Happy Tuesday!
It’s the last release week in June and it’s a pretty strong end of the month. There are lots of contemporaries, historical romances and settings, and even a fantasy romance anthology.
Which releases are on your radar this week? Let us know in the comments!
A Magic Deep and Drowning
Author: Hester Fox
Released: June 24, 2025 by Graydon House
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, Historical: European, RomanceElyse: This book is set in the Dutch Golden Age, a time period I’ve never read before.
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Author: Louise Bay
Released: June 24, 2025 by Montlake
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceFor a people-pleasing New Yorker and a disagreeable (if seriously hot) Brit, it’s love at fourth sight in a funny and emotional romantic comedy by a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author.
Tuesday Reynolds’s dreamy life in Manhattan has gone belly-up. Ditched by her college sweetheart and with her Wall Street banking job at risk, she’s off to London to prove herself to a new CEO. Plans change when Tuesday meets Ben Kelley, a wealthy, scowly, and movie-star-handsome stranger. He’s just missing one thing to make his professional dreams come true.
What does Ben need? Oh, just a fake fiancée to impress a duke and duchess. What’s in it for Tuesday? Enough money to put a down payment on an apartment back in New York, a new wardrobe, and a weekend in the country at the stately home of the duke and duchess. The Bridgerton vibes are absolutely off the charts.
Everything between Ben and Tuesday is completely professional, until the rehearsals for their weekend romance start to feel…almost authentic.
It’s official. Tuesday’s life has been hijacked by a rom-com scriptwriter. But the best love stories aren’t the ones on the big screen. Maybe they’re the real ones that sneak up on you when you least expect it.
Elyse: I love a fake dating romance, and Bay is one of my favorite contemporary authors.
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Author: Harper St. George
Released: June 24, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: Historical: American, Historical: European, Romance
Series: The Doves of New York #2American heiress Eliza Dove was resigned to a polite marriage of convenience…until she spent one wicked night with the Duke.
All hopeless romantic Eliza Dove asked for was one night of adventure. One glorious evening of freedom to explore the dark corners of London with a mysterious stranger before a lifetime trapped in a quiet, respectable marriage of convenience. Except now she wants more. Now she wants him.
Simon Cavell is no gentleman. Known only as ‘the Duke,’ Whitechapel’s prize boxer is one fight away from achieving his goal: to safeguard his late sister’s only treasure and leave the streets for good. He cannot allow some pretty young heiress to spill his secrets, no matter how tempting she might be. In return for her silence, Simon will give Eliza a taste of the darkness…and hope he doesn’t lose his heart in the process.
But one night together could never be enough. And now Eliza has a new plan—an even more scandalous bargain that will either land the heiress her duke or ruin them both.
Amanda: Alert: The duke is a prize boxer! Also St. George is an autobuy for me.
Elyse: I’m loving this series.
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Author: Sarah Adler
Released: June 24, 2025 by Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceTwo estranged best friends find that a long-abandoned treasure hunt might be the key to a fresh start—for both their futures and their feelings, from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Adler.
Last week, Nina Hunnicutt was a professor about to move into a gorgeous new apartment with her long-term boyfriend. Now, she’s single, unemployed, and living with her parents. Even more surprising is the fact that Quentin Bell, her childhood neighbor (and okay, fine, crush), is also back in town—and wants to resume the treasure hunt that ended their friendship almost two decades ago.
Hoping the reward promised to whoever finds the rumored riches left behind by the town’s eccentric turn-of-the-century seltzer magnate will help her get her life back on track, Nina agrees. Granted, last time the search resulted in a broken heart and seventeen years of silence. But Nina’s older and wiser now—surely things will be different.
Except, Quentin is also older and wiser…not to mention distractingly handsome. As they resume their hunt, Nina and Quentin begin to rediscover all the things they once loved best about each other. But unlike the treasure, the secrets that left them empty-handed the first time refuse to stay buried. If there’s any hope of finding what they’re looking for—and for a future together—Nina and Quentin will have to be brave enough to excavate their past as well.
Lara: I’m reading this book right now for review on the site and so far I am absolutely loving it! Will report back!
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Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Released: June 24, 2025 by Kensington Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Series: Grimm Bargains #2The second book in Zanetti’s dark fairytale retelling series
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Author: Marie O'Regan
Released: June 24, 2025 by Titan Books
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/FantasyEnemies become lovers, rivalry turns to romance, and convenient marriages create true love in these 12 addictive Romantasy tales.
Featuring Olivie Blake, Kelley Armstrong, Katherine Arden, Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Tasha Suri, Melissa Marr, and more.
Fall in love with these 12 gorgeous romantasy stories from bestselling and beloved authors.
Lost lovers return for a second chance – but what are their motives? Academic rivals compete for a prestigious position, but their sizzling chemistry might get in the way. A monster slayer posing as an unwitting sacrifice meets an intriguingly moral prince.
From relationships caught on disparate timelines to ghostly ballrooms and dragons that need rescuing from princesses, this anthology gives you an inventive new spin on all your favorite tropes and much more you’ve never seen before.
Featuring stories by:
Olivie Blake
Kelley Armstrong
Katherine Arden
Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Tasha Suri
Melissa Marr
Megan Bannen
A. G. Slatter
A. C. Wise
Kelly Andrew
Kamilah Cole
Eliza ChanAmanda: A great lineup in this anthology.
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Author: Katie Sturino
Released: June 24, 2025 by Celadon Books
Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Romance“A clever and stylish ride.”
—New York Times, The Summer’s Best Beach Reads
“Escape into a world of designer clothes and trendy NYC restaurants, where career dreams come true at the drop of a hat, preferably by the pool in a flattering swimsuit.”
—Oprah Daily, 26 Best Summer Reads of 2025
From body-acceptance advocate and MEGABABE founder Katie Sturino comes a heartwarming and hilarious debut.Sunny Greene is thirty-five, recently divorced, facing the looming prospect of going solo to her little brother’s wedding, and currently trying to find anything plus-sized in the Bergdorf Goodman swimsuit department that doesn’t make her want to cry. It’s not going well. But isn’t rock bottom the perfect place to start a climb?
She decides it’s now or never. Sunny has her PR empire, her gorgeous Chelsea apartment, her two dogs, and her loyal best friends. Maybe it’s time to just love her body and accept herself for who she is. With a new commitment to confidence, her journey begins. Who says a plus-sized divorcee can’t put herself first, feel beautiful, and date up a storm?
Of course things are never straightforward in the dating world. Is fate knocking at her door with Dennis, the charming and down-to-earth mailman, or should she be with Ted, the business tycoon who seems ready to make her size-inclusive swimsuit brand a reality? And what should she do about her ex, who shows up unexpectedly, eager to reconnect?
With the same candor and confidence her followers love, Sturino brings us Sunny Greene, a Carrie Bradshaw for the next generation, and her journey through the trials and triumphs of dating, friendship, and finding yourself.
Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe, releases her debut novel. Amanda will be in conversation with her at Lovestruck tomorrow night!
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Author: Mia Sosa
Released: June 24, 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceThe USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a fun and flirty rom-com about a pact between friends that goes awry when one of them suddenly decides to get married.
Two best friends. One wedding to stop. Countless shenanigans.
On the eve of their college graduation, best friends Javier Báez and Marisol Campos swore never to date someone the other doesn’t approve of. Now, almost a decade later, Javi has a problem. Mari, the woman he’s secretly pined for since sophomore year, is engaged—and Javi didn’t even get the chance to vet the Pedro Pascal knockoff she plans to marry.
A successful entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, Mari is no longer seeking Javi’s dating advice or waiting for him to declare his love for her. Instead, she’s made a different pact—with herself. And to succeed, Mari’s vowing to build a future with someone else.
With his life and theater career finally on track, Javi’s ready to confess his feelings. Except Mari’s changed the script and moved on without him. Javi has just six weeks to convince Mari this marriage is a flop. If that means he needs to ruffle some feathers to help her avert a disaster, well, he’s up for the challenge. After all, isn’t that what best friends are for?
A new contemporary romance by Mia Sosa!
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Author: Kelley Armstrong
Released: June 24, 2025 by Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomanceFrom a New York Times bestselling author, a second-chance rom-com about a debut author who unexpectedly goes viral when readers discover her hero was inspired by a beloved pro hockey player—and her high school crush.
Debut author Gemma Stanton knows romance readers love a bad boy—and she has the perfect prototype for her Mason Moretti. High school hockey god-turned-pro player, Mason was Gemma’s first crush, but she couldn’t forget the sting of his very public rejection. So, she casts him as a hot-headed Highlander in her spicy new historical romance. She never expected readers would find out on live TV when a morning show host invites Mason for a surprise on-air reunion…
As an aging hockey player with a rep for being ruthless on the ice—and roguish off of it—Mason has an image problem. So, when his meet-cute with Gemma goes viral, Mason proposes they build on the momentum with a few fake dates to boost her book sales…and his sagging profile. But when the fictional flirting gets a little too real, Mason realizes Gemma actually makes him want to become a better man—someone worthy of her trust and her love.
Will Gemma give him a second chance? Mason knows it’s a long shot, but taking shots is sorta his thing, and besides, who loves a redemption arc more than a romance author?
Lara: I was so charmed by the emotional depth, maturity and nuance in this book. Review incoming!
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Very interested in the Sara Adler after Lara’s review. Definitely want to read the Secret Romantic’s anthology. Also adding to my TBR this week:
A Legionnaire’s Guide to Love and Peace by Emily Skrutskie. Blurb: On the eve of the battle that will decide the realm of Telrus’s fate, Katrien takes a hard look at her prospects. A mere legionnaire, she and her spear will be at the fore in the morning, facing off against the Demon Lord and his wretched army, and it’s all but certain she’ll perish in the fight. But if the end of the world is mere hours away, there’s no reason not to hook up with her handsome, dedicated battle partner Emory—despite any anti-fraternization policies their centurion may have in place.
Only, the world doesn’t end the next day. Instead, an insufferable prince raised in hiding comes out of nowhere with a plucky band of heroes, defeats the Demon Lord, and seals the rift to the hellish plane. The realm is saved. The war is over. And Kat suddenly has a lot more future than she knows what to do with. It’s a future that could include Emory . . . if only he weren’t so set on staying enlisted with the very army Kat was unwillingly drafted into.
A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith, the beginning of a mystery series. Blurb: When barrister Gabriel Ward steps out of his rooms at exactly two minutes to seven on a sunny May morning in 1901, his mind is so full of his latest case—the disputed authorship of bestselling children’s book Millie the Temple Church Mouse—that he scarcely registers the body of the Lord Chief Justice of England on his doorstep.
But even he cannot fail to notice the judge’s dusty bare feet, in shocking contrast to his flawless evening dress, nor the silver carving knife sticking out of his chest. In the shaded courtyards and ancient buildings of the Inner Temple, the hidden heart of London’s legal world, murder has spent centuries confined firmly to the casebooks. Until now . . .
Just started Alice Coldbreath’s „A Most Forgettable Girl“, which was released just yesterday, I think, and is part of her Brides of Karadok-series. I‘m four chapters in and already intrigued.
I really loved The Secret Romantic’s Book of Magic!
Only one book on my tbr this week: Nicky James’s PATERNAL INSTINCTS (June 24) is the 8th book in her Valor & Doyle m/m romantic-suspense series. In this post-HEA outing, the MCs (both police detectives) are preparing to welcome a child into their home just as they are assigned to a missing child case. This will apparently be the final book in the series, so it will be bittersweet to see the guys settling down but also know we won’t see too much more of them (although they have popped up occasionally in James’s on-going Domingo & Krause series.
Looking forward to the St. George in particular; the rest are on my TBR.