Best Romance Books of 2025

Promise Me Sunshine

Author: Cara Bastone

Year: 2025

Genre: Romance

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

In this wonderful romance story, Bastone deals with the heavier topic of grief as our main character Lenny is still distraught by the death of her best friend. As a temporary nanny, she meets Miles, her charge’s uncle, who is newly involved in his half-sister’s life and looking to connect with his neice.

As Lenny helps Miles connect with his new family, he helps her tackle her grief head on, making himself available to her at all hours of the day when she’s at her lowest. Their love story grows from a place of truly seeing each other.

Trigger Warnings

Grief

Why Kirsten loves it

This book broke my heart and put it back together again. The tenderness and compassion I had for all the characters while reading this delightful story really speaks to the author’s talent. I cried numerous times while reading because their sorrow felt like my own and so did their happiness. It was a marvelous book.

Why Jackie loves it

Initially, I was unsure about this book because it deals with grief and I was not sure how that fit into a romance. I was so wrong. I loved the way the characters came together to help Lenny deal with her grief. Their relationship felt like it was so natural and well developed. I loved this story. It is unforgettable.

Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2025 / Novels About Grief/ Best Romance Books of 2025

Love’s a Witch

Author: Tricia O’Malley

Year: 2025

Genre: Fantasy Romance

More info: The Scottish Charms #1

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Sloane needs to return to Scotland to break a curse that has haunted her bloodline for decades, so that when she comes into her magic, chaos doesn’t follow. Knox is the mayor who has tried to make their magical town a haven for magical people. The last thing he needs is somebody trying to break a curse and upending his world, but Magic has plans of its own.

Why Kirsten loves it

From the hysterical ways that Sloane’s magic goes wrong to the charmingly magical Scottish village, this story was exactly what my romantasy-loving heart wanted in a cozy fall romance. I loved Blue, Sloane’s familiar, and all the other secondary characters, and I can’t wait for the rest of the Scottish Charms series!

Find this book in: Cozy Fantasy Romance Books / Best Romance Books of 2025 / Books Set in Scotland / The Best Witch Books

Loved One

Author: Aisha Mahurrar

Year: 2025

Genre: Literary Romance

More info: Most Anticipated Book of the Summer: New York Times Book Review
Emmy-Award Winning Writer

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Julia and Gabe met in Barcelona and became each other’s first love. Years later, they reconnect in L.A., where they become best friends. When Gabe dies suddenly and tragically at the age of 29, Julia embarks on a trip across the ocean to recover his possessions. Some are meaningful to his mom, and one, in particular, is meaningful to Julia.

The story moves back and forth from the past to the present and Julia tries to reconcile their past, their imperfect friendship, and what the future might have held for them.

Trigger Warnings

Sudden death

Why Jackie loves it

This is a beautifully told love story that feels relatable and real. Muharrar does an incredible job of creating characters with depth and her writing immediately drew me into the story. #gited PRH Audio

Find this book in: Best Romance Books of 2025

Sounds Like Love

Author: Ashley Poston

Year: 2025

Genre: Romance

More info: Bestselling author of Seven Year Slip

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Joni Lark is a hit songwriter in LA who has had writer’s block for the last 10 months, since her mom’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. She is returning home, to North Carolina, for the summer and hopes to find inspiration.

When she arrives, she realizes that if she wants to cure her writer’s block, she might have to confront the things she has been avoiding while living in LA. To make matters more complicated, she has an earworm of a half-formed song in her head and the voice of a stranger in there as well. Joni is shocked to learn the voice belongs to a real person–someone named Sasha. They agree to finish the song that is haunting both their thoughts, but in doing so, they realize there might be more than just the song bringing them together.

Trigger Warnings

Early Onset Alzheimer’s

Why Jackie loves it

Ashley Poston has become a must-read author for me. Her stories are so unique and I love that there is a touch of magic in each one. I loved the connection between Joni and Sasha. It felt like these two complemented each other so well and communicated- (telepathy makes that a must). Poston’s romances lie somewhere between sweet and steamy.

Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2025 / Ashley Poston Books Ranked / Best Romance Books of 2025

Songs of Summer

Author: Jane L. Rosen

Year: 2025

Genre: Romance

More info: Fire Island Book 3 of 3

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Maggie May Wheeler owns the record shop that was her parents before they both passed away. Now, before she gets engaged to her childhood best friend, she wants to find her birth mother. The search leads her to Fire Island, where her mother is a guest at a wedding. She wants to find out more about the women who gave her up.

When she arrives at Fire Island, a local invites her to the wedding as his date, and the two have immediate chemistry. Maggie is immediately torn between her feelings for this new man and the man at home, who is family to her.

Meanwhile, on Fire Island, we get to visit with old favorites like Ben, Addison, and Shep, and meet some wonderful new characters like his two daughters, Beatrix and Victoria.

Why Jackie loves it

I love Fire Island and the characters, and this book did not disappoint. The book is perfect for the beach with a storyline that is full of heart, but never too much. My favorite touch is that each chapter is the title of a song and there are fantastic tracks. Someone created a Spotify playlist, and I highly suggest putting it on while reading the book. It is literally the soundtrack of summer!!!

Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2025 / Best Romance Books of 2025

Change of Heart

Author: Falon Ballard

Year: 2025

Genre: Magical Realism romance

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Campbell Andrews has woken up in her version of hell. After a disastrous blind date that her grandmother set up, she wakes up in the sweetest town with happy people, festivals, and lovely little businesses. She is supposed to be in the biggest meeting of her life, not stuck here with her blind date living next door! In order to get back to her real life as a partner at a law firm, she will have to fulfill three tasks, one of which is falling in love.

Campbell doesn’t believe in love and cannot imagine that she will ever get out of her personal nightmare (think Hallmark movie)

Why Jackie loves it

This is a delightful and unexpected read. I love the setting of a small town for a love story and I loved how Campbell finds herself. I don’t want to spoil anything but this is the perfect book to read for Valentine’s Day #gifted

Find this book in: Beach Reads 2025 / Best Romance Books of 2025 / Cozy Fantasy Romance Books

One Golden Summer

Author: Carley Fortune

Year: 2025

Genre: Romance

More info: #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Alice is a photographer who has lost her drive and vision for her art. She longs for the inspiration she felt when she was behind the lens the summer she was 17. That summer, she spent time at the lake with her Nan and took a photo of three teens in a yellow boat – the picture that ultimately changed her life and jump-started her career.

Now, her Nan is recovering from a broken hip, and Alice takes her back to the lake at Barry’s Bay so Nan can recover. Alice immediately sees Charlie, one of her photography subjects, in the same yellow boat. She is shocked to discover he is helping out as her rental cabin’s caretaker for the summer. When he discovers her summer bucket list to restart her inspiration, he is determined to help her check off every box.

Why Kirsten loves it

I’m clearly living under a rock because I didn’t realize that this is the same Charlie from Carley’s breakout hit Every Summer After. I ADORED this book just as much as I adored that one. Alice and Charlie’s chemistry was organic and off the charts. Both characters showed so much growth throughout the summer that I couldn’t help but cheer them on and it was great to get a peek at what Percy and Sam are up to as well.

Why Jackie loves it

I adore Carley Fortune. Her stories and characters are fantastic and I love that she is true to her Canadian roots. The fact that this story is centered around Charlie from Every Summer After is an added bonus. Every time I read one of Carley Fortune’s books, I swear it is my favorite because of how easily the story flows and how strongly I am invested in the characters.

Find this book in: Carley Fortune Books in Order / Best Beach Reads 2025/ Best Romance Books of 2025 / Books Inspired by The Life of a Showgirl

The Favorites

Author: Layne Fargo

Year: 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

This fantastic story is about Katrina Shaw’s rise to the Olympics alongside her ice dance partner, and sometimes boyfriend, Heath Rocha. It’s told in a multi-narrator documentary style reminiscent of Daisy Jones & The Six.

It starts when Katrina is a motherless 10-year-old girl, captivated by Sheila Lin, an Olympic Gold Medalist. Heath is a foster child, enamored by Kat and willing to do anything to be in her orbit – including becoming her ice dance partner.

When their chemistry and technique captures the attention of Sheila and her twins – the begin to train at her facility – a dream for Katrina. But Kat’s drive for gold threatens her relationship with Heath.

Inspired by Wuthering Heights, this retelling is epic in scope and creative in execution. The secondary characters (particularly the Lins) are each as fascinating as the main protagonists and being able to hear from them as narrators really enhances the story.

Why Kirsten loves it

There is love, passion, betrayal, death, breakdowns, comebacks, rebellion and so much more in this riveting story. The book (I recommend consuming it on audio) captured my attention and never let me go.

This one is going to be a massive hit and it’s well-deserved. Now who is gonna buy the series rights? Cause I’m ready to see it on the screen.

Find this book in: Books About Female Athletes / Books About Sports / Best Romance Books of 2025 / Books Inspired by The Life of a Showgirl