Happy New Year! I’m not a big fan of sweeping resolutions, but every year, I vow to spend more time reading than doomscrolling. In 2025, I read 80 books, and nearly half of them fell somewhere in the romance genre, offering entertainment and comfort when the world felt loud and overwhelming. Reading romance has always been one of my favorite ways to decompress and escape — a reminder that happy endings still matter, even (and especially) when real life feels heavy.

As we step into 2026, I’m incredibly excited for the many wonderful books ahead and grateful to start the year reflecting on stories that made me stay up far too late turning pages. Here’s to another year of great romantic reads!

*****

The Bodyguard Affair (Berkley) by Amy Lea is a delightfully bubbly romcom with plenty of emotional depth and sharp social commentary.

Andi Zeigler lives two carefully separated lives: She’s the capable, no-nonsense personal assistant to the Canadian prime minister’s wife, and she writes steamy romance novels under a pen name. When her latest book becomes an unexpected bestseller, rumors spiral out of control, and the media begins to speculate that Andi herself is involved in an affair with the prime minister, putting both her job and her anonymity at risk.

Nolan Crosby is the prime minister’s newly assigned bodyguard and the man Andi almost shared a one-night stand with years earlier. Nolan has returned to Ottawa to help his sister care for their mother, who is facing early-onset Alzheimer’s, and he doesn’t expect to run into the woman who’s lingered in his thoughts ever since that brief encounter. Their reunion is awkwardly tender and charged with unresolved feelings, especially as both are determined to remain professional.

As the scandal escalates, Andi and Nolan agree to fake-date for the summer to protect their boss’ reputation and quiet the rumors. What begins as a strategic arrangement quickly becomes complicated as they spend time together and confront the emotional baggage they’ve both been carrying. Lea juggles lighthearted banter with heavier themes — caregiving, media intrusion, and the undervaluing of women’s work — without losing momentum. The added emotional layers allow the romance to grow in a way that feels grounded and hard-earned.

With heartfelt stakes and an unexpectedly entertaining political backdrop, The Bodyguard Affair is an engaging, feel-good romance.

*****

Alexandria Bellefleur’s sapphic Playing for Keeps (Avon) is another standout romance that grapples with media scrutiny, this time through the glossy, high-pressure worlds of pop stardom and professional football.

Poppy Peterson is finally finding her footing as the publicist for her childhood best friend, rising NFL star Cash Curran — until he very publicly flirts with global pop sensation Lyric Adair. It turns out, Lyric is interested in Cash, so Rosaline Sinclair — Lyric’s legendary and intimidating publicist — reaches out to Poppy.

When Cash and Lyric’s impulsive attraction explodes into a full-blown media spectacle, Poppy and Rosaline are forced to work closely together, each determined to protect her client from any potential pitfalls. Poppy’s messy, earnest energy clashes with Rosaline’s cool professionalism, creating a dynamic charged with tension and undeniable attraction.

As their clients’ whirlwind romance dominates headlines, Poppy and Rosaline begin a secret relationship of their own — one that’s complicated by nonstop paparazzi attention, conflicting loyalties, and the ever-present threat of public fallout. Bellefleur uses this setup to thoughtfully explore fame, fandom, and how the media shapes narratives, while also weaving in themes of queerness, race, and imposter syndrome with care and nuance.

Playing for Keeps is a smart, sexy tale that delivers both escapism and substance, perfect for readers who love celebrity stories and opposites-attract romance.

*****

If you like a little mystery with your romance, Definitely Maybe Not a Detective (Bantam) by Sarah Fox is an easy book to fall for.

Emersyn Gray is doing her best to keep her life together after loss, betrayal, and financial ruin, all while raising her young niece in a rundown New York City seniors-only apartment building. Recently fired from yet another job and desperate for cash, she agrees to a risky plan to intimidate her thieving ex with a fake private investigator.

That plan is already questionable, but things quickly escalate when the building’s superintendent turns up dead, and the well-meaning residents mistake Emersyn’s fabricated “detective agency” for the real deal. Suddenly, she finds herself fielding suspects, suspicious neighbors, and very real police attention, all while trying to stay one step ahead of her own lies.

Wyatt, the handsome stranger who agrees to pose as a detective, becomes Emersyn’s partner as they fumble through the investigation. The absurdity of their situation paves the way for growing trust and mutual attraction, while the cast of eccentric, lovable residents creates a warm, found-family atmosphere that wholly suits the cozy-mystery tone.

Definitely Maybe Not a Detective is a charming series starter, and readers who love “Only Murders in the Building” and Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan series will enjoy the satisfying whodunit that unfolds alongside the slow-burn romance.

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.