New Release Summer Romances I Can’t Wait to Get My Hands On

I love summertime. My very favorite spot in the summer months is on a beach somewhere, listening to the waves crashing in, feeling the sun warm my skin, feeling the love and satisfaction of enjoying time together with my family, and, of course, a good book in my hands. I never get as much reading done during vacation as I normally would because I am there to experience all the things, but I always have a book with me. The airport, the car rental location, the hours on the beach, and before bed. There is always time for a chapter or two during the day, I just have to be prepared.

Unfortunately, I can’t spend my entire summer lounging on a beach with my family and friends. I will eventually have to go back to my real life; and the back deck is my absolute favorite place to read when I am at home. I still get the sunshine, my family will still make themselves known by popping out to talk to me, and I can lose myself in a book so that I might suddenly be back on a beach, in a small town in Anywhere, USA, or in a vineyard in California right along the characters in my book. 

These are the new releases I’m most excited about getting lost in this summer. I haven’t had the chance to read them yet, so pick them up at the bookstore on release day, and you can read along with me and come back to the store so we can discuss. You know me, I always love talking romance books with all my rom-com fans.

Even if the Sky is Falling ed. by Taj McCoy

THIS will be my first read of summer. A collection of interconnected stories told by some of my favorite romance authors? SQUEE! Count me in! I can’t wait to dive into the words of Farah Heron, and my auto-buy author Denise Williams, among others. The world thinks that their days on Earth are numbered when an international warning signal accidentally goes off. This book follows six couples as they take cover. “Inhibitions are abandoned, confessions are made, and love blossoms”...(from the publisher) This book goes on sale Tuesday, May 30th, and you had best bet that I will be reading it the evening of Tuesday, May 30th.

Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman

Funny You Should Ask was such a fun celebrity second chance romance, so I’m super excited to read Elissa Sussman’s newest book. It looks to be another second chance romance, this time centered around the music scene. Katee Rose is a pop star in a very public relationship with the leader of a popular boy band. When she notices Cal—another member of the boy band—and his smoldering eyes everything implodes. Cut to years later when Cal and Katee get the chance to work together on a Broadway musical. Will their chemistry be denied this time around? My instinct is telling me probably not, but I will have to read to find out. I’m looking forward to so much slow burn and chemistry in this one, and plan on reading it before I leave for vacation.

All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim

A customer at the store put this one on my radar, and after talking with Emily I immediately ordered three copies. One for the store, one for a friend (shhh don’t tell Vince), and I had to have one for myself. This one-that-got-away romance with some celebrity, high school choir, *that one night in college* vibes will be the perfect book to celebrate Pride month. It’s told in a dual timeline switching between Quito and Emmett in high school, and the present time. Quito was a gifted pianist for his high school choir, and Emmett had to take choir for credits. Now, Quito is living in NYC and Emmett is a Hollywood heartthrob. What sparks will fly when they come together for a performance to honor their old choir teacher’s retirement? In my mind I am picturing the perfect combination of the tv series Glee mixed together with the book I’m So Not Over You by Kosoko Jackson, but we shall see.

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey

Okay, I cheated on this one. I admit it. I was given an advanced copy of this one a couple of months ago. It was SO GOOD y'all! I had to put it on this list so it wouldn’t escape your radar. This enemies to lovers, small-town, he-falls-first, marriage of convenience romance is *chef’s kiss*. We met Natalie Vos and August Cates in Secretly Yours, but this one can also be read as a stand-alone. Natalie, who grew up as wine vineyard royalty, has very strong feelings about August, and none of them are good. Unfortunately, Natalie learns that her inheritance, which she desperately needs to start up her dream venture, is tied to an archaic clause that she must be married to receive it. Enter in August, a vineyard owner who knows absolutely nothing about making wines. Natalie and August decide they can help each other out, if they don’t kill each other first.This is classic Tessa Bailey, and harkens back to the loveable characters of It Happened One Summer.

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

Don’t be jealous, but I plan on reading this one while lying on a beach in Hawaii. I get to spend time with one of my very dear friends while I’m there, so I don’t think I’ll be able to read more than one book. This is that book. The chemistry Ali Hazelwood creates between her characters just does it for me. This one looks to be another enemies to lovers with long looks, penetrating eyes, and of course at the heart of it: science. Elsie Hannaway is an adjunct professor teaching thermodynamics with the dreams of reaching tenure. To make up for her non-existent paycheck, Elsie also offers her services as a fake girlfriend. Jack Smith is the annoying, attractive brother of one of her clients, and also the experimental physicist who is in charge of the physics department at MIT, standing between Elsie and her dream job. I can’t wait to dig into this one at the airport as soon as I take my seat to wait for my flight.

Will They or Won’t They by Ava Wilder

I’m noticing a trend here. I think I may be in my Celebrity Romance Era. But, I mean, can you blame me?

 “On screen, they're in love. Off screen, they can't stand each other. Two co-stars with a complex history reunite to film the final season of a beloved paranormal drama in this tension-filled will they won't they romance.” -from the publisher.

This celebrity, second-chance romance, enemies to lovers, with forced proximity is checking all my boxes and I can’t wait to get my greedy little hands on a copy.

The Summer Girl by Elle Kennedy

Elle Kennedy is the master of college romances, and I’m excited to see what she does with Cassie and Tate’s story. It’s the third book in her Avalon Bay series, but they can all be read as stand-alones. Her books are always full of emotional angst, so much chemisty, and plenty of steam. If you are a fan of Colleen Hoover you should check out Elle Kennedy’s work. In this book we’ll meet Cassie, who left Avalon Bay years ago, and now returns to spend some time with family and maybe find herself a summer fling. Tate is the loveable sailing instructor who is no stranger to flings, but knows that Cassie isn’t someone to play around with and friend-zones her. I have a sneaky suspicion that Tate will regret that decision quickly and things might just heat up again in Avalon Bay.

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson

From the author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers comes this fun romp about a couple of opposites working at a winter wonderland amusement park in Orlando, Florida. When the owner asks our two leads, Asa and Lauren, to work together to create something to bring in more revenue, their rivalry heats up and they compete to come up with the best idea. Is that the only thing heating up? My gut tells me no. I have a sneaky suspicion that Asa and Lauren might find they like each other more than they originally thought. You can call it my romance reader “spidey sense”, but I will definitely be bringing this one home with me in August so I can find out for sure.

Of course these won’t be the only romances I’ll be reading this summer, so stop into the store so we can talk and give each other recommendations! I’m always looking for next read!