Sarah Hawley is an author of romance and fantasy novels. She co-hosts the Wicked Wallflowers Club podcast about romance fiction, which was featured on Entertainment Weekly's "Must List." When not dreaming up whimsical love stories, she can be found reading, dancing, or cuddling her two cats. A WITCH'S GUIDE TO FAKE-DATING A DEMONA WITCH'S GUIDE TO FAKE-DATING A DEMONis her debut romcom.
Half City (2026) (Harker Academy , book 1) Kate Golden "Half City is the dark academia demon hunter fantasy novel of my dreams. Kate Golden delivers high stakes and sizzling romance set in an exciting new world. The chemistry between Viv and Reid is electric, and the twists and turns kept me up way past my bedtime. Half City is wickedly sexy and outrageously fun, and I'm obsessed!"
Something Wicked (2025) (Idle Reputations, book 1) Falon Ballard "Sensual and magical! Moulin Rouge meets Shakespeare in Ballard's romantasy debut. The worldbuilding is as interesting as the characters, and the romance between Cate and Callum was beautifully drawn. I loved this sexy, angsty, page-turning read, and I can't wait for more!"
The Weaver Bride (2025) (Weaver Bride, book 1) Lydia Gregovic "A stunning tale of magic, mystery, and forbidden love ... Lovett Tamerlane is everything I want in a heroine."
The Sea Witch (2025) (Salt & Sorcery, book 1) Eva Leigh "I loved sailing the high seas with the pirate crew of the Sea Witch in this phenomenal fantasy adventure! The Sea Witch is romantic, magical, feminist, and action-packed, with gorgeous worldbuilding and characters that leap off the page. The chemistry between Ben and Alys is electric, the quest they're on is thrilling, and Leigh's writing is so vivid I could practically smell the sea air. This is a stunning pirate romantasy, and I can't wait for the next installment."
Rose in Chains (2025) (Evermore Trilogy, book 1) Julie Soto "An intoxicating tale of forbidden love blooming in the midst of a nightmare. Julie Soto's writing is beautiful and brutal. This dark and decadent world is punctuated by moments of magical light, with a heroine you'll love to root for and a slow burn of temptation that will have you on the edge of your seat. I can't wait for the next book!"
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy (2025) (Dearly Beloathed, book 1) Brigitte Knightley "The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy is brilliant and wildly imaginative, with a delicious forbidden romance set in a fascinating fantasy world. Knightley is a remarkable talent, weaving together witty comedy, slow-burn longing, and heart-wrenchingly poetic imagery. This book is one of a kind, and I felt The Irresistible Urge to Keep Turning Pages Late Into The Night. I cannot wait for Knightley's next book!"
Blood Beneath the Snow (2025) (Blood & Souls Duology, book 1) Alexandra Kennington "This thrilling romantasy is for everyone who's ever begged the villain to please take off his mask (because you suspect he's quite hot under there). Blood Beneath the Snow offers a high-stakes plot in a brutal, fascinating world, with a tough, sympathetic protagonist it's easy to root for. The tension between Revna and the mysterious Hellbringer is exquisite. This is enemies-to-lovers at its finest and most swoonworthy. I adored this and can't wait for the sequel!"
The Truth According to Ember (2024) Danica Nava "Danica Nava has created a fantastic heroine in Ember Lee Cardinal, whose good heart and determination to do the right thing are as admirable as her occasional lies are understandable...Nava guides Ember along a compelling journey of empowerment while tackling complicated issues of identity, racism, corporate corruption, and the pain and joy that family can bring. And the book is so funny, too! The characters shine, each of them unique and interesting and so real they could step off the page. The Truth According to Ember was a delight from start to finish, and Nava delves into both heartbreaking and life-affirming topics with wit and wisdom. Danica Nava's writing is fresh, funny, and romantic, and I will read anything she writes."
Love and Other Conspiracies (2024) Mallory Marlowe "Love and Other Conspiracies is smart, hilarious, and swoony, with a perfect Mulder-Scully dynamic and a tender emotional core. It's the perfect romance for geeks, dreamers, and anyone struggling to find their way in the world. Mallory Marlowe's prose is lively and engaging, and her characters embrace oddball individuality, emotional vulnerability, and enthusiastic consent in a way that had me cheering, sighing, and swooning. Hallie was a vibrant and funny heroine I never stopped rooting for, and Hayden is now one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends. Seriously, call me Bigfoot and let that man hunt me down! Love and Other Conspiracies was gloriously nerdy, whimsically strange, and sweetly sexy, and I had an absolute blast reading it."
The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love (2024) (Love's Academic, book 1) India Holton "I adored India Holton's latest historical fantasy romance! My heart must be a bird, because Professors Beth Pickering and Devon Lockley have captured it. Holton writes with wit and whimsy, building a tender and sensual romance while sending her characters on a madcap adventure dotted with exotic birds, ruthless ornithologists, and a gaggle of very concerned French fishermen. The story is charming, swoonworthy, and delightfully nerdy, and Holton's prose sparkles with both sly humor and gorgeously rendered descriptions. This is a magically romantic delight."
This Spells Disaster (2023) Tori Anne Martin "The witchy romance of my dreams .... Hilarious and angsty in turns, this book has rich worldbuilding, lovable characters, and a nuanced approach to issues of consent, trauma, and the burden of expectations. This queer, magically sweet and sexy romance is an absolute joy."
My Roommate Is a Vampire (2023) (My Vampires, book 1) Jenna Levine "My Roommate Is a Vampire is a delicious, delightful love story - whimsical, magical, and hilarious, with enough heart to make readers cry and enough heat to make them melt. It's an ode to love in all its forms - romantic love, but also the love of friends, the love of art, and the process of learning to love yourself. Cassie is warm-hearted, chaotically horny, and so relatable, and Frederick J. Fitzwiliam is the exquisitely dressed cinnamon roll vampire of my dreams. This is an incredible debut, and I can't wait to read whatever story Levine tells next!"
Bear with Me Now (2023) Katie Shepard "Bear With Me Now is a stellar debut. Witty, moving, and unique, it features two memorable characters in kind-hearted charity executive Teagan--too ashamed of his struggles with mental illness to admit that's why he's in wilderness rehab--and tough-as-nails handywoman Darcy who signs on as the sober companion he doesn't actually need. Shepard builds a beautiful, realistic love story about two damaged people finding strength in each other, and she addresses the serious issues of mental illness and addiction with a deft touch. I was rooting for Darcy and Teagan the whole time, and I can't wait to see what Shepard writes next."
