August is here, and I’ve officially had enough of the summer heat. I’m counting down to cooler temps and the return of a school routine, but I’m not quite ready to let go of these long, lazy days just yet. I’ve got a vacation coming up — and, yes, I’ll definitely be making a stop (more like daily stops) at my favorite beachside bookstore, Bethany Beach Books. Until then, I’m soaking up these last weeks of summer with romance novels that remind me why I love this genre so much: They’re hopeful, heartwarming, and exactly what I need right now. Happy reading!

*****

Let’s Make a Scene (Atria) by Laura Wood is an absolute delight — a celebrity enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating romance that sparkles from the first page.

Told in dual timelines, the story follows Cynthie Taylor and Jack Turner-Jones, co-stars who first met on the set of a low-budget British period drama. Cynthie was untrained and raw, while Jack was a drama-school-polished nepo baby with something to prove. Though they clashed immediately, their chemistry was undeniable — so much so that they agreed to a PR-driven fake relationship. Once filming wrapped, they swore never to work together again.

Thirteen years later, both actors need a career boost when a surprise sequel pulls them reluctantly back together — and back into the spotlight. But there’s a catch: They’re asked to revive their fake relationship, this time with a documentary crew capturing every behind-the-scenes moment. Now older and wiser, Cynthie and Jack are finally ready to face the sparks that never really died. Their banter is sharp, and the scenes between them crackle with delicious tension. The best part? Their emotional growth makes this second-chance romance feel fully earned. Wood brings depth to their story with themes of vulnerability, trust, and healing — and makes it impossible not to root for them.

Let’s Make a Scene is a companion to Wood’s Under Your Spell, and while I haven’t read that one, I’ve already added it to my TBR stack — I love these characters too much to let them go. This book is pure escapist joy.

*****

Anywhere With You (Putnam) by Ellie Palmer is the road-trip romcom my summer needed.

Charley Beekman is a type-A, hyper-organized, recently divorced lawyer barely holding it together. She is tethered to her phone 24/7 and has no social life to speak of. She got the big house in the split, but she basically lives out of her bedroom, mini fridge and all. Things are looking bleak until, on the day her divorce is finalized, she finds out that her impulsive sister is about to elope with her on-again/off-again boyfriend.

Determined to intervene, Charley enlists the help of her charming, laidback childhood best friend, Ethan Powell. He’s a musician who spends most of his time on the road traveling from gig to gig. He couldn’t be more different from Charley — yet he’s always shown up when it counts. And this time is no different. As they head into the Minnesota woods in Ethan’s custom van, what started as a mission to stop a wedding quickly spirals into a deeply personal, unexpectedly emotional journey filled with awkward moments, off-road adventures, and long-buried feelings.

Using a dual timeline that toggles between present-day disasters and flashbacks to Charley and Ethan’s long friendship, Palmer unpacks the roots of Charley’s control issues and fear of abandonment. Her behavior often borders on outrageous, but it’s grounded in the kind of emotional damage that makes you ache for her. Ethan, meanwhile, is a warm, endlessly patient golden retriever of a hero filled with the kind of positive energy and steadfast loyalty Charley needs. Watching them finally confront their messy, unfinished past is incredibly satisfying.

*****

My ideal summer read combines swoony romance, buried treasure, and globetrotting adventure, so Libby Hubscher’s Heart Marks the Spot (Berkley) is perfect.

Treasure-hunter Stella Moore spends every summer chasing lost riches with her lifelong friends, but during an expedition in Iceland, she finds more than gold: She falls for bestselling novelist Huck Sullivan, the author of some of her favorite books. Their connection is immediate and undeniable, but then Huck disappears without a word. Stella tries to convince herself that their brief interlude was meaningless, but her heart is shattered.

A year later, Huck is back — with a blockbuster novel that sounds suspiciously like their shared adventure (and with a second chance on his mind). Now, Stella’s leading her crew on a search for a long-ago shipwreck off the coast of Key West, and Huck shows up, determined to prove he’s not the same guy who left her on the beach in Iceland. Told in dual timelines and dual POVs, their story weaves together past and present as Stella and Huck face rough waters, buried secrets, and old wounds. There’s plenty of snark, heat, and romantic tension but also emotional depth as both characters grapple with their pasts — and what it means to trust again.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Sahara” are two of my favorite movies, so the mix of action, mystery, and slow-burn romance made this one a total winner for me. I loved the camaraderie among Stella’s close-knit crew and the way Hubscher captured both the thrill of the chase and the tenderness of risking everything to fall in love.

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 Bluesky at @kristinawright.