First Impressions: Buzz Books 2026: Romance

Romance lovers, it’s time for our yearly preview of forthcoming romances to add to the top of our TBRs. The Buzz Books 2026: Romance sampler highlights some of the hottest upcoming releases, ranging from romantasy to the classic rom-com. In addition to the longer list included, this sampler offers extended previews of over 20 romance novels, all coming out within the next year.

The books I found most enticing include:

Sara Jafari: Heavensent and Hellbent
Anna James: Read Me Like a Book
Kathryn Moon: A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor
Anna Natasha: The Sex Detective
Charlotte B. Plumb: Reap & Sow
B. B. Reid: Don’t Fall
Beth Revis: Dragon of the Deep
Julia Whelan: Casanova LLC
Mina Zafri: Zahra, Unapologetic

While I’m a bit burnt out on the oversaturated romantasy market, there are some that stand out as offering something original. I’m also excited for the romances that whisk us away to different countries or shine a light on diverse experiences.

The upcoming books do feature quite a lot of dark romance, dystopian romance, and sports romance—none of which I’m into myself. I wish there was even one historical romance in the mix. I would have also liked to see more diversity.

Buzz Books 2026: Romance is a valuable resource for anyone who wants a clear picture of what romance trends are emerging now, what books to look out for, and a preview of established authors and debut authors alike.

Official Summary

Welcome to Buzz Books: Romance 2026, curated by industry insider Publishers Marketplace to showcase upcoming books from both established voices and emerging talents. Whether you are an avid reader of horrormance, age-gap or mafia, or simply curious about this fast-growing genre, this edition has something for everyone. Peruse 29 exclusive excerpts from some of the buzziest upcoming love stories, steamy makeouts, and monster mashes of the year. At the end of most excerpts, you will find a link to download or request the full galley—exclusive to the NetGalley edition!

Discover compelling stories filled with mythology and love triangles like Bethan Croome’s Reign, or F1 academy rivalries in Piper Lawson’s Crash Course, or the culturally rich Palestinian-American romance in Zahra, Unapologetic, and a new installment in Keri Lake’s New York Times bestselling The Eating Woods trilogy. This diverse collection spans young adult, new adult, and adult romance across alluring subgenres and tropes: sports romance, contemporary romance, dark academia, romantasy, Western, and more.

And of course, our popular heat scale is back, too 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥! We hope this helps guide your reading choices—whether you like the bedroom door cracked, or blown wide open.

Buzz Books is our love letter to the books and reading community we adore, and we are glad you are part of building the buzz for great books.