Contemporary romance took over my reading in 2020. I still have to analyze my 2020 reading stats and see if I did indeed read more romance than YA this year, but I feel like I was reaching for romance over other genres this year. This trend might stick around for me in 2021, given how many contemporary romances I’m anticipating in 2021! The main reason why I decided to split my anticipated releases into individuals posts for young adult and and romance this year because there are THAT many contemporary romances I’m waiting for in the new year. 

I am considering making an anticipated releases post for adult fiction as well – I began drafting the post, but I only have two books on it so far while crossing my fingers we’ll get Leigh Bardugo’s second Alex Stern book and potentially Sarah J. Maas’ second Crescent City novel (or The World of Throne of Glass finally). 

Most Anticipated Contemporary Romances

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon | Release Date: January 26

Rachel Lynn Solomon’s The Ex Talk is for sure among my MOST anticipated books on this list (if, not my #1 most anticipated read). I absolutely love her YA books and I’m so excited to read her take on my other favorite genre. The book follows two exes who start a new public radio show, where together they give relationship advice. Add it on Goodreads 

Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon | RD: February 2 

2021 is seriously the year for my YA favorite authors to enter the adult romance game, including Lily Menon (known in the YA world as, you know, SANDHYA MENON) with Make Up Break Up. The book follows rival app developers, Annika and Hudson, as the compete in a major investment pitch contest. Add it on Goodreads

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle | RD: April 6

Sarah Hogle’s debut, You Deserve Each Other, is one of my absolute favorite books of 2020 and made her one of my new auto-read authors. Twice Shy follows a woman who unexpectedly inherits a stately old manor from a great aunt, only to discover that the place needs some serious work and she has to share the place with the grumpy groundskeeper. Add it on Goodreads

The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan | RD: April 6

I finally read Rosie Danan’s The Roommate last week. Although it definitely met the hype for me and I loved it’s unique premise (adult entertainment), I wasn’t super in love. However, the hype once again sent me to check out Rosie Danan’s upcoming release, The Intimacy Experiment, and I’m super intrigued by the synopsis. The book follows one of the female main characters from The Roommate, Naomi, as she teams up with one of LA’s most eligible bachelors (who also happens to be a rabbi) on a sex education seminar. Add it on Goodreads 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry | RD: May 11

If you enjoyed Emily Henry’s smash hit, Beach Read, in 2020, you likely immediately added Emily’s 2021 release on your TBR. Based on the synopsis, it seems like People We Meet on Vacation combines two of my favorite tropes, enemies-to-lovers and friends-to-lovers. Add it on Goodreads 

Isn’t it Bromantic? (The Bromance Book Club #4) by Lyssa Kay Adams | RD: June 15

Isn’t it Bromantic? might just be the Bromance Book Club book I’ve most anticipated in the series because it follows one of my favorite side characters, The Russian. In this installment, Lyssa Kay Adams takes on the second-chance romance trope, as we finally meet the Russian’s mystery wife. Add it on Goodreads 

Heartbreak for Hire by Sonia Hartl | RD: July 27

Sonia Hartl is another YA author I love for her book, Have a Little Faith in Me, and her contemporary romance debut, Heartbreak for Hire, sounds so unique. The main protagonist, Brinkley, secretly works for a company who helps women get revenge on men who have wronged them. Add it on Goodreads 

The Shaadi Scam by Lilli Vale | RD: TBD

We’ve gotten more & more romances over the past few years about matchmaking over the past few years, but Lilli Vale’s The Shaadi Scam sounds like it’s going to take on such a unique spin on the trope. The book’s basic premise is that an Indian American signs her and her boyfriend up on a matchmaking website to prove to her family that they are meant to be… but they don’t match with each other on the site….and she instead matches with the guy who broke her heart. Add it on Goodreads 

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka | RD: TBD

Not only are YA authors coming out with adult romance in 2021, but so is my favorite YA author DUO & married couple team, Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka. There is not an official synopsis or release date for their first romance just yet, but the book follows co-authors and rumored former lovers who are forced to write another book together. Add it on Goodreads 

Well Matched (Well Met #3) by Jen DeLuca | RD: TBD

There’s no official synopsis or release date for the third book in the Well Met series, Well matched, but it will follow Mitch and April as they fake date each other. Add it on Goodreads. Add it on Goodreads 

Honorable Mentions

Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron | RD: March 2 | Add it on Goodreads 

Float Plan by Trish Doller | RD: March 2 | Add it on Goodreads 

The Dating Plan by Sarah Desai | RD: March 16 | Add it on Goodreads 

Second Chance Impressions by Sally Thorne | RD: April 13 | Add it on Goodreads 

It Had to Be You by Georgia Clark | RD: May 4 | Add it on Goodreads 

Heart & Seoul by Jen Frederick | RD: May 11 | Add it on Goodreads 

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren | RD: May 18 | Add it on Goodreads 

There are for sure more contemporary romance announcements that will be coming in the new year, and I’m hoping some of my favorites authors, like Hannah Orenstein and Christina Lauren – I know The Soulmate Equation will be out, but I’m hoping they come out with another -, will be announcing new books! 

What romances are you the most excited about in 2021? Do you have any romance suggestions for me? Share in the comments!