7 Best New Romance Books to Celebrate the ‘Summer of Yearning’
Romance is having a big moment right now. In fact, romance books like Maxton Hall, Heated Rivalry,My Life With the Walter Boys and Fourth Wing each have fandoms so devoted—and chock full of fancasting, fan theories, fanfiction and more—that they helped fuel highly successful book-to-screen adaptations. But what is causing legions of people to read, watch and rewatch these series so breathlessly? Yearning. That’s right. According to Merriam-Webster, yearning is defined as a tender or urgent longing. Think Darcy’s frustrated hand flex in 2005’s Pride & Prejudice or Belly and Conrad’s summer-soaked moment at the peach stand in The Summer I Turned Pretty. All of these stories are filled to the brim with yearning—and readers are obsessed. So if you’re in the mood for a romance read that captures this feeling, you’re in the right place!
Here, we caught up with Wattpad’s head of content and resident romance expert, Alessandra Ferreri to discuss why this summer is the summer of yearning, why readers are so drawn to this starry-eyed emotion in literature and, of course, the best romance books to read right now that have all the yearning your heart desires!
What exactly is the ‘summer of yearning’?
“I love how our summers are getting branded every year, from hot girl summer, to brat summer and now the summer of yearning,” says Ferreri. “To me, these trends are seasonal excuses to fully embrace whatever vibe is giving us the best overall experience. I find readers are also often searching for that perfect feeling, less so for a specific plot or genre.”
“Popular yearning tropes like second-chance romance, friends-to-lovers and forbidden rivals are riddled with those ‘will-they-won’t-they’ moments and loaded dialogue. It’s a cornerstone of the romance genre that adds a potent emotional fixation to stories that readers can’t get enough of.”
The connection between yearning and nostalgia
In the current zeitgeist, there’s a lot of chatter about how the fixation with these romance books, series and fandoms defies generational divides. And it’s true—the interest in romance, even young adult stories, stretches from Gen Z to millenials, Gen X and beyond. Everyone feels a pull toward these stories of yearning because there’s a certain nostalgia wrapped up in all of it. We were all there once.
“In stories, yearning makes the wanting palpable, and speaks to the ongoing pull towards nostalgia,” Ferrari says. “So, to me, a summer full of yearning is all about letting your desire guide you, relishing the simpler times, and romanticizing your these months when anything feels possible.”
When it comes to stories of yearning, few publishing platforms produce more than Wattpad. “In just the past year, Wattpad authors and stories have created a romance renaissance on screens,” continues Ferreri. “With many hit adaptations such as Kissing is the Easy Part, Love Me Love Me, Sigue Mi Voz, My Life with the Walter Boys, Sidelined, and Mala Influencia, becoming pop culture hits in their own right.
Keep reading for all the best romance books filled with yearning!
Books brimming with yearning—according to Ferreri!
‘Every Summer After’ by Carly Fortune
One Golden Summer transports readers back to the scenic, sparkling Barry’s Bay. The second installment in her series centers on Toronto-based photographer Alice Everly—who owes her career to a photo she took when she was 17 during a visit to her grandmother’s cottage on Barry’s Bay.
The photo of three teenagers in a yellow speedboat changed her life. Many years later, when Nan breaks her hip, Alice heads to Barry’s Bay to spend the summer with her. But their R&R is interrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow speedboat—and the man driving it. Soon, Alice and Charlie strike up a friendship, but there’s something more between them. A radiant summer story featuring heartfelt themes of found family, grief, hope and love in all forms.
Wattpad stories that are perfect for the summer of yearning—according to Ferreri!
5 new yearning romance book recommendations—from WW editors!
‘Into The Blue’ by Emma Brodie
If we had to choose one new novel that captures the exquisite hurts-so-good feeling of yearning, we’d choose Emma Brodie’s latest. Into The Blue takes readers to the year 2000 and centers on AJ Graves, a Massachusetts video store clerk with dreams of writing for SNL and Noah Drew, the brooding and mysterious heir to an acting dynasty. As AJ and Noah form a deep bond, their connection is cut short when he leaves town with no explanation.
Years later, they reunite on the set of a sci-fi TV show and their chemistry—and enduring connection—is just as electric as ever. With a unique dual-timeline structure, Brodie’s angsty, emotional tale captures how love truly has the power to transcend space and time.
What editors are saying: “The yearning! The pining! There are certain romance novels that are so visceral and heartwrenching that the chemistry jumps off the page. Emma Brodie’s Into The Blue fits this bill,” says WW Senior Editor Melissa D’Agnese. “I physically felt butterflies as I read—equally enamored and concerned for both characters. Noah Drew will go down in book boyfriend history!”
‘Abby Offsides’ by Anna McCallie
Filled with witty banter, slow-burn attraction and second chances, Anna McCallie’s debut novel is a yearner’s delight! The story follows Abby McIntyre, who quits her job and books a one-way ticket to the U.K. after she finds out her fiancé cheated. She arrives in Liverpool and lands a job with the Mersey Football Club. Here, she meets Lachlan Ramsey, the hunky Scottish star midfielder. As obstacles ensue, is a romance possible?
What readers are saying: “I loved this book! It has all the fun and joy of a sports romance, but it also has an emotional growth arc for Abby as a person outside the romance. And Lachlan as well. It has such heartbreaking yearning. Ahh, so good!”
‘The Summer Girlfriend’ by Kristina Forest
Breezy seaside settings, flirty banter, and emotional moments take center stage in Kristina Forest’s latest romance, The Summer Girlfriend. When Noelle Lewis loses her job as a bookseller, she takes a gig as a “stand-in” bridesmaid. But it doesn’t pay nearly enough to go back to college like she plans. Enter Jeremiah Smith II, grandson of the founder of Smith’s Sweets. What follows is a convenient fake-dating scheme and a summer of love.
What editors are saying: “I was in the mood for a swoony, summer romance novel and this one was the perfect fit,” says WW associate editor Carissa Mosness. “Kristina Forest created a fun world that I wanted to escape into—put this one in your beach bag!”
‘The Shippers’ by Katherine Center
Filled with flirty banter, humor, and heartfelt moments, Katherine Center’s The Shippers is pure summer joy! JoJo Burton hasn’t had any luck with love—in a while. And her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship seems like the perfect time to find a suitor. All JoJo needs is a wingman to help her. Enter her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts. As Cooper pitches in to help JoJo find love, shipboard antics and sparks ensue!
What readers are saying: “The Shippers was beautiful, emotional, honest, pure, heart breaking, raw, real, heartwarming, relatable and inspiring. Katherine Center is the Queen of feel good and happy romances, and The Shippers is no exception. One minute I was giggling and kicking my feet in the air, the next minute I was screaming in anger, another minute I had tears streaming down my face. The book of the summer!”
‘Score’ by Kennedy Ryan
Fans of yearning and sizzling second-chance love stories will flip over Kennedy Ryan’s new book, Score. Verity Hill has never fully gotten over her first great love, Wright “Monk” Bellamy. Now, more than a decade after their breakup, Verity, a screenwriter, and Monk, a composer, must work together on the set of an epic Harlem Renaissance biopic…only to discover that they both very much still feel a connection. Can they finally overcome their past?
What readers are saying: “I loved this book so much! Kennedy Ryan knows how to write a MMC like no other. I love when you can truly tell when the man is more outward with actions and words on how much (more) he likes the FMC. Their yearning has me kicking and screaming my feet. Verity is so resilient!”
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This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 8:30 PM.