Who’s searching for a little summer romance?
Because it looks like there’s plenty of romance available: Sales in the genre increased by more than 50 percent between 2021 and 2022, according to Publisher’s Weekly.
So, feeling flirty? Swipe right to your local bookstore for an abundance of great titles, authors and diverse genres.
Since romance is not my area of expertise (that dating app joke above probably alerted you to this already), I reached out to a squad of romance experts that included Southern California booksellers Leah Koch and Ashley Dang from The Ripped Bodice; bookseller Iz Lawler from Once Upon a Time bookstore; Nathan Allen, co-owner of Underdog Bookstore; and Subverting Expectations shop owner Bobbi Lee Smart. They each provided personal recommendations you can read below.
I also talked again Billie Bloebaum, the bookseller who created Bookstore Romance Day, which brings together independent bookstores to focus on romance books. This year, BRD lands on Saturday, August 19, and you can find participating local stores on the website.
Romance is definitely in the air, according to these booksellers.
“I have in recent years discovered the amazing vastness of the romance genre and I’ve really connected with it. And it’s growing exponentially,” bookseller Lawler says of the wealth of books to choose from. “It’s got a lot of amazing, intelligent authors who have such cool stories to tell.”
So here is a big, beautiful diverse list of books for your pleasure. All books are on bookshelves now unless otherwise noted.
A book lover. (Getty Images)
“An Island Princess Starts a Scandal” by Adriana Herrera
This is the second book in Herrera’s Las Leonas Historical Romance series, which I am loving because there aren’t enough Historical Romance novels being written by and about people of color and fewer still by and about queer people of color. It doesn’t hurt that Adriana is a writer who knows how to get me right in the feels. (recommended by Billie Bloebaum)
“Chef’s Choice” by TJ Alexander
This is only TJ’s second book, but they’ve already earned a place on my must-read list. This is, I think, the first romance featuring two trans protagonists to be published by a major publisher (Simon & Schuster’s Atria imprint). It’s a fake dating romance, which is my favorite trope, and it’s full of cheese of both the literal and metaphorical varieties. (recommended by Billie Bloebaum)
“Cleat Cute” by Meryl Wilsner (coming in September)
I’m very excited for the World Cup this summer. This is an F/F romance about two members of the Women’s National Soccer Team, one who’s a veteran and one who’s brand-new. It’s very just fun and trope-y. And if you enjoy watching the World Cup, you will enjoy reading this. (recommended by Leah Koch)
“Cruel Seduction” by Katee Robert (coming in August)
The entire Katee Robert “Dark Olympus” series of Greek mythology retellings is great. “Radiant Sin,” the third book, came out in February and then the fourth book, “Cool Seduction,” comes out in August. Those were definitely two on my list. “Cruel Seduction” has four people in the relationship; she does a lot of queer rep and polyamory so her books are always great for that type of stuff. (recommended by Bobbi Lee Smart)
“For Her Consideration” by Amy Spalding (two recommendations)
This is a queer adult romance with a Southern California summertime vibe. It’s about a woman who’s trying to break into the industry, and it’s that trope that she has so many dreams but she’s just stuck at a dead-end job that doesn’t respect her. She meets a woman who’s a higher-up celebrity, and it’s this really great whirlwind romance – very Hollywood feeling, very swoony, very joyful. And it’s got a lot of discussion around self-worth and not compromising yourself or your dreams and staying true to yourself. (recommended by Iz Lawler)
This book can help you overcome your confidence issues and will break your writer’s block – it’s so good! Amy Spalding brings her trademark humor into a timely story about a struggling screenwriter and a Hollywood executive. (recommended by Nathan Allen)
“Her Good Side” by Rebekah Weatherspoon (two recommendations)
Rebekah Weatherspoon is the queen of diverse characters and nails it again with this “fake-relationship” YA novel. What starts as dating practice for homecoming becomes quickly complicated for protagonists Bethany Greene and Jacob Yeun. (recommended by Nathan Allen)
It’s a YA romance, but I’m always gonna recommend anything by Rebekah Weatherspoon. I absolutely adore her and think she’s just amazing and her books are wonderful. So definitely that one. (recommended by Bobbi Lee Smart)
“In the Event of Love” by Courtney Kae
Following in the footsteps of Jonathan Bennett’s appearance on the Hallmark Channel, “In the Event of Love” takes the classic Hallmark tropes and flips them into a confident lesbian romance. It’s warmer than hot cocoa but spicier than cinnamon – an excellent romance debut for Courtney Kay. (recommended by Nathan Allen)
“In the Event of Heartbreak” by Courtney Kae (coming July 25)
This book has more charm than eating a cinnamon roll by the sea…or maybe that’s its charm in a nutshell? Regardless, we’ve loved our preview of Courtney Kae’s perfectly gay summer read. (recommended by Nathan Allen)
“Much Ado About Nada” by Uzma Jalaluddin
On the surface, Uzma Jalaluddin writes novels that I shouldn’t love. They’re contemporary, which is not my preference. They’re chaste, in keeping with Uzma and her characters’ Muslim faith. They’re riffs on well-known stories, from “Pride & Prejudice” to “You’ve Got Mail.” But somehow, all of these elements that are usually not my jam become absolutely addictive in her hands. I can’t explain it, but I love her books. (recommended by Billie Bloebaum)
“No Boy Summer” by Amy Spalding
You can still have a “no boy summer” if you’re dating a girl, right? This YA romance is a great book for any young adult who is still discovering themself and learning how to be confident in their body while balancing teenage friendships. (recommended by Nathan Allen)
“Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review” by Tehlor Kay Mejia
This is about second chances. The protagonists met once years ago and one of them remembers and the other one not so much. It’s about music and reinventing yourself. It’s got that good mix: It’s a beach read but there’s still interesting stuff going on. (recommended by Leah Koch)
“Sorry, Bro” by Taleen Voskuni
It is a queer Armenian romance between two women that takes place in San Francisco. I have several friends who are Armenian who said it’s just an amazing read. It’s a delight to read and it also has a lot of heavy discussion around culture and family expectations. It’s awesome. (recommended by Iz Lawler)
“Summer Reading” by Jenn McKinlay
A chef whose career is in free-fall must take time out of her family vacation at Martha’s Vineyard to chaperone her half-brother at the library – and she hates to read! But then she sees that hot guy whose book she ruined is the interim director of the library! (recommended by Ashley Dang)
“That Summer Feeling” by Bridget Morrissey (three recommendations)
When you get divorced, sometimes you just need to go hide in the woods. Bridget Morrissey brings a summer sleepaway camp for adults to life in “That Summer Feeling” and recaptures what it’s like to be young and in love – even if you’re a full-fledged adult trying to reclaim your love life. (recommended by Nathan Allen)
This is my personal favorite summer romance. It just came out this year; it’s a Sapphic adult romance. It’s super-sweet, very cute. I’d definitely recommend it. (recommended by Ashley Dang)
When I saw this book, I was like, yes! I’ve been saying I want an adult summer camp. I would love to live in this romance novel. (recommended by Bobbi Lee Smart)
“To Have and to Heist” by Sara Desai
It’s got an “Ocean’s 11” feel. The main character’s best friend was accused of stealing a necklace that’s gone missing, and so she’s gonna steal it back to clear her best friend’s name. I also thought this was going to be interesting because there’s the romantic twist in there. (recommended by Bobbi Lee Smart)
“The Only Purple House in Town” by Ann Aguirre
This is really cute about a sort of found paranormal family – you know, misfit paranormal people. Really enjoyed this one. (recommended by Leah Koch)
“We Could Be So Good” by Cat Sebastian
I’ve been a fan of Cat’s for a very long time and I think this is my favorite of her books and maybe even her best book. It’s set in New York in the 1950s and is a co-workers-to-friends-to-lovers romance that is both gentle and kind but also grapples with important issues. (recommended by Billie Bloebaum)
Want more romance? Follow Bookstore Romance Day on Eventbrite. All virtual events will be presented for free on Zoom and there are panels shaping up on a range of topics.
“2023 is the fifth (!) Bookstore Romance Day and I viewed it as an opportunity to present some panels that I’ve been thinking about for a while – some since 2020, which was the first year virtual panels were part of the program,” Bloebaum told me in a follow-up email about the August 19 event.
Each virtual event will be presented in partnership with an independent bookstore and moderated by a bookseller from that store.
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Also coming this summer is a new romance convention, Steamy LitCon, which will take place over two days on August 18-19 in Anaheim. Tickets for the event are on sale for $300 and the event promises book signings, panel discussions, Q&As, keynote speakers and more.
“Aside from my enthusiasm for the romance genre, I’m also passionate about amplifying the work of authors that have been historically underrepresented in publishing. It’s my vision to host an event that not only celebrates the genre as a whole but also helps those in attendance to build relationships and connect with other romance readers and authors,” said Steamy LitCon founder Melissa Saavedra in an email.
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Another cool thing happening this summer? The Ripped Bodice is opening a store in Brooklyn in early August!
When Leah Koch (seen above in her work gear) and I spoke this week, she was in the middle of renovations ahead of the opening of the East Coast branch of the store she co-owns with her sister Bea.
“I’m hot-gluing books as we speak,” she said. “We are in the thick of renovations and decorating. We pretty much gutted it; it used to be a pet store and we are building it back into exactly what we want. I do pretty much everything myself with the help of some industrious friends and family members. We are currently on track for our August 5 grand opening – fingers crossed.”
Koch said the appeal of the new store is that not only is there “a huge community of romance readers and writers here,” but that also “every member of my family who is not my sister lives in Brooklyn.” Sounds like a win-win, and we’re looking forward to hearing more about it.
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What else are you looking forward to this summer? Please feel free to email me at [email protected] with “ERIK’S BOOK PAGES” in the subject line and I may include your comments in an upcoming newsletter.
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Thanks, as always, for reading.
Megan Abbott on the books that got her hooked
Megan Abbott’s latest novel is “Beware the Woman,” out now from G.P. Putnam’s Sons. (Photo credit Nina Subin / Courtesy of G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
Megan Abbott made her fiction debut in 2005 with her hardboiled novel “Die a Little,” set in the noir-ish world of 1950s Los Angeles; since then, she’s kept the thrillers coming with the novels “Dare Me,” “You Will Know Me” and the bestseller, “The Turnout,” published in 2021. She’s also a television writer who worked on David Simon and George Pelecanos’ HBO show “The Deuce,” and she served as a writer and executive producer on USA Network’s series adaptation of “Dare Me.” She spoke with Michael Schaub about her new novel “Beware the Woman” and answers the Book Pages Q&A here.
Q: Do you remember the first book that made an impact on you?
In terms of crime fiction, James Ellroy’s “The Black Dahlia” was big for me. I read it in high school — my first work of contemporary crime fiction — and it just knocked me out. I’d never read anything like it, stylistically, or otherwise. It felt dangerous. It had a kind of hallucinogenic hold over me.
Q: Is there a book you’re nervous to read?
I love books that I’m nervous to read. They usually turn out to be the most rewarding. A recent one was Bret Easton Ellis’s “The Shards.” It’s set in the early 1980s in Los Angeles, back in the “Less Than Zero” era, and I knew from the excerpts that it was going to be intense, harrowing, dizzyingly dark, but that proved to be its power. And what surprised me was its emotional hold, the flood of nostalgia.
Q: What’s something – a fact, a bit of dialogue or something else – that stayed with you from a recent reading?
“I think friendships are the result of certain needs that can be completely hidden from both people, sometimes hidden forever.” (From Patricia Highsmith’s “The Price of Salt”).
Q: Do you have any favorite book covers?
I love all the pulp covers of yore. And all the Black Lizard books of the 1980s and ‘90s, all the Hard Case Crime covers. A recent favorite cover is “My Sister the Serial Killer,” by Oyinkan Braithwaite, which is so gorgeous, mysterious and just plain cool.
Q: Do you have a favorite book or books?
Countless! But a few of my perennials are Raymond Chandler’s “The Long Goodbye,” Nella Larsen’s “Passing,” Dorothy B. Hughes’ “In a Lonely Place,” Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History” and anything by Daniel Woodrell or Chester Himes.
Q: Which books do you plan, or hope, to read next?
Jonathan Lethem’s new book, “Brooklyn Crime Novel.” It looks fantastic.
Q: Is there a person who made an impact on your reading life – a teacher, a parent, a librarian or someone else?
My parents were voracious readers so I was allowed — even encouraged — to read anything I wanted, no matter my age. Every week we’d go to the public library and check out big stacks of books. We’d scour used bookstores together and they’d help me find the books I might like, especially mysteries, gothic novels, true crime, books about Hollywood, which I loved as a kid and still do. I’m still a compulsive reader. They got me hooked.
Books, authors and more
Crime, mystery and thrillers coming in Summer 2023. (Covers courtesy of Blackstone Publishing, Counterpoint Press, Flatiron, MCD, Soho Crime, Pushkin Vertigo, Del Rey)
Mysteries abound
We pick 12 must-read crime and mystery novels for summer and beyond. READ MORE
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Rina Ayuyang is the creator of the graphic novel, “The Man in the McIntosh Suit.” (Photo Credit Rina Ayuyang / Courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly)
Graphic crime
Rina Ayuyang’s graphic novel explores the lives of California’s Filipino farm workers. READ MORE
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“Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” by Lisa See is among the top-selling fiction releases at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Scribner via AP)
The week’s bestsellers
The top-selling books at your local independent bookstores. READ MORE
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