If you just cannot get enough of the Kingdom of Ilya, then we’ve got great news for you. Lauren Roberts is back with another installment of the fan favorite, #1 New York Times bestselling Powerless trilogy. This time, Mara — also known as literal Death in the flesh — is here to witness the unraveling of Kitt’s mind. But he won’t be the only one to catch her attention... As she watches an unlikely bond form between Blair and her bodyguard, Lenny, Mara will begin to wonder if there is more to life than just death, and you’ll begin to wonder if Roberts is determined to break your heart with every book she writes.

Recommended by Karina

If you loved the glitzy glam of American Royals or if you can’t stop feverishly searching for set photos from The Devil Wears Prada 2 now that it’s started filming, then By Invitation Only needs to be on your TBR! This contemporary novel follows two teens: Piper Woo Collins, who gets pulled from everyday life into high society when she’s invited to an ultra-exclusive debutante ball (in PARIS!), and Chapin Buckingham, a nepo baby and daughter of two Hollywood legends who’s already attending the ball. Piper and Chapin clash, but they might just have to team up in order to take control of their narratives. This is a romance read, too—as Piper and Chapin each have their own separate swoony romances along the way! I’ll always be Team Piper… and I’m not just saying that because she works at the Claire’s in King of Prussia Mall where I got my ears pierced (true story).

Recommended by James

Gilmore Girls fans, this is your time to shine! Falling Like Leaves is the perfect romance read for fall, (I mean look at the cover) it has all the best tropes: small town, second chance, and set during a fall festival; but best part… its set in Connecticut. Ellis is a NYC girl force to move to Bramble Falls, CT with her mom because of her parents’ separation but meets up with her first kiss Cooper again. She can’t help but fall for this quaint town and Cooper and must face some hard choices: stay or head back to the big city.

Recommended by Antonella

Are you in a reading slump and not sure what genre will get you out of it? Maybe historical fiction or true crime, but what about a romance or something with mythology? I think I found your next read for you...  If Looks Could Kill is the genre bending, nail-biting literary mashup that pits Jack the Ripper against Medusa. Set in the late 1800s of New York City, this YA has it all, including the swoony romance with a handsome Irish bartender!

Recommended by Lindsey

Lynn Painter is already the MASTER of teen romances, so when I heard she was coming out with a fake dating hockey one, I was ready! Follow Dani and Alec, childhood best friends turned strangers, as they reunite after 5 long years due to Dani moving out of the country (and coincidentally right after their first kiss which they’ve obviously never spoken about). Little does Dani know that her old BFF is no longer the sweet awkward kid she used to know. Alec now goes by “Zeus” and is the star of the high school hockey team— and of course, the entire town. However, circumstances lead them to start a mutually beneficial fake relationship, forcing them to realize their true feelings that have been hiding ever since they were kids. From the epic highs and lows of small town high school hockey to the chemistry between Dani and Alec, you won’t want to miss this one!

Recommended by Remi

If you're searching for a scorching, slow burn (and we mean SLOW, but in the best way) romance with all of the yearning, banter, and morally gray characters you could ever want, A Match Made in Hell is the perfect read to add to your TBR! When Willow dies and ends up in Asphodel, she makes a deal with Sath, the ruler of the hell-like dimension. Now, she must resist the seven deadly sins and he'll allow her to return to her life, but can she resist Sath himself?

Recommended by Amy

If you're looking for pure holiday JOY wrapped in sapphic romcom shenanigans, Joy to the Girls is the book for you! Featuring the characters from married duo Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick's BookTok fave romcom She Gets the Girl, this sweet followup novella is the perfect read for the end of the year! Featuring ice skating, snowball fights, and matchmaking schemes, Joy to the Girls is a must read this holiday season. 

Recommended by Amy

Nobody brings light, quirkiness, and creativity to Black history like the 2025 TIME100 Creator, Taylor Cassidy. Filled with rich educational gems and humorous personal anecdotes, Black History is Your History is a reminder that the past and present are connected. My favorite moments in this book encapsule Black excellence in innovation, critical thinking, and audacious authenticity! This collection of writing is a snapshot into immersive storytelling that can inspire us all.

Recommended by Kayah

As someone who doesn’t read romantasy that often (I know!), The Prince of Mourning was the perfect romantasy for me. The gothic elements are so captivating, as it’s set in 1873 and follows Molly as she leaves New York City to become the private live-in nurse at a wealthy estate in the Hudson Valley, NY. Something about the mansion isn’t quite right… especially when Molly discovers that her new employer has imprisoned a young man around her age in the mansion’s basement. Sparks begin to fly between Molly and this enigmatic young man—but he’s royalty and from a realm beyond this world, which makes their connection all the more complicated. This is a hauntingly romantic read and a wonderful entry point for readers who are new to romantasy!

Recommended by James

Raise your hand if you’ve cried or seen people crying about Amber Smith’s The Way I Used to Be on TikTok! And raise your other hand if you would absolutely eat up a sapphic 90’s love story written by Amber and her wife! (Both of my hands are raised)

Fade Into You is a love letter to nostalgia and the music scene of the 90s, featuring an allies-to-lovers plot. Bird and Jessa’s best friends have started dating, and it’s threatening to ruin their senior year. Tired of coming second to their friends’ romance, they agree to work together to break them up. But the more time they spend scheming, the more they start focusing on one another instead...

This book grapples with what it meant to be queer in the nineties and how powerful it is to love yourself and to dream of a brighter future. It doesn’t shy away from the reality and the stigma around topics like being queer, mental health disorders, AIDs, and more. And it is ultimately such a hopeful look about how two people can come together and find possibility - both for themselves and each other.  

Recommended by Shannon

Chloe Gong is BACK and she is better than ever! This cyberpunk dystopian novel is everything I could have asked for and more. It is SO timely (almost too much so) and I can confidently say that the dystopian era is back. Coldwire follows Eirale, a soldier who has been framed for murder, and Lia, a military student in the midst of her final exam, as they navigate downcountry (the real world) and upcountry (virtual reality). I think this is the first time I have EVER successfully predicted (part of) the ending, and I can tell you all that NONE of you are ready. BRB I’m going to re-read it now.

Recommended by Julia Ashley

Joelle Wellington is the queen of atmospheric thrillers, and Girls Who Play Dead is the latest in a line-up of page-turning mysteries. If you haven’t read Their Vicious Games and The Blonde Dies First yet, you are missing out! 

Mikky returns to his small, stifling hometown after his sister Kyla's best friend Erin is murdered. He expects to help his sister grieve - but she isn’t the same girl that he left behind years ago. Is it because of her best friend’s death…or something darker? He decides to find the truth about who killed Erin to help his sister. But the more he investigates, the more dark secrets he uncovers about their town, the beauty brand that is its lifeblood, and especially Kyla herself.  

This book has so many things I love: small town murder mystery! Messy sibling relationships! Multiple POVs! Complex mental health representation! A cast filled with queer characters! The mystery will keep you turning the pages - just when you think you’ve figured it out, you’ll find another plot twist revealing something that changes everything. There’s only one way to find out the truth that’s lurking at the center of it all, and that’s to keep reading! 

Recommended by Shannon

From the brilliant mind of master storyteller Neal Shusterman comes a collection of unsettling, unforgettable short stories that is a must-read for fans (and future fans) or Neal's incredible work! This collection features not one but TWO new tales set in the universe of the Arc of a Scythe, and the first edition's deluxe paperback may or may not come with the most amazing sprayed edges we've ever seen. Mindworks is truly a must-read this fall!

Recommended by Brian

I simply CANNOT WAIT for the return of Seraphine and Ransom. The stakes are high, the enemies are hotter, and the magic is deadly. I must say that a romantasy has not pulled me in quite as strongly as The Dagger and the Flame did when I first read it last year! Since then, I have been desperately waiting for the sequel, and now it’s almost here!! If you haven’t met Seraphine and Ransom yet, you have plenty of time before The Rebel and the Rose comes out in December! Also, whether you’re visiting the City of Fantome for the first time or revisiting, I HIGHLY recommend you listen to the audiobook. Freddy Carter is simply *chefs kiss*

Recommended by Julia Ashley