Top new romance books in May 2025
Last updated:
May 31, 2025
May 2025 featuring new releases by Liz Tomforde, Ali Hazelwood, Rachel Gillig, Rina Kent, Carley Fortune, Victoria Aveline, Mariana Zapata, Danielle L. Jensen, Katherine Center, Julie Soto and many more.
-
Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde
HallieWhen I was eleven, my family moved next door to his.When I was thirteen, he was my first crush.When I was sixteen, we fell for each other.And when I was nineteen, we broke each other's hearts.Six years later, I've landed an internship with a big-name interior designer in a new city.Unfortunately, that city just so happens to be the one he plays hockey for...sports · contemporary · hockey · new adult · humor · m-f · usa · illinois · dual-pov · first-person-pov -
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood
What is wrong meets what feels right in this romance set in Italy by the New York Times bestselling author of Deep End.Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life. Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him... -
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
From NYT bestselling author Rachel Gillig comes the next big romantasy sensation, a gothic, mist-cloaked tale of a young prophetess forced on an impossible quest with the one knight whose future is beyond her sight. Perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Leigh Bardugo. Sybil Delling has spent nine years dreaming of having no dreams at all...fantasy · length-long · magic · m-f · hurt-comfort · slow burn · first-person-pov · bisexual · cold hero · medieval -
Beautiful Venom by Rina Kent
From New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a sizzling dark hockey romance set in a new glamorous secret world.In a den of vipers, revenge is the deadliest venom.They shattered my world; now, I’ll bring down theirs.The problem? I have virtually no way to trace the puppet master.My only lead: The Vipers...sports · hockey · contemporary · mystery · dark · from hate to love · suspense · college · rape · rape-mc -
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
A radiant escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and This Summer Will Be DifferentAs featured in People ∙ Good Morning America ∙ Cosmopolitan ∙ TODAY ∙ E! News ∙ Buzzfeed ∙ Us Weekly ∙ The New York Post ∙ SheReads ∙ and more!I never anticipated Charlie Florek.Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true...contemporary · small town · sunny hero · canada · m-f · friends to lovers · friends-benefits · slow burn · sweet-hero · super rich hero -
-
Bewitching Rhaego by Victoria Aveline
Catching the bewitching beauty was easy. Keeping her? That’ll be more challenging…Being kidnapped by aliens was bad enough. But participating in a contest where she’s chased down (quite literally) and forced to marry the demon who caught her? That was a nightmare. Or so Aurora thought...aliens · fated-mates · science fiction · marriage of convenience · fantasy · monsters · m-f · abduction · curvy heroine · abuse -
The Things We Water by Mariana Zapata
Once upon a time, a girl found a magical puppy, and her life was never the same again.Nina Popoca needs help.So, so much of it.The only place she can find that help is on a sprawling ranch in Colorado. A place hiding more than a community filled with magical creatures trying to live their lives in safety and in peace. A village that might hold the answers to questions she’s had her entire life... -
A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen
A shield maiden fights to break the shackles of prophecy—and to overcome the betrayal of the man who broke her heart—in this searing conclusion to the Norse-inspired fantasy romance duology that began with the bestselling A Fate Inked in Blood...magic · vikings · fantasy · paranormal · new adult · historical · length-medium · m-f · scandinavia · pagan -
The Love Haters by Katherine Center
Featuring beautiful spray-painted edges with vibrant designed endpapers.It’s a thin line between love and love-hating in the newest laugh out loud, all the feels rom-com by New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center. Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past―now she may be lighting her career on fire... -
The Thrashers by Julie Soto
Either you're in or you're out. Welcome to the Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High.They’re everything everyone wants to be. Jodi Dillon was never meant to be one of them. Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher are rich, sophisticated, and love attention. Jodi feels out of place, but Zack’s her childhood best friend, so she’s in...young adult · mystery · length-medium · non-hea · third-person-pov · suicide · high-school · north-america · usa · california -
Releasing 10 by Chloe Walsh
Releasing 10 is an epic and unforgettable love story in the international bestselling and TikTok-phenomenon The Boys of Tommen series, from Chloe Walsh.A love that couldn't be broken, except by the truth.Lizzie Young has always felt she was too much everything. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a young age, she's never fit in with her family, her friends, her community... -
This Vicious Dream by Stacia Stark
Once, I helped save a kingdom.Now, I’m trapped in a prison of thorns and nightmares.My crime? Knowing the location of a power that could reshape the world—a grimoire I swore to protect with my life.That secret is the only thing keeping me alive while my captors wait for me to break.Until he arrives.Beautiful. Ruthless.Dark, inscrutable eyes. A dangerously wicked grin...fantasy · magic · betrayal · paranormal · fae · pirates · from hate to love · fated-mates · new adult · length-medium -
Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt
An emotional, irresistible second-chance romance filled with sparkling humor, big feelings, and "melt your face off intimacy" (Jessica Joyce) from celebrated USA Today bestselling author Tarah DeWitt. This time, they'll get it right.Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love as kids, had their son Sam when they were only teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon...contemporary · found-family · friends to lovers · humor · length-medium · m-f · second chances · forced proximity · small town · oregon -
What Sleeps Within the Cove by Adelaide Forrest, Harper L. Woods
From the New York Times bestseller, Harper L. Woods comes a brand new, highly anticipated novel in her Of Flesh & Bone series, What Sleeps Within the Cove.Once, I bartered my soul for my mate.Offering Mab my bound allegiance was the only way to save Caldris's life-the only bargain I could make to keep us both from the Void...dark · fae · fantasy · historical · ancient times · paranormal · horror · forced proximity · magic · fated-mates -
It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
From the USA Today bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script, a novel about a former adolescent TV actress-turned-Hollywood producer whose “fake it till you make it” mantra sets her on a crash course with her past, forcing her to spend a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.Love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth...humor · contemporary · angst · m-f · forced proximity · second chances · found-family · north-america · usa · new-york-state -
Better Luck Next Time by Maria McCann, Richard Poe, Cara Bastone, Mae Whitman
Two frenemies find a surprising second chance in this timeslip rom-com, starring Mae Whitman ( Parenthood ), Colin Woodell ( The Flight Attendant ), and a full cast.Mona and Duncan used to be best friends. Now they can’t stand each other. Too bad that’s not a good enough excuse to miss their two families’ annual trip to the cabin... -
What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Falling in love with your husband is anything but convenient in this steamy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Business or Pleasure. Dani Dorfman has somehow made it to her thirties without knowing what she wants to do with her life... -
The Legend Next Door by Jesse H. Reign
I didn’t think hockey was the game for me…now I’m obsessed. My new neighbor, Ben Stirling, is a beautiful, famous ex-player. A living NHL legend. A single dad with sad eyes and a smile I feel in my knees.I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s what would you’d get if you squeezed masculinity through a sieve. He’s the grit. The pulp. The hard stuff that leaves a sweet taste in your mouth... -
Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake
A small-town waitress and a Hollywood star’s worlds collide in this new romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date. Once upon a time, Ramona Riley was a student at a prestigious art school, with dreams of landing in Hollywood as a costume designer to the stars...contemporary · bisexual · f-f · queer · humor · length-long · small town · second chances · curvy heroine · third-person-pov -
-
The Pucking Wrong Rookie by C.R. Jane
An NHL star could never fall for a girl like me…I never wanted this life, but the choices I made led me here—caught in a world I can't escape. Then Logan York, the Dallas Knights' rookie sensation, spots me in the crowd.When I refuse to date him, he hires me and promises I’ll fall in love with him.Arrogant. Reckless. Completely impossible... -
Be With Me by Gabrielle Sands
She’s the mayor-to-be’s perfect daughter. He’s the ruthless villain set to ruin her.I’ve spent my life putting others first. So when my father runs for New York City mayor—on a promise to take down the city’s most notorious crime family—I do what I always do: push my own dreams aside to help him win.Until I wind up at the wrong party...mafia · new adult · from hate to love · dark · contemporary · forbidden love · suspense · forced proximity · found-family · alpha male -
Tourist Trap by Morgan Elizabeth
Bestselling author Morgan Elizabeth delivers Tourist Trap, a small town, age gap, grumpy sunshine, summer romance based in Seaside Point, a shore town in New Jersey.Claire:A summer in a tourist trap is exactly what I need. A single summer of fun before I finally buckle down and decide on what I want to do with the rest of my life... -
No Escape by Jillian West
Facilities for rabid alphas?Saylor Callahan thought they were a joke. A myth someone made up to scare alphas into behaving...until she found herself stolen away and dumped in one.Feral alphas who spend time in close contact with omega pheromones gain back cognitive functioning pretty quickly, but rabid alphas have to bite a scent matched omega to attain that same clarity... -
One Way Out by Jillian West
Rabid alpha facilities are real, and the truth of the matter is darker than Saylor ever could have imagined.She's safe enough since omegas are coveted for their ability to bring a rabid alpha back from the brink, but danger is everywhere, and it's no longer just her she has to worry about... -
Filthy Rich Fae: Fallen Court by Geneva Lee
Don't miss out on the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last. This breathtaking collectible is only available on a limited first print run in the U.S. and Canada only, a must-have for any book lover.Fans of Crescent City and Scarlett St. Clair will be swept into a world of ruthless fae, forbidden romance, and treacherous bargains in this spellbinding fantasy romance.One fae prince...fantasy · urban fantasy · fae · dark · contemporary · paranormal · length-medium · suspense · magic · werewolves -
Silver Elite by Dani Francis
In the first book of a sizzling dystopian romance series, psychic gifts are a death sentence and there are rules to survival: Trust no one. Lie to everyone. And whatever you do, don’t fall for your greatest enemy.TRUST NO ONE.Wren Darlington has spent her whole life in hiding, honing her psychic abilities and aiding the rebel Uprising in small ways... -
Heart of a Devil by Sadie Kincaid
Heart of a Devil is a standalone dark Mafia, best friend's dad, age gap romance with very dark themes, please check your triggers before reading. You can’t outrun your past—or so they tell me. It doesn’t stop me from trying though, and that’s how I end up here in London, a far cry from the Los Angeles sunshine and the weight of my family’s name...suspense · mafia · age difference · dark · contemporary · forbidden love · length-long · m-f · bff-parent · secret child -
Rebel in the Deep by Katee Robert
The rebellion’s fight turns into a battle of the heart in this pulse-pounding conclusion to the Crimson Sails trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert. Nox has been steadfastly working for the rebellion for years. They don’t ask for much in return, except for one crucial their ex, the noble Bastian, stays as far away from them as possible...fantasy · witches · erotica · shapeshifters · queer · paranormal · pirates · urban fantasy · vampires · historical -
Lore Olympus: Volume Eight by Rachel Smythe
Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—the Greek tale of Hades and Persephone gets a romantic modern update in the gorgeously illustrated, Eisner Award-winning Lore Olympus, including a brand new bonus short story! “You have no authority here.”Revelations rock Olympus as Persephone’s trial ends, threatening to throw the gods into a new war... -
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
Now in development as a feature film with Amazon MGM Studios, with John Wick screenwriter Derek Kolstad attached to write the script!Don't miss out on the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last. This breathtaking collectible is only available on a limited first print run in the U.S. and Canada, a must-have for any book lover... -
Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli
Two workplace enemies find themselves in close proximity on a tropical company retreat that challenges their assumptions—and just might make them to fall for each other—in this romcom by a by a beloved TikTok author...contemporary · from hate to love · office · humor · forced proximity · hawaii · usa · competent heroine · length-medium · m-f -
My Favorite Bad Decision by Elizabeth O'Roark
Climbing Kilimanjaro? No thank you.Climbing it with Miller West? Absolutely f***ing not.A full week without showers, a real bed or Internet was bad enough. Spending it with my family’s sworn enemy—the unbearably smug, indecently handsome Miller West—is a bridge too far.I’m determined to remain enemies, even if sparring with him is my favorite thing in the world... -
Hat Trick by Chelsea Curto
Riley (Mitchy) Mitchell and Lexi's story...sports · hockey · contemporary · friends to lovers · forced proximity · office · found-family · humor · m-f · age difference -
-
The Pumpkin Spice Café Coloring Book by Laurie Gilmore
Get ready to color your way to relaxation with the official Pumpkin Spice Café tie-in cozy fall coloring book... -
Let Them Stare by Julie Murphy, Jonathan Van Ness
From Emmy Award winner Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye and #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy comes a bighearted story about friendship, love—and discovering the secrets and beauty of your own hometown. Sully is ready to get out of Hearst, Pennsylvania...young adult · queer · fantasy · contemporary · mystery · paranormal · new adult · urban fantasy · high-school · humor -
Change of Hart by Bailey Hannah
In this spicy romance from the author of Alive and Wells and Seeing Red, a jaded woman reluctantly returns to her hometown—and to the cowboy who broke her heart and drove her away.She spent years trying to forget. He’ll do anything to make her remember.Wells Canyon is the last place Blair Hart wants to be...contemporary · cowboys · western · humor · found-family · friends to lovers · length-long · new adult · m-f · second chances -
The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter
Magic and mayhem collide in beloved bestselling author Lynn Painter’s hilarious middle grade debut, perfect for fans of Sarah Mlynowski and Wendy Mass. Emma Rockford knows it will take bonafide magic to make middle school everything she wants it to be. Luckily, before Emma’s beloved Nana died, she left detailed instructions on how to access an ancient, secret, magical wishing well... -
Hold The Line by Julia Wolf
Deacon Slater was my high school crush—the bad boy with haunted eyes that made my heart skip a beat. But in our small town, the Slater name is synonymous with trouble, and Deke lived up to it when he landed in prison a few years after graduation.He served his time and now he’s back, living in the apartment above mine, covered in ink and even more intriguing than before... -
Himbo Hitman by Saxon James
What do you do when you’re a hit man … who’s terrible at his job?At first, I thought it would be an easy payday. A few pew pews for bad people, a couple of suitcases of cash for me. People have done worse for an honest living. Probably.The problem is that after a couple of jobs, I’ve never actually managed to unalive someone, and not for lack of trying...m-m · queer · humor · length-long · contemporary · himbo · found-family · queer-awakening · anal sex · dual-pov -
Dear Reader by Tate James
Dear Reader,You want my advice? Never look a gift horse in the mouth. You don’t want to see the rotten teeth.In this case, the gift is a scholarship to attend the prestigious Neveah University. The rotten teeth? Well, they came in the form of my brand new stepbrother and his little cohort of entitled, arrogant best friends...reverse harem · from hate to love · new adult · mystery · poly · suspense · contemporary · dark · erotica · length-medium