Romance always gets special attention in February because of Valentine’s Day. But let’s keep that energy going! March is shaping up to be an amazing month for new romance reads, and I’m here to let you know about some of the most exciting titles. I’m going to be honest: you probably don’t need me to tell you there’s a new Abby Jimenez novel this month. That one’s going to be front and center at every bookstore you walk into. So let’s find even more new books to add to your TBR and seek out when you’re shopping for books.
When I get the distinct honor of highlighting the new romances for a month, I do my best to give you a good range of books, between publishers (including self-published!) and subgenres. This month, I chose to only showcase books that are standalones or the first in a series, because I want you to be able to jump into these books without hesitation.
Fact number one: romance authors are keeping readers’ shelves FULL of books to read. And fact number two: we romance readers will devour them. I’m confident you’re going to find something to swoon over among these ten titles.
How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev
I thought last year’s There’s Something About Mira was a delicious, dramatic, cinematic romance. So I’m eager to read about the titular Simi, who left Mumbai for small town Kentucky. When her sister Rupi shows up at her door trying to outrun trouble, Simi has to think quick to find a solution. And because this is a romance novel, the solution is obviously a fake marriage to the man Simi is secretly dating! I love romance novels that also dig into sibling relationships, and this one is going to be a doozy.
The Bridge Back to You by Riss M. Neilson
If you love deeply emotional romances like those from Kate Clayborn and Kennedy Ryan, you need to be reading Riss M. Neilson! And ooh, I love a good second-chance romance. Olivia left Celia’s Place, the restaurant where she first became a chef, to see where her career could lead her. When the owner of Celia’s Place leaves the restaurant to her son Carmello and Olivia both, the two have to confront their unresolved feelings. I love culinary romances and a reunion of two characters who needed their time apart in order to come back together.
In My Tudor Era by Kate Bromley
How about a time travel romance? Lily visits Hampton Court Palace with her best friend and accidentally travels to Tudor England. Worse, she is trapped in the body of Catherine Howard, King Henry VIII’s fifth wife. How does that mnemonic go? “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived?” UH OH. Now Lily has to contend with how she knows this story plays out, while also falling for the king’s champion jouster, Simon.
Our Funny Love Story by Byrd Koto
If you like a little literary mystery in your romance, check this book out. Kamada Eizo is a new graduate with an amazing job, writing a serialized fantasy novel for a big publisher. Miyamoto Ran is his editor. The two clash, but they obviously need to work together to ensure each other’s success. Meanwhile, Ran is consumed with finding the work of an author who disappeared years ago. As a side note, you will need to wait for the second half of this duology to get the full happily ever after from this story.
My Girlfriend is Not the Father by Dana Hawkins
While the title of this book calls up episodes of Maury Povich that often end in tears and/or thrown punches, the story itself is warm and heartfelt. Lucy is dealing with big life changes as she prepares for surrogate pregnancy. Jade is looking for a new start in small-town Minnesota after her divorce. The timing could not be worse for these two, but their chemistry is undeniable. If you like books rich with emotion following characters who value communication, pick this up.
The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen
I am a big fan of contemporary romances that throw a little something speculative or magical into the mix. And I love romances set in New York city, so this book checks two of my boxes. Hazel feels like she’s doomed to have nothing but bad luck after a string of calamities. While at a fortune teller’s booth, hoping for some good news, she meets Logan. As the two start falling for each other, her luck improves, but his gets much worse. And because this is a romance novel, there’s only one thing to be done: share a lottery ticket! You simply cannot beat romance novel logic, am I right?
The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa
Although this book started as an Audible original, it’s now getting a print release. Mia Sosa is reliable for rom-coms that deliver the romance and the comedy. This one features Vanessa, who owns a business ruining guy’s lives. Love that for her. The idea is that she will be such a bad girlfriend to her target, that he will be ready to run into the arms of the woman who hired Vanessa for the job. Enter Jason. Jason needs a terrible fake girlfriend so his mother will get off his case about getting married. And Vanessa is just the woman for the job, until their relationship turns out not to be terrible at all.
Thirty Love by Tom Vellner
If Heated Rivalry got you wanting more queer sports romance, here you go! This one’s for the tennis fans (hey, that’s me!). So if you liked Challengers, or if Alcaraz/Sinner edits show up on your social media, or if you just like a good rivals-to-lovers slow burn, here’s your book. Leo and Gabe are nemeses on the court. Leo is also getting old as tennis players go, his dad is his coach, and there’s another player who would happily ruin Leo’s life if he knew he was gay. So of course he has no choice but to fall in love with Gabe!
Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian
Cat Sebastian has written a contemporary romance! And it’s about Simon and Charlie, two stars of a long-running sci-fi television show who hate each other. They decide to stage a friendship for the sake of Simon’s career, and this puts them in the forced proximity they need to find out how thin that line between love and hate is. If you know me, I’m reading anything Cat Sebastian writes, but this book has a road trip, so I feel like she wrote it for me specifically.
Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf by Isabelle Taylor
If you’re looking for a romance that is cozy, spicy, and paranormal, here you go. Luna has that spoiled brat heiress vibe, like Alexis from Schitt’s Creek, and she ends up stranded in the small Alaska town of Claw Haven. The town’s full of monsters living a quiet life, and they would have been able to stay that way if Luna didn’t, as the title suggests, accidentally marry the werewolf innkeeper. As much as they’d like to be apart, their magical bond is so strong it can knot be undone, if you know what I mean.
Cheers to these new books, to the authors that wrote them, and to we readers who get to enjoy them. Until next time, please enjoy January and February‘s new romances if you need to catch up on 2026 releases, and check out the Kissing Books archives for all things romance.
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