Article: Most Anticipated Romance Books 2026 - Part 1
Most Anticipated Romance Books 2026 - Part 1
Swoon-Worthy Stories: The Most Anticipated Romance Books of 2026
If your New Year’s resolution involved spending more time between the pages of a great love story, you’ve picked a brilliant year to be a reader. From the return of heavy hitters like Carley Fortune and Abby Jimenez to the rise of "cosy sci-fi" and high-stakes sports romances, the 2026 release calendar is looking absolutely stacked.
Whether you’re a fan of the slow-burn enemies-to-lovers trope or you’re looking to get swept away by a sweeping romantasy, the coming months promise plenty of happily ever afters to fuel your reading light well into the night. So, grab your favourite bookmark and a chilled glass; we’ve rounded up the must-read titles hitting our shelves this year that are guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat.
So, I Met This Guy by Alexandra Potter
Release Date: 28 January 2026
Well, isn’t that how every love story starts? But what we don’t know is, how will it end?
For Maggie, she certainly didn’t expect it to involve discovering the supposed love-of-her-life stole her life-savings, along with her home, heart and self-esteem.
So, when she meets Flick, a young reporter, who realises this story could be the big break she’s been looking for, they set off together to catch him as he goes on the run across Europe. After all, she’s got nothing left to lose, right?
But as the pair embark on the road trip of their lives, unexpected twists, hidden secrets and hard truths are revealed. And as an unlikely friendship begins to blossom, they realise it’s not just about finding the guy, it’s about finding themselves.
And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison (Heartstrings #2)
Release Date: 10 Feb 2026
Delilah Stewart prefers hers wild, spontaneous, and preferably in the eye of the storm, out in the field.
For years, the two have clashed like thunder and lightning - until they're partnered against their will to cover the snowstorm of the century, finding themselves scrambling to figure out how to work together.
Eager to be taken seriously as a journalist, Delilah offers Jackson a deal. If he can help her ace this assignment, she'll help him rediscover his long-lost fun side. With an undiscovered chemistry burning beneath their clashes, the unlikely partnership quickly tumbles into an easy and surprising friendship.
But when other feelings start to enter the equation, can Jackson and Delilah withstand the storm? Or does what happens in the mountains, stay in the mountains?
In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde
Release Date: 3 March 2026
As the first female team owner in Major League Baseball, Reese Remington has spent her entire life preparing for this role. With a sharp mind and years of experience working behind the scenes, she's more than qualified. But the public only sees a woman in a man's world - not the person who's earned their place on the field. Under constant scrutiny and pressure to prove herself, Reese can't afford distractions.
Especially one that comes in the form of the team's tempting field manager who questions her every decision.
Emmett Montgomery is a former All-Star turned coach who treats his players like family and the field like home. After years of running the team his way, the last thing he wants is a new boss - let alone one who seems ice-cold and laser-focused on business. But forced to spend long hours - and too many away games - side by side, he begins to see the fire beneath Reese's control, the heart behind her ambition and the unwavering determination to prove herself.
When heated banter turns into sizzling chemistry, professional boundaries blur and the spark between them becomes impossible to resist. But Reese is constantly reminded of how many people are waiting for her to fail, and the safest move is to keep Emmett at arm's length - for the sake of the team, the season and her career.
But keeping their distance is one game neither of them can seem to win...
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez
Release Date: 24 March 2026
In everyone's life, there's a split-second decision that can change everything . . .
For Larissa, it came when choosing which guy to ride home with after a concert. That night, she had no idea she'd met the perfect man. She and Chris are great together, co-parenting a slightly unhinged rescue Yorkie, sharing their favourite books, and judging bread (pumpernickel for the win!). For the first time amid all her side hustles to scrape by, things finally feel easy.
But Chris isn't the one who drove Larissa home all those months ago - Chris is her boyfriend's best friend. All Chris wants is for Larissa to be happy. Standing by on the sidelines is slowly killing him, but making a move would destroy someone else. And he's just not that guy.
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
Release Date: 5 May 2026
Frankie and George have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart...
They’ve been best friends for as long as they can remember. Too much alike – passionate, impulsive, and headstrong – they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until their last tumultuous fight.
When George walks in on the eve of her wedding, Frankie has everything she’s ever wanted. Until the next morning, when Frankie’s fiancé dumps her, without explanation.
Heartbroken, Frankie wants to wallow, but George has a different idea: he wants Frankie to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforest and misty beaches of Tofino.
Frankie sees this for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship even if it means unearthing secrets neither knows how to handle. Even if it means coming together, or falling apart, for good.
The Shippers by Catherine Center
Release Date: 19 May 2026
She thought she'd charted her course ... until love came on board.
After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her commitment issues once and for all at her sister's destination wedding on a cruise ship. Her longtime crush and first ever kiss (who just happens to be newly-divorced) will be on board, and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure.
Only problem is, her sister's a little busy being a bride at the moment-so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper, to be her wing man.
Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she's honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo's life. It's bliss for her to see him again, and it's agony, too - and the more time they spend together, the more she obsesses over questions she can't bring herself to ask.
Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance - as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, and rescue each other over and over again...
Fever Dream by Elsie Silver (Emerald Lake #1)
Release Date 19 May 2026
Professional bull rider Emmett Bush is not looking for love. He’s looking for a paycheck to save his family’s farm from bankruptcy. So, when he agrees to be the leading man on a hot new reality dating show, Romance Ranch, he’s already decided it’s all one big performance.
Until Julia Silva walks onto his property. Smart, snarky, beautiful, and off-limits in more ways than one. As the location consultant on set and the little sister of his most bitter professional rival, she’s the last woman who should pique his interest.
Julia has been warned about Emmett. She knows better than to fall for his cocky swagger, broad shoulders, and smoldering good looks. Plus, she’s sworn off relationships.
But as Julia and Emmett work together, mutual distaste grows into an unexpected connection and then… something more.
Soon, they find themselves searching for excuses to spend time together and out of reach of the cameras. Knowing glances. Stolen kisses. Secret rendezvous.
Still, Emmett signed up to play the role of an eligible bachelor searching for the one. His family’s land and legacy depend on him completing the show.
The problem is, he’s already fallen in love.
Just not with a contestant.
Pair Your Next Great Love Story with a Booxie
While a brilliant book is the heart of any afternoon, the right accompaniment is what makes it an experience. At Booxies, we’ve taken the guesswork out of your next "me-time" session by pairing the year's most anticipated releases with premium, Australian-made treats. Whether you’re diving into a spicy sports romance or a moody romantasy, our Booked with Cocktails box provides the perfect bar-quality serve like a zesty Margarita or a sophisticated Negroni, to match the heat of the plot. If you prefer your stories with a bit of sparkle, our Books N’ Bubbles collection offers the ultimate celebration of a happily ever after. Each Curated Booxie is a hand-picked invitation to slow down, crack open a fresh spine, and savour a perfectly balanced drink that complements every twist and turn.
2026 is shaping up to be a legendary year for romance and fantasy lovers alike, and there’s no better way to enjoy these new releases than with a chilled drink in hand and the Aussie sun at your back. Whether you’re hosting a lively Galentine’s book club with your besties or escaping into a table for one solo date, remember that the best stories are those shared with a little indulgence. Don't let your TBR pile stay a dream. Make it an event.
Ready to start your next chapter? Explore our Summer Collection and build your perfect Booxie today. Don't forget to share your summer pairings with us on Instagram using #BooxiesMoment!
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