Love stories in 2026 are bold, emotionally honest, and unafraid of complications. From fake engagements forged in danger to small-town reunions, forbidden rivalries, and friendships balanced on the edge of something more, romance this year leans into vulnerability and choice. Curated by Storizen, the 9 Must-Read Romance Books of 2026 bring together sweeping emotion, irresistible chemistry, and characters who must decide whether love is worth the risk. Whether set among ancient ruins, wrestling rings, misty coastlines, or familiar hometown streets, these stories prove that the most powerful romances are often born from uncertainty, courage, and timing that’s anything but perfect.
1. The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura
A quick-thinking librarian and a fugitive archaeologist fake an engagement to stay alive—only to discover their feelings may be the real danger.
Daniela Gutierrez has loved her brother’s best friend for years, ever since he vanished on an archaeological expedition. While traveling alone in Greece, she finds him alive—but held hostage by criminals searching for a legendary gemstone, the Eye of the Minotaur.
Dr. Theo Galanis never meant for Dani to get pulled into his mess. But when a small lie convinces their captors that they’re engaged, the two must work together—using her research skills and his archaeological expertise—to solve an ancient Minoan mystery.
With less than a week to find the jewel, secret societies, ancient myths, and ruthless smugglers close in. And as they pretend to be in love, the line between the act and reality begins to blur.
2. The Night We Met (Say You’ll Remember Me, #2) by Abby Jimenez
One small choice after a concert changes everything.
Larissa’s life finally feels like it’s falling into place. She’s happy, in love, co-parenting a chaotic rescue dog, and finding joy in the little things—shared books, inside jokes, and strong opinions about bread. For the first time in a long while, life feels easy.
There’s just one complication: Chris. He’s kind, steady, and understands her better than anyone—but he’s also her boyfriend’s best friend. Chris wants Larissa to be happy, even if it means staying silent and breaking his own heart.
As unspoken feelings build and loyalties are tested, one decision threatens to upend everything. A heartfelt story about love, friendship, and the messy, impossible choices that define us.
3. In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams
Coming back to Rome, Kentucky was never part of Madison Walker’s plan—until her life in New York falls apart and a surprising job offer pulls her home. The chance to run a farm-to-table restaurant feels like the fresh start she needs, even if it comes from James Huxley, her brother’s best friend and the last person she expected to work with.
James has always chosen the safe path, quietly running his family farm and hiding his long-held feelings for Madison. Now that she’s back, he’s ready to take a risk—on a restaurant, on love, and on himself.
As they race to open the restaurant, sparks fly, small-town gossip stirs, and old family wounds resurface. With dreams and hearts on the line, Madison and James must decide whether facing their fears is worth the chance at something real.
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4. The Magic of Untamed Hearts by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
After years spent feeling invisible, Sky Flores is learning how to live again. Touched by quiet magic and more at ease with animals than people, she’s always been an outsider in the small town of Cranberry—misunderstood and kept at arm’s length.
Her new neighbor, Adam Noemi, is a journalist desperate for a comeback, and Sky’s mysterious past might be the story that saves his career. She agrees to an interview on one condition: Adam must openly befriend her, showing the town she’s not something to be feared.
What starts as a simple deal slowly turns into something deeper. As trust grows, Sky and Adam must decide whether they’re brave enough to challenge old fears, rewrite their futures, and let love take root.
5. Hold Me Like a Grudge by Celine Ong
In professional wrestling, everything is scripted—except Asher Ross’s hatred for his biggest rival, Caleb Knight. Cast as enemies in the ring, the two are expected to sell their feud to the world, but the tension between them quickly turns into something far more dangerous than rivalry.
Behind the rehearsed insults and brutal matches, Asher begins to glimpse the real Caleb beneath the ruthless persona the company demands. What starts as reluctant respect grows into an undeniable attraction neither man can afford to acknowledge.
In an industry that refuses to make space for queerness, Asher and Caleb must decide whether their connection is worth risking their careers—and how hard they’re willing to fight for love that was never meant to be part of the script.
6. Our Ex’s Wedding by Taleen Voskuni
Ani Avakian is determined to save her struggling wedding-planning business with one career-defining event—an indie movie star’s wedding at a beautiful Armenian-owned winery. There’s just one problem: the groom’s side is run by Raffi Garabedian, the annoyingly charming winery owner she instantly can’t stand.
Things get worse when Ani realizes the bride is her ex-girlfriend, Kami—the woman who broke her heart. Raffi isn’t thrilled either, since Kami happens to be his ex as well. Now, stuck planning a wedding for the person they both once loved, Ani and Raffi must put aside their resentment to make the day perfect.
But as sparks fly and tension builds, the biggest challenge may not be the wedding at all—it’s resisting a connection that could turn the whole affair into something far more complicated.
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7. Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey
Madden Donahue has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school—and becoming the Yankees’ newest catcher hasn’t changed that. Eve, a burlesque club owner with a complicated reputation, has always kept him at arm’s length, even as he’s quietly looked out for her year after year.
When Eve suddenly finds herself caring for her sister’s two children, Madden offers a solution neither of them expected: a private marriage that gives her stability and health benefits, no strings attached. Eve agrees—but only if their arrangement stays strictly under wraps. She refuses to let her life or her job threaten Madden’s hard-earned career.
What’s meant to be practical quickly turns personal. As lines blur and feelings surface, Madden is determined to prove that what they share isn’t convenience—it’s real. And this time, he’s not willing to let Eve walk away.
8. The Re-Do List by Denise Williams
After a painful breakup, Willow Lewis decides she wants a second chance at her firsts. The memories she shared with her high school sweetheart no longer feel like milestones—they feel unfinished. While dog-sitting for her brother during his deployment, Willow creates a “Re-Do list” to reclaim those moments and start fresh.
Helping her is Deacon, her brother’s best friend, who swore he’d protect Willow—and keep his distance. At first, the plan feels harmless: confidence-building, supportive, strictly platonic. But as Willow’s list moves from innocent experiences to more intimate ones, the connection between them becomes impossible to ignore.
Sweet, sexy, and full of heart, this romance is about rediscovering yourself, taking emotional risks, and realizing that sometimes the best new beginnings come from the people who’ve been there all along.
9. Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
Frankie and George have one week to decide whether their bond can survive—or finally break.
Best friends since forever, they’ve always loved and challenged each other in equal measure. But as Frankie’s wedding weekend arrives, George has grown distant, and she’s no longer sure where they stand—or if he’ll even be there for her.
He does show up, and for one brief moment, everything feels right. Until the next morning, when Frankie’s fiancé disappears, leaving her heartbroken and adrift.
George suggests an escape: the honeymoon she was meant to take—together. One week in the misty wilds of Tofino to heal, talk, and face everything they’ve never said out loud. Because by the end of it, Frankie and George will either find their way back to each other… or lose one another for good.
The 9 Must-Read Romance Books of 2026, curated by Storizen, celebrate love in all its messy, hopeful, and transformative forms. These novels explore what happens when hearts collide with fear, loyalty, ambition, and the past—and what it takes to choose love anyway. From slow-burn friendships to high-stakes fake relationships and second chances that arrive when least expected, each story offers a reminder that romance isn’t about perfection, but about showing up, taking risks, and daring to believe in something real. If you’re looking for books that linger long after the last page, these romances deserve a place on your 2026 reading list.
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