The story revolves around Dasha Avramov, who belongs to two of Thistle Grove’s founding witch families and holds the unique, darkly fascinating power of a devil eater. As the town gears up for the Cavalcade—a month-long festival that honours the founding families every two decades—Dasha faces not only the responsibilities of organising the event but also the personal demons of grief and regret. Harper’s signature immersive prose beautifully brings to life both the festive atmosphere of Thistle Grove and the sombre, otherworldly realms Dasha navigates.

The novel is as much about Dasha’s personal journey as it is about the external threats to Thistle Grove. Harper does a great job, as always, exploring the heavy themes of grief, depression, and suicidal ideation through Dasha’s struggles. This book isn’t just about romance or magic; it delves into how Dasha copes with the loss of her parents and the guilt she carries from her previous failed relationships, particularly with Ivy Thorn. The rawness of Dasha’s emotions makes her a compelling protagonist, one whose journey is as much about self-healing as it is about saving her town.

The relationship between Dasha and Ivy is a central thread, and while their romance is compelling, it’s not without its flaws. Some readers might find their reconciliation a bit too quick and convenient, especially considering the depth of their past hurts. However, their chemistry is undeniable, and Harper succeeds in portraying the push-and-pull of their dynamic with tenderness and sincerity. Ivy, grounded in her life magic and steady love, serves as the perfect counterbalance to Dasha’s turbulent emotions. Their relationship, though not as dramatically tense as in previous books, still offers a satisfying emotional journey, showcasing a love that endures despite immense challenges.

While Rise and Divine is undeniably a romance like the rest of the series, it also has a strong plotline involving a dark magical threat to Thistle Grove. The mystery of the demon haunting the Cavalcade adds an intriguing layer to the story, though some readers might find the resolution a bit predictable. Still, the magical elements, from the devil-eating abilities to the richly described celebrations, keep the narrative engaging and add depth to the world of Thistle Grove.

For those who have been following the series, the return of familiar characters is a welcome treat, though there’s a sense that some of them don’t get the spotlight they deserve. The book is clearly focused on Dasha and Ivy, which means that other beloved characters and storylines take a backseat. This might be disappointing for fans hoping for a more ensemble-focused finale. However, the glimpses we do get of the broader Thistle Grove community remind us of the intricate world Harper has built over the series, and it’s heartwarming to see how much the town and its residents have evolved.

In terms of pacing, the book starts a bit slow but picks up as the plot unfolds. Harper’s ability to blend magical lore with the characters’ personal struggles shines through, making Rise and Divine an emotionally resonant read despite its darker themes. The climax, involving the confrontation with the demon and Dasha’s ultimate decisions, carries the weight of the entire series and provides a satisfying conclusion to the overarching narrative.

That said, Rise and Divine might not be everyone’s favourite installment in the series. Its heavier focus on grief and inner turmoil, combined with the slightly predictable mystery and the quick reconciliation between Dasha and Ivy, could leave some readers feeling it doesn’t quite reach the heights of earlier books. However, it’s still a compelling, easy, and entertaining read that wraps up the series with heart and poignancy.

For fans of the series, Rise and Divine offers a fitting, and bittersweet, farewell to Thistle Grove, even if it leaves them wishing for more stories from this magical world.

Rise and Divine is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Rise and Divine? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis |  Goodreads

A magical romantic comedy sparkling with spells and witchcraft.

To save both her town and the woman who loves her against all odds, a witch haunted by loss must reckon with her turbulent past.

Even in a family of chaotic necromancers, Daria ‘Dasha’ Avramov has always been an outlier. An event planner at the Arcane Emporium occult megastore, Dasha is also a devil eater: a rare witch with a natural affinity for banishing demons and traversing the veil.

Still grieving the loss of her parents and plagued by a dangerous obsession with what lies beyond the other side of the veil, Dasha is both fiery and guarded, an expert at dodging commitment. Her one real regret is a devastating breakup with Ivy Thorn.

When they are forced to work together to plan a festival, Dasha hopes that sparks might fly once again. But as they confront the fault lines and passion lingering between them, Dasha and Ivy must also stand against an otherworldly threat unlike anything Thistle Grove has faced before.

The post Review: Rise and Divine by Lana Harper appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

For those looking for a little more spook in their reading list, we’ve put together a list of books that will make you feel like Halloween is just around the corner.

Someone You Can Build A Nest In by John Wiswell

Vibe: Monster romance
Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she’s fallen in love.

Dead Girls Walking by Sami Ellis

Vibe: Horror slasher
A shocking, spine-chilling YA horror slasher about a girl searching for her dead mother’s body at the summer camp that was once her serial killer father’s home.

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen

Vibe: When you want a bit of mystery with your horror
In a world where the dead can wake and walk among us, what is truly real?

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

Vibe: Romance with a side of revenge
The Woods All Black is equal parts historical horror, trans romance, and blood-soaked revenge, all set in 1920s Appalachia

Payback’s A Witch by Lana Harper

Vibe: Light on the horror, high on the magic
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling rom-com by Lana Harper.

 A Misfortune of Lake Monsters by Nicole Wolverton

Vibe: Summertime monster horror
When a very real, and very hungry monster is discovered in the lake, secrets must fall by the wayside. Determined to stop the monster, Lemon and her best friends are the only thing standing between Devil’s Elbow and the monster out for blood.

Spooky season may still be too far away, but hopefully these books will help bridge the gap!

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

The post Six Books To Read When Spooky Season Is Still Too Far Away appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Lana Harper’s In Charm’s Way, which is out August 22nd.

Six months after having been hit by a power surge that nearly obliterated her memory, Delilah Harlow is still picking up the pieces. Her once diamond-sharp mind has become shaky and unreliable, and bristly, self-sufficient Delilah is forced to rely on friends, family, and her raven familiar for help. In an effort to reclaim her wits and former independence, she casts a dangerous blood spell meant to harness power with healing capacities.

While the spell does restore clarity, it also unexpectedly turns Delilah into an irresistible beacon for the kind of malevolent supernatural creatures that have never before ventured into Thistle Grove. One night—just as things are about to go terribly sideways with a rogue succubus—a mysterious stranger appears in the nick of time to save Delilah’s soul.

Gorgeous, sultry, and as dangerous as the knives she carries, Catriona Quinn is a hunter of monsters—and half-human, half-fae herself, she is the kind of sly and morally gray creature Delilah would normally find horrifying. Though Delilah balks at the idea of a partnership, she has no choice but to roll the dice on their collaboration. As the two delve deeper into the power that underlies Thistle Grove, they uncover not only the town’s hidden history but also a risky attraction that could upend Delilah’s entire life.

Excerpt

Flames and stars, living in this town could be exhausting.

I sank down by the tree’s base, pebbles and blades of grass pressing imprints into my bare knees. Then I closed my eyes and reached for the flower, cupping my hands around it without grazing the petals.

Sensing the flow of magic, Montalban brought her focus to bear on the spell, too, facilitating my work with it. She couldn’t make me stronger than I was; that wasn’t how familiars helped. But her added attention was like a lens held to the sun-anything I cast, she rendered finer and more precise.

Like most magically imbued flora, viridians couldn’t just be plucked by mundane means. They needed to be harvested with the use of a particular preservation spell, to keep their potency intact. Magical botany was like that; infinitely fascinating and challenging, and also finicky as fuck. Hence, why I loved it. It demanded expertise and finesse, a deep understanding of theories and disciplines that the other Thistle Grove families largely cast aside in favor of relying on their natural talents. Even the Thorns didn’t bother with it much, given their affinity for magically coaxing plants into simply doing whatever it was they wanted them to do.

But arcane knowledge, and its practical applications . . . that was where Harlows shone.

Especially this Harlow.

I took a slow breath, twitching my fingers into the delicate position called for by the spell, lips parting to speak the incantation. The words floated into my mind’s eye in swooping antique copperplate; I could even picture the yellowed page upon which the rhyming couplets had been inked.

Then the entirety of the charm sluiced out of my head like water sliding through a sieve.

All of it, vanished in an instant. The words themselves, the lovely script, the aged grain of the paper. Where the memory had lived, there was now nothing. A cold and empty darkness, a void like a miniature black hole whorling in my head.

The panic that gushed through me was instantaneous, a prickling flood that engulfed me from the crown of my head to the tips of my toes, a flurry of icy pins sinking into my skin. And even worse was the terrible sense of dislocation that accompanied it, as if the entire world had spun wildly on its axis around me before falling back into place subtly misaligned. I’d known that spell, only moments ago. Now, I didn’t. It was simply gone, lost, as if it had been plucked directly out of my head by some merciless, meticulous set of tweezers.

“Crawwww!” Montalban croaked into my ear, shifting fretfully from foot to foot as my distress seeped into her.

“I’m okay,” I managed, through the terrible tightening in my throat. “It’s okay.”

But it wasn’t. It felt nauseatingly like existing in two realities at once. One in which I was the old Delilah, a living library, a vast and unimpeachable repository of arcane information. And another in which I was a tabula rasa, almost no one at all. Just a facsimile of a person rather than anybody real and whole.

The dissonance of it was horrifying, a primal terror unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. The way, I imagined, some people might fear death, that ultimate disintegration of self if you truly believed nothing else came after.

Though to me, the idea of living with a mind that couldn’t be trusted felt worse than even the possibility of a truly final oblivion.

I sank back onto my haunches, wrapping my arms around my chest. Goose bumps had erupted along the expanse of my skin, and I broke into a clammy sweat despite the buzzy warmth of the air, the humid heat that permeated the forest from the lake. “It’s okay,” I whispered to myself under my breath, rocking back and forth, feeling abysmally pathetic and weak even as Montalban nuzzled my cheek, desperate to provide some comfort. “You’re alright. Try to relax and let it pass over you. Like a reed in the river, remember? Don’t fight against the current, because the current always wins.”

Sometimes, the simple relaxation mantra Ivy had improvised for me from her meditation practice worked, bleeding off some of the panic. Other times, it did absolute fuck all.

The worst part was that no one understood why this was still happening to me. As a Harlow recordkeeper, I should have been shielded from a conventional oblivion glamour in the first place. Given our role as the memory keepers of our community, Thistle Grove’s formal occult historians, we were all bespelled to be immune to such attacks. But Nina’s form of the spell had been superpowered, whipped to unfathomable heights by the kernel of divinity that had been lodged inside her, the deity’s favor she’d been granted by Belisama.

Why that entitled Blackmoore bitch had been deemed deserving of a goddess’s favor in the first place was still beyond me.

In any case, even after the mega-glamour dissolved-helped along by my cousin Emmy’s and my uncle James’s efforts-I wasn’t rid of it entirely. Six months later, I still sometimes lost memories like this, little aftershocks of oblivion riving through me even after all this time. Other times, I reached for knowledge that I should have had-that I knew I’d once possessed-only to discover an utter, sucking absence in its place. As if some vestigial remnant of the spell lurked inside me like a malevolent parasite, a magical malaria that only occasionally reared up.

The lost memories did return sometimes, if I relaxed enough in the moment, or if I was able to revisit their original source-reread the page that held the charm, pore over the missing diagram. But sometimes they simply didn’t, as if my brain had been rewired and was now inured to retaining that piece of information. And it was all horribly unpredictable. Just when I’d begun to tentatively hope that I might be on the upswing, I’d tumble into yet another mental vortex, a churning quagmire where I’d once reliably found the diamond edges of my mind.

But the self-soothing methods Ivy had taught me were always worth at least a try. I repeated the sappy “reed in a river” mantra to myself several more times-trying my damnedest not to feel like someone who’d ever wear Spiritual Gangster apparel in earnest-all the while inhaling deliberately through my nose and exhaling out of my mouth. The familiar smell of Lady’s Lake calmed me, too, the distinctive scent of the magic that rolled off the water and through the woods, coursing down the mountainside to wash over the town. It was the strongest up here, an intoxicating smell like some layered incense. Earthy and musky and sweet, redolent of frankincense and myrrh laced with amber and oakmoss.

As a Harlow, my sense of the lake’s magic was both more intimate and more acute than that of members of the other families-and the flow of it up here, so close to its wellspring, reassured me. Left me safe in the knowledge that I was still Delilah of Thistle Grove, on her knees on Hallows Hill with her beloved familiar on her shoulder. A Harlow witch exactly where she belonged.

Abruptly, the harvesting charm slid back into my mind. A little frayed around the edges, some of the words blurring in and out of sight, as if my memory were a dulled lens that had lost some of its focus. But it was back, restored, intact enough that I would be able to use it to collect the viridian.

“Oh, thank you,” I breathed on a tremulous sigh, my limbs turning jellied with relief, unsure whom I was even thanking. Ivy’s mantra, the goddess Belisama, the magic itself? When it came down to it, it didn’t really matter.

Sometimes, you had to take the smallest of victories and run with them.

Sometimes, they were all you had to cling to.

Excerpted from In Charm’s Way by Lana Harper Copyright © 2023 by Lana Harper. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.

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Read on to discover just a few of our August romance picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you’re looking forward to!

Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

Curves for Days by Laura Moher
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

The Roommate Pact by Allison Ashley
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

The Love Plot by Samantha Young
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

New Adult by Timothy Janovsky
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

Rent to Be by Sonia Hartl
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

Change of Plans by Dylan Newton
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

The Witch Is Back by Sophie H. Morgan
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Love is a hex of a thing. Former childhood sweethearts fake a relationship in this charming, witchy romcom.

Big Little Spells by Hazel Beck
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A smart, modern Rom-Com about a witch banished from her coven who seeks help from the only person who can prove she’s not a threat to witchkind: her annoyingly immortal childhood crush.

Codename Charming by Lucy Parker
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Following Battle Royal, beloved author Lucy Parker pens another delicious romantic comedy about a fake relationship between a grumpy royal bodyguard and the charming, sunny assistant who melts his cold, hard exterior.

The Déjà Glitch by Holly James
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

To break out of a 24-hour time loop, all Jack needs is for Gemma to fall in love with him in a single day. All Gemma needs is to remember him first . . .

In Charm’s Way by Lana Harper
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A witch struggling to regain what she has lost casts a forbidden spell—only to discover much more than she expected, in this enchanting new rom-com by New York Times bestselling author Lana Harper.

Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

From the author of THE MATZAH BALL and MR. PERFECT ON PAPER comes this hilarious and emotional rivals-to-lovers romance.

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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

What August 2023 romance reads are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post August 2023 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

One way I slack off when I should be writing is to brainstorm new Dungeons & Dragons characters. I play too—but my favorite part is building characters. Maybe that’s why Lark, the main character in Text Appeal, uses her Dungeon Master skills as inspiration for those risqué texts she’s sending…

Whether you’re an RPG fan who has already sunk hours to the Baldur’s Gate III release, an old-school tabletop gamer like me, or just want some steamy romance recommendations—thank you very much—I’ve paired each of 5e’s 12 D&D classes with two romance recommendations based on tropes and character qualities that fit the vibe.

Barbarian

While Barbarians are mostly known for combat, I submit that a sharp tongue is as useful as a sharp sword. Therefore, I’m focusing on the class’s courage and connections, rather than brute force and tempers.

• Okay, I’m not going to be quite so literal with the rest of these recommendations, but the obvious choice here is Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. Viv, an orc barbarian tired of the bounty hunting lifestyle, swaps her sword for an espresso machine. The story features a slow burn romance that, quite like classic drip coffee, is perfectly satisfying.
• Barbarians often form strong relationships with members of their adventuring parties, like Dylan and Jack—the couple in Wanderlust by Elle Everhart. They grow close despite their differences while traveling the world. Both characters are ambitious and driven, too… important Barbarian qualities!

Bard

I firmly believe that the Bard—a performer, musician, or storyteller—is a seriously underrated class, which is why I’m giddy that Vox Machina gave us the spectacular Scanlan, and that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves rewarded us Bard-enthusiasts with Chris Pine as Edgin. To fill your need for Bard books, check these out.

• Hollis Hollenbeck, the broody, grumpy love interest in Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler, would smugly accept the label of Bard—but he’ll have to fight Millie for the title, since her road trip playlist is nothing short of magic.
• In the Case of Heartbreak by Courtney Kae features cinnamon roll Ben and the swooniest musician love interest, Adam, who woos with way more Bard energy than any one person should possess.

Cleric

A cleric serves a deity and is sworn to protect—sometimes by choice, sometimes against their wishes. Yep, we’re going with political intrigue here.

• I’ve been watching the Red, White & Royal Blue trailer on repeat since it dropped and can’t wait to smash the play button when the movie releases. Not including Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston in this round-up would be unforgivable. Tradition-bound Prince Henry and the First Son of the United States, Alex, navigating love amid public scrutiny? Sounds like a couple of Clerics to me!
• When Rachel catches her mayor husband having an affair in The Art of Scandal by Regina Black, the couple settles on an arrangement: to keep his political dreams alive, Rachel plays the role of the perfect mayor’s wife in exchange for a lavish lifestyle—until she finds unexpected love that’s worth risking it all.

Druid

With magic that revolves around a connection to flora and fauna, pairing books with the Druid class is easy-peasy—especially when you add shapeshifting to the mix.

• The forthcoming The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson features two wolf shifters, Noah and Mackenzie, who agree to fake date, but catch feelings along the way. Yeah, this book was 100 percent written for Druids.
• Jen Devon’s Bend Toward the Sun lands within the Druid category for another reason: emotions. Healing and connection during a year at a vineyard might be enough to restore balance in Rowan and Harry’s turbulent lives.

Fighter

A Fighter needs to be able to deal damage, but also take it. If you love the tension of winner-takes-all books that pit love interests against each other, then this is where to look.

• Just My Type by Falon Ballard features Lana and Seth, two journalists set against each other to compete in a series of challenges to win a dream job. The catch? They’re high school exes with a whole lot of leftover tension.
• Chef’s Kiss by TJ Alexander has all the opposites attract and enemies-to-lovers goodness that makes for great romance—and Simone and Ray also battle workplace discrimination alongside supportive friends and colleagues.

Monk

Some Monks choose a secluded lifestyle to focus on the study of powerful energy, which sounds quite a bit like disappearing into a small town or somewhere off-the-beaten-path to find oneself.

• Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle features Maybell, who inherits a house in the Smokies, and Wesley, the groundskeeper who co-inherited the secluded space. Elbow grease and introspection serve them the sweetest Happily Ever After.
• You can’t get more isolated than being stranded on a deserted island, like in Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade. Unexpected co-stars filming together for six(!!) years on a desolate island after a one-night stand makes for some spectacular pining.

Paladin

Adventurous, loyal, and on a quest: Paladins have the power to heal and are driven to protect. This class stands for good and right and justice, but that doesn’t come without some internal struggle.

• In Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly, Alexei and Ben meet while hiking the many-thousands-of-miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, and end up journeying—and growing, and learning, and healing—together. This book is simply all the good things so it’s only natural it lands in the Paladin category.
• Ruby Spencer, of Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year by Rochelle Bilow, is on a year-long adventure in Scotland to fulfill a personal quest: writing a cookbook, drinking whisky, and figuring out life. Falling for Brochan wasn’t part of the plan, but what kind of adventure doesn’t include side quests?

Ranger

Adventure and travel, that’s the life of the fiercely protective, independent Ranger. But there’s another layer to this class, too: A little vengeance may be unavoidable as Rangers answer the call.

• Energetic Cassidy and uptight Luke are on separate missions with similar selfless goals in Planes Trains, and All the Feels by Livy Hart. In true Ranger fashion, their travel plans go awry, so they travel together—and discover fantastic procrastination techniques to delay them further.
• Can we just pause a moment to admire Sarah MacLean’s strong, independent women characters? The Hell’s Belles series has it all: Vigilante shit, danger, and tough women hunting down real-life monsters (aka the patriarchy).

Rogue

The class that welcomes assassins, grifters, and thieves: Rogue is the class I’m most likely to play. There’s no question about the best romance tropes here: Hello, heist books!

• Victorian fantasy romance is exactly the thing I never knew I needed in my life, until I found The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton. Pirates? Check. Magic flying houses? Check. Cloak-and-dagger lady thieves? Multiple checks.
• For more heist shenanigans, pick up To Have and to Heist by Sara Desai. The vibes here are spot-on: Simi and her topsy-turvy team must pull off a jewelry heist during a flashy wedding—but because it’s a romantic comedy, odds are her heart’s about to be stolen, too.

Sorcerer

Whether you play as a staunch, by-the-rules Sorcerer who honed their inherited magic through years of careful study, or you prefer messing around with raw, uncontrolled power to see what sticks, this class is all about paranormal romance books.

• For those chaos gremlins who aren’t afraid of haphazard magic, try Every Wish Way by Shannon Bright. When Iza summons a personal wish-granter and asks him to provide a modern-day Mr. Darcy, she quickly learns that wishes and magic are more complicated than they seem.
• Get your magical books fix with the Witches of Thistle Grove series by Lana Harper: Magic gone haywire, casting spells you shouldn’t be fiddling with, and strangers messing around with dangerous sorcery? The fourth in the series, In Charm’s Way, hits shelves in August 2023.

Warlock

Warlocks thirst for knowledge, but often must bargain to find what they seek. Obviously, with a bargain involved, I’m taking this one the fake dating route first.

• In Fly with Me by Andie Burke, ER nurse Olive goes viral after saving someone’s life on a plane. Willing to do anything for a much-deserved promotion, Stella, the pilot from the flight, suggests a mutually beneficial fake relationship that turns steamier than originally planned.
• In the “knowledge” category, we have eager Finn from Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon, who is a perfect match for the knowledge-seeking Warlock. I was equally gone for brilliant Chandler as I was for delightfully nerdy Finn while the School of Sexual Satisfaction was in session.

Wizard

While they’re magic-wielders, Wizards also have a scholarly streak. After all, where would they be without the mentors and apprenticeships that helped hone their skills? Wizards will appreciate adventurous romance books that feature discovery, ancient ruins, and maybe a little glimpse into the future.

• Corrie (“Dr. Meija” please, she’s worked hard for that title!) treks into the Mexican jungle on an archaeological expedition in Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura. Her quest for knowledge is threatened first by her nemesis, Dr. Ford Matthews, butting in on her mission, then by smugglers, crime, danger—and love?
• Rule-bending players who get their kicks messing with space/time via creative spellwork, check out Ashley Poston’s The Seven Year Slip. Clementine “Lemon” West is protecting her heart while recovering from the loss of her beloved aunt, but a magical pinch in time brings hot chef Iwan into her life. The catch is that their timelines are mismatched…by seven years.

This Very Scientific List features two book recommendations for each Dungeons & Dragons class, but where do you start? My advice: Read them all. I have a few ideas of where my debut romcom, Text Appeal, fits in this list of classes, but I’m curious to see where everyone else thinks it lands

The post Top Romance Recommendations Based on Your D&D Class appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

There’s something absolutely perfect about two people who seem like total opposites finding each other and falling in love. It is, without a doubt, my favorite character pairing when it comes to romance—opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, whatever you want to call it. It’s why I chose this particular pairing for my new contemporary romance, ACCIDENTALLY IN LOVE. When two people with fundamentally different personalities find a way to overcome obstacles (often deliciously angsty and pent-up in nature), argue a bit (or a lot), and end up completely besotted.

Here are a few recent-ish Grumpy/Sunshine pairings that I’ve enjoyed…

HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE  by Talia Hibbert

Talia Hibbert is, in my opinion, one of the best authors writing grumpy-sunshine pairings. In her YA romance debut, Celine and Bradley are former childhood friends and current academic rivals for a competitive and prestigious internship. Celine—the grump—is totally flummoxed by Bradley—the sunshine—who has seemingly coasted through school on his charm, good looks, ease with academics, and athleticism. Bradley, on the other hand, finds Celine both annoyingly correct all the time as well as adorably nerdy, all with the incessant ability to prove him wrong. Their former friendship means they know what makes the other tick, which ramps up the rivalry. I adored watching these two overcome their past grievances and show true vulnerability!

THE VERY SECRET SOCIETY OF IRREGULAR WITCHES  by Sangu Mandanna

If you want to lean into witchy cottagecore ahead of Halloween, this is the book for you! Mika is a secret witch and member of a society of witches living in England. After spending most of her life alone and hiding her powers, she’s tapped to train a few orphans with magical abilities. Mika is charmed by the wonderfully welcoming group of people she meets at Nowhere House, and wonders if she has found a new family to be a part of… that is, if she can figure out a way to get along with the incredibly broody librarian, Jamie. Mika is lovely in spite of her solitary upbringing. Jamie is a perfect foil and love interest—he’s a bit taciturn and quite introverted (what else do we want in a grumpy librarian? Nothing, as far as I can tell!), and can’t help but be enchanted by Mika’s warm demeanor.

FORGET ME NOT  by Julie Soto

A second-chance romance about a wedding planner who has to work with her florist ex on the highest profile wedding of her career? When I heard this premise, I was intrigued. But when I found out it was also a grumpy-sunshine pairing, I was INVESTED. Ama takes on this influencer wedding to raise her profile in the wedding industry, but she’s taken aback when she has to work with her ex, Elliot, on the floral arrangements. When these two put aside their differences (sort of, LOL) and work together, they are so in sync and create something spectacular… which of course leads to absolutely *fire* steamy scenes.

TAKE A HIKE  by Mimi Grace

The character of Raven is my favorite type of sunshine; she has a heart of gold but is totally chaotic in everything she does. When she inherits an outdoor tourism business, she decides to spend a few months working there, even though she’s not sure she wants to keep it and she’s never really done anything like it before. Silas is grumpy for *reasons* and had his sights set on taking over the business, but he’s thwarted—and intrigued—by Raven’s arrival. The banter between Raven and Silas is top notch and when they finally get together it’s SO much fun.

BACK IN A SPELL  by Lana Harper

Nina Blackmoore is known around town as an ice queen. After her fiancée jilted her at the altar a year ago, Nina finally lets her guard down for one random date with Morty Gutierrez, the nonbinary bartender at the local dive bar. But when things go awry and Morty suddenly has magical powers—perhaps because of a spell Nina accidentally cast that may or may not have caught the attention of a goddess—Nina finds herself drawn to Morty and their easygoing acceptance. Morty is the perfect person to get under Nina’s skin but they also made it clear that they support her no matter what comes next… even if it means they’ll both lose the favor of a goddess! Nina has to learn to let go of control, both for the safety of Thistle Grove and her own happiness.

The post Danielle Jackson’s Grumpy-Sunshine Book Recommendations appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Vibrantly funny, endearingly sweet, and a love letter to all things rom com, Jayne Denker’s The Rom Com Agenda is a story of two people finding love right when they least expect it.

The Reunion by Kayla Olson
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When two former teen stars reconnect at the reunion for their hit TV show, they discover their feelings for one another were not merely scripted in this charming and heartwarming novel perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.

A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett
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You couldn’t design a better hero than the very eligible and extremely charming Earl Grantham. Unless, of course, you are Margaret Gault, who wants nothing to do with the man who broke her youthful heart.

You Should Smile More by Anastasia Ryan
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When Vanessa Blair is fired because of her “resting bitch face,” her friends help her launch a revenge plan that’ll bring down the whole company.

One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny
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When his sister’s betrothed vanishes the night before her politically arranged marriage, Raff Barden must track and return the elusive groom to restore his family’s honour.

A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase
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The journey of a thousand miles begins with sequins and a beehive wig in this sharply funny and achingly tender debut novel about mothers, daughters, and the surprising power of Elvis.

Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
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A romance novel–obsessed social media influencer revisits her exes on her hunt for true love in this romantic comedy from the author of Set On You.

Behind the Scenes by Karelia Stetz-Waters
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Fans of Abby Jimenez and Meryl Wilsner will fall in love with this hilarious and refreshingly authentic novel about second chances, pugs, and finding the perfect muse . . .

Make a Wish by Helena Hunting
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
With her signature charm, Hunting completes the Spark sisters’ trilogy in Make a Wish, a second chance-romance sure to leave you reeling. 

Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
From The Astronaut and the Star author Jen Comfort comes a wildly electric romance about two musicians who collide on the stage of a Nevada opera house.

Back in a Spell by Lana Harper
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
An awkward first date leads to a sparkling romance between one of the most powerful witches in town and a magical newbie in this rom-com.

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
This sweet, enemies-to-lovers debut rom-com filled with Chinese astrology will undoubtedly prove to be a perfect match with readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Helena Hunting.

Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni
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An Armenian-American woman rediscovers her roots and embraces who she really is in this vibrant and heartfelt queer rom-com by debut author Taleen Voskuni.

Do I Know You? By Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
When a couple starts to feel like they’re married to a stranger, a flirtatious game of pretend becomes the spark they need to reignite their relationship.

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
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With writing Jasmine Guillory has described as “emotional and real,” the acclaimed author of Love Lettering and Love at First weaves stories both transporting and relatable – modern love stories that readers immediately identify with and take to heart. Wise and witty, threaded through with a complex, emotionally fulfilling romance, Kate Clayborn’s unforgettable new novel echoes with timely questions about love, career, reconciling with the past, and finding your way.

Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a collection of steamy, STEMinist novellas featuring a trio of engineers and their loves in loathing—with a special bonus chapter!

What January romance reads are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post January 2023 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Lana Harper’s Back In A Spell, which is the third installment in The Witches of Thistle Grove series and releases on January 3rd 2023.

Even though she won’t deny her love for pretty (and pricey) things, Nineve Blackmoore is almost painfully down-to-earth and sensible by Blackmoore standards. But after a year of nursing a broken heart inflicted by the fiancée who all but ditched her at the altar, the powerful witch is sick of feeling low and is ready to try something drastically different: a dating app.

At her best friend’s urging, Nina goes on a date with Morty Gutierrez, the nonbinary, offbeat soul of spontaneity and co-owner of the Shamrock Cauldron. Their date goes about as well as can be expected of most online dates—awkward and terrible. To make matters worse, once Morty discovers Nina’s last name, he’s far from a fan; it turns out that the Blackmoores have been bullishly trying to buy the Shamrock out from under Morty and his family.

But when Morty begins developing magical powers—something that usually only happens to committed romantic partners once they officially join a founding family—at the same time that Nina’s own magic surges beyond her control, Nina must manage Morty’s rude awakening to the hidden magical world, uncover its cause, and face the intensity of their own burgeoning connection. But what happens when that connection is tied to Nina’s power surge, a power she’s finding nearly as addictive as Morty’s presence in her life?

In the meantime, I took myself to the Avalon, my favorite of our on-site restaurants. I’d always loved its “luxurious monastery” aesthetic; graceful stonemasonry, a soaring double-vaulted cathedral ceiling, Moorish peak windows, azure stained glass reflecting the flames of the candles held by the silver candelabra chandeliers. The reflection of the water from the moat flung rippling light through the windows, dappling their colors across the stone and lending the interior an ethereal air, as if you were in an underwater chapel.

There, I proceeded to order just about everything on the menu.

I was starving, in a way that felt completely unfamiliar. I was no stranger to carb-loading, or the ravenous frenzy that often set in post-marathon, but this was an entirely different level of “stranded in the desert for a week” hunger. I ordered three appetizers, followed by two entrees and a dessert, asking the (slightly scandalized and clearly confounded) server to please bring out everything as soon as it was ready, and not worry too much about any kind of “order.”

As I devoured hamachi ceviche served over ice, truffled poutine fries, and the slow-simmered French onion soup that made me weak in the knees even when I was just normal hungry, it occurred to me that even though I was more voracious than I’d ever been, I didn’t actually feel depleted or weak. Instead, I felt wonderful, aglow with a pervasive sense of well-being and serenity, as if casting that spell had burned away the last remnants of my hangover, scoured through me like some purging flame. Stranger still, I felt like after a solid lunch, I would be completely game for doing it again.

I was diving into the surf-and-turf with scalloped cheesy potatoes when Morty found me.

I paused mid-chew, so surprised to see him here that for a moment I thought I must be imagining him; maybe some kind of hallucinatory aftereffect of having channeled the strongest spell I’d ever cast in my life. He was wearing heavy, Soviet-looking boots and a vintage sheepskin duster that nearly brushed the floor, a dusting of snow sparkling in his windblown ruff of hair. Those ridiculous gemstone eyes skimmed over the tables that were almost entirely empty save for me in my banquette; the Avalon did serve all day, but this was off peak, too late for lunch and not quite dinner time. There was only one other couple, huddled over their drinks, too engaged in what was clearly an intense conversation to pay mind to anyone else.

As soon as he spotted me, Morty made a beeline in my direction, radiating a very disconcerting vibe as he slid into the seat opposite me without even bothering to dust off the snow from his collar.

“Uh, hello,” I ventured, forcing down my bite as I eyed him warily. “I don’t mean to come off rude, but what the hell are you doing here?”

He shrugged off the duster in one smooth motion, tossing it off his shoulders and bundling it behind him. Then he flicked his head to the side to clear snow-spangled hair from his eyes, in a gesture that was, despite everything, infuriatingly attractive. Fixing me with a brilliant blue glare, he held both hands above the table, palms up.

“I’m here because I woke up this morning,” he said through his teeth, his voice an unnerving mixture of furious and terrified, “being able to do this.”

Brow knitting, he gazed down at his blurry tattooed palms—where a dancing shimmer of gold suddenly sprang to life above each. Twin swirling globes of witchlight.

A baby illusionist spell, one of the first that Blackmoore witches learned to do.

My jaw dropped open, and I found myself struck speechless for what was possibly the first time in my entire life. I was a lot of things, but “lacking in words” did not tend to be one of them. How in the triple goddess’s name could a normie, and Mortimer Gutierrez of all people, suddenly cast a working—and one that was such traditionally Blackmoore magic?

I glanced back at up at his face, my gaze shifting between his eyes as I waited, without much real hope, for the oblivion glamour to set in. But no such luck; his eyes remained clear and steady, completely unmuddled, blazing with that electric heart-of-flame blue. The unsettling mixture of fear and rage in them tugged at me again in a way I didn’t like, plucking on my heartstrings.

Angry as he clearly was, he also looked… vulnerable.

“So, you’re really gonna just sit there and stare at me, pretend like you don’t have the first clue about this?” he demanded. “Is that the play here?”

I drew my lips through my teeth, thinking furiously. “I’m not sure what it is you want me to say,” I replied carefully. “I don’t understand how you’re doing that, whatever that even is. What am I seeing here?”

“Kindly cut the shit, Nina,” he hissed through his teeth as he leaned forward across the table, the witchlights casting flickering glimmers over his face. “I know you know something about this. And you know why? Because I’ve seen your people do this—this sparkly crap before. That fuckweasel Gareth—”

“Do you feel like calling my brother a fuckweasel is conducive to this conversation?” I asked him, as calmly as I could, my fingers curling around the table’s lip so hard that splinters threatened.

Morty cut himself off, closing his eyes and taking two ragged breaths.

“Okay,” he muttered, more to himself than me. When he opened his eyes, they were the slightest bit steadier, more distraught than angry, and that damned inconvenient sympathy reared back up in me again. “Alright. Maybe I’m coming in a little hot, yeah. I don’t—this isn’t me, you know? I don’t do toxic man-rage, that’s not my style. I’m just, like, extremely thrown over here? I got a little too deep into the drinks last night after you left, because, full disclosure, I felt kind of shitty about how things went down between us—”

“Thanks for that,” I murmured, thinking how sad-funny it was that we’d both been doing the same thing, in our separate ways.

“Yeah. I mean, definitely a topic for another time, but anyway.” He took another shuddering breath, gave himself a little shake. “So I slept in this morning, and when I got up I was late to… to a thing I really needed to be on time for, so. Then the fucking light in my bathroom died, because of course, why not. So I was just thinking to myself, ‘really wish I had some goddamn light to shave’… and then, bam!”

He gave a harried, half-hysterical little laugh, staring down at the witchlights still flickering sinuously above his palms.

“And then this happened,” he finished, curling his fingers around them to extinguish them. It was such a natural way to huff out that particular spell that it threw me a little; it didn’t look like something a beginner would have done. The instinct to blow the lights out like candle flames tended to be a strong one. “And I suddenly—I just remembered out of the blue, all these times that fu—your brother Gareth used to come into my bar. Do flashy shit like this like a magic trick, to pull some tourist for the night.”

I exhaled, clenching my jaw, because this tracked, unfortunately. Even with the town-wide oblivion glamour in place, we weren’t supposed to cast in public, but that didn’t mean all of us always complied with the prohibition.

And my brother really could be the most spectacular fuckweasel that way.

“But I always forgot,” he said, confusion brewing in his face. “All those other times, I just forgot about it, somehow, almost as soon as it happened. Until this morning. This morning, I remembered everything—and now, I can apparently even do it! So. That’s why I’m here.”

“How did you know where to find me?” I asked, a coal lump of dread landing in my belly with a sickening thud. Because I was starting to get a profoundly unfortunate inkling of what the answer to that might be, something I very much did not want to be the case.

“I don’t even know!” he exclaimed, with another shrill half laugh. “I could just… tell where you were? Feel you, somehow? That’s when I got really spooked, like, am I losing my entire mind right now? Do I have a brain tumor or something, am I fucking hallucinating this whole deal? How is that possible—how is any of this possible or real? I didn’t even believe it until I got here, and here you were. Exactly where I thought you’d be. Where I knew I’d find you.”

I took an unsteady breath myself, splaying my hands flat on the table to find some badly needed purchase as panic rolled through me like an avalanche. Because there was a way that some normies were able to come into magic even if they weren’t born into it. There was a way they could come to feel the presence of a certain special witch even from a distance.

It just couldn’t possibly be happening right now, and definitely not to the two of us.

It couldn’t be.

“Nina,” Morty said, half-pleading, leaning over the table with distress etched into every fine line of his face. “Just tell me, okay? I won’t even be mad, I swear, I just need to understand. What is this paranormal activity shit? What did you do to me?”

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Back In A Spell’ by Lana Harper appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

From bittersweet endings to a romance trilogy following three sparkling sisters, to magical shenanigans that find characters fake dating a demon to please their family and steamy marriage of conveniences with your secret crush and romance books cover model—our romance-loving hearts are beating faster just looking at what’s on the menu for the first half of 2023!

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2023 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Queer Books lists!

JANUARY

Make a Wish by Helena Hunting
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With her signature charm, Hunting completes the Spark sisters’ trilogy in Make a Wish, a second chance-romance sure to leave you reeling. Ever have a defining life moment you wish you could do over? Harley Spark has one. The time she almost kissed the widowed father of the toddler she nannied for. It was so bad they moved across the state and she never saw them again. Fast forward seven years and she’s totally over it. At least she thinks she is. Until Gavin Rhodes and his adorable now nine-year-old daughter, Peyton, reappear at a princess-themed birthday party hosted by Spark House, Harley’s family’s event hotel.

Behind the Scenes by Karelia Stetz-Waters
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Business consultant Rose Josten might not have officially reached “pug lady” middle age, but she’s already got the pugs—along with their little Gucci coats and trash-lovin’ appetites. Still, life is good, with her work, her sisters, and a secret hobby creating incredibly tactile (if surprisingly sexy) mindfulness videos. So why does it feel like it’s not quite enough? Which is exactly when former filmmaker Ash Stewart enters camera left, and Rose’s world suddenly goes full technicolor . . .

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen
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Always a matchmaker, never a match…Olivia Huang Christenson is excited-slash-terrified to be taking over her grandmother’s matchmaking business. But when she learns that a new dating app has made her Pó Po’s traditional Chinese zodiac approach all about “animal attraction,” her emotions skew more toward furious-slash-outraged. Especially when L.A.’s most-eligible bachelor Bennett O’Brien is behind the app that could destroy her family’s legacy . . .

Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From The Astronaut and the Star author Jen Comfort comes a wildly electric romance about two musicians who collide on the stage of a Nevada opera house.

Back in a Spell by Lana Harper
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An awkward first date leads to a sparkling romance between one of the most powerful witches in town and a magical newbie in this rom-com.

Do I Know You? By Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a couple starts to feel like they’re married to a stranger, a flirtatious game of pretend becomes the spark they need to reignite their relationship.

FEBRUARY

Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher
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In April Asher’s next Supernatural Singles novel, Not Your Ex’s Hexes, a one-night-stand between a willful witch and a broody half-demon conjures an adventure that wouldn’t be complete without several magical mishaps.

Radiant Sin by Katee Robert
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There’s nowhere more dangerous than Olympus…and no one more captivating than its golden god: Apollo. Keeper of secrets, master of his shining realm…and the only man Cassandra is powerless to deny. A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Apollo and Cassandra that’s as sinful as it is sweet.

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author and TikTok favorite Tessa Bailey comes a steamy new rom-com about a starchy professor and the bubbly neighbor he clashes with at every turn…

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
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A shy bookworm enlists her charming neighbor to help her score a date, not knowing he’s the obscure author she’s been corresponding with.

Best Served Hot by Amanda Elliot
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Two restaurant critics learn their opposing tastes might make for a five-star relationship in the next foodie romantic comedy from the author of Sadie on a Plate.

Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year by Rochelle Bilow
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When a thirty-something American food writer moves to a Scottish village for one year to fulfill her dream of writing a cookbook she finds more than inspiration–she meets a handsome Scotsman she can’t resist.

MARCH

Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly
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From the author of Love & Other Disasters comes a sparkling grumpy-meets-sunshine romance featuring two men’s sweeping journey across the Western wilderness.

A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley
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Mariel Spark knows not to trust a demon, especially one that wants her soul, but what’s a witch to do when he won’t leave her side—and she kind of doesn’t want him to?

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles
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Bridgerton meets Poldark in this sweeping LGBTQIA+ Regency romance from award-winning author KJ Charles! 

Ellie Is Cool Now by Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren
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In this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, one woman finds that to keep her dream job, she’ll have to face her worst nightmare: high school.

Right Girl, Wrong Side by Ginny Baird
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Baird brings her signature charm to this multicultural story about two disputing families sharing a beach house and the messiness that comes from falling in love with someone who your family is determined to despise.

The Love Wager by Lynn Painter
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Two people make a wager on who can find love first, not realizing what they should be betting on is each other, in this new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, New York Times bestselling author of Mr. Wrong Number.

APRIL

Happy Place by Emily Henry
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A couple who broke up months ago make a pact to pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends in this glittering and wise new novel from Emily Henry.

Just As You Are by Camille Kellogg
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Equal parts witty and steamy, this debut rom-com brings a healthy dose of queerness and a whole lot of heart to a Pride and Prejudice-inspired enemies to lovers romance. This page-turning, sexy, and delightfully funny rom-com celebrates queer culture, chosen family, coming of age, and falling in love against your better judgment.

The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur
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Lambda Literary award winner and national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur returns with a steamy Sapphic rom-com about a quiet bookseller and a romance novel cover model who agree to a modern-day marriage-of-convenience…

In the Case of Heartbreak by Courtney Kae
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With a gorgeous beachfront mansion, salty ocean breeze, steamy nights, and ALL the summertime feels, this funny, sexy queer rom-com is a celebration of summer love, as a cinnamon roll of a pastry chef finds his indie rocker crush suddenly within reach.

To Swoon and To Spar by Martha Waters
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This is a Regency rom-com set in the world of Waters’ previous books, in which a woman attempts to trick her new husband into thinking his ancestral home is haunted in order to finally get some peace and quiet, only to find herself enjoying his company instead.

Ana Mariá and the Fox by Liana De la Rosa
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A forbidden love between a Mexican heiress and a shrewd British politician makes for a tantalizing Victorian season.

MAY

That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey
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Turns out you’re never too old for a summer camp romance. Or a change of heart. When a divorced woman attends a sleepaway camp for adults only, she reconnects with a man from her past–only to catch feelings for his sister instead.

Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan
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This irresistible adult debut from beloved YA author Jennifer Dugan is a queer romcom for fans of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care and Written in the Stars, in which a woman gives a drunken bathroom pep talk to a hot stranger, only to find out it’s the bride-to-be she has convinced to leave her fiancé the night before the wedding.

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
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Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script.

Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding
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In this witty and romantic debut novel, Jane Austen’s Emma meets the misadventures of Manhattan’s modern dating scene as two lifelong friends discover that, in the search for love, you sometimes don’t have to look any further than your own backyard.

Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron
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The highly acclaimed author of Accidentally Engaged delivers a delightful rom-com of one woman trying to shed her perfect image at a destination wedding with hilarious—and moving—results.

Love Buzz by Neely Tubati Alexander
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In this spectacularly enjoyable and serendipitous adventure, a chance romantic encounter during a wild night at a Mardi Gras bachelorette party sends strait-laced Serena Khan’s carefully constructed life into chaos.

JUNE

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
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Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain.

Will They or Won’t They by Ava Wilder
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On screen, they’re in love. Off screen, they can’t stand each other. Two co-stars with a complex history reunite to film the final season of a beloved paranormal drama in this tension-filled will they won’t they romance from the author of How to Fake It in Hollywood.

A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting
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The fur is about to fly between a cheerful cat sitter and a grumpy hockey nerd in this hilarious and charming rom-com by the New York Times bestselling author of Meet Cute.

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
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For fans of Carley Fortune’s Every Summer After, from the author of Nora Goes Off Script comes the ultimate summer nostalgia read, about a woman whose return to her family’s beach house to plan her wedding brings her and her fiancé unexpectedly face to face with her first love who she hasn’t seen in fourteen years, but who she spent every summer with from age five to seventeen when he broke her heart, calling into question everything she thought she knew about their love story, and herself.

The First Date Prophecy by Kate Tamberelli and Danny Tamberelli
Amazon | Book Depository

Danny Tamberelli, 90’s Nickelodeon star from All That and The Adventures of Pete and Pete, teams up with his real-life wife Kate Tamberelli for a zany, big-hearted, and truly laugh-out-loud debut rom-com set in Brooklyn, steeped in 90’s nostalgia, and inspired by their very own love story. For two talented romantic misfits who’ve been looking for love for so long, a prophecy from a psychic could be just another disastrous-first-date anecdote—or it could be the beginning of a love story for the ages . . .

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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A ghostwriter and a struggling actor help each other on the page and in the bedroom in this steamy romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk.

What 2023 romance books are you looking forward to picking up ? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Swoonworthy 2023 Romance Book Releases You Need appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
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The highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an achingly romantic, tender tale sure to captivate fans of Adam Silvera and Mary H.K. Choi.

Nightwatch on the Hinterlands by K. Eason
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Set in the universe of Rory Thorne, this new standalone sci-fi mystery follows an unlikely duo who must discover the motive behind an unusual murder.

Litani by Jess Lourey
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The Amazon Charts bestselling author of Unspeakable Things and Bloodline explores the darkness at the heart of the rural Midwest in a novel inspired by a chilling true crime.

That Dark Infinity by Kate Pentecost
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An immortal monster hunter and a royal handmaiden embark on an epic journey to change their fates in this soul-stirring young adult fantasy novel for fans of The Witcher and The Last Unicorn.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
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Cassandra Khaw’s Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a gorgeously creepy haunted house tale, steeped in Japanese folklore and full of devastating twists.

A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli
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One type-A data analyst discovers her free-spirited side on an impulsive journey from bustling Mumbai to the gorgeous beaches of Goa and finds love waiting for her on Christmas morning.

Children of the Fox by Kevin Sands
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Ocean’s Eleven meets The False Prince in this thrilling heist story for young readers, in which five kids with unusual talents are brought together to commit an impossible crime. Failure is unacceptable … but success could be deadly.

The Mother Next Door by Tara Laskowski
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From award-winning author Tara Laskowski, The Mother Next Door is an atmospheric novel of domestic suspense in which the strive for perfection ends in murder…

Jade Fire Gold by June C. L. Tan
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Girls of Paper and Fire meets A Song of Wraiths and Ruin in June CL Tan’s stunning debut, where ferocious action, shadowy intrigue, rich magic, and a captivating slow-burn romance collide.

Far from the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
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A tense and thrilling vision of humanity’s future in the chilling emptiness of space from rising giant in science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke Award winner Tade Thompson

Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
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Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling rom-com by Lana Harper.

Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest
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A psychic travel agent and a Seattle PD detective solve a murder in this quirky mystery in the vein of Lisa Lutz’s The Spellman Files and Charlaine Harris’s Aurora Teagarden series.

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

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