6 2022 romance releases for your end-of-year TBR

There are plenty of new romance releases to keep track of and it feels like 2022 has been chocked full of some great ones.

Some books manage to get lost in the shuffle, though. Whether it’s due to a lack of hype, tons of releases coming out at the same time, or just something unavoidable, there are some romance releases no one seems to be talking about.

For those of us looking to end 2022 with a bang or planning our 2023 TBRs, then these romance books need to be on your radar. Despite missing them during their release months, these romance releases should be on your list for upcoming reads.

These are all going to be 2022 releases so make sure you have your library card or Kindle ready to add so you can add these ASAP.

These 2022 romance releases need to be on your end-of-year TBR.

The first 2022 release making my list is Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson. I know this book has over 10,000 ratings on Goodreads, but I feel like I haven’t heard many people talking about it. Regardless, this book follows Phoebe who is working on her Ph.D. with a focus on true crime so it comes as no surprise she believes her new neighbor might be a serial killer.

Obviously, he isn’t and the two start up a relationship. Even though Phoebe does and says some questionable things, this book focuses a lot on her growth along with her romance and dealing with the grief of losing her father. All in all, if you love true crime with a dash of romance, this one needs to be on your TBR. I’d also like to thank the publisher for reaching out to me about this one.

Despite being a recent release, I had to include Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan. Kennedy Ryan is the queen of emotional romance and this book is no exception. Following a divorced couple who eventually come back together, we follow Yasmen and Josiah as they deal with their own individual issues along with working on their relationship, their children, and a traumatic event in their past. This one is super emotional but if you haven’t picked it up yet, you need to.

Moving onto a book I’ve discussed before, I’d be remiss to not include A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera. This is a historical romance between Luz and Evan who both make whiskey but both need to be married for different reasons. As the two get to know each other and begin to become intimate, their relationship is hard not to root for. If you haven’t read this book or any by Adriana Herrera, you’re truly missing out.

Another 2022 release you might not have on your radar is Worth It by Lady Marie. This is a Black love story about a woman who gets stuck on a blind date and then the two have to fake date because of her mother’s upcoming wedding. The chemistry between these two is just electric and it’s crime that this has less than 50 ratings on Goodreads.

The last book making my list is Digging Up Love by Chandra Blumberg. This is an adorable Black love romance between Alisha and Quentin who meet under unique circumstances yet somehow can’t keep away from each other. This book is absolutely delightful and a nice feel-good romance if you’re looking for something sweet. Plus Alisha is a baker so you’ll want a treat before the book ends.

Overall, 2022 was a big year for romance releases, and honestly, I look for more of the same in 2023. While things in publishing are on a downtrend right now, I’d like to say we have a bright future as romance readers. However, we’ll see what the new year brings to us.

Do you have an underrated romance release from 2022? Let us know in the comments.