Romance books to read this month! If you like to read with the seasons or “holidays” here are some romance books that I think are perfect to read this month. These are all books that I’ve read and loved. I have a love-hate relationship with the romance genre and I am very picky with which romances I like. I personally don’t like the super steamy (open door) romances and I need to feel the connection between the lovers. The exception is The Idea of You which I have more details below.
The Simple Wild by K. A Tucker
Synopsis – Calla Fletcher wasn’t even two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when Calla learns that Wren’s days may be numbered, she knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born.
She braves the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, the exorbitant prices, and even the occasional—dear God—outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this rugged environment, Jonah—the unkempt, obnoxious, and proud Alaskan pilot who helps keep her father’s charter plane company operational—can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting with one hand on the throttle to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced that she’s too pampered to handle the wild.
Jonah is probably right, but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. Soon, she finds herself forming an unexpected bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship—or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried—and failed at—years ago. It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.
Why this is a great romance – Have you heard me talk about The Simple wild before? In my opinion this is the perfect romance. If you are not a huge romance fan but want to try it out READ THIS BOOK. I love the setting in Alaska and Calla and Jonah are my favorite book couple. Another good thing is that there are two more books in this series to read. Check out my reviews of Wild at Heart and Forever Wild for more details.
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
Synopsis – Maddie and Theo have two things in common:
1. Alexa is their best friend
2. They hate each other
After an “oops, we made a mistake” night together, neither one can stop thinking about the other. With Alexa’s wedding rapidly approaching, Maddie and Theo both share bridal party responsibilities that require more interaction with each other than they’re comfortable with. Underneath the sharp barbs they toss at each other is a simmering attraction that won’t fade. It builds until they find themselves sneaking off together to release some tension when Alexa isn’t looking, agreeing they would end it once the wedding is over. When it’s suddenly pushed up and they only have a few months left of secret rendezvouses, they find themselves regretting that the end is near. Two people this different can’t possibly have a connection other than the purely physical, right?
But as with any engagement with a nemesis, there are unspoken rules that must be abided by. First and foremost, don’t fall in love.
Why this is a great romance – This is my favorite Jasmine Guillory book I’ve read. I love that her books are funny and feature tons of food. Prepare to be hungry when you read her books. They are all kind of connected but you don’t have to read them in order. Check out my full review here. I am planning on reading Party of Two this month.
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
Synopsis – Tiffy and Leon share an apartment. Tiffy and Leon have never met. After a bad breakup, Tiffy Moore needs a place to live. Fast. And cheap. But the apartments in her budget have her wondering if astonishingly colored mold on the walls counts as art. Desperation makes her open minded, so she answers an ad for a flatshare. Leon, a night shift worker, will take the apartment during the day, and Tiffy can have it nights and weekends. He’ll only ever be there when she’s at the office. In fact, they’ll never even have to meet. Tiffy and Leon start writing each other notes – first about what day is garbage day, and politely establishing what leftovers are up for grabs, and the evergreen question of whether the toilet seat should stay up or down. Even though they are opposites, they soon become friends. And then maybe more. But falling in love with your roommate is probably a terrible idea…especially if you’ve never met.
Why this is a great romance – This story has some depth and its not just a fluffy “romantic comedy”. I listened to this one in audio. There are two POVs (Tiffy and Leon) and each has its own narrator with amazing British accents. I laughed and cried while reading this book. Another one of my all time favorite romances.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Synopsis – Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They’re polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.
Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.
Why this is a great romance – This is an enemies to lover romance and in my opinion it was executed perfectly! It definitely lived up to the hype for me. The story addresses some heavier topics in a beautiful way and I couldn’t get enough of it. The premise of two authors writing their books was fascinating to me. Check out my full review here.
The Idea of you by Robin Lee
Synopsis – Solène Marchand, the thirty-nine-year-old owner of an art gallery in Los Angeles, is reluctant to take her daughter, Isabelle, to meet her favorite boy band. But since her divorce, she’s more eager than ever to be close to Isabelle. The last thing Solène expects is to make a connection with one of the members of the world-famous August Moon. But Hayes Campbell is clever, winning, confident, and posh, and the attraction is immediate. That he is all of twenty years old further complicates things.
What begins as a series of clandestine trysts quickly evolves into a passionate and genuine relationship. It is a journey that spans continents as Solène and Hayes navigate each other’s worlds: from stadium tours to international art fairs to secluded hideaways in Paris and Miami. For Solène, it is a reclaiming of self, as well as a rediscovery of happiness and love. When Solène and Hayes’ romance becomes a viral sensation, and both she and her daughter become the target of rabid fans and an insatiable media, Solène must face how her romantic life has impacted the lives of those she cares about most.
Why this is a great romance – I will start by saying this book is not for everyone. You’ll either love it or hate it. It is sexy, genuine, honest and I’d describe it as a sophisticated romance. The writing style and the character development make this much more than your typical romance book. This story explores some interesting topics like common stereotypes of women, sexism, motherhood and privacy.
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
Synopsis – I am not going to give the synopsis for this one because if you haven’t read The Friend Zone (the first book in the series) it will spoilt that for you. Just trust me its good!
Why this is a great romance – If you loved The Friend zone you will love this book. You must read The Friend Zone before reading this one. When a book makes me cry that’s how i know it was a good one. I couldn’t get enough of Sloan and Jason. Check out my full review here. I will always read anything Abby Jimenez writes. Good thing she has another book coming out this year!
Do you have any favorite romance books? Let me know in the comments!
I have the Idea of You! Thank you for reminding me I need to read it!