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

Hello! I’m Katie Naymon, author of You Between the Lines, what I’ve lovingly dubbed the Slutty MFA Novel, which comes out February 18. I’m a born-and-raised Ohioan who moved to Stockholm, Sweden for love, and I’ve been here for almost 7 years. Otherwise, I’m extremely passionate about cats. I’m crying now just thinking about them.

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

In elementary and middle school, I inhaled books. Messed up my sleep over it. Couldn’t get enough. My interest in writing sort of naturally flowed from that—the feeling of, This is so compelling, could I also tell stories? But when it comes to writing, what I viscerally remember is being in middle school and reading contemporary poetry for the first time. I didn’t really get it, but we read “in Just” but e.e. cummings, and there’s a line that goes, “when the world is puddle-wonderful.” I remember thinking, That’s amazing. Puddle-wonderful. How one could just combine nouns and adjectives and verbs in ways that we weren’t taught in school. I worry this is coming off as cheesy, but that poem opened up an expansiveness in language that was almost druglike in its possibility. It felt transgressive in a sexy way. You’re telling me I can manipulate language to make it do what I want it to do instead of just following rules? I didn’t even know it was an option.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Meet Felicity, among every other book American Girl has ever released. Life-changing literature.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld spoke to me in a way no other book had, and almost 20 years later, I still follow Curtis anywhere she goes.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess was dumbfoundingly good, and it’s the kind of book where I want to talk about it and unpack it literally at all times.

Your debut novel, You Between the Lines, is out February 18^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Tortured Poets Department, happier ending.

What can readers expect?

I wouldn’t call it a romcom, but it’s a steamy and angsty academic rivals-to-lovers romance (with hopefully some funny moments) set in a creative writing MFA program. It’s got a messy will-they-won’t-they dynamic that plays out both in real life but also across the characters’ writing. If you liked Emily Henry’s Beach Read and Tia Williams’ Seven Days in June, I’m hoping you’ll enjoy this.

Where did the inspiration for You Between the Lines come from?

I think it’s a truth universally acknowledged that if you’re in a college English class, there’s going to be some guy who thinks he’s the next David Foster Wallace. One of my best friends had a crush on one of these guys. We were obsessed with him. It was an entire thing—great hair, went to a fancy liberal arts college for English, and he’d even self-published a book of short stories as a high schooler, which is so funny and pretentious to me now, but at the time, we were feral for how self-assured he was as a 19-year-old. They had this encounter, at his college, when he was a freshman and she was still in high school. He was weird and dismissive and the whole thing was horribly awkward, but we always wondered about him and the what-if of it all. So when I sat down to write a book, I pulled this man from my high school brain and created a thought experiment: what if it had worked out between them? How could I take this type of guy, the one that is so annoying and yet you want them to like you so badly, and pair him with a woman that would completely destabilize him, make him get over himself, and he’d fall in love with her?

But then the question was, where would these people meet? The characters came to me before I knew the setting of the book. But they say to write what you know, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s how utterly scary, exhilarating, and exposing it is to have your writing dissected in front of your classmates while you silently watch.  So when figuring out where Hot Pretentious Guy would live, it was obviously an MFA program, which is my own background. There was just so much material to be mined from that kind of setting. There were multiple couples in my program and you could easily see how it could transfer over into the writing (and occasionally, it did). How delicious, how fraught! I had to set a romance in that space.

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

I love fight scenes. I know some readers detest third act breakups, but I’m a fan. I think fight scenes can almost be as delicious as steamy scenes, because for them to really work, the characters need to be pushing the others’ buttons in the perfect way that’s going to cause maximum emotional pain. And to do that means they have to know each other. See each other. To me, there’s nothing hotter really than being seen, than being studied, than being the sole object of someone’s focus. That’s really apparent in a good fight or breakup scene. Third act breakups don’t work for me when the conflict is simple miscommunication—but when it’s the result of seeing someone in a way that they can’t see themselves yet and breaking it down for them in an articulated way? Delectable. Especially between two writers who really know how to cut to the core of the other? So juicy, and it makes the HEA that much more earned. I had a great time writing every jab.

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

I’d have a breakdown at least every other day. Plot is tough for me. I’m really comfortable at a scene or line level, but when it comes to plot moves, I’m not a natural. In trying to figure out what to do with YBTL, I would sit with a physical notebook and pen and sketch out webs of different conflicts I could make happen in the book because I’d freak out about not knowing where the book was going and I’d feel completely unable to move forward unless I knew exactly what my next move was. The biggest gamechanger for me was just realizing that any problem was Future Katie’s problem, and that SHE would figure it out. That usually meant skipping around between scenes or stepping away from the manuscript or reading another author’s book just to see if I could get inspiration. And I always did. So even now when I’m really frustrated with a plot point, I just tell myself, oh, Future Katie will solve it and move on before I send myself into a complete spiral. I usually still do the spiral because I can, though.

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

You Between the Lines is the first book I’ve ever written. I studied poetry, not fiction, so while I don’t have the drawer of manuscripts many of my peers have, I do have a drawer of poems, which I don’t think are so dissimilar to novels—they too have beginnings, middles, and ends. They too have been pored over in multiple revisions. My day jobs since I graduated college have also been writing in some capacity, in journalism or copywriting, both of which have trained me in “plotting”, be it an article for a magazine or campaign messaging for a billboard ad.

I think all of that writing experience let me approach this project confidently—I definitely didn’t know what I was doing, but I was certain I’d figure it out. I think it also helped that because I didn’t have any sort of identity as a “fiction writer,” it lowered the stakes. Everything was a test, everything was fun. I think the reason why I’ve never published a poem is perhaps because my early writing identity is too tied up in it. “I should be good at it” because it’s what I studied. With fiction, it was more like, Who cares if I suck at this, lol! (The problem is that only worked once. Now, unfortunately, I care.)

After I worked on a few drafts of YBTL with friend feedback, I started querying. Querying went quickly, and so did submission. I’m really grateful for that because even though everything was fast, I still managed to make it as horrible as possible. My passion in life, second to cats, is to suffer.

What’s next for you?

I have a bad tendency to be obsessed with “what’s next,” to the detriment of enjoying the present. So I’m challenging myself to just soak all of this up and to really be proud of this moment. I’m beyond excited to meet readers in person at my book events this month. People have been unbelievably kind and thoughtful in their responses to YBTL, and I know I’m going to cry a lot, which I hate doing in public, but alas. Going home to the US for the launch also means spending lots of time in my favorite bookstores, going to Trader Joe’s, and yes, spending time with my 22-year-old childhood cat. I’m buzzing!

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up in 2025?

There’s so many romances I’m excited about, but the list would be long and I’m terrified of leaving one out. So I’ll tell you some of the non-romance books I’m pumped about. I can’t wait to read Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld, Good Girl by Aria Aber, Blob by Maggie Su, and Crush by Ada Calhoun.

Will you be picking up You Between the Lines? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Katie Naymon, Author of ‘You Between The Lines’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover some of our picks and let us know if you’ll be picking up any!

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

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Aurora Montalban, an ambitious doctor breaking societal norms to help women in 19^th century Paris, and Apollo Sinclair Robles, the reluctant Duke willing to risk everything for her.

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift

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A romance writer’s wildest dreams—the bestseller list, a movie deal, and a date with the real-life inspiration for her Hollywood hero—are all within her grasp if only she can hold it all together.    

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

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A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged—in an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped In A Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

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A hilarious and sexy romance about a woman who gets dropped on a strange planet only to fall for not one, but two, aliens, from the author of I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.

Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan

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A second chance at love, small-town romance that’s all sweet with just a hint of heat from the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan.

Big Name Fan by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare

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When two A-list celebrities famous for their on-screen chemistry as TV detectives (think: sapphic Mulder and Scully, or queer Rizzoli and Isles) are reunited to investigate a real-life Hollywood murder, fans who have been ‘shipping the leading ladies for years might just get the ending they’ve always wanted…

Never Planned On You by Lindsay Hameroff

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A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon

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In this “brilliant, poignant love story perfect for fans of Emily Henry,” a former sorority girl starts a prestigious poetry MFA program only to discover that one of her classmates is her high school crush-turned-nemesis—​and he can’t stop writing about her. 

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

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A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin

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An upbeat production exec is tasked with reining in the cynical director who was her forbidden college heartbreak in this sparkling, sexy contemporary romance.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

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An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this romance by Kristina Forest, USA Today bestselling author of The Partner Plot.

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard

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From the beloved author of Right on Cue and Lease on Love comes a whimsical new rom-com about a workaholic forced to aim for a goal she never thought she’d love.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

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A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

Wooing The Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

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In a Gaslamp-lit world where hags and ogres lurk in thick pine forests, three magical queens form an uneasy alliance to protect their lands from invasion…and love turns their world upside down.

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator

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In this witty and fun rom-com debut from Annabelle Slator, rival coworkers become reluctant daters after they’re forced to work together on a brand-new dating app in hopes of winning a promotion—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.

Can’t Help Faking in Love by Swati Hegde

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A young woman with Bollywood roots hires a barista to act as her boyfriend for her cousin’s wedding—only to learn you can’t fake chemistry like theirs—in this desi romance from the author of Match Me If You Can.

On Her Terms by Amy Spalding

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For fans of Casey McQuiston, Alexis Hall, and Meryl Wilsner, an actually hilarious, sweetly sexy, gloriously relatable sapphic rom-com about a fake relationship, very real emotions, and writing your own Hollywood love story – from the acclaimed author of For Her Consideration.

The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy

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The third in the steamy, hilarious Campus Diaries series by New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy, set in the same world as Off Campus and Briar U.

The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu

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A frenemies-to-lovers contemporary romance by Julie Tieu which takes place over the course of one make-or-break evening, almost entirely at a high school reunion….

A Wedding in the Lowcountry by Preslaysa Williams

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Preslaysa Williams, author of the “emotionally stirring debut” A Lowcountry Bride (Oprah Daily), returns to the Lowcountry with a heartwarming friends to lovers story about the courage to fall in love again.

Back After This by Linda Holmes

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From the New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo, a podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love?

Break Point by Yahrah St. John

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Falling in love cost Teagan her heart and a pro tennis career. But when her rival returns, they’ve got one last chance for a rematch…if they can keep the game on the court!

Cupid on the Loose by John. J. Jacobson

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From the author of All the Cowboys Ain’t Gone and California Fever comes a romantic comedy about the exuberant intoxication of amore and its often hilarious antics.

Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

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Devoted fangirl meets hesitant fanboy in this swoony contemporary love letter to readers who adore fantasy worlds, from the beloved authors of The Breakup Tour.

What February romance releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 24 Swoonworthy Romance Reads Hitting Bookshelves In February 2025 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.

Prepare your romance-loving heart as there are some stellar romance books releasing in the first half of 2025! Between the months of January and June, you’ll see new releases from Emily Henry, Charlotte Stein, TJ Alexander, Jasmine Guillory, Ali Hazelwood, Meryl Wilsner, Abby Jimenez, Sarah Hogle, Katherine Center, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Ashley Poston, and many more, along with so many 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 2025 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, YA books, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, and Fiction books list.

JANUARY 2025

Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee

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A struggling vineyard owner gets a second taste of her first crush in this romantic comedy that sparkles with humor and heat.

Work In Progress by Kat Mackenzie

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A warm, sexy, laugh-out-loud rom-com about a woman who, desperate for a fresh start, books a literary bus tour across the UK that consists of a lively group of elderly ladies plus one infuriatingly handsome Scottish driver.

Unromance by Erin Connor

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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 . . .

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura

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Archaeologist Miriam and journalist Rafael are destined to be rivals and must journey together to find the Lost City of the Moon. As they navigate treacherous paths and rival crews, their hearts become entangled in a thrilling adventure where love and duty collide in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

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USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti returns with another hot, hilarious Regency romp about a reclusive earl and the wallflower-turned-radical-pamphleteer who turns his life upside down.

Yin Yang Love Song By Lauren Kung Jessen

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In this charming rom-com filled with Chinese traditions and a family curse, an herbalist fake dates a star musician–perfect for fans of Helen Hoang and Jasmine Guillory.

The Lodge by Kayla Olson

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From the author of The Reunion, a cozy rom-com about a writer who decamps to a Vermont lodge for work but finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

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Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this new rivals-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Rule Book and Practice Makes Perfect.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

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With his funny, big-hearted adult rom com debut, bestselling, award-winning YA author Julian Winters shows sometimes fake dating your ex can turn into a second chance.

For One Night Only by Jessica James

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When two former bandmates—and bedmates—are thrust back into each other’s lives in a fake dating scheme for publicity, they’ll be forced to face the music.

Let’s Call A Truce by Amy Buchanan

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Let’s Call A Truce is a sexy contemporary romance about second chances at life and love, bursting with humor and a touch of angst from debut author, Amy Buchanan.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese

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Star-crossed lovers learn that practicing romance leads to the perfect happy ending in this steamy reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

FEBRUARY 2025

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

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Aurora Montalban, an ambitious doctor breaking societal norms to help women in 19^th century Paris, and Apollo Sinclair Robles, the reluctant Duke willing to risk everything for her.

Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan

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A second chance at love, small-town romance that’s all sweet with just a hint of heat from the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

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A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped In A Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

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A hilarious and sexy romance about a woman who gets dropped on a strange planet only to fall for not one, but two, aliens, from the author of I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.

Never Planned On You by Lindsay Hameroff

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A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

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A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged—in an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon

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In this “brilliant, poignant love story perfect for fans of Emily Henry,” a former sorority girl starts a prestigious poetry MFA program only to discover that one of her classmates is her high school crush-turned-nemesis—​and he can’t stop writing about her. 

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard

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From the beloved author of Right on Cue and Lease on Love comes a whimsical new rom-com about a workaholic forced to aim for a goal she never thought she’d love.

Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin

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An upbeat production exec is tasked with reining in the cynical director who was her forbidden college heartbreak in this sparkling, sexy contemporary romance.

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator

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In this witty and fun rom-com debut from Annabelle Slator, rival coworkers become reluctant daters after they’re forced to work together on a brand-new dating app in hopes of winning a promotion—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

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A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

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An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this romance by Kristina Forest, USA Today bestselling author of The Partner Plot.

MARCH 2025

Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch

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It’s enemies to lovers in this sexy and delightful holiday mash up that pairs the spare prince of Christmas with the crown prince of St. Patrick’s Day!

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker

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One fake prime minister, one ridiculously hot handler, and one Italian summer collide in this thrilling adventure rom-com.

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo

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The long-awaited follow-up to the Reese’s Book Club pick and New York Times bestselling global phenomenon The Light We Lost: a thrilling love story about the roles fate and choice play in shaping a life.

Something Cheeky by Thien-Kim Lam

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A steamy new rom-com from the popular author of Happy Endings and Full Exposure, where two friends get the opportunity to work together on their dream project—a Cinderella rock musical with an all-Asian cast—and discover that falling in love was the easy part…

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein

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Perfect for fans of Ted Lasso, this delicious slow burn romance turns a pretend marriage into real love.

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

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Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not.

Fan Service by Rosie Danan

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The truth is stranger than fan fiction in the next sexy paranormal rom-com from the beloved author of The Roommate.

Cover Story by Celia Laskey

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A hilarious, emotional love story about an extremely anxious publicist who’s tasked with keeping an extremely gay starlet in the closet—but who ends up falling for her instead.​

The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett

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A Lady with a past. A man with ambition. A romance far from London society that might bridge their divides.

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams

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A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this steamy new fake dating romance from beloved author Denise Williams.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

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From the acclaimed author of Chef’s Kiss, a groundbreaking trans Regency romance that’s both delightfully witty and refreshingly iconoclastic.

Love and Other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvey

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One of the greatest love stories in history gets derailed when a struggling poet at Cambridge runs into a time-traveler who agrees to help him find his muse—a thoughtful and uplifting romantic comedy for fans of About Time and The Midnight Library.

APRIL 2025

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine

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A bestselling romance author flees to Alaska to reinvent herself and write her first murder mystery, but the rugged resort proprietor soon has her fearing she’s living in a rom-com plot instead in this earnestly spectacular debut by a stunning new voice.

The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton

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Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission in this swoony historical-fantasy rom-com.

Anywhere You Go by Bridget Morrissey

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A small-town waitress and a big-city Broadway press agent swap homes to escape the messiness of their personal lives, only to find new purpose—and new love.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner

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Meryl Wilsner’s spicy romance, their first with a nonbinary lead, where two lifelong best friends go on a nonrefundable honeymoon together and discover sometimes to find a happily ever after, you just have to ask.

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary

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Two strangers find themselves stranded at sea together in this epic new love story by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

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Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry.

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer comes a new playful yet deeply emotional contemporary romance.

The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle

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From the acclaimed author of Old Flames and New Fortunes comes a steamy enemies-to-lovers romantasy about a paranormal skeptic who is roped into a ghost hunting romp by the charming boy next door . . . who might just show her what real fantasies are made of.

Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage

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From the bestselling author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance in which past lovers get a second chance to rediscover what they lost.

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey

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A morbidly funny and emotionally resonant novel about the ways life—and love—can sneak up on us (no matter how much pepper spray we carry).

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

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The exciting new contemporary romance—and her first to feature a queer romance—by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory.

The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed

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A society matchmaker realizes she’s in danger when her clients’ weddings are sabotaged in increasingly disturbing ways—an utterly original mystery from the New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed.

MAY 2025

A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher

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A witch and a shifter get a second chance at love in this new paranormal romantic comedy from USA Today Bestselling author April Asher.

Flirty Dancing by Jennifer Moffatt

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Sparks fly in this summer romp for fans of Casey McQuiston when dancers at a Catskills resort try to pull off the perfect show, and find happiness and a place where they belong on the way.

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

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From the international bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adiós comes a steamy love story of a divorced schoolteacher who discovers that her perfect no-strings fling is anything but…

Not So Fast by Karen Booth

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It’s Formula One—getting revved up is all part of the fun in this sizzling, high-octane rom-com for fans of Rush and The Hating Game.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

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A radiant, new escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

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Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ―along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

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A former adolescent TV punch line has left her awkwardness in the rearview mirror thanks to a fake-it-till-you-make-it mantra that has her on the cusp of success, until she tells a lie that sets her on a crash course with her past, spending a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

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An emotional, irresistible second-chance romance filled with sparkling humor, big feelings, and “melt your face off intimacy” (Jessica Joyce).

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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Falling in love with your husband is anything but convenient in this steamy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Business or Pleasure.

Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake

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A small-town waitress and a Hollywood star’s worlds collide in this new romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date.

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

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No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

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A hilarious, unputdownable second-chance-romance about the most unlikely, gay roommate mishap. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.

JUNE 2025

Winging It With You by Chip Pons

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Popular bookstagrammer Chip Pons’s gay rom-com about two men who impulsively pose as a couple to compete in a reality show contest just minutes after meeting at an airport, and their run-in with the very real feelings that start to simmer between them.

The Ripple Effect by Maggie North

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A grumpy burnt out physician and a sunshine psychologist must fake an engagement to save his whitewater canoeing/ relationship therapy startup in Maggie North’s sparkling second novel about starting over.

If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel

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Ms. and Ms. Smith meets The Pairing in this heart-racing romance of secrets, spies, and steam.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

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A hitmaking songwriter and a bitter musician share a startling and inexplicable connection that they’ll do anything to shake, in the next sparkling, magical book from Ashley Poston.

Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter

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Cleat Cute meets Friday Night Lights in this funny, spicy, emotional new sapphic romance from Jodie Slaughter.

Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler

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Two estranged best friends find that their long-abandoned treasure hunt might be the key to a fresh start—for both their futures and their feelings, from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Adler.

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson

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A band reunion may be enough to change two musicians’ tune on love in this electric romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.

I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan

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In this contemporary novel from the author of Counting Down with You, singer-songwriter Summer Ali shakes things up with a PR stunt “dating” actor Jules Moradi, but the lines between real and fake begin to blur.

When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa

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The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a fun and flirty rom-com about a pact between friends that goes awry when one of them unexpectedly announces they’re getting married.

Writing Mr. Right by Alina Khawaja

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In this charming, delightfully original rom-com, a struggling writer’s muse suddenly comes to life, but can they create their own happily-ever-after?

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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Mulan is reimagined as a contemporary romance about family expectations, mistaken identity, and high stakes mergers—of both business and the heart.

Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle

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From the author of Just Some Stupid Love Story, an irresistible rom-com about what happens when a cruise ship romance goes…overboard

What 2025 romance books are you looking forward to reading? Any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Swoonworthy 2025 Romance Book Releases You Need appeared first on The Nerd Daily.