Six of my anticipated winter romances

In case you need something small to look forward to

How are we doing? I’m still not great but slowly digging out from the staring-blankly-at-the-wall place I was in for a lot of last week. Connecting with friends offline has helped a lot, as has starting to come up with small, tangible actions I can take. And in its own way, going through my TBR and compiling this list of romances I’m excited about in November and December has helped too.

Here’s a handful of titles that’ll be keeping me company through the chilly winter nights. (Side note: it finally got cold enough in New York and I’m actually thrilled to be wearing my fuzzy winter coat and hat again? The 70-degree weather just felt wrong.)

1. Wake Up, Nat and Darcy by Kate Cochrane (November 12th)

   Second-chance sapphic hockey romance about two former college sweethearts turned rival Olympians and now coworkers on a morning show covering the Olympics forced to lean into their chemistry for ratings? I’m officially intrigued. I’ve been on the look-out for an Olympics-adjacent romance for ages and this one sounds great.

2. The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson (November 12th)

   I really enjoyed Pearson’s YA when I read it in college and so I’m curious to see what she does in the adult space with this portal romantic fantasy that promises adventure, intrigue, and dangerous (and dangerously sexy, I’m willing to bet) fae. Romantasy is a bit hit or miss for me but I’d love to find some immersive, fun titles to curl up with over the holidays.

3. Duchess Material by Emily Sullivan (November 19th)

   She’s an unconventional bluestocking! He’s a haughty duke! Obviously they’re going to fall in love. The promised rebellious heroine-starchy hero dynamic is pure catnip for me and I’m also looking forward to seeing how Sullivan works in Victorian-era class politics, as the heroine teaches working-class girls.

4. The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews (November 19th)

   If you’ve been around for a while, you know how much I love Mimi Matthews and her exquisite slow-burn historical romances. (She’s also my number one recommendation if you’re looking for closed door romance.) The final installment in her Belles of London series focuses on Stella Hobhouse, a silver-haired equestrienne marooned on the outskirts of London society, and Teddy Hayes, a charismatic aspiring artist.

5. Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens (November 19th)

   Cousens’ The Good Part was an absolute delight of a read for me last year and rocketed her up my list of authors to keep an eye on. Her new novel about a divorcee who agrees to let her children set her up on seven dates sounds funny, heartfelt, and full of charm. The Good Part gave me strong classic 90’s rom-com vibes and I’m hoping for more with this one.

6. Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson (December 6th)

   One of the booksellers I chat to regularly has pronounced this paranormal rom-com to be wonderfully bonkers and wonderfully bonkers sounds great right now. I’m here for mystery, banter, curse-breaking, and the Scottish Highlands.

Let me know your anticipated releases in the comments! (Or the backlist titles you’re hoping to tackle, since November and December are a bit thin in terms of new releases.)

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Currently reading: White Hot by Ilona Andrews, the action-packed second book in the Hidden Legacy series. It’s slightly too stressful to read at night, so It Had to be a Duke by Vivienne Lorret is currently serving as my emotional support nighttime historical romance.

Recommendations, miscellany, and little bits of joy:

• My boyfriend and I went to see Conclave last weekend and had a great time. Satisfyingly dramatic, really well acted and shot, and just a tiny bit pulpy. (In a good way!)

• Catching up with friends, now that I’ve dug out from the chaos of moving, for dinners, Golden Bachelorette viewing, and long chats.

• Using the long weekend to go to the Met, my forever love, and discovering an absolutely gorgeous exhibit of Chinese enamel tucked away on the second floor. My Met recommendation is always to go for a wander and see what beautiful things you stumble upon. The museum will provide.