5 Contemporary Romances To Read Poolside

There is nothing better than stretching out with a captivating book by some water – poolside, on a beach. I personally love reading contemporary romances when the weather starts to heat up. As the temperature gets warmer, I want my books to get slightly spicier. There’s nothing like a good contemporary romance to carry me through a hot summer day. The following recommendations are books that I think will appeal to every sort of contemporary romance reader.

Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron
Published by Grand Central Publishing on May 2, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Family Life / General, Fiction / Feminist, Fiction / Own Voices, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 368
Format: eARC, Paperback
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

The highly acclaimed author of Accidentally Engaged delivers a delightful rom-com of one woman trying to shed her perfect image at a destination wedding with hilarious—and moving—results, perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.

Jana Suleiman has never really fit in—everyone always sees her as too aloof, too cool, too perfect. The one time she stepped out of her comfort zone she ended up with a broken heart and a baby on the way. Aaaand lesson learned. Now she’s a bridesmaid for a destination wedding in Serengeti National Park, and almost everyone she knows will be there. Her five-year-old daughter. Her mom. Her friends. Even her potential new boss. And of course (because who doesn’t love surprises!) her gorgeous-but-not-to-be-trusted ex.

Fortunately, Anil Malek is a great dad, even if Jana hasn’t quite forgiven him for lying to her all those years ago. Determined to show he has no effect on her whatsoever, she and the bridesmaids concoct a go-wild list to get Jana through the week. Sing karaoke? Sure. Perform their high school dance routine in front of strangers? Okay. But the more she lets down her guard, the less protection she has against her attraction to Anil. And Jana soon realizes it’s one thing to walk on the wild side . . . and quite another to fall for her ex all over again.

I love when books are set outside America — particularly rom coms. I am a SUCKER for it. Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron is mostly set in Tanzania. It follows Jana, a single mom who absolutely does not ever let loose. She is in Tanzania with her daughter Imani for her friend Kamila’s wedding to Rohan. Kamila is from previous book Kamila Knows Best, which I am telling you right now you don’t need to have read to be able to follow along. Oh and you know who else is on the safari wedding trip, Jana’s ex, Imani’s father Anil. Although the two week affair between Jana and Anil blew up in spectacular fashion years ago, it turns out there’s still chemistry lingering between the two. Oh and Jana is about to let loose by following different tasks on her list such as singing karaoke, talking to a stranger and closing the bar down.

As said, I am a sucker for a good setting. I loved that Jana was connected to Tanzania in that she had previously been there for a safari when she was younger — also that her family has roots there. Heron’s Jana Goes Wild made me want to book a safari and stay at some of those amazing resorts instead of booking Disney again — which is something. Also, I really liked the chemistry between Anil and Jana and how much they fight it — but also how if they give in, the potential for something incredible and amazing is right there. This is such a lovely story. Absolutely give this book a shot if you are a fellow rom com fan.

 

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

I received this book for free from Publisher, Purchased in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Also by this author: This Scot of Mine, Life's Too Short
Published by Grand Central Publishing on April 11, 2023
Genres: Fiction / City Life, Fiction / Humorous / General, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Fiction / Women
Pages: 416
Format: eARC, Paperback
Source: Publisher, Purchased
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match from "a true talent" (Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse.

“Abby Jimenez’s words…sprinkle humor and warmth all over my life.” –Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis
 

Every book that Abby Jimenez writes is just perfection. Yours Truly is a beautiful contemporary romance book that showcases the depths of Abby Jimenez’s talent. This book follows Dr. Briana Ortiz and Dr. Jacob Maddox, emergency room doctors. At first, Briana can’t stand Jacob because he is up for the same position she is and she feels like he didn’t work for it like she did. However, as they get to know each other better through letters and kind gestures, it turns out that Briana and Jacob have the potential to be very good friends, or something more. We also see that Briana has been very hurt in the past which actually is preventing her future happiness. Jacob has anxiety which can cause him to be perceived in a way that is not intended.

I love the way Jimenez writes her characters. By the end of Yours Truly I felt like I had a deep connection to and understanding of Jacob and Briana. I could connect their actions to their motivations easily — it all came across as very logical. Jacob is so genuinely kind and sweet. He was such a good match for Briana — who is a fighter — but who also has been really burned. I loved the building of trust between the two and the slow burn. When they finally come together, it has such a big payoff. I loved that this book really had the main characters work for their happily ever after. Although this book is long, the pages just fly by. It was perfect. I cannot wait to preorder the next book Jimenez comes out with!

 

@aprilbooksandwine

Reading wrap up – 6 books I recently read Ft. Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron Yours Truly by @AuthorAbbyJimenez Off The Map by Trish Doller Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey Mr. Fahrenheit by T. Michael Martin Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour @Avon Books @Read Forever Pub @St. Martin’s Press aprilbooksandwine readingwrapup readingweek booksiread Inverted greenscreen

♬ original sound – April Books & Wine

That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey
Published by Penguin on May 30, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, FICTION / Romance / LGBTQ+ / General, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 336
Format: eARC, Paperback
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

One of Amazon's Best Romances of June ∙ A Real Simple Must-Read of Summer 2023 ∙ A Book Riot Best Romance Book of Summer 2023 ∙ A Buzzfeed Romance Book To Look Out For In 2023 ∙ A Paste Magazine Most Anticipated Contemporary Romance Book of 2023

When a divorced woman attends a sleepaway camp for adults, she reconnects with a man from her past—only to fall head over heels for his sister instead. 
 
Garland Moore used to believe in magic, the power of optimism, and signs from the universe. Then her husband surprised her with divorce papers over Valentine's Day dinner. Now Garland isn’t sure what to believe anymore, except that she’s clearly never meant to love again. When new friends invite her to spend a week at their reopened sleepaway camp, she and her sister decide it’s an opportunity to enjoy the kind of summer getaway they never had as kids. If Garland still believed in signs, this would sure seem like one. Summer camp is a chance to let go of her past and start fresh.
 
Nestled into the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, Camp Carl Cove provides the exact escape Garland always dreamed of, until she runs into Mason—the man she had a premonition about after one brief meeting years ago. No matter how she tries to run, the universe appears determined to bring love back into Garland’s life. She even ends up rooming with Mason’s sister Stevie, a vibrant former park ranger who is as charming as she is competitive. The more time Garland spends with Stevie, the more the signs confuse her. The stars are aligning in a way Garland never could have predicted.
 
Amid camp tournaments and moonlit dances, Garland continues to be pulled toward the beautiful blonde outdoorswoman who makes her laugh and swoon. Summer camp doesn’t last forever, but if Garland can learn to trust her heart, the love she finds there just might.

I absolutely LOVED That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey. This is another book that is going on my Christmas wishlist (which I make my husband shop from for the holidays haha) because I want it on my shelf forever. I’ve given less than ten books five stars this year and That Summer Feeling is one. Set during an adult week at summer camp, this story is about Garland who is getting over a divorce. Together, with her sister, she decides to attend camp for a week as a way to reparent themselves and recapture a part of childhood they never had. While there, Garland meets a man she had a brief encounter with a few years ago. However, it is the man’s sister, Stevie, Garland’s cabin mate, who she cannot stop thinking about.

Look, I am not kidding when I say I loved this book. It is a sapphic summer camp romance. That Summer Feeling comes across with affirming and kind vibes, if that makes sense? I loved Garland’s growth as a person. She is the life of the party and it turns out people really genuinely like her. Garland also finds her people, so to speak. We also see healthy conversations occur and COMMUNICATION which I just love. And this book has a color war — which is like the best part of camp. I loved all the side characters too. The romance is beautiful — the way it unfolds. This is just such a wonderful, excellent book. Get your hands on it for the absolute best summer read.

 

Falling Hard For The Royal Guard by Megan Clawson

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Falling Hard for the Royal Guard by Megan Clawson
Published by HarperCollins UK on April 27, 2023
Genres: Fiction / City Life, Fiction / General, Fiction / Humorous / General, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / General, Fiction / Romance / Rock Stars, Fiction / Romance / Royalty, Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense, Fiction / Women
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Despite living in an actual castle, happily ever after is evading Margaret ‘Maggie’ Moore.

From her bedroom in the Tower of London, twenty-six-year-old Maggie has always dreamed of her own fairy-tale ending.

Yet this is twenty-first century London, so instead of knights on white horses, she has catfish on Tinder. And with her last relationship ending in spectacular fashion, she swears off men for good.

And then a chance encounter with Royal Guard Freddie forces Maggie to admit that she isn’t ready to give up on love just yet... But how do you catch the attention of someone who is trained to ignore all distractions?

Can she snare that true love’s first kiss... or is she royally screwed?

Love is in the heir in this royally good rom com – perfect for anyone who likes relatable heroines (with great hair), hot and aloof book boyfriends (with great hats), near misses, almost kisses and a corgi or two.

Readers are loving Falling Hard for the Royal Guard:

‘As light and airy as meringue’ Entertainment Weekly

‘A towering love story’ Daily Express

‘A perfect royal rom com’ Bella

‘Readers will be charmed’ Publishers Weekly

‘I fell hard for this book... The setting and the storyline were totally refreshing’ NetGalley review

‘I absolutely devoured this book. There are not many books that I sacrifice sleep for, but this one had me up until nearly 3am!’ NetGalley review

‘This book made me feel fuzzy and brought back my love of romance’ NetGalley review

‘A jewel of a five-star read ... there are some perfect British moments that will keep you hooked and make you smile. It made me so desperate to go and visit the Tower again’ NetGalley review

‘What a fabulous debut for Megan Clawson. A heart-warming romance, this was a cute, memorable read. Highly recommend!’ NetGalley review

‘I haven’t laughed so much in ages ... I thoroughly enjoyed the romantic comedy.’ NetGalley review

‘The characters really captured my heart. Very excited to see what Megan Clawson writes next!’ NetGalley review

Falling Hard For The Royal Guard by Megan Clawson was such a fun read! This book is about Maggie who lives at home with her father who is a “beef eater” which I gathered from context clues means was part of the British military. Her home, by the way, is the Tower of London. She also works at the Tower as a ticket taker. Maggie has no work friends, feels stuck in her job, and her ex won’t stop bothering her. She’s gone onto to Tinder but encounters catfishes and disastrous dates. However, as Maggie is rushing someplace, she crashes into Freddie. It turns out Freddie is one of the Royal Guard. Eventually the two strike up a friendship that may just become something more.

I thought that Falling Hard For The Royal Guard was a sweet, light read. This is the perfect book for reading will out by the pool or sitting in the shade. I was transported to the Tower of London and just loved the setting aspect of this book. I did think Maggie as a character was a little over the top with her disastrous life. She absolutely does not have it together at all, has no friends, a terrible job, and is unlucky in love. However, Maggie is dynamic and soon her life does slowly begin to turn around and she gets friendly with the different royal guardsmen. Also, loved her with Freddie. The trope of friends to lovers is well done, even if at first they aren’t really friends. Overall, if you want a contemporary romance that feels escapist, grab Megan Clawson’s Falling Hard For The Royal Guard.

 

Play To Win by Jodie Slaughter

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Play to Win by Jodie Slaughter
Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on July 11, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Romance / African American & Black, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 320
Format: eARC, Paperback
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Jodie Slaughter's latest rom-com, Play to Win, is a sizzling romance where a winning lottery ticket is meant to be a new start but instead becomes a second chance at love.

Miriam Butler’s life is going nowhere in the slowest, most excruciating way possible. Stuck in the same barely-paying job she’s had since she was sixteen and spending every night sleeping in the spare twin bed in her mother’s house, her existence might be hilarious if it wasn’t so bleak. One trip to her favorite corner store upends everything when she finds herself the winner of a Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot. Unfortunately, not even life-altering roses come without their painful thorns. Hers just so happen to be in the form of an estranged husband who has the right to claim his share of her money.

It’s been eight years since Leo Vaughn has had a conversation with his wife. When she calls out of the blue, practically begging him to come back to Greenbelt, the last thing he expects her to tell him when he gets there is that she’s come into a whole heap of money. She offers him a life-changing proposition of his own. Take a lump sum, finally sign the divorce papers, and be done with her for good. Only, a forever without her is the last thing Leo wants. So he gives a proposition of his own. One that won’t cost her nearly as many millions, but will buy him the time to do the one thing he’s been hungry to do since he left -- win her back.

I love a good lottery themed book. Play To Win by Jodie Slaughter follows Miriam Butler who works a dead end job in a dead end Southern small town. She lives with her mother in the same small apartment they’ve been in since she was a child. Everything, however, is about to change for Miriam. On a whim, she plays numbers associated with events having to do with her ex, Leo Vaughn. Turns out, those numbers win her the lottery. Now, Miriam is rich beyond her wildest dreams. She calls Leo back to town in hopes he signs for a divorce and to strike a deal — so he can have a small part of her winnings but not the bigger portion that he’s entitled to. Only, it turns out that Leo has never stopped loving Miri and takes this as an opportunity for a second chance and to try and win her back.

Play To Win is the first book I’ve read by Jodie Slaughter but definitely won’t be the last. I thought this book was steamy. I liked how Miri was good to her friends and mom — but also how vulnerable she was to Leo eventually. How they ended in the first place does make sense and thankfully it isn’t because of cheating. It’s actually kind of sad but also realistic. Leo, I didn’t care as much for, but he eventually grew on me. Also there’s a roller rink in this book and I just loved that aspect. Overall, this was a nice book to pick up and unwind with – it absolutely did not stress me out and for that I am eternally grateful.