Anticipated Romance Novels to Cozy Up with This Spring
The New Year is finally here and that means a whole new batch of (Contemporary) Romance reads for you to enjoy. The cold winter months are great for getting cozy and comfortable with a romance book, and luckily for those who need a hot new date, we will give you a snippet of heartwarming books that will be published this year, from the enemies-to-lovers trope to grumpy-meets-sunshine.
by Rachel Lynn Solomon
pub date: 11 January
“A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with unpredictable results in this charming romantic comedy from the author of The Ex Talk.”
The author of The Ex Talk, Rachel Lynn Solomon, brings you a new adult romantic comedy even steamier than her previous book and containing lots of weather puns. The story revolves around Ari and Russell, two co-workers working as weathercaster and sports reporter who start meddling in their bosses’ love life. Unexpectedly for Ari and Russell, the chemistry between them grows into something they had not forecast. If lighthearted romcoms are your jam, it’s good to know that the story of Ari and Russell is inspired by the movies Set It Up and The Parent Trap.
by Colleen Hoover
pub date: 18 January
“A troubled young mother yearns for a shot at redemption in this heartbreaking yet hopeful story from bestselling author Colleen Hoover. After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter.”
If you’re looking for a romance novel but don’t want the story to be too mushy and lovey dovey, this one might be for you. Colleen Hoover often tackles heavy and emotional themes in her books and this one definitely fulfills that category! If you have read and loved It Ends With Us, you will most likely love this one too. In my experience, her books are hard to put down and will keep you breathless.
by Anity Kelly
pub date: 18 January
“Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying—not quite the fresh start she was hoping for.”
This debut has all the flavors and aspects I love in a romance novel: food, spicy kissing and sex scenes, a little bit of sarcasm, and lots and lots of flirting. But besides this, the book also does a good job at exploring gender identity and sexuality; London Parker who recently came out as non-binary and Dahlia Woodson who’s queer and exploring these new feelings she has for London. There are not many mainstream romances out there with a non-binary main character, so I’m happy this one caught my eye!
by Sophie Sullivan
pub date: 18 January
“Grace Travis and Noah Jansen meet in a cute scene on the beach: he sees a clumsy but attractive woman trying to wrangle a pack of leashed dogs, and she sees a Baywatch-esque paddleboarder who makes her heart beat faster. Then they discover that they’re neighbors.”
For those romance readers who like their romance lighthearted, heartfelt, and clean, this one might be right up your alley. It definitely ticks all the Hallmark boxes; Grace literally falls at Noah’s feet on the beach and kicks off the beginning of their grumpy-meets-sunshine romance.
by Dana Schwartz
pub date: 18 January
“A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together.”
Podcast creator Dana Schwartz brings us a historical (young adult) romance set in 19th Century Scotland, and it comes with a Gothic horror twist. In this story we meet Hazel who’d rather become a surgeon than find a good husband, and Jack who tries to survive as a body snatcher in a city where it’s too easy to die. If that’s not a perfect match, I don’t know what is.
by Alexandria Bellefleur
pub date: 1 February
“Margot Cooper doesn’t do relationships. She tried but they blew up in her face, so she’ll stick with casual hookups, thank you very much. But now her entire crew has each found “the one” and she’s beginning to feel like a fifth wheel. And then fate (the heartless bitch) intervenes. While touring a wedding venue with her engaged friends, Margot comes face-to-face with Olivia Grant—her childhood friend, her first love, her first… well, everything. It’s been ten years, but the moment they lock eyes, Margot’s cold, dead heart thumps in her chest.”
Count Your Lucky Stars, the last installment in the Written in the Stars trilogy, is finally here! If you haven’t read the previous two books, don’t worry, you can read this one as a standalone, but you will find out some spoilers from the previous books. This book contains all the second chance romance you need, and it will definitely take you on an emotional roller coaster. Both Margot and Olivia are afraid of being honest to each other about their feelings, scared to lose the connection they have… but opening up might be the best thing for both of them. I really liked Margot’s character in the first book, and I’m glad she finally got her own story.
by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
pub date: 25 January
“Three years ago, Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen were the brightest literary stars on the horizon, their cowritten book topped bestseller lists. But on the heels of their greatest success, their partnership ended on bad terms, for reasons neither would divulge to the public. They haven’t spoken since, and never planned to, except they have one final book due on contract.”
A co-authored romance about a couple that writes together… and hopefully stays together. I always love a book about books and this one has been compared to Emily Henry’s Beach Read, which I very much enjoyed. After going their separate ways, Katrina and Nathan are forced to work together to finish their final rough(est) draft, in which they hopefully divulge their true feelings for each other.
by Ashley Herring Blake
pub date: 22 February
“When Delilah’s estranged stepsister pressures her into photographing her wedding with a guilt trip and a five-figure check, Delilah finds herself back in the godforsaken town that she used to call home. … And Delilah Green has an unwelcome surprise…at first.”
Yes, another queer romance, but we love to see them! If you like the forced proximity romance trope, this one is a romantic story for you. At the heart of this story are Delilah and Claire, forced to work together during wedding preparations and that’s where the pining and flirting ensues. I am definitely looking forward to reading this one!
That’s a wrap on the top 8 (Contemporary) Romance releases for January and February. I hope there is something for you on this list to enjoy. Maybe you have discovered a new favorite romance author or is this the first time you dip your toes in the genre; there’s a cozy story out there for everyone.
