7 Romance Novels to Heat Up Your Summer

Every time Guillory writes a new romance novel, I thank the romance gods for blessing us. Her characters are the kind of people you truly root for: funny, smart, sexy, and down to eat. Ben, the advertising exec who “doesn’t believe” in serious relationships, and Anna, the movie actress who is set to become the leading lady in Ben’s heart (yes, I just said that) will make you swoon. Set in the world of Hollywood, this romance will sizzle off the page, and leave you excited for whatever Guillory writes next.

Fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue are sure to enjoy Playing the Place, which showcases the love story of a lonely American event planner named Carter who has been recently dumped by his cheating ex, and the handsome and openly gay Prince Edgar of Wales. Faced with media scrutiny and disapproval from the Queen of England, Carter and Edgar band together to show everyone that maybe fairytales can happen in real life.

I’ve been a fan of Hoang’s since I first read—and blushed my way through—The Kiss Quotient. There’s something about the way that Hoang writes her characters. They’re fully fleshed, vulnerable, sexual, and full of potential, and her newest novel proves no different. After violinist Anna Sun accidentally goes viral and faces unexpected burnout, she decides to create a low-stress environment and finally start living life on her own terms. What does that actually mean, you ask? It means that Anna’s going to embark on a string of one-night stands. Everything is going to plan until Quan Diep, a tattooed, motorcycle-riding, bonafide hottie comes in. Suddenly, all of Anna’s plans go out the window and she’s forced to decide what’s really important: meeting others’ expectations or standing up for her own.

Speaking of the NYT bestselling Red, White, and Royal Blue comes this sapphic rom-com about a cynical 24-year-old August, who doesn’t believe in happy endings or fate. She’s happy enough going through life on her own in New York City, until she meets Jane, a charming, heart-pounding, swoopy-haired passenger on August’s train. All seems normal until August realizes that Jane is displaced in time from the 1970s, and she’s going to need August’s help getting back home. Come for sweet romance, stay for the bridge scene and the breakfast sandwich recipe.

One of my favorite tried-and-true romance tropes is “exes realizing that maybe, just maybe, they made a mistake.” Admitting that takes a great deal of vulnerability, and I am very quick to cheer on a couple after that. Such is the case with O’Leary’s new novel, that brings back scorned exes Dylan and Addie, who haven’t seen each other in two years. After a car accident on the way to a mutual friend’s wedding leaves Dylan without a ride, Addie, her sister, Dylan, his best friend, and some random guy off of Facebook who happens to be along for the ride pile into one tiny car. It’s sure to be a bumpy ride, one that asks if maybe they should revisit the past.

This new rom-com by the author of Waiting for Tom Hanks is giving me You’ve Got Mail meets Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood vibes, and I am here for it. After being dumped by her long time boyfriend, vintage toy store employee Teddy Phillips begins to write to Everett St. James, the host of the local children’s TV show, Everett’s Place. Both parties are seeking comfort as they write back and forth about their lives, and when they meet in person, it’s kismet. Don’t take my word for it though. You can read it for yourself!

Fans of Henry’s NYT bestseller Beach Read are sure to be excited about Henry’s next sure to be a hit, about two former friends who meet up for one final summer to put all their cards on the table and to see if their friendship is worth saving. On the surface, Poppy and Alex have nothing in common. She’s a wild child, and he’s, well, Wonder Bread in human form. Yet, somehow, they worked well together for two years until everything changed, and they haven’t spoken since. Readers of Beach Read are sure to be delighted by Henry’s newest novel.