What to Read & What to Skip: My August 2026 Romance Reads
August gave me 13 new romance books, one reread, and a pretty clear divide between the books I couldn’t put down and the ones that just couldn’t convince me of the romance.
There was plenty of variety this month, from fake dating and football romance to werewolves, wedding sabotage, why choose romance, and even a political campaign trail. But only three books made my true must-read list, which means I’m making it very easy to decide where I’d start.
Looking ahead? Check out my Upcoming Romance Releases to see which new books are hitting shelves next.
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
August Reading Snapshot
🏆 Top Read: Knot So Lucky by Trilina Pucci
❤️ Best for Trope Lovers: How to Ruin a Wedding by Elba Luz (Fake Dating)
📖 Most Addictive: Knot So Lucky by Trilina Pucci
❌ Skip It: The Fall Affair by Vi Keeland
📚 Total Read: 13 new books + 1 reread
A note on my reread: I also reread Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly for our August Book Club, and somehow loved Jack and Poppy even more the second time around. Since it was already my top read in my July reading list, I’m not ranking it again here.
Want My Romance Reads Before the Monthly Recap?
I share what I’m reading every week in my Substack, including my honest mini reviews, what I loved, what I DNF’d, and whether I think a book is actually worth your time. Paid subscribers get my Friday reading diary with all of my latest reads and reviews, while free subscribers get my weekly new release picks and romance recommendations.
Must Read Romance Books This Month
Knot So Lucky
by Trilina Pucci
⭐ 5 stars
I laughed more during this football romance than I have with almost any romance I’ve read. Eleanor’s confidence, Crew’s obsession with his “Wild Card,” the nonstop banter, and seriously hot chemistry made this one almost impossible for me to put down.
Read more + grab your copy
Read my full review
How to Ruin a Wedding
by Elba Luz
⭐ 4.5 stars
Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and this one completely delivered with a cinnamon roll hero who falls first, delicious slow-burn chemistry, and enough emotional depth to make me believe in Lucy and Anders beyond the fun setup.
Read more + grab your copy
Read my full review
→ Love this setup too? Browse my Best Fake Dating Romance Books.
Good Romance Books (But Not Favorites)
Colt
by Jessica Peterson
⭐ 3.5 stars
Colt and Lainey bring fantastic enemies-to-lovers chemistry, plenty of heat, and a heroine who gives as good as she gets, but I wanted more depth from their individual stories and the ranch itself to push this into must-read territory.
Read more + grab your copy
Read my full review
→ If Colt and Lainey’s sparring is your thing, don’t miss my Best Enemies to Lovers Romance Books.
Big Bad Wolf
by Laurie Gilmore
⭐ 3.5 stars
A protective werewolf hero, great chemistry, fall vibes, and just enough suspense made this an easy paranormal romance to sink into. It felt a little long for what it ultimately delivered and ends with a cliffhanger, but if you prefer your shapeshifter romance on the lighter side, this is absolutely worth picking up.
Read more + grab your copy
Read my full review
→ Find even more supernatural love stories on my Best Werewolf Romance Books list.
Call Me Maybe
by Cara Bastone
⭐ 3.5 stars
This was an adorable, easy-to-devour romance with an incredibly sweet cinnamon roll hero, and I especially loved the way Cal saw and appreciated Vera for exactly who she was. I really enjoyed it for what it was, but it landed more as a charming one-sitting read than a romance that stayed with me enough to become a favorite.
Three Ways to Mend a Broken Heart
by Trilina Pucci
⭐ 3.5 stars
This ménage romance brings plenty of chemistry and steam, but because the relationship develops over one very eventful week, it didn’t give me the deeper conversations and relationship development I need to become truly invested.
See You Next Tuesday
by Kate Stayman-London
⭐ 3 stars
I loved the behind-the-scenes look at campaign life and the friendships surrounding Anya and Gabe, but the time jumps disrupted the pacing and I never completely bought into them as a couple. Political junkies may enjoy this more than I did, but I wanted a stronger romantic payoff.
Read more + grab your copy
Read my full review
Picture This
by Devney Perry
⭐ 3 stars
This 80-page best friend’s brother romance is cute, satisfying, and incredibly easy to finish in one sitting, but the short format naturally doesn’t leave much room for the kind of deeper romantic development that makes a book memorable for me.
→ Discover more short stories on my Amazon Originals in Romance list.
Books That Didn’t Work for Me
Comin’ In Hot
by Trilina Pucci
⭐ 2.5 stars
I enjoyed watching 40-year-old Margot finally let herself go with three younger men, but I knew almost nothing about the men themselves, which made the attraction and instalove difficult for me to fully buy into. Pick this up for a quick, spicy why choose read, but not if you need character and relationship development like I do.
Once, Again, Always
by Amanda Gayle
⭐ 2.5 stars
The amnesia setup immediately hooked me, but I needed far more yearning, chemistry, and evidence of why Molly had fallen for the high school bully she remembered hating. The writing showed plenty of promise for a debut, but this particular love story never convinced me.
If Not You
by Ellen O’Clover
⭐ 2 stars
I liked Ellen O’Clover’s writing enough that I’d absolutely read her again, but Mattie and Campbell’s rivalry never made the leap into believable romantic chemistry for me. By the time they got together, I simply wasn’t invested in their happily ever after.
Love You to Death
by Jenna Levine
DNF
A reaper falling for a woman who refuses to stay dead is such a fun paranormal setup, but by 35% I still didn’t know enough about either character or feel enough chemistry to keep going. Readers who enjoy a slower start may have better luck, but this one landed on my DNF pile.
The Fall Affair
by Vi Keeland
DNF
I kept waiting for the chemistry and distinctive characters that have made me love Vi Keeland’s earlier books, but by 25% I was bored and Matteo felt more stereotypical than irresistible. Unfortunately, this became a DNF.
My Full Reviews From This Month
Want more of my thoughts before deciding whether these books belong on your TBR?
- Knot So Lucky by Trilina Pucci
- How to Ruin a Wedding by Elba Luz
- Big Bad Wolf by Laurie Gilmore
- Colt by Jessica Peterson
- See You Next Tuesday by Kate Stayman-London
And if you missed my July favorite, you can also read my full review of Yes, Chef.
What to Read Next
If you’re looking for even more romance recommendations, start here:
Discover more → Browse all August 2026 Romance Book Releases
Start here → Best Romance Books of 2026
Don’t miss → Upcoming Romance Releases
Find your next trope → Best Fake Dating Romance Books
Or browse → My Full 2026 Reading List
📩 Get My Weekly Romance Reads
Want to know what I’m loving, what I’m DNFing, and what’s actually worth adding to your TBR? Join me on Substack and get my latest romance reads delivered every week.
