikTok @RuthCantuAuthor to stay informed about her latest releases!
How to Build Your 2026 Romance TBR (Without Overwhelming Your Wallet)
1. Preorder strategically.
Books with preorder swag? Grab early. Books you’re on the fence about? Add to Goodreads and wait for early reviews.
2. Mix in library holds.
Your 2026 self will thank you when a surprise email rolls in saying your most anticipated book is ready to read.
3. Track releases in your reading journal.
A cute habit tracker + monthly TBR keeps things fun instead of chaotic.
2026 Romance Books Perfect for Your Book Club
Looking for group reads with big discussion potential? Keep an eye on:
Romantasy finales with huge twists
Emotional healing contemporaries
Books with complex moral dilemmas
Stories featuring motherhood, identity rediscovery, or multigenerational arcs
Each one will spark the kind of conversations that stretch longer than the meeting itself.
How I’ll Be Covering 2026 Romance Releases
Throughout the year, I’ll be sharing:
✔ ARC reviews of major 2026 romances
✔ Monthly “New Release Roundup” posts
✔ TikTok/IG Reels with cover overlays and early impressions
✔ Spicy scale ratings
✔ Book club questions for big titles
✔ Printable reading guides
✔ Book and beverage themed pairings
Basically: if a romance book is shaking the internet in 2026, expect to see it here.
Final Thoughts
2026 Is Shaping Up to Be a Blockbuster Year for Romance Readers
Every year brings new love stories, but 2026 feels special. Big worlds, deep emotions, bold heroines, unhinged heroes, cozy vibes, darker edges. This is the kind of year that will deliver new comfort reads and new obsessions.
Whether you love:
contemporary romance
romantasy
paranormal
slow burn
spice
cozy character-driven love stories
…your next favorite book is already waiting for you.
And yes, I’ll be right there with you, preordering irresponsibly and documenting every chaotic, joyful moment.