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The 2023 rom-coms you need to add to your TBR list

One of the best parts of the new year? Finding *tons* of new books to add to your TBR, of course. And with Valentine's Day fast approaching, there's no better place to start than with a good old rom-com. There are so many swoon-worthy reads to pick up this year, so read on for some of our recs.

Begin Again by Emma Lord


Amazon, $16

Release Date: Jan. 24

Emma Lord is back with another charming, comforting story! Andie Rose has a foolproof plan: Transfer to her dream college, declare a psychology major and keep working toward her goal of becoming an inspiring self-help figure. But as soon as she arrives at her new school, the rest of her plans begin to fall apart, and nothing is how she expected it to be. Follow Andie's journey to finding true friendship, true love and, best of all, her true self.

This Time It's Real by Ann Liang


Amazon, $19

Release Date: Feb. 7

If the fake-dating trope is your absolute fave, this is the book for you. High school senior Eliza Lin writes an essay about meeting the love of her life that ends up going viral, earning her a prestigious internship at a magazine. There's only one problem: Eliza made her essay up, and she's never been in a relationship before. Hoping to hide the truth, Eliza makes a deal with a famous actor in her class—she'll help him with his college applications if he pretends to be her boyfriend. But what happens when their fake relationship ends up feeling a little too real?

Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute by Sayantani DasGupta


Amazon, $20

Release Date: March 7

You won't want to miss this dazzling, witty Sense and Sensibility retelling! Eila Das always tends to follow her head rather than her heart. But when she meets Rahul at Rosewood, a summer camp where campers are being scouted for the hit TV show (think: Bridgerton vibes), everything begins to change. Between the drama of the show *and* the drama of the camp, Eila is in for an exciting summer. But when she's forced to decide between her head and her heart, what will she choose?

Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto


Amazon, $19

Release Date: March 7

Chloe is torn between going to the University of Southern California and following her dreams of becoming an animator in America or staying home and studying in the Philippines to be with her super close family. But before she leaves, Chloe's family wants to plan the ultimate send-off for her 18th birthday: her debut (a fab sweet-16-meets-debutante-ball extravaganza). Plus, they're making it their mission to help her find a date to the party. Will their schemes result in the perfect match? And if the plan works, how will Chloe leave at the end of the summer?

Never Vacation with Your Ex by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka


Amazon, $19

Release Date: April 4

Volleyball superstar and famous influencer Kaylee Jordan can't help but feel the pressure to be perfect. The one place where she doesn't? In Malibu, where her family travels every year with their closest fam friends. Only this year, everything is different. Kaylee's childhood BFF Dean is now her ex-boyfriend, making Kaylee's dream vacay a total nightmare. Can the former couple turn things around? Find out in this sweet story of tackling others' expectations and taking a second chance on romance. 

Not Here To Stay Friends by Kaitlyn Hill


Amazon, $13

Release Date: April 4

If you never miss an episode of The Bachelor and love a friends-to-lovers tale, look no further for your next read. Sloane McKinney is *so* excited to spend the summer in L.A., staying at her childhood best friend Liam's glamorous mansion (where he lives with his TV producer father). Soon, she discovers that Liam's been forced to work for his dad's new teen reality dating show, crushing the duo's plans for the *best* summer ever. But the show needs one more contestant, making Sloane the perfect last-minute addition. Get ready for some serious drama both on camera and behind the scenes—and a plot twist neither Sloane nor Liam ever saw coming.

Happy Place by Emily Henry


Amazon, $24

Release Date: April 25

What happens when you break up with your S.O., but you don't want everything else to change? Emily Henry just might have *all* the answers. Harriet and Wyn were once the definition of relationship goals. But they've been broken up for months now, and they still haven't told their friends. Their friend group has been vacationing at a cozy Maine cottage for years, only this might be the squad's last time there together—because the cottage is up for sale. After years of being totally in love, can Harriet and Wyn spend a week faking it in front of the people who know them better than literally anyone else?

Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler


Amazon, $20

Release Date: June 13

In this rom-com, our main character learns that there's more than one way to happily ever after. Natalya Fox only has a day to make the *biggest* decision of her life. Should she stay home in NYC for the summer with her dad or spend it in L.A. with her mom? Natalya can't choose, so both paths unfold in alternating timelines—one featuring the girl Natalya has been crushing on forever, and the other featuring the guy she never expected to fall for. Join Natalya as she explores two cities, experiences two love stories and endeavors to figure out her future, all in one unforgettable summer.

Need more book recs? We've got you covered:
📖 5 winter reads for when you really need an escape 
📖 LGBTQ+ books you *need* to read based on your favorite romance tropes
📖 These books are perfect to read during the school year
📖 Books to read if you loved The Summer I Turned Pretty

Which 2023 rom-com are you most excited to read? Tell us on Twitter @bestiebookclub!

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by Samara Smukler | 2/8/2023
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