Enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, fake dating turned to something more, and even a dash of good old-fashioned forced proximity — the best romance books of 2022 are full of all the tropes that make this genre sing. If you love nothing more than curling up with a rom-com [1] or even a weepie romance read, then this is definitely your year. From contemporary love stories to historical romance novels and romantic tales with just the right amount of magic, there's no shortage of swoon-worthy books coming your way.
The best part is, it seems like all of the genre's best authors are serving up new books in 2022. Farrah Rochon, Tessa Bailey, Jasmine Guillory [2], and Emily Henry are just of a handful of the bestselling romance authors releasing must-read rom-coms this year. Meanwhile, the overachiever of the year award goes to Boyfriend Material author Alexis Hall who has not one, but two new rom-coms hitting bookshelves (and e-readers) in 2022.
While we love seeing our favourite authors create new couples for us to fall in love with, there are also plenty of exciting romance debuts this year, too. Let's just say by the time 2023 rolls around, you're definitely going to have more than a few new writers to add to your instant must-read list. Ready to dive into the year's best romance novels? Read on for every book that needs to be on your TBR in 2022 [3].
Love at First Spite by Anna E. Collins
Operation Spite House is a go in Anna E. Collins' hilarious Love at First Spite [4]. After her fiancé cheats on her with their realtor and then proceeds to move into their dream home without her, interior designer Dani Porter decides its time to exact some sweet revenge by buying the vacant lot next to the house and turning it into a scenery-blocking holiday rental. While Dani would love to complete the project on her own, she needs the help of an architect to get the job done right. Enter her stuffy and reserved co-worker Wyatt Montego, who reluctantly agrees to draw up the blueprints, even though he and Dani have never exactly gotten along.
Release date: Jan. 4
The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews
Head back to Victorian London in The Siren of Sussex [5] by Mimi Matthews. With her family on the verge of ruin and no real marriage prospects on the horizon, Evelyn Maltravers is ready to make her mark in the world of horseback riding instead of on the marriage mart. But if she has any hope of taking the equestrian scene by storm, she needs an equally bold habit-maker to help her stand out in the crowd. That's where Ahmad Malik comes in. As one of the most gifted tailors in London, he's delighted to be working with Evelyn, but when their professional relationship becomes something more, London's elite is quick to pass judgement on the pair.
Release date: Jan. 11
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
In Weather Girl [6] by Rachel Lynn Solomon, TV meteorologist Ari Abrams hatches an unexpected plan to get her boss's mind off her ex-husband and back on her job. When famed weatherwoman Torrance Hale is thrown off her game by her ex-husband/station news director, Ari enlists the help of sports reporter Russell Barringer to do a bit of matchmaking. The unlikely pair decide that if they can get their bosses back together, they'll be able to relieve the tension brewing at the station, but along the way, Ari and Russell begin to notice there's an undeniable chemistry brewing between them.
Release date: Jan. 11
How to Love Your Neighbour by Sophie Sullivan
Just as she's finishing up interior design school, Grace Travis finds her dream fixer upper on the beach in Sophie Sullivan's wonderful rom-com How to Love Your Neighbour [7]. Due to her difficult childhood, Grace has always yearned for a place to call home, and now that she's finally found one, she's not going to let her grumpy neighbour scare her off. That's bad news for Noah Jansen, a real estate developer who recently bought the house next-door. He has grand plans that involve buying Grace's place and expanding his home into her lot, but she's not going to give up her dream home without a fight.
Release date: Jan. 18
Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
Love blooms against the backdrop of a reality TV cooking competition in Love and Other Disasters [8] by Anita Kelly. London Parker is the first nonbinary competitor to ever appear on Chef's Special, and they're determined to prove all of their trolls (including their dad wrong). That means they need to concentrate on the task at hand, not begin developing feelings for their fellow contestant, Dahlia Woodson. However, that's easier said than done when the clumsy, but determined Dahlia is spilling fish tacos on national TV and stealing London's heart both on and off camera. But as things heat up between the couple, they'll have to decide if they'll still be a match when their season wraps filming.
Release date: Jan. 18
Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne
Set against the backdrop of New York City's sparkling social scene, Made in Manhattan [9] by Lauren Layne is a reverse My Fair Lady where a proper socialite must come to the aid of a Louisianan with no interest in rubbing elbows with the upper-crust. Violet Townsend wants nothing more than to please everyone around her, and that goes double for her grandmother. That's why she can't say no when her grandmother asks her to help her friend's newly found grandson, Cain Stone, transition from a life in Louisiana to a high-flying job in Manhattan. The only trouble is, Cain has no interest in being molded into the perfect New Yorker.
Release date: Jan. 18
Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson
Shauna Robinson's debut Must Love Books [10] is a literary romance about a young woman who is trying to decide what her future should look like. When she first landed a job as an editorial assistant at Parsons Press, Nora Hughes thought she was just a year or two away from her dream job. Instead, she's now overworked and underpaid, and things are about to get even worse as the company cuts her pay to an unlivable wage. In hopes of making ends meet, Nora begins moonlighting for the competition, but when Parsons's most important author, Andrew Santos, enters the picture, she'll have to decide exactly where her loyalties lie.
Release date: Jan. 18
On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk
On a Night Like This [11] by Lindsey Kelk puts a modern twist on Cinderella that will make you believe in fairytales again. Just days after wishing for her life to change, Fran Cooper is now an acting celebrity assistant who is gate-crashing the biggest party of the year. While she's on her way to the Crystal Ball, Fran meets a handsome American named Evan, who she has instant chemistry with. For his part, Evan makes a proposition: they spend one magical evening together without exchanging names or any other details about their lives. At the time, it seems like the perfect idea, but it soon becomes apparent that one magical night just isn't enough when real feelings are involved.
Release date: Jan. 18
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
No one writes emotional romance novels quite like Colleen Hoover. Her latest book, Reminders of Him [12], is another tearjerker that's sure to make you swoon. After spending five years in prison, Kenna Rowan returns to her small hometown where her life fell apart. Despite the odds being stacked against her and no one in town wanting her around, Kenna is determined to do whatever it takes to be part of her four-year-old daughter's life. All she needs is one person to give her a chance, and that one person ends up being bar owner Ledger Ward, who is willing to risk it all to help Kenna get back on her feet.
Release date: Jan. 18
What Might Have Been by Holly Miller
What Might Have Been [13] by Holly Miller is a Sliding Doors-inspired romance about a woman at a crossroads in her life. On the night she quits her job, Lucy meets the talented photographer Caleb and then bumps into Max, the ex she once thought was the one. From there, the book follows dual timelines: one where she stays in her small coastal town and pursues a relationship with Caleb while writing a novel, and one where she moves into her friend's London flat, lands her dream job, and reconnects with Max. As the two timelines unfold, Lucy finds herself pondering the question of whether or not soulmates really exist.
Release date: Jan. 18
The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
YA romance superstars Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka are making the leap to writing adult rom-coms with The Roughest Draft [14]. Three years after their book reached the top of the bestsellers list, writing team Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen have gone their separate ways. There's just one problem: They still have one book left on their contract. Now they've returned to the small Florida town where they wrote their first book together to see if they can make magic happen again, preferably without spending every second of the day arguing. What they don't anticipate is all the ways working together again will reignite their chemistry.
Release date: Jan. 25
Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall
Alexis Hall serves up a witty and romantic queer regency romance in Something Fabulous [15]. The Duke of Malvern, Valentine Layton, is trying to do his duty when he proposes to Miss Arabella Tarleton. Unfortunately, Arabella doesn't want duty and a marriage of convenience, she wants to marry for love, so she runs away in the wake of his cold proposal. Now, Valentine has no choice but to team up with his prospective bride's equally romantic and annoying twin brother Mr. Bonaventure "Bonny" Tarleton to bring her back. However, along the way, the duke begins to realise it's Bonny he has feelings for — which is only going to make his current situation even messier.
Release date: Jan. 25
Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Count Your Lucky Stars [16] by Alexandria Bellefleur is a charming second chance romance about former best friends who reenter each other's lives in the most unexpected way. Margot Cooper swore off relationships years ago, but now that all of her friends are paired off, she's starting to feel like a professional third wheel. That's why she's shocked when she bumps into Olivia Grant while touring a wedding venue with her friend. She and Olivia were each other's first everythings, but they haven't seen each other in years. That's why Margot goes against her better judgement and invites Olivia to stay in her spare room when her old friend needs a place to stay. Now it's only a matter of time before the sparks start flying all over again.
Release date: Feb. 1
Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy
Good Girl Complex [17] by Elle Kennedy follows perpetual rule-follower Mackenzie "Mac" Cabot as she embarks on a relationship that makes her reevaluate how she has been living her life. At 20, Mac wants nothing more than to grow her fledgling internet business, but her parents insist on her getting a college degree even though it's not what she wants. Still, the idea of disappointing her parents is too much to bear, so she moves to the college town of Avalon Bay where she promptly meets and fall for local bad boy Cooper Hartley. It's not long before being around Cooper inspires Mac to be bolder in her own life, but he has a secret that could cut their romance short.
Release date: Feb. 1
Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson
Alana Quintana Albertson gives Romeo and Juliet the rom-com treatment in the delightful Ramón and Julieta [18]. In Albertson's take on the classic tale, Ramón is dedicated to helping his father grow his fast food chain, but when he meets a mysterious woman who sweeps him off his feet at a Day of the Dead celebration, he finds himself temporarily distracted. The woman in question is Julieta, a celebrity chef who is trying her best to save her sea-to-table taqueria — the very same taqueria where Ramón recently became the landlord. Now the star-crossed lovers find themselves on opposite sides of a taco war that could end their relationship before it starts.
Release date: Feb. 1
Not the Witch You Wed by April Asher
Being single in New York City is hard enough without adding magic to the equation. In Not the Witch You Wed [19] by April Asher, Violet, a witch who has lost her magic and a wolf-shifter, Lincoln, agree to fake date to appease the outdated supernatural laws that dictate they must find a mate sooner rather than later. However, it's not long before the unlikely pair discover they have real feelings for one another. Plus, once she begins dating Lincoln, Violet's magic returns, suggesting their fake union is conjuring some real magic just when she needs it the most.
Release date: Feb. 8
Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
Fans of You've Got Mail will find lots to love about Meet Me in the Margins [20] by Melissa Ferguson. After years spent editing other people's books, Savannah Cade is finally ready to pitch her novel to her boss. The only thing holding her back is that her book is a romance — a genre the publishing house she works for tends to avoid. In hopes of keeping her book under wraps a little bit longer, she hides it away in a secret nook at the office, but when she goes back to retrieve it, she discovers someone has left critical notes in the margins. At first she's dismayed, but soon she finds herself opening up to her secret editor in ways she never imagined.
Release date: Feb. 15
A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth Everett
Elizabeth Everett continues her The Secret Scientists of London series with A Perfect Equation [21]. This time around, the focus is on Miss Letitia Fenley, a mathematician who is preparing to compete for the Rosewood Prize for Mathematics when she's asked to manage Athena's Retreat, a secret gathering of England's women scientists. After years of doing everything on her own, Letty is unsure about letting the women or Lord Greycliff, the gentleman tasked with protecting the society, into her life. But when the future of Athena's Retreat is on the line, Letty will have to forgo safeguarding her heart in order to work with the troublesome Grey.
Release date: Feb. 15
Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake
Ashley Herring Blake's debut Delilah Green Doesn't Care [22] is a steamy romp with a warm heart at its centre. After she left Bright Falls and her stepfamily behind, Delilah Green swore she would never return. But when her estranged stepsister makes her an offer she can't refuse to photograph her wedding, Delilah reluctantly leaves New York City and returns to her hometown. At first she plans to make her trip as short as possible, but then she runs into Claire Sutherland, her stepsister's best friend, and it's not long before she finds a way to get under Claire's skin. But the last thing she expects is for the fascinating Claire to charm her too.
Release date: Feb. 22
I'm So Not Over You by Kosoko Jackson
I'm So Not Over You [23] by Kosoko Jackson is a second chance romance with a dash of fake dating thrown in for good measure. Kian Andrews hasn't heard from his ex-boyfriend Hudson Rivers in months, so when he receives a text from him out of the blue, Kian is certain he's ready to apologise. Instead, Hudson has a favour to ask: He needs Kian to pose as his boyfriend at a family function. Against his better judgement, Kian agrees, and it's not long before a family dinner turns into him getting roped into attending the wedding of the season with his ex.
Release date: Feb. 22
Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
Tessa Bailey's It Happened One Summer charmed romance readers in 2021, and now she's serving up more of the Bellinger sisters' adventures in Hook, Line, and Sinker [24]. This time it's Hannah's turn to find love in a small town, but things are a little bit more complicated for her than they were for her sister. Hannah and notorious playboy Fox Thornton vowed to just be friends despite their chemistry, but when Hannah moves into his spare room and enlists his help with catching her crush's attention, their platonic friendship is put to the test. Fox knows he wants something more, but he doesn't know how he can tell Hannah without destroying their friendship if she doesn't feel the same way.
Release date: March 1
Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron
Jane Austen's Emma gets a Bollywood twist in Kamila Knows Best [25] by Farah Heron. Kamila Hussain loves her life. Thanks to her famed Bollywood movie nights, her fabulous job, and her adorable dog's wildly successful Instagram account, her days are always full. Still, she makes time to do what she does best: play matchmaker for her friends and family. However, when it comes to her own love life, Kamila is content with simply flirting with Rohan Nasser, a serious and successful friend of the family. But when flirting turns to something more, Kamila is going to have to decide if she's ready to take a break from matchmaking and try falling in love herself.
Release date: March 8
Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma
Dating Dr. Dil [26] by Nisha Sharma is a modern take on William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Kareena Mann spends her days restoring classic cars and ignoring her father's hints that it's time for her to find love. However, he throws her a curveball when he reveals he's going to sell her mother's house unless she can get engaged in four months. Kareena accepts his challenge in hopes of keeping the house in the family, but things quickly get out of hand when her argument with TV host Dr. Prem Verma goes viral, creating drama that Prem can only get out of if he makes a love match with the impossible Kareena.
Release date: March 15
One Night on the Island by Josie Silver
A double-booking leads to romance in Josie Silver's One Night on the Island [27]. Dating columnist Cleo Wilde books a solo retreat on a small Irish island in hopes of finding a new direction for her career just in time for her 30th birthday. Having to share her quaint accommodations with American Mack Sullivan, who is fleeing his troubles back home and tracing his roots in Ireland, definitely wasn't part of her plan. But since the ferry only arrives on the island once a week, Cleo and Mack are stuck together for now, and although things get off to a rocky start, it's not long before the mismatched pair realises they have more in common than they thought.
Release date: March 15
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
An ER doctor finds herself torn between two worlds in Abby Jimenez's heartfelt Part of Your World [28]. Alexis Montgomery is a city girl who comes from a long line of surgeons, but her passion has always been helping people in emergency situations. What she never imagined is that she might find happiness during her stay in a small town, but thanks to Daniel, a sexy carpenter who is 10 years younger than her, that's exactly what happens. Now Alexis is facing an impossible choice: stay with Daniel in the town she's falling in love with, or return to the city where she can do the most good.
Release date: April 19
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Bestselling author Emily Henry is back with another unputdownable rom-com in Book Lovers [29]. Literary agent Nora Stephens has devoted her life to books, and she knows all of the tropes by heart. That's why she's so certain she's not heroine material. Still, her little sister won't give up on Nora becoming the hero of her own story, even if it means dragging her to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. As expected, Nora easily resists the small town charm of the place, but she can't stop running into the ultra-serious Charlie Lastra, an editor she knows from the city. While her sister may call their encounters a series of fated meet-cutes, Nora knows better... or so she thinks.
Release date: May 3
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Jasmine Guillory is giving Beauty and the Beast a fresh update that would make Belle proud in By the Book [30]. At 25, Izzy is fast becoming disillusioned by her dream job in publishing. Not only is she constantly working for so little pay she's stuck living at her parents' home, but she's also one of the only Black employees at the publishing house. Still, she's not ready to give up just yet, so when she discovers her boss needs someone to get a manuscript out of their beastly client Beau Towers, she volunteers in hopes of earning a promotion. But upon meeting Beau, she realises getting him to sit down and write might not be as easy as she expected.
Release date: May 3
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
If you're looking for a romance that will leave you reaching for the tissues, then give Every Summer After [31] by Carley Fortune a try. Over six summers, Persephone Fraser fell in love with Sam Florek during her family's holidays to Barry's Bay, before they ultimately split up. As an adult, she hasn't returned to Barry's Bay, but when she gets the call that Sam's mother has died, she goes racing back. Soon, old feelings are reignited, but before they can move forward, Sam and Persephone will have to confront all of the reasons they broke up in the first place.
Release date: May 10
Set on You by Amy Lea
Amy Lea's debut novel Set on You [32] follows a curvy fitness influencer as she falls hard for her gym nemesis. Despite her family's insistence that she needs to get a conventional job, Crystal Chen has built an online following by dismantling stereotypes about fitness and working out. But while she looks like she has everything together in her online life, Crystal has her share of real life worries and insecurities just like everyone else. That's why she's so reluctant to let Scott Ritchie, a sexy firefighter/squat rack thief into her heart even though she knows the chemistry between them is undeniable.
Release date: May 10
Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
Acclaimed romance writing team Christina Lauren are serving up their most ambitious book yet in Something Wilder [33]. Lily Wilder's father was a professional treasure hunter who was never there for his daughter. In fact, his quests even lost her family their ranch. As a result, she has little patience for people who believe there's buried treasure out there, but she still uses her father's maps to guide people through dangerous terrain for cash. However, things take a turn when her latest client turns out to be her ex, and a few mishaps suggest there might be treasure in the mountains after all.
Release date: May 17
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty [34] by Akwaeke Emezi is a riveting and emotional exploration of grief and taking a second chance on love. Five years after the death of the love of her life, Feyi Adekola is slowly rebuilding her shattered world. She lives in a brownstone with her best friend and even has her own art studio, but when it comes to dating, she's just not sure if she's ready yet. But when she meets someone during a rooftop party, Feyi realises she may have found someone who is perfect for her, and there's nothing more frightening than realising she might finally be ready to move forward.
Release date: May 24
The Sizzle Paradox by Lily Menon
While trying to crack the scientific code for sexual and romantic chemistry, a pair of grad students fall for for each other in The Sizzle Paradox [35] by Lily Menon. Lyric Bishop has no trouble finding people she's sexually attracted to, but transforming sexual attraction into an emotional connection never quite pans out. That's a shame since she's writing her doctoral thesis on the "Sizzle Paradox." Enter her roommate and best friend Kian Montgomery, who offers to help Lyric if in exchange she will find him the perfect match. She agrees, but the closer they work together, the more apparent it becomes the answer to their respective problems is each other.
Release date: June 14
American Royalty by Tracey Livesay
American Royalty [36] by Tracey Livesay is one of the most anticipated novels of 2022 [37] for a good reason: It's a sexy royal romance with just the right amount of social commentary. After an unfortunate incident with a pop star goes viral, rapper Danielle "Duchess" Nelson needs some positive publicity fast. Thankfully, Prince Jameson, who is clueless about pop culture, is put in charge of securing the music for a concert in honour of his late grandfather, and thanks to a recommendation from a student, he chooses the Duchess. Soon, the two total opposites find themselves working with each other and falling hard in the process.
Release date: June 28
Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter
At once funny and emotional, Bet on It [38] by Jodie Slaughter is most likely the only bingo-based romance you'll read this year. Aja Owens's life is complicated enough without adding falling in love to the equation. Still, when her favourite bingo buddy introduces Aja to her grandson, she knows she's in trouble. Likewise, Walker Abbott isn't interested in starting a relationship with anyone in Greenbelt, South Carolina. In fact, he wants nothing more than to visit his grandmother and leave the town that's so full of bad memories for him behind. But despite making a bingo-based sex pact to keep things from getting serious between them, Aja and Walker are already in too deep to turn back now.
Release date: July 12
Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee
Booked on a Feeling [39] by Jayci Lee follows Lizzy Chung, a successful lawyer who is on her way to becoming a partner at her firm when a burnout-induced anxiety attack forces her to take a break. Lizzy reluctantly agrees and heads straight for the small town where she spent every summer with her childhood best friend Jack Park. What Lizzy doesn't know is that Jack has had a crush on her for years, and now that they're working side by side to revitalize the town's bookstore, it's going to be next to impossible for him to hide his true feelings from her.
Release date: July 26
Husband Material by Alexis Hall
The long-awaited sequel to Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall is finally here. In Husband Material [40], Luc and Oliver are just trying live their best couple life while everyone around them is getting married. Soon, Luc is feeling major pressure to propose, but before he can work up the nerve to pop the question, he and Oliver are going to have to attend at least four weddings and one funeral. Along the way, they'll both discover that being together is so much better than a perfect proposal and that no one should be making a timeline for their relationship aside from them.
Out Aug. 2