Spring always feels like a fresh start — the days are getting longer, the flowers are starting to bloom, and I find myself reaching for books that make me feel just as light and full of possibility as the season. There’s something especially indulgent about reading this time of year — gifting myself an informal spring break, even if it only lasts a few hours while I soak up the sunshine or curl up inside on a rainy afternoon. This month, I’ve fallen for stories that are full of heart, chemistry, and exciting new takes on favorite tropes. Happy reading and happy spring!

*****

Thien-Kim Lam crafts a heartfelt and inclusive friends-to-lovers romance in Something Cheeky (Avon).

When former best friends Zoe Tran and Derek Bui reunite, it’s not just their past that’s at stake — it’s the future of the rock musical they once dreamed of creating. Now a thriving plus-size-lingerie boutique owner, Zoe has left the theater world behind, but Derek, a rising director, insists the production won’t happen without her talent. With an all-Asian cast and creative team, their show is a groundbreaking moment for Washington, DC’s largest theater, and it just might reach Broadway if all goes well.

As they pour their energy into the production, long-buried emotions surface. Derek has secretly loved Zoe since college, and demisexual Zoe begins to see him in a new way. But their deepening connection is tested when the theater’s artistic director pressures Derek to water down the musical’s cultural identity in order to broaden its appeal. With their creative vision on the line, Zoe and Derek must choose between staying true to their story or making compromises that could cost them everything.

Lam deftly weaves the drama and excitement of bringing a theatrical production to life with a bold, sex-positive, and emotionally satisfying romance. The novel not only delivers sizzling chemistry and playful dialogue but also offers social commentary on representation and artistic integrity.

*****

Love and Other Paradoxes (William Morrow) by Catriona Silvey is a witty and earnest time-travel romance that questions fate, free will, and the nature of love.

In 2005, aspiring poet Joe Greene is floundering at Cambridge, struggling to write and uncertain of his future. Then he meets Esi, a time traveler from 2044 who reveals that Joe is destined to become one of history’s greatest poets, thanks to a legendary romance with his supposed muse, Diana. Determined to make this future a reality, Joe enlists Esi’s help to win Diana’s heart. But Esi isn’t just a tourist observing history — she has a personal reason for traveling back, and getting involved with Joe was never part of the plan.

As Joe and Esi try to unravel their tangled timelines, unexpected emotions complicate their mission. Joe’s growing attraction to Esi threatens the exciting future he’s been promised, while Esi wrestles with the ethics of altering fate for her own purposes. Their charming banter and undeniable chemistry add warmth and humor to a story that also raises deeper questions about ambition, destiny, and what truly makes a life meaningful.

Silvey puts a new twist on time-travel romance with a delightfully clever premise and poignant emotional stakes. Love and Other Paradoxes is a standout in the genre, and it’ll leave you with something to think about.

*****

There aren’t nearly enough deserted-island romances, but Annie McQuaid is here to change that with her sparkling debut, Crash Landing (Avon).

Piper Adams has spent years convincing herself she’s over Wyatt Brooks. She’s in med school, dating a nice (if unexciting) fellow student, and building a safe, predictable future. But when a canceled flight threatens to make her miss her best friend Allie’s destination wedding in the Bahamas, the man she’s trying to forget is the one who comes to her rescue.

Booked on the same flight, Wyatt — who happens to have a pilot’s license — calls in a favor and borrows a friend’s small plane. Despite every instinct telling her to run, Piper can’t stand the thought of letting Allie down and reluctantly accepts his offer of a ride. But what should’ve been a simple flight turns into a nightmare when the plane crashes on a deserted island.

Told through alternating timelines, the novel explores Piper and Wyatt’s long friendship-turned-romance, from their teenage years to the heartbreak that drove them apart. A former soldier with a thrill-seeking streak, Wyatt has always embraced adventure, while Piper prefers the security of careful planning. Stranded together, their past wounds resurface alongside the undeniable chemistry that never really faded. As they battle the elements and their unresolved feelings, Piper begins to question whether the life she’s so carefully built is the one she wants.

Crash Landing is a second-chance romance that boasts a compelling mix of survival drama and emotional depth. McQuaid’s first foray into romance makes for the perfect in-flight entertainment — and makes her an author to watch!

Kristina Wright lives in Virginia with her husband, their two sons, two Goldendoodles and a ginger cat. She’s a regular contributor at BookBub and a lifelong fan of romance fiction. Find her on Twitter at @kristinawright or on Bookshop, where she features her book recommendations.