The Best Romance Books of 2026 (So Far)

Before entering the Grand Slam, Austin Hardy being a gay man was not an important fact. Now, as the first openly gay man to compete in a professional tennis tournament, he’s all over the news, and his anxiety disorder is at an all-time high. When Austin travels across his handsome opponent, Diego Cruz, he doesn’t expect it to turn into a flirty friendship off the court. As the two continue to compete on the court, their complicated friendship begins to resemble the love of Schmitt’s electric debut romance.

Pretending to be the son of an unjust French noblewoman should have been an easy way for Nicolas-Marc to secure the money needed to remove creditors from his family. They do not account for Titus Pilcrow, a former shop owner with newly inherited wealth who is too kind to swindle. The more time Nico and Titus spend together, the less he wants to take her money, even though he desperately needs it. As Titus and Nico begin building a home together, Nico faces lies that may hinder their happy future.

Atlanta Cannons star Courtney Johnson finds herself in a personal slump after a winning basketball season. His professional success can’t overcome the conflicts he has with his beautiful wife Sasha Adams-Johnson. As a former exotic dancer, Sasha has still not made her mark as a single housewife. When Courtney has to withdraw from a season of European leagues due to an injury, she is finally given the chance to confront the core issues of her marriage.

Caro’s epic pirate romance follows a polygamous trio fighting for safety and happiness in the waters off America in 1816. As a longtime member of the Royal Navy stationed in the Great Lakes after the war, Evrand is shocked to see her former lover being court-martialed on piracy charges. He never forgot Vitya after his last and only assignment, but now he definitely won’t let him die. Fortunately, Preston D’Arcy is ready to help Vitya get out of prison and start a joint life of piracy. As romance sparks between Ever, Vitya, and Preston, all three must face internal obstacles in love and external threats on land and sea if they are to preserve their happiness.

A con-artist and a bard get a second chance to work together on a dangerous Feywild heist in Polk’s strange romanticism. Seldian has avoided all romantic relationships, having sworn a magical pact to never fall in love in exchange for power. His promise becomes very difficult to keep when someone hires Seldian to steal a gem and deliver it to the Feywild with the condition that they must bring his ex, Kel. In the last decade, Kel was hurt by a confusing breakup, but he couldn’t walk away from a job that could bring him back to the Feywild. Seldian and Kel’s romantic and daring adventure rekindles their passion as the two uncover a powerful conspiracy that threatens more than their relationship.

In Luna Star’s imagination, she imagines visiting a small ranch in Celestial, Texas and plunging straight into the plots of her favorite cowboy romance books. That is, until his new home comes around. He needs the help of his high school head coach and town helper, Tate Jacobs. Although Tate hates cowboys, as the son of a large cattle ranching family, he might end up being Luna’s dream partner. While fixing up their new home, Tate and Luna develop a genuine affection that surpasses even her fondest imagination.

When two perfectly idealistic brothers are forced to hunt a monster on a government-ordered quest, they discover the dangers of speciesism and the true depths of their romantic connection. Juniper O’Reilly loves living a quiet life on the farm with her capable best friend, Mo Elmthorne. So, getting involved in a bar fight that ends with a night in jail and immediately being ordered to go on a search was basically Juniper’s worst nightmare, until Moe agrees to go with her. When Moe and Juniper discover that the monster they were supposed to hunt is just a scared child, they must become the heroes needed to fight the Knights.