Too Many Books?

We’re halfway through 2026, and the world of romance has seen some exciting releases, from standalones to series entries from debut authors and authors we know and love. Contemporary romance and romantasy remain dominant, with sports romance books increasing in popularity following the success of the Game Changers series and Heated Rivalry TV show. Don’t count out historicals, though: a small but delightful collection of historical romances continues to deliver high-quality character, plot, and world-building to loyal readers, from a poly pirate romance to a scammer/scammed pairing in 19th-century London.

If you have not gotten to these frontlist 2026 romances, I would highly recommend picking them up as soon as possible, as well as the rest of the books on our Best Books of 2026 (So Far) list. After all, there are even more amazing books set to release in the second half of 2026.

My Picks for Best Romance Books of 2026 So Far

Score by Kennedy Ryan

Verity Hill and Wright “Monk” Bellamy have been haunted by their relationship since their college separation. When they reunite over 10 years later to work on a Harlem Renaissance biopic, their emotions come flooding back. Monk is a now-famous musician, charged with creating the score to accompany Verity’s script. As an award-winning screenwriter, Verity knows she has the talent to write an Oscar-worthy movie, if she can put her feelings for Monk behind her. The two creative phenoms will have to work through their personal relationship if they want to achieve new professional heights in Ryan’s phenomenal Hollywood Renaissance sequel.

The Open Era by Edward Schmit

Being a gay man wasn’t an important fact about Austin Hardy before he entered the Grand Slam. Now, as the first openly gay man to compete in the professional tennis tournament, he is all over the news, and his anxiety disorder is at an all-time high. When Austin trips in front of his attractive competitor, Diego Cruz, he doesn’t expect to stumble into a flirty, off-court friendship. As the two continue to compete on the court, their complex friendship tumbles into something resembling love in Schmit’s electric debut romance.

How to Fake It in Society by K.J. Charles

Pretending to be the son of a wronged French noblewoman should have been an easy way for Nicolas-Marc to secure the necessary funding to get creditors off his family’s back. He didn’t account for Titus Pilcrow, a former shop owner with a newly inherited fortune who is simply too kind to swindle. The more time Nico and Titus spend together, the less he wants to take his money, even though he desperately needs it. As Titus and Nico begin to build a home together, Nico is confronted with the lies that may interfere with their happy future.

The Marriage Rebound by Meka James

The star of the Atlanta Cannons, Courtney Johnson, finds herself personally faltering in the wake of a winning basketball season. Her professional success can’t overcome the arguments she keeps having with her beautiful wife, Sasha Adams-Johnson. As a former exotic dancer, Sasha still hasn’t found her footing as a lonely housewife. When an injury forces Courtney to step back from a season in the European league, they are finally given a chance to confront the issues festering at the heart of their marriage.

Rears & Vices by E.M. Caro

Caro’s historical pirate romance has a polyamorous trio fighting for safety and happiness in the 1816 waters of the Americas. As a longtime member of the Royal Navy stationed in the Great Lakes post-war, Everand is shocked to find his former lover court-martialled on piracy charges. Ever never forgot Vitya after their last and only assignation, but he certainly won’t let him die now. Luckily, Preston D’Arcy is more than willing to help him break Vitya out of jail and begin a joint life of piracy. As romance sparks between Ever, Vitya, and Preston, the three must confront internal barriers to love and external dangers on land and sea, if they want to secure their happily ever after.

The Feywild Job by C. L. Polk

A con-artist and a bard have a second chance at love working together on a dangerous Feywild heist in Polk’s queer romantasy. After swearing a magical pact to never fall in love in exchange for power, Saeldian has avoided all romantic connections. His promise becomes much harder to keep when someone hires Saeldian to steal a gem and deliver it to the Feywild with the stipulation that they must bring their ex, Kell. The last decade, Kell’s hurt over the confusing breakup, but he cannot walk away from a job that could bring him back to the Feywild. Saeldian and Kell’s romantic and daring adventure reignites their passion as the two unravel a powerful conspiracy that threatens more than their relationship.

By the Bootstraps by Alexa Martin

In Luna Star’s imagination, she pictures moving to a small farm in Celestial, Texas, and falling right into the plots of her favorite cowboy romance books. That is, until her new home begins to fall around her. She needs the help of the high school’s head coach and town handyman, Tate Jacobs. Although Tate contrarily hates cowboys as the son of a large ranching family, he might just turn out to be Luna’s dream partner. Fixing her new home, Tate and Luna develop real affection that outclasses her favorite fiction.

Bromantasy by Máire Roche

When two totally platonic bros are forced to hunt a monster on a government-mandated quest, they discover the dangers of speciesism and the true depth of their romantic connection. Juniper O’Reilly loves living a quiet life on the farm with his competent best friend, Mo Elmthorn. So, engaging in a bar fight that ends with a night in jail and an order to leave on a quest immediately was basically Juniper’s worst nightmare, until Mo agrees to go with him. When Mo and Juniper discover the monster they were supposed to hunt is just a terrified child, they must become the heroes needed to fight the knights at their tails.

Like in Love with You by Emma R. Alban

Catherine Pine and Lady Rosalie are the daughters of enemies, slated to continue their mothers’ feud in Bath. Aiming to win over Lady Rosalie’s suitor, Catherine will go to great lengths to get revenge. But after confronting Rosalie’s mesmerizing verbal barbs, Catherine begins to fall for her. Better still, Rosalie is ready to give her heart to a wonderfully challenging woman like Catherine in return. Now the two must find a way to avoid betrothal, and their mothers, while keeping their reputations intact in this Mean Girls-inspired sapphic Regency romance.

The Fake Divination Offense by Sara Raasch

Raasch delivers a sexy queer fantasy sports romance that manages to have fun while unpacking PTSD and religious trauma. As a professional rawball player, Orok feels compelled to save the beautiful Alexo from a bar fight. But when the altercation goes viral, team management and his church patron want to continue the good PR with a fake relationship. Alexo will have a chance to be a full-time cheerleader, and although it will delay his separation from the church, Orock wants a chance to support him. If Orock’s lucky, he might even have a chance to secure a real relationship with his dream guy.

Book Rioter’s Best Romance Books of the Year So Far

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

My best advice for reading a Tia Williams romance is to dive in without reading reviews or even the description on the back of the book, because in a genre where you always have an idea about how it will end (happily!), she has a fantastic way of keeping readers guessing. Williams’ latest book is further proof that she’s the queen of romantic twists and big surprises. Without giving too much away, here’s the hook: when Sasha connects with a handsome Italian man on a transatlantic flight, she fails to get his name or number and tipsily emails her work friend to ask for help finding him. But she accidentally CCs the entire company, setting off a global search for her potential soulmate. This is the PERFECT vacation book. Even better, read it on your next flight., Susie Dumond

Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian

Sebastian boldly goes where no man has gone before, with her heartwarming Star Trek-inspired contemporary debut following quarreling actors on a long-running sci-fi show falling in love. After Simon’s contract ends, he wants to leave and continue his career in New York City. Just one problem: after his frequent petty fights with Charlie, he doesn’t want the industry to think he’s difficult. Embarking on a PR friendship to change the narrative ignites a careful romance. Now, Charlie and Simon must chart a relationship amid fandom chatter, industry expectations, and their unruly inner thoughts. If difficult people creating queer community is also your catnip, you’ve struck gold., R. Nassor

Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai

Alisha Rai is working to bring back the adventure rom-com, and she brings her trademark character-building depth to this delightfully bonkers love story. Krish is pretending to be his missing federal agent brother in order to find his missing federal agent brother. He essentially kidnaps Sejal, a low-level con artist, because he’s convinced her family of criminals has the info he needs, and the two battle each other and help each other on a cross country rescue mission. The great thing about Rai is that even when her stories are a little bananas, they never feel silly, the emotional stakes are well established, and the chaos is well earned., Trisha Brown

Moss’d in Space by Rebecca Thorne

Cozy sci-fi + spaceship adventures + a sentient moss life support system with serious abandonment issues? Yes please! That would already be more than enough to win me over; but add in an overly optimistic heroine determined to save her sister’s life, compelling sci-fi worldbuilding, and interesting alien species, plus a not-quite-unrequited romance, and you can see why I absolutely devoured this book. I guarantee you will too., Rachel Brittain

When in doubt, reading the best books of the year so far is an excellent way to fall back in love with romance. If you finish these 2026 romances, you should check out these Queer Romance Novels with Later-in-Life Coming Out Plots, The Best Recent Romances to Read in the Heat, and the Baes of Juneteenth.