Looking for inspiration to get caught in the throes of the impending months of wedding fever? We have a list of upcoming romances, complete with a range of diverse authors and fresh character perspectives that won’t disappoint.
A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole
April 30
Another gorgeous cover and delectable story in the Reluctant Royals series. This third installment mixes a fake engagement along with the usual sizzling chemistry Cole always brings to her books.
A Prince on Paper (Avon) features wonderfully diverse characters, the author’s quick humor and also an exploration of deeper issues underlying the fairytale plot.
Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali
April 30
S.K. Ali’s YA contemporary romance follows the crossing paths of two Muslim teens who meet during a spring break trip in Doha. Both are putting on brave faces despite tremendous personal challenges. Zayneb is trying to cleanse her toxic thoughts about her Islamophobic teacher and Adam is hiding his multiple sclerosis diagnosis from his friends and family.
Discarding their acts of pretend with each other, these two will win your heart through their honest conversations of feeling out of place, or rather cast aside, simply by being who they are. More perspectives like this in future romances please! Love from A to Z (Simon & Schuster) will be sure to resonate with many.
Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
May 7
In this modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic, Trisha Raje is royalty, both in her blood and in her illustrious career as San Francisco’s reigning neurosurgeon. DJ Caine is a chef with a rough background but promising future. While he is tempted to work for Trisha, he feels that she’ll judge him before given a fair chance.
However, when DJ’s sister is in medical danger, the two meet and confront their assumptions head-on. Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors (William Morrow) is a delicious multicultural spin on the iconic tale of class and character, you won’t be able to put Sonali Dev’s latest down.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
May 14
In this enemies-to-lovers story, you’ll find the perfect comedy to raise your spirits. In a freak turn of events, when the bride and groom are too ridden with food poisoning to enjoy their honeymoon, the bride’s twin sister Olive and her archnemesis Ethan (brother of the groom) go on the trip instead to avoid the waste of money. In a fiasco of fake dating, the two rivals find real chemistry. You’ll find your perfect beach bag read in The Unhoneymooners (Gallery).
American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera
May 20
Another fairytale plot for the true romantics…the latest in Adriana’s Herrera’s Dreamers series features a modern setup for two men in New York City. In American Fairytale (Carina Press) determined billionaire Thomas Hughes courts the down-to-earth social worker Milo in a heartwarming story of personal growth and change.
Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne
May 28
This story is the first of Lauren Layne’s Central Park Pact series and full of female empowerment. Naomi Powell, daughter of a housekeeper, has hustled her way from the Bronx to a CEO position among the Upper East Side elite.
As she tries to prove her worth to her peers, this jewelry empress finds herself tangled with an old childhood rival, all grown up and looking for new ways to cause friction. Saucy and fun, this series is off to a promising start (Gallery).
The Summer of Sunshine and Margot by Susan Mallery
June 11
Twin sisters Margot and Sunshine are opposites in many ways but have one thing in common– their poor judgment with men. Both struggle with the emotional baggage of their mother absence to chase one man after another, but have grown closer for support in consequence.
However, when they strike up a friendship with a past Hollywood icon, the sisters learn from this enigmatic woman how to take their differences in stride and approach life with a whole new outlook. Friendship, healing and romance all come together seamlessly in what is sure to be Susan Mallery’s latest bestseller (Harlequin).
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
July 9
The perfect story for any true bibliophile. The only child of a single mother, Nina Hill is content with life as it is. She’s comfortable working in a bookstore, finding companions among the bound copies and routinely leading her trivia team to victory. When her estranged father dies and the rest of that side of the family reaches out, Nina is faced with more social interaction than she knows what to do with.
To make matters more complicated, her trivia nemesis wants to get to know her outside of their encyclopedic battleground. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (Berkley) is charming and relatable for any introvert who would rather pass time with fictional characters than people, but will rise to the occasion with the right support.
The Marriage Clock by Zara Raheem
July 19
Leila has always dreamed of finding true love on her own, but she’s 26 years old (gasp) and her parents are now giving her a deadline. If she is not able to find a husband on her own terms in three months, then they arrange a match as many have before in their South Asian-Muslim American community.
In her debut The Marriage Clock (William Morrow), Raheem contributes thoughtful humor, well-drawn characters and a beautiful portrait of navigating cultural expectations with personal fulfillment.
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
August 6
This is a fantastic contemporary romance that captures the modern dating world head-on with a business rivalry between two app creators. While they are fierce competitors at work, Rhiannon and Samson can’t help sparks flying in their personal lives.
So many extra points go to The Right Swipe (Avon) for a full cast of diverse and developed characters, many of the minor ones deserve books in their own rights.
A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole
April 30
Another gorgeous cover and delectable story in the Reluctant Royals series. This third installment mixes a fake engagement along with the usual sizzling chemistry Cole always brings to her books.
A Prince on Paper (Avon) features wonderfully diverse characters, the author’s quick humor and also an exploration of deeper issues underlying the fairytale plot.
Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali
April 30
S.K. Ali’s YA contemporary romance follows the crossing paths of two Muslim teens who meet during a spring break trip in Doha. Both are putting on brave faces despite tremendous personal challenges. Zayneb is trying to cleanse her toxic thoughts about her Islamophobic teacher and Adam is hiding his multiple sclerosis diagnosis from his friends and family.
Discarding their acts of pretend with each other, these two will win your heart through their honest conversations of feeling out of place, or rather cast aside, simply by being who they are. More perspectives like this in future romances please! Love from A to Z (Simon & Schuster) will be sure to resonate with many.
Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
May 7
In this modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic, Trisha Raje is royalty, both in her blood and in her illustrious career as San Francisco’s reigning neurosurgeon. DJ Caine is a chef with a rough background but promising future. While he is tempted to work for Trisha, he feels that she’ll judge him before given a fair chance.
However, when DJ’s sister is in medical danger, the two meet and confront their assumptions head-on. Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors (William Morrow) is a delicious multicultural spin on the iconic tale of class and character, you won’t be able to put Sonali Dev’s latest down.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
May 14
In this enemies-to-lovers story, you’ll find the perfect comedy to raise your spirits. In a freak turn of events, when the bride and groom are too ridden with food poisoning to enjoy their honeymoon, the bride’s twin sister Olive and her archnemesis Ethan (brother of the groom) go on the trip instead to avoid the waste of money. In a fiasco of fake dating, the two rivals find real chemistry. You’ll find your perfect beach bag read in The Unhoneymooners (Gallery).
American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera
May 20
Another fairytale plot for the true romantics…the latest in Adriana’s Herrera’s Dreamers series features a modern setup for two men in New York City. In American Fairytale (Carina Press) determined billionaire Thomas Hughes courts the down-to-earth social worker Milo in a heartwarming story of personal growth and change.
Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne
May 28
This story is the first of Lauren Layne’s Central Park Pact series and full of female empowerment. Naomi Powell, daughter of a housekeeper, has hustled her way from the Bronx to a CEO position among the Upper East Side elite.
As she tries to prove her worth to her peers, this jewelry empress finds herself tangled with an old childhood rival, all grown up and looking for new ways to cause friction. Saucy and fun, this series is off to a promising start (Gallery).
The Summer of Sunshine and Margot by Susan Mallery
June 11
Twin sisters Margot and Sunshine are opposites in many ways but have one thing in common– their poor judgment with men. Both struggle with the emotional baggage of their mother absence to chase one man after another, but have grown closer for support in consequence.
However, when they strike up a friendship with a past Hollywood icon, the sisters learn from this enigmatic woman how to take their differences in stride and approach life with a whole new outlook. Friendship, healing and romance all come together seamlessly in what is sure to be Susan Mallery’s latest bestseller (Harlequin).
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
July 9
The perfect story for any true bibliophile. The only child of a single mother, Nina Hill is content with life as it is. She’s comfortable working in a bookstore, finding companions among the bound copies and routinely leading her trivia team to victory. When her estranged father dies and the rest of that side of the family reaches out, Nina is faced with more social interaction than she knows what to do with.
To make matters more complicated, her trivia nemesis wants to get to know her outside of their encyclopedic battleground. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (Berkley) is charming and relatable for any introvert who would rather pass time with fictional characters than people, but will rise to the occasion with the right support.
The Marriage Clock by Zara Raheem
July 19
Leila has always dreamed of finding true love on her own, but she’s 26 years old (gasp) and her parents are now giving her a deadline. If she is not able to find a husband on her own terms in three months, then they arrange a match as many have before in their South Asian-Muslim American community.
In her debut The Marriage Clock (William Morrow), Raheem contributes thoughtful humor, well-drawn characters and a beautiful portrait of navigating cultural expectations with personal fulfillment.
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
August 6
This is a fantastic contemporary romance that captures the modern dating world head-on with a business rivalry between two app creators. While they are fierce competitors at work, Rhiannon and Samson can’t help sparks flying in their personal lives.
So many extra points go to The Right Swipe (Avon) for a full cast of diverse and developed characters, many of the minor ones deserve books in their own rights.
