5 romances that add spice to your TBR

by Talia Hibbert

Talia Hibbert is possibly my favorite romance author, so I had to kick off our list with one of her spicier offerings. This friends-to-lovers story follows cynic Jasmine Allen and her secretly-in-love best friend Rahul Khan as they navigate temporarily living together – and try desperately not to lose control. Borrow this book if you’re looking for something realistic and full of yearning.

by Darcy Liao

Continuing the forced proximity thread, Make Room for Love opens with sweet, anxious Mira being accosted by her abusive ex-boyfriend while out at a club – only to be saved by the most attractive women she’s ever seen. When Mira’s rescuer, an electrician named Isabel, offers her a place to live, Mira’s relieved. And she definitely isn’t thinking about Isabel’s curves. But as the two spend more time together, sparks fly. Will they give into the slow-burn romance building between them? Check this title out if you’re looking for a queer romance with heart.

by KJ Charles

Mixing historical fiction, queer romance and spy drama, Slippery Creatures is a perfect read if you’re looking for a true slow burn – it’s book one of a trilogy, after all. The story centers around former soldier Will Darling, who’s looking forward to a peaceful life after inheriting his uncle’s second-hand bookshop. But as strange visitors start making threats, and a charming but dodgy aristocrat offers his assistance, Will is forced to admit his new life might not be as calm as he’d hoped. 

by Keri Lake

Dark academia meets searing passion in this first-person romantasy following first-year medical science student Lilia Vespertine as she navigates life at the prestigious, mysterious Dracadia University. Lilia grew up in a completely different world, but when she’s offered admission to the one place promising answers to her mother’s mysterious death four years earlier, she can’t possibly turn it down. But Dracadia is haunted by secrets, restless ghosts, and a devastatingly handsome professor Lilia can’t seem to ignore. 

⚠️ Note: Author Keri Lake includes a list of content warnings on her website.

by Tessonja Odette

In a world where making art is a sin due to the bloodthirsty shadows it creates, forbidden passion flares between a storytelling outlaw and a monster-slaying bounty hunter. Inana Westwood exists on the darkest fringes of society, earning a meager living through her performances. When Dominic Graves, a Shadowbane serving the ruling theocracy, catches her performance, he offers her a deal: work with him, or be turned in for her bounty. The first in an anticipated trilogy, pick this one up if you’re in the mood for a dark romantasy with some fantastic world-building.