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Readers' Most Anticipated January Romances

Posted by Sharon on December 28, 2022

Some people love books. Some people fall in love. And some people love books about falling in love. Every month our team sorts through the newest romance books and sees how early readers are responding via initial reviews and Want to Read shelvings. We use this information to curate a list of soon-to-be-beloved favorites.

New in January: A former nanny gets a second chance with her widowed boss in Make a Wish. Two San Francisco women find love in the debut novel Sorry, Bro. And a married couple discovers the fun of roleplaying with Do I Know You? Also new this month: witches, billionaires, and astrological dating apps.

Add what catches your fancy to your Want to Read shelf and let us know what you're reading and recommending in the comments.

Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires, #3)

Final Offer
by Lauren Asher

Lauren Asher’s Final Offer is the third book in her popular Dreamland Billionaires series—if you’re going to dream, may as well dream big. Six years ago, handsome Callahan Kane broke the heart of young Lana Castillo. Damaged and full of regret, he pledged never to return to Lake Wisteria. But when an inheritance situation changes everything, the exes must face each other again. It’s all about second chances, and partly about how cool the name Callahan Kane is.

Georgie, All Along
by Kate Clayborn

If you’ve ever wondered about that point when life could have gone another way entirely, Kate Clayborn has a story to tell. L.A. transplant Georgie Mulcahy has always put others’ needs ahead of her own. When she returns to her small hometown and finds her teenage diary, she recalls a time when life was simpler. Could a fragile potential romance lead to a different, happier kind of life?

Exes and O's
by Amy Lea

Tara Chen has read just about every romance novel ever published. She knows all the tropes and storylines. And she has a plan: She will revisit ten of her exes in hopes of spotting the patterns, making the right moves, and maybe getting a second chance romance. Of course, she’ll need a little logistical help from firefighter Trevor Metcalfe, her strictly platonic roommate. Trope alert! Trope alert!

A Guide to Being Just Friends (Jansen Brothers, #3)

A Guide to Being Just Friends
by Sophie Sullivan

Author Sophie Sullivan (Ten Rules for Faking It) continues her Jansen Brothers series with the story of Hailey Sharp, an aspiring salad shop owner with no time for distractions. When she stumbles into a meet-cute with Wes Jansen, the distraction issue starts to be a problem. Hailey doesn’t want this. Wes doesn’t need this. That’s what they tell themselves, anyway. Bonus trivia: Sullivan also writes in her alter-ego guise as Jody Holford.

Make a Wish
by Helena Hunting

Author Helena Hunting specializes in stories that blend heartfelt themes, careful characterizations, and a certain wry humor. For instance, consider her immortal hockey-themed romance series, Pucked. In Hunting’s latest book, Make a Wish, former nanny Harley Spark runs into Gavin Rhodes, the widowed father she worked for years ago. The one she tried to kiss. The one who just showed up at a princess-themed birthday party. In a tutu.

Do I Know You?
by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Eliza and Graham aren’t expecting much for their five-year anniversary trip. The spark of romance has faded to a cold ember, alas. But when they’re mistaken for singles at a Northern California resort, then “introduced” to one another, somehow the energy flips around entirely. Why not roll with it? A little roleplaying can’t hurt, right? Relevant trivia: Authors Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka are a married couple themselves.

Lunar Love
by Lauren Kung Jessen

Olivia Huang Christenson has just inherited her grandmother’s matchmaking business, which has long been rooted in traditional Chinese astrology. Bennett O’Brien has just released a rival matchmaking app that co-opts the Chinese zodiac approach with no respect for tradition. Olivia is outraged. Bennett is indifferent. These two are fated to be bitter enemies, clearly. Author Lauren Kung Jessen’s debut rom-com is recommended for readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Helena Hunting.

Sorry, Bro
by Taleen Voskuni

This queer rom-com from debut author Taleen Voskuni looks particularly fun: Nar, an Armenian American professional in the trenches of the San Francisco tech scene, finds herself deeply weary of the tech bro scene. She also finds herself extremely attracted to her new friend Erebuni, a fellow Armenian woman with an appreciation of their shared culture. The trouble is that Nar isn’t exactly out as bisexual. Ah, well. That’s what big scary public banquets are for, right?

Back in a Spell (The Witches of Thistle Grove, #3)

Back in a Spell
by Lana Harper

Lana Harper (Payback’s a Witch) returns to her Thistle Grove series with the story of Nineve Blackmoore, esteemed member of the powerful Blackmoore family. Reluctantly turning to dating apps, Nineve goes on a date with Morty Gutierrez, the energetic, nonbinary, offbeat co-owner of the Shamrock Cauldron. The date doesn’t go great, but both feel a surge of magical energy—a very powerful surge. And it feels really, really good. What could that mean? Let’s find out!

Behind the Scenes
by Karelia Stetz-Waters

Author Karelia Stetz-Waters (Satisfaction Guaranteed) specializes in happy-ending lesbian love stories and an overall sex-positive vibe for women. Can’t argue with that. Her new book follows business consultant Rose Josten and her new acquaintance, filmmaker Ash Stewart. Mixing business and pleasure is usually discouraged. Then again, life is complex, and rules need exceptions. Bonus trivia: Author Stetz-Waters teaches for the Golden Crown Literary Society Writing Academy, a creative writing program for queer women.

Which new releases are you looking forward to reading? Let's talk books in the comments!

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