12 New Romance Books Coming Out in October You Must Add to Your TBR
Even the most hardcore summer lovers (myself included) will be hard-pressed to admit: Fall feels like the season of romance. As we hang our bikinis up to dry for the last time and tuck away our beach towels, there’s that excitement to reach for our thick wool blankets, a warm cup of coffee, and, of course, a romance novel. Sounds like a perfect night to us…
Among this month’s recommendations are a small town romance of avoidants letting down their walls, a romantasy putting a hopeful spin on fated lovers, an early Christmas romance that will get you in the holiday spirit, and a sensual getaway vacation where everyone embraces the truth of their desires. This selection of romance picks for October will add even more books to your never-ending TBR.
Which new books are you excited to read this October? Let us know in the comments below.
Heartsick
Kristina Forest
Release date: October 7
Kristina Forest makes her return to the YA scene following her Greene Sisters series in this surprising sweet and twisty tale of exes on the run. Margot Whitman is focused on her future, not her past. What’s behind her is a breakup with her now ex-boyfriend, Isaiah, and what’s ahead of her is a potential interview with Christopher Woodson, the head of Healing Hearts, a company with a pill that cures heartbreak. But when Margot discovers that Healing Hearts is covering up patients getting sick from their pill, the only person she can turn to is Isaiah, and the two attempt to escape Woodson’s team tracking them. As they plan to reveal the truth to the masses…they may end up rekindling their love.
Mate
Ali Hazelwood
Release date: October 7
Hazelwood makes a return to her paranormal universe first set up in Bride in this biting sequel. Serena Paris didn’t mean to turn the world upside down with her secret: She’s the first Human-Were hybrid in a world where Weres, Vampyres, and Humans are in a constant battle for power and control. To keep the peace, Were Alpha Koen agrees to watch over Serena and claims her as his mate. Under the protection of the fiercely loyal Koen and the Weres, Serena embraces this side of her she’s long hidden, but her identity makes her a valuable asset to many factions of the universe and many will do anything to get to her.
Savage Blooms
S.T. Gibson
Release date: October 7
If you’ve ever dreamed of casting a spell over your favorite friends-to-lovers to just finally kiss each other (and maybe a few others), S.T Gibson has a saucy new addition to your TBR. Adam Lancaster and Nicola Fairweather are best friends with the kind of romantic tension to drive any third wheel wild. When Adam’s grandfather dies and leaves hints of a house once shared in Adam’s bedtime stories, the duo takes a trip to find the home, and hopefully the courage to tell each other how they feel. What they find instead is this: a manor steeped in fauna and mysterious housekeepers Eileen and Finley. What comes next is a polyamorous romp about leaning into one’s true desire, one that will haunt (and titillate) you.
Female Fantasy
Iman Hariri-Kia
Release date: October 14
Raise your hand if you’ve ever gone looking for your book boyfriend IRL! Joonie, the focus of Hariri-Kia’s rom-com, has grown tired of disappointment with romance in reality, often turning to her moonlighting career as a fanfiction writer of merman fanfiction based on her favorite book. When the author of the book reveals that the aquatic hero of his work is based on a real person, Joonie is willing to do whatever it takes, including dragging her best friend (who once broke her heart) Nico, along for a road trip to find her dream man. But of course, Joonie is in for a surprise when her heartthrob might have been sitting alongside her all along.
Fortress of Ambrose
J. Elle
Release date: October 14
J. Elle sends off her House of Marionette series on a high note with Fortress of Ambrose. The last thing Quell ever expected was to find herself as the new headmistress of House of Marionne, the magical finishing school where her family has built a legacy despite the school’s warped history and dangerous politics. With her lover Jordan being consumed by dark magic, Quell relies on Nore, of House of Ambrose, and Yagrin, a cunning assassin, to help her find clues within each of the Houses that could unlock a path to immortality. But no one can be trusted — not friends, not foes, and perhaps, not even lovers.
The Princess Knight
Cait Jacobs
Release date: October 14
Cait Jacobs’ debut novel, The Princess Knight, is sure to be on the top of everyone’s TBR this fall. The romance from the TikToker centers around the highly anticipated betrothal of princess Clia and Prince Domhnall, the rulers of neighboring nations. However, Domhnall has secured a spot at military academy Caislean Costa and has no time to worry about marriage, especially not from another princess who knows little of what it takes to protect a kingdom. However, Clia is not to be ignored, and manages to make her way into the academy with one goal: prove that she is just as capable of protecting her kingdom in order to secure Domhnall’s hand in marriage. Any fans of Elle Woods’ famous line “What like it’s hard?” are sure to love this one.
Revolve
Bal Khabra
Release date: October 14
The hockey genre continues to appease readers and Bal Khabra’s latest installment to the Off the Ice series places a former Olympian and hockey star at the center of the rink. Nothing in the world could get ice skater Sierra Romanova off the ice, not until an injury impeded her professional career and left her with panic attacks about the accident. Upon her return to Dalton University, Sierra is determined to avoid getting back on the ice until hockey player Dylan Donovan’s teasing proves too much of a temptation. Before she knows it, Sierra’s taking tentative steps back into the figure skating spotlight. But…she needs a partner, and unfortunately, recently axed off the hockey team Dylan proves to be available and capable, even in his most frustrating moments. If the pair want to prove to the world, and to themselves, that they are best on the ice, they’ll have to work through their troubles with each other to become suitable partners (in both senses of the word).
Good Spirits
B.K. Borison
Release date: October 21
The Ghost of Christmas Past is pleasantly surprised by the sweet woman he’s sent to haunt in B.K. Borison’s charming holiday romance. Harriet York isn’t the person you’d expect to be haunted. She appreciates the season, is eternally grateful, and most of all, she’s a people pleaser to her core. Which is why Nolan, the ghost sent to haunt her, is so perplexed. Rather than stick to his typical tactics, Nolan and Harriet work together to analyze her past but learn that there may be more than a run-of-the-mill holiday haunting bringing them together.
The Isle in the Silver Sea
Tasha Suri
Release date: October 21
There’s no doubt that it’s a Knight Girl Fall, and Tasha Suri’s addition is sure to be at the top of the list of offerings. Reincarnates on the Isle must accept their fate: Everyone is born to play a preordained role, and lest they follow the traditional fairytale script, their universe will cease to exist. There is no less undesirable role than the Knight and the Witch, two lovers meant to fall in love and tragically be separated over and over again. In this lifetime Vina and Simran have been cast, but these sweethearts refuse to face the doomed fate their predecessors have, and seek out an immortal who may be able to save the — for a costly price.
Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside
Maisey Yates
Release date: October 28
Maisey Yates warms the heart of two highly independent singles in this small town romance. Denver King has a lot of regrets, but his greatest one is his father. After his father conned most of their townspeople out of their money, leaving him a fortune after his death, Denver is on the path of righting his father’s wrongs, using his money to help the victims in any way he can. Sheena Patrick, however, is no one’s victim. After raising her sisters on her own when their family lost everything to the Kings, Sheena is determined to make a name for herself by starting her own bar. When Sheena accepts Denver’s offer to help with start-up costs in exchange for a small percentage of the profits, they find themselves struggling to work together. But what begins as a thorny working relationship is a story of redemption that will melt even the stoniest of readers’ hearts.
The Defender
Ana Huang
Release date: October 28
Ana Huang tries her hand (and succeeds) at the best friend’s brother trope in the second installment of the God of the Games series. Brooklyn Armstrong knows that soccer star Vincent DuBois is completely off limits. Not only is he her best friend’s brother, but he’s also the mega star of her father’s soccer team and mixing friends, family, business, and feelings sounds like a terrible idea. But when Vincent discovers he has a stalker, it seems Brooklyn’s flat is the best place to privately recoup and figure out his next move. But being locked in the same flat with one of the world’s hottest athletes requires more restraint than she thought. But the question remains: What is at stake for the boy who has it all and the girl who could be his downfall?
Our Vicious Oaths
N.E. Davenport
Release date: October 28
Readers will recognize N.E. Davenport’s witty banter and riveting battles from her Blood Trials series in the author’s first venture into the romantasy genre. Princess Kadeesha Mercier makes a mistake that may have cost her everything: On the eve of her wedding to King Rishaud Timmu, she sneaks away to a sex club for a last hurrah to her freedom. At said club, Kadeesha doesn’t realize that the object of her affection is Malachi, king of the fae, who has been charged with ruining the wedding. When her infidelity is revealed, King Rishaud lashes out, killing the princess’ family and Malachi shockingly comes to her aid, whisking her away from her world and into his. This pairing is certainly filled with its grudges, but in order to keep up appearances, the duo must put on the front of a soon-to-be perfect couple, only to discover that the heat that got them in trouble in the first place, never went out.
