It’s a brand-new year which, of course, means we can expect a whole lot more books! And while seasons may change, romance is forever.
2022 promises an incredible slew of novels from authors both familiar and recent. Whatever takes your fancy, there will undoubtedly be a book to satisfy you. We’ve chosen just ten of these upcoming 2022 romance releases out of literally hundreds, but hopefully they’ll inspire you in the new year.
I'm So (Not) Over You
Aspiring journalist Kian Andrews is doing just fine after breaking up with his boyfriend, Hudson Rivers, thank you very much. But he still gets excited when an urgent text has them meeting at a café. Maybe Hudson wants to get back together with him? Well, he kind of does. He's going back to Georgia for a fancy family wedding, and he wants Kian to be his fake date for the occasion.
If Kian goes, he'll help Hudson preserve appearances and get the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in media. Surely it will be worth putting all those meddling feelings aside for a few days, or maybe it will be a painful reminder of what they once had.
Electric Idol
Katee Robert quickly became one of the most exciting names in erotica thanks to her highly sensual and explicit stories that put no bounds on pleasure. Her ongoing Dark Olympus series takes inspiration from the world of the Greek gods.
In the ultra-modern city of Olympus, everything can be found for the right price. If you don't pay then it could cost you your life, as Psyche is about to find out. She's on the receiving end of Aphrodite's wrath but that seems like a walk in the park compared to her gorgeous son Eros, the man who has been tasked with taking her out. When it comes time for him to strike the killer blow, he finds that he cannot do it. Confused by his reaction to Psyche, he does the only thing he can think of to keep her safe: he marries her.
By the Book
Isabelle had big dreams for her future that included her ideal job in publishing. She didn't expect to still be living at home, still working as a lowly editorial assistant, and to still be the only Black employee at her publishing house. She needs to get out of this rut, and she thinks she has the perfect means to do so.
After overhearing her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle packs her bags and heads to the mansion of Beau Towers, a jaded author dealing with writer's block. The last thing Beau needs is someone trying to nag him into finishing his book, but soon he finds that she's the right kind of inspiration. As their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize they may have something beyond the story on the page.
American Royalty
The classic story of the handsome prince who whisks away his one true love has taken on a very different meaning in a post-Meghan and Harry world, and plenty of authors are keen to explore this with spicy stories of royal romance.
Danielle "Duchess" Nelson is on the verge of signing a deal that'll make her one of the richest women in hip hop, but her career is put at risk after an incident with a rising pop star goes viral. She needs to drum up some good publicity. Enter Prince Jameson, a brilliant professor who has spent his whole life trying to cast aside his royal shackles. With the monarchy also steeped in bad press, Jameson is put in charge of a tribute concert in honor of the Queen's late husband.
It seems to make sense to hire a performer called Duchess for a royal concert, but the gorgeous and raunchy American rapper isn't what he expected. Still, they could work well together, and each get what they want if they keep their heads down and ignore the chemistry brewing between them.
Beauty and the Baller
NFL quarterback Ronan Smith had the perfect life right up until a car accident cost him his career and his fiancée. He hit rock bottom just around the time a beautiful woman dressed as a princess from a galaxy far, far away turned up and they engaged in a messy one-night stand.
Two years later and that princess, the former beauty queen Nova Morgan, has returned to her hometown of Blue Belle, Texas, with her tail tucked firmly between her legs. In a truly unexpected twist, her new neighbor is none other than Ronan, who's now working as the local football coach. To keep from the local women playing matchmaker, Ronan asks Nova to be his fake girlfriend. It's a great idea, Nova thinks. It's just a shame he has no idea who she is.
Related: 7 Fake Relationship Romance Books That Will Make You Have Real Feelings
Dating Dr. Dil
Nisha Sharma's new contemporary romance series is hilariously subtitled "If Shakespeare was an auntie," which gives you a good idea of what to expect! Dating Dr. Dil takes its inspiration from The Taming of the Shrew.
The eponymous Doctor is Prem Verma, an ambitious man with big plans to build a local community health center, but he needs to get donors with deep pockets to help him realize it. He doesn't have much time for love.
Kareena Mann, however, is desperate to have a soaring love story like her parents did. When her father announces he’s selling her mother’s home, Kareena makes a deal with him: he’ll gift her the house if she can get engaged in four months. Alas, after an argument with Dr. Dil on his show goes viral, the search for her soulmate becomes near-impossible. Prem is coaxed into dating her by his meddling aunties with their own bet: convince Kareena he’s her soulmate and they’ll fund his clinic.
A Dance of Smoke and Steel
After some delays, the third part of Milla Vane’s much-loved A Gathering of Dragons series will be released in early 2022. Sold to the world as “the romance version of Game of Thrones,” Vane’s deftly layered and ambitious fantasy saga has worldbuilding that would put George R.R. Martin to shame, only with way hotter characters!
The next novel picks up as Anumith the Destroyer's army draws nearer to the western realms. Alliances must form for the sake of the people, but trust is tenuous among the clans. The heir to the throne of Krimathe embarks upon a quest for the goddess Vela. She has vengeance on the mind as she serves the man she has sworn to kill.
Saxen the Destroyer wants to make amends for his past misdeeds and doesn't want this mysterious cloaked woman among his crew. But she's not so easy to get rid of, and their growing connection could prove dangerous for them both.
To Catch a Raven
The release of a new Beverly Jenkins novel is always cause for celebration. She’s one of the true undisputed legends of romance and her newest book, the third in the Women Who Dare series, is no exception.
The Raven of the title is Raven Moreaux, a conwoman who comes from a long line of proud and highly talented grifters. It's a life free of ties to the world, right up until she's forcibly recruited by the government. A former Confederate official is suspected of stealing the Declaration of Independence, and Raven has been tasked with getting it back.
She is sent into the household, posing as a housekeeper, alongside Braxton Steel, an agent masquerading as a valet and her husband. Their pretend marriage is just a cover and they can't afford to let any passions get in the way of doing their national duty. Raven soon finds that she'll have to put her life and her heart on the line.
Delilah Green Doesn't Care
Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Falls, the small town she used to call home. It has nothing but bad memories for her and she's spent too long building a life for herself in New York to abandon it. But when her estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding with a guilt trip and a five-figure check, she decides to take the money.
Get in, do the job, then get out, simple as that. She wasn't expecting Claire Sutherland, the local bookshop owner who she cannot help but want to seduce. Claire's a responsible type and she knows she should resist Delilah, a born and bred heartbreaker, but she's soon finding out that she might not want to.
