We read to escape to another world – one without real life’s complications and anxieties. That might explain why so many of us enjoy romance books, with their perfectly formed characters, off-the-charts chemistry, grand gestures, and happily-ever-afters.
While we all have classic love stories we turn to again and again for escapism, there are plenty of new romance books coming out in 2025 that will make for perfect summer reads – especially for lounging on the beach. Whether you’re looking for an enemies-to-lovers book, a fantasy romance, or a literary love story, we’ve got you covered with our selection below.
Must-read contemporary romance books
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s love stories often transport us to another time and place, whether that be 1920s Hollywood, the professional tennis circuit, or the tour bus of a 1970s band at the height of their fame. But her latest novel, Atmosphere, is literally set in another world, with its setting on a space shuttle mission. It’s the summer of 1980 and astrophysics professor Joan is preparing to go to space with a group of astronauts when she finds a love she never expected. But can their relationship survive the mission?
Emily Henry is the queen of escapist romances, complete with gorgeous landscapes, complex characters and quick-fire chemistry. In her latest, a reclusive heiress invites two writers to her home on Little Crescent Island to audition for the chance to write her memoir. Over the course of a month, plucky young journalist Alice competes with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Hayden to unearth the heiress’ scandalous family history. The competition is fierce – but so is the attraction.
Carley Fortune’s romances are like summer in a book. Last year she released This Summer Will be Different – a sizzling, steamy novel about a forbidden attraction. This summer, she’s back with another sun-drenched novel full of boat trips, sunsets and undeniable chemistry. This friends-to-lovers story sees photographer Alice return to Barry’s Bay, where she once took a photo of local boy Charlie that catapulted her to fame. Now they are both older, but, with his easy charm and piercing stare, Charlie makes Alice feel like a teenager again.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to see your ex go on a reality dating show? That’s what happens to Temi in The Re-Write when the man she is dating, Wale, breaks up with her to go on Love Villa. While he’s away, Temi focuses on her career as a writer and later gets the opportunity to ghost-write a celebrity memoir – a celebrity who turns out to be Wale… This warm, funny second-chance romance is not just about love; it’s about learning to be honest with yourself and others.
Austin Taylor’s debut novel is a love story set in the high-stakes world of tech start-ups. Zoe and Jack meet at Harvard University and, within two years, they drop out to become the founding partners of a billion-dollar health company. Their love for each other is strong but often competes with their greed and ambition, as they each question the price of success. Notes on Infinity is the perfect read for fans of Lessons in Chemistry and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.
What happens after happily-ever-after? That’s the question at the heart of Consider Yourself Kissed. When Coralie meets Adam, it’s love at first sight. But over the following decade, against the backdrop of a turbulent period in UK politics, Adam continually prioritises his career as a journalist. Coralie has everything she ever wanted, but she has lost the most important thing: herself. Can she find her way back? This realistic, funny and heartwarming romance asks what we should and should not sacrifice for love.
This small-town cowboy romance is the latest in the Silver Pines series but it also works as a standalone novel. Cole is the interim sheriff of Laurel Creek, and Ginger is the respectable daughter of a Kentucky congressman. After a drunken night in Las Vegas, the long-time friends awake to discover they’re married. They agree to keep their marriage a secret, but sparks fly when they are thrown together over the course of the summer. This steamy romance is full of sizzling chemistry and characters you’ll undoubtedly fall for.
If you’re a fan of fantasy romance books (otherwise known as “romantasy”), we recommend this Norse-inspired novel. A sequel to last year’s No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller A Fate Inked in Blood, the second and final book in the series sees shield maiden Freya recovering from a betrayal by the man she loves while on a quest to break the prophecy that she will be responsible for thousands of deaths. This is a fast-paced enemies-to-lovers romance that features a strong female character amid the world of Viking mythology.
Sonia and Sunny meet on an overnight train and feel an immediate connection. Both are fighting private battles and struggling to find their place in the world but, together, they embark on a search for happiness. The result is a sweeping love story that is equal parts devastating and deeply romantic. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is lyrical and beautifully written, as you might expect from the Booker Prize-winning author of The Inheritance of Loss.
James is on the cusp of adulthood, dreaming of a life outside of his small village, where he can live more freely. Then he meets his charming new neighbour Luke, who has a wicked reputation as well as his own anxieties beneath his bravado. As the two boys grow closer, James must decide if he’s willing to risk everything for the boy he loves. This is a beautifully written story about first love, with its yearning and unrequited desire, and we’ve named it one of the best debut novels of 2025.
In this spicy dystopian romance, the Primes rule the Continent and hunt the Modified – those who have developed psychic powers. Wren is a 20-year-old Modified who uses her hidden power to help the rebel Uprising, until one careless mistake leads to her recruitment to the enemy’s military program. Still, this this could be Wren’s chance to eliminate the Primes from inside their ranks – so long as she keeps her powers, and her attraction to her commanding officer, under wraps.
Frequently asked questions
How popular are romance books?
You’ve probably noticed that romance books are having a moment. Ever since the pandemic, romance titles have regularly topped sales charts, and the genre continues to increase in value. The industry was worth £20 million for two decades, but this leapt to £53.2 million in 2022, according to The Bookseller, and its popularity continues to rise.
Sales of romance books are up 10% in 2025, compared to 2024, according to data from Nielsen BookScan’s Total Consumer Market (TCM). Some of the most popular authors include Dilly Court, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Laurie Gilmore and Colleen Hoover, but there are new voices continually being discovered on online platforms like BookTok.
Why are romance books so good?
The popularity of romance books is not surprising: they offer much-needed escapism, transporting you away from the stresses of everyday life and into a love story with a guaranteed happily-ever-after.
The genre is also popular because it continues to evolve. There is a variety of subgenres within romance. Some of these are long-established, like historical romance, romantic sagas, and literary love stories. However, in more recent years, hybrid genres have emerged, including romantasy (fantasy romance), cosy fantasy romance, and thromance (thriller romance).