Naina Kumar is a lawyer by day and a reader and writer of romance at night. She lives in Texas, close to her family whose antics provide endless inspiration. When she’s not writing, she enjoys taking her rowdy rescue dog on walks, rewatching Gilmore Girls on a loop, and shopping at HEB.
Henry Tudor Must Die (2026) Jillian Laine "Henry Tudor Must Die is unlike anything I have ever read! Fiercely feminist, with a secret society of women, witchcraft and court politics and schemes. I loved Lina and Anne, and the friendship between them, and cheered as they banded together to take down the evil men corrupting their world. A truly remarkable debut!"
Extracurricular (2026) Rachel Lynn Solomon "Extracurricular is soft and tender and everything I love about Rachel Lynn Solomon's work! A romance written with so much care and love toward its characters, with fresh insight on familiar tropes, and a layered exploration of fame, love, and new beginnings. I adored every second of this read!"
A Zoom With a View (2026) Jess Cannon "With a cozy setting, surprising twists, and the perfect amount of snark, A Zoom with a View is everything I want in a mystery! Jess Cannon's voice is fresh and fun and extremely witty, and I found myself laughing every few pages. The cast of characters are incredible, and I'm thoroughly invested in their overarching story. I cannot wait to return to Blue Oak!"
Secret Nights and Northern Lights (2025) Megan Oliver "Lush in both its prose and setting, Secret Nights and Northern Lights swept me away. I adored these characters and their second chance at love, and felt completely immersed in their story and in Iceland! An absolutely swoony and special debut! Megan Oliver has a forever fan in me!"
It's Different This Time (2025) Joss Richard "It's Different This Time feels like the warmest sweater, soft and tender, somehow both familiar and new. I was completely immersed in June and Adam's love story over the years, transported to this exact brownstone, to New York in the fall. Deeply emotional and layered, this second-chance romance is an instant classic!"
Anywhere With You (2025) Ellie Palmer "Ellie Palmer writes romances that are pure magic! Her voice and wit and humor always shine, and in Anywhere With You, she offers a fresh and tender friends-to-lovers story featuring characters who grabbed my heart and never let go! Charley, my sweet, type-A lawyer girlie found her perfect match in her best friend, Ethan, the most wonderful van-dwelling golden-retriever book boyfriend out there! Their journey through the Minnesota wilderness was the best sort of romp, filled with hijinks and obstacles and self-discovery. I loved every minute of this book and can't wait to read everything Ellie writes next!!"
When Javi Dumped Mari (2025) Mia Sosa "When Javi Dumped Mari is everything I want from a friends-to-lovers romance!! Full of swoons and tension and steam and so many laugh-out-loud moments, no one does humor and heart and heat like Mia Sosa! If you love My Best Friend's Wedding, but have always wanted it to have a HEA, this is the book for you!!"
Finders Keepers (2025) Sarah Adler "Fun and adventurous and filled with Sarah Adler's classic whimsy and wit and humor, Finders Keepers is an absolute treasure! Nina and Quentin were such a joy to root for, and it was so heartwarming watching them rekindle their friendship and fall in love. Pure joy from start to finish!!"
The Summers Between Us (2025) Noreen Nanja "Seamlessly traveling between the past and the present, The Summers Between Us is a deeply emotional and moving second chance romance. Noreen Nanja's craft shines and I was fully taken by these characters and their journey together and apart and together again over the years. A truly brilliant debut!"
Any Trope But You (2025) Victoria Lavine "Heartfelt and warm, Any Trope but You is an absolute delight and a romance lover's dream! I fell for these characters and their soft-hearted love and care for one another. A beautiful love story and a reminder that we are all deserving of our own Happily Ever Afters!"
Just Our Luck (2025) Denise Williams "Just Our Luck is sweet and hot in equal measure, just like the best donuts! I adored Kieran and Sybil, and their scorching hot chemistry and tenderness with one another as they navigated their fake dating journey. I'll read anything Denise Williams writes!"
You Between the Lines (2025) Katie Naymon "Like the best poems, You Between the Lines is poignant, lyrical, and true. I thoroughly enjoyed Leigh and William and their rivalry, their pining, and their moody, crackling chemistry. The immersive, academic setting shines, as does Leigh's emotional growth and journey to be vulnerable in her art. An absolutely beautiful debut, and I can't wait to read what Katie Naymon writes next!"
There's Something About Mira (2025) Sonali Dev "Sonali Dev is a master of the craft, and every time I open up one of her novels, I know I'm in for something special! There's Something About Mira absolutely captured my heart, and Mira was a delight to root for. Her journey to uncover the truth - about the ring and herself - takes the reader on a gorgeous, layered exploration of family, self-discovery and acceptance, and love. Warm and brilliant, with Sonali Dev's trademark wit and lush prose, this is an absolute must-read!"
Wedding Dashers (2025) Heather McBreen "Wedding Dashers is road-trip romance at its best! A non-stop adventure filled with hilarious detours, scorching hot chemistry, witty banter, and emotional growth and self-discovery. I loved every second of Ada and Jack's journey!"
Earl Crush (2025) (Belvoir's Library Trilogy, book 2) Alexandra Vasti "I dare anyone to read this book and walk away without a crush on this Earl! Arthur Baird is the new definition of a pining, besotted hero, and his deep love and appreciation for Lydia Hope-Wallace's mind and courage had me swooning. Both a rollicking romp and the most tender of love stories, EARL CRUSH is sexy, kind, and full of adventure! Alexandra Vasti is an immense talent and I look forward to reading everything she writes until the end of time!"
One on One (2024) Jamie Harrow "One on One showcases the best of what the romance genre has to offer! I cheered for Annie and Ben as they peeled back their layers and allowed themselves to fall, and I was completely in awe of Harrow's ability to balance both humor and hard topics with care. Complete with an enchanting ensemble cast of friends and family, and tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this book is an engrossing, propulsive read and an absolutely stunning debut!"
Barely Even Friends (2024) Mae Bennett "With a fresh spin on a tale as old as time, Barely Even Friends is the sexy, bantery contemporary retelling of my dreams. An incredible debut full of heat and heart and delicious enemies-to-lovers energy!"
