3 Romance Novels to Read This Summer

by MK French

Are you looking for love? You will find it in the pages of these books.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell

June 2025; Berkley; 978-0593549742
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); romantic comedy

Elfreda Marsden discovered an amulet proving that the Viking army camped on her family’s estate. Her nemesis, Georgie Redmayne, is back from London and literally collides with Elfreda. The amulet is lost, and now Elfreda can't lead an excavation to prove her theories. Georgie hates being in the countryside and needs money to leave Derbyshire. Joining forces to locate a hidden hoard of Viking gold is the best chance for them both, but attraction builds up between them. Is there something more valuable than the gold?

Elfreda and Georgie had multiple interactions over the years that were less than stellar and would be the stuff of pratfall comedy if this were a different type of book. Elfreda felt that she was being made fun of and belittled, especially with her father denigrating her intelligence as female whimsy, and the Redmayne family purchasing part of their property when they fell on hard times. She had archeological theory instilled in her, but her father's and society's beliefs still override hers. Without the amulet to prove her theory, even her grandmother's translated works are dismissed. Georgie had drummed up a scandal in London by dressing in masculine clothing some days, acting on stage, and drinking. They don't feel like any particular gender, and they are best friends with a pair of women in love with each other. As much as they clock Elfreda as one of them, the potential for an archeological dig and recognition is more alluring to her.

There's a bit of discussion regarding how the gender binary doesn't quite fit Georgie, and how acting allowed them the ability to test that fluidity. Seeing two women in love and realizing it's even an option led Elfreda to consider that with Georgie. They discover each other's dreams, and in their own ways, try to make it happen. The discovery of what is important to them, as well as the historical finds, brings them together. While the Regency time period is working against them, they're willing to risk it for happiness. 

Buy A Rare Find at Amazon

Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath

June 2025; St. Martin's Griffin; 978-1250896094
audio, ebook, print (320 pages); Regency romance

Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, was humiliated nine years ago after a romantic gesture went wrong. His mother holds him to the promise of grandchildren by age thirty, and he's almost thirty now. He focuses on his land and work, so his mother holds a weeklong house party to find a wife. Guy only finds out when the women arrive. Lottie Travers failed as a governess and is now a lady's companion. All of the training she had at Miss Prentice's couldn't erase her tomboyish ways, yet she's the one who catches Guy's attention. She returns his affections as well. Could they be a perfect fit?

This is the second novel in the Miss Prentice’s Protégées Regency series. Lottie is wilder than women are supposed to be for this time period, which she attributes to having older brothers and growing up on a farm in Kent. She loves the outdoors and riding horses fast, so she tends to get in trouble for borrowing horses to go riding when she's supposed to be a governess. Guy is a country Viscount and disinterested in the social whirl after his past humiliation, instead focusing on crops, horses, and helping his tenant farmers in Kent thrive. Even before we learn that Lottie is hired on as his aunt's companion, we know they'll fit. On top of the forced proximity of the weeklong house party, we have the grumpy and sunshine trope, the cross-class romance, and a mother and aunt combination who will trick Guy into finding a great love of his life. 

Lottie is a lot of fun. She's irreverent and spunky, cares for others, and is a joy to get to know. Guy covers for his worry and awkwardness with a gruff and grumpy exterior, but truly wants to help those he cares for. It's a great combination, and their interactions with Guy's families as well as the awful houseguests are really enjoyable to read. 

Buy Look Before You Leap at Amazon

When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa

June 2025; G.P. Putnam's Sons; 979-8217044306
audio, ebook, print (448 pages); romantic comedy

Best friends Javier Báez and Marisol Campos swore never to date someone the other doesn’t approve of. Javi had a crush on Mari for years, but never admitted it before. Now Mari is engaged to a Pedro Pascal knockoff, no longer willing to wait for Javi to admit his love for her. She plans to marry, so Javi has six weeks to convince her to change her mind. 

 

The novel has two timelines. The current one begins six weeks before Mari's wedding when she introduces her fiancé to Javi for the first time. Not cool, Mari, especially when she says Javi is her best friend and knows everything about her. This was a huge break in trust for me to read. The bulk of the first half of the book is actually the past timeline, showing us the past relationship before moving to the current day, and Javi trying to capture Mari's attention and feelings, like a second-chance romance without the original romance.

The second timeline begins nearly twelve years before this, when both are in college. We're introduced to them and see how they met and developed that friendship, which means so much to them. Javi describes Mari as a chaos demon, and I agree with that assessment. I actually don't like her, so it was a struggle to read the college years. She gets better in time, and I understand it when we meet her father, but she's still not my favorite character to read about. The premise at first seemed like it would be a romcom, but it feels more serious than that, given the lifelong friendship and the real-world difficulties in the entertainment industry and family issues that came up.

Buy When Javi Dumped Mari at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Or Follow Girl Who Reads with Bloglovin. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.