About Every Version of You: For fans of The Love of My Afterlife and The Seven Year Slip, Reese’s Book Club LitUp Fellow Natalie Messier’s heartfelt contemporary romance debut follows a woman who gets a second chance at a formative time in her adult life—this time to win the “one that got away.” Releases on July 7th 2026. 

Like many women (most women, perhaps?) I’ve expended a lot of energy trying to make myself as likeable as I can, whittling myself down into the most palatable version of myself. So when I encounter a story where the main character simply hasn’t bothered to do the same, I’m intrigued. As a woman, there’s a million ways to do things wrong and seemingly no way to do things right, so it’s refreshing to see a woman who refuses to play the game.

Or, perhaps, she plays the game wrong. She makes a mess. She works so hard to be likeable that in her attempts, she loops back around and becomes insufferable. She tries to do the right thing, only to make everything worse. Women who care too much what people think, or women who don’t care at all—give me all the messy women. Without further ado, please find some of my favorite messy female leads in books, movies, and TV shows.

Buffy and Faith in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Nothing says messy quite like a vampire slayer falling for a vampire—and Buffy does it twice! To be fair, some mess is to be expected—is earned, even—when you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. But when I say I love messy women, I mean messy, so I’d be remiss not to mention my favorite Buffy character: Faith. Even though Buffy errs on occasion, she always tries to follow the right path and do good. Faith messes up way more, on a bigger scale, and she does so unrepentantly. She looks out for herself, and though she comes back around, she ends up on the side of evil—lured there by a father figure who preyed on all her insecurities and desire for familial love. And you know what, I loved her through it all.

Evangeline Jenner in Devil in Winter

It’s undeniable that Lisa Kleypas writes some of the best MMCs in romance—and her heroines are just as compelling, entertaining, and easy to root for! I have a particular soft spot for all of the ladies in her Wallflowers series. Each one messy in their own way, it was hard to pick who to include on this list. From Lillian’s bold and brash demeanor, to Daisy’s fanciful imagination. I love Annabelle and the way she determinedly schemes to catch a husband—but I’d argue that Evie is the messiest. I mean, propositioning a marriage of convenience to the man who kidnapped one of your closest friends…I never would have guessed Evie would have it in her earlier in the series, and that to me makes her one of the historical queens of mess.

Eleanor Shellstrop in The Good Place

I’ll just say it: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fictional character who loves shrimp as much as Eleanor Shellstrop. I don’t know why I think that adds a tally in her “mess” column, but it does. I won’t ever forget how hard I laughed the first time I saw the pilot episode when Eleanor tells Chidi she doesn’t belong in the Good Place. In life, Eleanor was selfish, callous, and uncaring—but in death, she gets a second chance. Does she nail this second chance right off the bat? She wouldn’t be messy if she did. But Eleanor, like many women on this list, embodies what is to me one of the most important things about messy women—they deserve love too.

Solange Pereira in The Wedding Crasher

I’m a huge fan of Mia Sosa. Her FMCs are strong, sassy, and thoroughly entertaining. Solange in The Wedding Crasher is a perfect example of the fact that sometimes, mess can come well-intentioned. Was she right to crash Dean’s wedding? Absolutely, but that doesn’t make it not messy. Not that I minded, since it led to one of my favorite, messiest tropes—fake dating. I eat it up every time.

Isabel Conklin in The Summer I Turned Pretty

Falling for two brothers is peak messiness as far as romance FMCs go (special shout-out to Percy in Every Summer After for doing the same!), but Belly is such a lovable character. She’s coming of age, she’s torn between two boys who both give mixed signals and have histories with her. And you know what, everything that happened in these books and show was messy of Conrad and Jeremiah too, so I for the record am Team Belly all the way.

Nicole Speyer in The Best Worst Thing

I’m almost hesitant to call Nicole in The Best Worst Thing messy because everything she does is completely justified. Showing up unannounced on the doorstep of her former coworker who she had a will-they-won’t-they thing going on with years ago? Well, why not, considering she walked in on her husband sleeping with their dog walker. Nicole’s story and romance with Logan is undeniably messy, but she does the best with the circumstances she’s given. Still, she’s so undeniably human, and I think she’s earned her place on this list.

Julie in The Worst Person in the World

Julie might be the messiest woman on this list. She’s lost, listless, struggling in her career and in her romantic life. The other day, my partner asked if I remembered the scene where she and Eivind really want to cheat on their partners but are determined not to, so they push the boundaries of what “cheating” is. And you know what, personally, I think they cross that line pretty early on! But watch it and decide for yourself. Regardless, I found Julie easy to root for and empathize with in all her missteps.

June Wood in It’s Different This Time

Joss Richard’s debut was one of my favorite books I read last year. June Wood is my girl. It’s so relatable how she gets in her own way with her avoidant tendencies. She waits for the other shoe to drop, scared that Adam is too good to be true, and haven’t we all been there? But all of June’s insecurities and fears only makes it all the more satisfying when she finally accepts that good things can happen to her and gets her HEA.

Issa Dee in Insecure

Issa in Insecure is a very real kind of messy. Her mess is often driven by her awkwardness and the fact that she’s a young woman in her twenties, trying to find her way in life. Issa can be an unreliable and selfish friend at times, but who among us hasn’t hurt a few people while in crisis? She doesn’t always know what she wants, and she missteps in her pursuit to figure out what it is. Personally, I don’t know what’s more relatable than that.

Angela Gutierrez in Kiss Me, Maybe

You want to talk about messy? Creating a scavenger hunt on TikTok where the winner earns your first kiss. That’s pretty messy—and it’s exactly what Angela does in Gabriella Gamez’s sophomore novel after she goes viral from posting a video about being ace and a late bloomer. Luckily, she needs help pulling off the event. Enter Krystal, the hot bartender Angela’s had a crush on for years. Krystal isn’t ready for romance yet, and Angela is in the process of figuring herself out. It’s swoony, it’s romantic, and yes, it’s a bit messy.

Tashi Donaldson in Challengers

Love triangles are messy by nature, and a love triangle that spans 13 years like the one at the center of Challengers is all the more so. To be fair, everyone in this movie is a bit unhinged—but this is a list of messy women, so forget the guys for a second. Tashi shows that mess can be calculated. It can be intentional. Tashi is such a puppet master in this movie—but everything she does is messy, it’s fantastic to watch. From kissing both men as teenagers and telling them she’ll give her number to the winner of the next day’s tennis match, to everything she does before their match as adults, Tashi knows she has the guys wrapped around her finger, and she utilizes her power to its most chaotic degree.

Fleabag in Fleabag

A list of messy women wouldn’t be complete without Fleabag. She basically rewrote the book. In terms of influential characters, she’s top of the list when it comes to what I write. Every move she makes is questionable, yet thoroughly entertaining and empathetic. Season 2 of Fleabag might be one of the best seasons of television ever written—Hot Priest, anyone?—and so much of it is because of the growth we get to see her go through.

A Few More Messy FMCs Releasing in 2026

If you’re a fan of the aforementioned messy women, there are several books releasing in 2026 whose FMCs should be on your radar!

First up is Kaia Harper in Adrienne Thurman’s Don’t Tell Me How It Ends (out now). Kaia is a floundering twenty-something who has sworn off romance—only to be roped into her meddling sister’s matchmaking business. When Kaia begins falling for Ro, she pushes him away because it’s what’s familiar to her.

Next, Violet Lumani’s Not Good Neighbors (out now) is about Penny Huff, who is so irritated about the tragically thin wall between her apartment and her neighbor’s that she attempts to soundproof it…only to literally blow a hole in it, trapping the two in each other’s spaces.

Commitment-phobic Norah Gold in Rachel Pologe’s Now That We Don’t Talk (out 10/20) is a certified bolter who avoids emotional situations at all costs. So when she returns home for the holidays, her goal is to avoid Henry Cole, the boy who broke her heart back in high school. Easier said than done, since she discovers that their mothers are dating.

Alix Kelinda’s The Christmas Curse (out 10/20) is about Devra, a Christmas-hating recluse convinced her family is cursed due to the catastrophes that have tormented them every December for the past 30 years. So of course, when holiday-obsessed Bradley moves in next door, she’s certain he’s been sent by the curse.

A young adult romance to check out is Angelica Cheng’s The Fast Track (out 8/4) about a 17-year-old up-and-coming young driver Justine Kwong, who is trying to make it to F1 and falls for her biggest rival on-track.

Lastly, Harper Kinsley’s Spikes, Dice and Other Variables (out 9/15) centers on high schooler Riley McMahon, who struggles to keep her grades up and pretends to know how to play D&D to get her love interest to like her enough to tutor her. Sounds like teenage messiness at its finest!

The post Natalie Messier’s Favorite Messy Female Leads appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

PLUS you can read the first chapter at the end of the interview!

Hi, Adrienne! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m an author and mom to one, living and writing in the Northeastern US. My two older sisters and I were raised in Kansas by a single mom, so our household had LOTS of female-forward energy, which informs who I am, how I move through the world, and what I write today.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I’ve always had a big love of language and words. As a child, this meant entering (and winning!) writing competitions, making up my own lyrics, and besting adults at word games. In school though, writing became an academic pursuit that I didn’t give much thought to beyond a given assignment. It wasn’t until years later, after I had my daughter, that I started playing with words again in the ways I had as a kid—making up poems and songs and rhymes as my daughter and I moved through our days. At that time, I spent a lot of my time dreaming of my daughter’s future—imagining what she could be one day and who she’d become—and I was reading hundreds of picture books. The combination of dreaming freely and being surrounded by books in a way I hadn’t been for much of my adult life, sparked something in me and I started daydreaming about who I still wanted to be and become. That’s when I started putting pen to paper again with my eye on a dream that felt impossible, but still worth chasing…publication!

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Giving Tree
• The one that made you want to become an author: The honest answer is probably every picture book at the library and on my daughter’s nursery bookshelf. That phase of life changed everything for me in all the best ways.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The book that’s due to my editors now LOL

Your debut novel, Don’t Tell Me How It Ends, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

How did you get in?

What can readers expect?

Don’t Tell Me How It Ends is an exploration of love in all its many forms—familial love, self love, friendship love, and of course, romantic love. There are themes under each of these umbrellas that inform who our main character, Kaia Harper, is becoming as she moves through her post graduate transitional period, but as a whole, the book is about learning to let people and love in. Even as you move through the mess of life. Learning to trust yourelf and the journey. It’s funny and heartfelt and there’s a guaranteed HEA!

Where did the inspiration for Don’t Tell Me How It Ends come from?

I grew up loving classic romcom movies and rom-drams as well. I wanted to write something with the humor of the former and the layers of the latter.

I’m constantly surrounded by women and examining the universal experiences we all move through. I started playing with this idea that “coming of age” never really ends for any of us—as long as we’re living, we’re learning and growing and reacting to a life we can’t predict. It’s always new. It’s always scary. And it’s always chock-full of potential and opportunity if we’re brave enough to look directly at it.

With those overarching themes in mind, I let my brain play around until these characters started forming and dialogue started materializing!

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I love writing mess and Kaia is mess. She’s constantly making decisions from a place of fear and self-protection, so it’s no wonder she backs herself into corners and inspires reactions from the people who just want to love her. This conflict was especially fun to write into Kaia’s relationship with her older sister, Zola, because of how central and formative the relationship is for each character.

Generally, I just love writing all the big emotional moments. The reckonings, the declarations, and all the spicy bits, because…come on.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

So many challenges lol.

Practically, I’m a single mom, so time is a big one! Also, have you ever tried to write a spicy scene with someone yelling, “Mom!” from their bedroom, an hour after bedtime?? But moms know, you just get it done anyway, because there’s no other option.

Emotionally, I had to dig really deep to tap into that new love, falling in love feeling, because I worked on this book while going through a tough divorce in real life. I’m grateful to be the type of writer who watches a movie play in their minds, so for a lot of the story, I felt more like a transcriber than the one doing the crafting. My characters led me where we needed to go from a narrative standpoint and witnessing their journeys gave me something to believe in!

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

Starting with picture books made for an unusual trajectory. I entered a contest early on with a picture book manuscript and got agent and editor requests through that competition. While I was waiting for their feedback, I switched gears and actually finished my first (unpublished and now shelved) novel. Once that was ready for eyes, I started querying that age category too! Ultimately, I sent the novel to one of the agents who already had my picture book work from the competition and she offered representation on both projects.

In the years since, I’ve been on submission multiple times, sold a few picture books and watched others die, left that first agent and queried again, signed with Melanie Figueroa at Root Literary, written some novels, and now I’ve published a debut picture book and debut novel.

No matter how the story starts, you just keep going. That’s all it is!

What’s next for you?

My next novel, called Better In Real Life, will be out in April 2027. It’s a standalone spinoff where we get to see Zola, the older sister from Don’t Tell Me How It Ends, get her happily ever after. It’s tonally very different from the first book, so I’m really excited for readers to see that progression.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?

“I’m rooting for everybody Black.” (in my Issa voice)

• They All Fall in Love at the End by Haili Blassingame explores provocative themes like politics and non monogamy and it’s written by a sharp and exciting new voice. What more could you want?
• The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest is a new book by an author I already love. Kristina does humor and heart like nobody else. I can’t wait to read her take on fake dating with a beachy backdrop!
• These Kindred Hearts is a YA romantasy anthology edited by Shari B. Pennant. It brings authors I already love together with authors I’m excited to read for the first time as they share bite sized love stories that get to play by their own set of fantastical rules.
• I also have the ARC for Die for Me by Shirlene Obuobi ready and waiting and the audiobook for The Exes by Leodora Darlington queued up on my phone right now and I cannot wait to dive into those, because…did I already mention I love mess?!

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Excerpted from Don’t Tell Me How It Ends by Adrienne Thurman Copyright © 2026 by Adrienne Thurman. Excerpted by permission of Dial Press Trade Paperback. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

The post Q&A: Adrienne Thurman, Author of ‘Don’t Tell Me How It Ends’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If your romance-loving heart needs a good dose of swoon, then you’re in luck because 2026 holds many delightful new romance reads for you! Releasing between the months of January and June, you’ll see new releases from Julian Winters, Tessa Bailey, B.K. Borison, Ashley Herring Blake, Meghan Quinn, Falon Ballard, TJ Alexander, Abby Jimenez, Rainbow Rowell, Chloe Liese, Carley Fortune, Eloisa James, Katherine Center, Mazey Eddings, Ashley Poston, and many more, plus spectacular debuts too!

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2026 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Anticipated YA Books and Anticipated Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books lists!

JANUARY 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Sparks fly in this second chance m/m rom com when an unlucky-in-love event planner realizes the man-of-honor at the high profile wedding he’s planning is the same man who broke his heart.

Our Ex’s Wedding by Taleen Voskuni

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Two people who can’t stand each other must come together to plan their mutual ex’s wedding in this new romantic comedy by Taleen Voskuni, author of Lavash at First Sight.

Definitely Maybe Not A Detective by Sarah Fox

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this delightfully charming rom-com mystery, a woman becomes accidentally entangled in a murder investigation (and with a handsome stranger) when her fake detective agency is enlisted to solve a real homicide.

Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new marriage of convenience, friends-to-lovers sports romance about a baseball catcher and the burlesque club owner he can’t get out of his head.

Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Miss Congeniality meets The Bachelor in this action-packed rom-com debut about an investigative journalist who sneaks onto reality TV only to fall for the wrong guy.

We’ve Hit Turbulence by Jessica L. Cozzi

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this swoony young adult rom-com, things get bumpy when a girl gets stuck on a cross-country flight with her ex—as if flying couldn’t get any worse. . . .

Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Sparks fly when an up-and-coming team principle and her new hot-shot driver—and former childhood crush—are forced to work together to save their careers and team in this deliciously winning Formula 1 romance.

A Killer Kind of Romance by Letizia Lorini

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this new romance from USA TODAY bestselling author Letizia Lorini, a crime podcast host must solve a chilling serial killer case while navigating an unexpected romance with her mysterious next-door neighbor.

Like In Love With You by Emma R. Alban

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Mean Girls meets Northanger Abbey in this brand new, sapphic, rivals-to-lovers Regency Romance by USA Today bestselling author Emma R. Alban!

Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A second chance at love sets sail when a couple on the verge of divorce pretends they’re still together for one last family trip, from the author of Wedding Dashers.

Enchanting the Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Stephanie Burgis delivers another irreverent, sparkling, and sexy installment in the Queens of Villainy series, where a seductive fae queen meets her unexpected match in the enemy empire’s valiant general.

For Our Next Song by Jessica James

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The decade-long friendship between two rock goddesses is thrust into the spotlight after their mutual desire strikes a perfect—and very public—chord.

FEBRUARY 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

Still Into You by Erin Connor

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Two exes reunite for a make-or-break interview that will either bring them back together … or drive them apart forever.

Game, Set, Match by Jennifer Iacopelli

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
She’s a tennis superstar on the rise. He’s the bad boy champ who broke her heart. When they meet on the court, their competition is hot—but their chemistry is even hotter.

Love and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An academic-rivals-to-lovers rom-com set at a New York conference about two neuroscientists who are forced to pretend they’re dating, leading to unexpected chemistry and a heartfelt journey of self-discovery.

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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Two competing meteorologists are forced to find common ground in this opposites attract, When Harry Met Sally inspired romance, from New York Times bestselling author B.K. Borison.

Maybe This Once by Sophie Sullivan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A small-town, opposites-attract romance about two people who end up with more feelings than they bargained for after pursuing a summer fling.

Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A summer job at a lake-town resort brings together two women with an unlikely connection in this new contemporary romance by USA Today bestselling author Ashley Herring Blake.

Skate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The weather might be icy, but the tension is red-hot in this fake―dating hockey rom―com from the author of Let the Games Begin.

Just for the Cameras by Meghan Quinn

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From New York Times bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a sizzling sports romance full of flamingo feathers, slow-burn heat, and one grump-meets-sunshine love story that’s anything but fake.

One & Only by Maurene Goo

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In Five Years meets a millennial The Joy Luck Club in the adult debut from the author of YA Reese Pick Throwback— a funny and fresh love story of a woman thrown a curveball by fate, and the family secret that will make her question everything.

Over and Over by Becky Hunter

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A sweeping speculative romance following two soulmates who have met in past lives—but are still searching for their HEA—in this angsty novel, perfect for fans of Josie Silver and One Day.

Hunter’s Treasure by Olivia Jackson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A brand new spicy forced proximity action adventure romcom set on a desert island, perfect for fans of Christina Lauren, Jo Segura and Meghan Quinn.

How To Kill A Guy In Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A humorous, swoony, and downright terrifying slasher rom-com in which a cinephile gets caught in the middle of a murder spree at a speed-dating event and must use her encyclopedic knowledge of the romance and horror genres to make it as a real-life Final Girl.

MARCH 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The newest book from bestselling author and Kindle Unlimited sensation Catherine Walsh, in which an ambitious editor travels to Ireland to help the daughter of a fantasy author legend complete her father’s final book, only to fall in love with her in the process.

Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Cat Sebastian’s long-awaited foray into contemporary romance! A witty, emotional, and deliciously slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance between two costars on a popular sci-fi television series.

Toe to Toe by Falon Ballard

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Allegra Hart’s dream of becoming a principal ballerina is in doubt when a director doubts her allure. Seeking help from dancer Cord Donovan, she enters a dangerous partnership. As chemistry ignites and loyalties are tested, Allegra must choose between ambition, desire, and the life she’s built.

The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
This charming rom-com is filled with Chinese traditions, second chances, and a luck-changing love story that will appeal to readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Sarah Adams.  

The Bridge Back To You by Riss M. Neilson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Exes discover they’ve both inherited the restaurant they love in this sparkling, emotional new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of A Love Like the Sun.

No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme in this sweet, spicy, and utterly irresistible romance from the author of Give Me Butterflies.

To Cage A Wild Bird by Brooke Fast

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Enter the brutal world of Endlock, a prison where the wealthy hunt the inmates for sport. The first novel in an electrifying dystopian romance series, this high-octane debut about forbidden love, found family, and a fight for survival will leave you breathless.

A Lady for All Seasons by TJ Alexander

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the acclaimed author of Chef’s Kiss and A Gentleman’s Gentleman comes a riotous Regency romp, featuring a charming and unforgettable genderfluid lead.

Thirty Love by Tom Vellner

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Things heat up on and off the court for two tennis rivals in this steamy debut gay sports rom-com, perfect for fans of TJ Alexander and Casey McQuiston.

Anderson In Bloom by Jennifer Dugan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the author of Love at First Set, a hilariously sexy enemies-to-lovers, second-chance rom-com about a reclusive former child star turned florist whose quiet life is turned upside down when her annoyingly hot ex (and former costar) shows up in town, with plans to write a tell-all memoir.

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the #1New York Times bestselling author of Say You’ll Remember Me comes a beautiful, compelling novel that revels in laughter, friendship, and the messy choices life can throw our way.

In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Reese Remington, baseball’s first female owner, battles scrutiny while proving her worth. Focused and guarded, she clashes with Emmett Montgomery, a former star turned manager. Forced together, rivalry ignites chemistry. With careers and the team at stake, they struggle to resist feelings that could jeopardise everything during a high-stakes season.

APRIL 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

Unbound by Peyton Corinne

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A new “angsty, sexy, emotional” (Farrah Rochon, New York Times bestselling author) lyrical romance by Peyton Corinne that follows a college couple through first love, heartbreak, and the struggle to come together again.

Fast Lane by C.S. Quill

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Flatshare meets Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus series in this opposites-attract campus romance where a brooding bad boy and a heartbroken girl become reluctant roommates amid fast cars and faster chemistry.

Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Can fake dating lead to real love? In Kasie West’s next sexy adult romcom two people must decide where the lie ends and the chemistry begins.

How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Bridgerton meets The Goldfinch in How to Fake It in Society, a stunning queer romance by rising genre star KJ Charles.

The Auction by Sadie Kincaid

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The queen of dark mafia romance, Sadie Kincaid, begins her new explosively sexy Wages of Sin series with The Auction. Beauty and the Beast meets organized crime in this tense slow-burn romance with scorching spice, thrilling suspense, and life-altering secrets. 

The Name Game by Beth O’Leary

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A man and a woman with the same name are looking for a fresh start only to discover they have landed the same job in this charming new romance by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
#1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell returns with a breathtakingly honest novel about a woman who lost everything — and isn’t sure she wants it back.

Happy Ending by Chloe Liese

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From USA TODAY bestselling author Chloe Liese, a clever and heartwarming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Annabel Monaghan about two best friends who must fake a relationship for their exes.

Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the author of Partners in Crime, comes a sparkling new adventure rom-com where a con woman and a lawman team up on an epic cross-country road trip to save their families…and each other. 

We Become Darkness by Grace Morrow

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A human and a Vampyr forge an unsteady alliance in this marriage-of-convenience romantic fantasy, perfect for fans of The Serpent and the Wings of Night and One Dark Window.

Our Rogue Fates by Sarah Glenn Marsh

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On the hunt for hidden treasure, two former best friends turned adversaries must put the past behind them if they hope to make it home. This childhood friends-to-lovers male/male romantic fantasy for fans of Tusk Love and Sara Raasch crackles with tension and heat.

Don’t Tell Me How It Ends by Adrienne Thurman

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A floundering twenty-something, who’s sworn off romance finds herself roped into her meddling sister’s matchmaking business—in this sparkling debut rom-com that asks: can we protect ourselves while falling in love?

MAY 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

Broken Dove by Dani Francis

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In the heart-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling dystopian romance Silver Elite, lines will be crossed, loyalties will be tested, and the fight for the Continent is only just beginning as Wren Darlington finds herself caught in the middle of two wars: one for the fate of her home and another for the fate of her heart.

Soon by You by Dahlia Adler

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27 Dresses meets The Intimacy Experiment in this sexy, emotional, opposites-attract rom-com set in New York City’s Modern Orthodox community.

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

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Best friends have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart in this heart-stopping, utterly romantic new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and One Golden Summer.

The Last Lady B by Eloisa James

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Lady B may have married Bluebeard; she may have fallen in love with a gorgeous, grumpy solicitor; she may have met a ghost and survived to tell the tale! New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Eloisa James delights with witty historical romance with a gothic twist.

Bromantasy by Máire Roche

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BROMANTASY is a cozy, queer fantasy about the mortifying ordeal of being known by your totally platonic best friend and the epic quest that might force you to confront the truth.

By The Bootstraps by Alexa Martin

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A cowboy romance enthusiast discovers that everything’s bigger in Texas—even love—in this swoony novel from beloved author Alexa Martin.

The Shippers by Katherine Center

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One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.

First and Forever by Lynn Painter

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A football star and his team’s die-hard fan find themselves entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—but it might just be the right play…

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

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A hardworking single mom returns to her seaside hometown and stumbles into a fake dating situationship with a wealthy, workaholic scion, from the New York Times bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script.

It Happened One Murder by Liz Lawson

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Only Murders in the Building gets a rom-com twist in a laugh-out-loud mystery-romance following one woman who will have to pair up with an unlikely ally to solve a murder in their quaint New Jersey beach town.

Take Me with You by Steven Rowley

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In Take Me With You, Steven Rowley brings his resonant wit and emotional insight to an epic love story – an exploration of the forces that draw two people into the same orbit and the gravity that threatens to pull them apart.

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay

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When two misfits discover they’ve inherited the same beach house, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways, in this hilarious and heartfelt rom-com from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

JUNE 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

Nemesis Mine by Amy Archer

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A not-so-evil villain strikes a deal with a not-quite-perfect hero to fake a feud, boost their reputations . . . and try not to fall in love in the process—in this hilarious, tender, sexy, and outrageously fun romp that blends the humor of Assistant to the Villain with the unforgettable romance of Red, White, & Royal Blue and the cozy fantasy vibes of Legends & Lattes.

White Lights by Lauren Kate

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
#1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Kate, whose Fallen series has over 10 million copies in print and has sold over 11 million copies of her novels around the world, is returning to the romantasy world of angels that’s perfect for Fallen fans and new audiences alike.

You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings

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Cubby Clark is spiralling—her band is broken, her ex is famous, and inspiration is gone. As tabloids spin a love triangle and a summer tour amplifies tensions, Cubby and her best friend Darcy must confront buried feelings or risk losing each other and the music they love.

The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit

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Bridgerton meets Emily Henry in this fresh take on regency romance about a wallflower writing a dictionary of bawdy slang who arranges her own marriage to the ultimate instructor: the town rake.

The Shrouded Queen by Ashley Tropea

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In the first book in this romantasy duology inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, a slave and a princess switch places during an enemy attack, igniting parallel journeys of love and survival.

Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti

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A desperate debutante meets a ragtag smuggler in this sexy Regency romp by USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti.

Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Brynne Weaver comes the second book in the devilishly steamy Seasons of Carnage trilogy where dark romantic comedy meets thrilling suspense—and where love is ripe for ruin.

Witch Season by Julia Bianco

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Exhilarating, dangerous, and seductive, Witch Season is an action-packed and fiercely romantic contemporary fantasy from debut author and screenwriter Julia Bianco.

The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston

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The new head gardener at the enchanting Lilymoor House stumbles upon a secret garden . . . with a mysterious man trapped inside, in the next magical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Sounds Like Love and The Seven Year Slip.

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
New York Times bestselling author Tia Williams returns with an intensely romantic, deliciously sexy tale about a woman searching for her handsome seatmate on a European flight—and the unexpected places her hunt for love leads her.

The Open Era by Edward Schmit

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Austin Hardy’s Grand Slam debut makes history and headlines as the first openly gay competitor. With anxiety mounting and a complicated bond forming with rival Diego Cruz, Austin must fight pressure, expectations, and his own heart at the US Open.

Tropesick by Lauren Okie

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this lush, slow-burning romance, two childhood neighbors, connected by a shared tragedy, unexpectedly reunite to ghostwrite a love story for a reclusive author. Spending the summer at her secluded Hamptons estate, they soon discover that dozens of classic romance tropes, including the ones they’re crafting on page, are mysteriously playing out in real life.

Will you be picking up any of these romance reads? Are there any others you’re looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below! Plus be sure to check back later in the year for our July to December picks!

The post Swoonworthy 2026 Romance Book Releases You Need appeared first on The Nerd Daily.