Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt for Over and Over by Becky Hunter, which is out now.

Lissa is at a low point in her life when she meets Ash, but she can’t deny their instant connection. It feels as they have met before, like she knows him somehow.

And then the flashbacks start. Images of places she’s never been to and times long since past. It shouldn’t be possible, but she becomes sure: these are memories of past lives. And in those lives, there is always one person. A person wearing a different skin but who has the same soul. She falls in love with him, every time. And every time, it ends badly.

She knows she needs to do something different this time. She can’t keep making the same mistake, over and over. But how is she supposed to do that when she’s not sure where she went so wrong?
Can Lissa and Ash learn from the mistakes of the past and find a way to be together? Or are they destined to never have their happy ending?

Prologue

He turns away from her. He can’t do it anymore, can’t stand here watching her throw this all away. It’s over now. Done.

He waits for the relief to hit as the rain grows heavier, sliding down his neck and under his jacket. Maybe even for the excitement—because this means a new start, a new location. Neither comes. Instead, all he feels is flat.

Maybe it was a mistake to come and say goodbye.

“Wait.”

Her voice stops him as though his body is physically connected to her. He turns, slowly. Watches her as she takes a step toward him, those hazel eyes level on his in a way they weren’t moments before, her blond hair damp and scraggly with the rain.

He can’t help it. He mimics her, moving toward her so they are standing opposite each other in the middle of the road.

She tilts her face up to him, rain pouring in sheets around them. “I love you,” she says. And his heartbeat stutters.

It’s the first time she’s said it. The first time, he knows, that she’s been brave enough to. He stares at her, waiting to see the doubt that sometimes flickers in her eyes. But this time, there is none of that.

He finds his mouth tugging up into a smile. “Yeah?”

She nods. “Yes.” Her voice is steady. Certain. “I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner.”

His smile grows. “Better late than never.” And there it is, the relief. Not at leaving her for good, but at knowing for sure that she feels the same. But still he doesn’t reach for her. Because even if she loves him, it doesn’t necessarily mean she wants him.

“I don’t want you to leave me,” she murmurs, answering that question. That’s the permission he needs to reach for her waist, feeling the heat of her skin under her damp jumper. And then he’s kissing her, and he hears her breath catch as he takes her mouth in his, feels her arms come around his neck, pulling him closer. God, he’s never been able to get enough of this. Of her.

A car horn sounds somewhere nearby, making him remember that they are still, in fact, in the middle of the road.

They are both laughing as they pull away from one another, as he tugs her to where his car is parked. He lifts her, propping her on the bonnet. He can taste her smile as he kisses her again, the rain beating harder on both of their heads.

“I hate to say it,” he says against her mouth, “but I reckon we need to make a break for it.” A car passes, proving the point by splashing through a newly formed puddle. He cocks his head, his hands resting on her thighs. “Your place?”

“No,” she says, jumping down from the bonnet. “Let’s go somewhere.” He considers her, then concedes with a nod, fishing out keys and unlocking the car.

Inside, it’s all steamed up. And it is tempting, right then, to reach for her again. But he knows that if he does, he won’t be able to stop. So instead he starts the engine.

“Where shall we go?” he asks.

She laughs, and it’s so joyful he feels it like a bolt through his core. “Anywhere!”

He takes her hand as he drives, thumb traveling a small circle over her perfect skin. “You know I love you, right?”

She links her fingers with his, gripping tight. “I have always loved you.” Her voice is so beautifully certain. And he knows what she means, because he can’t imagine ever not loving her either. Jesus, he really fucking loves this woman. He wonders if this is what everyone experiences when they find the person they’re meant to be with. This certainty, the sense of rightness whenever they are near.

The sense that their souls were made for one another. Because for him, meeting her made everything slot into place, like there were pieces of him missing he hadn’t even known existed.

He glances down at her, sees her looking at their joined hands, a perfect smile on her heart-shaped face.

It’s just a fleeting glance, but it’s enough that he misses something on the road. So it’s only when he looks back out of the windscreen, peering through the rain, that he sees the headlights. Coming toward them through the gray.

Too big, too fast. A lorry, he realizes, almost absent-mindedly. A lorry is skidding over to their side of the road, coming right at them.

It’s going to hit them. It’s obvious in that moment. It’s going to hit them, and there’s nothing he can do about it. He has already snatched his hand from her grip. He is already turning the steering wheel, trying to control the car. But they’re going too fast, and the road is too wet.

His name comes as a panicked plea as she reaches out to grab the wheel, like that might help. Her eyes turn to his, wide, pupils dark. And in the moment their gazes meet, he sees that she knows it too. That she was right. That this deep sense of dread, of déjà vu that is flooding through them, isn’t misplaced.

He’s going to die, he knows that.

But it’s not this that sends a shock wave running through him. It’s the realization that this is not the first time it has happened. It’s not the first time he’s met her, not the first time they have fallen in love.

It is not the first time he has died.

Excerpt from the book OVER AND OVER by Becky Hunter. Copyright © 2026 by Becky Hunter. Reprinted with permission of Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing. All rights reserved.

4

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Over and Over’ by Becky Hunter 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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A desperate debutante meets a ragtag smuggler in this sexy Regency romp by USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti.

Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
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.

Hi, Becky! Welcome back! How has the past year been since we last spoke?

Hello! Thanks for having me back. I’ve been doing a lot of writing – and rewriting! – in the last year, plus I bought my own house for the very first time, which was exciting though full of moving-stress.

Your latest novel, You Make My Heart Stop, is out April 22nd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Speculative, romantic, family, loss, hope

What can readers expect?

You Make My Heart Stop is a story about Emery, who is born with a heart condition that means her heart could quite literally stop at any moment. The people around her know what to do – if they act quickly enough there will be no lasting damage, and Emery’s heart can be restarted. But when this happens, she is briefly technically dead.

Each time Emery’s heart stops, she meets Nick. His purpose is to help people adjust to the fact that they are dead, to help them say goodbye, before they move on entirely. He does not usually meet people more than once – but with Emery, he is able to make a connection, and he finds himself drawn to her.

As Emery’s life progresses, and she goes through ups and downs, she finds that a part of her is longing for those moments when her heart will stop – so that she can see Nick again.

This is the story of two fated lovers who long for each other, but are destined never to share more than a few fleeting moments – because if they were to be together, it would mean the end of Emery’s life.

Where did the inspiration for You Make My Heart Stop come from?

The idea had been playing around my mind for a while. I wanted to write a book about two people who fell in love, but who were fated never to be together – an impossible love story. I had the idea of an ‘angel of death’ of sorts falling in love with someone he was supposed to guide, and I wanted to tell the story over the course of a lifetime. But it took a while for everything to come together. A turning point came when my niece, Lily, was diagnosed with Reflex Anoxic Syndrome (RAS). It means that she stops breathing when she experiences a shock – and it was really scary when it first happened. It hasn’t happened in a while now, thankfully, and apparently it is something most children grow out of – but it was a way into the story, thinking about a physical condition that could make a character experience ‘death’ multiple times. From there, it was about working out the characters and what they had to go through!

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

I loved writing Emery, the main character. It took me a while, in the beginning, to figure her out. I had to try and imagine what someone in her position would do – would you be careful, trying to control something medical? Would you be cautious? Would rebel against your condition, and the boxes people put you in? And how might that affect those around you – and the relationships you formed? For me, getting to grips with all these questions was the best part of writing the novel.

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

Something I hadn’t realised would be difficult was the fact that the two main characters only ever see each other when it is just the two of them. That means the love story takes place in isolation – there are no other characters to bounce off of. This was something I didn’t realise would be difficult, until I started to write it! I think overcoming this was about realising this is a different kind of love story, and that that’s ok!

What do you hope readers take away from You Make My Heart Stop?

Mainly, I hope readers enjoy it! It would be great if readers took something away from the novel – the value of taking risks and living in the moment versus planning for the future and putting down routes, for instance – but really, I would love if people were able to escape for a few hours or days and get lost in the story!

This is your second novel! What are some of the key lessons you learned between working on the two?

I think I learned to keep going – a lesson I’m having to take into my third novel, which has been more difficult to write than the first two! And I was reminded to put the characters first – for me, I need to understand the character in order to make the book work. Ultimatley, though, I hope I never stop trying to learn to be a better writing – and I find reading is the best way to do this! I keep a ‘notes’ page on my phone, and use that to write down phrases in books I love that make me feel inspired – sometimes I’ll go back to this if I’m feeling stuck.

What’s next for you?

My third novel, tentatively titled Over and Over is coming out next year – it’s about two soulmates who keep meeting and falling in love over the course of many lifetimes, only for it to end in tragedy each time. I’ve also got my first fantasy novel coming out next year, which I wrote with my co-author, Katie Ellis-Brown. It’s called Blood Bound and it’s under the name Ellis Hunter.

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

I’ve heard great things about Sunrise on the Reaping and I’m a big Hunger Games fan, so I’m saving that as a treat. I’m really looking forward to reading The Last Days of Summer by Sarra Manning – though I’m told it may make me cry! I’ve also heard The Names by Florence Knapp is brilliant, so that’s on my list!

Will you be picking up You Make My Heart Stop? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Becky Hunter, Author of ‘You Make My Heart Stop’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Hello! I’m Becky, I’m 34 and One Moment is my debut novel. I live in the UK. I’m currently in Bristol but I move around a lot! I’ve lived in London, Cornwall, Wales – and even Mozambique… I work as a freelance book publicist, which is perfect because it means I get to read lots of books and meet some brilliant authors. I have two little rescue ponies, and regularly dream of the day I’ll have my own house so I can have various other rescue animals…

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

I have loved stories for as long as I can remember. I was that kid who stayed up after bedtime, using a torch under the duvet to keep reading, and as a teenager I stayed at home reading rather than going out an embarrassing number of times… I first wrote a book when I was eleven. It was called THE GHOST and was, obviously, about a ghost. I think there was a triangle necklace and a love story involved. We’d just got a computer and I couldn’t type, so I made my older sister type it all out for me – and then accidentally deleted the whole thing. She was furious. When I was twenty-one, I first seriously thought about being an author. I can’t really remember why – I think I just wanted to write, because I loved reading so much. I wrote a YA Fantasy novel – which I still have somewhere – and was convinced it was brilliant. What I didn’t realise was how much I had to learn! It took over ten years and around five completed novels, before I had the idea that would become One Moment. I think the only reason I didn’t give up is because I love stories so much – something I’m sure most authors will tell you!

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Ooohhh, maybe The Very Hungry Caterpillar? And shout out to all the Animal Ark
• The one that made you want to become an author: There isn’t just one! Maybe Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella, or This Charming Man by Marian Keyes.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I know a lot of people will say this, but I LOVED Fourth Wing… It was so ridiculously good I reread it in the space of about two weeks and still am constantly talking about it, trying to figure out why it was just so good…

Your latest novel, One Moment, is out March 12^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Emotional. Friendship. Love. Moments. Uplifting.

What can readers expect?

One Moment is the story of Scarlett and Evie, who have been best friends since they were seven. They have the type of friendship that’s built into foundations of who they are. When Scarlett gets her first job in fashion, Evie is the one she celebrates with. And when Evie is diagnosed with MS, Scarlett is the one who is there for her.

So when Scarlett dies, on the morning of the day that is supposed to make or break her career, because she stops to help a stranger, Evie completely falls apart. She cannot contemplate her life without her best friend – and she certainly can’t forgive Nate, the man she blames for Scarlett’s death. But Nate keeps popping up, catapulting Evie’s life in directions that, because of her illness, she never would have dreamed possible. Evie can’t deny the growing attraction to Nate, but it would feel like a betrayal to Scarlett, to let anything happen between them.

But unknown to Evie, Scarlett is still lingering after her death – forced to watch as her loved ones try to live without her. And her story isn’t over yet. She finds herself pulled back to defining memories of her life – forced to relive them exactly as they played out, even if she notices things she didn’t at the time. And what she doesn’t realise is that these memories are building to something – a choice she will have to make.

One Moment is in many ways a classic love story, with a speculative element thrown in, but at its heart it is a love letter to female friendship, and to the people that make our lives better just by being in it. It’s a nod to the fact that it can take one moment for our lives to change completely…

Where did the inspiration for One Moment come from?

ONE MOMENT was, in part, inspired by a friend of mine, who died very suddenly at the age of 28. Sophie was one of my very first friends when I moved to London for work in 2014 – and she made my London life bearable at a time when I was floundering, trying to adapt to a new city and a new job. I remember getting the call to say that she’d died when I was abroad, and completely breaking down. It still feels impossible to me that she’s gone and I still think about her a lot. The story isn’t about her, but sometimes writing Evie’s grief of losing her best friends was something that was painfully familiar – and something I’m not sure I could have written without Sophie.

I wanted to celebrate female friendship in ONE MOMENT, too. It is a love story, yes, but it is written from the point of view of two friends, and that is the main love story in so many ways. It was a deliberate decision – I think you hit a point in your life, often in your thirties, where there is a lot of pressure to settle down and find ‘the one’, and that can feel really daunting and stressful for some people. And yes, the romantic leads in our lives are important, but the one doesn’t necessarily have to be someone romantic – it can also be the person that is there for us, no matter what.

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

I really loved the structure of it, with Scarlett narrating parts of the novel after her death, which meant I could be really creative and have an almost ‘omnsicent’ style at times. I also loved Nate – the love interest! In the first draft of this novel, I actually had three points of view – to include Nate. I ended up taking him out as a pov character after some feedback from my agent where we decided it was more about the two best friends, but it was a brilliant way to get to know him and as a result I found myself loving get to know him over the course of the novel.

What do you hope readers take away from One Moment?

I hope they feel the love of two friends, and I hope that, although it might be emotional, they might feel hopeful and uplifted!

What’s next for you?

My second novel YOU MAKE MY HEART STOP comes out next year – I’ve just seen the first cover designs, which is exciting! It’s about Emery, who is born with a heart condition that means her heart could quite literally stop at any moment. The people around her know what to do – if they act quickly enough there will be no lasting damage, and Emery’s heart can be restarted. But when this happens, she is briefly technically dead.

Each time Emery’s heart stops, she meets Nick. His purpose is to help people adjust to the fact that they are dead, to help them say goodbye, before they move on entirely. He does not usually meet people more than once – but with Emery, he is able to make a connection, and he finds himself drawn to her. As Emery’s life progresses, and she goes through ups and downs, she finds that a part of her is longing for those moments when her heart will stop – so that she can see Nick again.

It’s the story of two fated lovers who long for each other, but are destined never to share more than a few fleeting moments – because if they were to be together, it would mean the end of Emery’s life.

Lastly, are there any releases that you’re looking forward to picking up this year?

I was lucky enough to read an early proof of THE LOVE OF MY AFTERLIFE by Kirsty Greenwood, which I loved, so much, and urge everyone to buy. It’s brilliant. I’m also really looking forward to FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry – I adored HAPPY PLACE!!

Will you be picking up One Moment? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Becky Hunter, Author of ‘One Moment’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.