Here’s your weekly round-up of brand new, progressive-leaning romances that you may not have seen on your Instagram feed. If I’ve omitted a title you feel passionate about and think this community will enjoy, please do share it in the comments. Reminder that I haven't read any of these titles yet, so this isn't an official endorsement unless noted. Click through to read the post on Bindery for my full commentary.

The Court of Venus by Bel Banta (Tor) — Bel is an extraordinarily talented writer and I cannot wait to read her romantasy debut. I beta’ed the first hundred pages because we are agent siblings, and I have been ferociously wanting the rest of The Court of Venus ever since. The vibes are Tudor-inspired court intrigue with an astrology-based magic system and a murder mystery. And of course a rivals-to-lovers yearning romance between Bianca and Roland. If you're at her launch tonight at the Ripped Bodice, come say hi!

Happily Ever Afterlife by Emma R. Alban (Alcove) — Finally y’all can read the hot ghost mom sapphic romance I’ve been yelling about for months! New Yorkers, get your copy signed and meet the author on Wednesday night when I interview her at the Ripped Bodice.

Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair by Ashley Herring Blake (Berkley) — The final book in the Clover Lake trilogy follows fan-favorite Sasha to an Occult-themed amusement park to film a documentary. The marketing copy gives off Astrid Parker vibes, arguably my favorite AHB heroine, so I’m locked in. Get in the mood by listening to my conversation with Ashley from January.

The Twelve Loves of Christmas: An Advent Romance Collection (Atria) — Holiday short stories written by a stacked lineup of romance authors: Alexandria Bellefleur, Elise Bryant, Olivia Dade, Alexis Daria, Sarah Hogle, Zakiya N. Jamal, Rebecca Jenshak, Jessica Joyce, Susan Lee, Joss Richard, M. A. Wardell and Rebekah Weatherspoon. 

From Beijing, With Love by Bei Lin (Alcove) This debut romance by Chinese-Canadian author Lin sounds gorgeous. Fresh off a breakup and a work disaster, Daniel Wu flies impulsively to Beijing to visit his friend Poppy… who isn’t home. She signs him for a tour of the Great Wall to keep him busy, where he meets PhD student/tour guide Yang Li. Sparks fly! 

Spellstruck by Martha Waters (Atria) — I like this micro genre of magical/romantasy stories set in specific time periods. Spellstruck takes place in a 1920s speakeasy in London that blends potions with cocktails despite a magic ban. Waters is the established hist-rom author of books including To Have and To Hoax and To Love and To Loathe.

Once a Golden Boy by J.R. Barker (indie) — A soapy Hollywood fake dating MM romance with a stunning cover, holy moly. 

The Darkness Bites Back by Laura R. Samotin & Ben Alderson (Angry Robot) — An MM vampire retelling of Romeo & Juliet set at modern-day Oxford, pitched for fans of Interview With the Vampire and Saltburn.

IF YOU ARE IN NYC  — Please come to my romance read-in to benefit Authors Against Book Bans on Monday night!

We have a ton of tickets left. You'll get to meet Joanna Shupe, Shelly Jay Shore, Zakiya N. Jamal and Blair Fell, plus me and Katherine Grant. We'll be raffling off a ton of romance novels, and everyone gets a free zine about censorship and passion. Use the code REBEL for 15% off. Tell your friends!!