30 New Romance Books Coming in 2023 That Should Be on Your TBR List

At the end of every year, I make a list of the new romance books releasing in the coming year that I recommend all romance book readers put on their to-read list.

If you’re excited about all the new romance books to look forward to in 2023 as much as I am, check out my book list below. Plus, you can download my exclusive pdf of titles so you won’t forget a book to read this year!

*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Even though 2022 was a great year for new romance books with several becoming my favorite romance novels of the year, I’m already giddy about the new romance releases that are slated to release in 2023.

Will my favorite authors be releasing a new title?

What romance book tropes will be popular for 2023’s new releases?

Which books will stand out as the best romance novels of 2023?

How can I read each and every one?!

While I may not have all those answers right now, I do know that there are already 30 new romance books releasing in 2023 that are definitely on my TBR list and that I’m counting down to read.

To be honest, every year it’s a bit overwhelming just how MANY romance books get published but really that’s a good thing.

Thanks to Colleen Hoover’s books which remained on the best-sellers lists throughout 2022, I don’t see romance book publishing slowing down any time soon.

So, while I initially set out to give you 23 new romance book titles to look forward to (you know, 23 for 2023 😊), there are just too many books that caught my eye so my list is up to 30!

I didn’t think you’d mind though.

New Romance Books for 2023: What to Look Forward To

If you pick up each of the new romance books on this book list, you will be busy reading until August 2023.

That’s eight months of reading the best romance books already set and laid out for you. You’re welcome 😉.

I’m also happy that so many of these new book releases are written by diverse authors with diverse characters and storylines.

If you like to mix and match your romance books, you’ll also find lots of variety with contemporary, historical, fantasy, sports, erotic, new adult, young adult, and queer romances to choose from with an even larger selection of romance book tropes to pick from as well including:

• enemies to lovers
• friends to lovers
• second chance romance
• marriage of convenience
• fake relationship
• grumpy sunshine
• opposites attract
• office romance
• age gap, and more!

While the majority of these new romance books are with traditional publishers, there are a few independent authors’ works featured.

I adore indie authors and like to promote their new releases on this blog but most indie authors don’t announce their new releases until a month (or less!) before their release date.

That really limits my ability to adequately feature indie authors on this list (which I write at the end of 2022) but there are a few and that makes me happy!

Discover All the Best 2023 New Romance Book Releases

To find more new romance book releases from indie authors, be sure to bookmark my Upcoming Releases page which has all the new romance book releases I’m looking forward to reading throughout the year and is updated frequently.

I highly encourage you to also join my email list so that you’ll also receive my monthly new romance book releases posts.

These lists highlight the top 10 new romance book releases that I cannot wait to get my hands on each and every month.

Keep Track of 2023’s New Romance Book Releases

With already 30 new romance book recommendations to read in 2023 (and even more in my list of upcoming new romance book releases), I want to make sure that you don’t forget them in the months ahead.

My solution? The Romance Book Reading Journal.

The Romance Book Reading Journal is the perfect place for you to keep track of all of the must-read romance books you hope to devour this year.

This journal includes To Read lists and several pages to track and review your favorites.

Grab your own copy of the Journal so you never miss an upcoming release.

Download the Free Printable of Titles!

After checking out all of these book recommendations, you can also download a free printable of all of these must-read new romance book titles coming in 2023 at the end of the post.

Don’t miss it!

Ready to Get Reading in 2023?

Get your TBR list ready to add these 30 must-read new romance books releasing in 2023.

After checking out my list, be sure to share which new romance book release YOU are most excited to read in 2023 in the comments below.

New Romance Books Coming in January 2023

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute
by Talia Hibbert

Young Adult Romance
Releasing January 3, 2023

Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.
 
Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption—yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.)

These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her.

Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past.

And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?

I think I’ll forever love Talia Hibbert because she gave me Act Your Age, Eve Brown which is one of my all-time favorite romance novels.

So I cannot wait to read her first young adult romance in 2023! Hibbert has this amazing ability to weave in important social issues like mental illness into her novels which I fully support 100%.

Plus, I love that it has the academic rivals to lovers trope!

Related: Romance Books Featuring Mental Health Issues

Good Girl Fail
by Roni Loren

MMF Romance
Releasing January 17, 2023

O’Neal Lory has been taught that one mistake can undo an entire life of right decisions. That it doesn’t matter if a person has been good ninety-nine percent of the time. 

So, she’s taken a lot of right steps on the straight and narrow path for eighteen years. Perfect grades. No rules broken. And definitely no boys. Until she kisses him.

Auden Blake knows he shouldn’t touch his little sister’s best friend, knows that innocent girls like her should stay far, far away from him and his roommate Lennox—especially when she could reveal their behind-closed-doors activities to his family.

But when sheltered O’Neal goes rogue, ditching her scholarship to a conservative all-girls college and showing up at Bennette State—his school—instead, it’s going to take everything Auden has to keep his and Lennox’s hands off the curious good girl whose teach me vibes could unravel them both.

OMG I’m so excited that Roni Loren is going back to her erotic roots with this new release that is sure to kick off 2023 with quite a steamy hit!

I’m all about the good girl changing her ways and I cannot wait to see where her “teach me vibes” takes all three of them.

Definitely mark this erotic romance on your TBR list this year.

Related: The Best Erotic Romance Books

Georgie All Along
by Kate Clayborn

Contemporary Romance
Releasing January 24, 2023

Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself.

When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page.  
 
But then Georgie comes across her teenage diary with its simple, small-scale ideas that become a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.  
 
Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit.

But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest.

As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back. 

I’m already half in love with Georgie just from this book blurb and I cannot wait to join her and Levi on her quest to shake things up in her life.

I can identify with her about putting others before yourself and coming to realize you have no clue what YOUR personal wants and desires are.

This will be my first Clayborn romance and I cannot wait to read it. Check out my Georgie, All Along Review.

Breaking All the Rules
by Amy Andrews

Age Gap Romance
Releasing January 24, 2023

Beatrice Archer has always done everything she’s supposed to —worked her ass off, ignored her non-existent personal life, and kept her mouth shut. Now she’s over it.

She’s taking her life back. Starting with moving to Nowhere, Colorado to live life on her own terms.

Then a much younger and delightfully attractive cop is called to deal with her flagrant disregard for appropriate clothing outside the local diner and Bea realizes there’s something missing from her little decathlon of decadence…and he might be the guy to help her out.

When it comes to breaking rules, Officer Austin Cooper is surprisingly eager to assist. He’s charming, a little bit cowboy, and quite a hottie.

But Bea’s about to discover that breaking the rules has consequences. And all of the cherry pies in Colorado can’t save her from what’s coming.

January seems to be the month for female empowerment in romance books and Andrews is bringing it as well with Beatrice.

I am most excited to see the dynamic between Bea and Austin and how they grow close while getting into some needed fun.

If you’re all about strong heroines (and age gap romances) then check this one out in 2023!

Related: The Age Gap Romance Books

Sorry, Bro
by Taleen Voskuni

Queer Rom-Com
Releasing January 31, 2023
 
When Nareh Bedrossian’s non-Armenian boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her in front of a room full of drunk San Francisco tech boys, she realizes it’s time to find someone who shares her idea of romance.
 
Enter her mother: armed with plenty of mom-guilt and a spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked Armenian men, she convinces Nar to attend Explore Armenia, a month-long series of events in the city.

But it’s Erebuni, a woman as immersed in the witchy arts as she is in preserving Armenian identity that catches Nar’s eye.
 
Erebuni helps Nar see the beauty of their shared culture and makes her feel understood in a way she never has before. But there’s one teeny problem: Nar’s not exactly out as bi.

The clock is ticking on her double life when her worlds will inevitably collide, but Nar is determined to be brave and to claim her happiness: proudly Armenian, proudly bi, and proudly herself for the first time in her life.

This book caught my attention because I’m honestly interested in learning about Armenian culture through the events Nar and Erebuni attend.

There has been a need for more queer romance books about bi characters so I’m glad that Voskuni is filling that void with this must-read romance for 2023.

Related: Best Lesbian Romance Books, New Lesbian Romance Books of 2023

New Romance Books Coming in February 2023

Radiant Sin
by Katee Robert

Fake Relationship Romance
Releasing February 7, 2023

As a disgraced member of a fallen house, Cassandra Gataki has seen firsthand what comes from trusting the venomous Thirteen.

But when the maddeningly gorgeous and kind Apollo asks her to go undercover as his plus-one at a week-long party hosted by a dangerous new power player…Cassandra reluctantly agrees to have his back.

On one condition: when it’s all over, and Apollo has what he needs to protect Olympus, she and her sister will be allowed to leave. For good.

Apollo may be the city’s official spymaster, but it’s his ability to inspire others that keeps him at the top.

Despite what the rest of Olympus says, there’s no one he trusts more than Cassandra. Yet even as their fake relationship takes a wicked turn for the scaldingly hot, a very real danger surfaces… threatening not only Cassandra and Apollo, but the very heart of Olympus itself.

I have been loving every book in Robert’s Neon Gods/Dark Olympus series and you can’t keep me away from reading Radiant Sin because I adore fake relationship romances!

You can bet that this is going to be one hot and steamy romance because that’s what Robert does best and I’m all for it.

Read this one and then check out book five in the series, Cruel Seduction, when it releases in August!

Related: Best Fake Relationship Romance Books, Neon Gods Series: The Ultimate Guide

Secretly Yours
by Tessa Bailey

Opposites Attract Romance
Releasing February 7, 2023

Hallie Welch fell hard for Julian Vos at fourteen, after they almost kissed in the dark vineyards of his family’s winery. Now the prodigal hottie has returned to their small Napa town.

When Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on the Vos estate, she wonders if she’ll finally get that smooch.

But the grumpy professor isn’t the teenager she remembers and their polar opposite personalities clash spectacularly.

One wine-fueled girls’ night later, Hallie can’t shake the sense that she did something reckless—and then she remembers the drunken secret admirer letter she left for Julian.

On sabbatical from his ivy league job, Julian plans write a novel. But having Hallie gardening right outside his window is the ultimate distraction.

He can’t focus on anything else until he finds an anonymous letter sent by a woman from his past.

Even as Julian wonders about this admirer, he’s sucked further into Hallie’s orbit. And there’s something so familiar about her… and her very presence is turning his world upside down.

I became a Tessa Bailey fan for life after reading It Happened One Summer and Hook, Line and Sinker so anything she writes is going to make my must-read list.

She does the whole grumpy-sunshine, opposites attract tropes so well and I cannot wait to see the twist she puts on it with these two friends from the past collide again.

Related: Best Grumpy Sunshine Trope Books

End of Story
by Kylie Scott

Opposites Attract Romance
Releasing February 14, 2023

When Susie Bowen inherits a charming fixer-upper from her aunt, she’s excited to start living her best HGTV life.

But when she opens the door to find that her contractor is none other than her ex’s best friend, Lars—the same man who witnessed their humiliating public breakup six months ago—she isn’t exactly eager to have anyone around whose alliance is with the enemy.

But beggars can’t be choosers, and the sooner the repairs are done, the sooner she can get back to embracing singledom.

Things go from awkward to unbelievable when Lars discovers a divorce certificate hidden in a wall and dated ten years in the future—with both their names on it. It couldn’t possibly be real…could it?

As Susie and Lars work to unravel the document’s origins, the impossibility of a spark between them suddenly doesn’t seem so far-fetched. But would a relationship between them be doomed before it’s even begun?

This romance sounds so intriguing! I’ve loved Kylie Scott’s writing in the past so I’m super excited to see what this new romance brings.

A home renovation, a mystery, and growing chemistry sounds like a fun and perfect combination for this must-read romance of 2023.

Hail Mary
by Kandi Steiner

Enemies to Lovers Sports Romance
Releasing February 15, 2023

Leo Hernandez is North Boston University’s star running back, notorious bachelor, and my new roommate.

I used to think I loved him. But that was before I hated him.

He doesn’t remember who I am, or how he made my life miserable for years. And before I unknowingly moved across the street from him, I couldn’t have cared less.

I was living my life despite him and what happened that summer, chasing my dream of becoming a tattoo artist.

Living across from him and watching him parade his one-night-stands in and out only reminds me of how he broke my heart.

But with rent this cheap and so close to the tattoo shop, I’ve learned to ignore him until this summer. Because when a water and mold disaster leaves me with no choice but to vacate my house, I have nowhere to go. And Leo Hernandez offers me a deal I can’t refuse.

Live at The Pit with him and the guys, free of charge, until my landlord fixes this mess.

Ignoring him was easy when I lived across the street, but now impossible.

This book made my list of most anticipated romance books of 2023 before it even had a cover and full book blurb.

This is such a great sports romance series set in college and I am so excited that we get one last final book!

I LOVED Blind Side and I have a feeling this enemies to lovers romance is going to be just as hot and steamy!

Plus you can read this one on Kindle Unlimited so don’t miss it. Check out my review of Hail Mary.

Related: Best Sports Romance Books, Best College Romance Books, Best Enemies to Lovers Books

Things We Hide From the Light
by Lucy Score

Small Town Romance
Releasing February 21, 2023

Nash Morgan was always known as the good Morgan brother, with a smile and a wink for everyone.

But now, this chief of police is recovering from being shot and his Southern charm has been overshadowed by panic attacks and nightmares.

He feels like a broody shell of the man he once was. Nash isn’t about to let anyone in his life know he’s struggling.

But his new next-door neighbor, smart and hot Lina, sees his shadows. As a rule, she’s not a fan of physical contact unless she initiates it, but for some reason Nash’s touch is different. He feels it too.

The physical connection between them is incendiary, grounding him and making her wonder if exploring it is worth the risk.

Too bad Lina’s got secrets of her own, and if Nash finds out the real reason she’s in town, he’ll never forgive her. Besides, she doesn’t do relationships. Ever.

A hot, short-term fling with a local cop? Absolutely. Sign her up. A relationship with a man who expects her to plant roots? No freaking way.

But once Nash decides to make Lina his, he’s not about to be dissuaded…even if it means facing the danger that nearly ended him.

Um can I have this book NOW???!!! Pretty please?! 😊

I completely fell for Nash after reading Score’s Things We Never Got Over and I cannot wait for this follow-up novel.

I can already tell that Nash and Lina are going to have amazing chemistry and I’m really intrigued by their past and hopeful future.

Things We Never Got Over which scored a 2022 Goodreads Awards nomination and I have a feeling this 2023 new romance book release will too! Check out my review of Things We Hide From the Light.

The New Guy
by Sarina Bowen

MM Hockey Romance
Releasing February 28, 2023

My name is Hudson Newgate, but my teammates call me New Guy.

That was my nickname in Chicago, too. And Vancouver. That’s what happens when you keep getting traded. Brooklyn is my last chance, especially after my poor performance last season.

But I can make this work. The new guy knows to keep his head down and shoot the puck. The new guy puts the game first.

What he doesn’t do is hook up with the other new guy—a hot athletic trainer who lives in my building. Gavin needs this job with my team. He’s a single dad with responsibilities.

We can’t be a couple. My arrogant agent–who’s also my father–will lose his mind if I’m dating a dude. And my team needs me to score goals, not whip up a media circus.

Too bad Gavin and I are terrible at resisting each other…

If Sarina Bowen is writing an MM romance then you better believe it’s going to be on my most anticipated book list!

The fact that it’s also a hockey romance just makes it pure gold and I cannot wait to meet Hudson and Gavin. It’s one of the new gay romance books of 2023 I cannot wait to read.

Related: Best MM Romance Books, Best Hockey Romance Books

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New Romance Books Coming in April 2023

The Do Over
by Suzanne Park

Second Chance Romance
Releasing April 4, 2023

Lily Lee is a bestselling author of the How to Be a Supernova At Work series, and her editor wants her to strike while the iron’s hot with a new book, How to Land the Perfect Job. 

But when Lily is offered a coveted position at a top firm, the employer background check reveals she’s short a few college credits and never actually completed her degree. Unbelievably, her worst nightmare has come true.

Lily returns to her alma mater, reliving her senior year of college ten years later. She enrolls in classes, gets invited to frat parties, eats most of her meals with “dining dollars,” and to make things even more weird and chaotic, she discovers that her computer science TA is her old college boyfriend, Jake Cho.

As Lily and Jake reconnect, she sees that her ex has done well for himself: the handsome, charming grad student appears to have his life together while Lily’s so close to losing her dream job opportunity and her book deal.  

Things aren’t so simple the second time around.

I am loving the set-up of this second chance romance! As much as I loved college, I  honestly can’t imagine going back ten years later to finish my senior year but I will go along for the ride with Lily.

I hope that this book has some great comedy and some heavy steam 😊.

Related: Best Second Chance Romance Books, Best College Romance Books

Something Spectacular
by Alexis Hall

Historical Romance
Releasing April 11, 2023

Peggy Delancey’s not at all ready to move on from her former flame, Arabella Tarleton. But Belle has her own plans for a love match, and she needs Peggy’s help to make those plans a reality.

Still hung up on her feelings and unable to deny Belle what she wants, Peggy reluctantly agrees to help her woo the famous and flamboyant opera singer Orfeo.

She certainly doesn’t expect to find common ground with a celebrated soprano, but when Peggy and Orfeo meet, a whole new flame is ignited that she can’t ignore.

Peggy finds an immediate kinship with Orfeo, a castrato who’s just as nonconforming as she is—and just as affected by their instant connection.

They’ve never been able to find their place in the world, but as the pair walks the line between friendship, flirtation, and something more, they may just find their place with each other.

Something Fabulous was one of my favorites of 2022 because it was such a clever and fun historical romance that I didn’t expect from Hall.

I love that this is another queer romance in Alexis Hall’s book list but featuring a leading lady and an awesome opera twist.

Be sure to mark this new romance book release on your TBR list for 2023. I cannot wait to read it.

Related: Best Historical Romance Novels, Best Gay Romance Novels, Best Lesbian Romance Books

Romantic Comedy
by Curtis Sittenfeld

Contemporary Romance
Releasing April 11, 2023

Sally Milz is a sketch writer for The Night Owls, a late-night live comedy show that airs every Saturday. 

With a couple of heartbreaks under her belt, she’s long abandoned the search for love, settling instead for the occasional hook-up, career success, and a close relationship with her stepfather.

But when Sally’s friend and fellow writer Danny Horst begins dating Annabel, a glamorous actress who guest-hosted the show, he joins the not-so-exclusive group of talented but average-looking and even dorky men at the show—and in society at large—who’ve gotten romantically involved with incredibly beautiful and accomplished women.

Sally channels her annoyance into a sketch called the Danny Horst Rule, poking fun at this phenomenon while underscoring how unlikely it is that the reverse would ever happen for a woman.

Enter Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation with a reputation for dating models, who signed on as both host and musical guest for this week’s show.

Dazzled by his charms, Sally hits it off with Noah instantly, and as they collaborate on one sketch after another, she begins to wonder if there might actually be sparks flying.

But this isn’t a romantic comedy—it’s real life. And in real life, someone like him would never date someone like her . . . right?

The premise of this new romance book for 2023 has me conjuring up images of Scarlett Johansson and her husband Colin Jost and how they first met on Saturday Night Live.

I like how Sittenfeld is using such a fun angle to explore societal expectations and gender relations while bringing two people together in love.

I can’t wait to read some of the sketches they write together too. This will be my first Sittenfeld romance and I cannot wait to read it this year.

Related: Best Romcom Books

The Fiance Farce
by Alexandria Bellefleur

Sapphic Romance
Releasing April 18, 2023

Tansy Adams’ greatest love is her family’s bookstore, passed down from her late father. But when it comes to actual romance… Tansy can’t get past the first chapter.

Tired of her stepfamily’s questions about her love life, Tansy invents Gemma, a fake girlfriend inspired by the stunning cover model on a bestselling book.

They’ll never actually meet, so what’s the harm in a little fib? Yet when real-life Gemma crosses Tansy’s path, her white lie nearly does her in.

Gemma van Dalen is a wild child, the outcast of her wealthy family, and now the latest heir to Van Dalen Publishing. But the title comes with one tiny condition: she must be married in order to inherit.

When Gemma discovers a beautiful stranger has been pretending to date her for months, she decides to take the charade one step further—and announces their engagement.

Gemma needs a wife to meet the terms of her grandfather’s will and Tansy needs money to save her struggling bookstore. A marriage could be mutually beneficial, if they can fool everyone into thinking it’s a love match.

Unexpected sparks fly as Tansy and Gemma play the role of affectionate fiancées, and suddenly the line between convenient arrangement and real feelings begins to blur.

But the scheming Van Dalen family won’t give up the company without a fight, and Gemma and Tansy’s newfound happiness might get caught in the fallout.

Do I want to read a steamy sapphic rom-com about a quiet bookseller and a romance novel cover model who agree to a modern-day marriage of convenience? Why yes, yes I do! 😊

I’ve totally fallen for Bellefleur’s writing with her past sapphic romances so I’m totally on board with this new lesbian romance for 2023.

The only problem is I have to wait until April to read it! Be sure to add this to your TBR list as well.

 Related: Best Lesbian Romance Books, Best Marriage of Convenience Romance Books

Bewitched
by Laura Thalassa

Fantasy Romance
Releasing April 18, 2023

At age twenty, Selene Bowers desperately hopes to be accepted into Henbane Coven, an academy for young witches.

Since one of the requirements for entry is to connect with her powers via a quest through the wilderness, Selene books a trip to South America.

When a nefarious supernatural force tries to drag her plane from the sky, Selene’s magic awakens to save her life―at a cost. Using her powers devours her memories, one by one.

Worse, when Selene braves the jungle and discovers the source of the attack, she finds herself awakening an ancient evil, Memnon the Cursed, who mistakes Selene for his long-gone wife. The wife who betrayed him.

Selene manages to escape and begin her studies at Henbane, but when Memnon turns up at the coven and witches are found slain across campus, Selene becomes entangled in a dangerous plot.

Accused of ending these witches on the basis of her memory loss, Selene must rely on Memnon’s help for answers―and his plans for her will change everything.

I’m SO ready for a new fantasy romance and if Thalassa is writing it, I’m on it.

There is so much to uncover about this new fantasy romance about a witch that is kicking off a brand-new series.

If you love fantasy, witch romances or just Thalassa’s writing, don’t miss this new romance in 2023!

Related: Best Witch Romance Books, Best Fantasy Romance Books

Happy Place
by Emily Henry

Second Chance Romance
Releasing April 25, 2023

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.
 
They broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.
 
Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade.
 
Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other.

Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts.

Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show.

After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best?

Emily Henry has this way with words and with creating amazing characters that it is a no-brainer that I would include her new romance book for 2023 on this list.

I’m not sure anyone can top Poppy and Alex for me, but I hope that Harriet and Wyn do or come close.

You can check out the first sneak-peak of this new romance here which will definitely be having you one-click this title this year. Check out my review of Happy Place.

Related: Best Second Chance Romance Books, Emily Henry Books in Order

New Romance Books Coming in May 2023

Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros

Fantasy Romance
Releasing May 2, 2023

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history.

Now, the commanding general―also known as her tough-as-talons mother―has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, the end of your life is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would take out Violet to better their own chances of success.

The rest would end her just for being her mother’s daughter―like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the battle outside grows more dangerous, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the ledger of those lost continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

This fantasy romance sounds SO good! I’m ALL about the dragons in this one and the dog-eat-dog world of Basgiath College.

This new romance book has a distinct enemies-to-lovers vibe and I cannot wait. Plus it kicks off the soon-to-be five-book Fourth Wing series! Check out my review of Fourth Wing.

Related: Best Enemies to Lovers Fantasy Romance Books

Meet Me at the Lake
by Carley Fortune

Second Chance Romance
Releasing May 2, 2023

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in the city.

The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do.

The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan—a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips.

Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago.

Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is. 

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?

So full disclosure, I didn’t finish Fortune’s 2022 popular hit, Every Summer After, because I saw where it was leading and I didn’t like that kind of storyline.

BUT, this new romance book I can totally get behind. I love romances where a connection is made in just one day but then it’s years later when we finally see the characters make their way back to one another.

I really hope I’m not devasted by what Will is hiding and that this book turns out to be one of my favorite romance novels for 2023.

Related: Best Second Chance Romance Books

Practice Makes Perfect
by Sarah Adams

Fake Relationship Romance
Releasing May 2, 2023

Annie Walker is on a quest to find her perfect match – someone who nicely compliments her happy, quiet life running her flower shop in Rome, Kentucky.

Unfortunately, she worries her goal might be too far out of reach when she overhears her date saying she is ‘so unbelievably boring’.

Is it too late to become flirtatious and fun like the leading ladies in her favorite romance movies? Maybe she only needs a little practice…and Annie has the perfect person in mind to become her tutor: Will Griffin.

Will – the flirtatious, tattooed, and absolutely gorgeous bodyguard – is temporarily back in Rome, providing security for Amelia Rose as excitement grows for her upcoming marriage to Noah Walker.

Will wants no part in changing the sweet and lovely Annie, but he can’t bring himself to say no to her request, so he officially agrees to teach her how to be the next leading lady of Rome, Kentucky, and find the love of her life-even if he doesn’t believe in love himself.

Between faking a relationship so the meddling town doesn’t catch on to what’s really happening on their practice dates, and tutoring lessons that convince Annie to add passion to her list of must-haves in a mate, it doesn’t take long for the lines of their friendship to blur.

I have not yet read Adams’ prior romance, When in Rome, but I don’t think that’s an issue before reading this fake relationship romance featuring a hot bodyguard.

I mean Adams had me at tattooed hottie who’s willing to teach Annie a thing or two about lust and passion. It’s always fun when the quiet ones let loose.

Sign me up for this new romance of 2023! Check out my book review of Practice Makes Perfect.

Related: Best Relationship Coach Romance Books, Best Fake Relationship Romance Books

The True Love Experiment
by Christina Lauren

Contemporary Romance
Releasing May 16, 2023

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter.

But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element.

Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution.

What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to cast the contestants according to a list of romance archetypes.

When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

Christina Lauren have wowed me with so many of their romance novels that it’s a given that their latest release will make it on this list. I just can’t get enough of their books because each one is so unique!

I adore romance books about romance novelists but I also like the reality TV show angle to this one -especially with an eye to romance archetypes. I cannot wait to see what they come up with.

I’m also eager for the woman who writes about love to finally find it for herself. This is a must-read romance for 2023 in my book.

Check out my review of The True Love Experiment.

New Romance Books Coming in June 2023

Love, Theoretically
by Ali Hazelwood

Enemies to Lovers Romance
Releasing June 13, 2023

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure.

By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.
 
Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere.

And he’s the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.
 
Elsie is prepared for an all-out battle of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him?

Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

I’m so excited that Ali Hazelwood is writing another enemies-to-lovers romance because she wrote that trope so well in The Love Hypothesis.

I can identify with Elsie who has two different “day jobs” and I love that one of hers is serving as a fake girlfriend. I want to hear some horror stories about that job as well as see how it gets her in a pickle with Jack.

This looks to be a fun, new romance for 2023! Check out my review of Love, Theoretically.

Related: Best Enemies to Lovers Books, Ali Hazelwood Books in Order

Business or Pleasure
by Rachel Lynn Soloman

Relationship Coach Romance
Releasing June 20, 2023

Chandler Cohen has never felt more like the ghost in “ghostwriter” until she attends a signing for a book she wrote—and the author doesn’t even recognize her.

The evening turns more promising when she meets a charming man at the bar and immediately connects with him.

But when all their tension culminates in a spectacularly awkward hookup, she decides this is one night better off forgotten.
 
Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Her next project is ghostwriting a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor best known for playing a lovable nerd on a cult classic werewolf show who now makes a living appearing at fan conventions across the country.

Chandler knows him better from their one-night stand of hilarious mishaps.
 
Chandler’s determined to keep their partnership as professional as possible, but when she admits to Finn their night together wasn’t as mind-blowing as he thought it was, he’s distraught.

He intrigues her enough that they strike a deal: when they’re not working on his book, Chandler will school Finn in the art of satisfaction.

As they grow closer both in and out of the bedroom, they must figure out which is more important, business or pleasure—or if there’s a way for them to have both.

This book sounds so amazing!! I adore books about writers AND I adore books that play on the relationship coach trope and this one incorporates both. Yippee!

I can only think of a few romance books where it’s the male lead who needs the instructional help in the bedroom and I’m all for another one.

Definitely add this new romance book release to your to-read list in 2023 as I have no doubt that Soloman will write a great one.

Check out my review of Business or Pleasure.

Related: Best Relationship Coach Books

New Romance Books Coming in July 2023

The Duchess Effect
by Tracey Livesay

Royal Romance
Releasing July 11, 2023

Against all odds, American rapper, Danielle “Duchess” Nelson and brilliant reclusive royal Prince Jameson have fallen in love!

They’ve decided to take their relationship public and find a way to make their two worlds coexist. On their terms.

Unfortunately, falling in love was the easy part as their increasing popularity comes with a price.

Dani looks forward to signing the deal with a major cosmetics company but the company wants to take advantage of their fame and involve Jameson in Mela-Skin’s marketing campaign.

After stepping up for the royal family, Jameson yearns to retreat back into academia. But he’s fired when his university raises concerns about his newfound notoriety.

And suddenly the queen, initially against the relationship, backtracks, seeing their cooperation when the family is embroiled in yet another scandal.

Dani and Jameson truly love each other. But under the scrutiny of the international spotlight, when the doubts, compromises, and secrets begin to take their toll, will their love be enough?

I enjoyed Livesay’s most anticipated 2021 release, American Royalty, so of course I’m looking forward to reading the sequel to get more of Duchess and Prince Jameson.

I adore romance novels that follow couples AFTER they initially get together and it looks like Duchess and Prince Jameson have their work cut out for themselves given the media attention and lack of support from the Crown.

And can we just take a moment to appreciate this book cover?! OMG, it’s gorgeous!

Related: Best Royal Romance Books

Hello Stranger
by Katherine Center

Contemporary Romance
Releasing July 11, 2023

Sadie Montogmery has had good breaks and bad breaks in her life, but as a struggling artist, all she needs is one lucky break.

Things seem to be going her way when she lands one of the coveted finalist spots in a portrait competition.

It happens to coincide with a surgery she needs to have. Minor, they say. Less than a week in the hospital they say. Nothing about you will change, they say.

Upon recovery, it begins to dawn on Sadie that she can see everything around her, but she can no longer see faces.

As she struggles to cope—and hang onto her artistic dreams—she finds solace in her fourteen-year-old dog, Peanut. When Peanut gets sick, she rushes him to the emergency vet nearby.

That’s when she meets veterinarian Dr. Addison. And she’s pleasantly surprised when he asks her on a date.

But she doesn’t want anyone to know about her face blindness. Least of all Joe, her obnoxious neighbor who always wears a bowling jacket and seems to know everyone in the building.

He’s always there at the most embarrassing but convenient times, and soon, they develop a sort of friendship. But could it be something more?

As Sadie tries to save her career, confront her haunting past, and handle falling in love with two different guys she realizes that happiness can be found in the places—and people— you least expect.

Ok, wow, we’ve got a lot to digest in this new romance book but I trust Center to bring it all together and give me all the feels in the process.

I’m intrigued by Sadie’s post-operative condition and how not being able to see faces influences her feelings for not one but two men.

We base so much on the physical but what happens when that is taken out of the love equation? I can’t wait to find out in Sadie’s case.

Check out my review of Hello Stranger.

A Soul of Ash and Blood
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Fantasy Romance
Releasing July 18, 2023

A great primal power has risen. The Queen of Flesh and Fire has become the Primal of Blood and Bone—the true Primal of Life and Death. And the battle Casteel, Poppy, and their allies have been fighting has only just begun. Gods are awakening across Iliseeum and the mortal realm, readying for the war to come.

But when Poppy falls into stasis, Cas faces the very real possibility that the dire, unexpected consequences of what she is becoming could take her away from him. Cas is given some advice, though—something he plans to cling to as he waits to see her beautiful eyes open once more: Talk to her.

And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the process. But it’s anybody’s guess what she’ll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when she does.

OMG, OMG, OMG!!! I love Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash series so much and I am so excited that she’s taking us back to the very beginning and giving us Hawke’s point of view. Gah!

Poppy and Hawke’s connection is so epic, wonderful, hot….it’s all the adjectives and this should be a must-read for any reader who’s fallen for this series as hard as I have.

Check out my book review of A Soul of Ash and Blood.

Related: Best Romance Series to Binge Read, Best Fantasy Romance Books

The Summer Girl
by Elle Kennedy

Friends to Lovers Romance
Releasing July 18, 2023

College student Cassie Soul hasn’t spent an entire summer in Avalon Bay in years, not since her parents divorced and her mother spitefully whisked her away to Boston.

Now that her grandmother is selling the boardwalk hotel that’s been in their family for five decades, Cassie returns to the quaint beach town, excited to spend time with family, ring in her twenty-first birthday…and maybe find herself a summer fling.

She’s ready for breathless, heart-pounding passion. And on her first night in town, she finds the perfect candidate: Tate Bartlett, Avalon Bay’s fun-loving golden boy.

Tate, sailing instructor and lovable player, is no stranger to flings. In fact, he’s always down for a good time. But…maybe not this time?

The moment he meets Cassie, he knows she’s not the girl you play games with, and the last thing he wants to do is risk breaking her heart. So, despite his attraction to her, he turns her down.

But that awkward hiccup doesn’t stop a friendship from developing between the two. Tate even helps Cassie find that fling she’s so set on finding. Only it isn’t long before he’s wondering if he made a huge mistake.

As Cassie and Tate walk the line between friends and lovers, they’re about to discover that their situation is the least complicated part of this equation. Because Avalon Bay is full of secrets—and their relationship might not survive when one secret in particular comes to light.

Elle Kennedy is my go-to new adult romance writer and I’m loving the different characters in her Avalon Bay series.

Tate already piqued my interest in Bad Girl Reputation, and I cannot wait to see how he navigates his feelings for Cassie in this one.

This will make a great summer read for 2023 so check it out!

Related: Best Friends to Lover Romance Books

New Romance Books Coming in August 2023

Kiss the Girl
by Zoraida Cordova

Rock Star Romance
Releasing August 1, 2023

Ariel del Mar is one of the most famous singers in the world. She and her sisters―together, known as the band Siren Seven―have been a pop culture phenomenon since they were kids.

On stage, wearing her iconic red wig and sequined costumes, staring out at a sea of fans, is where she shines. Anyone would think she’s the girl who has everything. But lately, she wants more.

Siren Seven is wrapping up their farewell tour, and Ariel can’t wait to spend the summer just living a normal life―part of a world she’s only ever seen from the outside.

But her father, the head of Atlantica Records, has other plans: begin her breakout solo career immediately, starting with a splashy announcement on a morning talk show.

The night before, Ariel and her sisters sneak out of their Manhattan penthouse for a night of incognito fun at a rock concert in Brooklyn.

It’s there that Ariel crosses paths with Eric Reyes, dreamy lead singer of an up-and-coming band.

Unaware of her true identity, Eric spontaneously invites her on the road for the summer. And for the first time in her life, Ariel disobeys her father―and goes with him.

Caught between the world she longs for and the one she’s left behind, can Ariel follow her dreams, fall in love, and, somehow, find her own voice?

First off, I have to say that whoever wrote this book blurb is AMAZING. I mean the number of connections to The Little Mermaid is just spot on and only makes me want to read this modern take the classic tale more.

I love that Disney knows that romance is where it’s at and therefore launched its Meant to Be books of modern romance books based on their iconic movies.

I am so excited that Cordova made Ariel and Eric rock stars and cannot wait to see what else she has in store for this story and what role her “Ursala” character will play.

Related: Best Rock Star Romance Books

From Cold World, With Love
by Alicia Thompson

Office Romance
Releasing August 1, 2023

Lauren Fox is the bookkeeper for Cold World, a tourist destination that’s always a winter wonderland despite being located in humid Orlando, Florida.

Sure, it’s ranked way below any of the trademarked amusement parks and maybe foot traffic could be better. But it’s a fun place to work, even if “fun” isn’t exactly Lauren’s middle name. 

Her coworker Asa Williamson, on the other hand, is all about finding ways to enliven his days at Cold World—whether that means organizing the Secret Santa or teasing Lauren. 

When the owner asks Lauren and Asa to propose something to raise more revenue, their rivalry heats up as they compete to come up with the best idea.

But the situation is more dire than they thought, and it might take these polar opposites working together to save the day.

If Asa thought Lauren didn’t know how to enjoy herself, he’s surprised by how much he enjoys spending time together. And if Lauren thought Asa wasn’t serious about anything, she’s surprised by how seriously he seems to take her. 

As Lauren and Asa work to save their beloved wintery spot, they realize the real attraction might be the heat generating between them.

There are so many tropes to love in this new romance for 2023 which is why it made my list.

You’ve got office romance, opposites attract, grumpy sunshine and a bit of enemies to lovers. Whew – I’m down for them all!

Related: Best Office Romance Books, Best Grumpy Sunshine Books

The Love Plot
by Samantha Young

Fake Relationship Romance
Releasing August 29, 2023

Star Shine Meadows is all about freedom, thanks to the hippie parents who raised her.

Juggling her jobs as a professional costume character actor and a line sitter, she believes in no expectations, no stressful ambitions, and no-strings-attached relationships.

So when she meets a birthday girl’s grumpy uncle while working a princess party, she can’t help but needle him. She’ll never see him again, and honestly, he’s pretty hot.

Rafe Whitman may be a veterinarian with a great bedside manner, but that doesn’t mean his patience extends to anyone with opposable thumbs.

His family will not stop nagging him about finding “the one,” so when he runs into obnoxiously cheery Star again, he makes her an offer: He’ll pay her more than she would make doing her odd jobs if she’ll pretend to be his girlfriend at family gatherings.

She can stop sitting in line waiting for someone else’s new phone, and he’ll get his family off his back.

When the tension between them heats to a breaking point, Star’s desire for “no strings” is tested against Rafe’s staunch stability. They say opposites attract, after all…

Samantha Young is bringing all the tropes in this one too! Grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, fake relationship – this is going to be so good.

Sometimes it seems that people with opposite personalities are just too opposite to find common ground let alone love, but if this hippie and grump can do it then I want to enjoy the ride along with them.

Related: Best Fake Relationship Romance Books, Best Romcom Books

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