As readers, we understand that sometimes you just need an open-door romance to help spice up your TBR. Fortunately, 2026 has plenty of sizzling stories to keep you company. Whether you’re looking for fake dating, swoon-worthy small-town sagas, or an age gap, these 2026 spicy romance books will satisfy your needs (and make you need to do a couple of laps around the house).
Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent (1/6)
Chloe Coleman is determined to prove herself as one of the first female team principles in Formula 1. Nothing can break her focus on transforming her team of underdogs into champions—until Matt Warner, a former champion whose racing hasn’t been the same since an unfortunate accident, is added to her team. Oh, and he also happens to be her estranged childhood crush. As the competition heats up, so does their budding relationship, and the two are put through the test to see if their chemistry will lead them to victory.
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The Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone (1/13)
After a messy breakup, all Maddie Kowalczk wants is a new start. After accepting a job as a rookie lecturer at Astra University, she decides to go out to celebrate on her first night in town. There she runs into Bram Loe, the incredibly handsome single dad and ecology professor. After a night of fun, the two are horrified to find out that Maddie is not only his new nanny, but also the new poli-sci adjunct at the university where he teaches. Desperate for money, Maddie agrees when Bram offers her a raise and a chance to set some ground rules while he teaches her some hands-on lessons.
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Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey (1/20)
What do you do when you’ve been harboring feelings for the newest catcher of the Yankees for years, but your best friend called dibs on him when you were both fourteen? Eva Mitchell is trying to navigate her friendship and her feelings for Madden Donahue, the man who has taken it upon himself to be her self-appointed protector. Especially when Eve’s sister has left her with her two children indefinitely, and Madden steps in and offers to marry her in order to get much-needed health benefits. What starts as a marriage of convenience quickly becomes something far hotter than a business arrangement, and the two are forced to face their feelings that they’ve both been ignoring for far too long.
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Dove by Paisley Hope (1/27)
Sean “Ax” Hunter is the bad boy, former Marine, and Sergeant at Arms for the Hounds of Hell motorcycle club. When rebellious Layla Monroe comes strutting into an upscale club one evening, trying to stay afloat after her parents’ deaths—which are surrounded by mystery—Sean offers her a job. She knows it’s a bad idea, but it’s enough to pay for the rest of her schooling. It’s just two weeks. What’s the worst that could happen? She’ll either have enough money to pay for schooling, or she rides away into the sunset on the back of the motorcycle of her knight in shining armor.
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Just for the Cameras by Meghan Quinn (2/3)
Graydon St. John, the brooding defensive end for the San Francisco Foghorns, prefers his alone time. He’d rather spend his free time at home than go out and socialize. But when there’s a league-wide PR scandal, he’s forced into a visit to the city zoo, where he comes face to face with the animals…and the zookeeper who can’t stand him. Maple Baker views the zoo as her sanctuary, and the last thing she needs is a big, famous football player coming in and ruining her sliver of peace with his ego and bad attitude. Unfortunately, the two are paired together to work on the zoo’s new public outreach program. The more the two pretend to play nice for the cameras, the more real their fake flirtations become.
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Still Into You by Erin Connor (2/10)
Calling all romance readers who grew up listening to emo music and choosing your Top 8 on MySpace, this one is for you. Elusive metal frontman Dax Nakamura has refused to give interviews for years, allowing rumors to run rampant. As the band is gearing up to release a new album, he decides it’s finally time to set the record straight. The only problem is that the only person he trusts to write the story is the same person who broke his heart three summers ago, Sloane Donovan. Reluctant to help him, Sloane knows that this interview could be the one thing that catapults her journalism career. But as the two get further into Dax’s history, she quickly learns that the story that Dax wants to tell is very different from the one her editors are expecting. It’s the big break she needs, but is she willing to jeopardize their second chance, or will she choose to rewrite their ending instead?
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Across the Vanishing Sky by Catherine Cowles (3/3)
Braedyn Winslow had zero intention of ever returning to Starlight Grove—especially after her best friend disappeared without a trace. But with a young son to raise and a past that she can’t seem to escape, she’s back and ready to find out the truth once and for all. What she isn’t expecting is her brooding mountain man next-door neighbor, Dex Archer. As the search for her best friend grows more dangerous, Dex will do everything in his power to protect Brae, even if it means returning to the dark of his past.
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Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner (3/10)
A Love Letter to Whiskey author Kandi Steiner is back with a sizzling second chance romance set on the high seas. Ember Reed is the chief stew on a Mediterranean superyacht, positioning her as one of the stars of the hottest reality TV shows, Close Quarters. It’s everything she could ask for. That is, until the producers throw her a curveball in the form of Finn Pearson, aka the one that got away. Acting as the ship’s new chef, the two are forced to work closely together to ensure that the yacht’s guests have an unforgettable experience. Could these weeks at sea repair their relationship, or will it go down with the ship yet again?
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Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score (3/10)
Literary agent Zoey Moody’s career has gone up in smoke, forcing her to move from New York to a small town in Pennsylvania with her best friend and only remaining client, Hazel Hart. She’s barely making ends meet, but she’s not giving up. Nothing can get in the way of rebuilding her career—except her handsome landlord, Gage Bishop. He’s looking to settle down, while Zoey is hyper-focused on having fun. When Gage’s world is turned upside down by a family secret, he turns to Zoey for comfort in the form of a night the two will never forget. Unfortunately, that one night may just change everything for both of them.
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The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa (3/10)
Jason Torres is a certified commitment-phobe, much to his mother’s dismay. If it were up to her, he’d be married with kids. Rather than actually settle down, Jason comes up with the brilliant idea of finding a fake girlfriend that his mom will hate. Enter Vanessa Cordero, a freelance fake girlfriend whose entire job is to make a man’s life miserable. Although she has since retired, her younger sister, who has her eye on Jason, convinces her to take one last job. What Jason and Vanessa don’t expect is to catch feelings, even when Vanessa tries her hardest to scare him away. The longer they’re together, the deeper those feelings grow and the shakier their argument on why they don’t work becomes.
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No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows (3/10)
Fable Oaks never had any intention of returning to Fern River. But when she can’t seem to find her direction in life, she moves back into her parents’ backyard, determined to fix up her grandfather’s crumbling A-frame. And to make matters worse, Theo Nikolaou, her former best friend, has also returned and is in dire need to prove to his boss that he is ready to settle down. The two decide that if they can convince their small town that they’re together, then all of their problems will be solved. But it’s never that easy, is it?
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Game On by Navessa Allen (3/31)
Tyler Neumann has one thing on his mind: revenge against his dad. And he will do anything and manipulate anyone to help make it happen, including tattoo artist Stella McCormick. She is everything he hates, but that’s not going to stop him from forcing her into a fake relationship with him so that he can get closer to his family. As she unravels his ulterior motives, Stella is forced to confront both her love and hatred for the man, leaving them in a standstill. Is revenge enough to fight off the feelings that are growing, or will they become too overwhelming to ignore?
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King of Gluttony by Ana Huang (4/28)
Well-known for her Twisted series, Ana Huang has continued to treat romance readers to fun and steamy romances since 2021. With her most recent series, the King of Sin series, she has taken the romance world by storm. Though we don’t know much about Maya and Sebastian’s story yet, we do know that it’s going to be a spicy billionaire romance that you’re not going to want to put down.
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Fever Dream by Elsie Silver (5/19)
Professional bull rider Emmett Bush has no interest in love. He’s more focused on saving his family’s farm from bankruptcy, and he’ll do anything he can to ensure that happens. Including being a leading man on one of reality’s hottest television shows, Romance Ranch. He’s confident that he can fake it long enough to collect the paycheck. That is until Julia Silva walks in. Not only is she his biggest rival’s younger sister, but she’s also the location consultant on set. As the two are forced to work together, their distaste grows into stolen kisses and secret rendezvous. Can he fake falling in love for the sake of keeping his family’s legacy or will his feelings for Julia jeopardize everything he’s worked hard for?
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Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt (7/14)
Bea’s lifelong dream was to become a mother. She just wasn’t expecting to have to lose her best friend to make that happen. With the death of one of her closest friends (and her eggs) and a bucket list in hand, Bea has to navigate this sea of changes. Fortunately, Silas offers her a place to live, giving her some reprieve from all of the upheaval she’s been experiencing. As the two grow closer, they begin to discover that beautiful new beginnings can be made from even the worst of endings.
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