From Mia Sosa’s The Worst Best Man to Farrah Rochon’s The Boyfriend Project to Erin McLellan’s Bottle Rocket, 2020 has already been a great year for romance novels and it’s only getting better. The amount of fantastic love stories hitting shelves over the next few months can be overwhelming, so to make it easier I’ve rounded up 12 books I’ve requested from NetGalley that are at the top of my TBR for the rest of the year!
Here to Stay by Adriana Herrera
I am in love with everything I’ve read from Adriana Herrera. She’s had three books published already in 2020—American Sweethearts, Finding Joy, and a story in the He’s Come Undone anthology—and I’m looking forward to the fourth, Here to Stay. Julia del Mar Ortiz is ditched in Dallas when her boyfriend hightails it back to New York. It’s not how she thought their big move would go, but she is grateful to at least be working at a job she loves—running the charity foundation for a high fashion department store. Unfortunately, the company’s new consultant Rocco Quinn has decided that her job isn’t necessary. Julia has to prove her program’s worth, all while trying not to lose her heart.
Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha
Earlier this year, I began easing my way into the sci-fi and fantasy side of romance through Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark. Thirteen books in and I’m officially hooked and on the hunt for more SFF romance. I’ve heard endless praise for Kit Rocha and plan on picking up Deal with the Devil, the first in the Mercenary Librarians series. Set in a post-apocalyptic United States, this novel follows Knox and Nina, two strangers who find themselves at odds when a member of Knox’s supersoldier team is kidnapped and the ransom demands information broker Nina in exchange. Honestly, this book had me sold at mercenary librarians!
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
This may be my favorite romance book cover of the year, and I have a feeling that the contents within will be just as stunning. Jasmine Lin Rodriguez and Ashton Suárez are meant to bring sizzling chemistry to the screen of the romantic comedy they’re shooting, but a rough first impression leaves them both feeling cold. Jasmine wants this movie’s press to help distract from her public breakup, while Ashton is still reeling from being killed off his last telenovela and wants to prove he’s worthy of being a leading man. The two agree to rehearse together to get back on the same page, and before they know it sparks are flying in front of the camera, and in private too.
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Darcy Lowell is tired of her brother playing matchmaker and decides to get him off her back by claiming that the latest blind date he sent her on went well. The truth is that it was a disaster—she had nothing in common with astrologer Elle Jones. But Darcy isn’t the only one who needs a break from meddling family members. When Elle discovers that Darcy lied about the date, she agrees to play along if Darcy will help her out by being a plus one to her family’s holiday plans. A queer opposites attract romance with a fake dating trope that expires on New Year’s Eve? I need this book in my life yesterday.
A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley
I love a good Regency romance and have had my eye on this one from Vanessa Riley since it was first announced. When West Indian heiress Patience Jordan questions the strange circumstances surrounding her English husband’s death, her son Lionel is taken from her and she’s imprisoned. With the help of the Widow’s Grace, an organization that assists and protects widows, Patrice escapes and finds that her son is now in the care of Busick Strathmore, the Duke of Repington. She accepts a job as Lionel’s nanny, all while planning their next move and trying to ignore the fact that she finds herself drawn to Busick.
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
Christina Lauren is making my dreams come true with their first holiday romance. This writing duo is largely responsible for reuniting me with the romance genre, so I am particularly thrilled to read their take on holiday love stories. In the book, a down-on-her-luck Maelyn Jones wishes to discover what will make her truly happy and soon finds herself reliving the same Christmas holiday at her family’s Utah cabin over and over again.
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
The fake relationship trope is my catnip, which means Alexis Hall’s book is high on my TBR list. Luc O’Donnell is thrown back into the public eye when his rock star father announces a comeback after years in and out of rehab. When the paparazzi catch him in a fall and spin the story to claim he’s turning out like his father, Luc is forced to find a way to clean up his image. Enter vegetarian barrister Oliver Blackwood. The two agree to fake a relationship, expecting to part ways and never see each other again once they’re through. Neither can imagine just how much their lives are about to change.
How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams
I read an excerpt from Denise Williams’ debut in Buzz Books 2020: Romance and was instantly hooked. Professor Naya Turner is shaken to learn that Davis, an abusive ex, is back in town the same week she discovers her job may be in jeopardy. Naya’s kept a low profile for years after their breakup, and his reappearance sparks a desire to stop hiding and start living. Her friends help her create a list of ways to change her life, which leads her to Jake. I always love a romance where one of the leads has a life-altering to-do list they’re working through, and I can’t wait to see Naya take charge.
All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne
Things I love: Scottish romances, punny book titles, historical romance heroines who run gambling dens. This book has all three! The second in the Devil You Know series introduces readers to Cassius Gerard Ramsay, who works to bring criminals to justice and is investigating a London gaming hell, and Cecelia Teague, who juggles her public identity as a proper lady with her private one as the Scarlet Lady, the owner of the den Cassius is investigating. These two are poised to clash in the best of ways and I’m eager to find out how they fall in love along the way.
Secret Crush Seduction by Jayci Lee
Heiress Adelaide Song longs to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer, but her grandmother is convinced she’s still the wild girl she was in college. Adelaide asks Michael Reynolds, her childhood crush and brother’s best friend, to help her prove to her family that she’s ready for real responsibilities. Once they’ve joined forces, the two realize they work well together in more ways than one. This book hits shelves in September, giving me enough time to start with book one before diving into this second installment.
Paradise Cove by Jenny Holiday
This Jersey girl won’t be at the beach any time soon, but thankfully Jenny Holiday is here to whisk me away to Moonflower Bay this summer. Dr. Nora Walsh arrives in town to recover from a broken heart and finds herself falling for Jake Ramsey, who is still recovering from a loss of his own. Jake’s been a recluse in town, but helping Nora starts to pull him out of his shell and soon he’s wondering how he can get her to stay.
Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean
Sarah MacLean’s Bareknuckle Bastard series is coming to a close this summer with Daring and the Duke. I love the first two books in this series for their fierce heroines, captivating plots, and the heroes who are brought to their knees by love. Daring and the Duke was my most-anticipated read of 2020 and it exceeded all of my expectations! Ewan broke Grace’s heart in the past, and after years of searching, he’s finally found her once more and is determined to make things right. But Grace would rather dole out revenge instead of forgiveness, and it’ll take everything Ewan has to convince her he’s worthy of a second chance. I read this in two breathless sittings, utterly captivated by MacLean’s ability to weave both fire and tenderness into this second chance romance. I won’t say any more for fear of spoiling things, but just know that this book needs to be on your TBR.
