About Heart Racer: The Love Hypothesis meets Heated Rivalry in this spicy, dual-pov, academic rivals rom com – as nerdy as it is sure to raise your pulse… Released April 23rd 2026.

If given an inch to recommend a book, I’ll fill an entire mile with books I’ve read and loved. From recent reads to long-standing favorites, this list will explore my favorite sports and STEM romances, as well as a few genre-blending recs for those who refuse to choose! (Spoiler Alert: there is a lot of rivals to lovers here. I learned something new about myself today.)

Sports Romance

Always Only You by Chloe Liese

One of my all-time favorites! A friends-to-lovers romance between a hockey player and the team’s social media manager, with beautiful #OwnVoices chronic illness and autism representation.

Thirty Love by Tom Vellner

Rival tennis players go head-to-head, with beautiful, tender moments sewn into banter that had me laughing out loud. This is for everyone still searching for something to scratch the Heated Rivalry itch.

Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter

A small-town, sapphic romance about rival teachers competing for the same assistant football coaching slot, determined to ignore the sparks between them. They fail miserably; there’s a bar bathroom scene that lives in my head rent-free.

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

A heartwarming fake-dating romance between a dance teacher and her best friend, who also happens to be an NFL quarterback. The grand gesture in this book is in my hall of fame. This one is closed-door, for readers who prefer less spice!

STEMinist Romance

A Little Buzzed by Alys Murray

A virgin sex toy engineer meets her match in her company’s new software developer, who’s never used a sex toy. Naturally, the only option is to team up and figure out the kinks of their company’s newest product. For research. Warning: contents may cause your e-reader to overheat.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

A modern classic, in my humble opinion. An econometrician hires a male escort to practice physical intimacy. She’s smart, he’s smitten, I’m in love.

The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton

A historical fantasy romance that features a marriage in crisis between two, you guessed it, geographers. They’re tasked with tracking and disarming a magical storm, thrusting (wink) them into forced proximity that requires them to figure out where their marriage fell apart.

The Love Simulation by Etta Easton

For anyone obsessed with Artemis II this month. A vice principal and her nemesis, the school’s hot science teacher, team up for a Mars simulation to win a scholarship for their school. BIPOC leads, forced proximity, and a hilarious supporting cast.

Why Choose (Sports x STEM Romance)

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Queen Ali broke ground when she combined the best of both worlds in this new adult romance. A collegiate diver and swim captain work together in the lab for an internship, and in the bedroom to safely explore complementary kinks.

Collide by Bal Khabra

A new adult romance where a hopeful sports psychologist and a star hockey player team up on a research project that stretches the confines of “enemies to lovers.” Devoured in a day!

Heart Racer by Megan Avery (that’s me!)

Biochemistry major Keely and champion sprinter Max turn rivals when competing for the last spot on a post-grad scholarship that will make or break not only their futures, but their hearts. Found family, forced proximity, and small-town vibes make this the perfect spring read (in my humble opinion).

Top of My TBR

The Greatest Game by Tara Sexton

A soccer coach has to win the championship or lose her job, which would be hard enough if the rival school didn’t hire the hottest man she’s ever seen, an ex-pro from England.

Crash into You by Simone Soltani

Aforbidden love story between a star F1 driver and his rival’s daughter, made all the more complicated after their one-night stand turns into an unexpected pregnancy.

Unrivaled by Rachel Reid

If you haven’t heard of Heated Rivalry yet, I’m going to need your screen time management strategy, please and thank you.

Will you be picking up any of these books? Have you already? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Ultimate Why Choose: Sports and STEM Romance Recommendations appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Erin lives in the PNW with her spouse, two large dogs, two lazy cats, and more houseplants than she can count. When not exploring fictional worlds, she enjoys hiking, cooking, emo nostalgia, and slowly but surely actualizing her lifelong goal of becoming a forest witch.

About Unromance (out Jan 14, 2025): A recently dumped TV heartthrob enlists a jaded romance novelist to ruin romance for him—one rom-com trope at a time—so he never gets swept off his feet again . . .

My upcoming debut novel, Unromance, is a love letter to rom-coms, celebrating all the tropes and cliches that readers have come to know, love, and expect. Each chapter of Unromance begins with a trope definition, and I wanted to pay my respects to some of the authors that inspired me, as well as books that excelled at making these tropes their own, making the familiar feel both fun and fresh. Here are a few of my favorite rom-coms that live rent free:

The Meet Cute
The love interests meet. It’s cute. It upends their entire lives.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

Our heroes meet by getting stuck in an elevator together, and over a shared meal of purse cheese, our heroine agrees to be our hero’s fake date to his ex’s wedding. Guillory understands that couch time and pizza is a love language, and I really respect that about her books.

Love In The Time Of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

If a strange man shows up in the middle of the night to help you move the massive desk off your car, it’s completely reasonable to assume he might be a serial killer and not just a cute neighbor who has a totally legitimate reason to have a garage covered in tarps. Thompson writes my favorite female protagonists.

Savor It by Tarah Dewitt

Our main character saves her hot new neighbor from a dangerous midnight intruder—the rental house’s Roomba. This is a small-town romance, so of course the local officials who answer the 911 call are her brothers. This meet cute is equal parts bonkers and endearing, a masterclass in situational humor.

The One-Night Stand
Romance math dictates that the less likely a character is to have a one-night stand, the more likely they are to run into said one-night stand again.

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

I respect Solomon for writing a one-night stand that’s bad, actually. I respect her even more for writing the sex lessons trope where the female main character is the expert, with a male main character that is very eager to learn. This book contains one of the hottest first kisses I’ve ever read and should be studied.

Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner

Sometimes you have a one-night stand with a hot MILF only to realize it’s your best friend’s mom. Wilsner said “MILF”, and I said “Add to cart.”

Scandalized by Ivy Owens

What, your flight gets cancelled and you run into your childhood crush at the airport hotel and you’re not going to have a one-night stand with him? This book reads like fanfiction and a daydream all rolled into one, and I can’t think of a higher compliment than that.

The Contract
When two characters make a pact, replete with rules, which they are totally going to follow.

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

It’s completely reasonable to fake date the girl you had a disaster blind date with to get your brother to stop setting you up. And if she needs you to be her fake girlfriend for the holidays, it’s a win-win. This sapphic rom-com is equally swoony and steamy, as is everything Bellefleur writes.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

If you’re concerned about your bedroom prowess, hiring a professional sex worker and creating lesson plans with him is the logical solution. I dare you not to become completely enamored by this couple as their sex lessons become dating lessons, and eventually, dating for real. This book will always be one of my first recommendations to any reader looking to get into the genre.

Winging It With You by Chip Pons

If you get dumped at the airport right before embarking on an adventure reality show, the only solution is to enlist the hot, grounded pilot to be your fake boyfriend for the duration of the competition. If you like the only one bed trope, you’re really going to love having it over.. and over.. and over… all across the globe as these fake boyfriends compete on national TV, learning and growing together in this tender yet steamy romance. (*Out 06.10.25)

Holiday Hallmark Movie
Equal parts twinkling lights and patterned scarves, three dashes of hot-as-cocoa lingering looks, sprinkle in a tree-lighting ceremony, and serve up, at an ice skating rink in the town square.

In The Event Of Love by Courtney Kae

Okay, so what if you crashed into your childhood crush’s tree farm sign and fell into her hot, lumberjane arms and are now roped into a scheme to save your small town from the big, evil corporation. It doesn’t mean you’re going to fall in love with her… Right? This rom-com intentionally leans heavy into Hallmark cliches, but makes them feel fresh and new whilst still as cozy and endearing as you would expect.

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun

This book is an absolute dream of a tropefest. It’s like the lyrics of Last Christmas had a baby with a Hallmark movie. Our protagonist agrees to a marriage of convenience with her landlord, and goes home with him for Christmas to keep up their fauxmance ruse, only to realize his sister is the woman she fell in love with last Christmas Eve—and was betrayed by the very next day. This book has all the mess and hijinks you could ever want from a holiday romp.

You’re A Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky

Pitched as Schitt’s Creek meets Red, White, & Royal Blue, what else could you need to know? Our grinchy protagonist gets shipped off to a small, winter wonderland town where he discovers a found family, the miracle of forced proximity, and—of course—the true meaning of Christmas. This book is so warm and charming that even the grinchiest of readers will find their hearts growing three sizes.

The Quirky Best Friend
They’re weird, know how to push all your buttons, and you love them for it. No notes.

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

This sassy best friend was such a fan favorite that she ended up getting her own book, The True Love Experiment. Start with TSE to meet her as we all did and fall in love with her, then read TTLE and watch her fall in love on a trope-based reality dating show.

The Nanny by Lana Ferguson

Sometimes the snarky best friend is an eighty-year-old woman. Not enough books feature older characters, much less ones that get to be as feisty and spirited as this one, full of wisdom dispensed as hilarious anecdotes. I would read an entire book of just these two talking about everything and nothing.

Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee

The entire supporting cast of characters in this book is an absolute riot. Situational humor is difficult to pull off in text, but this book has it in spades. As a queer person from the south, this book set in the mountains of Georgia is the hug I didn’t know I needed.

Everyone Can See It But Them
No explanation necessary.

You, With A View by Jessica Joyce

In the wake of her grandmother’s passing, our protagonist uncovers photos of her grandmother’s first love—and the honeymoon road trip she never went on. With the help of the internet, she finds her grandmother’s former love. Lo and behold, he’s her high school nemesis’s grandfather. The three of them set out to complete the road trip, and no spoilers, but the way this sweet grandpa sees what’s coming before our protagonists do… Get your tissues ready. This rivals-to-lovers romcom is one of the sweetest, most heart-warming books, whilst also being sexy and witty. A true masterpiece.

Love & Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe

A conspiracy theory skeptic and a true believer team up to make a web show hunting cryptids, and their back-and-forth chemistry leaves viewers wondering if there’s more to the duo than just co-hosts. There’s nothing better than reading a book where you can tell how much fun the author had writing about their niche interest, and even if you’re a skeptic like our main character, you’ll believe in this couple.

Love Interest by Clare Gilmore

Our protagonists agree to be filmed as part of an online series following Gen Z in the workplace, and viewers instantly ship the two of them, not knowing our love interest stole the promotion our protagonist was gunning for. But when they have to work on a project together, they realize the internet might have been onto something. This debut is a knockout.

Secrets, Secrets
Romance statistics calculate that if you have a secret, the odds of it coming out at the absolute worst possible moment are 100 percent.

You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria

With both their acting careers on the line, our protagonists take rehearsing their scripts very seriously, and if that means practice-kissing your incredibly hot costar, it’s all in service of the craft. Until it’s not, and their behind-the-scenes romance could risk exposing our hero’s closely guarded secret.

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

Perfect for fans of a You’ve Got Mail premise. Our two writer protagonists fall for each other via email correspondence—not knowing they’re actually neighbors. There’s something so delicious about watching people fall for each other online and then in person, knowing they’re the same and waiting for them to realize—especially when one of them realizes it first and knowing the secret will have to come to light—? Chef’s kiss.

Hot Summer by Elle Everhart

In this Love Island-esque premise, our protagonist agrees to go on the dating show and make it to the finale in exchange for a promotion at work—one of the show’s partners. Her connection to the show has to remain secret, but that becomes harder and harder as her connection to one of the contestants grows genuine—and puts her winning strategy at risk.

Just Once, To Get It Out Of Our Systems
The heroes are convinced their feelings are purely physical and the only solution is to act on them. Once. Just once. The heroes are also probably really bad at math.

You Between The Lines by Katie Naymon

I love a meta moment, so when this trope gets referenced by the swoony poet love interest saying, “So did you get it out of your system?” and “That’s not going to be the only time.” To quote Paris Hilton, “That’s hot.” (* Out 02.18.25)

Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

She’s a romance cynic. He’s a hopeless romantic. They can totally fake date and casually sleep together, right? Talia Hibbert is romcom gold and a true smut queen. This entire series is required reading for any romance aficionado. 

What Is Love? by Jen Comfort

In this Jeopardy-inspired rom-com, two rivals team up to beat the show’s top ranked competitor in an All Star round. While the two couldn’t be more different, as they study together, they find an unlikely connection, and that maps can be quite sexy, actually.

One Night Stand To Strangers To Friends To Lovers To Idiots To Lovers
Invented by Mason Álvarez-West and Sawyer Greene, probably.

Unromance by Erin Connor

When a jaded romance author gets stuck in an elevator with a handsome stranger, she recognizes it for what it is: not a meet cute, but an opportunity for a one-night stand and a little inspo for her next book. But when they run into each other again, they realize they can help each other: she can cure him of the hopeless romanticism that keeps landing him in the tabloids, and in return, he can use it to help her with her writer’s block. Surely, acting out romance tropes together won’t have them hurtling towards a happily ever after neither of them saw coming.

The post 25 Rom-Com Book Recommendations From Author Erin Connor appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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 Sweeten The Deal, a charming new romance by Katie Shepard.

Dukes fall in love. Werewolves fall in love, and so do small town bakers and big city billionaires and farmers and firefighters. Neurodivergent people also fall in love in some of my favorite romance novels, and it’s even sweeter watching how the same beloved tropes play out when the full range of human diversity is represented on the page.

Chloe Liese’s Two Wrongs Make a Right

Liese has long promoted her philosophy that “everyone deserves a love story,” and many of her books feature main characters with physical or mental disabilities. In Two Wrongs Make a Right, autistic free-spirit Bea falls for uptight Jamie, an anxious pediatrician with daddy issues. Liese’s characters’ disabilities are never portrayed as the obstacles they’re overcoming to find true love—instead she focuses on their relationships, communication, and steamy moments. 

Mazey Eddings’ Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake

The titular Lizzie is a joyful, movable disaster with poorly managed ADHD. She’s always late, can’t keep a job, and just got knocked up by her two-night stand. But instead of seeing her life as a tragedy, Lizzie is a drop of sunshine throughout the steamy romp to happily ever after with the bemused and lovestruck Australian who only thinks he can manage to platonically coparent with the roommate he can’t keep his hands off. 

Talia Hibbert’s Act Your Age, Eve Brown

This grumpy/sunshine romcom in which both main characters are autistic hits a lot of pleasure centers in my brain. I love an awkward meet cute—Eve literally hits Jacob with a car!—I love forced proximity—Eve takes over Jacob’s B&B!—and I love that these two characters portray different parts of the autism spectrum, with white, male, analytical Jacob’s more stereotypical presentation and his sweet, feminine and Black love interest Eve illustrating a less-depicted experience. 

Lisa Kleypas’ Love in the Afternoon

The first time I ever read romance novels that featured main characters with mental illness or conditions like alcoholism, it was in historicals. It’s often more subtle, because Regency England did not exactly have a robust mental health system, but characters like Captain Phelan deal with the same challenges as contemporary love interests, just using different language. This book has a heart wrenching mistaken identity plot complicated by what modern readers will realize is PTSD arising out of Phelan’s service in the Crimean War. Kleypas deftly contrasts the lovers’ points of view, demonstrating that Phelan’s mental illness isn’t the problem—it’s his fear of it.

Helen Hoang’s The Heart Principle

Hoang doesn’t shy away from showing the pain of unaccommodated autism and untreated mental illness in the middle of a tender love story. This romance has a lovely steamy slow burn but also makes brilliant points about a character trying to push herself into a role her brain will simply not let her perform. Raw and beautiful. 

The post Katie Shepard’s Favourite Romance Reads Featuring Neurodiverse Characters appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Her second novel Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic is out June 21 and is available at your local indie or  here. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter here: @HelloLaurenHo.

I love me a good, old-fashioned listicle, especially a bookish one in time for the hottest (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) quarter of the year: who has time to read chunky blocks of words when you’re zipping out to soak up the precious sun, a cold brew in one hand and aviators in another? Not you! Certainly not me either, but then again I live in the tropics, and we’re blasé about the sun. What we yearn for instead is the sweet embrace of snow, gently enveloping all the mosquitoes around us in slow, horrible, unpreventable deaths.

Anyway, where was I? Yes, for all of you anticipating summer, here’s my listicle, or an article craftily masquerading as a listicle, of all of my must-read beach reads, both current titles and backlisted ones, broken down by category with barely any plot details to help you out. So sue me, I’m a vibes girl. You’re welcome anyway.

THE LIST!

Transportive Contemporary Romance: Where We End and Begin by Jane Igharo: Lagos becomes a sizzling backdrop to a beautiful second-chance romance that also serves up a side helping of family drama.

‘Destroy me’ romance/women’s fiction: The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang: delicately wrought, beautifully fleshed out love story with a timely spotlight on burnout in the age of social media, and layered ASD rep.

Contemporary fiction featuring a woman who feels trapped by her life: Fault Lines by Emily Itami: an affair in metropolitan Tokyo unfurls to shimmering prose you can snap your fingers to. Also, Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason: Funny, poignant, layered, heartbreakingly wonderful, of a woman’s (and her family’s) experience of an unnamed mental illness.

Contemporary fiction with a polarising lead: Milk Fed by Melissa Broder. Melissa Broder’s writing, like most port-novelists, grips. Compelling, erotic and honest, it follows a young woman obsessed with her diet who becomes smitten with a froyo scooper. Bonus: Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda: a mixed-race millennial vampire dreams of eating human food—and more.

Suspenseful general adult/Women’s fiction: At Least You Have Your Health by Madi Sinha: Shady wellness business, impressionable doctor-mom, witty dialogue, Liane-Moriarty energy and pacing.

Heart-warming Fantasy: The House On The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: I’ve never called a book ‘delightful’ until I read this.  A cozy hug of a fantasy book.

‘Hear me Roar’ Fantasy: She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan: punchy, cinematic, brilliant.

‘Destroy me’ young adult romance: You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao: Bring tissues and cancel your weekend.

Clever, compelling middle grade murder mystery from SE Asia: Queen of The Tiles by Hanna Alkaf: Hanna, who’s Malaysian like me, is the queen of fierce, character-driven writing. Twisty and fun, with great hijabi rep.

Folkloric middle grade from SE Asia: Mist Bound by Daryl Kho: Atmospheric, touching, richly illustrated and written, featuring folktales from this part of the world.

Funny, fun contemporary romance: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. Chemistry of the best kind.

General adult/women’s fiction exploring identity and culture:  Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal.

Moving Bildungsroman:  Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart: heartrending, utterly memorable from its first line.

Thriller, ish: Girl A by Abigail Dean: suspenseful and heart-breaking, it lingers.

Quiet, meditative fiction: Brood by Jackie Polzin: Wry observational humour, surprising, tender, with no fowl play (sorry! I couldn’t resist the pun!)

Sheer chaotic genre-bending fun: Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto. She took all my Asian auntie nightmares, added murder, and somehow made it LOL. Sorcery.

Sheer romance: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams: Exuberant, sexy, funny, and just absolutely smashing. Also, The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.

Pure joyful, romcom escapism: Twelve Days in May by Niamh Hargan: Witty, delicious Cannes escapism. Also, On a Night like this by Lindsey Kelk: Nobody writes romcom like Lindsey.

Meta beach reads: Beach Read by Emily Henry. All the feels, all the prose, the angst, the banter.

A modern classic to cherish and re-read: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy: prepare to have the map of your literary world re-drawn.                        

Bonus category (auto-read writers): Am I even Asian if I don’t throw this in? And it’s a two-fer!

Poetry: Anything by Li-Young Lee

Short story collections: Anything by George Saunders

And if you liked my listicle and want more beach reads, you could check out my debut romcom/contemporary adult fiction novel, Last Tang Standing, about a woman in her early thirties who navigates societal and familial pressures to get married while she attempts to make partner at her law firm, or my second romcom/women’s fiction novel, Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic, which follows a woman in her late thirties who attempts to have a family her way, platonically, and the fun and fallout of that decision.

The post The Ultimate Chaotic, Vibes-Only Beach Reads List appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover some of our picks and tell us in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any of them!

Fresh by Margot Wood
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A hilarious and vulnerable coming-of-age story about the thrilling new experiences––and missteps––of a girl’s freshman year of college.

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Best-selling author Julie Murphy’s reimagining of a beloved fairy tale is an enchanting story of self-love and believing in the happy ending each and every one of us deserves.

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a “delicious, twisted treat for lovers of noir” about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman they’re both desperate to find.

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the award-winning author of The Serpent King comes a beautiful examination of grief, found family, and young love.

The Pariah by Anthony Ryan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Pariah begins a new epic fantasy series of action, intrigue and magic from Anthony Ryan, a master storyteller who has taken the fantasy world by storm.

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

No one knew they’d moved in together. Now one of them is dead. Could this be the perfect murder? Will they be able to determine what really happened, or has lockdown provided someone with the opportunity to commit the perfect crime?

The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

June Jones emerges from her shell to fight for her beloved local library, and through the efforts and support of an eclectic group of library patrons, she discovers life-changing friendships along the way.

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Courtney Gould’s thrilling debut The Dead and the Dark is about the things that lurk in dark corners, the parts of you that can’t remain hidden, and about finding home in places―and people―you didn’t expect.

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this heartfelt new romance by USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang.

The Desert Prince by Peter V. Brett
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A brand-new epic fantasy adventure set in the beloved world of the Demon Cycle, following a new generation of heroes, from New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett.

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of Wilder Girls and Ninth House comes a dark, twisty, atmospheric thriller about a boarding school haunted by its history of witchcraft and two girls dangerously close to digging up the past.

Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of Small Spaces and Nightbooks, Ally Malinenko’s middle-grade debut is an empowering and triumphant ghost story—with spooky twists sure to give readers a few good goosebumps!

What August 2021 books are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post August 2021 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

JULY

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town… where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong. 

Too Good to be Real by Melonie Johnson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

To save her job as a writer for a popular website, Julia plans to prove there’s a dozen reasons why life isn’t like a romantic comedy, only to discover the one reason it is…

How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Event planner Kate Sweet is famous for creating the perfect happily-ever-after moment for her clients’ dream weddings. So how is it that her best friend has roped her into planning a bestselling horror writer’s book launch extravaganza? But the second Kate meets—or rather, accidentally maims—the drop-dead-hot Drake Matthews, her well-ordered life quickly transforms into an absolute nightmare.

While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two people realize that it’s no longer an act when they veer off-script in this sizzling romantic comedy featuring Ben Stephens, Theo’s brother from The Wedding Party, and a famous actress as they struggle to keep things purely professional while working together.

AUGUST

The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An ordinary summer goes royally awry when a prince and princess move next door, bringing their handsome bodyguard with them.

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

If the shoe doesn’t fit, maybe it’s time to design your own. Best-selling author Julie Murphy’s reimaging of a beloved fairy tale is an enchanting story of self-love and believing in the happy ending each and every one of us deserves.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Beloved author Lucy Parker pens a delicious new romantic comedy that is a battle of whisks and wits. Perfect for fans of baking shows and royal love – with Parker’s signature romance kryptonite sprinkled on top!

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this heartfelt new romance by USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang.

SEPTEMBER

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman’s carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Helena Hunting makes sparks fly with the best-friends-to-lovers trope! When an unexpected car accident renders event planner Avery immobile, her best friend offers to become her caretaker, and the lines between the two friends start to blur.

A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The national bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola returns with a seductive second-chance romance about a commitment-phobic Latina and her childhood best friend who has finally returned home.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy—reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch—an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.

OCTOBER

All the Feels by Olivia Dade
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Following Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade returns with another utterly charming romantic comedy about a devil-may-care actor—who actually cares more than anyone knows—and the no-nonsense woman hired to keep him in line.

Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times bestselling author Gwenda Bond, Not Your Average Hot Guy is a hilarious romantic comedy about two people falling in love, while the fate of the world rests on their shoulders.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox  
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A feel-good, holiday-themed romantic comedy about identical twins who switch lives in the days leading up to Christmas–perfect for fans of Christina Lauren’s In a Holidaze and Josie Silver’s One Day in December.

NOVEMBER

A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A sparkling contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in the tantalizing world of New York City burlesque, perfect for fans of The Kiss Quotient and The Roommate.

I Hate You More by Lucy Gilmore
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The Hating Game meets Best in Show in this delightfully quirky romcom by beloved author Lucy Gilmore. A former pageant queen, Ruby Taylor, trades in her high heels and joins the dog show circuit, only to fall in love with one of the judges on the panel.

The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu
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Julie Tieu sparkles in this debut romantic comedy, which is charmingly reminiscent of the TV show Kim’s Convenience and Frankly in Love by David Yoon, about a young woman who feels caught in the life her parents have made for her until she falls in love and finds a way out of the donut trap.

Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath
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The first in a new historical rom-com series, a handsome earl hires a fake fiancée to keep his matchmaking mother at bay, but hilarity ensues when love threatens to complicate everything.

DECEMBER

Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey
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From award-winning author Rachel Lacey comes a playful romance about a Manhattan bookstore owner and a reclusive author who love to hate—and hate to love—each other.

The Love Con by Seressia Glass
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He’s cosplaying as her boyfriend but their feelings for each other are real in this romantic comedy from Seressia Glass.

Fools In Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales
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Join fifteen bestselling, award-winning, and up-and-coming authors as they reimagine some of the most popular tropes in the romance genre.

Hidden Treasures by Michelle Adams
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A reunited couple search for a valuable treasure, a precious jewelry box, stolen from the Nazis and hidden away since World War II, in this powerfully emotional and romantic novel of rekindled love – perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Josie Silver and Jill Santopolo.

What romance books are you looking forward to picking up between July and December? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Enjoy These Swoonworthy July to December 2021 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to learn more about some great romance reads and you can check out the full collection on OverDrive.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

For two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime—maybe even love—in this romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Roomies.

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella

From the author of Surprise Me comes an irresistible story of love and empowerment about a young woman with a complicated family, a handsome man who might be “the one,” and an IOU that changes everything.

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand

A husband’s secret life, a wife’s new beginning: escape to the Caribbean with New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand.

American Royals by Katharine McGee

What if America had a royal family? If you can’t get enough of Harry and Meghan or Kate and William, meet American princesses Beatrice and Samantha. Crazy Rich Asians meets The Crown. Perfect for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue and The Royal We!

Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne, the “queen of witty dialogue” (Rachel Van Dyken, New York Times bestselling author), comes the final installment of the Central Park Pact series, a heartfelt and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that’s perfect for fans of Sally Thorne and Christina Lauren.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

A big-hearted romantic comedy in which First Son Alex falls in love with Prince Henry of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends…

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there’s not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Beard Necessities by Penny Reid

This second-chance romance brings back the entire Winston gang, playing cupid in one last story of love, hi-jinks, and family collusion.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

From the critically acclaimed author of The Kiss Quotient comes a romantic novel about love that crosses international borders and all boundaries of the heart…

After by Anna Todd

Experience the internet’s most talked-about book, now a major motion picture, from Anna Todd, the writer Cosmopolitan called “the biggest literary phenomenon of her generation.” Now with new exclusive material!

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Fall in love—from the very beginning. Discover the first book in the captivating, #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series.

How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole

An arranged marriage leads to unexpected desire, in the first book of Alyssa Cole’s Runaway Royals series.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

A witty, hilarious romantic comedy about a woman who’s tired of being “boring” and recruits her mysterious, sexy neighbor to help her experience new things—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne, Jasmine Guillory, and Helen Hoang!

The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren

From the New York Times bestselling author behind the “joyful, warm, touching” (Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author) The Unhoneymooners comes a delightfully charming love story about what happens when two assistants tasked with keeping a rocky relationship from explosion start to feel sparks of their own.

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas returns with the next dazzling romance in the Ravenels series – perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean, Julia Quinn and Eloisa James.

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Debut author Sally Thorne bursts on the scene with a hilarious and sexy workplace comedy all about that thin, fine line between hate and love.

Do you have any other suggestions? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Feel The Love This Valentine’s Day With These Romance Books appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It was a pretty big surprise to me when I found out that one of the protagonists of this book was a side character of The Kiss Quotient, which was Helen Hoang’s debut that I absolutely LOVE. After her first book being such a stellar, it was no surprise that I’d want to read the sequel. 

I’ll be frank that this book was a slight disappointment. Not that it wasn’t an enjoyable book, because it was and it had so many great things to it, such as the characters and their development.

Khai was such a lovable character. He’s autistic and has his set routines and I loved reading about his personality quirks but he was also the character that almost made me cry since his character development involves him realising that he deserves to be loved and that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with him.

Esme’s character development was personally my favourite though because it’s one that I feel has applied and continues to apply to millions of immigrants looking for a better future in another country. Her need to look after her family is strong and she’s such a strong, independent, and determined woman. Quan, Khai’s brother, was such a fun character and I wish that I could’ve read more with him involved.

Helen’s dialogue and tone setting were just as great as her previous novel, although what disappointed me a little was that the plot was pretty predictable for me. Some of the elements in Khai and Esme’s relationship were a little rushed at times, that it almost felt like a bit like instalove. I think what I loved so much from The Kiss Quotient that The Bride Test could’ve used more of is the element of time to develop the right relationship dynamic. The concept of marrying Khai off to a random girl from Vietnam isn’t exactly ethical when she’s trying to seduce him on purpose so I thought perhaps showing more of the time they spent together instead of glossing over the facts and being told how they eventually start having feelings for each other would’ve made for a smoother plot and relationship for these characters. There were also some scenes at the beginning that were quite overtly sexual that I wasn’t a huge fan of but overall I really enjoyed the plot and how it ended.

The plot was a really fun concept and it’s actually quite enjoyable to read point of views where the character goes through certain culture shocks if they go to another country or experience a different lifestyle. We definitely see that between the characters as they grow and learn more about themselves and each other. It always adds an interesting thing to the mix when you bring in real life issues like poverty, mental health, and sexuality. It made the plot even more interesting as some of these political and societal aspects of the world are brought in to build a character’s personality and quirks. Esme’s assimilation to American society was obviously going to be a challenge and how her relationship with Khai developed as they both learned more about each other was really heartwarming to see. 

Although it was a little shorter and not as well executed as The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang definitely wrote another amazing story that’s highly recommended for anyone looking for a quick romance read. It was really cute and some scenes were hilarious with great banter. I especially loved the cameos of Stella and Michael from the debut novel, but I really wish I could read Vietnamese so that I could fully understand everything that was said. It’s a pet peeve when another author includes another language and may not be able to completely integrate it into dialogue or just how a reader may interpret it. Overall, it was still commendable and added so much diversity to the writing and dialogue as we learn more about Vietnamese culture and how it has shaped these characters lives and possibly their future.

All in all, The Bride Test is a great read and I am looking forward to reading more from Helen Hoang!

The Bride Test is available from Amazon, Book Depository and other good book retailers.

Have you read The Bride Test? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride. As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection. With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.

The post Review: The Bride Test by Helen Hoang appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

You know that saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover?” Most people don’t heed this and do it anyway. 2019 saw a resurgence of romance books with illustrated covers, and here’s a compilation of five of our favourite ones!

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This, being only Sally Thorne’s second book, carries on that Hating Game feel. While very different from her first rom-com, following two people falling in love during a house renovation, 99 Percent Mine still manages to capture the light and fuzzy atmosphere of this heartwarming rom-com!

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This beautiful colourful, happy cover somehow exactly manages to capture the feel of this book. Red White and Royal Blue is a comedy of royal proportions as it features the crown prince of England who falls in love with the song of the US president. It is nearly unthinkable for this book to not have already been on your radar but in case it wasn’t this cover sure must do the trick!

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Bride Test is the follow-up to Helen Hoang’s first novel, The Kiss Quotient, that features a beautiful illustrated cover. This book is set in the same universe as The Kiss Quotient and follows Khai and Esme as they navigate an arranged marriage. Just like its cover, this book is a real, multicultural treat!

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
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With its bright pink hue, the cover for The Right Swipe perfectly captures that romantic mood. This one follows two inventors of rivalling romance apps as they have their very own hate-to-love romance. As the cover shows, this book features a beautifully diverse cast and is definitely worth the read!

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Last, but definitely not least on this list is The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams. With its unusual premise comes a very fun, and unexpected cover! This books features an all-male book club who, using the power of romance novels, try to incorporate that wisdom into their own lives. The cover is a sight to behold on its own, but the story is equally amazing!

What was your favourite romance cover or read of 2019? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Prettiest Romance Covers of 2019 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us if you have enjoyed reading any of them this year!

Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Lush and visual, chock-full of delicious recipes, Roselle Lim’s magical debut novel is about food, heritage, and finding family in the most unexpected places.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A big-hearted romantic comedy in which First Son Alex falls in love with Prince Henry of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends…

Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days gets a millennial makeover in this romantic comedy by USA Today bestselling author Andie J. Christopher.

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners and My Favorite Half-Night Stand comes a modern love story about what happens when your first love reenters your life when you least expect it…

No Judgments by Meg Cabot
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The storm of the century is about to hit Little Bridge Island, Florida—and it’s sending waves crashing through Sabrina “Bree” Beckham’s love life…

The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
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After an “oops, we made a mistake” night together, neither one can stop thinking about the other. With Alexa’s wedding rapidly approaching, Maddie and Theo both share bridal party responsibilities that require more interaction with each other than they’re comfortable with.

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting
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The New York Times bestselling author of Pucked and The Good Luck Charm delivers a Hollywood happily-ever-after where a famous heartthrob falls for his ultimate fangirl in this sexy standalone romantic comedy.

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.

The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy
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In the Forgotten Empires magic is forbidden, dreams are destiny, and love is the greatest power of all…

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
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The Friend Zone will have you laughing one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass.

Waiting For Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
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Can a romcom-obssessed romantic finally experience the meet-cute she always dreamed of or will reality never compare to fiction, in this charming debut adult novel from Kerry Winfrey.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Talia Hibbert, one of contemporary romance’s brightest new stars, delivers a witty, hilarious romantic comedy about a woman who’s tired of being “boring” and recruits her mysterious, sexy neighbor to help her experience new things—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne, Jasmine Guillory, and Helen Hoang.

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Alisha Rai returns with the first book in her sizzling new Modern Love series, in which two rival dating app creators find themselves at odds in the boardroom but in sync in the bedroom.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the critically acclaimed author of The Kiss Quotient comes a romantic novel about love that crosses international borders and all boundaries of the heart…

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An unforgettable romantic comedy about a woman who finally has a shot at her long time crush—if she dares.

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Proposal comes a dazzling new novel about a spontaneous holiday vacation that turns into an unforgettable romance.

Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne
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From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne comes the second delightfully charming installment in the Central Park Pact series, following a young widow whose newfound cynicism about love is challenged by a sexy, rough-around-the-edges contractor.

Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym Martineau
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Fantastic Beasts meets Assassin’s Creed in this epic, gripping fantasy romance from debut author Maxym M. Martineau.

The Marriage Clock by Zara Raheem
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In Zara Raheem’s fresh, funny, smart debut, a young, Muslim-American woman is given three months to find the right husband or else her traditional Indian parents will find one for her–a novel with a universal story that everyone can relate to about the challenges of falling in love.

Faker by Sarah Smith
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Debut author Sarah Smith nails this fun and sexy multicultural romance where two office foes hammer out their differences to build a love that will last…

What was your favourite 2019 romance read? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Best Romance Books of 2019 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.