With so many romance and romantasy books coming out, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and not know where to start. Goodreads is a great place to get some recommendations, with thousands of books making it to various lists. The “most anticipated” list tends to be popular, covering books that are confirmed for 2026.
There’s one that sits proudly at the top of this list. The Heat of the Moment by Camilla Isley is the one that readers are most excited about, although that’s only just ahead of Rein Me In, which happens to also be by Isley!
A New Addition to the ‘Meet Cute’ Series
The Heat of the Momentwill send shivers down a Supernatural fan’s spine, but the novel itself is adorably cute. While there is the romance, there is also a story of grief and love.
ER nurse Lily Finnigan has one goal after losing her husband in the line of duty: raise her daughter and keep her locked away. She doesn’t plan on falling in love again. At least, not any time soon. It’s only been four years since she was widowed!
Well, life always has other plans, and when Josh Collins walks into the ER, that’s proven. Lily wants to stay away, but she’s not sure how she can, especially when it turns out that not only is Josh a sexy firefighter, but he’s also her neighbor. Now he’s everywhere!
While this is part of the Meet Cute collection of books, you don’t need to read the first one to understand this. The collection is a series of standalone books.
Boldwood Books
Don’t Overlook ‘Rein Me In’
Sure, The Heat of the Moment is the No. 1 pick for Goodreads users right now, but in a close second place is Rein Me In. The former is already out, but Rein Me In will be released in May 2026, and it follows a single dad rather than a single mom.
Faye is a new teacher at a small-town high school, where she wants to disappear. However, Ryder isn’t going to give her a chance of a fresh start. He isn’t going to let anyone tell him how to raise his children, and that leads to him storming into the classroom with a few choice words.
Now the two can’t avoid each other, and sure enough, sparks start to fly. Is Faye ready to settle, or will she decide to flee again?
This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Books section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
