Ten Romance Books I’m Prioritizing Reading in Summer 2022

Posted June 28, 2022 by Kate

Top Ten Tuesday is a hosted by Jana That Artsy Reader Girl, and is a fabulous meme that gives weekly prompts to answer. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Click the link to join – we’d love to have you!

hello, loves!

Here I am… participating in in Top Ten Tuesday again!!! GO ME :) This week, however, I chose to actually follow the prompt assigned to this week. Three cheers to me, again!!! 🙌🏼

This week, I’m spotlighting ten books ~~I’m hoping to~~ I WILL BE READING this summer! There are so many books on my hypothetical summer TBR that I’m hoping to get to, so I’m specifically highlighting popular romance reads and recent releases from fave authors that I’m very behind on reading. It is beach reads season – pardon the Emily Henry pun – so I’m thinking this list is semi-realistic?

Plus I’m not getting overzealous and putting my entire physical TBR. Of the 10 below, one is an ARC, three I own physically, one I own as an ebook, one I borrowed through Kindle Unlimited and the rest are library loans. This is quite doable :)

Kiss Hard by Nalini Singh — This one is practically a no-brainer. Nalini Singh is one of my favorite-favorite authors ever, and she wrote my favorite paranormal series called the Psy-Changeling series! That link will take you to my review, where I gush too much. But most importantly, Rock Hard by Nalini Singh (a book in this series) was my introduction to romance! It’s still my favorite office romance to date, and I have yet to find one that tops it. (Goodreads)

Book Lovers by Emily Henry — I actually have not read this synopsis, but I did really enjoy Beach Read by Emily Henry two summers ago. I’m hoping to reread that one this season because I don’t remember much, only that I adored the characters and tropes, and I wrote in my review “Raw and hurt, but witty, relatable, and often awkward, January and Gus left everything on the pages.” That sounds promising! One of my favorite content creators, Caitlin, described it as a “love letter to readers everywhere,” and I need more of that in my life ✨ (Goodreads)

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez — I haven’t read the synopsis of this book, either, Oops? I guess that’s just not really how I roll. But I adored Abby Jimenez (check out my gushing review of The Friend Zone), and the two consecutive releases after that. Her books have an incredible heart to them, hilarious and wonderful characters, and a fantastic representation of mental illnesses, chronic disease and/or health complications not typically covered in mainstream romance. (Goodreads)

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry — Another Emily Henry book! Another synopsis I’ll about to butcher due to ignorance! My knowledge of this one is vague, but I believe if follows two friends as they vacation around the world once a year, and then they don’t do so for awhile for whatever reason, until they decide to be friends again and go on another vacation together? First of all, it’s a friends-to-lovers story, which I’m a positive hoe for. But mostly, it will both invigorate and sate my travel bug. I was supposed to study and travel abroad this summer before it was cancelled (for the second summer), so if I can’t travel abroad on my own, I plan to do so in books 💛 (Goodreads)

Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend by Penny Reid — Penny Reid is one of those authors and bookish individuals I was so lucky to be introduced to early in my reading career. Not only is she a genius that has created her own publishing company (SmartyPants Romance) with a great community of writers, but she’s also an incredible advocate within the community itself. And both of those are besides the fact that she’s also a fantastic writer, who writes refreshing, intelligent, nerdy romances with characters who leap off the page and walk around my brain, rent free. I’ve been sleeping on this release, but I can’t wait to dive in!! (Goodreads)

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert — Honestly, I’m incredibly surprised I haven’t picked this one up yet!! I blew through Get a Life, Chloe Brown and Take a Hint, Dani Brown, and adored both installments. With Eve Brown, the third book of the series and final sequel, I know what to expect and my expectations are in the literal sky. Maybe that’s why I’m nervous? I shouldn’t be! Chloe and Dani were wonderful hosts, and I know Eve’s story will be just as invigorating, especially because she’s got just as much of a rambunctious personality as her sisters. I just need to dive in! Spoiler: I actually read it before publishing this post: (My review)

Witches Get Stitches by Juliette Cross — Holy sequels! I can’t stand them! I love them, but they just make me so anxious. I’m grateful + rabid for more, but I don’t want to read it because I don’t want the journey to end too soon and what if it doesn’t live up to my expectations? That’s the thing about this one, though. I know it will! My #1 wish (besides everything, the basics) is to read a new adult book/series following a witch in college. This story doeS nOT eXIsT, despite its brilliance. And yet this series has come the closest to the casual and cool witchery vibes that I believe a book like that would emulate. Not to mention, Wolf Gone Wild, book one, was one of my favorite books of the year. I even bought a paperback after reading the Kindle Unlimited version, which I never do. ALPHA? hell yes. So basically, I need this book. I desperately am excited for this book. And yet I haven’t read it yet! Gah! (Goodreads)

The Goal by Elle Kennedy — I don’t know why, but I always underestimate the Off Campus sequels. The Deal, book one, was just so magical and perfect and absolutely everything I could ever have asked for in a tutor/dislike-to-friends-to-lovers/slow burn story. It was *chefs kiss* But The Mistake, book two, was also pretty amazing!! I rated it five stars, which never happens, and almost never occurs for two books in a series in a row. Book three, The Score, was also fabulous, so I don’t know why I’m nervous going into The Goal. I think I just don’t want it to end 🥺 (Goodreads)

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun — I’m obsessed with MM rom-coms, so the reality TV angle between the showrunner and the producer?????? I’m incredibly obsessed with this scenario. Once again (and I’m truly sorry to be a bit of a broken record here), that’s all I know! I know this one is incredibly hyped and I’ve had the ebook on loan from the library for a long time and keep renewing it without reading it. I’m nervous! But I’m positive I’ll love it. I don’t know if it’s just the cover, but I do get strong The Roommate by Rosie Danaan vibes. It may just be the cover, though. They’re not the same, but they’re linked in my brain. (Goodreads)

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey — I haven’t read the synopsis, but I have a feeling I’ll love it! I’ve seen snippets of commentary and listened to people talk about it, enough so that it’s cemented in my brain as a beach read I need to get to asap, but can’t actually recall the details. I’m getting Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy vibes?? That might just be me. Doesn’t the cover just scream rich woman visits small coastal town and meets decidedly not-rich man that’s really a softie once you get to know him? I bet it’s a dislike-to-friends-to-lovers story. This is my cover assumption, but I’m right about this one – I just know it! Nevertheless, I’m excited for this one and the sequel, even though my history with Tessa Bailey isn’t ironclad, I still try to read all her new releases 🙌🏼 (Goodreads)