11 August romance releases to heat up your summer reading

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Helen Hoang, the author of The Kiss Quotient, returns this August with a novel that promises to keep readers in their feelings. The Heart Principle opens with violinist Anna Sun learning her boyfriend wants an open relationship. It’s an idea that Anna doesn’t seem all that into, but she decides to engage a string of one-night stands in response to the whole thing.

Anna’s flings lead her to Quan Diep, a tattooed motorcyclist who tests Anna’s commitment to her one-night stands. In fact, their relationship turns into much more than she wanted or expected:

"“Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex — he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she has just started to understand herself.”"

Those elements make the ideal recipe for a fun, compelling romance, but tragedy strikes when Anna least expects it. Whatever unfolds forces her into a position where expectations are heaped upon her — and she’ll need to fight for herself and her relationship with Quan if she wants a chance at a happy ending.

The Heart Principle arrives in ebook, audiobook, and print formats on Aug. 31, 2021.