27 Exciting Romance Books of 2023

Summer love is winding down, but that doesn't have to mean we are done reading romance. There have been some swoon-worthy new releases this year, with more to come! If you haven’t had a chance to find your next read, look through the list of these 27 romance books of 2023 you MUST pick up on your next errand run.

Since graduating in May, I am slowly picking up my reading habit and completing my pile of TBR books. On this list I have loved Lunar Love and The Comeback for their witty banter and romantic connections. That is not to say I don’t love them all, I just haven’t gone through the entire list myself. So that means summer reading with heart skipping romance and anticipated confessions will have to live on a bit longer.

Next on my romance reading TBR is Once More With Feeling. Have you read it?

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. I link these sources for the quality of the products and my positive experiences; not because of the commission. You are the ultimate decider, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

27 Romance Books of 2023

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen

Synopsis:

Olivia Huang Christenson, Chief Executive of Love is a matchmaker for her family business Lunar Love. Although she matches dates for everyone else, she doesn't plan dates for herself. When L.A.’s most-eligible bachelor Bennett O’Brien designs an app that models the model of lunar Love, Olivia immediately calls him her competitor. But will that prevent the butterflies in her stomach from appearing whenever she sees him? We will see.

Grab Lunar Love here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Synopsis:

Harriet and Wyn, exes who now need to pretend that nothing ever happened in front of their best friends, are swept up in a summertime lie. They used to be the ideal pair; everyone saw it. Now they want to live on their own, but how could they if they are stuck with each other during the annual friends trip. Will this pair spark some old feelings, or are they destined to walk their own paths?

Grab Happy Place here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Sammy Espinoza's Last Review by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Synopsis:

Winning back your ex doesn't always go as planned. Sammy Espinoza experienced that first hand. With her career on the line, Sammy has to prove to her editor that she is still a worthy writer. To showcase that, she embarks on a tough adventure that opens old wounds and creates new ones as she reconnects with Max Ryan, the former rock god and her past romantic encounter.

Grab Sammy Espinoza's Last Review here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Just My Type by Falon Ballard

Synopsis:

Lana Parker has had her share of boyfriends. Ever since a heartbreaking end from her high school relationship, Lana found companiship from other partners that never really went past long-term dating. As the dating and relationships columnist for one of Los Angeles's trendiest websites, she decides to focus on herself and stick to her job. But by chance her high school ex, Seth Carson, takes an assignment at Lana's work. What could possibly happen when you randomly work alongside your ex who loved so dearly?

Grab Just My Type here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni

Synopsis:

Nareh Bedrossian didn't expect for her non-Armenian boyfriend to propose in a not so ideal way. She especially didn't expect to break up with him and get dating help from her mom. Through her mom's insistence, Nareh is now part of a month-long event series called Explore Armenia where there are plenty of eligible bachelors. But it's not the handsome doctor or engineer that makes Nareh heart beat race, it's Erebuni, her wingwoman surrounded by the witchy culture who opens Nareh up to new opportunities and possibilities.

Grab Sorry, Bro here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Exes and O’s by Amy Lea

Synopsis:

Tara Chen hopes to have that fairytale romance. Yet, she has had her heart broken more than she would like to admit. Since the dating scene is not what it used to be thanks to the dating apps, Tara decides to go back and create her second chance romance trope and meet with her former exes for a chance to rekindle what they once lost. To pull off this scheme, Tara has her firefighter roommate Trevor Metcalfe help her stage these moments to find The One. But will doesn't-want-love Trevor fall for his love-on-the-brain roommate?

Grab Exes and O’s here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

Synopsis:

Black excellence is not what Lily Greene identifies herself as. Instead she is happy being introverted with piles of books by her side. Her biggest dream is to be a children's books editor, but her current position in the nonfiction division is not making room for her to spread her wings. To keep her hopes high, she messages her favorite fantasy author and without seeking it forms a strong friendship with one another. That is until the author stops replying with no explanation; crushing Lily's heart.

Months go by and Lily decides to start making changes to her life. The first is to find a date to her sister's wedding. She eyes her neighbor Nick Brown, who is nothing but charming and cute--but he may know what had happen between Lily and her favorite fantasy author.

Grab The Neighbor Favor here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Love and Other Flight Delays by Denise Williams

Synopsis:

A collection of novellas following romantic encounters all set at an airport. Stories that relate every romance scenario including: a pet groomer in a fake-dating situation, rivals who had one romantic night together, and best friends on a scavenger hunt to return a lost love letter.

Grab Love and Other Flight Delays here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Kindle

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

Synopsis:

Maggie and her son both enjoy the comfort of their home. But when her son makes a deal with her, Maggie reluctantly agrees. They make it their goal to be more social. As her son tries to interact more in college, Maggie joins a new online gaming guild and calls herself Bogwitch. Aiden runs the guild under the name Otter as an outlet from his unstable family situation. When the pair meet face to face, they start to connect in more ways than one. But can they put aside their pasts and make a life-long genuine connection?

Grab Role Playing here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Synopsis:

Fans of Bridgeton will take this tale of class and wealth with interest. The Davenports are one of the few Black families who value themselves with wealth and a clear high-class social status. Told through the perspectives of four characters as they navigate love and self, The Davenports are shown as many different things through the eyes of family, friends, and servants. A multi-character romance story centered on societal and family expectations within a new age century.

Grab The Davenports here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

New Adult by Timothy Janovsky

Synopsis:

Nolan Baker has his sights set on having everything by the time he's thirty. Unfortunately he is single, broke, and reaching his mid-twenties. Is it his career as a comedian that is dwindling his dreams? He think so. Nolan quits and asks his best friend Drew Techler to be his date to his sister's wedding. However, Nolan is asked to fill a last-minute spot for a famous comedian. He takes it, but not without standing up Drew, completely missing his sister's wedding, and ruining his family's trust. With nothing good coming out of his decision, Nolan wishes on a set of gift "magical healing crystals" to bypass the bad parts of life and go straight to his success. The next morning, it's seven years later, and he's a successful comedian, but living without any of his friends and family by his side. For help, he searches for Drew but the love they once had is gone and now Nolan needs to prove to Drew that he is different in order to win back everyone he had lost.

Grab New Adult here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman

Synopsis:

Katee Rose was America's number one pop star dating Ryan LaNeve, the hottest member of the top boy band, CrushZone. To seperate herself from the demands of stardom, she takes comfort in another CrushZone member, Cal Kirby. Until their one night mistake turns into pop culture's most talked about breakup. Katee's relationship with Ryan, her career, and the life she knows starts to spiral down.

Years later, Katee is now Kathleen Rosenberg. She was living a normal life until Cal Kirby offers her a starring role in the Broadway show he's directing. It's a dream come true, but the pair haven't said one word to each since their careers took a tumble after their unfortunate decision. Yet, this time might be different for both of them.

Grab Once More With Feeling here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy

Synopsis:

Cassie Soul is now a college student who hasn't seen her family in Avalon Bay for years. After her parents divorce, she spent her entire life coped up in Boston. With her grandmother selling the boardwalk hotel that's been in their family for five decades, Cassie decides it's time to revisit her childhood memories and make some new ones with someone special. In enters Tate, a sailing instructor who had his fair share of flings. That is, until he meets Cassie. Are they each other's summer romance, or is the friend-zone the only place for them?

Grab The Summer Girl here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake

Synopsis:

Iris Kelly isn't the type to be in love. Although her best friends, her siblings, and even her parents are all blissfully in love; she is not. But that's just how she wants it. The problem is--Iris is a romance author and she is a difficult situation.

Instead of fixing the probelm, she turns to a hook-up that goes drastically wrong. To completely zone out and clear her headspace, Iris auditions for the queer retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, where she comes face to face with but comes face-to-face with Stefania, her sexy make out partner from the worst night ever. Stefania turns out to be Stevie who begs Iris to pretend to be her girlfriend. Iris agrees thinking it will help with her romance writing that will fix her problem. But soon some genuine feelings start to bubble up for this fake couple.

Grab Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Rent to Be by Sonia Hartl

Synopsis:

Isla Jane has a hardworking MBA but with no financial success to pay for it. With her entry-level job giving her below-her-means salary meaning no place to live either. That is until her brother unknowingly provides her with a solution. While he is out of town for a month, Isla can room in his condo for the time being. What she doesn't expect is Cade Greenley, her brother's best friend, staying at the condo while his own place undergoes renovations.

As luck would have it, Isla agrees to house-sit for one of the big bosses at her office, including payment for her time. However, Cade learns of Isla's secret and offers up a wager to promise to keep his mouth shut; Isla would have to pretend to be his girlfriend for events at work. The more they hang out, the more it starts to feel like a real relationship.

Grab Rent to Be here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Wild Things by Laura Kay

Synopsis:

El has been in the same dead-end job for years. Her roommate is the definition of passive-aggressive. And to top it off, El's single sided love for her cool lesbian friend Ray is nothing more than dream. When the opportunity to move into a ramshackle house called Lavender House that sits on the edge of an English country village, El feels that this was the change she needed. So El, Ray, and their two other closest friends, Will and Jamie. The group takes on the challenge of remodeling the Lavender House to make it a queer friendly commune, and also giving El the time and space to fully admit her feelings for Ray.

Grab Wild Things here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Vacation Wars by Meghann Quinn

Synopsis:

Tessa thought her favorite vacation spot was going to be relaxing and fun. But her sister reminds Tessa that she needs to fall in love before her sister's wedding. Instead of basking on Santorini's beaches and exploring the stonewashed houses, Tessa is dodging suitors and evading her sister's pranks. Then suddenly Tessa finds Myles, her childhood crush who happens to work at the resort she is staying at.

Both Tessa and Myles help each other out as they navigate through their families' antics. Soon brining themselves closer together as they reveal secrets and lost feelings.

Grab Vacation Wars here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Sizzle Reel by Carlyn Greenwald

Synopsis:

Luna Roth, aspiring cinematographer, is finally coming out as bisexual at only twenty-four years old. Her best friend and fellow queer Romy is nothing but excited and supportive of her identity, but Luna's parents aren't so welcoming. When it comes to acting on her feelings towards women, Luna doesn't know where to start. Not only is she navigating her self, but she needs to move on from the evil talent manager boss of hers and work with a real director of photography.

Enter twenty-eight-year-old, queer A-list actress Valeria Sullivan. She is making her directorial debut and it might be Luna's way in on set. She charms her way into a PA job on Valeria's set and might even charm her way to Valeria's heart. With Romy's help, Luna tries to please the director of photography to get another job, flirt with Valeria, and help Romy with her own career moves. Then Valeria actually shows a romantic interest in Luna, changing the Luna's plan. Now her relationship with Romy is rocky and her future job is up in the air. Luna has some tough decisions to make, and quickly if she wants to stay friends with Romy and fulfill her dreams as a filmmaker, or take a different route all together.

Grab Sizzle Reel here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat by Sonya Lalli

Synopsis:

Jasmine Randhawa likes to believe she has it all. Showing that she has a great job in a perfect Seattle apartment with a handsome boyfriend is all she dreams of having. But not all of it is true. Jasmine soon becomes single and agrees to a cruise vacation with her parents. What she doesn't anticipate is to be stuck with family friends who've judged her since childhood. To top it off, this vacation is on a seniors' cruise, and the only other person under fifty is her childhood acquaintance Jake Dhillon.

Jasmine and Jake start off rocky but being on a boat together manages to keep them close. During their ten-day cruise they soon learn of each others varying similarities, including the secrets they're keeping from their families.

Grab Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

The Do Over by Suzanne Park

Synopsis:

Lily Lee, the bestselling author, has to complete her newest career guide on How to Land the Perfect Job. She's personally be interviewed for all the top companies nearby and actually is accepted for a position at her dream company. That is, until the background check reveals that Lily didn't actually complete her college degree.

So Lily finds herself back at her former college to relive her senior year. Lily enrolls in classes and jumps into student-mode, basking in her new found lifestyle. As she is comfortable with her status, she learns that her computer science TA is her old college boyfriend, Jake Cho. As Lily and Jake reconnect, she notices that Jake has his life together while she is on the brink of losing everything she worked hard to accomplish.

Grab The Do Over here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

Synopsis:

The Spark family is famous for their magic and Mariel Spark is meant to be the most powerful witch in centuries. But instead, Mariel prefers baking and gardening to brewing potions or casting hexes. During a spell gone wrong, Mariel is face to face with a demon that she accidentally summoned for a soul bargain.

The powerful and merciless Ozroth the Ruthless is a known as a legend, until he failed a bargain a while ago. With the chance to earn back his reputation, he needs to make a deal with Mariel in exchange for her soul. What Ozroth doesn't antcipate is how charming and endearing Mariel can be.

To add fuel to the fire, Mariel blurts out that she and Ozroth are dating to avoid the judgment from her mother that she summoned a demon without knowing. Much to the couple's intention, real attraction starts to blossom. But Ozroth needs to strike the deal soon with Mariel, and if she agrees to sell her soul, she will lose all her emotions for Ozroth.

Grab A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Accidentally in Love by Danielle Jackson

Synopsis:

Samantha Sawyer is the office manager of the city's leading luxury boudoir and pinup photography studio. The summer season is already full of events, and Sam is balancing a workload from handling the Buxom Boudoir "Photobus," a vintage coach bus converted into a mobile photobooth, and hoping to make the rounds at Chicago's bustling summer street festival roster.

Through chance, Sam meets Russell Montgomery. Russ reconnects with his brother, Reid, and now works at the popular local restaurant in their area. Reid and his fiancée invite Russ into their circle of friends which includes Sam. But Sam is not looking for romance, and is focused on her goals and not on Russ's handsome smile. That is until Russ is in charge of the restaurant's new food truck that will be at the same festival Sam is a part of. Will Russ prove to Sam that he is not as irritating as she finds him, or will Sam fall back onto her busy schedule to avoid love?

Grab Accidentally in Love here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

One Tough Cookie by Delise Torres

Synopsis:

Twenty-seven-year-old Karina Cortés doesn't believe in love or having attachments. Karina is comfortable with her incredibly secure and well-paying job at Singular Cookies, Inc., a small family-owned cookie manufacturing plant. The founders of the company see her more than just a worker, they treat her like family. Despite Karina's own family drama and her current personal life, she is happy with where she is.

Then her cozy world is turn upside when she meets the company's hot new mechanic, Ian Feliciano. Karina desperately tries to avoid her blooming feelings for Ian to avoid the same outcome her mom and friends made in their love lives. But Karina can't keep her feelings at bay for much longer. Will she accept love's call, or will she ignore it like she always does?

Grab One Tough Cookie here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

The Rachel Experiment by Lisa Lin

Synopsis:

Rachel Bai knows numbers rather than people. As a financial analysts, she is promoted at her job and needs to run her own team. To learn how to interact with people she sets off on a research plan, but accidentally has a drunken night consisting of a mechanical bull ride and a one-night stand with a sexy stranger.

Attorney Luke Trudeau is caught in Rachel's innocent charm. After they run into each other after their one night, proposes a deal to teach her how to win over people in exchange for Rachel to devise a financial plan for Luke to open his own law practice. Win-win! Until Luke actually falls in love.

Grab The Rachel Experiment here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

The Comeback by Lily Chu

Synopsis:

Ariadne Hui loves nothing more than a routine schedule. It is her secret power to eventually make partner at Toronto's most prestigious law firm. Nothing will derail her from her schedule; until she comes home to find a stranger comfortable in her living room. The handsome man is her roommate's cousin, Choi Jihoon. He took a trip outside Seoul to recover from a broken heart.

Jihoon is anything but routine and structure. His chaos warms up to Ariadne until she becomes this mystery woman alongside a man the entire world knows to love. With everything on the line now, Ariadne needs to learn what she wants and what she is ready to accept.

Grab The Comeback here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

Pas de Don’t by Chloe Angyal

Synopsis:

Heather Hays worked hard to become the principal dancer of the ballet show, and is engaged to ballet royalty and her partner Jack Andersen. But everything comes crumbling down when Jack is caught cheating and Heather's hard work is seen as a unaccomplished without Jake's status. Determined to show that she is talented on her own, she accepts a guest position for the Australian National Ballet.

Marcus Campbell had a rough year. He injured his Achilles tendon onstage, he lost the chance to perform in front of his dad before he passed away, and has been in physical therapy for months worrying he will lose the chance to dance onstage by the time he's fully recovered. While recovering, he shows Heather around the company and local sights. Little do they know but their attraction to one another may change everything for them. However, the Australian National Ballet has a strict no-dating policy. If they are caught, it could mean losing their careers.

Grab Pas de Don’t here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin

Synopsis:

Kitty Talbot is in search of a husband with a fortune large enough to pay off her famil'y debts within the next twelve weeks. That's doable, right? Kitty is known to take on challenges, so she sets herself off to London in search of man to solve all her problems.

The one thing that derails her single plan is Lord Radcliffe. He knows exactly what Kitty is after and tries to stop her from going through with her plans. That is, until their company becomes more than just a battle field.

Grab A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting here: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Audible | Kindle