The 12 Best Black Romance Books Coming Out in 2026

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J.L Seegars’ New Haven series took the BookTok world by storm, and now readers can enjoy the tale of a widow and her husband’s best friend with this re-release. Sloane Kent has been doing all she can to keep herself together since the death of her husband. The one person she would think could understand her pain is Dominic, her husband’s best friend, but he behaves as though he cannot stand her until one night he unexpectedly steps in to rescue her. This is the last man that Sloane should turn to for comfort, and despite her guilt and shame, she can’t deny that Dominic has awakened something in her that she once thought died with her husband. Sloane and Dominic are finally ready to turn to each other for help navigating their grief, but could what begins be its own kind of betrayal or a chance at healing?

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Release Date: March 3

No one can resist the power of Talia Hibbert’s effusive and sharp romances, and her latest novel, A Girl Like Her, only proves the author’s growing prowess. Ruth Kabbah may be the town recluse, but that’s exactly the way she likes it. After a traumatizing scenario with her boss left her feeling isolated from her community, Ruth feels safe shut in with her work as a web comic. That is, until veteran Evan Miller comes knocking on her door. The two strike up an unlikely friendship, with Evan being the only one Ruth’s let in in a long time and Ruth one of the very few Evan feels understands him. Learning to overcome their hyper-independent ways, Evan and Ruth start to pave new roads in their life that will require them to be both brave and vulnerable.

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Release Date: March 31

A return to old stomping grounds proves the opportunity for a second chance romance in Neilson’s sophomore outing. It might be true that Olivia Jones left her hometown in Rhode Island to pursue bigger dreams of becoming a private chef, but it doesn’t mean she ever forgot where she got her start: Celia’s Place, a local restaurant where she met and fell for the owner’s son, Carmello. However, when Celia dies and leaves ownership of the restaurant to both Carmello and Olivia, it forces them both to return to the place where their love first blossomed and where Carmello got burned by Olivia’s sudden breakup announcement. Despite Carmello’s reservations, neither is ready to see their beloved haunt close, and they agree to work together to keep the restaurant open. Staying in the present becomes challenging for both chefs as their past feelings come floating to the surface.

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Release Date: April 14

Home isn’t always a welcome place, as Jazmyn Payne, the star of Allen’s third Curves novel, knows. Growing up, her classmates made her life hell because of her body, and once she left, she had no intentions of coming back. Upon learning that the aunt who lovingly raised her is sick, Jazmyn makes an exception and returns home to help take care of her, and while in town, finds romance with the handsome Lamar. Allen proves that anyone can always find their way back home, even if that means fighting for it, in this winning story.

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Release Date: April 14

The second book of Natasha Bishop’s Forever Falling series turns the spice all the way up in this road trip romance featuring exes reuniting for their late mentor. Dani Jenkins isn’t in the habit of looking backwards. She likes to look ahead to her bright future as a model and influencer. However, a call announcing the death of her mentor, Tanya, is enough to get Dani back home and in the orbit of her ex-boyfriend, Micah. Tanya’s dying wish asks Dani and Micah to embark on a scavenger hunt road trip, which neither will refuse in Tanya’s honor. Micah sees this as an opportunity to prove to Dani that he’s not the guy who let her down all those years ago, and Dani refuses to fall for broken promises once again. Can this road trip heal what’s broken, or will it only push them further apart?

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Release Date: April 14

Adrienne Thurman crafts a resonant debut for those who have felt reluctant to open their hearts and those learning to have faith in themselves. Kaia Harper is no stranger to the dating apps game, but she’s hesitant when her sister asks her to be the first client of her matchmaking business. But with her mother and sister egging her on, Kaia agrees, if only to get it over with. She’s surprised to come across Ro Jackson, who sees her for her haywire antics and embraces them, while she falls for his grounded and calm demeanor. Kaia has long relinquished her desire for a happily ever after, and opening her heart to Ro leaves room to get heartbroken once more. But as this title suggests, Kaia will have to learn to embrace the present if she’s meant to find true love in her future.

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Release Date: April 14

Let Rebekah Weatherspoon remind you of the sweetness of young love with her summertime romance oozing with warmth. If you asked anyone, teens Heaven Goo-Campbell and Saylor Ford would never be caught dead together. Skateboarder Heaven enjoys riding solo, while basketball player Saylor is always at the center of everyone’s attention. When a sudden injury means Saylor must sit out the rest of basketball camp, she refuses to let her injury dictate how she will spend her summer, and turns to the last person anyone would expect, Heaven, to help her out. Heaven allows Saylor in on her Summer Bingo challenge, with the addendum that Saylor help her get a start on social media, which sets off a summertime friendship turned romance that will melt even cynics’ hearts.

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Release Date: May 19

Who can resist the charms of a Kennedy Ryan romance? Not us! And Ryan’s latest romance sets up exes who must reunite to work on a promising film project while grappling with their torrid past. Verity Hill has never backed down from a challenge, and she has the chance to further prove herself as the screenwriter of her generation with a big-budget Harlem Renaissance biopic. The only hitch is that the film’s score is being written by Wright “Monk” Bellamy, a deeply talented musician and the college ex she’s never been able to forget. Determined to put their feelings aside for the sake of their project, Verity and Monk dive headfirst into the history of their beloved icon, the creative process only bringing them closer together. These two have been burned by each other once before, and with their careers on the line, they question whether letting history repeat itself could be the secret to making this movie great or the thing that leaves them scorched once again.

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Release Date: May 26

Luna, the star of Alexa Martin’s sexy southern romp, is a big believer in the saying, “Save a horse, ride a cowboy.” That’s why she’s packing up and moving herself to Texas, where she’s purchased a farm that is in deep need of renovations. Local handyman Tate has his own reservations about the cowboy trope, considering his family owns one of the most notable ranches around. Upon meeting bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Luna, Tate can ignore her charming ways or the fact that she’s in desperate need of help with her farm. As Luna’s home starts to take shape in Tate capable hands, Luna questions if hanging on to her cowboy dreams might stand in the way of a very real chance of love.

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Release Date: July 7

A teen who has had her heart broken too many times is determined to have a romance-free summer in Jessica Lewis’ pitch-perfect sapphic romance. If there’s anyone who knows anything about heartbreak, just ask Hallie. She’s only had six major romantic catastrophes to put under her belt. With an invitation to a competitive academic summer camp, Hallie decides it’s time to let those naive notions of romance go and approach love with caution. That should be fairly easy when Hallie meets her roommate Julia, who should be perfect for a romance-break with her standoffish demeanor, but proves to be the greatest threat to Hallie’s heart yet. Her romantic heart and cynical head are at odds as Hallie questions if her romantic time-out taught her anything new or if she’s just leaning back into old habits.

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Release Date: August 4

Julian Winters grapples with the concept of love after life in this YA romance about a teen down into the Underworld in search of his lost love, only to find himself falling for someone who’s offering a damning deal. There is no easy timeline when it comes to grief, and 18-year-old August is still struggling under the weight of losing his boyfriend years ago. When he accidentally finds a portal to the Underworld, August realizes this could be his only chance to find his lover and get the closure he has so desperately been searching for. Cary, a ferrier of souls, joins August on his search for his ex-boyfriend, and soon August doesn’t want to leave the Underworld — or Cary. Remaining in the Underworld starts to become an alluring possibility, but is August willing to pay the price?

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Release Date: August 18

If you’re looking for a romance that’s equal parts ludicrous, humorous, and full of heart, Kimberly Lemming’s out-of-this-world offering is the pick for you. Once upon a time, Blair was minding her own business as a human simply living her life — until she was beamed up by a spaceship, introduced to an alien king, and told that she was his mate (no big deal). The only trouble is, despite all of the aliens’ research, King Osid and Blair’s temperaments aren’t exactly a match, and the duo is sent off to couples counseling to see if they can become more amenable to one another. Except alien therapy looks less like lying on a couch, and more like surviving a series of life-threatening challenges. Nothing like almost dying together to bring two enemies together…right?

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