This cute if improbable rom-com from Sosa (When Javi Dumped Mari) follows frequent heartbreaker Vanessa Cordero, who made money in college as a “starter ex,” someone classmates would pay to date their crushes, demonstrate every red flag in the book, and thus make the other woman look better by comparison. Now a financial planner, she returns to her hometown of New York City looking to make good. When her sister, Lisa, asks for help winning over her best friend’s brother, Jason Torres, Vanessa, who regrets letting her family down in the past, reluctantly agrees to take on one last job. Jason has never had romantic feelings for Lisa, but when he meets Vanessa, he falls hard. Then he learns of Vanessa and Lisa’s plans for him, and decides to turn things around on Vanessa by refusing to be scared off. The premise—which owes an obvious debt to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days—strains credulity, and the cat-and-mouse dynamic between Jason and Vanessa, while fun, leaves both characters feeling shallow and unsympathetic. Still, Sosa injects the tale with plenty of humor and, eventually, delivers a more serious exploration of the emotional impact of lies and deception. It’s not perfect, but the author’s fans will find plenty to enjoy. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/09/2026 | Details & Permalink

Jackson’s riveting romantasy debut draws readers in with an inventive magic system, audacious characters, political intrigue, and swoony romance. Adela is a keeper, one who is responsible for collecting and caring for the skulls of mystical creatures that, when worn as masks, imbue humans with magical powers but who is forbidden to wield this magic herself. When she discovers two phoenix skulls hidden atop a high shelf, she unwittingly unleashes a pulse of energy through the valley where she lives. She fears this event may be responsible for her mentor’s subsequent death in a dragon attack, after which she is promoted to head matcher, now in charge of matching skulls with future priests of the Huntress goddess. At the festival of the matching, Adela falls hard for broad-shouldered novitiate Kian. What starts as a fling turns into a permanent connection when both Kian and, unexpectedly, Adela match with the powerful phoenix skulls. What Adela doesn’t know, however, is that Kian’s on a yearslong mission to avenge the death of his parents by infiltrating the Huntress’s temple and taking down “the most powerful religious order in the world” from the inside. Adela and Kian’s alternating narration adds to the mounting suspense as they realize their fates are intertwined. With passion, humor, and plentiful revelations, this fast-paced adventure is sure to entertain. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/09/2026 | Details & Permalink

Debut author Paxson playfully toys with tropes in this heartening and hilarious romantasy set in the Regency England–esque land of Eldmere. Low-born Lady Hilde Croft has built a lovely life for herself and her sister, Han—until her dear husband, Lord Thorgoode Croft, dies and his dastardly brother takes over his lands and, with them, the livelihoods of everyone in Croftholde. Hilde, however, has a secret: she possesses a Charm, a special power considered distasteful in Eldmere and completely reviled in Relance, the country Eldmere has been at war with for decades. She hopes it will come in handy in convincing her new neighbor, Lord Erol Elmwood, to help her protect her people. Erol, a disgraced former soldier, has his own unique Charm: the ability to raise the dead. He refuses Hilde’s request to bring her husband back, leading Hilde to a series of escalating schemes to protect her people, each one causing more chaos than the last. The ensuing comedy of errors is almost Shakespearian in scope, with the humor only enhancing Paxson’s thoughtful meditation on Hilde’s desperate circumstances and the lengths she will go to for those she loves. The romance that blooms between Hilde and Erol adds to the charm and the delightfully drawn supporting cast is similarly easy to love. It’s a joy. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/09/2026 | Details & Permalink

Harter-Berg, owner of the video production company Harter Creative, debuts with a vulnerable and slyly funny account of grappling with her husband’s untimely death. After 34-year-old Ryan died of a brain hemorrhage during a California vacation, the author, then 30, became the sole parent of two boys under five. She recounts struggling through a grieving process where poignant moments (“I’m flying home as a half person”) frequently clashed with the mundane demands of everyday life (“You still need tampons when your husband is dying,” she remembers thinking on her husband’s sickbed). She also details how her relationship with religion evolved from “waiting for [her] faith” to return to embracing God as a source of comfort as she worked through her anger and grief. Throughout, Harter-Berg powerfully illustrates how life marches on in the face of tragedy, describing a grieving process that’s often nonlinear and filled in equal measure with moments of doubt and faith. Frank and witty, this will be a balm to readers who’ve prematurely lost a loved one. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/09/2026 | Details & Permalink

Songwriter McWhirter recounts in his candid debut how God helped him recover from addiction. The author grew up with a charismatic preacher father who frequently abused his mother. At age 11, he began experimenting with alcohol to numb the pain. Convinced he would never be able to “trust a heavenly Father when I was so badly hurt by my earthly one,” McWhirter, who had started using crystal meth at age 17, recalls realizing that he’d likely die prematurely due to his addiction. After years spent “fighting against faith,” his sister gifted him Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ, which unexpectedly sparked a connection with God (“In the blink of an eye, I went from addiction to redemption, from darkness to destiny”). Drawing from these experiences, McWhirter reminds readers that salvation is available to all, that they can use their unique talents to serve God, and that loving others is foundational to a strong faith. He strikes an upbeat tone without sugarcoating the challenges he’s faced, including the agonizing process of eventually forgiving his father. This will inspire believers in search of a fresh start. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 01/09/2026 | Details & Permalink

Bestseller Enoch (A Duke Never Tells) puts a Regency spin on The Parent Trap in this sparkling romp. Widower Beckett Raines, the Marquis of Hentrose, reluctantly arrives in London to fulfill his mother’s wish that he find a suitable bride and mother for his nine-year-old daughter, Rebecca. His mother believes that Lady Pauline Grenedy is the perfect match, and Beckett tentatively agrees to pursue her—but grows conflicted when he meets and feels drawn to widow Iris Silbern. Iris is staying next door to Beckett with her aunt and uncle, who seek to arrange her marriage to the elderly Duke of Trent to free themselves of the burden of caring for her and her 10-year-old son, Edmund. As Edmund and Rebecca become fast friends, their parents engage in some steamy clandestine trysts but don’t believe that a lasting relationship would work. With both of their parents’ potential engagements looking increasingly likely, Edmund and Rebecca come up with a plan to ensure they marry no one but each other. There’s plenty of wit and intrigue on offer as the children’s scheme unfolds. Meanwhile, the chemistry between Beckett and Iris is palpable. Historical romance fans won’t want to miss this one. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/09/2026 | Details & Permalink

Voskuni (Sorry, Bro) delivers an addictive contemporary about two Armenian Americans thrown together by their mutual ex’s wedding. Bisexual wedding planner Ani hopes a posh new client planning a wedding at a Napa winery will save her business. But when Ani arrives on-site, she learns that the bride is her ex-girlfriend, Mimi. The winery’s owner, Raffi, a former physician with a reputation of being “Northern California’s most eligible Armenian bachelor,” is in for a similar shock: he also used to date Mimi. As Raffi and Ani push aside their complicated feelings about Mimi getting married and scramble to accommodate the brides’ outrageous requests, their chemistry heats up. Meanwhile, major snags arise with the wedding, leaving them to wonder if it’s just bad luck or if it might be sabotage. Voskuni keeps the twists and turns coming, accompanied by flirty banter, energetic prose, and characters who are easy to love, including an expansive supporting cast of well-meaning but invasive family members. This is good fun. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 01/02/2026 | Details & Permalink

YouTuber Pham debuts with an introspective if somewhat familiar second-chance romance. Ambitious recent college graduate Blair returns to her picturesque hometown of Seabrook, Calif., to help her mother care for her ailing great-aunt, Lottie. She feels torn between her family responsibilities and her career goals—especially after taking a temporary gig at a local coffee shop, which is very much not the job she was expecting to get after graduation. Worse, her new boss is her childhood best friend turned ex-boyfriend, Declan. Four years earlier, their promising young relationship ended after an accident destroyed Declan’s college football dreams and left him feeling stuck in Seabrook. Flashbacks to this teen heartbreak flesh out their present-day rekindling, but while the relationship is sweet, the characters don’t feel like they’ve grown or matured much between the two time periods. The gentle plot takes a turn when Aunt Lottie dies, but remains primarily driven by the characters reckoning with heavy emotions and disappointed dreams. Meanwhile, conflict arises from miscommunications that could be easily cleared up, a trope that will frustrate some readers. Still, the charming coastal backdrop, exploration of grief, and endearing romance make for easy reading. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/02/2026 | Details & Permalink

Thriller writer Goldstein pivots to romance (after The Wayside, written as Caroline Wolff) with this moving and memorable tale of unexpected second chances. It kicks off in 1993, when college student Lili is eagerly anticipating seeing rising star Jeff Buckley in concert in New York City’s East Village. While waiting for the show to begin, she locks eyes with Reid, an aspiring filmmaker who, dressed in a suit, looks out of place in the crowd. A brief conversation leads to a passionate weeklong affair before Reid returns to California for an exciting job opportunity. Thirty years later, the pair happen to meet again at a Jeff Buckley tribute concert, both there with their teenage daughters. Goldstein makes their reunion feel both fated and grounded, explicating the realistic burdens and life experiences that have shaped the characters’ choices. Nineties nostalgia and great use of the New York setting add to the fun, as do Lili’s and Reid’s children, who take it upon themselves to play matchmaker. Readers will find this heartfelt and achingly romantic. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/02/2026 | Details & Permalink

Easton, the pen name for writing duo Madeline Palmieri and Katherine Murtha, set their diverting debut on the Love Island–esque U.K. reality show Summer of Love. When Oliver Wright, a ballet dancer mourning a recent breakup, and Declan King, a closeted gay boxer, both sign up for the program, they find themselves unexpectedly attracted to each other. But the eight-week dating competition, which takes place in a villa in Mallorca, expects the men to pair up with women. While Oliver and Declan are pushed by the producers into a love triangle with fellow contestant Zoë, they also initiate an on-screen “bromance” that gets more serious off-camera. The reality show drama is good fun, and Easton uses the setting to allow the men a chance to process their feelings, especially as Oliver comes to terms with his sexuality, but readers in it strictly for the romance may be frustrated that the Summer of Love hijinks often keep the characters apart. Still, what stolen moments the men do claim are swoonworthy, including a romantic hike and a night spent sharing a bed. Meanwhile, the threat of the producers discovering and manipulating their love story raises the stakes. This affectionate contemporary will appeal to fans of Alison Cochrun’s The Charm Offensive. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 01/02/2026 | Details & Permalink