Beach towels. Sunscreen. A good book. These are the staples of summer. From the shores of Hawaii to the beaches of Nantucket, these steamy summer romance books will transport you to sun-soaked destinations and sweep you off your feet with their stories of love, passion, and adventure.
Whether you’re looking for a bestseller to page through by the pool or need to grab a new release from a stand at the airport, these are some of the best books to add to your romance summer reading list.
1. “The Design of Us” by Sajni Patel
Bhanu is a talented UX designer with a sunny disposition. She gets along with everyone—except for, ironically, Sunny, the office grump who’s competing with her for a much-deserved promotion. Excited to get away from his unpleasant aura, she flies to Hawaii for a quick vacation to see her family.
But when she arrives at the hotel, she finds...Sunny, who’s being publicly called out by his ex for still being single. Bhanu impulsively steps in and claims to be Sunny’s new girlfriend to help him save face. Only, it doesn’t really save him at all.
Sunny is in Hawaii for a friend’s wedding and now everyone thinks Bhanu is his plus one. It’s only fair that Bhanu cleans up the mess she made, so she agrees to fake a relationship with him for the remainder of the week. But it’s hard to play a couple in love when they can’t stand to be around each other. Beautiful beaches and perfect weather help pave the way for a friendly alliance...and maybe something even more.
Complete with the grumpy/sunshine and enemies-to-lovers tropes, this Desi rom-com is the ultimate beach read.
2. “Here We Go Again” by Alison Cochrun
Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale used to be best friends. But an incident before high school turned them into rivals. Now in their thirties, neither of them are living the life of adventure they dreamed of. In fact, they both work at their alma mater in the small town they grew up in.
When their favorite former teacher and lifelong mentor announces he has just months to live, they’re determined to fulfill the last item on his bucket list: a cross-country road trip. So, the three of them hop into a van and hit the road. The sudden forced proximity is a bumpy ride at first, but the tension eases between them with each stop. As they travel from the coast of Maine to the Grand Canyon, and every place in between, their rivalry turns into a love story that neither of them expected.
“Here We Go Again” is a heartwarming, second chance lesbian summer romance that will be one of the best new books you’ll read this year.
3. “One Last Summer” by Kate Spencer
Clara Millen isn’t living the life of her dreams. She hates her job, she’s chronically single, and she hasn’t had a vacation in years. So when her friends invite her to their annual trip to their childhood summer camp, she packs her bags. Everything about Pine Lake Camp is just as she remembers—including Mack, her too-attractive former nemesis.
When they find out their beloved summer camp is being sold, the two gather around the bonfire and start to reminisce. Soon, smores aren’t the only thing that’s heating up. One fiery night turns into two—which turns into many more—and Clara is questioning everything she thought she knew about the life she wanted. Can their summer love last into the next seasons?
Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry, this summer romance novel is ideal for a book club or beach read.
4. “The Au Pair Affair” by Tessa Bailey
The second book in a sports romance series from beloved #BookTok author Tessa Bailey, “The Au Pair Affair” follows Tallulah, a bubbly 26-year-old in desperate need of a job. When the opportunity to become the live-in nanny for the tween daughter of a veteran professional hockey player arises, she jumps at the chance.
Burgess is a gruff hockey player still adjusting to life as a single dad after breaking up with his ex. He hires Tallulah to look after Lissa, but she winds up helping him too. When he finally agrees to get back on the dating scene, Tallulah gives him a few lessons in upping his game off the ice.
His new skills are supposed to help him find the woman of his dreams, but he may not have to look far. He’s slowly falling in love with Tallulah, but he’s her boss and there’s an age gap between them. Not to mention Lissa still hopes he’ll reunite with her mother. Has he finally learned the lesson of following his heart?
Sports romance girlies, you need to put this summer romance book on your wishlist!
5. “Wanderlust” by Dipsea
Fresh off a breakup, Kendra is looking for a new start. But instead of getting bangs or picking up a new hobby, she does something a little more drastic: She books a one-way flight to Europe. As she traipses around the continent on a journey of self-discovery, she meets people who bring her out of her shell and give her the most incredible—and steamy—experiences.
Follow Kendra in this 5-chapter full cast audiobook and listen in as she has a rendezvous with a painter in Portugal, accepts an invitation from a couple in Paris, rolls around in the hay with a farmer in Ireland, steams up the stacks with a professor in Cambridge, and goes au naturel with a woodsman in the mountains.
This steamy summer romance book is a can’t-miss.
6. “This Summer Will Be Different” by Carley Fortune
From #1 New York Times bestselling author of “Every Summer After” comes a new book that fans of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han or the Nantucket Series by Elin Hilderbrand will swoon over.
Set on Canada’s Prince Edward Island, this summer romance book follows Lucy, a woman who needs a breath of fresh air away from her bustling city life every once in a while. Each year she travels to her best friend Bridget’s beach house and, though she tries not to, always winds up falling into Felix’s bed. The same Felix who happens to be her best friend’s younger brother.
She swears that this summer will be different, and boy, is it ever. When Bridget flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy follows her to the beach house to help her through her crisis. As she consoles her friend, she must resist whatever keeps drawing her to Felix. But their flirty banter and heated gazes aren’t the same as they used to be. There’s something that feels a little bit like love growing between them, which is the most unexpected change of all.
7. “The Ticket” by Dipsea
Reese doesn’t know Juliette all that well. They meet someplace new and exotic once a month for a steamy rendezvous that always imprints itself in Reese’s memory. Juliette is dominant and particular, and Reese always makes sure to follow the rules she sets. One wrong move, and whatever they have between them could be over. But, then again, that’s part of the thrill.
From a yacht in Greece to a nude beach in Brazil, to a cathedral in London, the two travel around the world exploring new places...and each other. This sapphic audiobook is incredibly steamy and perfect for those looking for some summer romance.
Soak up summer romance books
There’s something magical about falling in love under the summer sun, and these summer romance reads capture the feeling perfectly.
Want to keep that warm feeling going all year long? Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Dipsea for original romance audiobooks with steamy storylines, hot voices, and immersive sound design that’s like HBO for your ears.
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