Tessa Bailey Archives | The Nerd Daily https://thenerddaily.com/tag/tessa-bailey/ All Things Nerdy Sat, 17 Jan 2026 03:24:08 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://i0.wp.com/thenerddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cropped-Nerd-Daily-Logo-Favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Tessa Bailey Archives | The Nerd Daily https://thenerddaily.com/tag/tessa-bailey/ 32 32 122026701 Q&A: Tessa Bailey, Author of ‘Catch Her If You Can’ https://thenerddaily.com/tessa-bailey-catch-her-if-you-can-author-interview/ https://thenerddaily.com/tessa-bailey-catch-her-if-you-can-author-interview/#respond Sat, 17 Jan 2026 03:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=61092 We chat with Tessa Bailey about inspiration, writing, and all things about her latest romance release, Catch Her If You Can. After getting temporary custody of her sister’s twin children, burlesque club owner Eve is struggling to make ends meet, especially after one of the twins develops asthma. But her long-time friend and crush, new professional baseball catcher Madden, has the perfect solution: marry him and get access to his healthcare plan. Even though Eve worries that her family’s poor […]

The post Q&A: Tessa Bailey, Author of ‘Catch Her If You Can’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> We chat with Tessa Bailey about inspiration, writing, and all things about her latest romance release, Catch Her If You Can. After getting temporary custody of her sister’s twin children, burlesque club owner Eve is struggling to make ends meet, especially after one of the twins develops asthma. But her long-time friend and crush, new professional baseball catcher Madden, has the perfect solution: marry him and get access to his healthcare plan. Even though Eve worries that her family’s poor reputation will damage Madden’s image, Eve eventually accepts Madden’s proposal, so long as their marriage is temporary and a secret. 

Hi Tessa, thank you for joining us again! What have you been up to since we last spoke for Fangirl Down?

A lot! I wrote more sports books, in addition to a time travel romance (coming out late 2026). I travelled to Italy. I procrastinated. Cancelled plans. Logged 400 hours of true crime podcasts. Perfected my homemade taco shells. Got obsessed with word puzzles.

If you could describe Catch Her If You Can in only five words, what would they be?

Reputation, pining, hope, exhibitionism, sacrifice.  

What was the inspiration for Eve and Madden’s story?

They wrote themselves into the previous series book and I found their intense, yearning dynamic really compelling. I couldn’t look away! I knew there was a story there and I always love secondary characters with loose threads coming in to surprise me.

What sets Catch Her If You Can apart from other marriage of convenience stories?

Madden and Eve are in love. They are very aware of their mutual attraction and feelings. Neither of them are in denial at any point. There is even great communication between them! But they legitimately have something keeping them apart and they have to solve it together.

Did you have a favourite scene or chapter in Catch Her If You Can that you really enjoyed writing?

For some reason, I am such a junkie for one character rushing to be by their love interest’s bedside in the hospital. I would write it into every book, if I could!

Are you a fan of baseball? Did you have to do any baseball research while writing about Madden’s career?

My father was an enormous Yankees fan when I was growing up and the rules are just something deeply ingrained in my brain, so there wasn’t a lot of research required. I like watching baseball when there are high stakes involved, like the World Series. Or live in a stadium.

What’s one thing that you want readers to take away from Eve and Madden’s story?

You have to lean on people sometimes. Even when you’re an independent badass who has been fighting to stay afloat your whole life. Let someone help you!

Will there be any more books in the Big Shots series? (Please say Elton or Mailer!)

I would never say never, but I’m going to move on from the Big Shots world for now. I’m just being pulled in another direction and I have to feed the muse or it gets cranky! 

What’s next for you? Can you tease any information about one of your future or upcoming releases?

In October 2026, I’m releasing something that is a total departure for me. A time travel romance with high stakes called Broken Rival. It’s going to surprise people!

Last, what are some 2026 book releases that you’re looking forward to?

I am excited for the next Abby Jimenez and B.K. Borison books. They’re auto-buys for me.

Will you be picking up Catch Her If You Can? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Tessa Bailey, Author of ‘Catch Her If You Can’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/tessa-bailey-catch-her-if-you-can-author-interview/feed/ 0 61092 Review: Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey https://thenerddaily.com/review-catch-her-if-you-can-by-tessa-bailey/ https://thenerddaily.com/review-catch-her-if-you-can-by-tessa-bailey/#respond Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=61051 After unexpectedly getting temporary custody of her sister’s twin children, burlesque club owner Eve is struggling to make ends meet. But her long-time friend, new professional baseball catcher Madden, has the perfect solution: marry him for six months and be able to access to his healthcare plan. Madden has made his feelings for Eve clear and Eve has secretly reciprocated those feelings, but never voiced them. Meanwhile, Eve’s best friend Skylar had held a torch for Madden up until recently […]

The post Review: Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> After unexpectedly getting temporary custody of her sister’s twin children, burlesque club owner Eve is struggling to make ends meet. But her long-time friend, new professional baseball catcher Madden, has the perfect solution: marry him for six months and be able to access to his healthcare plan. Madden has made his feelings for Eve clear and Eve has secretly reciprocated those feelings, but never voiced them. Meanwhile, Eve’s best friend Skylar had held a torch for Madden up until recently and Eve refuses to let her family’s bad reputation tarnish Madden’s up-and-coming baseball career. However, after one of the twins develops asthma, Eve decides to take Madden up on his proposal, so long as it remains temporary and secret, and the pair decide to explore their mutual attraction.

Catch Her If You Can is a spicy baseball romance featuring the marriage of convenience and boy obsessed tropes. Catch Her If You Can explores themes and topics like sexuality, reputation, abuse and harassment, wealth, familial estrangement, addiction, friendship, identity, loneliness and isolation, and kidney disease.

This is the perfect read for fans of steamy romances like Game Changer by Rachel Reid, The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson, Good Spirits by B.K. Borison, Deep End by Ali Hazelwood, or Wild Side by Elsie Silver. As the fifth book in Tessa Bailey’s Big Shots series, Catch Her If You Can could be read as a standalone, but Eve and Madden’s story is introduced in Pitcher Perfect (book 4), so I would recommend reading that book first for an optimal reading experience.

Tessa Bailey is one of my auto-buy authors and I have especially been enjoying her Big Shots series of steamy sports romances! Eve and Madden’s story was one of my favourites in the series as all of their secret mutual pining and their spicy tension was phenomenal. Since Eve and Madden’s story was set-up in the last book, Pitcher Perfect, I felt like the plot of Catch Her If You Can was really fast-paced and engaging, so you’ll find it hard to put this one down! There were a few flashback chapters in Catch Her If You Can, which I’m usually not a big fan of, but they were well done in that they were short, interspersed, and relevant to Eve and Madden’s story.

The only downsides were that I personally found that some of the burlesque club scenes to be a little raunchy for my taste and, even though we get a few brief cameos, I would have loved to see more of Skylar and Robbie in this book as I adored them in Pitcher Perfect.

If you’re a fan of spicy yet swoony marriage of convenience romances, then I highly recommend picking up a copy of Catch Her If You Can. My copy of Pitcher Perfect had a bonus epilogue that hinted at a potential romance for Mailer (Robbie’s teammate) and Catch Her If You Can sets up a potential romance for Elton (Skylar’s brother), so I definitely hope that we get one (or preferably both) of these books in the future!

Catch Her If You Can is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 202th 2026.

Will you be picking up Catch Her If You Can? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new marriage of convenience, friends-to-lovers sports romance about a baseball catcher and the burlesque club owner he can’t get out of his head.

Madden Donahue, the newest catcher for the Yankees, has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school, but for some mysterious reason, the burlesque club owner always turns him down. That never stopped him from being her self-appointed protector. Case in point, now that Eve’s sister has left Eve with her two children indefinitely, Madden steps in with a proposition—marry him for the much needed health benefits.

Eve has secretly harbored feelings for Madden all along, but there’s one problem—her best friend Skylar called dibs on him when they were fourteen. Eve has always put their friendship above all else, and she’s not willing to risk losing Skylar over a man. Raised by the local strip club owner, Eve is woefully short on friends and treasures the ones she has. But with Skylar happily paired off, Eve finds herself accepting Madden’s proposal—on the condition that their marriage remains strictly private. She’s not about to let her unique profession and maligned reputation destroy Madden’s shiny new career.

Madden won’t let Eve get away that easily, though. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon ignites into something much hotter, and now it’s up to Madden to convince Eve that their connection is far more than a business arrangement. As the passion builds, can their fake marriage become the real deal?

The post Review: Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/review-catch-her-if-you-can-by-tessa-bailey/feed/ 0 61051 Swoonworthy 2026 Romance Book Releases You Need https://thenerddaily.com/2026-anticipated-romance-book-releases/ https://thenerddaily.com/2026-anticipated-romance-book-releases/#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=60731 The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article and are invested back into The Nerd Daily, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie! If your romance-loving heart needs a good dose of swoon, then you’re in luck because 2026 holds many delightful new romance reads for you! Releasing between the months of January and June, you’ll see new releases from Julian Winters, Tessa Bailey, B.K. Borison, Ashley Herring […]

The post Swoonworthy 2026 Romance Book Releases You Need appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article and are invested back into The Nerd Daily, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie!

If your romance-loving heart needs a good dose of swoon, then you’re in luck because 2026 holds many delightful new romance reads for you! Releasing between the months of January and June, you’ll see new releases from Julian Winters, Tessa Bailey, B.K. Borison, Ashley Herring Blake, Meghan Quinn, Falon Ballard, TJ Alexander, Abby Jimenez, Rainbow Rowell, Chloe Liese, Carley Fortune, Eloisa James, Katherine Center, Mazey Eddings, Ashley Poston, and many more, plus spectacular debuts too!

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2026 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Anticipated YA Books and Anticipated Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books lists!

JANUARY 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Sparks fly in this second chance m/m rom com when an unlucky-in-love event planner realizes the man-of-honor at the high profile wedding he’s planning is the same man who broke his heart.

Our Ex’s Wedding by Taleen Voskuni

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Two people who can’t stand each other must come together to plan their mutual ex’s wedding in this new romantic comedy by Taleen Voskuni, author of Lavash at First Sight.

Definitely Maybe Not A Detective by Sarah Fox

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this delightfully charming rom-com mystery, a woman becomes accidentally entangled in a murder investigation (and with a handsome stranger) when her fake detective agency is enlisted to solve a real homicide.

Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new marriage of convenience, friends-to-lovers sports romance about a baseball catcher and the burlesque club owner he can’t get out of his head.

Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Miss Congeniality meets The Bachelor in this action-packed rom-com debut about an investigative journalist who sneaks onto reality TV only to fall for the wrong guy.

We’ve Hit Turbulence by Jessica L. Cozzi

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this swoony young adult rom-com, things get bumpy when a girl gets stuck on a cross-country flight with her ex—as if flying couldn’t get any worse. . . .

Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Sparks fly when an up-and-coming team principle and her new hot-shot driver—and former childhood crush—are forced to work together to save their careers and team in this deliciously winning Formula 1 romance.

A Killer Kind of Romance by Letizia Lorini

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this new romance from USA TODAY bestselling author Letizia Lorini, a crime podcast host must solve a chilling serial killer case while navigating an unexpected romance with her mysterious next-door neighbor.

Like In Love With You by Emma R. Alban

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Mean Girls meets Northanger Abbey in this brand new, sapphic, rivals-to-lovers Regency Romance by USA Today bestselling author Emma R. Alban!

Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A second chance at love sets sail when a couple on the verge of divorce pretends they’re still together for one last family trip, from the author of Wedding Dashers.

Enchanting the Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Stephanie Burgis delivers another irreverent, sparkling, and sexy installment in the Queens of Villainy series, where a seductive fae queen meets her unexpected match in the enemy empire’s valiant general.

For Our Next Song by Jessica James

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The decade-long friendship between two rock goddesses is thrust into the spotlight after their mutual desire strikes a perfect—and very public—chord.

FEBRUARY 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

Still Into You by Erin Connor

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Two exes reunite for a make-or-break interview that will either bring them back together … or drive them apart forever.

Game, Set, Match by Jennifer Iacopelli

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
She’s a tennis superstar on the rise. He’s the bad boy champ who broke her heart. When they meet on the court, their competition is hot—but their chemistry is even hotter.

Love and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An academic-rivals-to-lovers rom-com set at a New York conference about two neuroscientists who are forced to pretend they’re dating, leading to unexpected chemistry and a heartfelt journey of self-discovery.

And Now, Back to You by B. K. Borison

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Two competing meteorologists are forced to find common ground in this opposites attract, When Harry Met Sally inspired romance, from New York Times bestselling author B.K. Borison.

Maybe This Once by Sophie Sullivan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A small-town, opposites-attract romance about two people who end up with more feelings than they bargained for after pursuing a summer fling.

Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A summer job at a lake-town resort brings together two women with an unlikely connection in this new contemporary romance by USA Today bestselling author Ashley Herring Blake.

Skate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The weather might be icy, but the tension is red-hot in this fake―dating hockey rom―com from the author of Let the Games Begin.

Just for the Cameras by Meghan Quinn

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From New York Times bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a sizzling sports romance full of flamingo feathers, slow-burn heat, and one grump-meets-sunshine love story that’s anything but fake.

One & Only by Maurene Goo

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In Five Years meets a millennial The Joy Luck Club in the adult debut from the author of YA Reese Pick Throwback— a funny and fresh love story of a woman thrown a curveball by fate, and the family secret that will make her question everything.

Over and Over by Becky Hunter

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A sweeping speculative romance following two soulmates who have met in past lives—but are still searching for their HEA—in this angsty novel, perfect for fans of Josie Silver and One Day.

Hunter’s Treasure by Olivia Jackson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A brand new spicy forced proximity action adventure romcom set on a desert island, perfect for fans of Christina Lauren, Jo Segura and Meghan Quinn.

How To Kill A Guy In Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A humorous, swoony, and downright terrifying slasher rom-com in which a cinephile gets caught in the middle of a murder spree at a speed-dating event and must use her encyclopedic knowledge of the romance and horror genres to make it as a real-life Final Girl.

MARCH 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The newest book from bestselling author and Kindle Unlimited sensation Catherine Walsh, in which an ambitious editor travels to Ireland to help the daughter of a fantasy author legend complete her father’s final book, only to fall in love with her in the process.

Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Cat Sebastian’s long-awaited foray into contemporary romance! A witty, emotional, and deliciously slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance between two costars on a popular sci-fi television series.

Toe to Toe by Falon Ballard

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Allegra Hart’s dream of becoming a principal ballerina is in doubt when a director doubts her allure. Seeking help from dancer Cord Donovan, she enters a dangerous partnership. As chemistry ignites and loyalties are tested, Allegra must choose between ambition, desire, and the life she’s built.

The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
This charming rom-com is filled with Chinese traditions, second chances, and a luck-changing love story that will appeal to readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Sarah Adams.  

The Bridge Back To You by Riss M. Neilson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Exes discover they’ve both inherited the restaurant they love in this sparkling, emotional new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of A Love Like the Sun.

No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme in this sweet, spicy, and utterly irresistible romance from the author of Give Me Butterflies.

To Cage A Wild Bird by Brooke Fast

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Enter the brutal world of Endlock, a prison where the wealthy hunt the inmates for sport. The first novel in an electrifying dystopian romance series, this high-octane debut about forbidden love, found family, and a fight for survival will leave you breathless.

A Lady for All Seasons by TJ Alexander

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the acclaimed author of Chef’s Kiss and A Gentleman’s Gentleman comes a riotous Regency romp, featuring a charming and unforgettable genderfluid lead.

Thirty Love by Tom Vellner

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Things heat up on and off the court for two tennis rivals in this steamy debut gay sports rom-com, perfect for fans of TJ Alexander and Casey McQuiston.

Anderson In Bloom by Jennifer Dugan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the author of Love at First Set, a hilariously sexy enemies-to-lovers, second-chance rom-com about a reclusive former child star turned florist whose quiet life is turned upside down when her annoyingly hot ex (and former costar) shows up in town, with plans to write a tell-all memoir.

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the #1New York Times bestselling author of Say You’ll Remember Me comes a beautiful, compelling novel that revels in laughter, friendship, and the messy choices life can throw our way.

In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Reese Remington, baseball’s first female owner, battles scrutiny while proving her worth. Focused and guarded, she clashes with Emmett Montgomery, a former star turned manager. Forced together, rivalry ignites chemistry. With careers and the team at stake, they struggle to resist feelings that could jeopardise everything during a high-stakes season.

APRIL 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

Unbound by Peyton Corinne

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A new “angsty, sexy, emotional” (Farrah Rochon, New York Times bestselling author) lyrical romance by Peyton Corinne that follows a college couple through first love, heartbreak, and the struggle to come together again.

Fast Lane by C.S. Quill

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Flatshare meets Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus series in this opposites-attract campus romance where a brooding bad boy and a heartbroken girl become reluctant roommates amid fast cars and faster chemistry.

Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Can fake dating lead to real love? In Kasie West’s next sexy adult romcom two people must decide where the lie ends and the chemistry begins.

How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Bridgerton meets The Goldfinch in How to Fake It in Society, a stunning queer romance by rising genre star KJ Charles.

The Auction by Sadie Kincaid

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The queen of dark mafia romance, Sadie Kincaid, begins her new explosively sexy Wages of Sin series with The Auction. Beauty and the Beast meets organized crime in this tense slow-burn romance with scorching spice, thrilling suspense, and life-altering secrets. 

The Name Game by Beth O’Leary

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A man and a woman with the same name are looking for a fresh start only to discover they have landed the same job in this charming new romance by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
#1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell returns with a breathtakingly honest novel about a woman who lost everything — and isn’t sure she wants it back.

Happy Ending by Chloe Liese

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From USA TODAY bestselling author Chloe Liese, a clever and heartwarming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Annabel Monaghan about two best friends who must fake a relationship for their exes.

Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the author of Partners in Crime, comes a sparkling new adventure rom-com where a con woman and a lawman team up on an epic cross-country road trip to save their families…and each other. 

We Become Darkness by Grace Morrow

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A human and a Vampyr forge an unsteady alliance in this marriage-of-convenience romantic fantasy, perfect for fans of The Serpent and the Wings of Night and One Dark Window.

Our Rogue Fates by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
On the hunt for hidden treasure, two former best friends turned adversaries must put the past behind them if they hope to make it home. This childhood friends-to-lovers male/male romantic fantasy for fans of Tusk Love and Sara Raasch crackles with tension and heat.

Don’t Tell Me How It Ends by Adrienne Thurman

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A floundering twenty-something, who’s sworn off romance finds herself roped into her meddling sister’s matchmaking business—in this sparkling debut rom-com that asks: can we protect ourselves while falling in love?

MAY 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

Broken Dove by Dani Francis

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In the heart-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling dystopian romance Silver Elite, lines will be crossed, loyalties will be tested, and the fight for the Continent is only just beginning as Wren Darlington finds herself caught in the middle of two wars: one for the fate of her home and another for the fate of her heart.

Soon by You by Dahlia Adler

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
27 Dresses meets The Intimacy Experiment in this sexy, emotional, opposites-attract rom-com set in New York City’s Modern Orthodox community.

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Best friends have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart in this heart-stopping, utterly romantic new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and One Golden Summer.

The Last Lady B by Eloisa James

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Lady B may have married Bluebeard; she may have fallen in love with a gorgeous, grumpy solicitor; she may have met a ghost and survived to tell the tale! New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Eloisa James delights with witty historical romance with a gothic twist.

Bromantasy by Máire Roche

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
BROMANTASY is a cozy, queer fantasy about the mortifying ordeal of being known by your totally platonic best friend and the epic quest that might force you to confront the truth.

By The Bootstraps by Alexa Martin

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A cowboy romance enthusiast discovers that everything’s bigger in Texas—even love—in this swoony novel from beloved author Alexa Martin.

The Shippers by Katherine Center

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.

First and Forever by Lynn Painter

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A football star and his team’s die-hard fan find themselves entangled in a PR stunt—that only one side knows is fake—but it might just be the right play…

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A hardworking single mom returns to her seaside hometown and stumbles into a fake dating situationship with a wealthy, workaholic scion, from the New York Times bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script.

It Happened One Murder by Liz Lawson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Only Murders in the Building gets a rom-com twist in a laugh-out-loud mystery-romance following one woman who will have to pair up with an unlikely ally to solve a murder in their quaint New Jersey beach town.

Take Me with You by Steven Rowley

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In Take Me With You, Steven Rowley brings his resonant wit and emotional insight to an epic love story – an exploration of the forces that draw two people into the same orbit and the gravity that threatens to pull them apart.

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
When two misfits discover they’ve inherited the same beach house, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways, in this hilarious and heartfelt rom-com from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

JUNE 2026 ROMANCE BOOK RELEASES

Nemesis Mine by Amy Archer

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A not-so-evil villain strikes a deal with a not-quite-perfect hero to fake a feud, boost their reputations . . . and try not to fall in love in the process—in this hilarious, tender, sexy, and outrageously fun romp that blends the humor of Assistant to the Villain with the unforgettable romance of Red, White, & Royal Blue and the cozy fantasy vibes of Legends & Lattes.

White Lights by Lauren Kate

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
#1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Kate, whose Fallen series has over 10 million copies in print and has sold over 11 million copies of her novels around the world, is returning to the romantasy world of angels that’s perfect for Fallen fans and new audiences alike.

You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Cubby Clark is spiralling—her band is broken, her ex is famous, and inspiration is gone. As tabloids spin a love triangle and a summer tour amplifies tensions, Cubby and her best friend Darcy must confront buried feelings or risk losing each other and the music they love.

The Very Definition of Love by Sophia Benoit

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Bridgerton meets Emily Henry in this fresh take on regency romance about a wallflower writing a dictionary of bawdy slang who arranges her own marriage to the ultimate instructor: the town rake.

The Shrouded Queen by Ashley Tropea

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In the first book in this romantasy duology inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, a slave and a princess switch places during an enemy attack, igniting parallel journeys of love and survival.

Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti

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

Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Brynne Weaver comes the second book in the devilishly steamy Seasons of Carnage trilogy where dark romantic comedy meets thrilling suspense—and where love is ripe for ruin.

Witch Season by Julia Bianco

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Exhilarating, dangerous, and seductive, Witch Season is an action-packed and fiercely romantic contemporary fantasy from debut author and screenwriter Julia Bianco.

The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The new head gardener at the enchanting Lilymoor House stumbles upon a secret garden . . . with a mysterious man trapped inside, in the next magical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Sounds Like Love and The Seven Year Slip.

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
New York Times bestselling author Tia Williams returns with an intensely romantic, deliciously sexy tale about a woman searching for her handsome seatmate on a European flight—and the unexpected places her hunt for love leads her.

The Open Era by Edward Schmit

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Austin Hardy’s Grand Slam debut makes history and headlines as the first openly gay competitor. With anxiety mounting and a complicated bond forming with rival Diego Cruz, Austin must fight pressure, expectations, and his own heart at the US Open.

Tropesick by Lauren Okie

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this lush, slow-burning romance, two childhood neighbors, connected by a shared tragedy, unexpectedly reunite to ghostwrite a love story for a reclusive author. Spending the summer at her secluded Hamptons estate, they soon discover that dozens of classic romance tropes, including the ones they’re crafting on page, are mysteriously playing out in real life.

Will you be picking up any of these romance reads? Are there any others you’re looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below! Plus be sure to check back later in the year for our July to December picks!

The post Swoonworthy 2026 Romance Book Releases You Need appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/2026-anticipated-romance-book-releases/feed/ 2 60731 24 Swoonworthy Romance Reads Hitting Bookshelves In February 2025 https://thenerddaily.com/february-2025-romance-book-releases/ https://thenerddaily.com/february-2025-romance-book-releases/#respond Thu, 30 Jan 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=55387 It’s the month of love, so it’s the perfect time to pick up a few new romance reads! February holds some wonderful books with new releases from Tessa Bailey, Falon Ballard, B.K. Borison, and more, featuring all your favourite tropes from second chance and rival co-workers, to fake dating and enemies to lovers. 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 […]

The post 24 Swoonworthy Romance Reads Hitting Bookshelves In February 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> It’s the month of love, so it’s the perfect time to pick up a few new romance reads! February holds some wonderful books with new releases from Tessa Bailey, Falon Ballard, B.K. Borison, and more, featuring all your favourite tropes from second chance and rival co-workers, to fake dating and enemies to lovers.

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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Aurora Montalban, an ambitious doctor breaking societal norms to help women in 19th century Paris, and Apollo Sinclair Robles, the reluctant Duke willing to risk everything for her.

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

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

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/february-2025-romance-book-releases/feed/ 0 55387 Review: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey https://thenerddaily.com/review-dream-girl-drama-by-tessa-bailey/ https://thenerddaily.com/review-dream-girl-drama-by-tessa-bailey/#respond Fri, 17 Jan 2025 03:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=53996 A chance encounter between pro hockey player Sig Gauthier and free-spirited harpist Chloe Clifford sparks instant chemistry—until they discover their parents are engaged. Bound by budding family ties and undeniable attraction, Sig helps Chloe escape her controlling mother while navigating their forbidden feelings. But can they really keep their connection strictly platonic amidst the chaos of love, family, and longing? No one writes love interests who worship at the altar of a woman quite like Tessa Bailey does. The woman […]

The post Review: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> A chance encounter between pro hockey player Sig Gauthier and free-spirited harpist Chloe Clifford sparks instant chemistry—until they discover their parents are engaged. Bound by budding family ties and undeniable attraction, Sig helps Chloe escape her controlling mother while navigating their forbidden feelings. But can they really keep their connection strictly platonic amidst the chaos of love, family, and longing?

No one writes love interests who worship at the altar of a woman quite like Tessa Bailey does. The woman knows how to make you fall for a guy in a page or less and this book is no different.

As with any Bailey novel, you can count on a titillating mix of sweetness and steam with characters that just feel like they live in a Netflix rom-com you want to watch on repeat.

While some descriptions of our protagonist Chloe left me a bit worried in the beginning (Chloe gets increasingly more often described as something akin to child-like which did toe the line of turning creepy a few times), it does fit with her characterisation of someone who was brought up very sheltered and spoiled because of her musical abilities. I applaud Bailey for somehow making it charming instead of frustrating when Chloe would actually act like a child not getting what she wants or handing over everything to someone else to deal with.

Then again, that characterisation fit perfectly with what Sig was after. Sig, as we know from his initial pop-ups in The Au Pair Affair, is a pro hockey player who didn’t have an easy start to life. Growing up poor, his biggest goal in life was to make sure his mother got the support she needed and that has driven much of his choices. There’s something so sweet and tender about this protectiveness that is intrinsic to his character which made me one of his biggest fans. That translates very well to how he treats Chloe like a princess from the get-go and just wants to make sure she gets everything she wants in life. This sometimes means that he takes possessiveness and pushiness to a bit of an uncomfortable level but somehow, it still works out.

One thing that struck me as quite funny was the way the “forbidden” nature of their relationship was portrayed. They kind of toe around it for a lot of the book which—depending on how many step-siblings relationships you’ve read in your time—will either annoy you because a) it’s not like they grew up together or even knew each other before they found out their parents were getting hitched and b) it’s something you do want to be addressed directly in a book that highlights the forbidden nature of said relationship so much, frankly because of the emotional turmoil it can and will have on the characters. Again, that comes down to personal preference, though.

Alas, overall this was a wholesome romance between endearing characters with “I want you but I can’t have you” vibes and trying to figure out how to move forward when situational circumstances are just not going your way.

Is this novel over the top? Absolutely, no doubt about it. For most of the story, Sig’s only discerning character trait (besides being a hockey player and a decent guy) is being a simp for Chloe. But honestly, in the world we currently live in, we could all do with some more over-the-top-will-love-you-loud-and-proud-and-take-care-of-you-whirlwind-romance shenanigans, right? As always, Bailey makes the premise work and invites you to take a breather from reality and just let yourself be filled with giddy feelings.

Looking for a fast-paced romantic comedy with a guy that will move mountains for his one true love? Then dive into Dream Girl Drama, Bailey’s latest compelling romance featuring hilariously complicated family relationships and two people who are a perfect match.

Dream Girl Drama is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of February 4th 2025.

Will you be picking up Dream Girl Drama? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

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.

When professional hockey player Sig Gauthier’s car breaks down and his phone dies, he treks into a posh private country club to call a tow truck, where he encounters the alluring Chloe Clifford, the manic pixie dream girl who captivates him immediately with her sense of adventure and penchant for stealing champagne.

Sparks fly during a moonlight kiss and the enamored pair can’t wait to see each other again, but when Sig finally arrives to meet his dad’s new girlfriend over dinner, Chloe is confusingly also there. Turns out the girlfriend is Chloe’s mother. Oh, and they’re engaged.

Sig’s dream girl is his future stepsister.

Though the pair is now wary of being involved romantically, Chloe, a sheltered harp prodigy, yearns to escape her controlling mother. Sig promises to teach her the ins and outs of independence in Boston—but not inside his bedroom. They both know there can never be more than friendship between a famous hockey player and his high-society, soon-to-be stepsister. But keeping their relationship platonic grows harder amid the developing family drama, especially knowing they were meant for so much more…

The post Review: Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/review-dream-girl-drama-by-tessa-bailey/feed/ 0 53996 Swoonworthy 2025 Romance Book Releases You Need https://thenerddaily.com/2025-romance-book-releases/ https://thenerddaily.com/2025-romance-book-releases/#comments Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=54437 The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie! 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, […]

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

]]> The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie!

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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Aurora Montalban, an ambitious doctor breaking societal norms to help women in 19th century Paris, and Apollo Sinclair Robles, the reluctant Duke willing to risk everything for her.

Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Perfect for fans of Ted Lasso, this delicious slow burn romance turns a pretend marriage into real love.

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this steamy new fake dating romance from beloved author Denise Williams.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A radiant, new escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Ms. and Ms. Smith meets The Pairing in this heart-racing romance of secrets, spies, and steam.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Cleat Cute meets Friday Night Lights in this funny, spicy, emotional new sapphic romance from Jodie Slaughter.

Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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

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

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/2025-romance-book-releases/feed/ 1 54437 Anticipated Book Releases Hitting Shelves In 2025 https://thenerddaily.com/anticipated-book-releases-hitting-shelves-in-2025/ https://thenerddaily.com/anticipated-book-releases-hitting-shelves-in-2025/#comments Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:07 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=54097 The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie! 2025?! How!? Nevertheless, the upside of a new year is all of the new books that will be hitting shelves! We’ve rounded up some highly anticipated  books from a range of genres releasing between the months of January and June 2025. You can expect new releases from the likes of Taylor Jenkins Reid, […]

The post Anticipated Book Releases Hitting Shelves In 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie!

2025?! How!? Nevertheless, the upside of a new year is all of the new books that will be hitting shelves! We’ve rounded up some highly anticipated  books from a range of genres releasing between the months of January and June 2025.

You can expect new releases from the likes of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Emily Henry, Samantha Shannon, Richard Swan, Kate Alice Marshall, Tessa Bailey, Suzanne Collins, Chuck Wendig, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Christopher Golden, Becky Albertalli, Rebecca Yarros, VE Schwab, Maggie Stiefvater, Fredrik Backman, and so many more, plus many making their dazzling debuts!

You’ll find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other January to June 2025 lists, which we’ll be releasing over the next month! This article will also get updated with those links so you can easily find them… We apologise in advance to your TBR pile and wallet!

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you’ll be picking up any!

JANUARY 2025 BOOK RELEASES

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

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

Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A young warrior dreams of proving his worth in the elite Guardian Tournament, fighting not only for himself but the fate of everything he loves.

Cross My Heart by Megan Collins

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.

Liar’s Kingdom by Christine Calella

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
An Into the Woods-inspired fairy tale retelling where Cinderella never went to the ball and must lie to get her prince.

A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In an alternate London in 1923, one girl accidentally breaks the tenuous truce between dragons and humans in this sweeping debut and epic retelling of Bletchley Park steeped in language, class, and forbidden romance. Perfect for teen fans of Fourth Wing and Babel.

Unromance by Erin Connor

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

The Rival by Emma Lord

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A group of young women in a home for unwed mothers in 1970s Florida who find a book to witchcraft—a guide which may just be the key to regaining their power or the source of their worst nightmares.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

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

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A twisty domestic thriller about an author who travels to a remote Scottish island to write his next book…only to run into a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife. 

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this captivating atmospheric novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Unmaking of June Farrow, a woman investigates her twin brother’s mysterious death while confronting the ghosts of her own haunted past.

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Get ready to fly or die in the breathtaking follow-up to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.

FEBRUARY 2025 BOOK RELEASES

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Set against the violent wilderness of the moors and the uncontrolled appetite of the industrial revolution, Hungerstone is a compulsive feminist reworking of Carmilla, the book that inspired Dracula: a captivating story of appetite and desire.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The highly anticipated fifth novel in the New York Times bestselling Bone Season series-an epic and spellbinding fantasy from the author of The Priory of the Orange Tree.

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A woman invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret―and that she’s been there before, by the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The third installment in the heartwarming and enchanting Emily Wilde series, about a curmudgeonly scholar of folklore and the fae prince she loves.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
An addictive thriller about a new mother’s world upended when her husband commits a terrifying crime. How well does she truly know the man she loves? And what danger does she face if her entire life has been built on a lie?

Grave Empire by Richard Swan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From critically acclaimed author Richard Swan, Grave Empire begins the epic tale of an empire on the verge of industrial revolution, where sorcery and arcane practices are outlawed – and where an ancient prophecy threatens the coming end of days.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget about 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.

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique returns with another glittering dark fantasy about a deadly mystery that spans worlds and a teenage girl who must risk everything to uncover the truth.

Wooing The Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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 Dollhouse Academy by Margarita Montimore

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
With dark academia twists and enormous heart, The Dollhouse Academy is a novel about the complexities of friendship, our desire to be seen and understood, and the true cost of making our dreams a reality.

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From New York Times-bestselling author Libba Bray comes an evocative and groundbreaking young adult historical mystery that examines truth, rebellion, reconciliation, and what must be sacrificed for a better world.

MARCH 2025 BOOK RELEASES

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The phenomenal fifth book in the Hunger Games series. Sunrise on the Reaping revisits the world of Panem twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue meets This is How You Lose The Time War in this fantastical love story that defies death as two souls reincarnate through the centuries.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the acclaimed author of Chef’s Kiss, a groundbreaking trans Regency romance that’s both delightfully witty and refreshingly iconoclastic.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From New York Times bestseller and Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave―the hugely anticipated next installment in the fan-favorite Finlay Donovan series.

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The Last of Us meets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in this stand-alone dystopian romance about survival, sacrifice, and love that risks everything.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the national bestselling author of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and Midnight is the Darkest Hour comes a chilling, compulsive story of five amateur sleuths, whose hunt for an elusive killer catapults them into danger as the world watches.

The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the author of White Horse comes a terrifying and resonant novel about a woman who uses her unique gift to learn the truth about her sister’s death.

The Hymn to Dionysus Natasha Pulley

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A timely reimagining of the story of Dionysus-Greek god of ecstasy, revelry, and ruin-and a captivating queer love story for readers of The Song of Achilles and Elektra.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Date night goes off the rails in this hilariously insightful take on midlife and marriage when one unhappy couple find themselves at the heart of a crime in progress, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise.

They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The author of the New York Times bestselling horror phenomenon She Is a Haunting is back with a novel about the monsters that swim beneath us . . . and live within us.

All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Hilarious and twisted, propulsive and furious, All the Other Mothers Hate Me is a mix of Catastrophe and Fleabag with a dash of Nancy Drew.

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
One fake prime minister, one ridiculously hot handler, and one Italian summer collide in this thrilling adventure rom-com.

APRIL 2025 BOOK RELEASES

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

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

Where Shadows Meet by Patrice Caldwell

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Set in the aftermath of a war between vampires, humans, and the gods that created them, Patrice Caldwell’s devastatingly romantic fantasy debut, Where Shadows Meet, centers the heart-wrenching pain of loss and the struggle of self-discovery to ask: do we choose our fates, or do our fates choose us?

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Bestselling Rebel of the Sands author Alwyn Hamilton is back with a glittering fantasy thriller about a glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.

Their Monstrous Hearts by Yiğit Turhan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A haunting novel about the boundaries people will cross to keep their dreams alive, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic and Hereditary.

City of All Seasons by Oliver K. Langmead and Aliya Whiteley

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A vibrant and emotional science fantasy about cousins trapped in mirrored worlds – the resplendent and verdant summer city and the ice-carved wastes of the winter city. For fans of Every Heart a Doorway and This is How You Lose the Time War.

Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the National Book Award finalist and author of Pet comes a novel set in a magical West African world, about a teen girl who must save her missing twin while learning to navigate her own terrifying new powers.

The Staircase In The Woods by Chuck Wendig

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A group of friends investigates the mystery of a strange staircase in the woods in this mesmerizing horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Accidents.

The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle

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

Don’t Sleep With The Dead by Nghi Vo

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From award-winning author Nghi Vo comes Don’t Sleep with the Dead, a standalone companion novella to The Chosen and the Beautiful, her acclaimed reimagining of The Great Gatsby.

Senseless by Ronald Malfi

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A page-turning, supernaturally-tinged LA puzzle-box thriller – Zodiac with teeth, from the Bram Stoker Award-nominated and bestselling author of Come with Me. Perfect for fans of Riley Sager and Lauren Beukes.

Rabbit Moon by Jennifer Haigh

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the New York Times bestselling author of Mercy Street, a tense, propulsive family drama set in Shanghai, where a fractured American family faces its complicated past

Enchantra by Kaylie Smith

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Knives Out meets Throne of the Fallen in this spicy stand-alone romantasy set in the same world as USA Today bestselling author Kaylie Smith’s BookTok sensation Phantasma! The print edition includes custom silver foiling on the cover.

MAY 2025 BOOK RELEASES

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

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

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In the first book of a searing new dystopian trilogy, a young woman must conceal her psychic powers—and her attraction to her handsome, infuriating commanding officer—as she works undercover to take down a brutal government from within.

My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this spellbinding historical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea and The Wind Knows My Name, a young writer journeys to South America to uncover the truth about her father—and herself.

Overgrowth by Mira Grant

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Day of the Triffids in this full-on body horror/alien invasion apocalypse.

The Incandescent by Emily Tesh

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Naomi Novik’s Scholomance series meets Plain Bad Heroines in this sapphic dark academia fantasy by instant national and international bestselling author Emily Tesh, winner of the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards.

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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

Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this opposites attract romance for fans of Begin Again and Better Than the Movies, a fresh start doesn’t have to mean changing yourself.

The Night Birds by Christopher Golden

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The next gripping, atmospheric horror novel from NYT bestselling author Christopher Golden, set in a deteriorated, half-sunken freighter ship off the coast of Galveston, TX.

The Thrashers by Julie Soto

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A twisty thrill-ride of unforgettable drama and suspense that “encapsulates the vulnerability of adolescents playing adult games” (Ali Hazelwood) from USA Today bestselling author Julie Soto, The Thrashers will keep you up at night desperate to read just one more page.

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From NYT bestselling author Rachel Gillig comes the next big romantasy sensation, a gothic, mist-cloaked tale of a young prophetess who is forced on an impossible quest with the one infuriating knight whose future is beyond her sight. Perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Leigh Bardugo.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A brand-new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie, featuring a notorious band of anti-heroes on a delightfully bloody and raucous journey

The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In Regency England, the eccentric Colebrook sisters are amateur detectives who use their wits and invisibility as “old maids” to fight injustice in this delightful and fiercely feminist novel of mystery and adventure from New York Times bestselling author Alison Goodman.

JUNE 2025 BOOK RELEASES

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes an epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program and the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by Victoria E. Schwab

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From V. E. Schwab, the No. 1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: a new genre-defying, unforgettable novel to sink your teeth into.

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
#1 New York Times bestselling novelist Maggie Stiefvater dazzles in this mesmerizing portrait of an irresistible heroine, an unlikely romance, and a hotel—and a world—in peril.

Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The beautiful and heartwarming new romance from Becky Albertalli, best-selling author of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda.

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
#1 New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life twenty-five years later.

Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
#1 NYT-bestselling YA author Renee Ahdieh’s adult debut novel, about a young lawyer who gets pulled in to manage a crisis with her firm’s biggest client, a family whose Korean beauty brand is worth a billion dollars, pitched as Crazy Rich Asians meets Succession.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

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

Realm of Thieves by Karina Halle

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Two thieves vie for dominance in the illegal dragon egg trade, putting both their lives and their hearts on the line in this scorching romantasy from New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle.

He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Brooklyn 99 meets The Charm Offensive in this sparkling romantic murder mystery: it’s murder cute in the first degree when a detective finds himself falling for the lead suspect in a career-making case.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A blistering literary suspense novel about a ghostwriter who is hired to write the last book for her estranged father and finds herself investigating the brutal murder of both his siblings in the summer of 1975.

The Beautiful Maddening by Shea Ernshaw

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Shea Ernshaw comes a haunting romantic contemporary fantasy about a teen navigating her family’s love curse that blooms with their enchanted tulips every year.

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Scream meets The Guest List in this wickedly compelling and compulsively page-turning thriller of friendship and murder from the author of The Lost Village, Camilla Sten.

What books are you looking forward to picking up in the first half of the year? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Anticipated Book Releases Hitting Shelves In 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/anticipated-book-releases-hitting-shelves-in-2025/feed/ 1 54097 Author Simone Soltani’s Top Sports Romances To Read This Summer https://thenerddaily.com/simone-soltani-author-guest-post/ https://thenerddaily.com/simone-soltani-author-guest-post/#respond Fri, 19 Jul 2024 03:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=51490 Guest post written by Cross The Line author Simone SoltaniSimone Soltani is a romance author and former ghost writer for a serialized fiction platform. Born and raised in Washington, DC, she holds a BA in Geography from The George Washington University, which she likes to think comes in handy for world-building in her novels. When she’s not writing, she spends most of her time planning vacations she’ll probably never get to go on, reorganizing her many bookshelves, and watching sports while cuddling with her […]

The post Author Simone Soltani’s Top Sports Romances To Read This Summer appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> Guest post written by Cross The Line author Simone Soltani
Simone Soltani is a romance author and former ghost writer for a serialized fiction platform. Born and raised in Washington, DC, she holds a BA in Geography from The George Washington University, which she likes to think comes in handy for world-building in her novels. When she’s not writing, she spends most of her time planning vacations she’ll probably never get to go on, reorganizing her many bookshelves, and watching sports while cuddling with her dogs.

I’ve been a huge sports fan since the day my parents signed me up for my first soccer team at the tender age of five, and romance books have lined my shelves ever since I sneakily checked my first one out of the library at fourteen (shh, don’t tell). When I discovered that there was a fiction subgenre that combined my two favorite things—sports and romance—I was forever hooked.

We’re currently in a beautiful era of sports romance, with amazing new releases coming out every week featuring a variety of athletic pursuits. I’ve curated a few of my recent favorites here, perfect for your summer reading list.

Collide by Bal Khabra (Hockey)

College-set hockey romance is booming these days, and Collide should be at the top of your list. This steamy, heartfelt story will have you both fanning yourself and kicking your feet in delight.

She’s an honors student with ambitious graduate school plans and he’s a jock with only hockey on his mind, but once their worlds collide, their connection is hot enough to melt an ice rink. Summer can’t stand Aiden’s blasé approach to life, and Aiden doesn’t understand why she’s twenty years old with a twenty-five-year plan. But their bickering soon turns to bantering—and once they let their guards down, there’s nothing to check their feelings.

Let the Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura (Olympic runner)

With the Olympics happening this summer, there’s no way I could leave this gold-medal worthy romance off the roster!

Olivia Nkomo has always been a go-getter. Now that she’s graduated from university, she’ll do whatever it takes to land her dream job at the Summer Games, where she hopes to run into some of her favorite athletes.

Ezekiel “Zeke” Moyo, the heartthrob star runner of Team Great Britain, is more than ready to claim his title as the fastest man in the world. His future to the finish line is looking bright―despite his recent breakup with a celebrated gymnast constantly making headlines.

When Olivia and Zeke collide―literally―on the first day of training, sparks fly. As the games grow closer, so do they. But the competition stirs up uncomfortable memories from Zeke’s past . . . and Olivia’s internship doesn’t turn out to be what she expected. Will they be able to overcome these hurdles and achieve their dreams? Or will it come at the cost of their budding romance?

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson (Baseball)

If you like a little bit of mess (in the best way possible) in your sports romance, this one’s a homerun. A little accidental catfishing ever hurt, right?

A professional baseball player and his heckler prove that true love is worth going to bat for. Daphne Brink doesn’t follow baseball, but it beats sitting at home after signing her divorce papers.

After one too many ballpark beers, she heckles player Chris Kepler, who quickly proves there might actually be a little crying in baseball. Horrified, Daphne reaches out to Chris on social media to apologize . . . but forgets to identify herself as his heckler in her message.

Chris doesn’t usually respond to random fans on social media, but he’s grieving and fragile after an emotionally turbulent few months. When a DM catches his eye, he impulsively messages back. Daphne isn’t sure how much longer she can keep lying to Chris, especially as she starts working with the team in real life and their feelings for each other deepen. When he finds out the truth, will it be three strikes, she’s out?

Night Shift by Annie Crown (Basketball)

Another one for my college sports romance lovers! This fast-paced romance about a bookworm and a basketball player will have you swooning in chapter one—and you won’t stop until the very last page.

Kendall Holiday spends her Friday nights exactly where she wants to be: with her head buried in a spicy romance novel while she works at her university’s library. She knows she could join her friends for a weekend of drunken debauchery and college parties, but she likes her alone time, so she tells herself she isn’t hiding when she gets lost in the pages of fictional love stories.

But that all changes when Vincent Knight, captain of the basketball team, turns up with an injured wrist, a sour mood, and a pressing need for poetry recommendations for a class he hates. Vincent is tall, smart-mouthed, and challenges Kendall like no one has before. Suddenly, she’s falling headfirst into her very own romance novel—but it takes a lot more truth than tropes to get to a happy ever after in real life.

The Rule Book by Sarah Adams (Football)

“Oops, we accidentally got married in Vegas” is one of my favorite tropes, but when the groom is a hotshot football player? And it’s his agent he’s accidentally gotten married to? A recipe for an unputdownable book.

College exes break all the rules when they reunite years later in this enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance. Nora Mackenzie’s career lies in the hands of famous NFL tight end Derek Pender—her extremely hot college ex-boyfriend. Nora didn’t end things gracefully, and now it has come back to haunt her. Derek is her first client as an official full-time sports agent, and he’s holding a grudge.

Derek has set his sights on a little friendly revenge. If Nora Mackenzie, the first girl to ever break his heart, wants to be his agent, he’ll let her be his agent. The plan is simple: make Nora’s life absolutely miserable. But if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved—she won’t quit easily.

Instead of giving in, Nora starts a scheme of her own. But then a wild night in Vegas leads to Nora and Derek in bed the next morning married. With their rule book out the window, could this new relationship save their careers and spark the romance of a lifetime?

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey (Golf)

Tired of all the really popular sports? Well, Tessa Bailey’s got you covered with this absolutely hilarious golf rom-com between a grumpy golfer and his biggest fan.

Wells Whitaker was once golf’s hottest rising star, but lately, all he has to show for his “promising” career is a killer hangover, a collection of broken clubs, and one remaining supporter. No matter how bad he plays, the beautiful, sunny redhead is always on the sidelines. But when Wells quits in a blaze of glory and his fangirl finally goes home, he knows he made the greatest mistake of his life.

Josephine Doyle believed in the gorgeous, grumpy golfer, even when he didn’t believe in himself. Yet after he throws in the towel, she wonders if her faith was misplaced. Then a determined Wells shows up at her door with a wild proposal: be his new caddy, help him turn his game around, and split the prize money. And considering Josephine’s professional and personal life is in shambles, she could really use the cash

Before long, Wells starts winning again, and Josephine is surprised to find a sweet, thoughtful guy underneath his gruff exterior. But Wells is technically her boss and an athlete falling for his fangirl would be ridiculous… right?

Cross the Line by Simone Soltani (Formula 1)

I couldn’t leave myself off this list, now, could I? If you like fast cars, slow-burn romance, and sunshine characters, do I have a book for you…

Her brother’s best friend sends her heart racing in this sparkling Formula 1 romance.

Formula 1 driver Dev Anderson’s career is on the line. After a social media disaster leaves him with an angry team and sponsors threatening to jump ship, he needs someone to help save his image. At a party in Monaco, he bumps into the woman who can fix it all. There’s just one problem: she’s his best friend’s little sister. And, okay, maybe there’s another problem—he kissed her last year and hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

 

Recent college grad Willow Williams needs a job. She may have a talent for seeing the bright side of any bad situation, but it’s hard to stay positive when she’s struggling to get hired. So when Dev offers her a temporary solution, she can’t help but say yes. Even if it means ignoring the crush she’s had on him since childhood.

Willow and Dev are determined to keep things strictly professional, regardless of old feelings and the blazing chemistry between them. But in the glittering and high-stakes world of Formula 1, some lines are meant to be crossed…

The post Author Simone Soltani’s Top Sports Romances To Read This Summer appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/simone-soltani-author-guest-post/feed/ 0 51490 Review: The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey https://thenerddaily.com/review-the-au-pair-affair-by-tessa-bailey/ https://thenerddaily.com/review-the-au-pair-affair-by-tessa-bailey/#respond Sat, 13 Jul 2024 03:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=51345 Tallulah, a broke 26-year-old aspiring marine biologist, seizes the chance to be a live-in nanny for Burgess, a hardened hockey veteran and newly single dad. Living in a fancy neighbourhood and taking care of his cool but introverted tween daughter, Lissa, seems perfect. Yet Tallulah has her own reservations about moving in with someone she doesn’t know, still healing from past scars. Still, while helping Lissa fit in, Tallulah realises Burgess needs a push back into the dating scene. Sparks […]

The post Review: The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> Tallulah, a broke 26-year-old aspiring marine biologist, seizes the chance to be a live-in nanny for Burgess, a hardened hockey veteran and newly single dad. Living in a fancy neighbourhood and taking care of his cool but introverted tween daughter, Lissa, seems perfect. Yet Tallulah has her own reservations about moving in with someone she doesn’t know, still healing from past scars. Still, while helping Lissa fit in, Tallulah realises Burgess needs a push back into the dating scene. Sparks fly as boundaries blur, but Burgess is torn between his daughter’s wish for her parents to reunite and his growing feelings for Tallulah. When Tallulah steps away to do the “right” thing, Burgess is left heartbroken. A serendipitous encounter and a nudge from his daughter force Burgess to confront his fears, fight for love, and prove he’s worthy of a happily ever after with Tallulah.

“You could be wasting your time on me.”

“Time with you could never be a waste. Only a privilege.”

Forced proximity, grumpy-sunshine vibes, and opposites attract—what more could you want from a romance? Bailey delivers another banger with The Au Pair Affair.

Tallulah is a leading lady if I ever saw one. Braiding Lissa’s hair, mitigating her undeniable attraction to Burgess, and somehow also trying to figure out where life will take her now that she’s back in the States to finish her marine biologist masters isn’t easy but she perseveres. Be warned, there is also quite some dark trauma in her past that she is still recovering from that I didn’t see coming and it might hit hard for you as well. Rest assured, Tallulah is an amazing character who shows immense strength but you can’t help but feel for her as she tries to keep her independence and her boundaries clear all while still dreaming of a happily ever after for herself and trying not to fall head over heels for Burgess.

Now Burgess. We love a man who’s down bad for the heroine from the very first moment and who worships the ground she walks on and Burgess delivered on all accounts. Nicknamed “Sir Savage” on the ice he is the actual softest cinnamon roll off it. You can’t help but root for a man who might just consider building you an entire house himself if you’re not able to find an apartment in your price range. These are the levels of utter adoration we want in romance (and in life). Also, sidenote, Burgess is an amazing dad and it’s both funny and adorable how utterly clueless he is sometimes.

Now, while I am well versed in romance novels and levels of horniness, here even I hit my limits in some early chapters. There’s instant attraction and pining and then there’s just stating on every page how horny you are for the love interest. I loved that both Tallulah and Burgess had this insane chemistry from the first time they met in Fangirl Down, but the first few chapters of this book were hard to get into since the levels of horny somewhat skewered every single interaction between the two and quickly turned repetitive instead of enticing. It took away some enjoyment for me because every time I felt like Tallulah and Burgess were getting somewhere on an emotional level, another layer of just how much they wanted to get into each other’s pants interrupted that connection.

That being said, though, the chemistry between them was incredible. Once they had some actual conversations that did not end in inner monologues about all their dirty thoughts, I could really see why they were a perfect match. There are a lot of internal and external obstacles in their way but together, they manage to overcome most of them. I really enjoyed that there was a mix between internal and external conflicts so that even when things matched up for the both of them on an emotional level, there were still other issues they had to deal with. It made for a delicious will-they-won’t-they dynamic. And the dirty talk (you know, once it actually made sense since they were acting on their attraction to each other) was as combustive as you expect from this stellar author. Tallulah and Burgess end up being able to read each other so well on the streets and between the sheets that every interaction will make you shiver.

As always, there is a third-act break-up that may not be everyone’s cup of tea (you know me, I’m a hater) and does drag quite a bit until you’re more frustrated than anything else (aka screaming in your head at these characters and their choices and just wondering where they get the audacity to behave like that), but, in true Bailey fashion, the reconciliation is hard-earned and explosive. The cameos from Wells and Josephine also made me so happy and balanced out the rougher parts of Tallulah and Burgess’s romance and showed just how important friendships are to feel fulfilled in life. All in all, this book proved to be a great summer read.

The single father/nanny romance that will melt not only the ice Burgess skates on but also your heart, The Au Pair Affair will turn up the heat this summer! Come for the unhinged possessiveness, stay for the wholesome patchwork family vibes.

The Au Pair Affair is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of July 16th 2024.

Will you be picking up The Au Pair Affair? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A sports rom-com about a burly, surly, single dad who falls head-over-hockey-stick for his quirky live-in nanny…

Tallulah is smart, vivacious, and studying to be a marine biologist. She’s also twenty-six and broke. So when Burgess, a battle-scarred hockey veteran and newly single dad, offers her a job as his live-in nanny, she jumps at the opportunity to get paid while living in a super fancy neighborhood and being around Lissa, his cool but introverted tween.

Her tween charge isn’t the only one who could use some help fitting in, though. According to…well, everyone except Burgess, he needs to get back on the dating scene, and adventurous Tallulah is just the girl to show him how. But as boundaries are slowly crossed and Burgess finds himself pulled between his daughter, who wants her parents back together, and his insane chemistry with Tallulah, a huge rift is formed, and Tallulah does the “right” thing—breaks her own heart and walks away.

Though Burgess knows it’s for the best—he’s too jaded, with too much baggage—a chance meeting, and a new push from his daughter, forces him to put everything on the line and fight to prove he learned his lessons well and is worthy of a happily ever after with Tallulah.

The post Review: The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/review-the-au-pair-affair-by-tessa-bailey/feed/ 0 51345 Enjoy These Swoonworthy July to December 2024 Romance Book Releases https://thenerddaily.com/romance-book-releases-july-to-december-2024/ https://thenerddaily.com/romance-book-releases-july-to-december-2024/#respond Mon, 01 Jul 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=51202 The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie! Any commissions received go back into funding giveaways on The Nerd Daily. In need of a good swoon? Well get ready for all of the exciting romance books hitting shelves in the second half of 2024! With new releases from Emma Lord, Tessa Bailey, Jessica Joyce, Hannah Grace, Andie Burke, Carissa Broadbent, Lyla […]

The post Enjoy These Swoonworthy July to December 2024 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie! Any commissions received go back into funding giveaways on The Nerd Daily.

In need of a good swoon? Well get ready for all of the exciting romance books hitting shelves in the second half of 2024! With new releases from Emma Lord, Tessa Bailey, Jessica Joyce, Hannah Grace, Andie Burke, Carissa Broadbent, Lyla Sage, Nora Roberts, Sangu Mandanna, Lana Ferguson, and many more, along with those making their sweet debuts!

With just about every trope explored to historical romances and fantasy romances, you’ll be sure to find something for your romance-loving heart!

Read on to discover just a few of our picks and also be sure to check out our Most Anticipated list.

JULY 2024

Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this steamy Regency romp, Lady Selina is determined to find the Duke of Stanhope the perfect wife―the only problem is she’s starting to think that might be her.

Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A small-town bartender juggles motherhood and a sexual awakening in this heartwarming queer friends-to-lovers romance from the author of Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review.

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rival ornithologists hunt through England for a rare magical bird in this historical-fantasy rom-com reminiscent of Indiana Jones but with manners, tea, and helicopter parasols.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey returns with an all-new sports rom-com about a burly, surly, single dad who falls head-over-hockey-stick for his quirky live-in nanny…

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A fake engagement, second chances, and newfound family members come together in this new romance from the New York Times bestselling author of the “swoon-worthy” (Business Insider) The Spanish Love Deception.

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on earth before ten days are up…

Take Me Home by Melanie Sweeney

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A spicy, swoony frenemies-to-lovers romance, whilst full of heart, humour, and heft – and offers a moving ode to the people and places we call home.

What’s in a Kiss? by Lauren Kate

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From # 1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Kate comes an enemies-to-lovers “what if” romance about a prom kiss that never was, and one woman’s magical chance to live what might have been.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Let the Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Set against a sizzling-hot Greek summer filled with sunshine and souvlaki, Rufaro Faith Mazarura’s Let the Games Begin is a page-turning debut rom-com about two strangers at the top of their game.

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance from the USA Today bestselling author of You, with a View.

The Scenic Route by Katie Ruggle

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Rocky Mountains get unBEARably hot in Katie Ruggle’s brand-new series packed with adventure, action, tall dark & scruffy heroes, and a sense of quirky humor that will be your next perfect escape.

AUGUST 2024

Miranda in Retrograde by Lauren Layne

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
After getting passed over for tenure and having her life upended in the process, a physics professor decides to throw caution to the wind and live by her horoscope predictions for a year in this effervescent rom-com from the New York Times bestselling author of Made in Manhattan.

Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The hardest thing for a paranormal conspiracy theorist and a web series producer to believe in is finding love in this swoony debut romantic comedy.

The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Two best friends who haven’t spoken in ten years pretend to date after break-ups with their respective exes go viral, in this delightfully fun and deeply emotional novel.

Heavy Hitter by Katie Cotugno

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The beloved New York Times bestselling author of Birds of California hits it out of the park with this smart, sexy, thrilling take on the celebrity-athlete story—a funny, sizzling, ripped-from-the-headlines romance between an international pop star and a major league baseball player who thought his best days were behind him.

I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A smart, tender, vivacious romantic comedy about mistaken identities, the line between love and sex, and the way one night—and one person—can change your life forever.

Daydream by Hannah Grace

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The third in the New York Times bestselling Maple Hills series follows fan-favorite Henry and a bookish fellow student who come up with a plan to help them both overcome their respective challenges in a difficult year.

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A Chickasaw woman who can’t catch a break serves up a little white lie that snowballs into much more in this witty and irresistible rom-com by debut author Danica Nava.

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the creator of the viral TikTok videos about the sunshine assistant to the evil villain and their unexpected romance comes the second book in the hotly-anticipated fantasy romance series.

You’re the Problem, It’s You by Emma R. Alban

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The enemies-to-lovers queer Victorian romance follow-up to Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend, in which a young lord and a second son clash, but find themselves thrust together again and again by their meddling cousins.

Til Heist Do Us Part by Sara Desai

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Diamond necklaces, billionaires, Mafia bosses, and student loans—it’s all in a day’s work for Simi Chopra and her ragtag heist crew in the next romantic-comedy caper from Sara Desai.

Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this sparkling romance, two professors with a complicated past get a second chance to prove history won’t repeat itself.

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

It’s love at first haunting in a seaside town that raises everyone’s spirits in this new series from USA Today bestselling author Jen DeLuca.

SEPTEMBER 2024

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

Whenever You’re Ready by Rachel Runya Katz

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
After reconnecting on a road trip, two friends must decide if love is the ultimate risk worth taking in this funny, emotional sapphic romance.

The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Business or Pleasure meets Evvie Drake Starts Over in this delicious opposites-attract romance from debut author Sarah Chamberlain.

All I Want Is You by Falon Ballard

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Two rival authors—and ex’s—are thrown together just in time for the holidays in this delightful new romantic comedy from beloved author Falon Ballard.

Adam & Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A rollicking, unforgettable romance about two strangers finding love despite their best efforts as they embark on a sweeping matchmaking tour through Việt Nam, perfect for readers of Carley Fortune and Abby Jimenez.

Fall For Him by Andie Burke

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In Fall for Him by Andie Burke, seven-hundred-fifty square feet isn’t enough for the home-renovation-fueled hatred and the building sexual tension.

The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean by Ann Rose

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Equal parts heartwarming and bittersweet, The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean expertly weaves the wonder and terror of falling in love into a beautifully crafted story about the joy that can be found when you’re willing to dust yourself off and try again.

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Caraval in this seductive fantasy adventure. With steamy romance, a sexy morally gray love interest, OCD rep and jaw-dropping twists, Phantasma is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Nisha J. Tuli and Carissa Broadbent.

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the acclaimed author of The Longest Ride and The Notebook comes an emotional, powerful novel about wondering if we can change—or even make our peace with—the path we’ve taken.

My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Nothing sucks more than fake dating a vampire in this paranormal romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of My Roommate Is a Vampire.

Can’t Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A struggling waitress and the heir to a major Seattle company stumble into a high-profile fake engagement while simultaneously trying to keep up with their own love lives in this flirty fall rom-com!

One On One by Jamie Harrow

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For readers of The Hating Game and The Ex Talk, a workplace, enemies-to-lovers debut for anyone yearning for a courtside romance, perfect for anyone who can’t get enough sports rom-coms.

OCTOBER 2024

Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A hilarious and heartfelt rom-com about having it all, slowing down to see the big picture, and finding out that the person you least expect could be your perfect fit

The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the author of The Christmas Wager comes a charming holiday rom-com about a young, recently heartbroken woman who is tasked by her sister to complete Advent calendar challenges in the lead up to Christmas to reignite her belief in herself, the holidays, and love again.

The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Santa Clause meets Husband Material in this delightful holiday novel!

The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
When doppelgänger best friends trade one’s cabin Christmas vacation for the other’s Hawaiian would’ve-been-honeymoon, both might just find love they weren’t expecting.

Some Like It Cold by Elle McNicoll

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A big-hearted small-town romance from bestselling, award-winning author Elle McNicoll, Some Like it Cold is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Talia Hibbert and Gilmore Girls.

I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this smart and swoony adventure rom-com, a journalist and a movie star find themselves teaming up to cover up a murder…and falling for each other in the process.

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Erin Sterling brightens up the Winter Solstice with another delightfully spooky novel following Bowen Penhallow and the girl he feels strangely drawn to—especially when she becomes his only hope of salvation after a strong spell sends them to a Yuletide celebration… more than 50 years in the past.

Sleeping with the Frenemy by Natalie Caña

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The third book in the riotously funny Vega Family Love Stories finds self-assured firefighter Leo Vega trying to reignite a flame that’s gone cold and finally bring his secret love affair into the open.

Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Opposites attract when a buttoned-up professor and carefree doorman must restore a magically missing identity in this sparkling romance, perfect for fans of Sophie Cousens and Ashley Poston.

Haunt Your Heart Out by Amber Roberts

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A dashing ghost hunter and the bookseller who made up the ghosts he’s chasing wind up entangled in more ways than one in this steamy contemporary romance from the author of Text Appeal, perfect for fans of Ashley Poston and Chloe Liese.

Much Ado About Margaret by Madeleine Roux

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Madeleine Roux’s next season in Regency England follows a rebellious writer and the man who risks everything to publish her.

The Wedding Engagement by Zoe Allison

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Planning a wedding is so romantic . . . except when it’s not yours, and you’re planning it with the guy you’re secretly crushing on.

NOVEMBER 2024

A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
After accidentally going viral on social media, a cupcake-baking football player gets assistance from a social media maven—and his best friend’s little sister—to help promote his new bakery.

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year, a hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.

The Co-Op by Tarah DeWitt

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Filled with crackling tension, The Co-op is a steamy second chance romance about restoration and renovation, and uncovering all the things that build character within ourselves. It’s about the never-ending construction project that partnership is, and finding enjoyment at every stage.

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, Songbird and the Heart of Stone, where A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Dante’s Inferno, in an epic fantasy romance of love and treachery between mortals and gods.

Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
She thrives in chaos. He prefers routine. The only thing they have in common? How much they hate each other. From the author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the highly anticipated next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance featuring enemies to lovers and forced proximity.

Duchess Material by Emily Sullivan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
When her student goes missing, an independent bluestocking must seek the help of the arrogant duke who spurned her in this sizzling tale of romance and intrigue, perfect for fans of Netflix’s Bridgerton series

Mr. Nice Spy by Tiana Smith

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
When a pyrotechnic engineer discovers her biological father is an international criminal, she must work with a sexy CIA agent to take him down in this thrilling adventure rom-com.

The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel in this dazzling new adventure rom-com by Kerry Rea, author of Lucy on the Wild Side.

Love in Bloom by Lucy Eden

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this hilarious and steamy rom-com, a hardworking city woman unexpectedly inherits her grandparents’ farm that comes equipped with a handsome horticulturist.

Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochrane

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A sapphic romance in which two former hockey teammates turned rivals with unresolved feelings for one another are paired to host a popular morning show’s Olympic coverage and must remain professional amid a nation of fans closely scrutinizing their incredible chemistry.

The Mirror by Nora Roberts

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts continues the hauntingly spectacular Lost Bride Trilogy with book two, The Mirror.

Pickleballers by Ilana Long

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A pickleball newbie looking to recover from life’s swings and misses crosses paddles with love in this debut romantic comedy.

DECEMBER 2024

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
An enchanting novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemy—the opposite, in fact—in this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate.

Not in My Book by Katie Holt

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Hating Game meets Beach Read in this sexy and hilarious enemies-to-lovers romance from a debut Peruvian-Tennessean voice.

The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
When a young woman trades places with her noble cousin, their innocent ruse leads to true love in this new Regency-era romantic comedy of manners from the author of Mr. Malcolm’s List.

How to Get a Life in Ten Dates by Jenny L. Howe

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this charming new rom-com from Jenny L. Howe, a young woman who’s fed up with dating challenges her family and friends to set her up on ten dates, but gets more than she bargained for when her best friend adds himself to the roster.

PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this splendidly bittersweet romantic comedy, enemies forced together by a mutual loss are led on a cross-country journey toward a second chance.

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

The post Enjoy These Swoonworthy July to December 2024 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/romance-book-releases-july-to-december-2024/feed/ 0 51202