Romance
May 2026

Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May
 
Rings of Fate (Deluxe Limited Edition): A Fake Engagement, Grumpy Sunshine Fantasy Romance by Melissa de la Cruz
Rings of Fate: A Fake Engagement, Grumpy Sunshine Fantasy Romance
by Melissa de la Cruz

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Forced into an uneasy alliance, Aren and Dietan must unravel a mystery buried in legend, outwit a power-hungry usurper, and survive magic that's turning against them both. And somewhere between dodging assassins and sharing too many fireside glances, Aren starts to wonder if her more might include the one thing she swore she didn't want--
The Fortune Flip
by Lauren Kung Jessen

This charming rom-com is filled with Chinese traditions, second chances, and a luck-changing love story.

Seeking reassurance from a fortune teller, unlucky data analyst Hazel Yen has a run-in (literally) with Logan Wells, a perpetually lucky carpenter with whom she shares a kiss -- and a winning lottery ticket. When they cash in their winnings, their fortunes flip. As they work together to change Logan's bad luck, they find themselves learning more about themselves -- and each other. For fans of: One & Only by Maurene Goo.
The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox by Katrina Kwan
The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox
by Katrina Kwan

A sweeping fantasy adventure with a dash of romance between a nine-tailed fox and the demon-hunter who captures her.

Yue may be the last of her kind. At night, she stalks the streets of the capital city of Longhao, luring in unsuspecting victims with the mask of a beautiful woman, then consuming them in her true form of the nine-tailed fox. When she is captured by a powerful demon hunter named Sonam and banished to Hell, she manages one final act of revenge: dragging him--and two of his subordinates--down with her. Now trapped in an abyss with unimaginable terrors, they'll need each other's help to navigate Hell and bypass the gods who preside over each circle, each of whom presents the group with a unique and deadly challenge. 
Light Burned by Jayci Lee
Light Burned
by Jayci Lee

An enemy on her tails, an innocent at her side, and a dangerous power within her that could destroy them all. Jayci Lee melds Korean folklore with modern Americana in this fiery new series.

Prophecies collide in this explosive finale to USA Today bestselling author Jayci Lee's epic romantasy series The Realm of Four Kingdoms. Can one obstinate fox spirit save the worlds, even if it means destroying her heart? Through every battle won and enemy defeated, Sunny thought she was the good guy--until now. The eternal darkness has breached the Realm of Four Kingdoms, threatening to consume all life, and her power may be the only hope for salvation. 
Enemies to Lovers
by Alisha Rai

A sparkling new adventure rom-com where a con woman and a lawman team up on an epic cross-country road trip to save their families...and each other.

When his FBI agent brother Avi goes missing, librarian Krish Anand poses as Avi and enlists the help of con woman Sejal Chaudhary to track down members of Cobra, the Indian crime syndicate that he believes is responsible (and is run by Sejal's family). But Sejal has secrets of her own -- including an ex-boyfriend hot on her trail -- and the pair's road trip becomes increasingly dangerous. Fans  will enjoy Alisha Rai's 2nd action-packed Partners in Crime novel.
The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
The Poet Empress
by Shen Tao

USA TODAY bestseller A LIBRARY READS PICK Debut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy.

Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves. Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel, dissolute heir of the blood-gutted Azalea House--where poetry magic is power, but women are forbidden to read. But in a twist of fate, the palace now stands on the knife-edge of civil war, with Wei trapped in its center. with a violent prince. To save herself and the nation, she must survive the dangers of court, learn to read in secret, and compose the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of love and death. 
Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month in May
 
Soon by You by Dahlia Adler
Soon by You
by Dahlia Adler

This sexy, emotional, opposites-attract rom-com set in New York City's Modern Orthodox community.

Arielle Becker is one hora away from a meltdown. After one too many bridesmaid gigs--complete with Spanx, heels, and hideous dresses--she's officially over love and its overpriced trappings. Especially when they keep coming with the same smug, judgmental wedding singer. Judah Klein is New York's go-to Modern Orthodox wedding singer and most eligible bachelor. Years of failed setups have left him jaded, until repeated clashes with a fiery bridesmaid wake him right up. But when snarks turn to sparks, and fights turn to feelings, things get complicated. Arielle is not a girl who settles down. And Judah is not a guy who hooks up. So why does walking away feel impossible?
Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick
Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It
by Brooke Averick

Meet Phoebe Berman: despite being a hopeless romantic, she's about to be a thirty-year-old virgin. With one month before her milestone birthday, she's determined to finally lose it . . . if her own anxiety doesn't slow her down.

 Phoebe Berman fears the one thing she wants the most: love. Thanks to an extremely unfortunate first kiss attempt, crippling intimacy anxiety has plagued her since she was a teen. Phoebe has so much going for her: a dream teaching job, a supportive and hilarious group of best friends, and all the romance novels a girl could want at her fingertips--but she can't help but beat herself up over the one thing she can't quite seem to figure out. Determined to change this, she drafts up the ultimate Guide to Losing My Virginity checklist with the hope of finally getting laid. Suddenly, she goes from a relatively boring (basically non-existent) dating life to juggling three romantic prospects at once. 
The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah by Jean Meltzer
The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah
by Jean Meltzer

Can these exes rekindle their love this Hanukkah?

Evelyn Schwartz has the perfect Hanukkah planned: eight jam-packed days producing the live-action televised musical of A Christmas Carol. Who needs family when you've got long hours, impossible deadlines, and your dream job? That is, until an accident on set lands her in the medical bay with one of her chronic migraines, and she's shocked to find her ex-husband, David Adler, filling in for the usual studio doctor. It's been two years since David walked away from Evelyn and their life in Manhattan, and his ex-wife is still the same workaholic who puts her career before everything else--especially her health. But when Evelyn begins hallucinating 'ghosts' tied to her past heartbreaks, and every single one leads to David, he finds himself spending much more time with her than he anticipated.
The Slow Burn by Ali Rosen
The Slow Burn
by Ali Rosen

A warm, witty novel about a chef whose unexpected summer in Italy turns messier and richer than any recipe she ever would've planned.

Between a breakup and a burned-down restaurant, there's nothing left in New York for Kit Roth except the ashes of her success.Needing distance and distraction, she agrees to work for her best friend's pasta-making nonna in the Italian countryside. But instead of providing a quiet sabbatical to eat up time while her kitchen is rebuilt, the small town of Manciano keeps pulling Kit into its rituals and rhythms. And before long, it shows her everything she's been missing. Simpler cooking, community...and Nico Ruspoli, an olive oil producer with his own scorched past. But with Kit determined to leave after three months, and Nico rooted to his grove, their growing chemistry is at odds with what they both want for their future.
Falling for the Rabbi by Jennifer Wilck
Falling for the Rabbi
by Jennifer Wilck

Can opposites attract when tradition stands in the way?

Josh Axelrod is incensed! His matchmaker date brought along her annoying best friend--Emma something-or-other. The same Emma who's ruining the house filled with the young rabbi's childhood memories and turning it into a bookstore. Sure, she captures his attention but--no. Just no. Emma is too impulsive. Too out there. And he's a Rabbi, for God's sake! Except now, it seems impossible to avoid her. And with every encounter, no feels more like yes. Perhaps the unwitting Josh and Emma were always the match meant to be.
Recent Releases
A Lady for All Seasons
by TJ Alexander

A riotous Regency romp, featuring a charming and unforgettable genderfluid lead.

In 1820 London, impoverished Verbena Montrose arranges a marriage of convenience with her gay friend Etienne, but the scheme is exposed by gossipy poet Flora Whitcombe. When the confrontation between the two women sparks an instant attraction, their burgeoning friendship is upended by the arrival of nobleman William Forsyth, who hopes to court Verbena himself. The catch? William and Flora are the same person, and Verbena has no idea. For fans of: The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley.
Queen of the Night Sky
by Amalie Howard

This fast-paced and evocative conclusion to the Starkeeper duology.

Starkeeper Surya Saab finds herself torn between Roshan Acharia, who's vying for the throne of Oryndhr, and the Night King Darrius of Everlea, who once appeared to her in a dream. For fans of Hannah Whitten's Nightshade Crown novels.
The Bridge Back to You
by Riss M. Neilson

Exes discover they've both inherited the restaurant they love in this sparkling, emotional new novel.

When Carmello Rodriguez inherits 75% of Celia's Place, his late mother's Filipino restaurant, he's surprised to discover that his ex-girlfriend, Olivia Jones, has inherited the other 25%. Both professional chefs, Carmello and Olivia find themselves reconnecting while co-running Celia's Place -- but will they be able to mend their past hurts? "Perfect for readers seeking emotional depth with culinary heart," raves Library Journal. Try this next: Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan.
Darling Daffodils Farm
by Brittanée Nicole

A spicy rivals-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine romance about a young woman returning to her family's daffodil farm only to find "Cowboy" running her daddy's business.

After her father's death, Tally Darling returns to her small New England hometown to help out with her family's flagging daffodil farm, where she butts heads with farmhand Jesse Walker, who has his own ideas about how to save the business. Fans of steamy grumpy/sunshine romances like Isabelle Popp's Let's Give 'Em Pumpkin to Talk About will want to check out this banter-filled 1st in the Hope Harbor series.
A Widow's Charm
by Caitlyn Paxson

A widow attempts to resurrect her dead husband by blackmailing her rakish necromancer neighbor--only to find herself falling for him instead.

When widow Lady Hildegarde "Hilde" Croft's brother-in-law takes over the Croftholde lands, she enlists the help of necromancer Lord Erol Elmwood to resurrect her husband and restore peace to the kingdom of Eldmere. Debut author Caitlyn Paxson's Regency-inspired romantasy is "full of witty banter, misunderstandings, and peculiar situations" (Library Journal). For fans of: Heather Fawcett, Alexandra Rowland, and the Mortal Follies series by Alexis J. Hall.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Dakota County Library
www.dakotacounty.us/library

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