List

Summer Reading Suggestions for Romance Readers

By Skokie Staff Advisory Services

Enjoy one of these great romance novels with varying spice levels and happily ever afters!

  • Say You'll Remember Me

    2025 by Jimenez, Abby

    One of the summer’s buzziest romances, Abby Jimenez’s latest tells the story of two people who fall in love but just can’t get the circumstances quite right. What I love about this author is that she writes complicated, realistic characters who are relatable, all while providing happily ever afters with all the feels. Suggested by Brenna.

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  • I Think They Love You

    2025 by Winters, Julian

    Denz Carter knows that fake-dating his ex Braylon is going to complicate his life, but he's desperate to convince his family he isn't as commitment-phobic as they think he is in order to score the coveted CEO position in the family business. A delightful and steamy queer romance that uses the fake dating and second chance romance tropes quite well. The book celebrates community, found family, and being true to yourself. Suggested by Rummanah.

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  • Drop Dead

    by Chu, Lily

    One mysterious mansion. Two rival journalists. Three weeks to uncover the story—and love—of a lifetime. This is a fun offbeat workplace romance with a cozy mystery stirred into the mix and likeable, quirky characters that will keep you smiling and turning the page. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice

    by Timoti, Cynthia

    She's salty, he's spice--there's no room for sugar in this fake relationship, but it may be sweeter than they think. This debut novel blends a sweet romance with meaningful discussions about family expectations, authentic depictions of chronic illness, cultural identity, and a wonderful heroine on a journey of self-discovery. Suggested by Rummanah.

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  • A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke

    2025 by Herrera, Adriana

    This book concludes the sparkling Las Leonas historical romance series, which can be read independently. This stellar conclusion follows Dr. Aurora Montalban Wright and Duke Apollo César Sinclair Roble. They continually challenge the rules of society and find that embracing love is one of the biggest risks of all. Suggested by Rummanah.

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  • First-Time Caller

    2025 by Borison, B. K.

    This Sleepless in Seattle inspired romance follows a Baltimore radio host named Aiden Valentine, whose specialty is giving dating advice on-air. The only problem--he has fallen out of love with love. Things change when he receives a call from a young girl who phoned into his station asking for dating advice for her mom named Lucie. Sweet, heartfelt, and a romance fan favorite of 2025 so far! Suggested by Aubree.

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  • Futbolista

    2025 by Garza Villa, Jonny

    A classmates-to-friends-to-lovers romance that's equal parts raunchy, heartfelt, unabashedly queer, and Mexican-American, centered on college futbol (soccer)! Highly recommended to fans of Casey McQuinston, Rachel Reid, and the heartwarming film Bend it Like Beckham. Suggested by Rummanah.

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  • Losing Sight

    2025 by Richardson, Tati

    Sports reporter Tanika has lost her prime Thursday Night Football gig to a younger, less qualified journalist due to her struggling vision and workplace ageism. She has been ignoring her vision issues for years, and after an accident nearly costs her her life, she visits optometrist Gideon Miles, who helps her get the perfect glasses. A wonderful, banter-filled, steamy romance that features midlife protagonists who you can’t help but root for. Suggested by Aubree.

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  • Rules for Ruin

    by Matthews, Mimi

    No one betrays the Academy. Now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart. This brand-new Victorian romance series, called The Crinoline Academy, is perfect for fans of Sarah Maclean and Evie Dunmore. We follow two opportunistic leads who unwillingly connect as they infiltrate London’s high society and begin a tantalizing "will-they-won't-they" push and pull that will surely have readers on their toes. Suggested by Rummanah.

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  • The Love Haters

    by Center, Katherine

    Katherine Center hits the mark again with this funny and heartfelt second chance rom-com. Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She takes a job at her coworker Cole’s request, a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West, but she isn't exactly qualified. Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers who don’t get along. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch, along with his colorful Aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two. The attraction between Katie and Cole is on the rise, though neither is jumping into another relationship just yet. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com

    2025 by Lemming, Kimberly

    After tangling with a hungry lion, wildlife biologist Dorothy finds herself (and the lion) aboard an alien spaceship. To escape, they both board an escape pod and crash land on a planet filled with dinosaurs, where they meet two mysterious and sexy alien residents. This book is a hilarious, absurd, intergalactic romance that has more than enough spice to spare. Suggested by Aubree.

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  • Kiss Me, Maybe

    by Gamez, Gabriella

    Librarian Angela is ready for her first kiss, so she launches a social media scavenger hunt to find that special someone. When Krystal agrees to help her with her plan, sparks begin to fly. A late bloomer queer romance with asexual representation. Suggested by Aubree and Brenna.

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  • Wooing the Witch Queen

    2025 by Burgis, Stephanie

    This low-stakes and low-steam cozy Gaslamp romp has a dark wizard disguised as a librarian, a witch queen who would rather nerd out about experiments and avoid royal duties, and the most wonderful supportive found family. Filled with witty banter and a cinnamon roll love interest, this romantasy is for fans of The Princess Bride, Travis Baldree, and T. Kingfisher. Suggested by Rummanah.

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  • Anywhere You Go

    2025 by Morrissey, Bridget

    This queer romance follows two women who swap houses to escape the chaos of their lives. Tatum, a waitress in a small, Midwestern town, and Eleanor, a Broadway press agent, both need time away and find that leaving home can lead to finding love. Set up as dual love stories, this rom-com balances the challenges of family drama with light-hearted, unexpected romance. Suggested by Aubree.

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  • Back After This

    2025 by Holmes, Linda

    I love Linda Holmes' delightful contemporary novels for their realistic characters and engaging storylines. Her latest features an ambitious and career-driven main character who works as a podcaster, a heartwarming romance storyline, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Suggested by Brenna.

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  • Adam & Evie's Matchmaking Tour

    2024 by Nguyen, Nora

    Evie Lang, reeling from job loss and heartbreak, inherits her aunt’s San Francisco home on the condition she joins a matchmaking tour in Vietnam, where she clashes, yet sparks, with a grumpy tour leader. Nguyen takes “the characters from different worlds” trope and weaves it in a romance novel that also works as a loving travelog of Vietnam as Adam and Evie visit various parts of the country. The balance of heartwarming romance and serious issues give this romance depth. A great readalike for fans of Emily Henry. Suggested by Rummanah.

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  • One Last Word

    2024 by Park, Suzanne

    Sara Chae is the developer of an app that will deliver messages to loved ones after they die, but she can’t get her narrow-minded, sexist bosses to take her seriously. Fed up, Sara quits her job, moves into her sister’s walk-in closet, and considers next steps. One drunken night, Sara writes a few overly truthful messages in the app, and they get sent by mistake—to her mother, to her former best friend, and to her unrequited high school crush. This leaves Sara a lot to sort out, because at the same time she’s accepted into a venture capitalist mentorship program and learns that her mentor is Harry Shim, her unrequited crush, and he just received a very baffling email from Sara’s app. The women-in-tech focus is enjoyable, plus the authentic characters and relatable issues make this romantic comedy an engaging read. Suggested by Sharon.

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  • Sunshine and Spice

    2024 by Palit, Aurora

    There is so much to love in Aurora Palit's debut romance novel. Naomi and Dev decide to fake date in order to solve their cultural dilemmas, but they find the only force more powerful than an immigrant mother’s matchmaking schemes might just be true love. What makes this read so memorable for me is the discussion of the expectations of being a first-generation immigrant child, how it feels to be estranged from your cultural identity, and the complexity of familial relationships. The book beautifully balances the serious moments with a slow-burn spicy romance. Suggested by Rummanah.

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