11 Fiery Summer Romance Novels That Will Have You Feeling the Heat

      June 5, 2025

      

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      The highlight of summer is when I activate my out-of-office message and my calendar is open for what I am truly meant to do: read books non-stop. From June to August, my top priority is achieving my Goodreads annual reading goal, and I want every spare moment to be dedicated to diving into a beach read (preferably by the water, but I’m flexible). More specifically, I’m eager to explore what BookTok refers to as “spicy” romance novels. You know the type—those covers that seem cartoonish and cute, resembling a lighthearted romantic comedy, yet are packed with steamy scenes worthy of five chili pepper emojis. While the covers might perplex the occasional unwitting Barnes & Noble customer, they do help keep your spicy summer romance read under the radar in public. As soon as warm weather arrives, you’ll want books that add even more heat; here are the best spicy summer romance novels to check out.

      

      

      

       Ali Hazelwood

      

       Spice Level: 2/5

      Maya Killgore, 23, is still navigating her life. Conor Harkness is 38. Any relationship between them poses numerous challenges. When Maya’s brother decides to marry in Taormina, she and Conor find themselves together in a charming Sicilian villa for over a week. As the destination wedding spirals out of control, she contemplates whether a summer fling might be just what she needs, albeit a complicated one.

      

      

      

      

      

       Jasmine Guillory

      

       Spice Level: 2/5

      Avery Jensen, nearly 30 and recently single, is tired of being so uptight and proper. She wants to pick up a hobby, date around (especially women), and flirt with everyone she meets. The issue? Avery doesn’t know how to begin. Enter Taylor Cameron, Napa Valley’s biggest flirt and renowned heartbreaker, who offers to give Avery some flirting lessons. Their attraction becomes undeniable, despite both insisting to themselves and others that it's not serious.

      

      

      

      

      

       Carley Fortune

      

       Spice Level: 2/5

      Good things happen at the lake—this is what Alice’s grandmother always says, and she’s right. Alice spent only one summer at a cottage with her Nan at 17—it’s where she captured that photograph of three smiling teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that altered her life. After Nan falls and fractures her hip, Alice devises a plan: another summer in the enchanting Barry’s Bay. However, as soon as they settle in, their tranquility is interrupted by the familiar sound of a yellow boat and the handsome man behind the wheel.

      

      

      

      

      

       Tarah DeWitt

      

       Spice Level: 2/5

      Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love as children and had their son Sam as teenagers. They were made for each other… until they drifted apart. Now divorced and in their 30s, they lead separate lives. When Ellis and Wren take Sam to college, Ellis persuades Wren to embark on a road trip to see if they can reignite their relationship. But is it possible to truly leave the past behind?

      

      

      

      

      

       Lyla Sage

      

       Spice Level: 3/5

      When Camille Ashwood’s groom fails to appear at their wedding, her life is turned upside down, leaving her without a place to stay. That is until she discovers the ideal house to rent. There’s just one issue: the neighbor. Dusty Tucker has spent nearly his entire adulthood avoiding Cam Ashwood. But ever since he returned home last year, the girl who meant everything to him is determined to maintain her distance. Nearly a decade after first meeting, Dusty and Cam start to wonder if their first love could also be their last.

      

      

      

      

      

       Christina Lauren

      

       Spice Level: 3/5

      Anna Green believed she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while studying at UCLA. She also thought she signed divorce papers when their graduation caps flew into the air. Three years later, Anna is a struggling artist living from paycheck to paycheck, while West is about to inherit $100 million. There’s just one condition: Liam won’t receive a penny until he’s been married for five years. Now, Liam must introduce his rough-around-the-edges, not-so-ex-wife to his wealthy parents. After discovering that Anna is surprisingly down-to-earth and loyal, he questions whether the cost of his flimsy cover story is worth sacrificing true love.