As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this site. Your purchases help fund my content and come at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Romance has been having a moment for a while now, and summer 2026 is not letting up. 

The releases coming out these next few months have been on my list since the announcements dropped, and some of them I have been looking forward to for so long that I genuinely cannot believe they’re almost here. 

I need to read all of these, and I think you do too.

Some of these are from authors whose previous work I already love, which means the excitement is personal. 

Others are newer names that have caught my attention in a way I wasn’t expecting. 

Either way, I’ll be reading and sharing my thoughts as I go, but I didn’t want to wait until after to tell you about them. 

The pre-order energy is real, and you should probably get ahead of it.

Here’s what’s coming this summer.

Top Summer 2026 New Romance Book Releases

Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood (June 16th)

Gertie writes romance novels for a living until her own heart breaks and the words stop coming. 

Then the villain from her unfinished book literally shows up on her sofa, shirtless and very confused. 

This is one of the most delightful new romance books to read this summer, and I am so here for every bit of it. 

A fictional cowboy coming to life to help his author find love again? Pure magic. 

Kirsty Greenwood writes with so much wit and warmth, and this one sounds like the perfect summer read.

The Open Era by Edward Schmit (June 2nd)

Austin is the first openly gay man to play in a Grand Slam, and the pressure is enormous. 

Then he falls for his rival, Diego, and things get even more complicated. 

This stunning debut is one of the best summer romance books of 2026 – full of tension, sweetness, and heart. 

Tennis, identity, and slow-burn attraction all wrapped into one beautiful story. I genuinely cannot wait to read this one. 

It sounds like exactly the kind of romance that makes you root for love from the very first page.

Embrace by Bal Khabra (August 4th)

Kian needs credits to finish his degree before heading to the NHL. 

Scarlett just wants a quiet senior year. 

Neither of them planned on falling for each other especially since her dad is his coach. 

If you love upcoming romance books of 2026 with that perfect mix of forbidden tension and slow-burn chemistry, this one is absolutely for you. 

Bal Khabra always delivers swoony, feel-good stories, and this one sounds like another winner. 

I am already counting down to August for this one.

Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee (July 7th)

Julia falls hard for a charming, handsome man only to discover he is actually Ares, the Greek god of war, and his entire family are ancient gods living as billionaires. 

This is one of the most creative new romance books to read this summer, and it sounds wildly fun. 

Globe-trotting locations, divine family drama, and a love story caught in the middle of it all? Yes, please. 

Katharine McGee always brings the drama, and this fresh mythology twist sounds like something truly special.

By the Bootstraps by Alexa Martin (May 26th)

Luna moves to a tiny Texas farm chasing cowboy romance novel dreams and finds a real-life grumpy handyman next door who is nothing like her fantasies but everything she needs. 

This is one of the sweetest best summer romance books of 2026, full of charm, humor, and big Texas heart. 

Alexa Martin writes romance that feels warm and real, and this one sounds like the coziest, most joyful read of the season. 

I am so looking forward to this one.

Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lakshmi (June 16th)

Simran’s new boyfriend accidentally crashes her cousin’s two-week Indian wedding, and now the whole family has to pretend he belongs there. 

This vibrant, funny debut is one of the most joyful upcoming romance books of 2026, and it sounds like an absolute blast.

Bollywood references, nosy aunties, family secrets, and a love story trying to survive all of it – I am genuinely so excited for this one. 

It sounds like the kind of book that makes you laugh out loud and tear up in the same chapter.

Good at Being Alive by Elizabeth O’Roark (June 16th)

Bex and uptight British CEO Theo have to pretend to be newlyweds on a reality TV show touring Europe all to save a travel agency they both inherited. 

One of the best summer romance books of 2026 for anyone who loves enemies-to-lovers stories set in gorgeous locations.

From Capri to Paris to remote fjords, this one sounds breathtakingly romantic. 

Elizabeth O’Roark writes romance with so much emotional depth, and I have a feeling this one is going to be something truly special.

Dangerously Ours by Krista and Becca Ritchie (May 12th)

Former con artist Phoebe has finally built real friendships and maybe even love but now the biggest threat she has ever faced wants to take it all away. 

This action-packed conclusion to the Webs We Weave series is one of the most anticipated new romance books to read this summer for fans of the series. 

The Ritchie sisters write with so much intensity and heart, and I cannot imagine a more satisfying ending to this story. 

This one is going to be a total page-turner.

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan (May 26th)

Dolly is a fixer by nature, so when she stumbles on a handsome, heartbroken man with a flat tire, helping him fake a relationship seems simple enough. 

Until feelings get very real, very fast. 

This is one of the most charming upcoming romance books of 2026, full of warmth, humor, and that perfect slow-burn tension. 

Ome thing I can always trust is that Annabel Monaghan writes romance that feels genuinely human and funny, and this one sounds like everything I want in a summer read. 

I am so looking forward to it.

The Winged Game by Sophie Kim (June 30th)

Taissa was once the best player in a brutal magical sport until her rival Kion destroyed her career. 

Now they have to join forces, fake a relationship for PR, and solve a mysterious illness threatening the winged creatures of the entire league. 

This is one of the most exciting new romance books to read this summer for anyone who loves fantasy and slow-burn romance together. 

And this fake-dating-plus-mystery setup sounds absolutely irresistible. Cannot wait.

A summer with this many good romance releases is a summer worth paying attention to.

I’ll be reading as fast as I can and sharing my full thoughts here as I go, so if you want to know whether the books actually live up to the anticipation, check back. 

My honest guess is that most of them will.