Top 10
Best Hex Ever
Nadia El-Fassi. Dell, Oct. 1 ($18 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-87179-9)
Combining foodie and paranormal rom-com tropes, El-Fassi’s debut follows a witchy London baker who avoids romance because anyone she gets involved with is cursed to have bad luck.
Bull Moon Rising
Ruby Dixon. Ace, Oct. 15 ($30, ISBN 978-0-593-81702-5)
In the latest fantasy romance from the author of the Ice Planet Barbarian series, a noblewoman marries a member of the Royal Artifactual Guild to gain access to its resources. There’s just one problem with her plan: her new husband is a minotaur.
I’ll Have What He’s Having
Adib Khorram. Forever, Aug. 27 ($17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5387-3951-8)
Suave sommelier David Curtis mistakes hapless Farzan Alavi for a food critic and attempts to flirt his way into Farzan’s good graces, in YA author Khorram’s adult debut.
Is She Really Going Out with Him?
Sophie Cousens. Putnam, Nov. 19 ($19 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-71890-2)
A recent divorcée allows her teenage children to set her up on a series of blind dates in the latest mature rom-com from Cousens. 150,000-copy announced first printing.
Keep Me
Sara Cate. Sourcebooks Casablanca, Dec. 3 ($17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-7282-8219-0)
Cate launches her Sinful Manor series with the erotic romance between a hedonistic Scotsman and the plucky New Yorker his family hires to marry him and clean up his playboy image. 150,000-copy announced first printing.
Marriage & Masti
Nisha Sharma. Avon, Aug. 27 ($18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-06-300118-3)
The finale to Sharma’s If Shakespeare Was an Auntie series riffs on the bard’s Twelfth Night, pairing chaotic, unemployed Veera with ambitious businessman Deepak in a fake-dating ruse.
One Big Happy Family
Susan Mallery. Canary Street, Oct. 1 ($18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-335-00630-1)
This Christmas rom-com brings a woman’s large, chaotic family together for the holidays—including her adult children and the much younger man that they don’t know she’s dating. 250,000-copy announced first printing.
The Pairing
Casey McQuiston. Griffin, Aug. 6 ($20 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-250-86274-7)
Exes accidentally wind up taking a food tour through Europe together in the next queer rom-com from bestseller McQuiston.
The Striker
Ana Huang. Bloom, Sept. 24 ($18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4642-2332-7)
Huang spins off her Kings of Sin novels into a new series of steamy sports romances, this one starring fan favorite character Asher Donovan. 300,000-copy announced first printing.
The Truth According to Ember
Danica Nava. Berkley, Aug. 6 ($19 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-64260-3)
A Native American woman lands a finance job by fudging her résumé and pretending to be white on her application. When she gets involved with a coworker—breaking the company’s rule against fraternization—her lies only grow.
Romance & Erotica longlist
Afterglow
Church Girl by Naima Simone
(Nov. 26, $12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-335-57487-9). A preacher’s daughter flees her wedding, her controlling family, and small-town life for Chicago, where she finds a job as a live-in nanny for the daughter of a gorgeous tattoo artist.
Love and Sportsball by Meka James (Sept. 24, $12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-335-57483-1). Khadijah Upton celebrates landing her dream job as an athletic trainer for Atlanta’s WNBA team with a one-night stand with a sexy stranger—only to arrive at work and learn her hookup is star player Shae Harris.
Alcove
Not in My Book by Katie Holt
(Dec. 10, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-63910-975-3). While attending a New York City writing workshop, an aspiring romance novelist butts heads with a literary fiction author—until their professor tasks them with cowriting a novel.
Single Player by Tara Tai (Jan. 7, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-63910-993-7). In Tai’s queer debut, gamer and romance-addict Cat Li is hired to write a love story into her favorite RPG, Compass Hollow—but to succeed, she’ll have to impress her romance-averse boss, Andi Zhang.
Atria
Christmas Is All Around by Martha Waters (Oct. 29, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-6680-6951-6) throws reclusive grinch Charlotte, a former child actor known for a beloved Christmas movie, together with Graham, who owns one of the movie’s filming locations and relies on Charlotte’s fans to keep his business afloat.
Avon
A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan (Sept. 24, $30, ISBN 978-0-06-339999-0) launches a romantasy series set in the same world as Jordan’s bestselling Firelight series and following the princesses’ former whipping girl, Tamsyn, as she enters into a political marriage with a fierce warrior.
Puck and Prejudice by Lia Riley (Nov. 12, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN
978-0-06-341232-3) combines hockey romance with Regency tropes after goalie Tucker Taylor accidentally travels back in time.
Ballantine
A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber (Oct. 15, $24, ISBN 978-0-593-72533-7) sends a burned-out high school band teacher on a solo Christmas retreat to a peaceful mountain cabin, where a neighbor and former musician reawakens her lust for life.
Berkley
Pickleballers by Ilana Long (Nov. 12, $19 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-64223-8) pairs recently heartbroken Meg with charming environmentalist Ethan
as they compete in a series of pickleball games—and for one another’s hearts.
Sunshine and Spice by Aurora Palit (Sept. 10, $19 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-64018-0). Consultant Naomi Kelly hopes to impress her new client, Gia Mukherjee. Meanwhile, Gia’s son, Dev, wishes to avoid his mother’s matchmaking attempts. Could faking a
relationship solve both their problems?
Bold Strokes
Ghost of the Heart by Catherine Friend (Nov. 12, $18.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-63555-112-9). After nonbeliever Gwen is possessed by a ghost with an urgent warning for her and her wife, Billie, the women turn to a local paranormal group for help.
Bramble
The Friend Zone Experiment by Zen Cho (Aug. 6, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-250-33039-0). Hugo Award winner Cho turns to romantic comedy with the second-chance romance between a Singaporean businesswoman in London and her college sweetheart—who, unbeknownst to her, is on a quest for revenge against her family’s company.
Night Is Defying by Chloe C. Penaranda (Jan. 28, $32.99, ISBN 978-1-250-35550-8) returns to the world of The Stars Are Dying, where vampire ruler Nyte struggles to maintain control over his people, and star-maiden Astraea fights for her freedom. 400,000-copy announced first printing.
CamCat
Dare to Au Pair by Maia Correll (Aug. 6, $16.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-7443-1032-0). An ambitious recent college grad takes a summer job as a live-in nanny in the south of France in hopes of networking with a potential employer.
Canary Street
When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi (Dec. 10, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-335-23087-4). Recently widowed Mina Drake uncovers shocking secrets about her late husband with help from his rugged and mysterious brother. 75,000-copy announced first printing.
Carina Adores
Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochrane (Nov. 12, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-335-95374-2). When hockey players Nat and Darcy, former college sweethearts turned on-ice rivals, are tasked with cohosting television coverage of the Winter Olympics, the women are determined to keep things professional—but that doesn’t stop viewers from shipping them.
Dell
Flirting with Disaster by Naina Kumar (Jan. 14, $18 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-72390-6). Eager to start dating again, lawyer Meena seeks a divorce from her husband, Nikhil, after years of separation. But when she and Nikhil wind up stranded together, will their old flame reignite?
Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore (Aug. 20, $18 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-72394-4). Trans clairvoyant Ezra has a crush on his downstairs neighbor, Jonathan, a volunteer at Ezra’s family’s struggling funeral home—but his attempts to woo Jonathan are complicated by the lingering ghost of Jonathan’s late husband.
Dial
Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London (Oct. 1, $19 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-72912-0). Tess Rosenbloom discovers that her favorite fantasy series, Blood Feud, is based on true events when one of the characters, a sexy vampire, comes to her for help.
Most Wonderful: A Christmas Novel by Georgia Clark (Oct. 22, $18 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-72908-3). Three adult half-siblings, all with chaotic love lives, convene at their famous mother’s mansion for the holidays.
Doubleday Canada
Make Me a Mixtape by Jennifer Whiteford (Oct. 22, $17.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-385-68917-5). Retired rock star Allie Andrews enjoys a quiet life as a Brooklyn barista—until she’s recognized by one of her biggest fans, Ryan Abernathy, who’s determined to get her back into music.
Dutton
One on One by Jamie Harrow (Sept. 24, $18 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-47482-2) pairs two college basketball coaches—and former lovers—who find their way back to each other during March Madness.
EnTangled Amara
Because Fat Girl by Lauren Marie Fleming (Oct. 22, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-64937-691-6). Diana Smith sets out to make her name in Hollywood by writing and directing queer, fat-positive movies, but struggles to find her place in the industry.
Forever
Duchess Material by Emily Sullivan (Nov. 19, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5387-4234-1). The first in a Victorian romance series finds progressive bluestocking Phoebe Atkinson reluctantly turning to her brother’s friend, the stodgy but upstanding Duke of Ellis, for help tracking down a missing student.
Tale of the Heart Queen by Nisha J. Tuli (Nov. 26, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5387-6769-6) closes out the Artefacts of Ouranos fantasy romance series as heroine Lor fights to save herself, her love, and her people from enemies old and new.
Gallery
Miranda in Retrograde by Lauren Layne (Aug. 13, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-6680-4797-2). At a personal and professional crossroads, astrophysicist Miranda Reed decides to allow her horoscope to guide all her choices—from where she goes to who she dates—for one year.
Graydon House
Truly Madly Magically by Hazel Beck (Aug. 27, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5258-0473-1). The third Witchlore paranormal romance turns the spotlight onto half-witch Ellowyn Good, who’s cursed never to tell a lie. 75,000-copy announced first printing.
Griffin
The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley (Sept. 24, $18 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-250-86163-4) takes readers to a cozy Cape Cod inn, where high school sweethearts reunite over the holiday season.
I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War (Oct. 8, $18 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-250-33051-2). When Vogue reporter Khin Hlaing and Tyler Tun, the A-lister she’s been assigned to profile, are attacked by a stalker, they kill the man in self-defense. Now they must work together to cover up the scandal.
Harlequin Historical
The Duke’s Sister and I by Emma-Claire Sunday (Sept. 24, $7.99 mass market, ISBN 978-1-335-53975-5). Sunday’s Regency debut has debutante Loretta Linfield falling not for her suitor, the Duke of Colchester, but for his sister.
Harlequin Special Edition
Deadlines, Donuts & Dreidels by Jennifer Wilck (Oct. 22, $7.99 mass market, ISBN 978-1-335-40207-3). While home for Hanukkah, reporter Jessica Sacks is tasked with interviewing local hero Thomas Carville, a firefighter and Jessica’s long-standing crush.
Harper Perennial
Heavy Hitter by Katie Cotugno (Aug. 20, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-06-339395-0) pairs pop superstar Lacey Logan with professional baseball player Jimmy Hodges in an opposites attract romance partly inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. 100,000-copy announced first printing.
Head of Zeus
A Touch Wicked by Katrina Kendrick (Oct. 15, $16.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-83793-095-1) explores the hedonistic world lurking beneath the sedate surface of Regency London.
Kensington
All Roads Lead to Rome by Yamile Saied Méndez (Jan. 21, $17.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4967-3709-0). After a whirlwind affair, American Stevie and Italian Paolo vowed that if they were both still single by 33, they’d reunite and get married. Now Stevie’s birthday is fast approaching.
One Last Rainy Day by Kate Stewart (Jan. 21, $18.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4967-5464-6) launches the Ravenhood Legacy series, a high-heat riff on Robin Hood.
Knopf
A Home for the Holidays by Taylor Hahn (Sept. 24, $28, ISBN 978-0-593-47070-1). After the death of Mel Hart’s complicated mother, Connie, Mel agrees to spend Christmas with Connie’s one-time best friend, Barb, learning more about her mother’s past and discovering an intense connection with Barb’s son.
MacMillan UK
The Hidden Girl by Lucinda Riley (Sept. 17, $27.99, ISBN 978-1-0350-4797-0). This posthumous romance from Riley follows Leah Thompson from her girlhood in 1976 Yorkshire through her glamorous, globe-trotting adult years as she attempts to dodge a prophecy about her life.
Merky
The Situationship by Taylor-Dior Rumble (Sept. 10, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5291-9865-2). Tia and Nate connect via dating app and quickly develop feelings but, having been burned before, they’re both too scared to define the relationship.
Mira
The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak (Sept. 17, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-7783-6959-2). Gia Rossi was always the black sheep in her small, conservative hometown—but when her mother gets sick and her sister asks for help, she has no choice but to return. 75,000-copy announced first printing.
The Maui Effect by Sara Ackerman (Nov. 19, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-7783-6956-1) finds Hawaiian Iwa fighting her feelings for mainlander Dane. 50,000-copy announced first printing.
Pan
The Elopement by Tracy Rees (Aug. 13, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5290-9863-1). Set in 1897 England, Rees’s latest pairs
a respectable heiress with a free-spirited artist in a scandalous match that rocks Victorian society.
Putnam
All I Want Is You by Falon Ballard (Sept. 24, $18 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-85184-5). Former lovers turned competing romance authors wind up stranded together—and forced to share a single bed—over the holidays. 75,000-copy announced first printing.
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks (Aug. 20, $19 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-85186-9). Introverted Callum Flannelly needs a wife if he hopes to inherit his family’s funeral home. Enter Lark Thompson, his new neighbor and a recent widow, who vows to help him find true love. 60,000-copy announced first printing.
Random House
Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks (Sept. 24, $30, ISBN 978-0-593-44959-2). The latest from bestseller Sparks pairs an Army Ranger who has spent his life traveling the globe with a single mother who feels bound to her small town.
Shadow Mountain
So True a Love by Joanna Barker (Sept. 3, $16.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-63993-294-8). A female detective in Regency London takes on her most personal case yet after she and a friend are robbed, but her investigation is complicated by a nosy—and attractive—Bow Street Runner.
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Dark Restraint by Katee Robert (Aug. 6, $16.99 trade paper, ISBN
978-1-7282-6282-6) continues the bestselling Dark Olympus series with a high-heat retelling of the myth of Ariadne and the Minotaur. 200,000-copy announced first printing.
Union Square
Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee (Jan. 21, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4549-5522-1). In the lead-up to a local wine
festival, vineyard owner Zoe hooks up with a stranger, Laine—only to later learn that Laine is both the new vintner her father hired and the sister of Zoe’s greatest rival.
W x Wattpad
Playmaker by Deanna Faison (Oct. 22, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-998341-08-5). The sequel to My Brother’s Best Friend pairs a playboy college athlete with his overprotective best friend’s little sister during a steamy spring break trip.
Zebra
A Worthington Wedding by Ella Quinn (Nov. 26, $8.99 mass market, ISBN 978-1-4201-5695-9) launches the Here Come the Grooms series, a spin-off of Quinn’s Worthingtons series, by pairing fiercely independent Oriana Ognon with the upstanding Earl of Stanwood.
