New romance books – 2026

Reading lists

New romance books to read in 2026

Image of Olivia Rodrigo, with books that match the themes of her songs.

Image of Olivia Rodrigo

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What to read based on your favourite Olivia Rodrigo song

One Golden Summer

Step back into the world of Barry's Bay with the unforgettable romance from Carley Fortune, bestselling author of Every Summer After - now a major TV series Every Year After 
This time its Charlie’s turn to fall in love… 
I never anticipated Charlie Florek. But Charlie Florek changed my life. 
 
Good things happen at the lake. That's what Alice's Nan always says. And it's true. It's where Alice took that photo, the one that catapulted her career. 
But when Nan falls, Alice puts down her camera and heads back to Barry’s Bay. No camera. No deadlines. Quiet… until he shows up. 
Charlie Florek. He was nineteen when she accidentally photographed him. Now he’s back - taller, hotter, and somehow even more unforgettable. 
Sun-soaked days, slow-burning nights - and when Charlie looks at her like that, Alice starts to wonder if her heart’s in danger. 
She’s spent her life seeing others. But no one’s ever truly seen her...until now. 
 ‘Crackling sexual tension’ THE TIMES 
 
‘This swoon-worthy romance is one for the beach bag’ WOMAN &amp; HOME 
 
‘Radiant’ Emily Henry 
 
'Funny and sexy, this promises to be the escapist novel of the summer' HEAT 
'Beautiful, emotional love stories set in breathtaking places' Paige Toon 
'A dreamy read full of romance ' VIP Magazine 
'With summery weather, stunning sunsets and boat trips, it's impossible not to feel the holiday spirit while reading this book' Mirror 
 
'Swoon-worthy, sun-drenched. . . Beautifully described scenery and a heart-fluttering friends-to-lovers story make this one of 2025’s best romances.' Culturefly 
 
Readers LOVE One Golden Summer: 
 
'This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! I’m calling it now. This is going to be the Summer romance read of 2025!' ***** Reader Review 
'One Golden Summer is my favourite read this year. Hands down, the easiest 5 stars' ***** Reader Review 
'This book is my absolute fav' ***** Reader Review 
'I’m so grateful I got to read this beautiful story, it was just what I needed for a bit of escapism! Good things happen at the lake' ***** Reader Review 
'This was stunning. I loved the whole thing. The characters are incredible' ***** Reader Review 
'The must pick up Romance of 2025……. I absolutely fell in love and cannot recommend it enough' ***** Reader Review

Funny and sexy, this promises to be the escapist novel of the summer

With summery weather, stunning sunsets and boat trips, it's impossible not to feel the holiday spirit while reading this book

Swoon-worthy, sun-drenched. . . Beautifully described scenery and a heart-fluttering friends-to-lovers story make this one of 2025’s best romances.

‘This swoon-worthy romance is one for the beach bag’

Carley Fortune is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After, Meet Me at the Lake, This Summer Will Be Different, 
and One Golden Summer. She’s also an award-winning Canadian journalist who has worked as an editor for Refinery29, The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, and Toronto Life. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.

Good things always happen at the lake. After all, it's where Alice took that photo, the image that changed her life. Alice loves her career as a photographer, but sometimes she just needs to be in that magical place, back by the lake at Barry’s Bay. Charlie was only nineteen when Alice unknowingly took his picture. Now, Alice is faced with the man who helped make her career. Summer with Charlie is a balm for Alice’s soul. But one night, when she looks up and sees his piercing blue gaze on her, things start to feel different. 
 
But will the truth of their past drive a wedge between them, or bring them closer together?

This Summer Will Be Different

The simmering, sun-soaked romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune - soon to be a major Netflix series‘Crackling sexual tension’ The Times‘This swoon-worthy romance is one for the beach bag’ WOMAN &amp; HOME‘Radiant’ Emily HenryThis summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won't give into temptation. This summer will be different. 
 
The first time Lucy and Felix met she was on vacation on Prince Edward Island. And a tour of the beaches wasn’t the only thing he showed her. But when she discovered his true identity as her best friend, Bridget’s brother, their electric night should have become a distant memory… 
 
Each year with Lucy and Bridget’s return for a summer escape, she promises herself she won’t end up in Felix’s arms, but it’s easier said than done. 
 
Not this year though. This year it will be different. With Bridget facing the biggest crisis of her life, Lucy must join her for one last trip to the island. 
 
But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, something more and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.‘What a dreamy and sexy summer novel. Carley Fortune knows how to tug at your heart’ 
Kiley Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age 
 
‘A deep and shimmering story of friendship, sex, and – most of all – love. Be prepared to cry, swoon, ache and cheer. Stunning’ Jennifer Niven, #1 New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places 
 
‘Clear your calendar and buckle up – this one will leave you breathless’ Annabel Monaghan, bestselling author of This Time Next SummerReaders love The Summer Will Be Different:‘Such a perfect summer romance that you can really fall in love with’ ***** Reader Review‘This book has definitely put me in the summer feelings’ ***** Reader Review'This is hands down my favourite Carley Fortune book!' ***** Reader Review'The chemistry was electric. I fell in love with the characters and the story’ ***** Reader Review‘If you enjoyed of Every Summer After and Meet Me at the Lake, I’m certain you’ll love this one just as much, if not more' ***** Reader Review

Carley Fortune is the master of the love story

A breathtaking tale of star-crossed lovers that gripped me from page one

A sweet story about second chances, and how the future we imagine for ourselves is never quite what it turns out to

There&rsquo;s plenty of crackling sexual tension, and a beguiling sense of sleepy, oyster-loving Prince Edward Island

With its steamy moments and wistful island descriptions, this swoon-worthy romance is one for the beach bag

What a dreamy and sexy summer novel. Carley Fortune knows how to tug at your heart. This is a book filled with great food, lots of charm, and a young woman navigating the tricky question of how she wants to live her life.

Kiley Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age and Come and Get It

Carley Fortune perfects the nostalgia of young summer love and the choices that change us forever

A quintessential summer novel, full of longing and lost love, and hits on so many beloved tropes

&lsquo;With its &lsquo;Anne&rsquo; references, steamy moments and wistful island descriptions, this swoon-worthy romance is one for the beach bag&rsquo;

This Summer Will Be Different is a deep and shimmering story of friendship, sex, and-- most of all-- love. From page one, Lucy and Felix reached right in and grabbed my heart and they haven't let go. Be prepared to cry, swoon, ache, and cheer. Stunning.

Jennifer Niven, #1 New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places

If this doesn't put you in the mood for summer, we're not sure what will

Carley Fortune has managed to dream up another entirely fresh, deeply layered and beautifully written romance. Except this time the chemistry between Lucy and Felix could power all of Prince Edward Island. For years. Clear your calendar and buckle up--this one will leave you breathless.

Annabel Monaghan, bestselling author of This Time Next Summer

They can't be together, but they can't stay apart. 
 
The first time Lucy and Felix meet, she is a tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. He is the local who shows her a very good night. She has no clue that he is her best friend's younger brother. Their chemistry is off the charts, but the list of reasons they can't be together is much longer. 
 
Every summer, Lucy visits the island with Bridget for a big breath of fresh air, to gorge on oysters and vinho verde, and to soak up sunny days on red sand beaches. And each year, she promises herself she won't end up in Felix's arms. 
 
It's easier said than done. With every furtive glance and electrifying touch, she becomes more entranced by this man who wears his heart on his sleeve even as he remains completely off-limits to her. What started as a one-time thing becomes six years of keeping secrets and telling lies-to her best friend, to Felix, to herself. That's why, last summer, she broke things off for good. 
 
When Bridget faces the biggest crisis of her life, Lucy knows she needs to take her back home. One last trip to the island. One last chance with Felix. But has she ruined everything before it can really begin?

Carley Fortune

Funny and sexy, this promises to be the escapist novel of the summer

With summery weather, stunning sunsets and boat trips, it's impossible not to feel the holiday spirit while reading this book

swoon-worthy, sun-drenched. . . Beautifully described scenery and a heart-fluttering friends-to-lovers story make this one of 2025’s best romances.

A gorgeous story of childhood friendship shifting into something more -- full of laughter and yearning and huge trees and stormy seas, and the feeling of being somewhere magical with a person you love.

Charged with chemistry and rippling with atmosphere.

Our Perfect Storm is a dream of a love story: breathtakingly romantic, sizzling with chemistry and set in a stunningly beautiful location. I was turning the pages of this swoony novel long after I should have been asleep and completely fell for Frankie and George and their epic story

Rosie Walsh, internationally bestselling author of The Man Who Didn't Call

The Times on THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT

This swoon-worthy romance is one for the beach bag

Women & Home on THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT

Frankie and George have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart... 
 
They’ve been best friends for as long as they can remember. Too much alike – passionate, impulsive, and headstrong – they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until their last tumultuous fight. 
 
When George walks in on the eve of her wedding, Frankie has everything she’s ever wanted. Until the next morning, when Frankie’s fiancé dumps her, without explanation. 
 
Heartbroken, Frankie wants to wallow, but George has a different idea: he wants Frankie to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforest and misty beaches of Tofino. 
 
Frankie sees this for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship even if it means unearthing secrets neither knows how to handle. Even if it means coming together, or falling apart, for good.

Carley Fortune

Praise for Our Perfect Storm

Funny and sexy, this promises to be the escapist novel of the summer

With summery weather, stunning sunsets and boat trips, it's impossible not to feel the holiday spirit while reading this book

A dreamy read full of romance

Funny and sexy, this promises to be the escapist novel of the summer

With summery weather, stunning sunsets and boat trips, it's impossible not to feel the holiday spirit while reading this book

A dreamy read full of romance

Funny and sexy, this promises to be the escapist novel of the summer

With summery weather, stunning sunsets and boat trips, it's impossible not to feel the holiday spirit while reading this book

A dreamy read full of romance

Books by Carley Fortune

Articles featuring Carley Fortune

New romance books to read in 2026

What to read based on your favourite Olivia Rodrigo song

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