It’s time to turn up the heat
Your perfect sun-kissed escape is here! As the temperature rises, so does our appetite for a magical summer romance or stories that make our hearts race and our cheeks flush. From enemies-to-lovers tales set against stunning coastal backdrops to second-chance romances that bloom in charming small towns, summer romance novels offer the perfect blend of escapism and emotional satisfaction. These aren’t just stories to pass the time between sunbathing sessions—they’re immersive experiences that capture the intoxicating feeling of falling in love when anything seems possible.
Whether it’s a lazy afternoon or a warm night filled with possibilities, it’s time to trade your usual contemporary reads for a little more sizzle. So grab your favourite cold drink, find a comfortable spot, and prepare to fall head over heels with these irresistible summer romance picks.
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Here are the best summer romance books to turn up the heat:
Problematic Summer Romance
Ali Hazelwood
Who doesn’t love a cute age-gap summer romance? Well, we’re obsessed with it. Ali Hazelwood is back with another swoony book that showcases an unhinged man yearning for his girl. When Maya Killgore’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and her brother’s grumpy, gorgeous best friend, Conor Harkness—her crush—end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa. The last thing she expects is to fall (again) for Conor, who’s 15 years older and very much off-limits. He says it’s wrong. But, she can’t help how right it feels. Between wedding stuff, swoony seaside views and secrets hiding behind his serious stare, Maya decides maybe a little summer fling with Mr. Off-Limits isn’t the worst idea ever… even if it’s totally, wildly cliché.
The Conditions of Will
Jessa Hastings
We may be itching to get our hands on the last two books of The Magnolia Parks Universe series—but that’s okay. Jessa Hastings threw us a bone this year with another fiery tale of family secrets, love and betrayal. The Conditions of Will follows Georgia Carter, who returns home for her father’s funeral and finds herself tangled in a forbidden attraction to Sam Penny, her brother’s AA sponsor. As hidden truths emerge from her father’s will, Georgia must navigate the tension between family loyalty and a growing connection with Sam. With secrets threatening to tear them apart, will Georgia be able to hold it all together—or will it all come crashing down? Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions, love, and drama!
Deep End
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Ali Hazelwood
Are you even surprised to see another Ali Hazelwood book on the list? We’re not. “You’ll take what you’re given and thank me for it”—from good girl praises to a variety of kinks being played out, Deep End is peppered with delicious lustful scenes that will make your heart drop. Exploring new horizons, the best-selling author of The Love Hypothesis takes on sports romance in this steamy read about a competitive diver and an ace swimmer—Scarlett Vandermeer and Lukas Blomqvist—who get into a friend-with-benefits arrangement to whet and sate their unique appetite when it comes to sex. But, as secrets are unravelled and the pressure gets heated, so does their fling—Scarlett must thread the waters carefully now regarding her heart.
Say You’ll Remember Me
Abby Jimenez
A familiar favourite for romance readers, Abby Jimenez is redefining our reading year with another heartfelt, comedic and loved-up book. Masterfully illustrating the realities of losing a loved one, Say You’ll Remember Me follows Samantha, who is forced to push Xavier Rush away—her near-perfect guy—due to a family crisis. She begs him to forget her, but neither time nor distance can erase the undeniable chemistry between them after their first date.
Great Big Beautiful Life
Emily Henry
Emily Henry is about to tug your heartstrings yet again with her latest sweeping romance. Great Big Beautiful Life follows two writers, Alice and Hayden, who have to compete to write the biography of the elusive Margaret Ives, a legendary woman with a scandalous past. As they uncover pieces of her story on a secluded island, their growing rivalry turns into undeniable chemistry. With secrets, attraction and a ticking clock, it’s clear their own story could be just as complicated as Margaret’s—if they can figure out who’s telling it.
One Golden Summer
Carley Fortune
Lovers of Every Summer After is in for a treat this year. After much anticipation, the bestselling author is finally bringing Charlie Florek’s story to life in this contemporary romance. This book takes us back to the lake house at Barry’s Bay, where Charlie crashes into the life of Alice, a photographer who loves being on the sidelines. Not anticipating the shameless flirt who makes her nan laugh all the time, Alice gets flustered when Charlie keeps putting her in the spotlight—someone who sees her for her.
Love & Other Words
Christina Lauren
In this emotional second-chance romance from bestselling author Christina Lauren, pediatrics resident Macy Sorensen has built a safe, predictable life—complete with an engagement to a stable older man—until she unexpectedly encounters Elliot Petropoulos, her first love who shattered her heart years ago on the very night he declared his feelings. Told through alternating timelines, the story unfolds their journey from teenage friends who bonded over books and shared dreams in a San Francisco house, to the adults they’ve become—strangers carrying the weight of a painful past and a decade of silence. When their chance reunion forces them to confront the truth behind their devastating breakup, Elliot must overcome his own mistakes to prove that their all-consuming love is worth fighting for, while Macy must decide whether to risk her carefully constructed world for the possibility of a love that once defined her entire existence.
Lost and Lassoed
Lyla Sage
Let’s be real, the cowboy core looks better on paper. With tropes lying heavily on the Western hero, enemies-to-lovers and figuring out life, this ranch-themed romance novel is life-affirming in the very best way. The book follows Teddy Anderson, who decides to nanny her best friend’s niece for the summer. The catch? She hates the niece’s dad. With tearjerkers, angst and banters, Lost and Lassoed take single dad romances to a whole new level—” I want you to know that I think Teddy would make a hell of a bonus parent, and it would be an honour to add her to our team.”
Funny Story
Emily Henry
By far, one of the best and most popular books of 2024, Funny Story is far more schmaltzy than the title of the book suggests. Going beyond the happily-ever-after trope, this charming and layered romance novel tells the story of how Daphne Vincent rebuilds her life after a heartbreak. The heroine, Daphne, ends up moving in with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex, Miles Nowak. She makes a pact with him to fake date to make their exes jealous, but she doesn’t expect to fall in love with her complete opposite. “You can’t force a person to show up, but you can learn a lesson when they don’t”—with quotes like this, every bit of the story will leave you crying, laughing and appreciating the formation of love.
Just For The Summer
Abby Jimenez
Treating intimacy and the severity of mental health with care, Abby Jimenez unfolded this summertime read in beautiful layers. Set in Minnesota, Emma and Justin decide to date each other to cancel out their curses—every person they date goes on to find their soulmate the second they break up. But when real feelings surface, they both find it difficult to avoid fate. As the hero and heroine learn about letting go, being in love and doing the right thing, this complex tale makes a point to let us know that just because you love someone doesn’t mean you need them or have to keep them in your life.
Beg, Borrow or Steal
Sarah Adams
In this rival-to-lovers romance, two feuding second-grade teachers, Emily Walker and Jack Bennett, must ally to steal back a manuscript that has been accidentally sent to the principal, which may or may not reveal Emily’s literary side hustle. With their chemistry-fueled animosity at an all-time high, there’s no denying that their rivalry might change, and Jack may actually be one of the charming heroes Emily has dreamt up in her romance books.
Promise Me Sunshine
Cara Bastone
The author of Ready or Not, Cara Bastone is going to make you weep, laugh and love all at once. Tenderly written, Promise Me Sunshine illustrates grieving and loving someone beautifully. The book follows Lenny, whose life is turned upside down after losing her best friend, Lou, to cancer. But when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, Lenny’s heart starts beating again. This heartwarming, slow-burning and friends-to-lovers romance is like a warm hug with every page, and it’s our favourite pick of the month.
Sounds Like Love
Ashley Poston
In need of a little something to tug your heartstrings? Dotted with love, humour and music, Sounds Like Love follows a songwriter and a bitter musician who are forced to work together to find inspiration and make music. Their rules? Finish the song, break the connection and hope that they don’t risk their hearts in the process. But when their inexplicable connection starts shaking them to their core, nothing will be able to help them.
Summer in The City
Alex Aster
In Alex Aster’s adult debut Summer in the City, struggling screenwriter Elle returns to New York City to break through her writer’s block and complete a crucial screenplay by summer’s end, only to discover her glamorous new neighbor is Parker Warren—the tech billionaire she had a passionate encounter with two years ago that ended badly. When their reunion sparks a night of inspired, hate-fueled writing, Elle realises her infuriating opposite might be the muse she needs to finish her script, leading to a fake relationship arrangement that serves both their needs: he gets positive publicity during a company acquisition, and she gets access to NYC locations for her movie. Set against the backdrop of a sweltering New York summer, this enemies-to-lovers rom-com explores whether two opposites can rediscover love in the city that never sleeps, even when their arrangement has an expiration date.
The Infinity Between Us
N.S. Perkins
Eighteen years of summers spent in a beach house in Ogunquit, Maine, have brought Violet Mitchell and Will Seaberg together. For two perfect, beach-filled months every year, they spent every waking minute together. First, as friends, until one summer changed everything. This heartbreaking book is perfect for those who want a little bit of steaminess with a touch of tears.
