What to Read & What to Skip: My June 2026 Romance Reads
June was a month of extremes. I found a handful of romances I’ll be recommending all year long, a few solid reads that I’m glad I picked up, and several books that simply weren’t worth finishing.
In total, I read 16 romance books across contemporary, dark romance, motorcycle club, romantic suspense, and cowboy romance. If you’re looking for your next great romance book, I’d start with one of my must-read picks below. And if you’re trying to avoid wasting your reading time, my DNFs may help steer you in a different direction.
This month’s reading included 5 must-reads, 6 good reads that didn’t quite become favorites, 1 disappointment, and 4 DNFs.
Several of these books already have full reviews linked below if you’d like a deeper look before deciding what to read next.
If you’re already planning your summer reading, don’t miss my list of Upcoming Romance Book Releases to see what’s coming next.
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
June Reading Snapshot
⭐ Top Read: The Muse by Jewel E. Ann
❤️ Best for Trope Lovers: Roped by Saffron A. Kent
🔥 Most Addictive: These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
😬 Didn’t Work for Me: Book Club Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
📚 Total Read: 16 books
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Romance Books Worth Reading This Month
The Muse
by Jewel E. Ann
⭐ 4.5 stars
Jewel E. Ann once again proves why she’s one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. Flynn completely stole my heart, the banter was perfection, and beneath all the humor is an emotionally rich love story that delivered exactly the kind of satisfying payoff I was hoping for. If you’re only picking up one character-driven romance this month, make it this one.
Read more + grab your copy
Read my full review
Axe Marks the Spot
by Kayla Grosse
⭐ 4 stars
This was such a fun surprise. Kayla Grosse takes a single mom exploring a new dom/sub relationship with a local lumberjack and turns it into an empowering, emotionally satisfying romance that never loses sight of the heroine’s journey. The chemistry is scorching, but it’s the trust and emotional connection that made this one stand out.
Roped
by Saffron A. Kent
⭐ 4 stars
Saffron A. Kent writes obsessive heroes better than almost anyone, and the emotional intensity between this cowboy and the woman he shouldn’t want kept me completely invested. If you enjoy forbidden romance, possessive heroes, rope play, and plenty of angst, this one absolutely delivers.
Read more + grab your copy
Read my full review
→ If cowboy romances are your favorite, don’t miss my list of the Best Cowboy Romance Books.
These Summer Storms
by Sarah MacLean
⭐ 4.5 stars (Reread)
Rereading this for the SRRB Book Club only reminded me why I loved it the first time. The family dynamics are layered, the romance builds beautifully amid all the emotional tension, and the inheritance mystery makes it nearly impossible to stop reading.
Read more + grab your copy
Read my full review
Enemies to Lovers
by Alisha Rai
⭐ 4 stars
This was my first Alisha Rai novel, but it definitely won’t be my last. She blends romantic suspense, emotional character growth, and slow-building chemistry so effortlessly that I was hooked from beginning to end, and I never felt lost despite starting with the second book in the series.
→ Looking for more suspenseful romances? Browse my favorite Best Romantic Suspense Romance Books.
Good Romance Books (But Not Favorites)
Forged in the Fire
by A.L. Jackson
⭐ 4 stars
It had been far too long since I’d picked up a motorcycle club romance, and this reminded me exactly why I love this category of romance. Once I settled into the Crimson Crows’ world, the found family, suspense, and Silas and Brinley’s emotional connection made this a series I’ll definitely continue.
Read more + grab your copy
Read my full review
Father Material
by Alexis Hall
⭐ 3 stars
It was wonderful spending more time with Luc and Oliver, but this leaned much more into new parenthood than romance. A good pick for fans of the series, though it didn’t have quite the emotional spark I was hoping for.
In Stormy Weather
by Chelsea Curto
⭐ 3.5 stars
Chelsea Curto delivers a fun filled romance that’s perfect for summer reading. While some of the meteorology details slowed the pacing for me, the academic rivals dynamic and emotional payoff made this an enjoyable read.
Read more + grab your copy
Read my full review
→ If you love opposites and academic tension, you’ll also enjoy my favorite Best Rivals to Lovers Romance Books.
Ember
by Naima Simone
⭐ 3.5 stars
Naima Simone puts a deliciously dark spin on Cinderella with two morally gray characters whose obsessive push-and-pull chemistry keeps the pages turning. I wanted more from the criminal underworld storyline, but dark romance readers who enjoy modern fairy tale retellings should definitely give this one a look.
Save a Horse, Keep the Cowboy
by Jessica Peterson
⭐ 3 stars
Amazon’s Original short romances are always a fun palate cleanser, and Jessica Peterson packed plenty of heart into this second chance romance. It’s short, sweet, and features a cowboy who knows exactly how to grovel when he realizes he let the right woman get away.
Just a Highland Fling
by Naina Kumar
⭐ 3 stars
The grief and found family themes gave this romance emotional weight, but the pacing never quite clicked for me. I enjoyed parts of it, but it wasn’t one I’ll be thinking about long after I finished.
Didn’t Live Up to Expectations
The Someday Garden
by Ashley Poston
⭐ 2.5 stars
Ashley Poston remains an auto-read author for me, which made this one especially disappointing. Sophie’s grief journey and the magical garden setting were beautifully done, but the romance didn’t truly begin until well over halfway through the book, leaving me wanting much more emotional connection and romantic payoff.
Books That Didn’t Work for Me
Not every book is the right fit, and sometimes that’s okay. These are the romances I chose not to finish because they simply weren’t keeping me invested enough to continue.
Book Club Boyfriend
by Jenny Holiday
I wanted to love this one because the premise was right up my alley, but it read much more like women’s fiction than the romance I was expecting. By the halfway point, I still wasn’t invested in the relationship, so I decided it wasn’t worth pushing through.
Married with Benefits
by Ellie Palmer
The premise immediately grabbed me, but the story got bogged down in too many unnecessary details before the romance had a chance to hook me. I ultimately needed more momentum to keep reading.
Devour Me
by Emily Rath
This one had an intriguing setup, but the pacing never fully came together for me. I wasn’t connecting with the relationships enough to stay invested and the instalove vibes were more of a hindrance than something that got me hooked.
Everything We Couldn’t Say
by Emma Scott
Emma Scott’s emotional storytelling usually works for me, but this one wasn’t clicking early enough to keep me reading despite the important look at learning disabilities and an alcoholic parent. Sometimes a book simply isn’t the right fit, and this ended up being one of those cases.
My Full Reviews From This Month
Looking for more detailed thoughts? Check out my full reviews for:
What to Read Next
If you’re looking for even more romance recommendations, start here:
- Start here → Best Romance Books of 2026
- Don’t miss → Upcoming Romance Releases
- Find your next trope → Best Opposites Attract Romance Books
- Or browse → Best Forced Proximity Romance Books
- Discover more → Browse all June 2026 Romance Book Releases
💌 Never Miss My Weekly Romance Reads
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