Ten Top Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, and the topic for this week was our summer tbr. These are books that are priorities at the top of my tbr for the upcoming months. I didn’t include 2024 releases that are coming out in the next few months because I will be making a list of my most anticipated releases of the second half of 2024.
*click on the title of the books to go to the goodreads page*
These 5 books are all releases of the first half of 2024 that I haven’t gotten to yet, but really want to!
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood: I have given 5 stars to most Ali Hazelwood books, so I’m sure I’m going to love this one.
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center: I read The Bodyguard last year and I thought it was just ok, but I love books about people writing together especially if they don’t like each other, so I’m giving Katherine Center another chance.
Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano: I started to read this when it came out but honestly, I was not enjoying it, I hope it was because of the reading slump and not the book.
Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes: I loved Barnes’ debut Dead Silence when I read it last year and I hope I enjoy this just as much.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson: I have heard nothing but great things about this one and since I love cozy adventure stories, this seems like something I would enjoy.
The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson: I read The Nanny last year and it was just ok, but I have heard great things about this book even from people who didn’t like The Nanny so I have high hopes because a werewolves romance with fake dating is something I want to read.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo: I started this but I was in the middle of a reading slump and the start of this book is kind of slow, so I decided to pause it until I felt like reading again. I’m excited to pick it back up.
This is technically part two to my list of anticipated releases of the first half of 2024 which I posted a couple days ago. This is focused only on romance because I read too many romance books and I have a never ending list of romances that I want to read.
Without further ado, here are some upcoming romance books I want to read:
Why do I want to read it? I really enjoy rivals to lovers romances and I want to read more romance books by Japanese authors.
Release date: January 30, 2024
Synopsis
On Nami’s 30th birthday, she’s reminded at every turn that her life isn’t what she planned. She’s always excelled at everything – until now. Her fiancé blew up their engagement. Her pride and joy, the tech company she helped to found, is about to lose funding. And her sister, Sora, is getting married to the man of her dreams, Jack, and instead of being happy for her, as she knows she ought to be, she’s fighting off jealousy.
Frustrated with her life, she makes a wish on a birthday candle to find her soulmate. Instead, the universe delivers her hate mate, Nami’s old high school nemesis, Jae Lee, the most popular kid from high school, who also narrowly beat her out for valedictorian. More than a decade later, Jae is still as effortlessly cool, charming, and stylish as ever, and, to make matters worse, is planning a hostile take-over of her start-up. Cue: sharp elbows and even sharper banter as the two go head-to-head to see who’ll win this time. But when their rivalry ignites a different kind of passion, Nami starts to realize that it’s not just her company that’s in danger of being taken over, but her heart as well.
Why do I want to read it? I have been waiting for this couple’s second chance at love for SO LONG. This is going to be so angsty and I can’t wait.
Release date: February 06, 2024
Synopsis
West, the Marquess of Weston, and Sophie, Lady Fitzwilliam Bridewell, have lately been spending a considerable amount of time together. But West and Sophie are not new acquaintances. In fact, years ago, they had once been nearly engaged until West’s almost fatal curricle accident and his meddling father threw them off course.
Now recently widowed, Sophie has put aside all thoughts of romance. But when her widowed sister, Alexandra, mentions a fondness for an earl, Sophie realizes that she may be holding her sister back. Alexandra won’t move forward with an engagement until Sophie, too, settles down again, and so Sophie approaches West with a plan. They will announce their engagement and break things off once Alexandra is happily married. It’ll be simple. After all, it’s not like she is going to fall for West a second time, not when Sophie has sworn not to risk her heart again.
Why do I want to read it? I love Ali Hazelwood’s books and this is a romance between a vampire and a werewolf which sounds fun.
Release date: February 6, 2024
Synopsis
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again…
Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she’s ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.
Why do I want to read it? I really liked the first book in the series and I’m interested in going back to this small town full of cowboys.
Release date: March 25, 2024
Synopsis
The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career.
When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss.
Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place.Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love?
Why do I want to read it? It has a fun premise and I’ve loved the last two Abby Jimenez books I have read.
Release date: April 2, 2024
Synopsis
Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.
Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.
It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?
Why do I want to read it? Chloe Liese is one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to read the final book in this series that introduced me to her.
Release date: April 9, 2024
Synopsis
Viggo Bergman, hopeless romantic, is thoroughly weary of waiting for his happily ever after. But between opening a romance bookstore, running a romance book club, coaching kids’ soccer, and adopting a household of pets—just maybe, he’s overcommitted himself?—Viggo’s chaotic life has made finding his forever love seem downright improbable.
Enter Tallulah Clarke, chilly cynic with a massive case of writer’s block. Tallulah needs help with her thriller’s romantic subplot. Viggo needs another pair of hands to keep his store afloat. So they agree to swap skills and cohabitate for convenience—his romance expertise to revive her book, her organizational prowess to salvage his store. They hardly get along, and they couldn’t be more different, but who says roommate-coworkers need to be friends?
As they share a home and life, Tallulah and Viggo discover a connection that challenges everything they believe about love, and reveals the plot twist they never saw happily ever after is here already, right under their roof.
Why do I want to read it? I need more sapphic romances in my life and this one is anopposites-attract romance which I love.
Release date: April 16, 2024
Synopsis
Winning the lottery has ruined Opal Devlin’s’s life. After quitting her dead-end job where she’d earned minimum wage and even less respect, she’s bombarded by people knocking at her door for a handout the second they found out her bank account was overflowing with cash. And Opal can’t seem to stop saying yes.
With her tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her new money to buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to let the flowers live out their plant destiny while she uses the cabin on the property to start her painting business.
But her plans for isolation and self-preservation go hopelessly awry when an angry (albeit gorgeous) Pepper Smith is waiting for her at her new farm. Pepper states she’s the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms, and isn’t moving out. The unlikely pair strike up an agreement of co-habitation, and butt-heads at every turn. Can these opposites both live out their dreams and plant roots? Or will their combustible arguing (and growing attraction) burn the whole place down?
Why do I want to read it? When Emily Henry writes a book, I’m going to read it. But also this is an opposites-attract romance with a unique premise.
Release date: April 23, 2024
Synopsis
Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.
Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.
Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?
But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?
Why do I want to read it? A romance between a romance novelist and a divorce attorney who are co-hosting a podcast sounds so good.
Release date: April 30, 2024
Synopsis
As a bestselling romance novelist, everyone thinks Truly Livingston is an expert on happily-ever-afters. She’s even signed on to record a podcast sharing relationship advice. Little do they know she feels like an imposter—her parents just announced they’re separating, she caught her fiancé cheating, and her entire view on love has been shaken to the core. Truly hopes the podcast will distract her… until she meets her cohost.
Her first impression of Colin McCory is…hot. But then he opens his extremely kissable mouth. Colin’s view on love just pisses Truly off, even if he does have an annoyingly attractive face. Bickering with a cynical divorce lawyer is the last thing she needs—so she walks out, with no plans to return.
A few days later, Truly is surprised when Colin tracks her down, asking for a fresh start. Truly can’t deny the little thrill she gets from Colin begging, so she reluctantly agrees. As they go from enemies to friends to something else entirely, Truly discovers they have more in common than she ever imagined, including their shared queerness. He’s a genuinely good guy—charming, sweet, and equally as unlucky in love as herself—and there’s something about Colin that drives Truly a little wild. When their attraction reaches a fever pitch, Truly is happy for the first time in years. Yet she can’t help but wonder… is Colin truly, madly, deeply in love with her? Or is it all too good to be true?
Why do I want to read it? This is fake dating in a small town and that sounds perfect for me.
Release date: May 21, 2024
Synopsis
Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She’s learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win―something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.
Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.
A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like…
Why do I want to read it? An Emma-inspired romance set in India sounds like something I would love.
Release date: June 4, 2024
Synopsis
Jia Deshpande, the ever-confident fashionista, is a writer for Mimosa, Mumbai’s top women’s magazine, where she begrudgingly writes cliché articles about finding “the One.” Out of the office, Jia writes the messy truth of real love on her anonymous blog while balancing competitive family game nights and growing feelings for her childhood friend. If that wasn’t enough, Jia has been tasked with successfully setting up a coworker to get her boss’s approval for her new matchmaking column. Thankfully, orchestrating meet-cutes has never been difficult for Jia.
Jaiman Patil can’t help but be enamored with Jia and her meddling spirit. They’ve known each other since childhood, playing while their fathers bonded over business. Now he’s an honorary part of her family, ever since his own moved to America, leaving Jaiman behind to pursue his dream of running a local pub. Life with the Deshpandes is chaotic and loud, but it’s more love than he had growing up. It’s also a lot to lose, so confessing his deep feelings for Jia is completely out of the question.
When Jia’s attempts at office matchmaking go haywire, risking new friendships and her relationship with Jaiman, she must reevaluate her own thoughts on love. For the first time, Jia Deshpande doesn’t know how to juggle the obstacles ahead of her. Love may be a bit more complicated than she thought, but luckily, happily-ever-afters are never in short supply in Mumbai.
Why do I want to read it? I’m always anticipating a new Ali Hazelwood book, and this one is a forbidden, secret affair which sounds so good.
Release date: Jun 11, 2024
Synopsis
Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.
Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through—and he’s a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who’s off-limits to him.
Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business—one that plays for keeps.
What are your most anticipated romance releases of 2024? Do you want to read any of the books I mentioned?
Bookish Wanderess 