Play 2026 Book Bingo
19 New Romantic Comedy Novels for 2026
By: Angela & Melissa
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.If you love an entertaining happily ever after story, we have the perfect list of page-turning 2026 romantic comedy books. This year’s standout rom-coms deliver love stories that unfold everywhere from an Italian getaway to small-town farms.
Whether you’re in the mood for a slow-burn romance with depth, a friends-to-lovers story with a dog at the center, or a swoon-worthy tale about rewriting your own love story, these highly-rated novels (based on early Goodreads ratings) have something for every rom-com reader.
The Best 2026 Romantic Comedy Books
How to Write a Love Story
Book Summary
Ciara’s father was a legendary fantasy author, and when he passed away, he left her more than his ramshackle estate in coastal Ireland. She also inherited the outline to the final book in his series, and a serious case of writer’s block.
Sam, a hotshot New York editor and devoted fan of her father’s work, was the last person Ciara wanted showing up at her doorstep with his red pen at the ready. With the deadline looming and the pressure mounting, Ciara and Sam have just a few weeks to stop bickering, finish this novel, and secure her father’s legacy. But as the Irish summer heats up, so does the tension between them. Will their own love story be the plot twist neither of them sees coming?
Reader Thoughts on This Book
Readers praise Catherine Walsh’s wit, banter, and ability to create characters that feel like real people. Many appreciate that the romance develops naturally and love the dual POV and bookish setting.
Some note the pacing felt slow at the beginning, though most felt this made the payoff more satisfying. Overall, reviewers describe How to Write a Love Story as a heartfelt, funny romance perfect for book lovers who appreciate emotional depth alongside humor.
Our Ex’s Wedding
Book Summary
Ani had big plans for business and expected to be the Bay Area’s premier Armenian wedding planner by now. After a major setback, she has a chance to redeem herself with the biggest job of her career. The wedding is for an indie movie star and will be set at a stunning Armenian-owned winery.
When she meets the vineyard’s owner, Raffi, she quickly sees that he is undeniably hot, but also insufferably smug. Things take another turn when she meets the bride. The actress’s fiancée is none other than Ani’s ex-girlfriend, Kami. That would be bad enough, but it turns out Raffi dated Kami too!
Despite all the awkwardness of dealing with a mutual ex, Raffi and Ani need to work together to ensure the wedding goes perfectly. Can they ignore their own building chemistry long enough to get the job done?
About the Author
The author is an Armenian-American writer who grew up in the Bay Area, bringing authenticity to the cultural references, traditions, and rich setting represented throughout this book.
Reviews describe this book as having early-2000s rom-com energy, with lots of banter and physical comedy as the characters find themselves in wacky situations.
Dog Person
Book Summary
This uplifting and insightful romance is narrated by Harold, an elderly dog who is determined to help his owner find a reason to love again. Amelia, a romance novelist, adopted Harold and taught him so much before she died. She also left him with a final wish: to help her partner, Miguel, find love again. This seems like an impossible task to Harold because Miguel rarely leaves the house. He doesn’t even go to the bookstore that he co-owned with Amelia. But when a renowned author doesn’t show up for an event, it pushes the store’s already precarious finances into the red.
In a desperate attempt to save the bookstore, Miguel and Harold set out to find the no-show author. Instead, they meet Fiona, the author’s sunny yet secretive sister. To Harold’s horror, Fiona doesn’t like dogs. However, Fiona’s precocious eleven-year-old daughter, who’s also named Amelia, immediately befriends him. As Harold races against time to complete his mission, he’s convinced that if he can just get his stubborn human to let Fiona in, Miguel will find his own happy ending.
Sunk in Love
Book Summary
Roslyn and Liam have been together nine years, but after almost a decade of being the perfect couple, they’re now on the verge of divorce. Despite surviving everything from Liam’s residency to the publication of Roslyn’s debut romance, the untimely death of Roslyn’s mom sent the couple into a tailspin of grief they haven’t been able to navigate.
Roslyn dreads telling her family about the divorce, as they all love Liam. When Roslyn’s grandparents ask if Liam can officiate their vow renewal ceremony aboard a Hawaiian cruise, she can’t bear to tell them her own marriage fell apart. So they agree to fake it and pretend to be the happy couple they once were.
What to Expect in This Book
While this book will make you laugh like a typical rom-com, many reviewers also mention it making them cry as it includes the complicated emotions of a couple on the verge of divorce. Their stories are told through both present-day and past memories of their relationship as they reflect on the good times and the bad.
If you prefer more depth in your romance reading, this is a great pick!
The Ex Dilemma
Book Summary
Joyce runs Batchelor Enterprises, and she’s just given her playboy grandson Wesley an ultimatum: marry or lose his inheritance. Wesley’s already in hot water because a mysterious social media influencer keeps exposing his romantic disasters, threatening everything he’s worked for. When his ex-girlfriend, Albany Keyes, a private detective, is hired to track down the blogger, Wesley sees his chance to solve both problems at once.
Albany returned to Detroit broke and brokenhearted after her divorce, and taking this job means working closely with the man who once abandoned her. As they team up to unmask the saboteur, their undeniable chemistry reignites, forcing them both to decide whether their love story deserves a second chance.
Reader Thoughts on This Book
Early readers mention enjoying the audiobook narration by Adenrele Ojo and Myles Washington, as well as the characters of both Grandma Joyce and Grandma Liv. The banter and romance are balanced with some family drama and mystery elements.
The Night We Met
Book Summary
You never know when you’ll make a split-second decision that will change your life.
For Larissa, that decision came when choosing which guy to ride home with after a concert. That night, she had no idea she’d met the perfect man. She and Chris are great together, co-parenting a slightly unhinged rescue Yorkie, sharing their favorite books, and judging bread (pumpernickel for the win!). For the first time amid all her side hustles to scrape by, things finally feel easy.
But Chris isn’t the one who drove Larissa home all those months ago—Chris is her boyfriend’s best friend.
All Chris wants is for Larissa to be happy. Standing by on the sidelines is slowly killing him, but making a move would destroy someone else. And he’s just not that guy.
About the Series
Abby Jimenez’s books never fail to make us laugh out loud, but they are also more than just breezy beach reads. Her novels also typically deal with many complex, heavy topics, making them excellent book club picks!
While Abby says that this book can be read as a standalone, it is listed as book 2 in the Say You’ll Remember Me series. Xavier, the lovable veterinarian from the first book, is part of the friend group in this novel, and there are said to be other fun Easter eggs from the Abby-universe.
No Matter What
Book Summary
A year ago, married couple Roz and Vin survived a traumatic car accident that seems to have permanently scarred their marriage. They can’t look each other in the eyes anymore, let alone share a bed. Roz has held out hope that they can fix things, but then discovers Vin has signed a lease for a different place to live. So, like any soon-to-be-divorced Brooklynite, she signs up for a figure-drawing class as a distraction.
When she needs a model, and Vin offers, she’s not sure what to think. After a year of avoiding each other, focusing on every detail of her estranged spouse’s body while drawing him nude seems like a terrible idea. But as Roz works to capture the wholeness of the person she fell in love with on paper, they both begin to see each other, and themselves, in a new light. Can they draw upon the feelings they buried deep inside to finally heal together?
The Bookstore Diaries
Book Summary
Divorced mom and bookworm Jax has inherited the Painted Lady Bookstore, a Victorian mansion turned bookshop, which is the one aspect of her life where she feels in control and successful. Her sister, Ryleigh, is a teacher and equally successful at work…and equally unsuccessful in her personal life.
In the bookstore, townspeople keep their diaries behind a brick wall, and the bricks are marked to help everyone find the right slot. Or rather, they were marked before a well-meaning worker cleaned them. Now, Jax has to read the diaries to determine the correct owner. Some of the secrets inside affect both Jax and Ryleigh.
When Ryleigh decides to move away in hopes of finding a husband, Jax hires a handsome contractor, hoping he’ll be interested in Ryleigh. But, he only has eyes for Jax.
Reader Thoughts About This Book
While there is a romance plotline, readers say the book is also strongly about the relationship between sisters, co-parenting with an ex, and making choices.
The bookshop and Jax’s talking parrot, Ramon, are both featured prominently and enjoyed by readers.
Off the Record
Book Summary
In 1962, the newspaper typing pool offered very few advancement opportunities for women, especially for nice Jewish girls with ambitions beyond finding a husband. But Judy isn’t looking for a husband. She’s an aspiring reporter looking to make her mark in journalism.
When she answers her boss’s private line and hears a cryptic message in a Russian accent, it might be the scoop she needs to prove herself. She finds an ally in Jack, a charming reporter who is willing to follow her instincts. Plus, he can pose as her boyfriend to keep her parents off her back. Together they chase leads through a thrilling underground of secrets and spies stretching from Moscow to Havana to Texas. This story could make her career. Or get her killed.
About the Genre
While the primary trope of this historical romantic comedy is fake dating, it also features a strong enemies-to-allies dynamic, with a mystery/thriller element woven into the romance — blending a rom-com with a Cold War spy caper. Like Sara Goodman Confino’s previous novels, you’ll also find a heroine fiercely determined to prove herself in a man’s world.
The Slow Burn
Book Summary
Award-winning chef Kit Roth’s life goes up in flames when her New York City restaurant burns down the same night her boyfriend dumps her after five years for being a workaholic. Needing a break while her kitchen is rebuilt, Kit reluctantly agrees to spend the summer in Manciano, a small town in southern Tuscany, working for her best friend’s pasta-making nonna, Gia.
Gia isn’t a sweet stereotype but a grouchy, no-frills woman with an iron fist in the kitchen. But the small town starts pulling Kit in. So does Nico, a ruggedly handsome olive oil producer with his own scorched past. His ex-wife left him to see the world, and the town is protective of him. With Kit determined to return to New York after three months and Nico rooted to his grove, their growing chemistry conflicts with their futures. As weeks pass, Kit finds herself measuring less and tasting more.
Last First Kiss
Book Summary
Jordan wishes he could forget his first kiss with Jamie way back when they were teenagers. And then he’d like to forget their more recent almost-kiss, which stopped when Jamie declared that he couldn’t be with Jordan until he figured himself out.
Jordan threw himself into work at his family’s event planning company, including a high-profile wedding. Unfortunately, the bride’s man-of-honor is Jamie. As the wedding approaches, Jamie and Jordan’s interactions evolve from sarcastic banter to steamy hook-ups. But does Jordan know himself well enough yet to be in a relationship?
Important Note
While the publisher has not listed this book as a sequel, readers say that if you intend to read I Think They Love You, it should be read first, as both characters are featured in that book. This book can be read as a standalone, but it will spoil I Think They Love You.
Dolly All the Time
Book Summary
Dolly has always been a problem solver who puts everyone else first. She kept the family going when her mom left when she was only twelve, and now, at 39, she’s moved back home to Whitfield, Rhode Island, with her son for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home.
When she comes across Stewart Whitfield of THE Whitfield family with a flat tire, she’s ready to help. But this interaction turns into a surprising proposal. He’s just been through a very embarrassing public breakup, and now he needs a partner for public dinners and high society benefits. Soon, their meetings include sunset boat rides and quiet talks on the porch swing. But Dolly’s always coped with life by relying only on herself. It was one thing to pretend, but can a woman who’s only ever relied on herself learn to let someone else in?
Reader Thoughts on This Book
The early ratings of this book are very high, with many calling it their favorite Annabel Monaghan book yet. The slow-burning relationship and secondary characters, particularly Dolly’s son Gus and best friend Naomi, are favorites.
Love and Other Brain Experiments
Book Summary
Frances is a neuroscientist stuck in postdoc purgatory. Her best chance of a breakthrough is at a conference packed with her field’s best and brightest. This is a tricky plan because the conference is organized by her ex, who has found all the success she hoped to find for herself. But she knows that she has to network to save her career. Her rival, Lewis, is also in attendance, and when their usual academic sparring is mistaken for flirtatious chemistry, Frances makes a split-second decision not to set the record straight.
Now Frances and Lewis are stuck pretending to date for the duration of the conference. This fake relationship could save or destroy both their careers. As they navigate forced proximity, professional politics, and an undeniable attraction neither expected, Frances begins to wonder if the real experiment isn’t her research at all, but whether two rivals can become something more.
Risky Business
Book Summary
Jess founded a tech company that is now struggling for funding. She’s beginning to suspect that being a woman in a male-dominated field is hampering her ability to secure the money she needs. In desperation, she applies to a startup competition using her twin brother Spencer’s name instead of her own.
It works, and Spencer is invited to an annual innovation competition hosted across glamorous European cities, including Rome, Paris, and Vienna. Now, Spencer, an out-of-work actor, must pretend to be the CEO while Jess plays his assistant under the alias “Violet.” When “Violet” meets Oliver, a fellow assistant, she discovers that falling for him is quite risky, especially when someone from her past threatens to expose her ruse.
Modern Retelling
The publisher says that Risky Business is a nod to the early 2000s Shakespeare adaptations and puts a steamy twist on Twelfth Night.
Some readers say they found the pacing slow at the beginning, but once it quickens, they were hooked.
One & Only
Book Summary
With her 40th birthday around the corner, Cassia works for her family’s successful matchmaking business and uses an ancient family gift to read people and find their perfect match. This gift lets One & Only Matchmaking promise a 100% guarantee.
Unfortunately, Cassia can’t find her own true love. She asked to be matched ten years earlier, and knows who her partner is, but she still can’t find him. When 28-year-old Ellis comes into her life, they have a surprising connection that could be the key to finding her destined match. But when a family secret is revealed, she starts to question everything.
About this Book
This book includes a touch of magical realism, but it’s more strongly focused on Cassia’s Korean culture and her potential love connection.
Don’t Fall in Love With Me
Book Summary
Grace has loved Jackson since she was fifteen, when they spent every childhood summer exploring his grandfather’s chateau and the gorgeous Ardèche region of France together. They were best friends, at least until Jackson married someone else.
Three years later, a newly single Jackson re-enters Grace’s life with an irresistible offer. She can have her dream job in the very town where their story began. Grace is determined that this summer will be different, and she won’t be his beck-and-call girl anymore.
When she reconnects with Étienne, an old friend from one idyllic summer, he proposes a plan to make Jackson jealous. Their scheme begins to work just as Grace finds herself questioning if the sparks between them might not be so pretend after all. But Étienne is harboring a secret that could shatter Grace’s world.
What to Expect in This Book
This novel is described as an emotional, sweeping romance with a sun-soaked setting and a tension-fueled love triangle that reviewers say will make you laugh, cry, and ultimately feel uplifted.
And Now, Back to You
Book Summary
Jackson and Delilah are rival meteorologists who have had their share of run-ins over the years. Jackson thrives on routine and organization, while Delilah is spontaneous and adventurous. But with a huge snowstorm on the way, they’re being forced to work together against their will.
In order to survive the partnership, Delilah proposes a deal. She’ll help Jackson rediscover his fun side if he helps her ace their assignment to cover the storm so that she can be taken more seriously as a journalist.
The Shippers
Book Summary
JoJo has never been great at love, but she’s ready to change her fate. After some self-analysis and pop psychology, she determines that her issues stem from a lack of closure with her first kiss. Since he’s newly divorced and will be at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship, it’s the perfect opportunity for her to set things right.
Since her sister is busy being a bride, she recruits her childhood best friend, Cooper, as her wingman to help her win over her first kiss. She’s still a bit heartbroken that he left the country four years ago without saying goodbye, so their reunion is bittersweet. But as they work together on Project Conquest, old feelings resurface. JoJo starts to wonder if the love she’s been searching for has been right in front of her all along.
Reader Thoughts on This Book
Reviewers enjoy the witty humor and shipboard antics that will make you laugh out loud. The character of Cooper is also nearly universally loved and often described by readers as a cinnamon roll with golden retriever energy.
Some readers are critical of JoJo’s maturity and the number of miscommunications throughout, so if those are deal-breakers for you, consider skipping this one. However, most readers enjoy it as a light rom-com.
The Missed Connection
Book Summary
Sasha is a busy casting agent who knows exactly what she wants, and that wish list does not include a relationship. But on a flight to Paris for work, she finds herself seated next to a broodingly handsome mystery man, and for the first time in a long time, sparks fly. When they part ways without exchanging contact information, Sasha is convinced she’s just let her soulmate walk away.
In a desperate attempt to track him down, she accidentally emails her entire global company. Suddenly, colleagues around the world are joining the hunt for “Seat F,” with a few finding unexpected love of their own along the way. Meanwhile, Sasha takes matters into her own hands and hires a smoldering detective to help track down her mystery man. But as the search unfolds, she may discover that the connection she’s been looking for was never the one she thought she’d lost.
As of February 2026, this list includes books with publication dates in the first half of the year. We’ll add additional titles for the remainder of the year in the summer.
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