A night-owl, Melissa began writing novels when her early-to-bed family retired for the evening. She is the award-winning author of contemporary romantic comedies and emotional women’s fiction. Her work has earned praise from Kirkus, Booklist, Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly, and has been featured in Women’s World, The Knot, and Book of the Month. Melissa’s novels will soon be translated into a dozen languages. 

About Wish I Were Here: In this witty and charming love story perfect for fans of Sophie Cousens, Ashley Poston, and Josie Silver, a buttoned-up math professor is forced to rely on her carefree doorman when her identity mysteriously disappears.

Are you the type of person who has ever wished you could go back in time for a do-over of the past? Or maybe you’ve wondered what it would be like to look into the future and change your fate. If you find yourself nodding your head, then chances are you’re a fan of magical and timeslip movies like Groundhog Day, 13 Going on 30, About Time, and Palm Springs. And you’ll probably love all the magical romance novels published recently!

There’s so much that draws us to magical tropes! They pull us out of ordinary life and show us what could have been if we’d made different choices. They let us imagine taking charge of our futures. They reassure us that love can be destined. If you’re in the magical romance mood, consider checking out these books that are perfect for fans of wishes, time travel, and fate!

Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner

I love magical tropes so much that I even wrote a couple of books about them myself! My upcoming novel, Wish I Were Here is the story of Catherine, a Type-A math professor who carefully calculates everything from her daily to-dos to her afternoon snacks. But one day, she wakes up and discovers her entire identity has mysteriously disappeared. There’s no evidence Catherine ever existed.

With no other options, Catherine reluctantly accepts help from her exasperatingly laidback—and infuriatingly attractive—doorman, Luca Morelli. Before long, by-the-books Catherine finds herself bending all the rules with the charismatic Luca…and in the process, discovering that losing herself might just be the key to finding where she truly belongs.

The Backtrack by Erin La Rosa

The Backtrack is the story of Sam, a pilot who returns to her childhood home after more than a decade away in order to help her grandmother move. In the process, Sam finds an old mix CD that her childhood best friend and “the one that got away” made for her in high school. To her astonishment, Sam plays the CD and discovers she can revisit her past and experience how her life might been if only she’d stayed instead of left all those years ago.

This book is the pitch-perfect mix of heartwarming second-chance romance, nostalgic music, and a hint of magic. It will appeal to anyone who has ever looked back on their first love and wondered “what if?”

Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb

Speaking of nostalgia… dreamy, early-aughts actors like Adam Brody and Joshua Jackson are having big moments in the spotlight this year, and their fans won’t want to miss Prime Time Romance! This book has all atmosphere and charm of a small town early-2000’s teen drama, but with a sexy, magical twist.

Brynn, a 30-year-old recent divorcee finds herself suddenly plummeted into the world of her favorite teen TV drama along with her sexy new roommate, Josh. To get back to their real lives, Brynn and Josh have to fulfill the happy ending that never happened on the show. But when they begin falling for one another, they deliver a plot twist that jeopardizes the show’s perfect ending. Any reader who has ever rooted for the bad boy to get the girl, or for the girl to get her long deserved happily-ever-after will fall for this book.

Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin

Witchful Thinking is another perfect choice for anyone who loves the charm of a small-town romance about “the one that got away.” Think of it like a Hallmark movie with magical beings and a whole heap of chemistry between a witch and a very sexy merman!

Lucy lives a pretty ordinary witchy life until Alex unexpectedly comes back to town. All of a sudden, his presence—and her impeding high school reunion—has Lucy wishing for more out of life. When her wish turns to a spell, Lucy finds herself magically opening herself up to all sorts of new experiences…and a romance with her old love. Witchful Thinking is the first of three books in the Elemental Love universe, all of which are out now…just in time to binge for Halloween season!

Happy Medium by Sarah Adler

Happy Medium is a fresh, original, and entertaining story about a fake spirit medium named Gretchen who is hired by one of her elderly clients to “cleanse” the property of an old friend. It turns out that the friend is a 30-something smokeshow named Charlie, and the property is populated by a real ghost.

The moment I encountered the back cover copy of this book, I knew I had to read it, and it did not let me down! This book puts the “com” in romcom, and it genuinely had me laughing out loud!

Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen

Red String Theory is the dreamy, romantic story of Rooney, an artist whose whole life has been guided by fate, and in particular, the Chinese legend that everyone is tied to their one true love by an invisible red string. When Rooney meets Jack—her perfect match—on an idyllic New York night, she’s sure she found The One…until she learns he’s a skeptic who doesn’t believe in destiny.

Rooney is hired as an artist-in-residence at Jack’s workplace…which if you believe in fate, you’ll know is no coincidence! And even more enchanting, Red String Theory is set at NASA so there are literal planets aligning and stars shining down on the couple. Readers will feel the magic on every page!

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Synopsis
Nearly twenty years ago, Sam Leto left her small hometown of Tybee Island, Georgia, to pursue her dreams of becoming a pilot. While she’d prefer to keep flying away from her painful childhood memories, her beloved grandmother Pearl decides it’s time to sell the family home. Reluctantly, Sam is summoned back to pack up the house.

The 2000s nostalgia from Sam’s old bedroom hits immediately: Fall Out Boy posters, drawers of roll-on body glitter and even her favorite CD player with a mixtape from her best friend, Damon Rocha. Damon was always a safe place and Sam often wonders what if her teenage self admitted her feelings for him back then…

Mysteriously, the CD player still works all these years later. And somehow it has the power to show Sam an alternate version of her life.

Song by song, Sam receives flashbacks from her past—senior prom, graduation, leaving home. But the memories aren’t as she remembers them; they show what could have been. Suddenly, Sam knows exactly what would have happened if she’d taken a chance with Damon—and she can’t help feeling she made a terrible mistake leaving Tybee all those years ago.

Prologue

At fifteen years old, Sam Leto knew a few things: humidity was not her hair’s friend, she was going to graduate valedictorian of her class and music was life.

“‘I Will Follow You into the Dark’ was by far the best song of last year.” Sam tucked her thumbs into the loops of her jeans, narrowly avoiding the spiky knobs of her metal studded belt. The spider-web chain she’d bought from Hot Topic slapped against her thigh as she walked across the asphalt of the Tybee Island High School parking lot. “It’s mesmerizing and so poetic, and Ben Gibbard—”

“What are you talking about?” her best friend, Damon Rocha, interrupted. He threw his head back to get a strand of long dyedred hair off his forehead. He’d smudged dark black eyeliner all around his eyes to the point where he looked like he was cosplaying as the Hamburglar. She’d told him as much, but in the loving way they told each other everything. They walked so closely that they lazily bumped into each other, as if swaying to music only they could hear. “‘Sugar, We’re Goin Down’ reignited the genre.”

Sam blew air out through her lips to suggest her disagreement, then added, “That song is tight, but there are way too many words in the chorus. You can’t even hear what Patrick Stump’s saying.”

“It doesn’t matter what he’s saying.” Damon hoisted his snare drum backpack higher on his shoulder. Night had settled, but the fluorescent glow from the football field lit their way to his car. “They owned that melody.”

But Sam knew why Damon was making such a hard push for Fall Out Boy. “You just want me to like Pete Wentz so those dyed red tips make sense.” She gave him a half grin.

“Whatever,” he said, holding back a smile of his own. Sometimes they agreed on music, but when they disagreed it was even more fun. And Sam knew she was right about this one. “I read in Kerrang! that Ben wrote the song in fifteen minutes. Can you believe that?” Sam looked off, knowing that if she was in a band, she’d be talented like that, too.

“Yes,” Damon said. “I believe it only took fifteen minutes, because it’s not the best song of 2005.”

She was choosing to ignore that dig. “What he wrote is totally romantic. To love someone so much that you’d follow them into the afterlife. It’s cool, don’t you think?” Sam realized she sounded a little ridiculous, but Damon always made her feel safe enough to say anything.

“Yeah, or pretentious.” Damon pursed his lips.

“Whatever,” Sam mimicked his sullen tone back. Then she jabbed him with the corner of her sticker-covered clarinet case.

The sky was inky-black, and her arms prickled against the brisk air. Fall in Tybee was hard to plan for. The air was almost always balmy, because they were so close to the ocean, but it occasionally cooled down, as it had tonight. Still, she’d nearly sweat through her graphic skull T-shirt as their marching band played Beyoncé’s “Déjà Vu” during the football halftime show.

Now, though, they weren’t marching across a field lit by hot lights, and she shivered. Damon pulled her in close as they walked. He’d often tuck her under his arm this way. Sam was tall, close to six feet, but Damon always made her feel delicate in those moments. It was something she got unexpected comfort from, but didn’t dare tell him.

When she looked up, Damon looked down with the most genuinely sweet smile she’d ever seen. His mouth quirked up as they reached someone’s Ford Explorer.

“Hope you don’t hate Fall Out Boy too much, because I put one of their songs on this.” He pulled a CD sleeve out of his back pocket and handed it to her. His slanted writing and doodles were visible through the clear plastic, and Sam bit her lip.

They were constantly trying to impress each other through music—a kind of unspoken game of who could make the best mixes. And while Sam prided herself on finding obscure bands, Damon had the uncanny ability to put together songs that made her feel something. She wanted to listen immediately, but wouldn’t show her excitement that easily. Before she could think of something nonchalant to say, he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Sam was taken aback by the gesture and nervously touched the spot his fingers had just left. She’d spent nearly a half hour flat-ironing it that morning, but now it was frizzed and tangled. As her fingers clumsily tried to untangle a knot, her earring fell to the ground. Before she knew what was happening, just as Sam went to reach for her earring, Damon closed the gap between them.

“You look really great.” He longingly admired her face. Damon reached for Sam’s hand and squeezed her open palm.

She instinctively squeezed back, but her heart raced. Damon and Sam were best friends. They had been since middle school. Yes, Damon was inarguably cute. He understood her like no one else did, and she had already admitted to herself that she had a crush on him…but he was also all she had, in so many ways. Her mom had left her a year ago. Damon was her only friend.

Sam knew that what he was doing might lead to a kiss, and she needed to stop him before he said something that would change them forever. She couldn’t lose his friendship, but if he tried to make them more, then she’d have no choice. Because she wasn’t going to end up stuck in Tybee.

Before she could find the words, he tilted her chin up gently with an index finger. His eyes locked on to hers as he asked, “Can I kiss you?”

Sam sucked in a deep breath to slow the intense rush of adrenaline that flew through her at his words. Damon wanted to kiss her. And her heart soared at that fact, until her mom’s voice broke through.

Don’t end up stuck in this place.

That’s what her mom, Bonnie, had told Sam right before she’d left. And Sam had taken the warning to heart.

She was getting out, even if that meant she had to leave Damon behind.

As Damon searched her eyes, Sam silently implored him to stop. They could still be friends, couldn’t they? If she gave him another few moments, maybe he’d take the words back, or say he’d just been joking.

She waited, but he was waiting, too. And she was going to have to answer him, even if what she said irrevocably changed them.

She took a step away and looked down at her Converse sneakers. She’d have to lie. She’d never lied to Damon before, but now she would. Her lower lip trembled, as unsure of the words as she was. “Actually, I’m not feeling well.”

And she didn’t feel well. She felt nauseous from this whole situation and the confusion that flashed across Damon’s face.

“Oh,” Damon said. “Let’s, uh, let’s bounce, then.” He ran a hand through his hair and avoided her eyes.

As Damon turned toward the driver’s side of the car, Sam instinctively reached for him. Maybe she should just do what her heart wanted and kiss him. Because what if not kissing him meant he wouldn’t want to be her friend anymore?

But then, she also knew Damon. Knew that he wanted to stay close to his family. Knew how much he loved Tybee. And knew that if she didn’t break him now, she’d do it when she left.

Sam pulled her hand back and hoped that he could forgive her. She held on to his CD so tightly she was sure it would snap in half, but it didn’t. In fact, the CD seemed to pulse in her hand with the throbbing of her heart. As she walked herself to the passenger side of the car, she tried to forget how the light in his eyes dimmed just before he’d turned away from her.

Excerpted from The Backtrack by Erin La Rosa, Copyright © 2024 by Erin La Rosa. Published by Canary Street Press.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Backtrack’ by Erin La Rosa appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Hello, friends! My name is Erin La Rosa and I’m a romance author. My first book, For Butter or Worse, was based off of The Great British Baking Show, and my latest novel, Plot Twist, is about a romance author who can’t finish her second book…a bit meta!

I never know what’s interesting about me, but here’s what I love: cooking, cats, cults, pop culture, and spending time with my adorable (mostly) kids. If you’re wondering about the cults thing…yeah, I’m kind of a geek about researching them, watching documentaries, the whole thing. I’m most obsessed with one from the ‘70s that was called “Source Family,” and they ran a hip restaurant on the Sunset Strip in LA.

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

I’ve been writing in some form or another since I was a little girl. I’d write in my diary, write songs, create plays with my little brother. I was always in my head, and creating other worlds. My 3-year-old daughter does this too, and I wonder if she’ll end up a writer as well.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: It was a children’s version of The Bible—I went to Catholic school…is this why I’m obsessed with cults?!
• The one that made you want to become an author: Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald. It’s gorgeous!
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I think about Nora Goes Off Script a lot. There’s something super comforting about that book.

Your latest novel, Plot Twist, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Funny. Sweet. Sexy. Squirrel. Pottery.

What can readers expect?

If you’re familiar with romance, then you can expect a friends-to-lovers romance with a lot of heart. Sophie and Dash unexpectedly connect and help each other through a difficult time in each other’s lives. Kirkus Reviews said my book has “robust sex,” (seriously lol), so this is a novel with spice as well!

Where did the inspiration for Plot Twist come from?

I have a friend who is a YA novelist—she writes super sweet romances. When I went to her wedding, she said in her vows that she wrote about love for years, but had never experienced it until she met her husband. I thought that was so interesting—a romance writer who had never been in love. And that’s how Sophie came to be!

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

I really have a soft spot for Dash. I loved that he’s a former teen heartthrob who is just trying to do the right thing. He comes off as tough, but is honestly so vulnerable and in need of a friend, who he finds in Sophie. I loved that he’s a pottery guy, and finds comfort in crafting. I loved writing about his sobriety journey. He’s just a really special character who I will always keep a piece of with me.

What do you love about the romance genre?

Romance is an escape in its purest form. I’ve found romance to be such a comfort when I’m going through difficult times. You can listen or read one and you know that no matter what, these characters will have a happily ever after.

It doesn’t hurt that so much of the genre celebrates female pleasure and is so empowering in that sense!

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on my third book, which will come out in 2024! It’s speculative romance, which means there’s a bit of magical realism baked in. I’ve comped it to 13 Going On 30 meets Sliding Doors. It will talk in depth about that “WHAT IF?!” question so many of us have.

Lastly, are there any 2024 book releases that you’re looking forward to?

Absolutely, yes! I’m so excited for Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen. I got to be on a panel with Lauren, and she discussed all of the research she did for the book—which included talking to actual rocket scientists at the Jet Propulsion Lab. I think it’s going to be fabulous and can’t wait to read it!

Will you be picking up Plot Twist? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Erin La Rosa, Author of ‘Plot Twist’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you thought the first half of 2023 had some swoonworthy, unputdownable romances in store, you ain’t seen nothing yet. July to December is levelling up the romance game even more and we’ve got our eyes on all of them! Check out the hottest contenders for romance of the year below and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them!

Looking for our January to June releases? Check them out here.

JULY

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
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From New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center comes Hello, Stranger, a novel about finding love, confronting a haunting past, and figuring out what, and who, really matters…

Kiss Me, Mi Amor by Alana Quintana Albertson
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It turns out that a fake relationship is the perfect recipe for a love that sizzles hotter than Santa Barbara’s spiciest salsa—when it’s between enemies.…

A Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin
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Internationally bestselling author Sophie Irwin brings us another fresh, witty take on a romantic escape led by a deeply lovable heroine determined to start living on her own terms

You, With A View by Jessica Joyce
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Two high school enemies must reunite for a road trip inspired by their grandparents’ broken engagement in this electric debut romance.

To Have and To Heist by Sara Desai
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To exonerate her best friend, one woman must mastermind a jewelry heist during the wedding of the season in this hilarious romantic-comedy caper from the author of The Dating Plan.

A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
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An ambitious wedding planner must work with her grumpy florist ex, whose heart she broke, on the most high-profile wedding of her career, in this spicy and emotional romance from popular fanfic author Julie Soto.

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley
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From Cathy Yardley, author of Love, Comment, Subscribe, comes an emotional rom-com about two middle-aged gamers who grow their online connection into an IRL love story.

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre
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From New York Times bestselling author Ann Aguirre comes the magical town of St. Claire, where anything is possible…

The Dane of My Existence by Jessica Martin
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When the history and character of her Shakespeare-obsessed hometown is threatened, a powerhouse lawyer goes toe to toe with a commercial developer in a hilarious rom-com from the author of For the Love of the Bard.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy
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AUGUST

Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert
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Aphrodite has never flinched at getting her perfectly manicured hands dirty, and she’s not about to start now—even if that means marrying Olympus’s enemy number one, the new Hephaestus…leaving a trail of broken hearts in their cruel wake.

Change of Plans by Dylan Newton
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In this charming romantic comedy, a hometown hero comes to the rescue of a chef unexpectedly left to care for three little girls—who may end up saving him too.

Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma
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In the hilarious follow-up to the breakout rom-com Dating Dr. Dil, Nisha Sharma adds shakkar and mirch to Shakespeare’s iconic comedy Much Ado About Nothing for one sweet and spicy love story.

The Roommate Pact by Allison Ashley
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Perfect for fans of Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, The Roommate Pact follows Claire as she nurses her friend and firefighter Graham back from an injury – and their slippery slope from friends with a FWB pact to possibly something more.

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova
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A modern tale of unexpectedly falling in love and finding your voice, Kiss the Girl is the highly anticipated third installment in the acclaimed and best-selling Meant to Be collection.

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
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Fans of Ali Hazelwood, Lana Harper, and Jessica Clare will devour this madcap paranormal romance, replete with fan-favorite tropes like roommates-to-lovers, force proximity, and the hilarious added bonus of a romance between a mortal from the 21^st century and a centuries-old vampire who knows nothing of the modern world.

New Adult by Timothy Janovsky
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Nolan Baker longs to be “thirty, flirty and thriving” in this charmingly quirky LGBTQIA+ romance that’s one part 13 Going on 30 and one part One Last Stop.

Rent to Be by Sonia Hartl
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Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Beth O’Leary, in this bright, laugh-out-loud rom-com, the grind of the millennial struggle is a lot more fun when you add falling in love to the mix.

Curves for Days by Laura Moher
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Readers of Olivia Dade and Lucy Score will love this sexy Southern curvy girl romance which follows Rose Barnes, a curvy heroine with an infectious spirit, as she crosses paths with Angus Drummond, a gruff yet undeniably charming contractor.

The Love Plot by Samantha Young
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There’s a magnetic attraction when a happy-go-lucky gig worker agrees to a fake relationship with a rich, uptight New Yorker in this steamy romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

The Witch Is Back by Sophie H. Morgan
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Love is a hex of a thing. Former childhood sweethearts fake a relationship in this charming, witchy romcom.

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson
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She has a to-do list a mile long and falling for her coworker isn’t on it–yet somehow he’s become her top priority in this romantic comedy from the national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers.

SEPTEMBER

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
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Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by K.J. Charles
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Bridgerton goes Gothic in this sweeping Regency romance by celebrated author KJ Charles.

The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison
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It’s hard to escape your ex when you’re working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, but being stuck together might be the best possible present in this sparkling new contemporary romance.

Love Me Do by Lindsey Kelk
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A feelgood, sunshine-filled, friends-to-lovers romcom, Love Me Do is a dreamy summer love story, perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Emily Henry.

Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot
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A witchy rom-com from New York Times bestseller Meg Cabot about a plus size witch who must team up with a handsome stranger to help protect her village from an otherworldly force–but will she be able to protect her heart?

A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Lee
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An emotionally powerful romance novel about two people finding love after struggling with addiction–ultimately discovering what it means to be completely and unapologetically themselves.

Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez
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Gillian Armstead-Bancroft—Pride of the East Side and once-perfect bruja, wife, and mother—is going to spend her summer getting good at being bad.

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
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A sapphic rivals to lovers rom com for fans of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own, where two soccer teammates are at odds before falling in love as their team gears up for the World Cup.

My Rogue to Ruin by Erica Ridley
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The riotous Wynchester family has taken on a new case to expose a forger, but the prime suspect isn’t at all what he seems in this captivating Regency romp from a New York Times bestselling author.

The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary
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Two hotel receptionists—and arch-rivals—find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, discovering their own love story along the way.

Unrealistic Expectations by Andie J. Christopher
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When a relationship therapist gets dumped right before her new dating handbook hits shelves, she fake dates to save face in this spicy romantic comedy.

Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Lucy Score returns to spicy-sweet Knockemout, Virginia with Lucian and Sloane’s story.

OCTOBER

A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
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Following the success of A Merry Little Meet Cute, a new holiday rom-com cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone–about an actress and a perpetually single former boy-band member reunited as costars on a steamy holiday film.

Better Hate than Never by Chloe Liese
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Childhood enemies discover the fine line between love and loathing in this heartfelt reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Friends Don’t Fall in Love by Erin Hahn
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Erin Hahn’s Friends Don’t Fall in Love is about long-time friends, taking chances, and finding out that, sometimes, your perfect person was right there in your corner all along.

A Dish Best Served Hot: A Novel by Natalie Caña
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Santiago “Saint” Vega gets a second shot at love with Lola León, but when duty to his family forces him to do something she’ll never forgive, will everything he’s built come crumbling down?  

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore
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Love Interest is Clare Gilmore’s sparkling debut, a co-worker enemies-to-lovers rom-com that proves falling in love is the risk and the reward.

Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg
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Filled with the romance and angst that defines the years you come to know yourself, with a shifting timeline covering two decades and ratcheting up the tension, Maybe Once, Maybe Twice is a novel of second chances and finding your own way.

Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake
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A fake relationship after a horrible one-night stand is anything but an act in this witty and heartfelt new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake.

Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey delivers a sexy, hilarious standalone holiday rom-com about the adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert…

Sweeten the Deal by Katie Shepard
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She’s lonely, rich, and ten years too young for him—but she’s also his “sugar daddy,” and they couldn’t have less in common. Opposites attract in this charming new romance by Katie Shepard.

The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin
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A talented genetic analyst and a detective who’s haunted by an elusive cold case team up in the new standalone romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella
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Sparks fly in this delightful novel about two burned out professionals who meet at a ramshackle resort on the British seaside—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Party Crasher.

The Takedown by Carlie Walker
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An undercover CIA agent is sent home to investigate her sister’s criminal fiancé but the last thing she expects is to fall in love with his bodyguard along the way in this sexy romantic comedy.

NOVEMBER

Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert
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Sail the magical high seas with this first book in a new sexy fantasy romance series from Katee Robert, the New York Times bestselling author of the TikTok smash-hit Neon Gods.

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan
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Sparks fly when an occult expert and a disgraced archeologist become enemies-with-benefits in this steamy romance from “go-to author” Rosie Danan (The New York Times Book Review).

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
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Perfect for fans of romantic comedies with a touch of whimsy, like 13 Going on 30 and Freaky Friday, and authors like Josie Silver and Rebecca Serle, this funny and heartfelt novel follows a downtrodden twenty-six-year-old as she magically wakes up to the life she’s always wanted, but is it really a dream come true?

Never Wager with a Wallflower by Virginia Heath
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Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin
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Two rival candidates for a homeowner’s association presidency are about to find out how dirty suburbanites fight in this steamy new romantic comedy from Alexa Martin.

A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley
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Calladia Cunnington curses the day she met Astaroth the demon, but when he shows up memoryless, why does she find him so helpless . . . and sort of hot?

The Rom Con by Devon Daniels
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A modern battle of the sexes about a journalist who hatches an elaborate plan to take down her industry adversary, from the author of Meet You in the Middle.

Fancy Meeting You Here by Julie Tieu
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 Opposites attract when an always-the-bridesmaid florist and a grumpy caterer mix business with pleasure in this swoony romantic comedy in the vein of 27 Dresses from Julie Tieu, author of The Donut Trap and Circling Back to You.

Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa
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A hilarious and spicy romance about romance author Sophie Lyon’s ironic secret going viral: she’s never been in love. Though her debut novel made readers swoon, Sophie’s having trouble getting her new characters to happily-ever-after. To overcome her writer’s block, she’ll reconnect with her exes to figure out what went wrong with the help of her best friend’s brother/reclusive landlord/teen heartthrob and his social media skills. 

Mom Com by Adriana Mather
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From New York Times bestselling author Adriana Mather comes a sweet new romcom about old friends and second chances.

For Never & Always by Helena Greer
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One surprise inheritance, two best friends (now bitter exes), and three months to prove he loves her, forever and always , in this swoony second-chance romance for fans of Alexandria Bellefleur and Ashley Herring Blake.

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
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In this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.

DECEMBER

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
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Two wolf shifters agree to be fake mates but unexpectedly find something real in this steamy paranormal romantic comedy by Lana Ferguson.

Technically Yours by Denise Williams
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Seven years ago, he fell in love with a stranger he couldn’t have—today, she’s back in his life and the sparks between them threaten to set her career on fire.

This Spells Love by Kate Robb
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Reeling from a recent breakup, a young woman tries to heal heartbreak with a spell–only to wake up in an alternate reality where she’s lost more than she wished for–in this witty, whimsical friends-to-lovers debut rom-com.

On the Plus Side by Jenny L. Howe
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What Not to Wear and Queer Eye meet All the Feels in this sparkling romantic comedy by Jenny L. Howe, in which the new guest on a popular plus-size makeover show has her style―and her love life―transformed.

Housebroke by Jaci Burton
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A millionaire and a woman who thinks he’s a house flipper are stuck living in a house together with a menagerie of rescue dogs as roommates, in this heartfelt romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton.

Game On by Seressia Glass
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When an unexpected Player Two enters her life, a gamer must decide if their relationship is worth leveling up in this new romance from the author of The Love Con.

Gold by Raven Kennedy
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‘Find me in another life. Find me in all of them’ It all ends now. Discover the heart-stopping finale to the international and Amazon bestselling fantasy phenomenon.

The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore
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Bookish suffragist Catriona Campbell is busy: An ailing estate, academic writer’s block, a tense time for England’s women’s rights campaign—the last thing she needs is to be stuck playing host to her father’s distractingly attractive young colleague.

Second Chances in New Port Stephen by T.J. Alexander
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A trans man returns to his Florida hometown for Christmas after his career goes up in flames, only to cross paths with his high school ex in this charming rom-com about family and second chances from the author of the “delectable” (Time) Chef’s Kiss.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
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Rival archaeologists must team up on a secret Aztec expedition, or it could leave their careers—and hearts—in ruins.

What July to December book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Enjoy These Swoonworthy July to December 2023 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.