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Monthly Income Report: July 2026

Aug 6, 2026 | Side Hustle Diaries

Here’s the July 2026 breakdown of all the pennies I’ve collected from the internet. I’ve organized the income sources into bigger categories and then provided details from each source.

Affiliate Commissions: $2,258.48

TikTok Shop Affiliate: $1,349.13

I have been creating TikTok Shop Affiliate videos since Sept 2024 and seeing steady sales. The process involves quick reviews or demonstrations of products that are sold within TikTok shop and linking them within the TikTok video. Results vary wildly depending on the product, the day, the month, the season, and the algorithm. This month, I had one product go crazy pants viral and contributed to over $600 in commission. (link to my TikTok account)

I’ve provided a screenshot of my top selling products on TikTok Shop this month below.

Read more about how I made over $19k in commission in the first year of doing TikTok Shop Affiliate.

Etsy Affiliate: $25.52

The primary place where I promote Etsy affiliate links is through Pinterest. I’ve had a Pinterest account since forever, so my account is already full of craft tutorial links. I post my affiliate links to crochet and quilt patterns, and these have generated the most sales for me historically. (link to my Pinterest account) However, Etsy recently changed their affiliate program provider, so it’s all of the links that I’ve generated over the past couple years no longer lead to commission. I have gotten set up on the new platform and am starting to post links on Pinterest again, but it will take some time for the new pins to generate views and clicks. From my previous experience, it takes at least two months to see any conversions from content that I post on Pinterest. It’s somewhat disconcerting to start over, but I know what seems to work with my account, so hopefully, it’ll pick back up once my pins have time to circulate. I’m mostly annoyed that my many years of building up links have stopped generating income. And losing out on what was previously about $200 per month in commission is a real downer.

Amazon Affiliate: $881.70

I’ve been an Amazon affiliate since the early days of my blog and have always recommended various supplies for art and lettering. However, the bulk of my income now comes from on-site commissions, where product review videos get added directly to the product page by Amazon. If someone watches the video on the product page and makes a purchase, then I get the affiliate commission. (link to my Amazon Storefront) This month was my best ever for Amazon commissions!

Read more about my process for making product review videos on Amazon

Benable: $0

Benable a website that has its own audience and search functionality where you can link to various products and websites in collections. The affiliate income is baked into the platform when someone clicks on your featured product and makes a purchase. Probably the lowest friction income source since you don’t need an existing audience. (link to sign up for Benable)

Other Affiliate Programs: $2.13

Working on generating links with ShopMy and made my first affiliate sale here. This platform is promising because I get to generate affiliate links with a chrome plug-in for lots of different shops. (link to join ShopMy, link to my guide to getting started with ShopMy)

Products: $113.20

Paper Goods Etsy Shop: $3.23

I sell bookmarks here mostly, with the occasional digital download. (link to Etsy shop)

Fiber Goods Etsy Shop: $12.26

Once upon a time, I thought I was going to make scarves and blankets while my baby napped and I could sell them online. And that kind of worked, but not profitably. Listings expired, and then I switched to smaller objects like coasters and cozies, and now I’m mostly selling digital crochet patterns. (link to Etsy shop)

PangoBooks: $32.40

I list used books for sale using the PangoBooks app. Sales are sporadic. (link to my PangoBooks shop)

Read more about how I use the PangoBooks app to quickly and easily sell used books.

Ebay: $63.30

I’ve been cross-listing books onto ebay, since I realized many of them were sitting stagnant on Pango. In the process of listing books here, I learned that the ebay app is really easy to use for filling in the listing information. I’ve started putting up more items that I received as samples from TikTok Shop. Lots of new-in-box makeup, makeup brushes, and pens. My approach here is really just to get things out of my house, as long as someone else pays the shipping. I generally list things on auction with a fairly low starting bid, and then we just see what happens. This month, I was starting to run out of things to list for sale. (link to my ebay store)

Digital Downloads: $0.99

Too many shops, not enough marketing. (link to crochet pattern shop, link to printables shop)

Print on Demand: $1.02

Once upon a time, I uploaded a ton of designs onto RedBubble. I do not nurture this revenue stream at all right now, and any sales are just a bonus surprise. (link to Redbubble shop)

Content Monetization: $15.17

Mediavine: $10.98

Clearly, this is not a very lucrative income source, since the minimum payout to transfer to a bank account is $100. However, coins are coins, so I’m leaving the ads turned on at my blog. Is it enough to offset the cost of the website hosting and domain registration? Probably not. But it hosts content that hopefully leads to other affiliate sales. (link to blog)

Instagram Bonus for Posts: $3.13

I have no idea how this was activated or why. I was previously enrolled in an Instagram Reels bonus program, but that has since been discontinued. So I realized that even if I’m only making a few cents per post, the more I post, the more cents I can make. And what’s really crazy is that I can just screenshot my audiobook player, talk about the book a little bit, and create really easy content that way. Also, the more I post about my side hustles, the more views I get. (link to my Instagram)

Facebook Monetization: $1.06

I was randomly approved for Facebook monetization on March 29, 2026, so I’m still learning how to optimize this. My follower count is crazy small and I have no idea how eyeballs are getting to my posts and reels. I have set up my Instagram account to automatically repost everything to Facebook, so I don’t have a dedicated content strategy here. I’m not entirely sure how to get more views, but it looks like the payment rate for reels is terrible ($0.03 per thousand qualified views) and better for photos ($0.25 per thousand qualified views), except my photos don’t seem to get many views in the first place. (link to my Facebook)

Recurring Expenses

No income report is complete without factoring in expenses. I tend to pay annual subscriptions rates for things, so this will just be a recurring list of resources that I use.

Bluehost for blog hosting and domain registration $350/year (check out the blog here)
Flodesk for email marketing $209/year (affiliate link for Flodesk) – I’m planning to migrate subscribers to Beehiiv in the next couple months and cancel Flodesk, but I’m paid up until November, so no rush right now.
Beehiiv for my side hustle diaries $517/year (affiliate link for Beehiiv)
USPS PO Box $210/year
Canva Pro $120/year

Weekly Reads: July 27 to August 2, 2026 (historical romance, contemporary romance)

Aug 4, 2026 | Book Reviews

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.

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.

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.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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.

Top Five Favorite Romance Books of July 2026 – historical romance, contemporary romance

Aug 1, 2026 | Book Reviews

Always and Forever by Beverly Jenkins (2000)

Historical romance. Standalone novel. Events overlap with Topaz. Prologue starts with Grace being jilted at the altar, but that’s a pretty minor detail aside from her not trusting men. She’s being asked by her cousin to round up some mail order brides for him and his men in Kansas. So she’s leading a wagon train to their destination. (Not the regular train, because, you know, Jim Crow). She hires Jackson to help get the women ready for the trip and to guide them along the way. Sparks are definitely flying between these two, and as much as Grace tries to resist, she gives in pretty quickly. Jackson has his own hangups, with being a wanted man in Texas after an altercation with the family who killed his father. His plan is to get justice and clear his name after the wagon train business is done, but Grace thinks that’s a bad idea. Lots of danger and drama here. Classic Ms. Bev.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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.

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.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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.

Once Upon a Dukedom Historical Romance Book Series by Lorraine Heath

Jul 31, 2026 | Book Reviews

Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Once Upon a Dukedom series. Best friend’s older brother romance where the heroine completely overlooks him because he’s a second son and untitled (meaning she won’t be able to claim her inheritance since the will stipulated that she needed to marry a man with a title). I loved this book so much, especially the callbacks to earlier details that were seemingly minor at the time. I’d say that this book was the perfect introduction to Lorraine Heath’s emotional writing.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath (2021)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Once Upon a Dukedom series. A duke tasks his secretary with finding him a wife after his first attempt was unsuccessful. From the very first page, I knew I was in for an angsty ride. I especially loved the longstanding quiet companionship between these two. And the fact that all the important people in the duke’s life knew how essential Penny was to him.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Return of the Duke by Lorraine Heath (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Once Upon a Dukedom series. The first son of a traitorous duke out to clear his father’s name goes to visit his father’s mistress to find any clues. This one was my least favorite of the bunch, since I’m not generally a fan of spy/espionage plots. However, it was interesting to see how the story unfolds and how everything about the heroine wasn’t exactly as it seemed.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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.

Weekly Reads: July 20 to 26, 2026 (contemporary romance, personal finance, historical romance)

Jul 28, 2026 | Book Reviews

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.

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.

How to Be a Rich Old Lady by Amanda Holden (2026)

Nonfiction. Personal finance. Investing basics for the average person. This book goes over the general approach to retirement savings and general investments. Helps define some of the buzzwords you might hear all the time and give an easy approach to getting started. Good recap of the basics with tips on how to get started. For me, I like to check in on these finance advice books to make sure I’m on the right track.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Available on Kindle Unlimited // Get a free trial to Kindle Unlimited

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.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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.

Awakened by a Kiss Historical Romance Book Series by Charis Michaels

Jul 22, 2026 | Book Reviews

A Duchess a Day by Charis Michaels (2020)

Historical romance. Book 1 of the Awakened by a Kiss series. This book was delightful and my favorite of the series. We start with the Snow White’s Huntsman being recruited from prison to keep guard over a duke’s flight-risk of a fiancee. (He was imprisoned for murdering the Snow White-equivalent of the story, but she really just ditched him.) When he meets his new charge, he finds her sunshine-y and addictive and the girl clearly has no interest in the duke at all. She manages to recruit the huntsman into her plan of throwing eligible ladies (seven in all) at the duke. Relatively low on the steam scale, but you can really feel the longing and pining between our two main characters.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

When You Wish Upon a Duke by Charis Michaels (2021)

Historical romance. Book 2 of the Awakened by a Kiss series. We meet a Tinkerbell-equivalent in this story who works at a travel agency and is recruited by a duke to rescue his cousin from pirates in Iceland. She’s had a bad history with Iceland along with a sour experience touring the continent with Peter and his merry band of lost boys, but she takes the duke up on his offer in exchange for a new storefront for her own travel agency. I don’t have much of a reference point for the allusions in this book, having never read or watched Peter Pan, but I still enjoyed the romance in this story.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

A Duchess by Midnight by Charis Michaels (2022)

Historical romance. Book 3 of the Awakened by a Kiss series. The stepsister of Princess Cindy has her chance to atone for her mean girl ways in this book, where she is now a mentor to young debutantes. Working with a reclusive duke’s nieces, she tries to teach them the rules of propriety. And when she gets caught in a compromising situation (oops), she has to uphold those rules and marry the duke. This book is the steamiest of the set, with the compromising happening within the first half of the book and a little action outdoors in the woods. *fans self*

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Print book provided by Avon Books.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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

Subscribe now

Weekly Reads: July 13 to 19, 2026 (historical romance, contemporary romance)

Jul 21, 2026 | Book Reviews

Always and Forever by Beverly Jenkins (2000)

Historical romance. Standalone novel. Events overlap with Topaz. Prologue starts with Grace being jilted at the altar, but that’s a pretty minor detail aside from her not trusting men. She’s being asked by her cousin to round up some mail order brides for him and his men in Kansas. So she’s leading a wagon train to their destination. (Not the regular train, because, you know, Jim Crow). She hires Jackson to help get the women ready for the trip and to guide them along the way. Sparks are definitely flying between these two, and as much as Grace tries to resist, she gives in pretty quickly. Jackson has his own hangups, with being a wanted man in Texas after an altercation with the family who killed his father. His plan is to get justice and clear his name after the wagon train business is done, but Grace thinks that’s a bad idea. Lots of danger and drama here. Classic Ms. Bev.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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.

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.

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.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

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.

Romance New Releases from March 2026 (contemporary romance, historical romance, fantasy romance)

Jul 15, 2026 | Book Reviews

Despite the Duke by Kathleen Ayers (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 1 of the London Vices series. So much scandal here. Tragic prologue when a duchess is running for her life after her husband is attacked. She dies giving birth to the next duke. We start Chapter 1 in Sophia’s perspective, where she is the oddball daughter of an earl and then compromised by a handsome duke in the garden. When called upon the next day by her father, the drunken Alexander has no recollection of going to the ball, let alone compromising a young lady. But they have to marry anyway because of propriety and all of that. There is so much bickering between these two, since they don’t really want to be trapped into marriage with each other. It was so much fun watching them slowly soften towards each other and fall in love. Plus there’s the overarching mystery of why Alexander’s uncle is sketchy and the possibility of fraud somewhere.

Advance ebook provided by Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Available on Kindle Unlimited // Get a free trial to Kindle Unlimited

The Governess’s Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses by Amy Rose Bennett (2026)

Historical fantasy romance. Book 2 of the Parasol Academy series. Governess Mina kidnaps a viscount when she thinks the young boy is in danger. A magical mishap brings her and Christopher to another ship in motion, where she meets Phinn, the Marquess of Kinsale. He’s got his own problems being a former prizefighter with a noticeable accent and stammer. However, he ends up enlisting Mina’s help with his etiquette and speech. It’s an obvious sort of slow burn romance here with Mina and Phinn falling in love, and I enjoyed how Phinn basically rescues a street urchin to have an excuse to hire a governess. It might be one of my fave microtropes. No third act breakup here either.

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

First to Finish by Rebecca J. Caffery (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Pole Position series. Poor Johannes is in a rough place with his secret boyfriend being a total asshole. Heartbreak all around really. And it’s affecting his racing. Luckily, his race engineer Caleb is super competent. And also super hot. The tentative build of their friendship and relationship was so much fun to watch. Plus Caleb is way better for Johannes than the old boyfriend. Loved this one.

Advance ebook provided by One More Chapter via NetGalley.

The Scoundrel and the Siren by Christy Carlyle (2026)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Princes of London series. Awkward first meeting for Dom and Tess who are at odds in a noblewoman’s library. Luckily, they meet again very soon at the site of an archeological dig. Attraction is strong between these two, but Dom is usually the carefree rake and Tess has been burned by a gentleman before. They have to work together at the dig and grow closer along the way. The flirtatious banter is delightful and I loved seeing Tess be the one to tame Dom. Loved it.

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

Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Second chance romance with so much angst. Andy has ditched her Hollywood lifestyle after a final betrayal from longtime girlfriend and co-star Nikki, has been hiding in a tiny seaside town for the past five years, and is a floral designer at a struggling flower shop. Unfortunately for her, Nikki is also in the same seaside town and also writing a memoir. It’s a lot of push and pull here as Nikki tries and fails to apologize for all the things that went wrong between them. The whole story is told from Andy’s point of view and we’re really left wondering if it’s even possible for forgive Nikki, especially when Andy is trying so hard to avoid talking about heavy topics. Loving Andy’s support network of friends and supportive parents here too.

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

Better than a Duke by Suzanne Enoch (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Standalone novel. Opposites attract single parent romance here. Single dad Beckett is in town for the Season, courting a very proper young lady, at the insistence of his mother. His daughter Rebecca is nine years old and will likely need a mother figure soon to ease her way into society. And then Rebecca instantly makes friends with the boy next door, Edmund, who very conveniently has a widowed mother, Iris. As the two kids spend more time together, so do Beckett and Iris, forming their own friendship. The kids try to scheme to get their parents to couple up, but they’re mostly oblivious and trying to do what’s proper, even if they’re attracted to each other. Fun series of hijinks throughout the book and I love their blended family.

Advance ebook provided by Bramble Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.

Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett (2026)

Cozy fantasy romance. This book was so cute and funny with the mix of wacky characters. So former knight Pax runs the Wayside Hotel, which is actually a magical traveling form of lodging that goes between worlds. The magic at the hotel has run out and they’re stranded in the human world. Josie and her son Amos are looking for a new place to live and lucky for them, there’s an affordable opening at the Wayside. The romance here between Josie and Pax is very sweet, but the real entertainment is how the other ragtag residents interact with each other and with Josie, all while keeping their magical origins a secret.

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

A Bride For Marcus by Anne Gracie (2026)

Historical romance. Book 6 of the Devil Riders series. Prologue with Marcus and Tessa as children on neighboring estates and becoming friends. Then we start with Marcus at a ball, seeing Tessa for the first time in many years, and then realizing that she is widowed twice and the victim of her brother’s greed. The first half of the book is Marcus helping Tessa escape her terrible situation and slowly becoming friends again. We’re working up towards the marriage of convenience suggested in the summary, but it takes more than half of the book to get there. Once we do, it’s obvious that these two dummies have real feelings for each other, just wary of the practical arrangement they agreed upon. Loved it, as I love all of Anne Gracie’s books. And we get to visit our favorite modiste, Daisy Chance.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Funny enough, having just read a personal finance book, reading a book where the main character wins the lottery is really interesting. Hazel is having the worst day ever (lost her job, got divorced) on top of having to financially bail out her brother and father constantly. She meets Logan during a fortune-telling mishap and they end up buying a lottery ticket. Lucky for them, it’s a winner. Unlucky for Logan, it seems that he’s run into a string of bad luck while Hazel has had her luck improve. We’ve got a cute luck-swap story here and a fairly straightforward romance. I like how Hazel and Logan communicate with each other and support each other as they slowly bond. Cute, mostly fluffy, except for their tragic backstories and Hazel’s toxic family. Audio is duet narration.

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

Never Spar With a Viscount by Lindsay Lovise (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 3 of the Secret Society of Governess Spies series. Ivy is a governess who teaches self-defense classes to women in the village at night. One day, she’s approached by the Dove to spy on her new employer, grumpy viscount Owen. She’s generally wary of him, as she is with all men, due to the cruelty of her father. But aside from being a general grump, he’s a great guy to his eight younger sisters. And then somehow they enter a fake courtship to prevent Ivy from being married off to a brute and the help Owen avoid his stepmother’s matchmaking. Plus, there’s an actual mystery afoot with women falling ill and someone trying to kill Owen. Super entertaining to read and I loved Owen’s support of Ivy’s strength and independence.

Advance ebook provided by Forever Books via NetGalley.

Darling Daffodils Farm by Brittanée Nicole (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Hope Harbor series. Tally is back in her small town to help out at her family farm, but she’s itching to leave and get back to her seasonal kitchen work. Everyone in town thinks that she’s super flighty and doesn’t want to set down roots, but really, she wanted to earn her way in the world so her parents didn’t need to pay for culinary school. It’s always been the dream to come back to the small town and open a bakery, but she seems to think she needs pastry chef training to do it. Sounds a little far-fetched to me; aren’t small town bakeries just run by small town bakers? But that’s not the main conflict here. It’s actually that her family has not told her than a farmer named Walker was hired by her late father to work on the farm, and that he lives in the house, while her widowed mother lives in his old cottage. He’s gruff and surly and grumpy and doesn’t tell her why he’s there or why he cares so much about the farm. Mostly because her parents made him sign an NDA, and also because he’s way too attracted to her and should stay away. She’s mostly immature and annoying through this book and is suspicious of Walker the whole time. Maybe because no one is really talking to each other. But once the attraction breaks through, the flirting and steam is really quite good. And you know, once Walker figures out what Tally really wants, he’s nothing but supportive. Typical funny small town shenanigans, including a nosy group of old ladies and a humorous town group chat.

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

Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. I love a messy slow burn romance, especially when one of the partners is especially grumpy. Simon is the serious actor who is on a sci-fi drama and wants out, especially if it means never having to talk to his less-serious bubbly co-star Charlie. But then somehow, he’s starting to see Charlie in a new light, and then they kinda sorta fake a friendship to make sure people don’t think Simon is leaving the show on bad terms. And then Charlie needs to track down his missing stepdad and Simon comes along for the ride. These two end up being way more emotionally vulnerable about their families and their upbringing, and in that process, they see each other as more human and approachable. Tons of heavy emotions here, especially when dealing with Simon’s anxiety and migraines. This book was so good.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley.

Thirty Love by Tom Vellner (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Loved this rivals to lovers story. Single POV from Leo’s side as he struggles to win the US Open. He pretty much always chokes up when he has to play against Gabe, his lifelong rival on the tennis court. Leo’s got a complicated relationship with tennis, with his dad being his head coach and a legend in his own right. And add the part where Leo is closeted and distractedly attracted to Gabe, it’s all a recipe for mess. But the best part is when Leo and Gabe establish a truce with each other and so much more. I loved seeing them actually learn to understand each other and get to know more about why things have been strained all these years. Even with Leo explicitly stating that they need to keep their burgeoning relationship a secret, Gabe is still on board and believes it’s worth it. The friend group that Leo has is also awesome, and I hope to see more of them in the future.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Spotify Audiobooks via NetGalley.

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Weekly Reads: July 6 to 12, 2026 (historical romance, thriller, contemporary romance)

Jul 14, 2026 | Book Reviews

A Bride For Marcus by Anne Gracie (2026)

Historical romance. Book 6 of the Devil Riders series. Prologue with Marcus and Tessa as children on neighboring estates and becoming friends. Then we start with Marcus at a ball, seeing Tessa for the first time in many years, and then realizing that she is widowed twice and the victim of her brother’s greed. The first half of the book is Marcus helping Tessa escape her terrible situation and slowly becoming friends again. We’re working up towards the marriage of convenience suggested in the summary, but it takes more than half of the book to get there. Once we do, it’s obvious that these two dummies have real feelings for each other, just wary of the practical arrangement they agreed upon. Loved it, as I love all of Anne Gracie’s books. And we get to visit our favorite modiste, Daisy Chance.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott (2026)

Thriller. Standalone novel. Beverley, Margot, and Elsie are all friends because their husbands had been convicted serial killers. There’s currently a new string of murders in their area, so they team up to investigate, since it seems the police are incompetent. It’s a mess of chaos and drama and reading about how their lives intertwine. Takes place in 1960s Southern California, so we’ve got a tinge of historical misogyny mixed in. Definitely twisty and turny and very entertaining to read.

Ebook and 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.

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.

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

Useful Resources:

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

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