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Top 5 Best New Romance Books 2025-2026

If you’re looking to update your reading list with the absolute best the genre has to offer this year, look no further. This top five features the most anticipated releases of 2026, combining established bestsellers with the breakout debut trilogy of the year.

1

Hazards & Hearts by Amelia Cord

A high-stakes enemies-to-lovers tale where city executive Paige Sterling meets her match in stoic rancher Ryan Klein.

2

Assets & Alibis by Amelia Cord

A sizzling "fake dating" story featuring the town's charming troublemaker, Cole Klein, and the sharp-tongued local gossip, Cassie Thorne.

3

Liability & Lawmen by Amelia Cord

The explosive finale featuring the "Black Sheep" sister, Sloane Sterling, and the stern Sheriff Jackson Miller in a forced-proximity masterclass.

4

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After, this highly anticipated May 2026 release is already topping "most-wanted" lists across Goodreads and Barnes & Noble.

5

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

Abby Jimenez returns with what is being hailed as one of the "sexiest rom-coms" of the year. This new release has already garnered a perfect 5-star rating from early readers.

Latest Reviews

Cover for A Touch of Darkness
Review

A Touch of Darkness

Scarlett St. Clair’s A Touch of Darkness takes the ancient myth of Hades and Persephone and drops it into a modern, urban fantasy setting where the Greek gods live as celebrities and billionaires.

Jen Burke
Jen BurkeAuthor
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Cover for The Way of Kings
Review

The Way of Kings

Brandon Sanderson’s The Way of Kings is practically mandatory reading. Does the story justify the massive page count?

Jen Burke
Jen BurkeAuthor
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Cover for The Serpent and the Wings of Night
Review

The Serpent and the Wings of Night

Is Carissa Broadbent's breakout hit truly the vampire Hunger Games? We dive into the brutal trials of the Kejari to see if this dark romantasy lives up to the hype.

Jen Burke
Jen BurkeAuthor
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Cover for Fourth Wing
Review

Fourth Wing

Is Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros actually worth the hype? We dive into the brutal halls of Basgiath War College to see if the enemies-to-lovers slow burn delivers.

Jen Burke
Jen BurkeAuthor
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Cover for Divine Rivals
Review

Divine Rivals

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross is a beautifully written, atmospheric romance blending a magical war with a 1920s aesthetic and an epistolary (letter-writing) romance.

Jen Burke
Jen BurkeAuthor
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Cover for A Court of Thorns and Roses
Review

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Sarah J. Maas has practically defined the modern romantasy genre with this series, but does the first book hold up to the massive, worldwide hype?

Jen Burke
Jen BurkeAuthor
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Cover for Thorns
Review

Thorns

Amelia Cord's Thorns, the masterful first installment of the Briar and Bone Trilogy, is a searing, visceral debut that injects raw life into the fantasy genre.

Jen Burke
Jen BurkeAuthor
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Cover for Liability & Lawmen
Review

Liability & Lawmen

The finale we have been waiting for! Easily the grittiest and most emotional installment.

Jen Burke
Jen BurkeAuthor
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