Best romance books of 2026

Book recommendations

Jul 24

Written By The Bookish Bulletin

Best romance books of 2026

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There's just something about a great romance novel. Whether it's enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, second chances, friends-to-lovers, or a slow burn that takes hundreds of pages to pay off, romance books have a way of completely taking over our reading lives.

Every year brings a new wave of unforgettable love stories, and 2026 is already packed with highly anticipated releases from bestselling authors alongside exciting new voices. From small-town romances and rom-coms to contemporary love stories, sports romance, romantasy, and emotionally sweeping second-chance romances, there's something here for every kind of romance reader.

The best romance books of 2026

If you're searching for the best romance books of 2026, this list brings together the year's biggest and most talked-about love stories. Whether you're looking for a BookTok sensation, your next five-star romance, or simply wondering which new releases everyone is adding to their TBR, you'll find them all below.

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The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

$0.00

From the bestselling author of Seven Days in June

Sasha is convinced the handsome man from Seat F is her soulmate. The problem? She doesn't know his name—and now the entire internet is helping her find him.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan

Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan

$0.00

From the bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script

Returning home to save her family’s legacy, single mom Dolly Brick enters a pretend relationship with Stewart Whitfield—and learns that some lies have a funny way of coming true.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

The Final Target by Nora Roberts

The Final Target by Nora Roberts

$0.00

From the bestselling author of Hidden Nature

After surviving an obsessive fan’s violent attack, Arden escapes to a quiet Oregon town where an ex-detective helps her heal, until her stalker comes looking for her again.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick

Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick

$0.00

Phoebe has one month to lose her virginity before turning thirty, but juggling three potential romances might force her to confront the real reason intimacy terrifies her.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Fever Dream by Elsie Silver

Fever Dream by Elsie Silver

$0.00

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Elsie Silver

Bull rider Emmett Bush joins a reality dating show to save his family’s farm—but falls for Julia Silva, his rival’s sister and the one woman he can’t have.

AMAZON (Canada/US)

AMAZON (UK)

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Score by Kennedy Ryan

Score by Kennedy Ryan

$0.00

From the bestselling author of Before I Let Go

First love resurfaces when a screenwriter and musician reunite on a Harlem Renaissance biopic, forcing them to confront betrayal, desire, and whether second chances are worth the risk.
Part of the Hollywood Renaissance series

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

$0.00

From Carley Fortune, the bestselling author of Every Summer After and One Golden Summer

After being dumped on her wedding day, Frankie reluctantly takes her honeymoon with her best friend George, forcing them to face years of buried feelings and the love they never admitted.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn

Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn

$0.00

From the bestselling author of A Not So Meet Cute

✨ Special edition featuring sprayed edges and a collectible hardcover design

She’s restoring a candy shop. He’s escaping a scandal. Between shared walls and small-town gossip, romance becomes impossible to avoid.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop by Laurie Gilmore

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop by Laurie Gilmore

$0.00

Daisy’s flower shop is rumored to curse every couple it touches, until newcomer Elliot walks in and becomes the one romance she never saw coming.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

King of Gluttony by Ana Huang

King of Gluttony by Ana Huang

$0.00

He’s her greatest rival. She’s his only weakness. When Sebastian Laurent and Maya Singh are forced together, hate starts looking a lot like desire.
Part of the Kings of Sin series

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

$0.00

Cherry’s husband turned their marriage into a bestselling story, and her into a humiliating character. Now he’s gone, and she’s left to rebuild her life in the fallout.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Into the Blue: A Love Story by Emma Brodie

Into the Blue: A Love Story by Emma Brodie

$0.00

AJ never forgot Noah, the actor who disappeared from her life. When they reunite as co-stars, she’s forced to relive their past—and demand the truth.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Game On by Navessa Allen

Game On by Navessa Allen

$0.00

Book 3 of the bestselling Into Darkness series

Tyler uses Stella to access the father he wants to destroy, but their fake relationship spirals as real attraction complicates his carefully planned revenge.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Hunt the Villain by Rina Kent

Hunt the Villain by Rina Kent

$0.00

From the bestselling author of God of Malice

Rival heirs, violent legacies, and a connection that should never exist. Yulian doesn’t just break rules—he rewrites them, risking everything in the process.
Part of the Villain series

AMAZON (Canada/US)

AMAZON (UK)

BOOKSHOP.ORG

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

$0.00

The anticipated sequel to the bestseller Say You’ll Remember Me

✨ Stunning deluxe edition with designed edges and color endpapers for one limited printing only

A concert ride led Larissa to her perfect man. But he's her boyfriend's best friend. Can Chris shatter his friend's world to finally claim the woman he deeply loves?

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Love Song by Elle Kennedy

Love Song by Elle Kennedy

$0.00

From bestselling author Elle Kennedy comes this story where old feelings and unresolved history collide

When college junior Blake escapes to Tahoe to heal, she never expects her ex-crush Wyatt to crash her summer—or to fall for him all over again.

PREORDER NOW

AMAZON
(Deluxe limited edition available)

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score

Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score

$0.00

From the bestselling author of Things We Never Got Over

Stranded in a small town, Zoey plans a one-night fling with her responsible landlord—until feelings complicate their no-strings arrangement.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison

And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison

$0.00

When Harry Met Sally inspired romance

Rival meteorologists Jackson and Delilah are forced to cover a massive snowstorm together, striking a deal to survive the assignment—and discovering their clashes hide real attraction.
Part of the Heartstrings series.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

Just Friends by Haley Pham

Just Friends by Haley Pham

$0.00

Debut novel from BookTok icon Haley Pham

Blair and Declan shared everything—until a kiss, a mistake, and years of silence tore them apart. Now, home brings a chance to rewrite their story.

BOOKSHOP.ORG

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

$0.00

A young woman gets caught in the middle of a murder spree at a speed-dating event and must use her encyclopedic knowledge of the horror genre to survive.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

$0.00

Tilly never expected grief to come with instructions, but when she receives twelve books from her deceased husband, each month unlocks a story, a place, and a chance to heal.

AMAZON (Canada/US)

AMAZON (UK)

One & Only by Maurene Goo

One & Only by Maurene Goo

$0.00

Read with Jenna February 2026 pick
From the author of YA Reese Pick Throwback

Psychic matchmaker Cassia knows her destined soulmate—but falls for Ellis, a younger client who isn’t fated, forcing her to question her family’s magic and the future she was promised.

Just for the Cameras by Meghan Quinn

Just for the Cameras by Meghan Quinn

$0.00

From the bestselling author of Till Summer Do Us Part

✨ A must-have edition with designed edges and exclusive illustrations

When cameras force NFL loner Graydon and sharp-tongued zookeeper Maple into a fake PR romance, their staged banter at the zoo ignites feelings neither planned to reveal.

Woman Down by Colleen Hoover

Woman Down by Colleen Hoover

$0.00

From bestselling author Colleen Hoover

Desperate to write again, Petra Rose isolates herself to finish a thriller, but a visiting detective becomes her muse, blurring fiction and reality with dangerous consequences.

More new romance books coming in 2026

The romance releases don't stop here. I'll continue updating this list throughout the year as new books are announced and published, so check back often for the latest must-read romances of 2026.

Looking for more books?

Continue discovering your next read:

📅 Upcoming fiction books of 2026

📚 New fiction releases this week

⭐ My latest book reviews

🔍 Book recommendations

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