Anything But a Lord by Kathleen Ayers (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the London Vices series. Makes more sense to read this book in order, but basically, we’ve got the son and brother of a duke raised in a brothel. When Fletcher realizes he looks just like a duke, he uses the opportunity to sneak into balls and discreetly steal jewelry. And then he meets Helen, the companion of a flighty daughter of a marquess, and he gets all sorts of distracted by her. They don’t actually spend much time together over the course of the book, but Helen spends most of the time thinking she’s beneath him and that he’s a rogue. The plot picks up though when Helen realizes that Fletcher is not actually the duke and everyone’s in a lot more danger than we anticipated. Can’t wait for the next book of the series to see how the plot unfolds.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Books via NetGalley.

In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. They’re not really rivals: clearly this guy Sebastian has had a crush on Quincy since high school. But when they finally get together, it’s like fate coming together. So Quincy is a super smart, super talented, self-employed meteorologist who’s in the running for a job with the National Weather Service. Sebastian is a super arrogant, somewhat famous, national news-appearing meteorologist who’s burnt out from his New York City life and spending hurricane season in Florida. He’s also the brother of Quincy’s best friend Mia. There’s a big overlapping friend group here that forces Quincy and Sebastian together a lot over the Summer. And when they start teaming up for storm chases and social media reporting, it turns into so much more. Ugh, I love how Sebastian is so impressed by Quincy and how he sticks up for her.

Advance ebook provided by Atria Books via NetGalley.

Thighs Wide Shut by Hayley Fleming (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. I’m on Harrison’s side of the argument here. All the way through. Even though we never get his POV. Emma and Harrison were best friends with underlying attraction all through college, until a huge falling out, and now they haven’t spoken in five years. Lucky (or unlucky) for Emma, she moves into the basement apartment right below Harrison’s. She’s still in need of some maturity and growth though. Basically, she “can’t” date because of her untreated vaginismus and she’s basically emotionally constipated because of it. It’s obviously a very real condition, but she seems to be unwilling to take steps to improve her condition through physical and cognitive therapy, while also being insecure in her dating life and never actually telling any of her potential partners about it. Even with her best friend telling her that penetration is not necessary for intimacy, Emma is still terribly insecure and believes that if she “fixes herself” then Harrison will never need to know. I’m not an expert here, but I’m pretty sure you’ve got to tell your partner there’s a potential for hurting your private bits, just in case.

Advance ebook provided by Dial Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Second First Dates by Gabriella Gamez (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Librarians in Love series. Dual POV here, but Leti’s the one who needs the transformation along the way. She’s ready to date again, matches with Julian on an app, and then doesn’t realize she’s already been on a date with him four years ago until the current date is happening. Oh, and then it turns out he’s her brother’s best friend and roommate who lives in her apartment building. Totally awkward. And then they sort of become friends while he helps her with her dating apps. But Leti’s got major family drama that Julian is now stuck in the middle of. And some major trust issues. Poor Julian has his work cut out for him to win her over. Family drama aside, we’ve got some frank discussions between Leti and Julian on what it means to be on the ace-spectrum and demisexual.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Love You More by Emily Giffin (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Finally, a second chance romance that is told in the before chunk and the after chunk, not a mix of flashbacks. We’ve got Billie, a big deal doctor in NYC, who is recently engaged to Dean. But then she gets a phone call from her hometown ex-boyfriend Mick with devastating news. She’s got to head back home to deal with that and of course revisit all her old feelings. I haven’t read an Emily Giffin book in a long time, but I loved this one. This book was so good at stirring up emotions, in the best way.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Just for the Season by Rachel Griffiths (2026)

Historical romance. Standalone novel. Charlotte is in a whole mess of trouble after sneaking into a scandalous party and the queen has basically told her she needs to marry. Easy peasy, let’s gather all the suitors at a house party. Except most of her suitors suck and she’s left with her uncertain feelings for Wolfgang, her brother’s best friend tasked with looking after her while the brother is out of the country. And of course, Charlotte and Wolfgang have a history of exchanging letters and growing feelings, until it all went wrong. We’re moving in fairly predictable historical romance plot lines, but made more humorous with a meddling grandmother. And the best scenes involve Charlotte telling off her terrible suitors.

Advance ebook provided by Gallery Books via Edelweiss. Advance print book provided by Gallery Books. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Not that Kind of Proposal by Victoria Lavine (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Gracie and Jude bond upon first meeting at his grandmother’s funeral, but it last about two seconds because then she finds out Jude is planning to sell the estate where she works and lives as a wedding planner. Oops. And then they’re quickly enemies as Gracie tries to get Jude to see the beauty of love and weddings and all of that. But they’re both kinda broken people. Gracie is barely recovered from a past heartbreak and business venture gone bad, Jude has secrets locked up in a NDA, and now they’re teaming up to plan Gracie’s ex-boyfriend’s wedding. Messy and emotional and they can’t quite stay away from each other.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Rogue Around the Edges by Lydia Lloyd (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the Scoundrels of Parkhorne Hall series. Malcolm is the illegitimate older brother of a country gentleman and generally uncomfortable around society, making his brother’s house party an awkward experience. He’s constantly saying the wrong thing in front of Scarlett, the beautiful older sister of one of his brother’s prospects. She’s pretty much a spinster by society’s standards, so she doesn’t realize that Malcolm is genuinely attracted to her. It’s awkwardness and miscommunication between these two until they realize they really should be friends. And maybe more.

Advance ebook provided by Tule Publishing via BookSprout.

The MASH Up by Laura Marie Meyers (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. This one was really fun. Ruby is super practical and risk-averse and her life has not turned out like any of the pieces of the MASH game she played when she was 13-years-old. And when she blacks out on her 35th birthday, she’s totally shocked to wake up in her MASH dreamland. Oh, and her brother’s best friend Penn is there too. Who she hates. But maybe does not hate. Ruby’s relearning her life in this alternate universe, learning to let herself live a little, and also falling in love with the least expected guy. I loved MASH-Ruby and her technicolor wardrobe.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Fossil Feud by Maggie North (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Loved this book, highly recommend! Ripley is a somewhat disgraced paleontologist, after her ex-boyfriend stole her work and then accused her of the stealing. She’s on a privately funded dig to search for a not-yet-discovered dino. And then the stuffy professor James crashes her site because he needs her help uncovering a potential fraud. That is being perpetrated by her terrible ex. Of course Ripley and James together is a bad idea, mostly for her heart and her professional reputation, but these two definitely have sparks and can only stay away for so long. I love the idea of them teaming up together and working together throughout this book. And you know, also getting to know each other and opening up. Agh, it was so good.

Advance ebook provided by Dell via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Married with Benefits by Ellie Palmer (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Omg, this book made me laugh so much while I was listening/reading it. So Lainey is perpetually scraping by for cash, drives a run-down car as a not-Uber, part of the gig economy of her small tourist town in Wisconsin, and also suffers from bad health insurance on top of her chronic migraines. She meets Elliot when he’s a passenger in her rideshare, is instantly attracted, and then things take a sour turn when he tries to evict her from her house. But it’s ok, because she technically owns the house due to decades-long squatters’ rights. And then somehow she and Elliot enter into a marriage of convenience so she can have his fancy health insurance and so he can maybe convince her to sell him the house. Their flirting is delightful on top of all the calamities that befall them throughout this book. There’s so much going on, you have got to read it.

Advance ebook provided by Putnam Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Return to Sender by Stephanie Parente (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Ooh, this book was so messy and emotional. Violet is guardian to her 14-year-old sister Phoebe after the sudden death of their father, and she’s dealing with a sullen closed-off teenager. Until they receive a letter returned to the previous occupant of their apartment. Of course Phoebe opens the letter and gets all emotionally invested in the story there. Violet is excited to see a spark of life in Phoebe after all this time. So now, they track down the letter writer, a Benji Dexter, and try to get the letter to its intended recipient. Dex is the grumpiest of grumps, but somehow friendly and caring of Phoebe. The three of them end up on a cross-country road trip to deliver the letter, and Violet and Dex grow closer along the way. It’s definitely a slow build of friendship, trust, and more here, with the road trip forcing everyone out of their comfort zones. I loved this book.

Advance ebook provided by Dial Press via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Loved this one. Influencer Poppy teams up with chef Jack to reopen his late mentor’s restaurant in small town Florida. This is after some public humiliation for both of them at her father’s fancy restaurant in New York City. The grumpy chef and sunshiney influencer are constantly bickering, but definitely grow closer along the way. And it was nice watching them learn more about each other and find a new purpose in life. This book reminded me a lot of It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey, in a good way, because I love that grumpy-sunshine pair working on a team project.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by HarperCollins Audio.

Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Pop star Ramona retires and goes to college. Psych professor Will is skeptical, but also attracted. Tons of flirting, banter, and steam here. And how is it that he can make her feel so normal? Loved their interactions and how he treated her like a person, not a celebrity. Aside from the very clear conflict of interest and the not that big of an age gap, I think these two were a really good match for each other. Delightful read.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

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Mr. Milner Gets Divorced by Jane Hadley (2026)

Historical romance. Mid-century America. Book 2 of the Milners series. I feel like this is more Stephen’s book than Joe’s, even though Joe is the one who needs to get divorced. Being gay in the 1950s is basically a crime, so Stephen has to deal with furtive encounters in bath houses. But he’s looking for love, and is sort of still pining for ex-best friend Joe, who got married to a woman right out of high school and is totally straight. Or is he? Because he kind of recoils when his wife puts the moves on him and is rethinking his entire life when he runs into Stephen again in a bar. Messy and heartbreaking and full of yearning.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Waltz to Remember by Mary Balogh (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 6 of the Ravenswood series. Felt more like Book 16 of the Westcott-Ravenswood Saga. I have been waiting for Bertrand’s book for a long time. He’s a relation of the Westcott family and Balogh ends that series with Bertrand’s twin sister Estelle’s romance, but no happily ever after for Bertrand. Readers have wondered where Bertrand’s book went, since Balogh started publishing the Ravenswood series directly afterward without tying it up. Oh, but we see a glimpse of Bertrand, Viscount Watley, in Book 3 of the Ravenswood series as the best friend of Owen Ware, brought to visit for the Summer. And wouldn’t you know, Owen’s younger sister Stephanie is embarrassingly smitten. We see glimpses of Bertrand for the next few books, but now we finally come to his and Stephanie’s story. I’ll be honest, the romance is pretty boring and I don’t actually know why or how Bertrand fell in love with her. However, as a long time Balogh fan, it was worth seeing the mingling of these two families and revisiting some of our favorite characters. If you haven’t read the rest of either series, probably skip this one, it’ll be horribly confusing.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw’s-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy by Jessica Radloff (2026)

Nonfiction. I had previously read Radloff’s book on the Big Bang Theory, so I knew I would enjoy the format and delivery of this one about Young Sheldon. We go through the entire life-cycle of the show, from conception, casting, seasons, and the finale (Including the introduction of yet another spinoff, Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage). Lots of interviews from the creators, cast, and crew, bringing insight into the creation of this show. I didn’t actually watch this show much, except for a few clips here and there via TikTok, but I appreciated the storylines and the acting in it. If you were a fan of Young Sheldon, I really do recommend this book.

Advance ebook provided by Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

For Ever More by Sue Lynn Tan (2026)

Fantasy romance. Book 2 of the Never Ever After duology. I don’t think fantasy is for me. At least not while the series is ongoing. I read the first book when it came out last year. And it was a bit of a mental load here to catch up, maybe for the first 20% of the book. You need the first book to make any sense of this one. I do love the magic and the dragons and world-building here. And of course Yining is a kick-ass female main character who is utterly worshipped by the questionably-honorable Lord Jin. Lots of action and adventure here, with sabotage and alliances. If you like fantasy based in Chinese mythology, you would like this duology.

Advance ebook provided by Little Brown Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair by Ashley Herring Blake (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Clover Lake series. Loved this book so much and how Sasha and Margot uncovered a whole history of Margot’s ancestor. Let’s back up though. Sasha is all sorts of emotionally damaged after the sudden death of her parents; she’s been aimlessly wandering for years and writes a semi-intoxicated letter to the family who holds the keys to a legendary ghost story that her parents were chasing for years. Sasha gets the go ahead to start working on her documentary, but finds a total hiccup in the form of Margot, who is stodgy and combative and super protective of herself and her family. But of course, the attraction is searing and both of these people need to learn to open up. We mostly lead with a friends with benefits situation, but feelings are definitely catching. Seriously emotional and I loved it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder by Ally Carter (2026)

Contemporary romance/Cozy mystery. Standalone novel. Class divide and a murder mystery. The housekeeper’s daughter, Ella, is suspected of murdering the billionaire’s grandson, Liam. Except Liam is totally still alive and there’s the mystery of who is trying to kill him and why. We get to see Ella and Liam’s delightful banter and glimpses of their past together. Ella’s life is truly lonely and heartbreaking, made even more so when we learn more about her relationship with Liam’s grandfather. And the romance and yearning was really good too. The mystery aspect kept me hooked because I just wanted to find out whodunnit!

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Libro.fm.

Once, Again, Always by Amanda Gayle (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. I have read this story in a past iteration, and despite knowing most of what happens, I LOVED this book. It’s told from Molly’s POV as she suffers from a brain injury and subsequent amnesia and wakes up without 6 years of her memories. Plus, she’s married to her academic rival and doesn’t quite trust him. It’s definitely a jarring situation for her. However, from the very first appearance, you can feel Aster’s heartbreak and yearning for the wife he clearly adores. Like, how can a write be so incredibly talented that you can feel the feelings of a character who doesn’t even get a POV in the book? Ugh, it’s the best. It’s definitely an angst-fest the whole way, until you see Molly start to soften towards Aster. We’ve got a really fun boisterous friend group throughout too.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Harper Collins Audio.

Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas (2026)

Historical fiction. Victorian-era England. Standalone novel. Reina has a lot of ideas in her genius brain, like opening her the first women’s bank in England. But she’s preoccupied with her new house and has the worst luck at hiring servants. Luckily, she found a second chance agency that’s hiring out paroled convicts. And this makes it super easy for John (a secret police detective) to sneak in as a butler to investigate Reina and her relationship to a potentially fraudulent banker. Oh, this book was delightfully domestic and I loved how all these strangers came together to form a family. Romance was a subplot here, but it was truly emotional. Loved the cameos from Ethan Ransom and Garrett Gibson (from the Ravenels). Kleypas fans will not be disappointed.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Libro.fm.

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Ali has been drowning a bit since her mom died and her husband left her. But she’s doing her best in her stained sweatpants, making sure her three kids are alive and well. It’s time to wake up and move on though, so we’re lucky there’s a meet cute with a guy at the dog park. Ethan is the perfect first date and they’re both totally smitten. Except Ethan’s only in town for the Summer, so nothing serious could possibly happen, right? Yea, I think we know they’ll start having serious feelings any day now.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Clover Lake series. Small-town charm with a dash of celebrity here. Ramona is a small-town diner waitress with long-buried dreams of being a costume designer, but shelved everything to come home and help raise her younger sister when her single father is injured. Her sister is finally going off to college and Ramona’s meddling best friend encourages her to branch out. Lucky for them all, a rom-com is being filmed in their small town that summer and Ramona has her chance. One of the movie stars Dylan has her own issues with breaking out of her tabloid gossip cycle and finds comfort in hanging out with Ramona. Things get all sorts of messy with Dylan being the subject of internet fame and gossip and Ramona gets caught up in the whirlwind. The romance here is sweet and genuine in addition to scorching hot. I enjoyed seeing what wacky thing would happen next and I loved the whole cast of supporting small town characters.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Clover Lake series. If you love a messy set-up, this book is for you. April is doing rough financially, so she takes an art teaching job at a local resort. And then it turns out her roommate and co-teacher is Daphne, the woman that he ex-fiancee cheated on her with. Ouch. Daphne is in an equally tough spot, having recently been dumped by said woman, and also did not know about April’s existence. It’s messy and angry and chaotic, plus they’re attracted to each other. Throw in some actual competition between the two in the form of a chance to show at an art gallery, and it’s heartbreak waiting to happen. I loved reading these two defensive and heartbroken people open up to each other and slowly start to let their walls down.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair by Ashley Herring Blake (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Clover Lake series. Loved this book so much and how Sasha and Margot uncovered a whole history of Margot’s ancestor. Let’s back up though. Sasha is all sorts of emotionally damaged after the sudden death of her parents; she’s been aimlessly wandering for years and writes a semi-intoxicated letter to the family who holds the keys to a legendary ghost story that her parents were chasing for years. Sasha gets the go ahead to start working on her documentary, but finds a total hiccup in the form of Margot, who is stodgy and combative and super protective of herself and her family. But of course, the attraction is searing and both of these people need to learn to open up. We mostly lead with a friends with benefits situation, but feelings are definitely catching. Seriously emotional and I loved it.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

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Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

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Love You to Death by Jenna Levine (2026)

Paranormal romance. Standalone novel. Look, Lucy may have been hit by a bus, but she’s definitely not ready to die. Luckily, her reaper Daniel swings a deal with the death agency to let her live a few more weeks while he observes her and learns more about the human condition in current times. He’s all sorts of gloomy and awkward while Lucy is bubbly and chaotic, but they are so drawn to each other. This was a delightful read.

Advance ebook provided by Berkley via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas (2026)

Historical fiction. Victorian-era England. Standalone novel. Reina has a lot of ideas in her genius brain, like opening her the first women’s bank in England. But she’s preoccupied with her new house and has the worst luck at hiring servants. Luckily, she found a second chance agency that’s hiring out paroled convicts. And this makes it super easy for John (a secret police detective) to sneak in as a butler to investigate Reina and her relationship to a potentially fraudulent banker. Oh, this book was delightfully domestic and I loved how all these strangers came together to form a family. Romance was a subplot here, but it was truly emotional. Loved the cameos from Ethan Ransom and Garrett Gibson (from the Ravenels). Kleypas fans will not be disappointed.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Libro.fm.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder by Ally Carter (2026)

Contemporary romance/Cozy mystery. Standalone novel. Class divide and a murder mystery. The housekeeper’s daughter, Ella, is suspected of murdering the billionaire’s grandson, Liam. Except Liam is totally still alive and there’s the mystery of who is trying to kill him and why. We get to see Ella and Liam’s delightful banter and glimpses of their past together. Ella’s life is truly lonely and heartbreaking, made even more so when we learn more about her relationship with Liam’s grandfather. And the romance and yearning was really good too. The mystery aspect kept me hooked because I just wanted to find out whodunnit!

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Libro.fm.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

New Guide: How to Monetize Your Bookstagram (or Booktok) with ShopMy

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I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram (2024)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Love on the Vine series. Start steamy here with a one night stand between Farzan and David. We’ve got a small mix-up when David thinks that Farzan is a food critic at the bar where he works, but they clear that up pretty soon. What follows is a friends with benefits situation because David only does casual and he’s planning to leave town in a few months anyway. Farzan is dealing with his own feelings of family inadequacy and learning how to take over the family restaurant. His friend group is amazingly supportive though and the main characters for the rest of the series. Loved seeing David and Farzan flirt (and more) and fall in love.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

It Had to Be Him by Adib Khorram (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Love on the Vine series. Poor Ramin tried to propose to his long-term boyfriend, only to be rejected and told that he’s boring. Ugh. So Ramin drunkenly books a trip to Italy to go be a new adventurous version of himself. And then he runs into an old high school crush Noah, who’s there with his kid and his ex-wife. It’s all sparks instantly, but Noah’s not sure if Ramin is still heartbroken over his ex, and Ramin is assuming that Noah is straight. But once they clear that up, it’s definitely a fast-burn steamy romance. Loved this book, although Noah’s ex-wife’s personality was giving me anxiety sometimes.

Ebook accessed from Kindle Unlimited.

Isn’t He Romantic? by Adib Khorram (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Love on the Vine series. Arya is getting older, his friends are coupled up, and his work and parents are a mess. His life gets more complicated when he ghosts a one-night-stand Ben, and then runs into him a few weeks later. Ben has his own issues with a slightly stalkery ex-boyfriend, so he asks Arya to pretend to be his boyfriend. What could possibly go wrong? Except everyone catches feelings but doesn’t know what to do with them. Arya because he’s had a poor example of love growing up, and Ben because he’s insecure after his ex-boyfriend’s mistreatment. It all goes exactly how you think it would, in all the best ways.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Hachette Audio.

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

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Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

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Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

I’ll Believe in Anything: The Making of Heated Rivalry Season 1 by Jacob Tierney (2026)

Annotated scripts. So, I loved watching the Heated Rivalry series. Adored it. No, I did not reheat. I may have seen many clips on TT. I have also read the whole book series and multiple fanfics. I’m a fan, but not an obsessive fan. I almost wasn’t going to read this book. But it was available from my library on Libby on release day, so I grabbed it. I’m going to be honest that I skimmed it. I mostly looked out for scenes that were slightly different from what was on the show and for Jacob’s annotations. I thought it was really interesting to read the commentary and see the changes from script to screen. Anything that was cut? I totally support. The show had such tight storytelling and editing and was so great at showing us all the emotion that we needed. If you’re even a casual Heated Rivalry fan, I think this book is a lot of fun.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Once, Again, Always by Amanda Gayle (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. I have read this story in a past iteration, and despite knowing most of what happens, I LOVED this book. It’s told from Molly’s POV as she suffers from a brain injury and subsequent amnesia and wakes up without 6 years of her memories. Plus, she’s married to her academic rival and doesn’t quite trust him. It’s definitely a jarring situation for her. However, from the very first appearance, you can feel Aster’s heartbreak and yearning for the wife he clearly adores. Like, how can a write be so incredibly talented that you can feel the feelings of a character who doesn’t even get a POV in the book? Ugh, it’s the best. It’s definitely an angst-fest the whole way, until you see Molly start to soften towards Aster. We’ve got a really fun boisterous friend group throughout too.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Harper Collins Audio.

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan (2024)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Ali has been drowning a bit since her mom died and her husband left her. But she’s doing her best in her stained sweatpants, making sure her three kids are alive and well. It’s time to wake up and move on though, so we’re lucky there’s a meet cute with a guy at the dog park. Ethan is the perfect first date and they’re both totally smitten. Except Ethan’s only in town for the Summer, so nothing serious could possibly happen, right? Yea, I think we know they’ll start having serious feelings any day now.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Mother-in-Law Book Club by Kate Hash (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. I feel like the newfound friend group was the primary plot here and the romance was secondary. Andi accidentally butts into a plane conversation between two older women complaining about their daughters-in-law. And then awkwardly, one of the women, Marilyn invites Andi for a cup of coffee after landing, and then into her weekly book club. While there’s a total disconnect from the career-woman Andi and the retired ladies group, they get along great and Andi is helping them to navigate their relationships with their adult offspring. Separately, Andi meets Dustin and they definitely hit things off. But Andi’s only in town for a temporary work gig, so they don’t make plans for anything serious. Until, you know, they totally fall for each other. We’ve got a secret relationship here that’s full of ease and chemistry, and only a light bit of drama. Loved this book.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

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