It’s Labor Day Weekend, and for many people, that marks the end of the summer. Sure, there are still a couple more weeks of summer on the traditional calendar, but this is the point in the year when the weather can quickly turn. So, it makes sense that it’s the time of year for cozy romances and thrillers.
Whether you want something with a bit of magic in it, or you need some humor, there is something for you this week. With the full list of releases, it can be overwhelming, and the last thing you want is choice paralysis. So, here are the nine books I heavily recommend this week.
‘The Dating Game’ by Ally Zetterberg
You likely remember the TV show The Dating Game. It was even brought up in the movie Woman of the Hour starring Anna Kendrick. This isn’t about the TV show, though. The Dating Game by Ally Zetterberg follows Tilda, a board game designer, who decides to turn her whole life into a game that she needs to win.
Whether it’s friendships, relationships, or even what she refers to as “The End Game,” she has a set of rules that everyone needs to follow. The problem is that nobody knows the game they’re playing with her, and they’re not ready for what happens if they lose. If you love novels that have more of an antagonist than a protagonist, but in a fun way, then this is a must. You’ll actually find yourself rooting for her to get away with murder.
Courtesy of Simon & Schuster‘Lucky 22’ by Ashley Eckstein and Samantha Chase
For those who love sports romances, Lucky 22 by Ashley Eckstein and Samantha Chase is the book you’ll want to read. This is a way to feel like summer is still here as well, as it’s focused on a man who plays baseball. It’s a great way to start the season of cozy romances.
Ella has always believed in magic — you know the type that shows up when you least expect it? She feels like life is full of possibilities, and one of those is Christian Lucas, a professional baseball player who is extremely guarded and disciplined. He doesn’t have time for spontaneity, but when a not-so-blind blind date brings them together, everything may change.
Courtesy of Berkley‘Hexy Beast’ by Avery Flynn
This was one of my quickest reads, and it was just so darn cute that I couldn’t put it down. Hexy Beast by Avery Flynn is the third book in The Sherwood Witches saga, but don’t worry if you haven’t read the other two just yet. The books are great standalone stories, and you’ll find a Sherwood sister to fall in love with through each of them.
Hexy Beast follows Effie, who calls herself “chaos incarnate,” and no, you will not be able to guess the next move she’ll make. That is, unless you just know she’s about to make the wildest choices. She is not your average elder sister, and when she makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to jump on the back of Darius Aetos’ motorcycle, you know that you’re in for a wild ride. It’s packed with witches, werewolves, fated mates, and so much more!
Courtesy of Berkley‘With All My Haunted Heart’ by Isabel Sterling
If Hexy Beast wasn’t enough to get you in the mood for Halloween, then the next cozy romance will. With All My Haunted Heart by Isabel Sterling is a queer romance, following Pippa Ainsley and Elle Thompson. It’s all about ethical haunts, small-town B&Bs, and witchcraft.
Pippa is getting desperate, losing the clients of her DIY-magic shop, and so her best friend hires her to inspect a newly acquired B&B for ghosts. The co-owner, Elle, doesn’t want to see the ghosts banished from the place. Instead, she wants Pippa to give this B&B an edge, and it’s the perfect way for Pippa to experiment with her magic. And maybe in love!
Courtesy of HarperCollins‘Wildwood’ by Ashley Woo
Sometimes, it’s not the romance that you want. It’s the paranormal, the mystery, and the horror. Wildwood by Ashley Woo brings all of that and more. It’s a beautiful Gothic telling of Elinor, a freshly unemployed and newly pregnant woman who inherits Wildwood, her family’s estate. As she convinces her husband to move to the estate, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that it’s going to turn out like the TV series Ghosts.
Instead, it delves deeper into small-town living and what it feels like to be an outsider. That’s what Elinor is, despite her extended family living in the area all their lives. The longer she lives in the house, the more unsettled and isolated she becomes. Then she starts to have dreams of something terrible that happened a long time ago, and it’s time for the town’s secrets to be discovered.
Courtesy of Berkley | Penguin Random House‘Love Felt Like This’ by Julie Olivia
If you want the cozy romance without the paranormal elements, then you’ll need to turn to Love Felt Like This by Julie Olivia. This is perfect for the ‘ber months, bringing a sense of warmth and longing to a grumpy-sunshine tale.
We follow musician Griffin, who is struggling to come up with his next song, and Beverly, who has lost the funding for her nonprofit. Their two lives collide, and suddenly, they realize that maybe they can’t just help each other’s careers. Is there something sparking between them? You’ll find yourself wishing for a love just like it.
Courtesy of Penguin Random House‘Kiss Slay Replay’ by Rachel Harrison
All summer, I’ve been excited to share Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison. This is perfect for fans of Groundhog Day-style horror. Think Happy Death Day. Willa Sullivan is having a terrible time while at her best friend’s wedding, but it’s got nothing to do with the wedding itself. There’s a killer, and Willa finds out that she’s not the final girl.
Or maybe she is, because when she wakes up from what seems to be a nightmare and starts replaying the same events, she realizes that only she can stop this serial killer and save the wedding guests. After all, there’s nothing worse than having to face ones of the worst days of your life.
Courtesy of HarperCollins‘The Library of Leaving’ by Emily Dunlay
Some people want historical fiction, and I’ve got just the book that’s going to disrupt your sleep schedule. The Library of Leaving by Emily Dunay has the history, a bit of romance, and a mystery within the pages. It’s a sweeping tale in the wake of World War I, and you’ll find yourself mesmerized by the storytelling.
Helen Fox is an American living a solitary life in Switzerland, cataloging books left by diplomats and expatriates. When she comes across a draft chapter of a novel, she realizes that it was written by a man she knew intimately during the War. As her memories start to come back, we’re taken down the story, wondering if this is about her or not.
Courtesy of Delacorte‘Capsized’ by Charlotte Lillie Balogh
We finish up with a young adult mystery that brings sports, found family, and friendship already in adaptation plans with Hulu. Capsized by Charlotte Lillie Balogh follows Margaret, who is a high achiever excelling at everything. However, she only has one interest: rowing. She’s sacrificed everything to get to where she is, but after she disappears for a summer, everything she worked for has turned its back on her.
Instead, her friends — the sisterhood she thought she had on the varsity rowing team — have turned their backs, and now freshman Jo is interested in understanding why. She doesn’t get why Margaret has become the talk of the town. The one thing Jo likes is that Margaret doesn’t treat her like a newbie, and they end up forming a messy sisterhood of their own, while finding that not all secrets will remain hidden.
Related: 9 Books Coming in September 2026 You Cannot Afford to Sleep On — Including a New ‘Skyward’ Story
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