Check out all of the most anticipated books new in romance coming this May 2022 that all romance book readers do not want to miss.
These are the top 11 new romance book releases that have made my TBR list this month.
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
There is no stopping the romance book industry that keeps churning out new book release after new book release and I love it!
Of course, there are only so many hours in a day so I have to get pretty choosy when it comes to the new romance book releases that I want to be sure to read each month.
Each month I pick out my top picks though you can catch ALL of the new romance book releases that catch my eye for this month and into 2022 on my upcoming new releases page.
Interested in all my top 10 new romance book releases lists? Just click the link and see which books I couldn’t wait to read.
What’s New in Romance May 2022
This is the month that a number of my most anticipated romance books of 2022 are dropping and I’m so excited for each and every one.
Two of them are about book authors/editors which is a fun theme I like to read about in my romance books.
I also have two historical romances I hope to check out and two MM romances, including one that is a sports romance book. Yay!
Several also made my hottest summer reads of 2022 list as well.
What new romance book release are you excited to read this May?
Share in the comments below and let me know.
Keep Track of These New Releases with the Romance Book Reading Journal
Months seem to fly by these days and before I know it I’m catching myself wondering if I caught all the new romance book releases that I wanted to read that month.
So that I don’t miss a single one, I utilize my Romance Book Reading Journal!
If you purchase the digital, printable version you can print out a TBR list each and every month so you never forget what books you want to read.
I’m also loving my hardcover version because it fits perfectly in my work bag so I can take it anywhere and everywhere and have it at the ready to add a new title I don’t want to miss.
Buy your copy today!
My Most Anticipated New Romance Book Releases for May 2022
Book Lovers
by Emily Henry
A Contemporary Romance
Releasing May 3
Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and lands enormous deals for her clients as a cutthroat literary agent. Now she’s off to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina with her sister Libby who’s convinced she needs to become the heroine in her own story.
But instead of bumping into her own hero, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city.
If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.
After reading People We Meet on Vacation, Henry has become an automatic one-click author for me. I cannot wait to read her latest and I hope it lives up to expectations.
I also have a fascination with books about authors and editors so this particular romance story sounds oh so good!
Never Been Kissed
by Timothy Janovsky
A New Adult, LGBTQIA+ Rom Com
Releasing May 3
Wren Roland has never been kissed, but he wants that movie-perfect ending more than anything. Feeling nostalgic on the eve of his birthday, he sends emails to all the boys he (ahem) loved before he came out.
Morning brings the inevitable panic but none of his could-have-beens are actually going to read the emails, much less respond. Right?
Enter Derick Haverford, Wren’s #1 pre-coming-out-crush and his drive-in theater’s new social media intern. Too bad he doesn’t feel the same way about the infamous almost-kiss that once rocked Wren’s world.
But as their hazy summer becomes consumed with a special project that may just save the struggling drive-in for good, Wren and Derick are drawn ever-closer…and maybe, finally, Wren’s dream of a perfect-kiss-before-the-credits is within reach.
I have fond memories of going to the drive-in, and I love that this romance book setting includes a drive-in which draws Wren and Derick together.
Not going to lie, I’m really hoping the build up to Wren’s first kiss knocks my socks off and that it has a follow through with a wow moment. I can’t wait to read it.
By the Book
by Jasmine Guillory
A Contemporary Romance
Releasing May 3
When she first began her career in publishing right out of college, Isabelle did not expect to be twenty-five, living at home, still an editorial assistant, and the only Black employee at her publishing house.
So when she overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.
But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is jaded and withdrawn and—it turns out—just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story begins to spill onto the page.
They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn’t there before.
This romance book is another from my most anticipated romance books of 2022 list because I’m a sucker for modern retellings of Beauty and the Beast.
It’s also another romance book featuring a book editor and author which is becoming a theme for me this year! My Review.
Pin This for Later:
Neanderthal Seeks Duchess
by Laney Hatcher
A Historical Romance
Releasing May 5
There are three things you need to know about Lady Jane Morrison:
1. She frequently finds herself the talk of the ton and for all the wrong reasons.
2. A dashingly mysterious gentleman has caught her attention and even more dangerous…she has caught his.
3. She’s rubbish at embroidery.
After scandalous events during the London season, Lady Jane is attracting the wrong kind of attention. Her reputation is at risk as well as all her carefully laid plans for the future. And for better or worse, a chance encounter with a mysterious lord sets forth a series of events that will change their lives forever.
I cannot tell you how excited I was to hear that the Penny Reid Universe was going historical! I cannot wait to see Hatcher’s take on this new Jane and how she kicks off what is to become the London Ladies Embroidery series.
Plus, this book had me at scandalous events so I can’t wait to see what kind of predicament Lady Jane gets herself into and the gentleman who may help her out of it.
Everything For You
by Chloe Liese
An MM, Sports Romance
Releasing May 10
We’ve been teammates for two years, but it feels like a lifetime that Oliver Bergman’s been on my last nerve. A demanding captain and veteran player, I’m feared and friendless, while he’s the beloved rising star, all sunshine smiles and upbeat team spirit.
But when Coach notifies us that we’re now co-captains, avoiding him becomes impossible, and keeping the truth from him–let alone my distance–is harder than ever.
What doesn’t this book have going for it? It’s a grumpy-sunshine, enemies-to-lovers, age gap sports romance with a steamy slow burn love story. Um…yes, I want this now please!
I recently read another book in this series about the Bergman family and I was hooked. I cannot wait to read Oliver’s story!
The Emma Project
by Sonali Dev
A Modern Retelling Romance
Releasing May 17
Vansh Raje is California’s hottest single. Add to that a doting family and a contagiously sunny disposition and Vansh has made it halfway through his twenties without ever facing anything to throw him off his admittedly spectacular game.
A couple years from turning forty, Knightlina (Naina) Kohli has just gotten out of a ten-year-long fake relationship with Vansh’s brother and wants only two things.
One, to have nothing to do with the unfairly blessed Raje family ever again. Two, to bring economic independence to millions of women in South Asia through her microfinance foundation and prove her father wrong about, well, everything.
Just when Naina’s dream is about to come to fruition, Vansh Raje shows up with his misguided Emma Project… And suddenly she’s fighting him for funding and wondering if a friends-with-benefits arrangement that’s as toe-curlingly hot as it is fun is worth risking her life’s work for.
This too made my most anticipated romance books of 2022 list because I adore Emma and cannot wait to see what Dev does with this modern retelling of one of Jane Austen’s classics.
Even though it’s the last in a series, this may be the first I pick up!
Get Books Delivered to Your Door!
If you want new books to read every month that are delivered to straight to your door, sign up for a romance book subscription box!
Each box gives you one or more romance books and fantastic book swag. Check out all of your romance book subscription options or consider one of my favorites, The Bookworm Box, which gives back to charity with every purchase.
Something Wilder
by Christina Lauren
A Second Chance Romance
Releasing May 17
Growing up the daughter of a notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much patience for the profession…or much money in the bank. But Lily now uses Duke’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah.
Now she’s forced to deal with the sight of the man she once loved walking back into her life with a motley crew of friends ready to hit the trails. Leo Grady wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily Wilder is all business, drawing a clear line in the sand: it’s never going to happen.
But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. There’s a chance to right the wrongs—of Duke’s past and their own—but only if Leo and Lily can confront their history and work together.
I’m always on board for a new romance book release from Christina Lauren because their books are so creative and their stories so completely different.
Never would I have guessed that they’d put a treasure hunting spin on their latest romance but I’m game!
Plus, I love second chance love stories and I hope this one pulls on all my heart strings.
The Project
by R.L. Mathewson
An Office Romance
Releasing May 20
She should probably mention that she had no idea what she was doing, but since that would probably result in her new boss, Devyn MacGregor, CEO of Carta Hotels firing her, Andi Dawson decided that it would be in her best interest to keep that fact to herself.
She had needed a change, something that gave her a clue about what she was supposed to do with her life. More importantly, she needed to figure out how she was supposed to keep a secret that could destroy the only thing that mattered to her.
Devyn was so close to having everything that he’d ever wanted when everything suddenly went to hell. He should have seen this coming, and he really should stop thinking about the small woman that he should probably fire.
He had four months to fix this and he had no idea how he was going to do it, but he knew that he was about to make the biggest mistake of his life.
Well, to be honest, I’m not really sure what this book is about given its synopsis but it’s been a long time since I read something from Mathewson and I’m hoping her newest release is a keeper!
I loved her humor in the Neighbor from Hell series and I’m jonesing for some more of that.
A Lady for a Duke
by Alexis Hall
A Historical Romance
Releasing May 24
When Viola Carroll was presumed deceased at Waterloo she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But freedom does not come without a price, and Viola paid for hers with the loss of her wealth, her title, and her closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood.
Only when their families reconnect, years after, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognizes her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become.
As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again.
I adored Hall’s first historical romance, Something Fabulous, so there’s no doubt I’m reading this next one! Watching season two of Bridgerton has definitely put me in a historical kind of mood so I’m hoping this one satisfies that desire.
Unbridled Cowboy
by Maisy Yates
A Marriage of Convenience, Cowboy Romance
Releasing May 24
Cowboy Sawyer Garrett has no intention of settling down. But when he becomes a single dad to tiny baby June, stepping up to the responsibility is non-negotiable. And so is finding a woman to be a mother to his infant daughter. So, he decides to do it the way the pioneers did: by putting out an ad for a mail-order bride.
Evelyn Moore can’t believe she’s agreed to uproot her city life to marry a stranger in Oregon. But having escaped one near-disastrous marriage, she’s desperate for change. Her love for baby June is instant. Her feelings for Sawyer are…more complicated.
Her gruff cowboy husband ignites a thrilling desire in her, but Sawyer is determined to keep their marriage all about the baby. But what happens if Evelyn wants it all?
I cannot wait to read this book. Mail-order bride…OMG it’s like the perfect marriage of convenience romance that seems like it should be a historical but nope! Plus, rope in a cowboy, and I’m so there.
Meant to Be
by Emily Giffin
A Contemporary Romance
Releasing May 31
The Kingsley family is American royalty, beloved for their military heroics, political service, and unmatched elegance. In 1967 Joseph S. Kingsley III inherits the weight of that legacy, but despite his best intentions, he has trouble meeting the expectations of a nation, as well as those of his exacting mother, Dottie.
Meanwhile, no one ever expected anything of Cate Cooper. She, too, grew up fatherless—and after her mother marries an abusive man, she is forced to fend for herself.
After being discovered by a model scout at age sixteen, Cate’s face is in magazines and on billboards. Yet she feels like a fraud, faking it in a world to which she’s never truly belonged.
When Joe and Cate unexpectedly cross paths one afternoon, their connection is instant and intense. But can their relationship survive the glare of the spotlight and the so-called Kingsley curse?
It’s been a LONG time since I read a Giffin novel and I love this story that is akin to the JFK Jr. and Caroline Bessette romance. I’m hoping that it’s a balance of heavy and sweet and a perfect read for the summer!
