WE ARE SO BACK! Celebrate the blue wave with a romance novel! Here’s your weekly round-up of brand new, progressive-leaning romances that you may not have seen on your Instagram feed. If I’ve omitted a title you feel passionate about and think this community will enjoy, please do share it in the comments. Reminder that I haven't read any of these titles yet, so this isn't an official endorsement unless noted. Click through to read the post on Bindery for my full commentary.

Too Cold for Comfort by Nisha J. Tuli (Forever) — Forced proximity in the arctic between a nature photographer and a gruff innkeeper!! Tuli is the author of the 2025 romance Not Safe For Work, as well as the Artefacts of Ouranos romantasy series. 

Swipe Bite by Alexandra Vasti (Berkley) — The first paranormal romance by the historical rom-com author of Ladies In Hating, Scandal of the Summer, and more. I’m excited to see what Vasti’s contemporary fiction is like. 

Hate and Other Acts of Fiction by Megan Oliver (Berkley) — Rival tour guides-to-lovers try to boost the revenue of a historic mansion with a murder mystery event… while ignoring their history together. Reviews suggest I will stand ten toes down for this “complex” heroine with childhood trauma.

You, Me, & the Conspiracy by Emma Barry (Atria) — An academic adventure romance about two historians trying to unmask a secret society. For readers who want a horny Da Vinci Code mixed with American history.

The Revolution of Olivia Witherson by S. Isabelle (HarperCollins) — This YA historical set in 1860s Paris sounds fantastic. The heroine is engaged to a wealthy businessman when she is abducted by the Saints Tristes gang. The more time she spends with the gang and its infuriating leader, the more she learns about labor exploitation, classism, and how her soon-to-be-husband runs his factories. 

Lavender and Hemlock by Lili Wilkinson (Delacorte Press) — You ever see a book cover and go HOLY MOLY TAKE MY MONEY? Wow. Anyway, sapphic cozy romantasy! 

The Thorns We Wear Inside by Amy Avery (DAW) — A sapphic dark romantasy inspired by Beauty and The Beast.

Straight to the Source by K-Ming Chang (Holiday House) — A sapphic YA romance with Taiwanese American representation about a student journalist investigating a “mysterious fire that destroyed a building and tore apart an immigrant community” and her over-achieving ex-best-friend. 

Crash Into You by Simone Soltani (Berkley) — Accidental pregnancy romances aren’t really my style, but folks are loving this Formula1 romance about a woman who falls for her dad’s rival after a sizzling one-night-stand with unintended consequences. 

Of the Seven by Tracy MacNish (indie) — This hist-rom Snow White retelling got a rave review from one of my favorite Bookstagrammers, triviareads. Plus it’s on Kindle Unlimited!