What to Read & What to Skip: My October 2026 Romance Reads
October was a fantastic month for romance reading, especially after the number of three-star books I worked through in September!
I found not one but TWO five-star reads, including a new favorite book boyfriend and a historical romance from an author I’ve been waiting five years to read again. I also discovered a mafia romance featuring characters in their forties, enjoyed a few paranormal romances, and found a couple of books that didn’t quite work for me.
I read 11 books this month, and these are the ones I’d recommend adding to your TBR, the books that were good but not my favorites, and the one I’d personally skip.
If you’re looking ahead to your next read, don’t miss my Upcoming Romance Book Releases.
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
October Reading Snapshot
🏆 Top Read: Bedside Manner by Stephanie Archer
❤️ Best for Trope Lovers: Vows and Vendettas by Trilina Pucci | Mafia Romance
📖 Best Surprise: Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas
❌ Skip It: Every Version of You by Natalie Messier
📚 Total Read: 11
🎉 New Authors Read: 2!
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Must-Read Romance Books From October
Bedside Manner
by Stephanie Archer
⭐ 5 stars
I don’t know if I can adequately express how much I LOVED this book! Stephanie Archer absolutely shines with this grumpy/sunshine romance featuring a people-pleasing medical resident and the blunt plastic surgeon she can’t stand, and Grant Cross is EVERYTHING I love in a book boyfriend. The chemistry, the yearning, the way these two help each other grow, and the moments that absolutely melted my heart made this an easy five-star read and one of my favorite romance books of 2026!
Queen of Lombard Street
by Lisa Kleypas
⭐ 5 stars
Lisa Kleypas is BACK and phenomenal as ever! After five years without a new release, she delivered everything I love about her historical romances with a strong, independent heroine, a swoonworthy butler with secrets, phenomenal storytelling, fantastic humor and not one but TWO love stories. I loved the fascinating look at women’s banking and financial independence in Victorian London, and I truly hope Kleypas is back for good!
Vows and Vendettas
by Trilina Pucci
⭐ 4 stars
Francesca is a strong, independent woman in her forties who has no idea the man she’s falling for is the head of Boston’s Irish mob, and I LOVED her banter, flirting and text exchanges with Callan, especially when he tries to hide his jealousy. This is my kind of mafia romance, where the couple’s chemistry takes center stage over mob violence, and can we please have more romance books with characters in their forties?!
Threshing Day
by Rebecca Yarros
⭐ 4 stars
What a fun addition to the Empyrean series! I devoured these short stories about key characters being chosen by their dragons in one sitting, and while Xaden’s was perfection, Imogen’s might have been my favorite. I loved seeing how differently each dragon chose its rider, and a few details had me wondering whether Rebecca Yarros was dropping hints about what’s still to come!
The Luckiest Lady in London
by Sherry Thomas
⭐ 4 stars | Reread
I love rereading our Book of the Month for Book Club because I always find that I fall in love with it even more! This book reminded me why I love picking up a great historical romance. Louisa is smart, witty and such a strong woman who is faced with marrying “well” to protect her family, while her courtship with Felix becomes a delicious battle of wits filled with fantastic banter and chemistry. I am definitely ready to read more from Sherry Thomas.
Swipe Bite
by Alexandria Vasti
⭐ 3.75 stars
I had so much fun with this unique vampire romance featuring a dating app that matches compatible vampires and humans, only for a glitch to put users at risk. I loved the opposites-attract chemistry between Sophronia and Casey and had just as much fun trying to solve the mystery of what happened to the app as I did watching these two try to resist each other!
Carved in the Shadows
by A.L. Jackson
⭐ 3.75 stars
I was already obsessed with Trevan and Lena’s forbidden attraction after book one, and this darker mafia romance gave me over 600 pages of their chemistry, yearning and a hero who’s been protecting his best friend’s younger sister for years. I especially loved the flashbacks that showed how deep their connection runs, and if you love a down-bad, morally gray hero who can dirty talk with the best of them, this is one to pick up!
Good Reads, But Not My Favorites
These books had elements I enjoyed, but they didn’t quite become favorites. Depending on what you’re looking for in a romance, you may have a different reaction.
Have Your Cake
by Grace Reilly
⭐ 3.5 stars
This sweet, short audio-first romance is a fun listen if you love friends to lovers and fake dating, especially with a surfing instructor who’s been pining for his artist friend since the day he first saw her. Evie’s reluctance to admit her feelings frustrated me at times, but overall, this was an enjoyable, low-angst listen from Grace Reilly.
Ex Vows
by Jessica Joyce
⭐ 3.5 stars
I was really impressed by Jessica Joyce’s writing and appreciated how she explored Eli’s anxiety and Georgia’s struggle to speak up for herself, but the never-ending wedding disasters gave ME anxiety, and their back-and-forth about the breakup eventually felt repetitive. I never quite fell for Eli, but readers who love emotional second-chance romances may connect with this one more than I did.
Grim Tidings
by B.K. Borison
⭐ 3 stars
I loved the idea of a grim reaper falling for a guardian angel, and Darcy and Gabriel had fantastic chemistry at first, but Gabriel became downright cruel once he discovered what Darcy was. I kept waiting for him to redeem himself and for Darcy to stand up for herself, but I never bought into their growing feelings, making this another miss for me in Borison’s paranormal series.
Romance Book I’d Skip
Every Version of You
by Natalie Messier
⭐ 2.5 stars
I loved Joey and Alex’s chemistry, the Mexican American representation and the idea of going back in time to make different choices, but too many of Joey’s decisions left me uncomfortable rather than invested in her love story. If cheating is a dealbreaker for you, this is one I’d especially recommend skipping.
What to Read Next
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