Summer is the best time to devour books and I’ve got the best summer reads of 2023 in this book list. Consider it your ultimate beach read list with the hottest summer romance books to read in 2023.
Lounge at the pool or chill out at the beach with these new summer reads of 2023 that you can’t miss.
For even more summer reading recommendations, check out my Summer Reads Hub and my list of best beach reads, books about summer romance, and the best summer reads of 2022.
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Best Summer Reads of 2023: The Hottest Summer Romance Books
Happy Place
by Emily Henry
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 kicks things off with an early summer reads book with her latest, Happy Place.
Escape to the coast of Maine to stay at a beautiful cottage in a quaint small town where Harriet and Wyn have vacationed with their college friends since they all met. But this year tensions are high and every relationship will be re-examined.
You really can’t go wrong with any Emily Henry book as a summer reading option because they all make the best beach reads. Yet, I really enjoyed the look back at Harriet and Wyn’s relationship over the years and the nature of change within a friend group with this second chance romance.
It’s definitely a must-read this summer. Check out my review of Happy Place.
Related: Best Second Chance Romance Books
Meet Me at the Lake
by Carley Fortune
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?
Fortune’s debut novel, Meet Me at the Lake, was such a huge hit that it’s pretty much a no-brainer that her follow up novel would be one of the must-read books of summer and one of the most anticipated romance books of 2023.
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. Plus, Fern and Will’s reunion happens at a lakeside resort so you can envision yourself there all summer long!
Related: Best Second Chance Romance Books
The True Love Experiment
by Christina Lauren
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’s books are also another staple for summer reading and their 2023 release is the perfect beach read in my opinion (or really any time of year it’s so fun!).
Their books always offer up a unique story and this one is no different about a romance book author who goes on a reality TV show to find love. It truly is their love letter to romance readers and it’s wonderful. Check out my review of The True Love Experiment.
Love, Theoretically
by Ali Hazelwood
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?
Ali Hazelwood is another go-to author for the best summer reads because her writing, strong female characters and STEM storylines are fantastic.
She writes enemies to lovers romance so well and she hit this one out of the park!
Love, Theoretically already earned its spot as one of the best romance novels of 2023 and you can check out my review of Love, Theoretically to see why it sound make your list of summer reads this year.
Related: Best Enemies to Lovers Books
The Summer Girl
by Elle Kennedy
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.
Of course a book about a summer fling should make your list of must-read summer reads and I know that Elle Kennedy will make it worth it!
She is my go-to new adult romance writer and I’m loving the different characters in her Avalon Bay series.
Tate already peaked my interest in Bad Girl Reputation, and I cannot wait to see how he navigates his feelings for Cassie in this one.
Related: Best Friends to Lovers Books
Queen Charlotte
by Julia Quinn and Shonda Rhimes
In 1761, on a sunny day in September, a King and Queen met for the very first time. They were married within hours.
Born a German Princess, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was beautiful, headstrong, and fiercely intelligent… not precisely the attributes the British Court had been seeking in a spouse for the young King George III.
But her fire and independence were exactly what she needed, because George had secrets… secrets with the potential to shake the very foundations of the monarchy.
Thrust into her new role as a royal, Charlotte must learn to navigate the intricate politics of the court… all the while guarding her heart, because she is falling in love with the King, even as he pushes her away.
Above all she must learn to rule, and to understand that she has been given the power to remake society. She must fight—for herself, for her husband, and for all her new subjects who look to her for guidance and grace. For she will never be just Charlotte again. She must instead fulfill her destiny… as Queen.
Summer truly can’t come fast enough so that I can get my hands on this anticipated summer read. I already adore Julia Quinn’s historical romance books so I cannot wait to see what she and Shonda Rhimes book up for this Bridgerton prequel.
It’s going to be REALLY hard to wait to watch the TV series, Queen Charlotte when it drops in early May until I read this book but I’m determined.
If you love historical romance or just love the Bridgerton series, this is a summer read to pick up this year.
Related: Books Like Bridgerton
Best Men
by Sidney Karger
Max Moody thought he had everything figured out. He’s trying to live his best life in New York City and has the best friend a gay guy could ask for: Paige.
But then Max’s whole world is turned upside down when Paige suddenly announces some huge news: she’s engaged and wants Max to be her man of honor.
Max was always the romantic one who imagined he would get married before the unpredictable Paige and is shocked to hear she’s ready to settle down. But it turns out there’s not just one new man in Paige’s life—there are two.
There’s the groom, Austin, who’s a perfectly nice guy. Then there’s his charming, fun and ridiculously handsome gay younger brother, Chasten, who is Austin’s best man.
As Paige’s wedding draws closer, Max, the introverted Midwesterner, and Chasten, the social butterfly East Coaster, realize they’re like oil and water. Yet they still have to figure out how to coexist in Paige’s life while not making her wedding festivities all about them.
But can the tiny romantic spark between these two very different guys transform their best man supporting roles into the leading best men in each other’s lives?
What’s a summer without a wedding?! I love the idea of this opposites attract romance that focuses on the wedding festivities leading up to the big day, giving this summer read such a fun vibe.
Best Men instantly became one of my most anticipated new gay romance book for 2023 and I cannot wait to read it.
Related: Best Gay Romance Novels
Runaway Love
by Melanie Harlow
Yes, I’m a single dad who needs a nanny for the summer. But hire the stranded runaway bride who shows up on my doorstep in a wedding gown with no references, no skills, and no experience? No one is that desperate.
Except within twenty-four hours, down-on-her-luck Veronica Sutton manages to charm my kids, my family, and half the population of Cherry Tree Harbor into believing she’s perfect for the job. And for me.
It’s not that I can’t see the appeal–those baby blue eyes? The endless legs? That mouth made for trouble? But I’ve got enough on my plate, raising two kids on my own and keeping the family business alive. I don’t have the time or the inclination to fall for an outspoken city girl.
Holding her in my arms was a big mistake. Even worse? Spending the night together. She ignites a possessive fire in me that I’m finding hard to snuff out.
But the most unforgivable? Growing attached to the sound of her laugh, the scent of her skin, and the way her body wraps around mine in the dark.
At the end of the summer, she’ll be gone. And if I’m not careful, she might run away with my heart.
From wedding to runaway bride, this summer read is bound to delight since Melanie Harlow is writing it. She has the market on small town romances but I love how she weaves in so many other romance book tropes into her books such as nanny romance for this one.
Spend the summer watching how this single dad tries to ignore his growing feelings for the new nanny.
Related: Best Single Dad Romance Books
Summer Reading
by Jen McKinlay
For Samantha Gale, a summer on Martha’s Vineyard at her family’s tiny cottage was supposed to be about resurrecting her career as a chef, until she’s tasked with chaperoning her half-brother, Tyler.
The teenage brainiac is spending his summer at the local library in a robotics competition, and there’s no place Sam, who has dyslexia, likes less than the library. And because the universe hates her, the library’s interim director turns out to be the hot-reader guy whose book she accidentally destroyed on the ferry ride to the island.
Bennett Reynolds is on a quest to find his father, whose identity he’s never known. He’s taken the temporary job on the island to research the summer his mother spent there when she got pregnant with him. Ben tells himself he isn’t interested in a relationship right now. Yet as soon as Sam knocks his book into the ocean, he can’t stop thinking about her.
An irresistible attraction blossoms when Ben inspires Sam to create the cookbook she’s always dreamed about and she jumps all in on helping him find his father, and soon they realize their summer fling may heat up into a happily ever after.
If you can’t escape to Martha’s Vineyard this summer, the next best thing is reading about it with this summer read about a chef and the man looking for answers.
Books about chefs are all the rage but I’m intrigued to see what Bennett finds out about his father and how his search for him brings him closer to Samantha.
Snuggle up with this beach read, it sounds oh so good!
Related: Romance Books that Inspire Travel
Liars Like Us
by J.T. Geissinger
I’d barely been keeping my indie book store going even before the big national chain opened right next door, but I couldn’t deny the truth any longer: the end was here.
Devastated, I took my staff to dinner at a fancy restaurant to break the news. I didn’t realize anyone else overheard, but the devil has sharp ears.
Callum McCord walked into my store the next day and offered me an enormous sum of money to save my business. But his help comes with a price: Marriage.
He said he needs a wife in name only to fulfill a condition of his father’s will. He said I can have anything I want, including separate bedrooms. He said it’s the perfect arrangement for us both.
What he didn’t say is that though he acts like a gentleman, he’s anything but. Or that having separate bedrooms isn’t the only thing he’s lying about.
If you’re looking for steamy summer read then I have a feeling Geissinger’s newest release is going to deliver.
Her books are so captivating with the most intriguing characters and I have a feeling that Callum is a billionaire holding onto some interesting secrets.
Plus, who doesn’t love a book about an indie book store owner?!
Related: Best Billionaire Romance Books, Best Marriage of Convenience Books
Once More With Feeling
by Elissa Sussman
Then. Katee Rose is living the dream as America’s number one pop star, caught in a whirlwind of sold-out concerts, screaming fans, and constant tabloid coverage. Everyone wants to know everything about her and her boyfriend, Ryan LaNeve, the hottest member of adored boy band CrushZone.
Katee loves to perform but hates the impossible demands of stardom. Maybe that’s why she finds herself in the arms of another CrushZone member, Cal Kirby. Quiet, serious Cal, who’s always been a good friend to Katee, is suddenly Cal with the smoldering eyes and very good hands. One unforgettable night is all it takes to end Katee’s relationship with Ryan and her career.
Now. Kathleen Rosenberg is okay with her ordinary existence and leaving her pop star image in the past. That is, until Cal Kirby shows up with the opportunity of her dreams—a starring role in the Broadway show he’s directing and a chance to perform, the way she’s always wanted.
The two haven’t spoken since the joint destruction of their careers, and each of them blames the other, making their reunion a tense battle of wits and egos. Kathleen reluctantly agrees to the musical, as long as she keeps her guard up around Cal.
But rehearsals are long, those eyes still smolder, and those hands are still very good. Despite everything, Kathleen can’t deny the chemistry between them. Is it ever a good idea to reignite old flames? Especially if you’ve been burned in the past?
This will be my first Sussman book and I cannot wait because it has the perfect enemies to lovers and second chance romance mix that is going to have me glued to the pages.
I’m also excited about the musical the two will be working on together which I think is a great storyline to bring these two back together.
Be sure to escape into this summer read this year. Here’s hoping it’s one of the year’s best.
Related: Best Rock Star Romance Books
Same Time Next Summer
by Annabel Monaghan
Sam’s life is on track. She has the perfect doctor fiancé, Jack (his strict routines are a good thing, really), a great job in Manhattan (unless they fire her), and is about to tour a wedding venue near her family’s Long Island beach house.
Everything should go to plan, yet the minute she arrives, Sam senses something is off. Wyatt is here. Her Wyatt. But there’s no reason for a thirty-year-old engaged woman to feel panicked around the guy who broke her heart when she was seventeen. Right?
Yet being back at this beach, hearing notes from Wyatt’s guitar float across the night air from next door as if no time has passed—Sam’s memories come flooding back: the feel of Wyatt’s skin on hers, their nights in the treehouse, and the truth behind their split.
Sam remembers who she used to be, and as Wyatt reenters her life their connection is as undeniable as it always was. She will have to make a choice.
A summer romance book about a love triangle sounds like the perfect summer read as Sam has to reconcile her memories, her new feelings and the choice she has to make. Gah! It’s going to be so good.
Neighbors to lovers is such a fun romance book trope and I cannot wait to see what the forced proximity with her past love means for her intended wedding plans.
Related: Best Forced Proximity Books You Must Read
Business or Pleasure
by Rachel Lynn Soloman
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.
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 summer read to your to-read list for 2023. I loved Soloman’s last adult romance, The Ex Talk and I have no doubt that this one will be just as great.
Check out my review of Business or Pleasure.
Related: Best Relationship Coach Romance Books
Will They or Won’t They
Ava Wilder
Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy are madly in love—at least, their characters are. As the stars of the hit paranormal TV show Intangible, Lilah and Shane spent years pining for each other onscreen until Lilah ditched the show at the end of season five in hopes of becoming a movie star. With no such luck, she’s back to film the much-hyped ninth and final season, in which Lilah and Shane’s characters will get together at last.
But coming back means facing one of the biggest reasons she left: Shane. Ever since their secret behind-the-scenes fling imploded at the end of season one, the two of them have despised each other.
Now reunited on set for the first time in years—with the world’s eyes on them and their post-show careers on the line—they’ll have to grit their teeth and play nice.
But under pressure to give Intangible’s fans the happy ending they’ve been waiting for, Lilah and Shane are forced to get closer than ever. And if they’re not careful, they might just get blindsided by one final twist: a real-life happy ending of their own.
A Hollywood romance sounds like a perfect pick for a summer read and if this is anything like Wilder’s How to Fake It in Hollywood, it’s going to be a keeper.
I’m actually really intrigued about the paranormal TV set which will be an added bonus to finally finding out why their secret relationship ended in the first place.
Check out my book review of Will They or Won’t They.
Snow Place Like LA
by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
After Angel and Luca connected on the set of Duke the Halls and had a whirlwind romance in the literal snow globe of Christmas Notch, Vermont, Luca found himself falling in love. Hard.
He’d never been one to believe in fate or true love, but one thing was certain: Angel was his person. He knew it as well as he knew the history of American figure skating. But when Angel left for an art school semester abroad without a word, Luca’s already brittle heart was broken. No one ghosted Luca. Unless he was in a haunted house.
But with the spring semester long over, Angel is back home in Los Angeles for the summer, and unfortunately for Luca, this big town is turning out to be smaller than either of them ever expected.
If you want something short, light but steamy, you cannot miss this novella from the amazing writing duo of Murphy and Simone.
Their Christmas romance, A Merry Little Meet Cute, was so much fun to read so I’m excited to see Luca and Angel’s story continue in this summer romance.
Related: Best MM Romance Books
Forget Me Knot
by Julie Soto
Ama Torres is an optimistic wedding planner who doesn’t believe in marriage. But weddings? They’re amazing. Elliot Bloom is a brooding florist who hates owning a flower shop…until a certain bright-eyed, donut-loving workaholic shows up at his door.
Once upon a time, they collaborated on events by day, and by night, Ama traced the intricate flower tattoos etched along his body. Then Ama shattered his heart and never spoke to Elliot again.
Now they’re working on an event that could make or break both of their careers—except neither of them has gotten over what happened two years ago. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history.
But as the wedding takes on a life of its own, Ama and Elliot are about to discover that some things can survive a complete catastrophe.
I just love it when debut novels are AMAZING and that’s exactly how I’d describe Soto’s second chance romance.
Get whisked away in wedding season with Ama and Elliot as they find their way back to one another while working on an A-lister wedding.
From the extravagant wedding planning to the tension between former lovers, this is a perfect summer read for 2023 that I highly recommend.
Check out my review of Forget Me Not.
Related: Best Grumpy Sunshine Books
Hello Stranger
by Katherine Center
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.
I love Center’s books because they give the full package – great character development, intriguing story arcs and personal growth wrapped up in a beautiful love story.
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, making this one of my most anticipated summer reads of the year.
Check out my review of Hello Stranger.
A Soul of Ash and Blood
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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.
It’s no secret that I love Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash series so I’m pretty much counting down the days until this new book releases, taking us back to the very beginning and giving us Hawke’s point of view.
With the From Blood and Ash TV series in the works, the summer presents the perfect time to binge-read the entire series, including this new release.
Poppy and Casteel’s connection is so epic, wonderful, hot….it’s all the adjectives and this should be a must-read this summer for any reader who’s fallen for this series as hard as I have.
Related: Best Romance Series to Binge Read, Best Fantasy Romance Books
Kilt to Order
by Suzannah Nix
As a Highland Games athlete and a firefighter, I’m used to women trying to get under my kilt. But I never expected to be propositioned by my bookworm roommate.
Casey’s one of my best friends and my buddy’s younger sister. What am I supposed to do when she confesses that she’s on a mission to lose her virginity—and I’m the guy she trusts to do the deed?
If I say no, she’ll only turn to another dude instead. Someone’s got to keep her out of trouble, so I agree to give her some hands-on experience. I can teach Casey how to bring a man to his knees and still keep things platonic. A little friends-with-benefits action shouldn’t be a problem.
Uh, yeah. Small problem. The more boxes we check off on Casey’s lesson plan, the more it seems I’ve taught her too well. Because the man she’s bringing to his knees is me.
I have to read this book ASAP. I just love everything about it, from the Highland Games to the relationship coaching to the friends to lovers romance. Gah! It sounds too good to be true and the perfect beach read to sit with and devour in one sitting.
Related: Best Relationship Coach Romance Books
Kiss the Girl
by Zoraida Cordova
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.
This is the perfect summer read this year, especially since the live action The Little Mermaid movie releases this summer as well!
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
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 summer read 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
Cruel Seduction
by Katee Robert
Aphrodite has never flinched at getting her perfectly manicured hands dirty, and she’s not about to start now—even if that means marrying Olympus’s enemy number one, the new Hephaestus.
She has a wicked plan to keep her dangerous new husband off-balance, seducing the one person he seems to care about most in this world: Pandora, a woman as beautiful as she is sweet.
Two can play the seduction game, however, and Hephaestus is all too happy to put his new wife in her place. Her ex, Adonis, seems like he’ll do the trick. It doesn’t hurt that he’s gorgeous in the way of fallen angels, either.
The only problem with using seduction as a weapon? Hearts are all too quick to get involved. With Hephaestus and Aphrodite trading venomous strikes that feel a whole lot like foreplay, lines become blurred and emotions entangled. But a broken heart may be the least of their worries.
With unrest in Olympus reaching new heights, these bedroom games may have dangerous consequences for themselves, their city, and everyone they’ve come to love.
You can expect to turn up the heat with this summer read if it’s anything like her other books in the Neon Gods series. Man, she doesn’t hold back with her spicy romance books and given that there are four characters at play in this one, it’s going to be one hot summer read this year.
Related: Best Enemies to Lovers Books
The Sweetheart List
by Jill Shalvis
When Harper Shaw’s life falls apart, she knows it’s time for a change. She removes everything that doesn’t spark joy—from her soul-sucking job to eating kale to making lists—and sets off for the last place she was happy, Lake Tahoe (who wouldn’t feel good there, right?) to fulfill her dream of opening her own bakery.
With her Sugar Pine Bakery in between a tavern, owned by hot, grumpy Bodie Campbell, and a bookstore, run by her new BFF, she feels a peace she’s never experienced since…well, forever..
Then she meets Ivy, a teenage runaway, who barrels into her heart. She sees a lot of herself in Ivy and takes her under her wing, but the teenager has secrets…
When those secrets explode, it changes Harper’s new world, and she’ll learn, it’s never too late to start over, it’s never too late to figure out your life, and best of all, it’s never too late to let yourself believe in love.
You know, it’s been a while since I settled in with a Shalvis book and this summer with THIS book seems the perfect re-entry.
There’s just something about her small-town romances and the storylines that she carves out that scream classic romance to me and this one looks to be a great grumpy sunshine romance. Plus, I can’t wait to see the dynamic between Harper and Ivy too.
Related: Best Grumpy Sunshine Books
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- The Summer Reads Hub
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- Best Books About Summer Romance
- Best Summer Reads of 2022
- Best Summer Reads of 2021 in Romance
- Hottest Summer Reads of 2020
- Romance Books that Inspire Travel
- Hottest Summer Gifts for Readers
- Most Anticipated Romance Books of 2023
- New Romance Book Releases Coming August 2023
- New Romance Book Releases Coming July 2023
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