The 17 Most Binge-Worthy Romance And Smut Books

romance and smut books for 2023

Is your StoryGraph or GoodReads yelling at you to reach your reading goal for this year? Are you looking for a smut book with a little bit of plot to get you through winter? Or are you looking for a love story that will make you believe in it again?

Sometimes navigating the depth of the romance genre can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve got a list of binge-worthy recommendations that will have you weak in the knees. Whether you like heart-shattering declarations of feelings or a passionate session after a sex drought, we’ve got a list that will have you feeling love in the air. Here are the best romance and smut books to pick up today!

Author's Note: Sometimes romance reads can have intense or sensitive topics so take a look at trigger warnings before you get between the sheets.

Light Smut To “Oh My God” 🥵

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

Anastasia Allen worked her whole life for a chance to join Team USA as a figure skater. After securing a spot on the University of California, Maple Hills (UCMH) competitive skating team, she’s one step closer to fulfilling her dreams and nothing stands in her way.

Being the captain of the UCMH ice hockey team was a natural step for Nate Hawkins as he entered his final year of college. He’s ready for the upcoming season and wants nothing more for his team to become champions.

But when a prank gone wrong wrecks one of the rinks, Anastasia and Nate are forced to work together for the benefit of their teams. Which would be easier to do if Anastasia wasn’t uptight and Nate was a bit more grounded. Before the dream they both worked for starts to look like a nightmare, the unlikely pair will have take a shot on each other. It's a light smut romance that won't make you clutch your pearls too much.

While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory

Who doesn’t love a romance set in Hollywood? Get ready to squeal from cuteness and lots of love.

Ben Stephens doesn’t have time for a serious relationship — he’s busy keeping himself entertained with casual hookups, ignoring ongoing family drama and putting his advertising career first. He’s leading a huge campaign with upcoming movie star Anna Gardiner, who by the way, is sexy and smart and considerate and…are more reasons needed? Flirting with Anna comes too easily and starts to feel a bit too real.

Anna Gardiner needs a distraction while she waits to see if she lands her next big role, an ad campaign seems like the perfect remedy. It helps that one of the workers is handsome, understanding, and has the patience of a saint. She knows she shouldn’t let herself mix business with pleasure, but what’s the harm in a bit of playful banter? Leave it to smut romance books to blur the lines.

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

No, Elise Hannaway isn’t a sex worker — she’s a dating worker. During academia hours, Elise is an adjunct professor teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of gaining tenure somewhere respectable. By night, she pretends to be people’s girlfriend for a few hours...and honestly she’s pretty good at it. She can give anyone the version of Elise they need.

And all of that was just swell until Jack Smith, the brother of one of her repeat clients, is too attractive for his own good. Oh, and Jack's also one of the most well-known experimental physicist at MIT (HELLO?! Elise’s dream job!). Jack's known for being cold-hearted, and he single handedly ruined the reputation of Elise’s entire field of theorists. Elise has no choice but to be around Jack as she goes through all the steps to land her dream role at MIT, but he sees right through her and all the versions of Elise she’s ever created. As the two get closer, so does their off the chart chemistry.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the brilliance that is Ali Hazelwood. She's the ruler of STEM romance, and we're here for it! Her debut YA novel Check & Mate is out November 7!

Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee

Hannah Tate thought she had the perfect relationship with the father of her newborn son, but he shatters her dreams of getting married when he promptly ends their relationship over dinner. Recently fired from a soul-sucking job, she moves back to Blue Ridge, Georgia to help her parents with a fixer-upper project and runs into their sexy neighbor River. From the time she sets foot on familiar ground, Hannah begins to blossom in a way she didn't think was possible.

If you love reading rom-com books that have a tantalizing spiciness to them, you'll love reading Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair.

Priest by Sierra Simone

Father Tyler Anselm Bell didn’t expect to break his vow of celibacy on the altar of his own church, but when Poppy walked into confessions one day, he couldn’t get the image of her bent over out of his head. And the worse part? He’d do it again. And again. While struggling for the love of his God and now Poppy, Father Bell starts to question everything he’s known.

Priest was published in 2015, but recently shot to fame in the reading world thanks to #BookTok. If you’re a fan of Fleabag and Hot Priest left you saying the Lord’s Prayer, the smut romance you'll find in here will make you start sweating again.

Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner

Get comfortable because once you read the first words about Cassie Klein and Erin Bennett, you won’t be able to stop.

Cassie didn’t plan on finding a hot woman at a bar during her college’s campus weekend, but buying a stranger a drink leads to a tantalizing hookup. She didn’t really plan to see the woman again, but her best friend takes her to breakfast to meet her mom, who just so happens to be the hot brunette from the bar whose mouth left the best kisses.

Erin didn’t think Cassie was a student when they were hooking up in the backseat of her car. Erin definitely didn’t think that her daughter would know the gorgeous blonde who caught her eye as soon as she walked in the door. But it was just one time, it won’t happen again.

Wrong.

Cassie and Erin can’t ignore the heart tugging feelings that turn into more. Sneaky kisses around corners turn into long nights in bed, and as it turns into something real, Cassie and Erin have to face what they both fear the most — honesty. It's the best romance smut book you'll read in a long time.

Neon Gods by Katee Robert

Greek mythology is having a comeback (shoutout Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint), and this Hades and Persephone retelling needs to be at the top of your list. Plus, it's got a dual POV? Yes, please!

Persephone Dimitriou has had it with the mind game politics of metropolis Olympus. When her mother Demeter betrays her trust and announces her engagement to Zeus (who's accused of killing his last wife, Hera, by the way), she knows she can’t continue to live this life. Her only saving grace is Hades, the devil himself.

As Hades harbors the woman, he starts to build a revenge plan, one he’s been waiting on for decades. While Hades protects Persephone, he forgets to protect his heart. There’s truly nothing sweeter than forbidden love in good smut books.

After you finish Neon Gods, check out the other books in the Dark Olympus universe!

Swoon-Worthy Romance Reads 🥰

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

This was another #BookTok phenomenon that's well worth the hype. Practice Makes Perfect is technically the sequel to When In Rome, but you can totally read the books out of order. And trust me, I never do that, but the world is still turning.

Annie Walker is trying to find her soulmate, but it’s hard to do in her hometown of Rome, Kentucky where every single person knows her. Even when she goes outside her small town’s limits, the guys still suck. On her last date, one even calls her “so unbelievably boring,” but he wasn’t doing anything to carry the conversation either!

When Will Griffin, the super hot, gorgeously tattooed and famous-adjacent bodyguard of Amelia Rose returns to Rome, he knows he can’t get attached to anyone. But when Annie comes to him asking for lessons in flirting and dating, he can’t say no. As they say, practice makes perfect.

All friends think about how their skin tingles at the slightest hand touches, right? And every friend has always wanted to kiss the way too attractive bodyguard, right? Read on as Annie and Will start to blur the lines of friendship and find something along the way.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

When young witch Vivienne Sterling cursed her ex-boyfriend, she didn’t actually think it would work. She was drunk! Vivi was heartbroken! She was crying and in a bubble bath and didn’t think the candle would do anything!

But when Rhys Penhallow, descendant of the town’s ancestors and known ruiner of love returns to town and can’t even conjure a flicker of light, Vivienne’s curse might have been too strong. Vivi and Rhys have to work together to restore the town’s magic before it disappears off the map, with everyone in it.

If Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic had a baby, it would be this. This book is perfect if you’re looking for something with witchy vibes, hot Welsh men, and romance smut wrapped in one.

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Looking for something to hold you over while you wait for the new season of Saturday Night Live? Your search is over.

Sally Milz sacrificed a lot to be a kickass writer for The Night Owls, a comedy show that airs every Saturday. She’s given up on love and has settled for the occasional one-night stand with a guy who sends too many intimately revealing pics, but at least she’s getting something out of it, right?

When another one of her mediocre coworkers starts dating a gorgeous hostess (think of Pete Davidson with literally anyone), she starts to wonder why hot hosts don’t fall at her feet. Until Noah Brewster, famed singer-songwriter-performer-holy crap he’s so handsome comes into town to host AND be the musical guest. Sally might drool a little when she sees him (in her defense, she is sleep deprived from working crazy hours), but there’s no way he'd ever be interested in someone like her.

Sally and Noah work through a lot of their own doubts, navigating loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, and come to find the best romantic comedy might be everyday life. Trust us when we say this is one of those romance books with smut you'll enjoy reading every few months.

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai

Jia Ahmed knows what she wants. She’s determined to be one of the top beauty experts and influencers out there and make a difference in the makeup industry. When Bollywood soap opera star Dev Dixit slides into her DMs, it’s another great piece of the puzzle falling into place.

...Except when Jia and Dev meet in person one night, and he has no idea who she is. Humiliation quickly turns into a plan to keep up the fake dating for a bit to make all parties happy. But as the public eye starts to fall in love with Jia and Dev, they start to feel butterflies themselves. Is it possible to turn a fake online romance into love? Find out in best romance smut book you'll get your hands!

A Little Young Love 🫶

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey Mcquinston

If you’re a fan of Paper Towns, but wanted a better ending — add this to your TBR.

Chloe Green did not expect to be kissed by her high school rival Shara Wheeler, and she definitely didn’t expect for Shara to vanish right after it happened. Shara is so close to being valedictorian, and then she just goes ghost on everything? That’s not fair, and Chloe refuses to win by default.

Angry, Chloe starts a hunt for Shara and finds out she wasn’t the only one who got a goodbye smooch before the perfect daughter disappeared. Smith (Shara’s longtime quarterback high school love) and Rory (Shara’s bad boy class clown neighbor with a crush) also got kissed. The three have never even really had a conversation, and the only thing they have in common is that Shara gave them each a kiss before vanishing, each with an envelope. Chloe, Smith, and Rory start to decipher the cryptic notes, and it will all be worth it if Chloe can beat Shara once and for all, fair and square.

This unlikely alliance will pull at your heart and take you back to walking the halls of high school. It’s funny and it’s messy, but mainly, it teaches you that love can be found in some of the most unexpected places.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Okay, it’s time to finally admit that Romeo and Juliet retellings are SUPERIOR! And no one does it better than Chloe Gong. This book has lovable characters and seriously laugh out loud moments.

Juliette Cai is set to take her place at the head of the Scarlet Gang, and this time there are no distractions. Not even when her first love and heartbreak Roma Montagov steps back into the scene as the heir of the White Flowers.

The Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers have fought each other for generations. Gangsters and spies, trained to steal secrets and kill for less. When mob members on both sides start clawing out their own throats, they quickly learn the gangs aren’t the only monsters on the street.

As the deaths from the mysterious illness continue, Juliette and Roma team up together to try and stop the madness. Because if they don’t, there might not be anyone left in Shanghai.

They Both Die at The End by Adam Silvera

When Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emerterio get a phone call on September 5, they know they'll both die that day. On their End Day, Mateo and Rufus meet up to spend their last 24 hours together for one final adventure — and to live today like it's their last. The two are brought together by a sick twist of fate, but create their bucket list nonetheless and vow to do everything they’ve ever wanted.

Mateo and Rufus aren’t the only ones who get a call that day...but to say who else would be a spoiler! With each chapter a countdown, you’ll find yourself checking the clock to see if everyone will make it to the end.

Total Tear-Jerkers 😭

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Everyone has a five-year plan, and Dannie Kohan lives her life exactly according to hers. In Dannie’s world, there’s no such thing as a surprise or spontaneity. She’s the exact opposite of her best friend Bella who can wake up every morning without a plan in place. So when Dannie gets a work promotion and engaged to her long-term boyfriend on the same day, she’s not surprised — it’s part of the plan after all. When she goes to sleep that night, she knows she’ll wake up in the morning, run around five miles, head into work, come home, and repeat it all the next day.

Except she doesn’t. She wakes up in a different bed, with a different ring on her finger, next to a different man. For one hour, she lives five years into the future. When she wakes up in her apartment, with her diamond sparkling, beside the man she’s known for years, she knows it wasn’t a dream.

Dannie tries to shake the apprehension that follows her, but when she meets the dream man in real life as Bella’s beau, the plan she’s stuck to for years starts to fall apart. This is a love story you won't expect. Before you know it, your heart will be shattered and slowly put back together, so keep the tissues handy.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

Lydia and Freddie were supposed to live together happily ever after. But on his 28th birthday, Freddie dies in a car accident, leaving Lydia to face a life she never even thought would happen. As she’s supported by her friends and family, she starts to put the pieces of her live together, even if there is a Freddie-sized hole.

Lydia's prescribed something to help her sleep, and she’s warned of the side effects, but doesn’t think much of it. When she goes to bed, she’s taken to a world where Freddie still exists. Here, he’s alive and well and none of the terribly tragic events of the past few months have ever happened.

As Lydia steps into her past, she’s living two lives all at once. She knows the world with Freddie isn’t true, but how can it not be when he’s safe in her arms and sleeps in their bed? The real-world continues, and Lydia starts to learn that you can’t be in two different realities. When someone in her new, real life wants her to stay, she’ll have to make a choice. It's the smut romance of the century,

Reel by Kennedy Ryan

Canon Holt is looking for the leading lady of his latest film, a Harlem Renaissance biopic, and he wants Neevah Saint for the part. Neevah is still reeling from heartbreak that changed her world and Canon is setting boundaries between work and his life. As the two main characters start to spend more time around each other, they learn to love and to be loved is one of life’s most beautiful things.

Ryan is one of the best romance writers of our time — and the premier novel in her A Forbidden Hollywood Romance series proves it. This book will make you laugh, cry, scream, and all the good things! In fact, it's one of our best smut book recommendations!

If you want more smut romance books to add to your TBR list, sign up for our email newsletter! We'll send recs right to your inbox!

Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

Header image via Amazon

Summer is just around the corner, and that means laying by the beach or the pool and getting lost in a good book. To kick off beach read season, we’ve rounded up some of the most-anticipated books coming to shelves this summer. From enchanted star-crossed lovers, romantic summer flings, and thrilling forbidden loves, these books should definitely be packed in your suitcase for any and all of your summer vacation plans!

Here are all the new books we can't wait to read this summer!

Amazon

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria (May 27, 2025)

Ava Rodriguez is a divorced school teacher who meets the handsome Roman Vásquez, for a steamy one night stand – or at least what was intended to be a one night stand. But when Roman shows up as Ava’s cousin’s best man, things get complicated. Ava tries to hide her dirty little secret from her family, but Roman wants to be all-in. What started out as no strings attached has become much more complex.

Amazon

Tell Them You Lied by Laura Leffler (May 27, 2025)

Anna is beginning art school in New York and befriends Willow, a mysterious and moody art student who isn’t afraid to push boundaries. Five years later, Anna’s former muse Willow has turned into a shell of herself. When Anna tries to intervene in Willow’s life by staging a planned mugging, Willow goes missing on September 11th. Did Anna go too far, or did Willow play into Anna’s game all along? This thriller challenges the morality of revealing the truth when it may be better left unsaid.

Amazon

The Love Haters by Katherine Center (May 20, 2025)

Katie Vaughn’s career is sinking fast—so she takes a daring gig profiling Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson. The problem? She can’t swim but pretends she can. Worse, Hutch is her coworker Cole’s estranged brother. In Key West, Katie gets caught in a whirlwind of secrets, swim lessons, and sizzling chemistry. With hurricanes, stolen kisses, and a chance to be truly brave, she must decide if facing her fears—including love—is worth the plunge.

Amazon

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (April 22, 2025)

Optimistic Alice Scott and Pulitzer-winning Hayden Anderson both land on Little Crescent Island to write the biography of reclusive heiress Margaret Ives. When Margaret offers a one-month trial, Alice is determined to win. She’s great with people, eager to impress her family, and, strangely, rattling Hayden. But Margaret shares only fragments of her story, and an NDA keeps Alice and Hayden from comparing notes. As tension rises and sparks fly, their own story—like Margaret’s—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad, depending on who tells it.

Amazon

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams (May 6, 2025)

Audre, the junior class president and debate team captain, is spending the summer before her senior year writing her self help book, AKA her one-way ticket to Stanford. Bash, a mysterious new senior who everybody is crushing on, is spending his summer helping Audre complete her five wild dares to write about in her book. The scorching hot-summer leads to crazy chemistry the two friends can’t deny. Will Audre be able to maintain the friendship, or will she begin to fall for Bash?

Amazon

Love On Tour by Lee Adams (June 17, 2025)

Music executive Christine Matthews lives a quiet life until a broken heel sends her tumbling in front of country star Austin Garrett’s tour bus. When Austin realizes she pitched him his latest hit, he invites her to be his date at the CMT Awards, catapulting her into the spotlight. Suddenly, she’s facing cyberbullying, unwanted attention, and growing feelings for Austin’s tour manager, Matt. As past trauma resurfaces and threats turn dangerous, Christine must decide if chasing success and love is worth the risk—or if walking away is the only way to protect her heart.

Amazon

It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan (May 27, 2025)

Jane Jackson, a former child sitcom star, is determined to make it as a Hollywood executive. Her mantra: fake it till you make it. But when she takes it too far and claims she can get popstar Jack Quinlan—her first kiss—to write a song for her movie, she’s in trouble. Now, she must turn to her old crush and frustrating cinematographer Dan Finnegan for help. Can Jane juggle her past and career, or will her lie unravel? This novel is perfect for those looking to escape the summer heat with an enemies-to-lovers romcom.

Amazon

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (June 3, 2025)

Joan Goodwin has been fascinated by space since childhood. When she gets the chance to join NASA’s first group of women scientists in the space shuttle program, she leaps at it. Training alongside a Top Gun pilot, a brilliant scientist, and a bold group of astronauts, Joan forms unexpected friendships and discovers a love she never imagined. As they prepare for their first mission, she begins to question her place in the universe—until one fateful moment changes everything.

Amazon

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby (June 10, 2025)

Roman Carruthers returns home to find his father in a coma, his brother drowning in debt to criminals, and his sister struggling to hold their crematorium business together. When he tries to buy Dante’s way out, he learns the hard way that real gangsters don’t play fair. With no other options, Roman offers himself as collateral. As he’s pulled deeper into a dangerous game, Neveah searches for answers about their mother’s mysterious disappearance. But Roman isn’t as weak as they think—and he’ll do whatever it takes to protect his family.

Amazon

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda (July 29, 2025)

Beckett Bowery thought she had her future planned out: stay in Wyatt Valley, Virginia and study at Wyatt College, the college her parents taught at. But when a tragedy leaves two men dead and her roommate goes on the run, she vows to stay as far away as possible from Wyatt Valley. Later when her daughter Delilah receives a full ride scholarship to Wyatt College, she is forced to confront her lingering fears and the fact that her past isn’t the only dangerous thing in Wyatt Valley.

Amazon

The Enemy’s Daughter by Melissa Poett (May 6, 2025)

Thirty-seven years after the Republic fell, war rages between the five clans and the Kingsland. Isadora, an eighteen-year-old healer, saves lives—until she’s struck by a poisoned arrow from Kingsland assassin Tristan. Instead of letting her die, Tristan uses rare magic to save her, unknowingly binding them together. Their connection gives him access to her memories, the key to destroying her people. But Isadora can see into him too. To protect her clan, she must outmaneuver Tristan, and resist the dangerous pull between them, before he claims victory and her heart.

Amazon

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston (June 17, 2025)

Joni Lark has a secret. She’s one of LA’s most coveted songwriters, but she can’t write anymore. Hoping to find inspiration, she returns home to Vienna Shores, North Carolina. But nothing is as she left it. Her best friend is distant, her mother’s memory is fading, and her family’s music venue is closing. Then Joni starts hearing a haunting melody and a stranger’s voice in her head. When the man behind the voice shows up in town, guarded and frustrating, they realize they must finish the song together or risk exposing their hearts and deepest secrets.

Amazon

No Man’s Ghost by Jason Powell (May 6, 2025)

Charles Davids is a rookie firefighter starting his first week with the FDNY, struggling to prove himself to his new team. The job is grueling, the training intense, and the pranks relentless—but the dangers are real. Across town, Alan Johnson, bitter and unhinged after being kicked out by his wife, begins reporting fake fires at her apartment every night. At first, it’s just a cruel joke. But soon, Alan wants more than revenge. As the calls escalate, Charles faces a trial by fire that could make or break him—and put lives on the line.

Amazon

Ride with Me by Simone Soltani (May 20, 2025)

After being left at the altar, Stella Baldwin dreads attending her cousin’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Formula 1 driver Thomas Maxwell-Brown is desperate for a break from his crumbling career and bad press. When a wild night ends with a ring on Stella’s finger and Thomas as her husband, they realize staying married might actually benefit them both. It’s impulsive, reckless, and maybe exactly what they need. Because sometimes, what happens in Vegas doesn’t need to stay there.

Amazon

Such Good People by Amy Blumenfeld (July 8, 2025)

During her freshman year of college, April’s life changed overnight. After meeting up with her friend Rudy one evening, he was arrested, she was expelled, and her future fell apart. Months later, she met Peter, a young attorney who helped her rebuild everything. Fifteen years later, April has a happy life, three kids, and Peter is running for local office. But when Rudy is up for parole and April’s past makes headlines, it threatens everything she’s built. Now, she must decide whether to protect her family—or the man who once saved her.

Amazon

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (May 6, 2025)

Alice never expected to see Charlie Florek again. Years ago, she spent a magical summer at her grandmother Nan’s lake cottage, capturing a photo of three teens in a yellow boat that changed her life. Now a photographer who prefers life behind the lens, Alice returns to Barry’s Bay to care for Nan and find something she’s been missing. But when Charlie, now a charming and grown-up flirt, reappears, old feelings resurface. Long days on the water and stolen glances make Alice wonder if she’s finally ready to step into the frame or risk her heart again.

Amazon

Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray (June 3, 2025)

Blaze’s birth unleashed a deadly storm that killed thousands, branding her an outcast and stealing her magic. Hidden ever since, she’s shocked when she and her twin brother are invited to compete for the empire’s throne. Suddenly thrust into the Golden Palace’s dangerous court, Blaze faces deadly rivals, forbidden love, and the possibility of reclaiming her lost power. Torn between a captivating Crown Prince and a darkly alluring stranger, Blaze must decide if she’s ready to step out of the shadows and claim a destiny no one ever believed she could have.

Amazon

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (July 15, 2025)

Sera Swan lost her magic, her status, and her place in the magical Guild after a spell gone wrong. Now she runs an enchanted inn with her resurrected great-aunt, a mischievous talking fox, and a houseful of quirky guests. When she discovers a spell that could restore her powers, she enlists the help of Luke Larsen, a reserved magical historian with no interest in her chaos—or her charm. But as they work together, unexpected sparks fly. Sera soon realizes that the magic she craves may not be as powerful as the family she’s built.

Amazon

Charity Trickett Is Not So Glamorous by Christine Stringer (June 10, 2025)

Charity Trickett arrives in Hollywood in 1997 determined to break into the movie industry. As an assistant to a blockbuster film director, she expects glitz and glamour but instead faces cutthroat coworkers, a failing love life, and a mistake that could cost the studio millions. Her bank account is running dry, and an FBI investigation threatens to derail her future entirely. With grit and heart, Charity must fight to keep her dream alive and avoid losing everything. Fans of Bridget Jones’s Diary will love this witty, behind-the-scenes Hollywood adventure.

Amazon

Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan (May 13, 2025)

Hendrix Barry has built a life most people dream of. With a successful business, amazing friends, and a loving family, she has everything except time for love. Caring for an aging parent and staying focused on her goals leave little room for romance, and she’s never met a man who could keep up. Until Maverick Bell. The charming tech mogul sees her in a way no one has before, but he’s off-limits if she plans to stay on course. When Maverick refuses to walk away, Hendrix must decide if love is worth changing her plans.

Amazon

What’s Yours is Mine by Jennifer Jabaley (August 5, 2025)

Valerie Yarnell is a devoted single mother who has always supported her daughter Kate’s dream of dancing. But it stings when Kate idolizes her best friend Colette’s mother, Elise, a former prima ballerina married to the man Valerie secretly loves. When Kate outshines Colette at a major competition, tensions soar. Elise’s pressure on Colette intensifies, and the rivalry between mothers and daughters reaches a breaking point. Then a shocking attack shatters everything, exposing dark ambitions and unraveling secrets. Soon, both families will learn just how fierce and dangerous competition can be.

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations

Andrew Garfield's relationship status is always a swoon-worthy topic. Whether he's gushing about how Emma Stone is like a shot of caffeine, he's getting flustered talking to Chicken Shop Date's Amelia Dimoldenberg, or he's kissing Demi Moore on the hand, this man is always making me blush. But it looks like he might not be single anymore if some recent outings with Monica Barbaro are any indication — including a post-Oscars party!

While neither Andrew nor Monica have spoken on the relationship rumors, a People source confirmed "they've been really lowkey and have been spending time together quietly"...and Monica shared a pretty funny moment with Amelia on the Oscars red carpet.

Here's what we know about those Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro relationship rumors.

March 16, 2025 — Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro are seen grocery shopping.

This duo definitely fanned the flames of those couple rumors when they were spotted grocery shopping in Malibu. A very realistic, domestic, and relatable Sunday! I also went grocery shopping this day, so it looks like we were on the same page ;).

Andrew wore a white tee and jeans while Monica looks cozy in a white tank and green cardigan. Both wore baseball caps. "I like that they are humble and buy the same TP as me," one Instagram user commented. Same.

March 2, 2025 — Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro attend an Oscar afterparty together.

After the Oscars on March 2, Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield left the Vanity Fair after party together...and showed up to Beyoncé and Jay-Z's after party. No big deal! Monica wore a strapless gown with gorgeous teardrop jewel detail while Andrew looks dapper in a deep gray suit.

They also happened to arrive at the Oscars red carpet at the same time...and Monica was sitting in Andrew's eye line the whole night. What a coincidence!

February 2025 — Monica Barbaro & Andrew Garfield attend Jonathan Bailey's play.

The two went viral on February 20 when they showed up to Jonathan Bailey's Richard II at the Bridge Theatre, and I'm obsessed with how locked in he is on their conversation. This man is an attentive listener if I've ever seen one!

January 2025 — Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro are photographed together.

Andrew and Monica were first seen together at W magazine's Best Performances party, alongside Eddie Redmayne and W's editor-at-large Lynn Hirschberg, in LA. They were already getting cozy!

What do you think about Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro? I'm personally obsessed. Stay tuned for the latest news on this low-key couple! And check out Zoë Kravitz & Noah Centineo Fuel Dating Rumors After Leaving Another Party Together because Andrew & Monica weren't the only ones hanging this month 👀.

This post has been updated.

Today, many at-home libraries look a lot different than they did just a decade ago.

First, thanks to inspiration and ideas shared by avid readers on social media, classic shelving has gotten a major upgrade, with plenty of people using built-ins, DIY-ing shelving to look like built-ins, or displaying books in more unconventional stands.

Literature lovers are also upping their reading game by incorporating warm lighting, cozy chairs, and other viral bookworm accessories.

What's arguably the most new, though, is the introduction of colorful "sprayed edges" on the books themselves. Perhaps it goes against the classic mantra, "Don't judge a book by its cover," but this trend has taken over the reading scene. This is why!

Here's everything you need to know about sprayed edges books!

What are books with sprayed edges?

Books with "sprayed edges" have their page edges painted, which adds a bold pop of color or reveals an illustration when the book is closed. They're typically designed to complement the cover and invite you into fictional worlds before you even crack a story open.

So, this extra detail has become extremely popular among readers everywhere. It turns any ordinary book into a visual statement and provides book lovers with tons of new opportunities to display their collections.

In fact, some people have opted to begin exhibiting their books with the edges facing out as opposed to the spine. With this technique, your shelving practically transforms into a mosaic of art instead of just a storage area.

When did books with sprayed edges start?

It's important to note that while viral fantasy and romance novels have popularized this trend recently, the concept of decorating book edges has been around for centuries.

In 17th-century England, for instance, a technique called fore-edging, or painting watercolor scenes along the edges of books, became popular. Some novels have even been adorned with gold or silver leaf.

More on books with sprayed edges:

Nowadays, the process of mass-producing books with sprayed edges has been streamlined, with publishers using high-powered machines to keep up with the demand. Plus, countless readers have been DIY-ing this effect for years, using tools ranging from spray paint to markers.

The result makes books feel more exclusive, and they're often even labeled as such, being called "deluxe" or "special editions."

If you want to get your hands on some, you're in luck, too. Various highly anticipated books are being released this year with sprayed edges, including The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang, Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros, and Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff (Signed B&N Exclusive Edition).

Additionally, even some older bestsellers will get their turn to shine with the release of special editions featuring sprayed edges.

Kristin Hannah's historical fiction novel The Nightingale, for example, will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a deluxe edition. Readers won't just get sprayed edges but also a new dust jacket, a gold-foil stamped cover, and a ribbon bookmark.

Still, while social media platforms have helped fuel the demand for colorful, eye-catching books, not every work will get such special treatment. Since sprayed edges add to production costs, publishers have to carefully choose which titles get them.

Nonetheless, one thing is certain: fantasy, romance, and speculative fiction books tend to feature them the most, as readers who enjoy these genres really seem to appreciate the decorative aesthetic.

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The blue zone diet is undeniably one of the best ways of eating for overall health and longevity. It draws culinary inspiration from the top blue zones around the world (Ikaria, Greece, Okinawa, Japan, Sardinia, Italy, Loma Linda, California, and the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica), where people tend to live longer (over 100 years!), often free of any heart disease, obesity, cancer, or diabetes.

Originally outlined by National Geographic Explorer and Fellow Dan Buettner, the blue zone diet is 95% plant-based, with beans, legumes, sweet potatoes, yams, fruits, leafy greens, beets, nuts, and seeds being the #1 priority. High-quality olive oiland whole grains like brown rice and barley are also a huge part of the diet. Blue zone diet recipes widely limit eggs, dairy, meat, added sugar, and processed foods.

The blue zone diet can be a helpful tool to guide your eating habits toward healthier, more beneficial choices for a longer life. These 20 blue zone diet recipes highlight whole foods, veggies, and fruits to make each meal work for you!

Heyday Beans

Chickpea Curry

This flavorful curry recipe loads up on lots of chickpeas to better suit the blue zone diet. Swap the basmati for brown rice, and you'll be set! (via Heyday Beans for Brit + Co)

Midjourney

Niçoise Salad

This dish is packed with so much goodness. From the bed of greens to the heart veggie toppings like olives, tomatoes, green beans, onion, and more, each bite is different from the next, which makes mealtime (especially with the blue zone diet) fun! (via Brit + Co)

Antoni Shkraba / PEXELS

Hummus + Veggies

Hummus is super easy to make at home, and it'd guaranteed to be healthy when you know exactly what you're putting into it. This recipe features a nice amount of lemon juice for taste and freshness. Serve with lotsa veg, as per the blue zone diet. (via Brit + Co)

Two Spoons

Spring Mix Salad + Lemon Tofu

Salads make some of the best blue zone diet recipes (remember that 95% plant-based rule?), but just because they're salads doesn't mean they have to be boring. This one earns some good zest from baked tofu, homemade dressing, and crunchy veggies. (via Two Spoons for Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Zucchini Fries

These veggie-laden fries actually taste like what you'd get in the drive-thru. So, if you're searching for blue zone diet recipes that'll fulfill your fast food cravings, this is it. Serve with a homemade sauce to amp up the vibes. (via Brit + Co)

The Real Food Dietitians

Greek Cucumber Salad

Greek and Mediterranean food often qualify for the diet since they're fresh and full of healthy goods. This Greek salad combines juicy cukes, tomatoes, onions, and chickpeas for a refreshing blue zone bite. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

The Edgy Veg

Oyster Mushroom Shawarma

Since blue zone diet recipes tend to limit actual meat, it's crucial to find ones that emulate the meaty, smoky flavors of the chicken, beef, and fish you might be missing. In this dish, oyster mushrooms form a very complex forkful with the help of a homemade marinade. (via The Edgy Veg)

Give Recipe

Beetroot Dip

Beets are one of the top veggies to eat on the blue zone diet, and this dip is probably one of the coolest ways you can prepare them. This recipe earns extra points for including pine nuts and/or pistachios! (via Give Recipe)

Blue Zones

Cornmeal Waffles

Blue zone breakfasts can range from granolas to fruit salads, but these waffles look like the tastiest option out there. Wheat flour and cornmeal make up the thick batter for a filling morning meal. (via Blue Zones)

Crowded Kitchen

Couscous Salad

Grains are golden in this diet. Follow this recipe that creates a heavenly blend of couscous and veggies! This would be an excellent option to meal prep so you don't have to worry about cooking down the line. (via Crowded Kitchen)

Earthly Provisions

Three Bean Chili

Beans always win for the blue zone diet! This hearty bowl of chili leverages three different kinds to fill you up and fulfill all your comfort food cravings. (via Earthly Provisions)

Half Baked Harvest

Sweet Potato Kale Salad

Dark, leafy greens are preferred over lighter ones for the diet because they usually hold more nutritional value. That's why this kale salad is a perfect blue zone diet recipe! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Blue Zones

Asian Stir Fry Noodles

This quick dinner doesn't skimp on flavor. You'll fall instantly in love with the blend of ginger, garlic, and sesame oil for the sauce that drowns these rice noodles. (via Blue Zones)

A Virtual Vegan

Almond Hemp Granola

This nutty granola is the ultimate addition to breakfast time yogurt bowls. (via A Virtual Vegan)

Hello Little Home

Roasted Squash

Virtually any vegetable is roast-able and fitting for the blue zone diet, but delicata squash is great for when you just want something a lil' different. (via Hello Little Home)

Vanilla and Bean

Citrus Carrot Ginger Smoothie

Wether it's for breakfast or a mid-day snack, this hydrating smoothie will never leave you unsatisfied. (via Vanilla and Bean)

The First Mess

Herby Whipped White Beans with Smoky Mushrooms

This share-worthy recipe expertly disguises white beans in the form of an herby dip topped with grilled 'shrooms. To make it more filling, use toasted whole grain bread as your dipping vehicle! (via The First Mess)

Blue Zones

Sweet Potato + Black Bean Burgers

Sweet potatoes and beans are some of the most recommended ingredients for blue zone diet recipes. In this meal, they team up with some oats and other crucial elements to form some super healthy burger patties. (via Blue Zones)

Half Baked Harvest

Roasted Cauliflower Hummus

Again, dips shine! This hummus is packed with veg – though you wouldn't know it if you didn't make it. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Blue Zones

Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad

Shaved Brussels sprouts are the star of this warm salad. Top things off with pickled onions and plenty of nuts for added deliciousness! (via Blue Zones)

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This post has been updated.

If you're like me, then you've already added all the new April TV shows to your calendar...and used a highlighter & glitter pens to circle your favorites multiple times. Well grab your pens once again because the calendar isn't complete until you've added these new April movies! As we get closer to the adventure that summer blockbuster season brings (and Jonathan Bailey in Jurassic World: Rebirth, hello!), these spring movies give us the perfect dose of action.

Keep reading for all the new April movies to add to your watchlist in 2025.

Freaky Tales — In Theaters April 4, 2025

Sundance/Lionsgate

Stories of "an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector" converge in 1987 Oakland, according to this April movie's synopsis. And based on the trailer, it's definitely going to be a freaky ride.

Freaky Tales hits theaters April 4 and stars Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks.

A Minecraft Movie — In Theaters April 4, 2025

Warner Bros. Pictures

After The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Jack Black is back for another video game adaptation. In A Minecraft Movie, he stars as Steve, an expert crafter who teams up with four misfits trying to get back home. Watch the trailer here.

A Minecraft Movie hits theaters April 4 and stars Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Hansen

Sacramento — In Theaters April 11, 2025

Tribeca Film Festival/Vertical

In this sunny movie, youthful Rickey convinces his friend Glenn, a family man, to take a break from the real world and go on a California road trip. And if the trailer's any indication, you'll walk out of this movie with a smile on your face.

Sacramento hits theaters April 11 and stars Michael Cera, Michael Angarano, Maya Erskine, and Kristen Stewart.

Drop — In Theaters April 11, 2025

Universal Pictures

In Drop, Violet's dreamy date with Henry quickly becomes a nightmare when her phone starts pinging with instructions — and the anonymous sender starts threatening her kid. The only problem? The final instruction is to kill Henry. If I'm this nervous watching the trailer, I'll definitely need a big bag of popcorn to see it in theaters!

Drop premieres April 11 and stars Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, Jacob Robinson, Reed Diamond, Gabrielle Ryan, Jeffery Self, Ed Weeks, and Travis Nelson.

Warfare — In Theaters April 11, 2025

A24

All your favorite celebrities are starring in this April movie, which follows a group of Navy SEALs watching American forces move through Iraq and is based on real memories & events. You can watch the trailer now.

Warfare hits theaters April 11 and stars D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Taylor John Smith, Michael Gandolfini, Adain Bradley, Noah Centineo, Evan Holtzman, Henrique Zaga, Joseph Quinn, and Charles Melton.

The Amateur — In Theaters April 11, 2025

20th Century Studios

Charlie is a CIA agent who usually stays out of the field. But when his wife is murdered, he jumps into action to exact revenge on the men responsible. The trailer already has me on the edge of my seat!

The Amateur premieres April 11 and stars Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, and Laurence Fishburne.

The Wedding Banquet — In Theaters April 18, 2025

Luka Cyprian/Bleecker Street

When his boyfriend won't commit, Min comes up with a simple proposition: a green-card marriage with Angela to pay for her partner Lee's IVF treatment. But when Min's grandma goes all out with a Korean wedding banquet, things get complicated (well, at least more complicated than they already were). Watch the trailer now!

The Wedding Banquet hits theaters April 18 and stars Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, and Youn Yuh-jung.

Sinners — In Theaters April 18, 2025

Warner Bros. Pictures

Twin brothers figure out their future is just as terrifying as their past when they set out for a new life. Watch the horrifying trailer here.

Sinners hits theaters April 18 and stars Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, and Delroy Lindo.

Pride & Prejudice — In Theaters April 20, 2025

Focus Features

Yep, you read that right — Pride & Prejudice is coming back to theaters! Celebrate the 20th anniversary of this iconic movie, which follows the headstrong Lizzy Bennet, the sharp Mr. Darcy, and their unending love for their families. The romantic trailer just proves this is the blueprint for enemies to lovers.

Pride & Prejudice hits theaters again on April 20 and stars Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Tom Hollander, Penelope Wilton, and Judi Dench.

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith — In Theaters April 25, 2025

Lucasfilm

This is another flick I can't wait to relive in theaters! In the final installment of the Star Wars prequels, Anakin is battling the forces of good and evil as the battle between the Jedi and the Separatists comes to a head.

Revenge of the Sith is coming back to theaters April 25 and stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Frank Oz.

Which April movie are you excited to see this month? Tag us on Instagram!