The 12 Most Anticipated Romance Reads of 2026

If your 2026 TBR pile is already threatening to topple… make room. Next year is shaping up to be one of the most emotionally rich, heart-meltingly romantic reading years we’ve had in a long time. From coastal love stories to sports-romance stunners, second chances to slow-burn ache, these are the books readers are already whispering about in group chats, bookmarking on socials, and counting down the days for.

Here are the 12 most anticipated romance reads of 2026 – including a very special one from right here in Point Perry.

Here are the 12 Most Anticipated Romance Reads of 2026:

1. Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen – Expected January 27

   Start the year with a book that promises charm, chemistry, and a deep-sea pull of emotion. Heather McBreen’s latest blends heartfelt conflict with the kind of dialogue that makes you grin into your tea. Perfect for readers who love small-town tenderness with a modern twist.

2. In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde – Expected March 3

   Liz Tomforde returns with another addictive sports romance – full of grit, empowerment, and a heroine who knows exactly what she deserves… even if it terrifies her to go after it. Expect banter, butterflies, and a love story that fights hard for its happily ever after.

3. No Matter What by Cara Bastone – Expected March 17

   Cara Bastone is queen of tender, character-driven love stories, and this one might be her softest (and strongest) yet. A story about showing up, over and over, even when life gets messy. Grab tissues.

4. The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez – Expected March 31

   Abby Jimenez consistently delivers romance with both emotional punch and laugh-out-loud charm. This highly anticipated release promises fate, timing, and two people whose lives collide exactly when they need each other most.

5. Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune – Expected May 5

   Carley Fortune never misses when it comes to atmospheric, longing-soaked romance. Set against stunning backdrops and woven with nostalgia, this book explores the people we find - and sometimes lose - during life’s wildest seasons.

6. Fever Dream by Elsie Silver – Expected May 19

   Expect swoon-worthy cowboys, tension you can practically taste, and the emotional depth Elsie Silver fans adore. This is one of the buzziest early-winter releases and guaranteed to blow up Bookstagram.

7. Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan – Expected May 26

   Annabel Monaghan brings her signature wit and warmth to a story bursting with charm. Think cosy-romcom energy with an undercurrent of heartfelt transformation – the perfect curl-up-and-smile read.

8. Good At Being Alive by Elizabeth O'Roark – Expected June 16

   Elizabeth O’Roark is known for emotionally gripping, gorgeously written romance – and this novel promises all that plus a heroine on the edge of reinvention. If you love angsty, intimate storytelling, this release belongs at the very top of your list.

9. Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt – Expected July 14

   A book about rediscovery, home, and the love that finds you when you stop running. Tarah Dewitt delivers humour, heart, and the kind of tender moments that stay with you long after the last page.

10. Start at the End by Emma Grey – Expected March 31

    Emma Grey specialises in stories that hold both heartbreak and hope. This one explores healing, courage, and the unexpected ways love pieces us back together. Readers who crave emotional resonance will devour it.

11. The Shippers by Katherine Center – Expected May 19

    Katherine Center is back with another feel-good, life-affirming romance filled with charm, optimism, and characters who leap off the page. Expect sunshine, heart, and a heroine whose journey will make you cheer.

12. Let Me Love You by Joanne Speirs – Expected Date TBA

    No 2026 list would feel complete without a return to Point Perry. Lindy Miles and Sebastian Conway’s story is finally coming. She comes home broken. He’s been waiting for her for years. Together they rise stronger than before. Expect heart-deep emotion, a slow-burn connection that feels inevitable, and those cherished Point Perry moments that linger long after the final chapter.

    More details are coming… but trust us, this one already deserves a place waiting on your pre-order list.

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Whether you're seeking a heart-clenching slow burn, a cosy small-town escape, or a novel that makes you fall in love with life again, this list promises something truly special.

2026 is coming in hot.