5 Frothy New Contemporary Romances

You Had Me at Happy Hour

In this charming contemporary from Janovsky (You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince), sommelier Julien Boire can’t help his attraction to Greg Harlow, the newly hired “muscular mixologist” at his aunt Augustine and uncle Martin’s bar and restaurant in Bethlehem, Pa. Though the men get off to a rocky start, quiet Julien soon becomes a “puzzle” Greg’s “dying to solve,” while Julien is jealous when he sees gregarious Greg give his phone number to a patron. After customers complain about Julien’s “spacey” service and Greg’s boundary-crossing flirtations, Martin insists the men host happy hours together, hoping to force them to cooperate and learn from each other. The scheme works: the men bond when Julien reveals his OCD and Greg explains his own anxiety disorder. They soon act on their mutual desires, forming a “sex pact” to indulge in casual but exclusive hook ups. As their relationship intensifies and the happy hours become a success, Greg feels he’s found a home in Bethlehem. Julien, however, is looking for a ticket out of town. With a “storm of bad timing” threatening their happiness, can the men make it work? Janovsky delivers a salient message about trust and, in the spicy scenes, extols the merits of sex toys. The result goes down as easily as a glass of Sangria. Agent: Samantha Fabien, Root Literary. (July)

Never Date a Roommate

Ottoni’s fast-paced debut follows a Brazilian game designer who must jump through hoops to land her dream job, including fake dating her attractive roommate. Sol Carvalho is eager to get ahead in her career, even if it means relocating to Denmark. To land a promotion, she must prove to her boss that she’s willing to put down roots in Copenhagen by finding a stable living situation and starting a serious relationship with a Dane. The solution to both problems comes when she matches with burly Erik Storn on a dating app. Erik has a spare room for rent, but he’s been burned before by getting involved with a roommate. Making a pact to let no real feelings develop, the pair agree to fake date. But when they’re in close proximity 24/7, how long can their resolve last? Ottoni has a light and humorous touch with the fake-dating shenanigans, but the romantic development between Sol and Erik feels a bit rushed, making their connection marginally less convincing. Still, this lighthearted contemporary should scratch the itch for die-hard fans of the fake relationship trope. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (July)

Jewel Me Twice

Two international jewel thieves whose partnership and relationship ended after a heist gone wrong are thrown together for one last job in the entertaining latest from Reid (Mickey Chambers Shakes It Up). Celeste “CeCe” St. Pierre sells antique furniture by day and pilfers priceless gems with her assistant, Beatrice Hill, by night. However, when she receives a mysterious letter with the news that Dr. Doris Grant, her mentor in art and in crime, is dead, but has left behind plans for one last heist for the old crew, Celeste’s two-woman operation expands to include, among others, her ex, Dr. Magnus Larsson, a geology professor skilled at creating replica jewelry. Dr. Grant’s planned heist takes the team first to Estonia and then back to Stockholm, where five years before, the botched robbery of a princess tore them apart. Celeste and Magnus’s mutual anger over that job and their resulting breakup starts to fade as they work together again, leading them to wonder if their return to Stockholm could mean recovering everything they’d lost. Though the other members of the crew don’t get much to do, Celeste and Magnus’s criminal antics are fun, and their history together makes their sex scenes sizzle. Reid’s fans will be pleased. (July)

Cross the Line

Soltani’s slow-burning debut finds South Asian Formula 1 driver Dev Anderson desperate to win back his sponsors after his bitter former PR manager shares a series of embarrassing sexual posts on Anderson’s social media. He hires his best friend Oakley’s sister, mixed-race aspiring sports manager Willow Williams, who has mobility issues, to help give him an online rebrand. There’s just one wrinkle to their professional relationship: the long-simmering feelings that neither will admit to. Both view the relationship as off-limits because the last time Willow got involved with one of Oakley’s friends it ended in disaster. But as they navigate the misogynistic and often racist racing circuit, which takes them from Monaco to Abu Dhabi, the chemistry between them only intensifies. Soltani’s sensitive, diverse take on the typical sports romance is a breath of fresh air, helmed by a sexy cinnamon roll hero. Unfortunately, the plot drags in some places, especially as the stakes of Oakley learning about Dev and Willow’s involvement with each other never feel particularly high. Still, readers looking for gentle sports romance will want to check this out. (July)

Do Me a Favor

A grieving woman finds love in this cozy small-town romance from Yardley (Role Playing). Cookbook ghostwriter Willa Lieu-Endicott is still picking up the pieces after her husband’s recent death when she inherits her great-aunt’s house in Marre Island, Wash. It seems like a good place for a fresh start, but adjusting to single life is challenging. When her handsome neighbor Hudson Clark comes over looking for his lost dog one stormy night, Willa is surprised to feel a spark. Handyman Hudson, a divorced father of adult twins, has long struggled with insecurities about his townie status, having never left the island. Willa hires him to restore her aunt’s house, and Hudson ends up also helping her develop recipes for her new assignment: writing a sex-themed cookbook for a hunky influencer. With each day spent together, it becomes increasingly impossible to deny their attraction, but to move forward with their reationship they must first let go of the past. Yardley’s characters are complex and dynamic, making it easy to root for Willa and Hudson to take the leap of faith toward love. Fans of slow-burn romances and the lovers from different worlds trope will find plenty to enjoy. Agent: Tricia Skinner, Fuse Literary. (July)