Romance Release Radar: July 2025

Hey lovely readers! Can you believe it’s already July? Summer is officially in full swing, and so is my craving for books that tug on the heartstrings, make me laugh out loud, or leave me dramatically sighing at 1AM. If you’re after your next swoony escape, I’ve got you covered. 

Here are five romance releases this month that I cannot stop thinking about. From courtroom banter to second-chance sparks, these stories each deliver something special: 

Overruled  

by Lana Ferguson 

1st July | Enemies to Lovers | Legal Drama | Slow Burn 

If you love razor-sharp banter and unresolved tension that sizzles under the surface, Overruled is your new obsession. When ambitious attorney Rachel Vale is pitted against cocky (but maddeningly charming) legal rival Jace Moreno in a high-profile trial, sparks fly—and not the good kind… at first. But under the heat of the courtroom and the spotlight of public scrutiny, their battles start to blur into something deeper. Rachel’s walls are high, Jace’s secrets are heavy, and neither of them can afford to lose. But what if falling is the one risk they both need to take? 

Think The Hating Game meets The Good Wife—but with more smirking. 

When I Should’ve Stayed  

by Max Monroe 

1st July | Second Chance | Small Town | Emotional Rollercoaster 

This book is the literary equivalent of coming home after a storm. Theo left Pine Hollow ten years ago—leaving behind a mess and the woman he once promised forever to. Now he’s back, older, quieter, and looking for redemption. But Emma’s life didn’t freeze when he left. She's stronger now, running her late father's bakery, and fiercely protective of the peace she’s built. So when Theo returns with his eyes full of regret and his hands aching to help, she’s not sure if she wants to hug him… or throw flour at him. 

Prepare for teary-eyed moments, sweet flashbacks, and a heartfelt reminder that sometimes love comes back when you’re finally ready to receive it. 

A Vow of Embers  

by Sariah Wilson 

8th July | Fantasy Romance | Soulmate Bond | Epic Stakes 

This book completely swept me away. In a world where elemental vows bind warriors to protect the kingdom, Liora—an orphaned fire wielder—is matched with cold, calculating general Kael in a last-ditch effort to save the realm. The vow should have made them allies. Instead, it forges an intense, unbreakable connection that neither of them asked for—and both are terrified to explore. As enemies close in and their bond deepens, desire simmers beneath every whispered strategy and battle-scarred glance. 

Think ACOTAR with a grittier edge and a romance that burns like, well… embers. 

Pugs and Kisses  

by Farrah Rochon 

15th July | Rom-Com | Pet Lovers | Grumpy/Sunshine 

This one is pure serotonin in book form. When sunny dog-walker Lily accidentally takes home the wrong pug from the park (yes, really), she ends up face-to-face with broody, straight-laced architect Max—who is not amused. But when their pups refuse to be separated, Lily and Max strike up an unlikely friendship… and the universe (and their dogs) seem determined to make it something more. Max is order and quiet nights in. Lily is chaos and glitter and spontaneous dog costume contests. Together? They might just be perfect. 

⚠️ Warning: excessive canine cuteness and one of the most adorably awkward first kisses I’ve read in ages. 

The Escape 

by Eve M. Riley 

29th July | Billionaire Romance | Enemies to Lovers | Found Family 

This one burns slow... and then explodes. When disillusioned tech billionaire Aiden flees his high-rise loneliness for the beaches of Thailand, he doesn’t expect to end up sharing a hostel with a razor-sharp attorney on the edge of a meltdown. Emma’s had it—with her toxic ex, her backstabbing coworker, and the career she’s bleeding for. She didn’t come to Thailand for romance, especially not with a cocky stranger.

But when a twist of fate throws them together, walls start to crack. From heated arguments to unexpected tenderness, their connection grows—intense, inconvenient, and impossible to ignore. 

⚠️ Warning: Includes life-altering sunsets, emotional gut punches, and a grovel scene that hurts in the best way. 

Whether you're craving second chances in cozy towns, elemental magic and slow-burn passion, or a sunshine-grump duo brought together by mischievous pugs, July’s lineup is stacked with emotion, heart, and heat. And closing it all out is something extra special—The Escape marks my sixth book release, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this story with you. It's a journey of healing, connection, and risking it all for love... and I hope it sweeps you away.

So grab your favorite drink, find your comfiest reading nook, and get ready to fall hard. July's got something for every kind of romantic.

Happy reading

Eve x