It’s May, which means two very important things: Everything is blooming, and my book budget is officially out the window thanks to Independent Bookstore Day last Saturday. (But May is my birthday month, so we’ll just pretend that stack of new novels was an early present to myself.) This month, I’ve cozied up with some truly delightful romance reads. Here are a few favorites that will make your springtime even sweeter!

*****

Allison Raskin’s Save the Date (Canary Street Press) is a smart, sparkling romantic comedy that balances humor and emotional honesty with ease.

Emma Moskowitz seems to have it all: a thriving private therapy practice in Los Angeles, a popular YouTube channel focused on relationship advice, and a major book deal built around her own seemingly perfect love story. But when her fiancé, Ryan, abruptly ends their engagement, Emma’s entire world threatens to unravel. Desperate to protect not just her heart but also her career and the future she’s painstakingly built, Emma comes up with “Operation: Save My Date,” a mission to find a new groom in time for her carefully planned wedding.

As she sets out on her unconventional search, she struggles with a whirlwind of insecurities — from her fear of always being the one who gets dumped to her struggles with anxiety. Along the way, Emma’s vulnerability and resilience shine as she goes on disastrous dates, makes unexpected friends, and develops complicated feelings for two very different men: Will, a witty podcast producer who seems more interested in documenting her story than starring in it, and sweet Matt, a recent divorcé who’s more than ready for commitment. Meanwhile, Emma’s journey becomes a viral phenomenon, drawing in an ever-growing online audience watching to see if she can save her wedding date and salvage her public image.

Raskin perfectly captures the bittersweet reality of rebuilding a life after heartbreak, while managing to deliver a love story that celebrates Emma’s personal growth as much as her second-chance romance. With sparkling dialogue, laugh-out-loud humor, and a hot mess of a heroine whose self-awareness makes her impossible not to root for, Save the Date is as heartfelt as it is hilarious.

*****

Cynthia Timoti’s debut novel, Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice (Bramble), is a charming story of second chances, family expectations, and the courage it takes to forge your own path.

Ellie Pang is tired of her controlling Chinese Indonesian family’s constant interference ever since her type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Her parents are even attempting an arranged marriage and expect her to accept a proposal from their business partner’s son. When that very public New Year’s Eve proposal goes viral in the most embarrassing and fiery way, Ellie escapes across the country to Port Benedict, Washington. She’s determined to open a bakery specializing in low-carb, sugar-free treats, but her dream hits an immediate snag when the storefront she rented turns out to be a disaster. Unfortunately, the only person who can help her is Alec Mackenzie, her brother’s former best friend and the man who once broke her heart and disappeared from her life.

Facing professional pressures of his own, Alec offers a surprising solution: If Ellie agrees to pretend to be his girlfriend to help him secure a critical business deal, he’ll renovate her bakery. What begins as a pragmatic arrangement quickly evolves into something more complicated as the line between fake and real feelings blurs. But as buried secrets and unresolved hurt come to light, Ellie must decide whether she’s willing to risk her heart again — this time, on her own terms.

Salty, Spiced, and a Little Bit Nice shines with its fresh, authentic approach to chronic illness and complicated family relationships. A joyous celebration of immigrant cultural identity serves as a meaningful backdrop to Ellie’s hard-won battle toward independence, self-confidence, and an empowering romantic relationship. Cynthia Timoti is an exciting new voice in contemporary romance fiction, and I look forward to reading more of her work!

*****

Betty Corrello’s 32 Days in May (Avon) is a raw, funny, and deeply moving tale that captures the messy, courageous work of falling in love while healing from life’s most difficult blows.

Nadia Fabiola’s life has been thrown completely off course. Once a thriving Philadelphia ad executive, she’s now reeling from a lupus diagnosis that has wrecked her world. In search of stability, she finds comfort at her family’s Jersey Shore beach house in the small town of Evergreen. Nadia thinks she can trade in her exciting, active life for something simple and safe, but her plans are upended when her rheumatologist sets her up on a blind date with Marco Antoniou, a gorgeous former TV star with his own difficult past.

Marco is only in town for a few weeks, so the pair agrees to a no-strings-attached relationship for the month of May. As Nadia and Marco embrace what’s supposed to be a casual fling, they find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other. Struggling with her pride and the unpredictable nature of her illness, Nadia hides her condition from Marco and wonders whether she can truly let him into her life. Their newfound connection is tested not only by Nadia’s secrets, but by the emotional scars she and Marco both carry. As the days tick down, Nadia must confront the fear she’s been running from and the feelings she can’t deny.

Corrello beautifully captures the push-pull tension between wanting to be loved and fearing being vulnerable. Packed with emotional honesty, quiet humor, and a steamy romance that resonates with authenticity, 32 Days in May is an earnest exploration of love in the face of change and uncertainty. Nadia and Marco’s journey is unforgettable.

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.