6 romance books to add to your June TBR list (2023)

There are some months when you read a ton of great romance books. May was one of those months for me but it was also a jam-packed month.

No matter where I turned, there was a book to read or something else to focus on. Either way, that doesn’t mean May was a bad release month as I enjoyed a lot of the backlist books I read along with new releases.

May felt like a catchup time before summer started because once it starts, the fun really begins so May was a time for reflecting and getting caught up on the books on my shelves. That said, there aren’t many new releases to discuss.

Even so, I still wanted to talk about six books I read in May that I enjoyed and feel could be something my fellow romance readers might want to pick up, too.

These first two romance books were new May releases and favorites.

1. The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan

I’d be remiss to not start with the queen. Some of Kennedy Ryan’s books are being re-published by Bloom Books, including her All The King’s Men series. This first book follows Lennix and Maxim who keep meeting but it’s always the wrong time. The book doesn’t just follow their romance, though.

Throughout The Kingmaker, we watch as these two achieve their goals along with growing and changing as people. It’s such a fascinating and long-spanning romance that you’ll be dying to see these two finally give in to their desires. Thankfully we’ll be getting the sequel in June but until then, now is the best time to either read or revisit this series.

2. Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler

I loved and adored the other May release Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler. I’ve already talked about this book at length so I won’t talk too much about it. This follows Millie and Hollis who end up on a road trip together. Millie is headed for some personal business while Hollis is on the trip for pleasure. Everything can go wrong for them goes wrong and it ends up being their romance.

Their story is also intermingled with Mrs. Nash’s love story and it worked so well. If you’re looking for something to throw in your beach bag or just want something fun and somewhat emotional, Mrs. Nash’s Ashes fit the bill.

These last four romance books are all exciting backlist titles.

3. The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

Everyone has different feelings about Christina Lauren. Some people prefer their older stuff while others prefer their newer releases. Since I was sent the sequel to this, I decided to pick it up and I was surprised by how much I loved The Soulmate Equation.

This book follows Jess who is a single mother and River who owns a DNA match company. Jess decides to test her DNA and she finds out River is essentially her ideal match/soulmate. To try and take advantage of this, the two agree to a fake date. Of course, real feelings develop and it goes from there. Honestly, this book was so engaging and had such a delightful romance that I can’t help but recommend it.

4. Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

The next romance book I loved in May is the complete opposite of the previous one as this is a dark fantasy romance. We follow the romance between Callie and Des who have a long and storied history together. Callie is a siren and Des is the Bargainer who is also the Night King as Callie repays all the favors to him while they’re also investigating something in the Otherworld.

Honestly, I didn’t know much going into this one so I don’t want to talk too much about the plot but once you get into it, you won’t be able to put it down. This first book sets everything up so well and I couldn’t get enough of it considering I’m almost done with the series now.

5. The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

This next one is a book I was hesitant about but I ended up falling in love with it. The Roughest Draft follows Katrina and Nathan, co-writers who had a falling out many years ago. The two are frankly floating through life until they end up having to reconnect to write the next book they’re contracted for.

Of course, this book unravels all their writing and personal relationship layers. It’s just so fascinating and I couldn’t put it down once I stopped. This is their first adult romance book and it was so well-crafted along with the duo’s fabulous writing. If you love romance books or books about books, you need to pick this one up.

6. Appetites & Vices by Felicia Grossman

The final romance book making my list is Appetites & Vices by Felicia Grossman. This historical romance follows Ursula, a Jewish main character who decides to become fake engaged to a very damaged man, Jay. These two don’t seem like they have much in common but their friendship and eventual relationship blossoms within these pages and it’s hard to look away.

While this has some twists and turns within the plot, the romance between Urs and Jay made me fall head over heels for them. If you’re looking for a historical romance with a bit more, then Appetites & Vices is a good place to start.

What do you think, my fellow romance readers? What were some romance books you’d recommend reading in June? Let us know in the comments!