10 romance authors on the romcom books they’re falling in love with this summer

Bobby Palmer’s Main Characters has to be the most original rom-com read of the season. A love story revealed from the point of view, not of Clara and Seb, the lovers themselves, but rather those who observe it unfolding over the course of two decades. From neighbours to complete strangers, shopkeepers to close friends, each perspective adds another layer of intrigue and revelation to our sometimes frustrating but more often than not, loveable eponymous main characters. Ambitious and big-hearted, this real, raw and messy story is the perfect, immersive read while you’re lying on your lounger.

Mike Gayle is the author of On We Go.

I was entranced by the intricate and immersive Real Life by Brandon Taylor, so I cannot wait to sink my teeth into his latest love story, Minor Black Figures. Called ‘a genuinely swoony summer romance’ by the New York Times (um, count me IN), it’s set across a hot summer in NYC where Wyeth, a young black painter, falls for Keating, a white priest struggling with his faith. Despite having little in common, their summer unfurls with art openings, walks through the sweltering streets, and questions about what they’ll risk for both art and love. Taylor’s prose is sparse and stunning, but it is his incisive portrayal of the human heart which sees this at the top of my summer reading list. Contemporary art, romance and sunshine in NYC, served with a side of heartache and yearning and a hot priest? Summer reading, sorted.

Claire Daverley is the author of Talking At Night and People In Love.

There’s something beautifully tender about a romance that builds in the quiet moments. Eddie O’Leary is a baseball player down on his luck. Mark Bailey is the journalist sent to chronicle Eddie’s acclimation to his new team, reluctantly. They grow together slowly, carefully; one awful pre-made dinner and uncomfortable interview at a time. Sebastian effortlessly weaves grief, comfort and tender vulnerability together into one of the most romantic stories I’ve ever read. Whenever I need a reminder on how to write romance, I read Cat Sebastian.

B.K. Borison is the author of Grim Tidings.

A Date With Death by Kelly Creagh might be a late (and strange) contender for a summer love story, but trust me on this one. It’s cliché, it’s poetic, it’s horny. And best of all? It’s delightfully corny, too. Sometimes we need a little corny in our lives to remind us that art can be silly and still affect us deeply. We don’t always need to cry to feel human. Sometimes, we just need to laugh and bone the Grim Reaper.

Ashley Poston is the author of The Dead Romantics and the upcoming The Someday Garden.

A book I loved so much that I plan to reread it when I go on vacation next month is Kate Golden’s If Not For My Baby. While I’d have predicted that Clementine, singing backup for the wildly famous Tom Halloran, would fall for her handsome new boss, what I didn’t expect was that Halloran would fall harder. The reclusive, fame-hating musician pines epically for Clem, but nothing can come of it. Halloran’s life is on the road, while Clem will be returning to her ailing mother and their painfully small life. Whether they were resisting each other as they zipped through coastal Maine in a convertible or hiding their relationship on a crowded tour bus (all longing glances and brushing hands), I was rooting for them to make an impossible situation work.

Elizabeth O’Roark is the author of The Favourites series and the upcoming Good At Being Alive.

My beach read this summer is Falling Into You by Jill Shalvis. Jill’s small-town rom-coms always deliver big feels, messy families, and the happily ever afters I love!

Lucy Score is the author of the Story Lake series.

I recently read and loved an absolutely engrossing debut: Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances. Sloane, a wedding photographer and storm chaser, plays off perfectly with Wes, a fellow storm chaser who begins as a frenemy and slowly turns into more as they unexpectedly spend their chase season together, crossing the Midwest in search of the perfect shot. Wes is an absolute golden retriever of a man and so down bad for Sloane. Sloane is a total badass, but Wes gives her a soft place to land. The author is a real-life storm chaser, so it’s wonderfully authentic and well-researched.

Grace Reilly is the author of Yes, Chef.

This summer, I’m reading for escapism only, and what could be better than a small-town romance set in a wild west-themed amusement park? Dilan Dyer’s The Brave And The Fearless delivers everything I’m looking for: passion, drama and a yearning hero I couldn’t get enough of.

Adriana is an up-and-coming country music star who mysteriously abandoned the industry three years ago. Now she works at Bravetown, a theme park in her hometown. When she discovers the park is struggling financially, Adriana offers to call in a favour from a friend, who just so happens to be a retired country music megastar, Brooks Monroe. Dyer crafts a story with so many tropes- fake engagement, age gap, single dad- that it’s tough to choose a favourite. Even if you don’t consider yourself a cowboy romance fan — especially if you don’t! — I’m begging you to read this. I was obsessed from beginning to end.

Lindsey Kelk is the author of Love Story and Love Me Do.

This summer I’m reading Here For A Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War because while I love a classic romcom, I also adore a genre bend. I’m so ready for a fun, slow-burn romance set abroad with an overarching wild and action-led plot.

Jasmine Burke is the author of Around The World In 80 Dates.

In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson is the ultimate holiday book for a couple of reasons: one, because it’s a gorgeous romance you’ll want to bring with you wherever you go. And two, because if you don’t already live in Ireland, it will make you want to book a trip there immediately. It tells the story of a woman who hits her head in Florida and inexplicably wakes up in Dublin with a handsome mechanic by her side, and it’s a treat from start to finish. It lends just the right amount of magic to an incredibly natural and sweet slow-burn love story, and it’s also a beautiful testament to the power of seeing a new place through a local’s eyes. And really, is there anything more romantic than falling in love with a place and a person at the same time?

Kate Eberle is the author of If Books Could Kill.