The last days of summer are here, and there's no better time to get lost in a romance that will leave you swooning from something besides the heat. Thankfully, there are plenty of new romance novels coming your way this August [1]. Highlights from this month's collection of charming reads include a regency love story with a side of spying, a meet-cute facilitated by two adorable dogs, and a fresh take on Pride and Prejudice [2] that we suspect even Jane Austen would love. Crank up the AC and forgo the heat outside in favour of one of these 11 romantic titles coming out this month [3], we promise you won't regret it.
More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood
Young love takes centre stage in Syed M. Masood's More Than Just a Pretty Face [4]. Danyal Jilani is a teen with many talents: he's funny, an excellent cook, and full of confidence, despite his father frowning on his dreams to become a chef. However, he doesn't impress the parents of his longtime crush Kaval, which leads him to enlist the help of the brilliant Bisma to assist him in his quest to win a school competition in hopes of winning Kaval's parents over, but along the way he begins to fall for the girl who is right in front of him.
Out Aug. 4
Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls
David Nicholls, the author behind the heartbreaking One Day, returns to the romance genre with Sweet Sorrow [5]. In his latest novel, Nicholls explores the yearning of first love through the lens of a 38-year-old man on the verge of getting married who can't stop reflecting on the summer he fell so hard for a girl that he joined a production of Romeo and Juliet.
Out Aug. 4
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
Set against the backdrop of a telenovela production, Alexis Daria's You Had Me at Hola [6] is a steamy romp about two actors struggling to make their show a hit. Soap opera star Jasmine Lin Rodriguez is trying to put her messy, public breakup behind her as she prepares for the leading lady role that could make her career. Meanwhile, telenovela favourite Ashton Suárez just wants to keep his career alive. In order to ensure their dreams come true, Jasmine and Ashton need to make sure their onscreen romance is believable, even if that means working on their chemistry when the cameras aren't rolling.
Out Aug. 4
Eighty Days to Elsewhere by KC Dyer
Book-lovers rejoice, Eighty Days to Elsewhere [7] by KC Dyer is an ode to bookstores and the power of literature with a hate-to-love romance thrown in for good measure. When a new landlord threatens to triple her uncle's rent on his beloved bookstore, Ramona takes on an unusual new job to raise enough money to save his shop: retrace the journey in Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days and plan a holiday for modern travellers. The only trouble is there's another person competing for the job: the nephew of her uncle's new landlord.
Out Aug. 11
No Offence by Meg Cabot
Best-selling author Meg Cabot's No Offence [8] is a clever love story that packs an unexpected emotional wallop. When librarian Molly Montgomery finds a newborn baby left in a restroom, she calls her town's sheriff John Hartwell for assistance. The two immediately disagree about . . . well, everything, but despite their differing opinions, sparks fly between them from their very first meeting.
Out Aug. 11
Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen
Breathe the Sky [9] by Michelle Hazen is a story about learning to trust again. Wildlife biologist Mari is recovering from a traumatic relationship by spending her days saving animals from construction sites and baking. But when she's assigned to Jack Wyatt's crew, Mari finds a kindred spirit and maybe something more in the gruff foreman.
Out Aug. 18
Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park
Suzanne Park's Loathe at First Sight [10] is a smart, funny workplace romance set in the world of video game design. Melody Joo is spearheading the production of her company's hottest new game, and she has no time to babysit Nolan, an intern who also happens to be the boss's nephew. Unfortunately, Nolan turns out to be too charming and bright to ignore for long.
Aug. 18
Who's That Earl by Susanna Craig
Susanna Craig kicks off her new regency romance series with Who's That Earl [11]. Miss Jane Quayle is a writer of Gothic novels that someone wants to see silenced for good. Thomas Sutherland is a former spy and the new Earl of Magnus, the castle where Jane resides. Despite initially mistrusting the new Earl, Jane knows her only hope of discovering who is trying to end her writing career (and possibly her life) lies with Thomas.
Out Aug. 18
The Wedding Date Disaster by Avery Flynn
The Wedding Date Disaster [12] by Avery Flynn is a mischievous romp that kicks off with a bit of twin swapping. Hadley Donavan recruits her best friend to be her wingman at her sister's wedding, and she's appalled when his annoying (and hot and wealthy) twin brother shows up instead. "Evil" though he may be, Hadley can't deny that there's something appealing about Will Holt that goes far beyond how good he looks in jeans.
Out Aug. 25
The Wrong Mr. Darcy by Evelyn Lozada and Holly Lorincz
Aspiring sports journalist Hara Isari and basketball star Derek Darcy don't exactly fall in love at first sight in Evelyn Lozada and Holly Lorincz's The Wrong Mr. Darcy [13]. Still, these two opposites can't seem to stop getting stuck together, or keep their unwelcome mutual attraction from growing.
Out Aug. 25
You Lucky Dog by Julia London
Dogs and romance in the same book? Yes, please. Julia London's hilarious and sweet romance You Lucky Dog [14] begins with an accidental dog-swapping which quickly leads to puppy love between two very different dog owners. Trust us, even if you're a cat person, you won't be able to resist this story's charms.
Out Aug. 25