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Ah, summer! The time for sunscreen, sand between your toes, and of course, those swoon-worthy summer romance novels that make your heart flutter faster than a seagull chasing a French fry. If you’re in dire need of some swoon-worthy summer romance reads, fear not, because I’ve curated a list of good summer romance books that will set your beach days ablaze!
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Sun-Kissed Serenades: What Makes a Perfect Romance Beach Read?
Before we head into the juicy details, let’s talk about what makes a romance novel the perfect beach companion. Picture this: you’re lounging under a colorful umbrella, feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin, and all you need is a book that transports you to a world of passion, adventure, and, of course, a little bit of cheeky romance. That’s where these romance beach reads come in handy!
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The Love Haters by Katherine Center (2025)
Can’t swim? No problem. Just fake it ‘til you’re in love.
In The Love Haters by Katherine Center, Katie Vaughn’s love life is a disaster and her job’s on the chopping block. So when she’s offered a career-saving assignment to profile a swoon-worthy (and emotionally unavailable) Coast Guard rescue swimmer in sunny Key West—she dives in. One tiny issue: she can’t swim. And Hutch? He’s the human version of a guarded Greek god with a heroic streak… and a serious allergy to love.
Now she’s juggling a fake skill, sibling drama (Hutch’s brother is her coworker), and surprise feelings that definitely weren’t part of the plan. Add in a giant rescue dog, a wise-cracking aunt, helicopter rides, hurricanes, and some very inconveniently steamy moments—and paradise starts looking very complicated.
The Love Haters is a laugh-out-loud, feel-good escape with just the right amount of chaos.
Trust us—you’re going to want to take the plunge.
It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan (2025)
Lights, camera, awkward flashbacks! In It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan, former teen TV disaster Jane Jackson is finally killing it behind the scenes at a Hollywood studio—until one little white lie (okay, massive lie) about a pop star and a soundtrack throws her fake-it-till-you-make-it strategy into total chaos.
Now she’s heading to Long Island—with her insufferably charming former crush-turned-cinematographer Dan Finnegan—to track down Jack Quinlan, her first kiss and the walking, talking cringe-fest of her teenage years. What could possibly go wrong? (Answer: Everything. In the funniest way.)
This sharp, heartwarming romcom is for anyone who loves:
- Second chances with first crushes
- Enemies-to-something-way-more
- Pop stars, sitcom scars, and sizzling banter
- Laugh-out-loud one-liners with a side of real emotional depth
If you’ve ever wanted to rewrite your most awkward teen moments into a love story worth watching—this one’s for you. Grab It’s a Love Story and prepare to fall head over heels.
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (2025)
Sun, speedboats, and a second chance at the one that got away? Yes, please.
In One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, photographer Alice is used to capturing life from behind the lens—until a trip back to Barry’s Bay flips her whole world back into focus.
What starts as a sweet plan to help her grandma recover from a fall turns into something much more complicated… and swoony. Enter: Charlie Florek. The boy in the yellow speedboat from one perfect teenage summer. Now? He’s grown, gorgeous, dangerously charming, and steering straight into her life like no time has passed at all.
Cue late-night swims, flirty banter, and a whole lot of “do I still have feelings for this guy?” vibes. Alice came for nostalgia and healing—but she might just find herself in the middle of a new beginning.
Perfect for fans of summer nostalgia, slow-burn romance, and the kind of love story that makes your heart ache in the best way. One Golden Summer is your next lakeside obsession. Just don’t forget the sunscreen—you’re gonna be outside reading this one for hours.
Seven Year Itch by Amy Daws (2025)
This isn’t your typical love story—it’s a hilarious rollercoaster of mishaps and unexpected romance. Meet the loudmouthed mountain man who just wanted a casual fling at his brother’s wedding, only to find himself trapped on a tropical getaway with his sister-in-law’s feisty best friend, Dakota. She’s hated him for seven years, but paradise has other plans. Sparks fly, tensions rise, and before they know it, they’re caught in a whirlwind of passion and unexpected feelings.
Perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers romance, quirky animals, meddling family dynamics, and unforgettable tropical escapes. Dive into this witty tale where what happens in paradise might just change everything back home. Swipe right on “Seven Year Itch” and get ready for a vacation romance that’s as fiery as it is funny!
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt (2025)
High school sweethearts. One grown-up son. A road trip with your ex. What could possibly go wrong (or very right)?
In Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt, Wren and Ellis Byrd were the poster kids for young love—until life got messy, time moved fast, and love got left somewhere along the way. Now in their 30s and divorced, Wren’s baking cakes in their coastal hometown, and Ellis is out fighting fires (and maybe still low-key pining).
When their son heads off to college, a spontaneous road trip back home might just be the second chance they never saw coming. Think: California coastline, heartfelt confessions, a lot of unresolved tension, and maybe even a motel or two that should come with a “feelings ahead” warning sign.
It’s a romantic, beautifully emotional story about healing, history, and how sometimes, love just needs a second lap around the block.
Perfect for fans of second chances, small-town settings, and road trips that might just fix everything. Left of Forever will leave your heart a little achy, a little swoony, and totally full. Pack tissues—and maybe a donut or two.
What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon (2025)
Get dumped, get fired, move to Amsterdam… accidentally crash into your high school ex? Sounds like the start of a romcom we definitely want front-row seats to.
In What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon, Dani Dorfman is thirty-something, directionless, and just impulsive enough to accept a job overseas after her office fling goes epically wrong. But the whole “new life abroad” thing? Not going great—until she literally bike-slams into her old flame, Wouter van Leeuwen. (Yes, the Dutch exchange student her teenage heart never got over.)
One failed job, one very charming canal house, and one fake marriage proposal later, Dani’s suddenly tangled in a visa-saving, house-inheriting, chemistry-filled situation that’s supposed to be temporary… right?
If you love:
- Second chances with built-in history
- Forced proximity (thanks, fake marriage!)
- Exes with excellent tension
- A scenic European setting with canals, chaos, and charm
…then What Happens in Amsterdam is your next laugh-out-loud, swoon-all-over escape. Pack your passport—and maybe some emotional baggage.
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez (2024)
Kicking off our list of romance summer books is Abby Jimenez’s latest installment to her “Part of Your World” series. Cute, fun, and with a male lead to die for, it’s the story of two souls unlucky in love who agree to date each other–just for the summer, that is–to cancel out their dating bad luck. It sounds bonkers, they know. But does it really when they might just eventually get more than what they bargained for? Like maybe true love?
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan (2024)
A single mom of three who’s been through the wringer must just get her life back on track and find a second go at happily ever after in this heartwarming tale of love lost and then found again by Annabel Monaghan. Losing her mother and then her husband leaving her the next, Ali’s life is in shambles. She doesn’t count on meeting a dreamy guy who seems to make things right yet complicate them simultaneously. But indulging in a little summer romance wouldn’t hurt, right?
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This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune (2024)
Prepare to be transported to Prince Edward Island in this delightful tale of two people who keep getting drawn to each other despite their resolve not to. Lucy isn’t supposed to like Felix, let alone have an affair with him every summer she vacations on the island, yet her feelings don’t seem to catch up with the memo. With vivid imagery of island life and touching on other topics like friendships besides romance, this summer escapade would have you frolicking in the sand and the sea with the characters and rejoicing in their relationships, romantic or otherwise.
The Getaway List by Emma Lord (2024)
Fresh out of high school, Riley decides to change the course of her life, or at least make a temporary detour, by taking a gap year and joining her childhood best friend Tom in New York for the summer to complete their co-authored “Getaway List”. A coming-of-age story, Riley slowly finds herself, and love (of course) as they continue their adventure and tick off the list. The problem is that it’s Tom, her friend, she’s falling for.
The Irish Goodbye by Amy Ewing (2024)
Escape for the summer to a cozy cottage on Ireland’s picturesque Inishmore Island in this enemies-to-lovers story of an American tourist and a jilted Irish chef by Amy Ewing. Suffering from a loss, Cordelia packs up her bag and goes to Ireland to mend her aching heart and there meets Niall who’s nursing his own broken heart as well. They didn’t have the best first meeting, to put it mildly, and it didn’t help that their paths kept crossing. A fun summer romance novel with a lovely setting, this book is a delight to read from start to finish.
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The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord (2024)
Two former best friends agree to fake date each other after suffering from a very public breakup with their respective exes. The charade will benefit them both in the end. Well, if everything goes according to plan and they would not be catching feelings, that is.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
A summer classic that’s as refreshing as an ice-cold lemonade on a scorching day, Jenny Han’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty” follows the story of Belly as she navigates love, friendship, and self-discovery during her summer at the beach house. It’s the perfect blend of nostalgia, heartache, and budding romance that will keep you hooked from sunrise to sunset.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
What’s better than a beach read about a beach read? Emily Henry’s aptly titled novel is a delightful rom-com that follows two rival authors who find themselves sharing a beach house for the summer. With witty banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and enough romantic tension to make the waves jealous, this book is a must-have for your seaside adventures.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
If you’re in the mood for a tropical escape without the hefty plane ticket, look no further than “The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren. Olive and Ethan find themselves pretending to be newlyweds on a honeymoon trip to Maui, leading to hilarious mishaps, unexpected chemistry, and a whole lot of heartwarming moments that will leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Prepare to fall head over heels for Casey McQuiston’s latest queer romance masterpiece. “One Last Stop” follows August, a cynical twenty-something who meets a mysterious stranger named Jane on the New York City subway. As they unravel the secrets of Jane’s past and navigate the complexities of time travel, their connection deepens into a love that transcends time and space. It’s a magical journey filled with humor, heart and enough swoon-worthy moments to make your heart skip a beat.
Conclusion: Dive into Romance this Summer!
So there you have it, folks! Whether you’re lounging on a sandy shore or daydreaming at your local park, these summer romance novels are guaranteed to add a little sizzle to your summer adventures. So grab your sunglasses, slather on some sunscreen, and get ready to fall in love with these captivating tales of sun, sand, and sweet romance. Happy reading! 🌞📚
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Summer beach reads are my favorite! I’m putting all of these on my list!
Beach Read is such a great summer book! I read it a few summers ago and loved it. Thanks for the list!