Our favorite California bookstore, The Ripped Bodice, has arrived in Brooklyn! It’s an instant hit, and we’re here for it. The only pressing question left is: what should we buy when we get there? The Ripped Bodice is Brooklyn’s new top destination bookstore for romance books, and here are 10 must read romances to purchase there this summer 2023.
10 new romance novels best to read this Summer 2023
Hey New Yorkers, we have some great news for you. The Ripped Bodice has arrived in Brooklyn. That’s right – our absolute favorite California bookstore is now open at its new location in Park Slope.
Best new romance novels to buy and read this Summer 2023 at our favorite bookstore, The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, New York.
For those who aren’t familiar: The Ripped Bodice is a bookstore dedicated to the celebration of romance novels, and those are what you’ll find on their fabulous shelves in Brooklyn. They also offer a subscription box of romance novels delivered right to your door, and super-cute merch like this beach towel. We’re thrilled to have them in the neighborhood.
In honor of the store’s grand opening, we thought we’d suggest some of the best new romance novels of summer 2023 for you to read. Order them online, or wait until the store opens in the morning, and pop inside to request your copies. Happy summer reading!
The Ripped Bodice is Brooklyn’s new destination for romance books. Here are 10 must-read romances to buy there now.
1. Yours Truly by Abby Jimene.
Yours Truly came out a couple of months ago, but we wanted to double check that you didn’t miss this new book from one of our favorite romance novelists. This one tells the tale of a love story between two doctors, Dr. Briana Ortiz and Dr. Jacob Maddox. Though Jacob makes a faulty first impression of Briana, the tides change when he sends her an apologetic letter – and when he offers to give his kidney to her brother, who’s in need of a donation. Jimenez never disappoints, and you must scoop up her latest as soon as possible.
2. Best Men by Sidney Karger
Another spring 2023 release that you don’t want to skip. When Max’s best friend Paige asks him to be the man of honor at her wedding, he says of course. However, he is unprepared for one small thing: falling head-over-heels for the groom’s younger brother. They’ll have to try and work out some differences in their personalities… without totally ruining Paige’s wedding.
3. The Duchess Effect by Tracey Livesay
This book may be the second in a series – following American Royalty – but we loved the first so much that we have to recommend its highly-anticipated sequel. And if you haven’t read American Royalty, then you’re in for a treat. In the next chapter of their saga, American rapper Danielle “Duchess” Nelson and Prince Jameson must continue to navigate the challenges of life and love in the spotlight. Falling in love may have been easy, but when you’re under this much scrutiny, staying in love can sometimes be the hard part. We’re so happy to be back in the world of Dani and Jameson, one of our favorite couples from romance-landia.
4. Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin
Calling all Jane Austen fans! Much Ado About Nada takes some inspiration from Austen’s Persuasion, and we are totally here for this “second-chance romance.” When Nada finds herself in a bit of a rut, her best friend brings her to meet her fiancé – unaware that Nada and her fiancé’s brother, Baz, have a history. Their shared past is a secret, but maybe this unexpected reunion will be exactly what Nada needs to move into the future. Or maybe not.
5. The Wedding Confession by JJ Knight
Why are weddings such an amazing premise for a romance novel? Is it because they feel like plausible starts for our own love stories? In any case, The Wedding Confession takes another crack at one of our favorite set-ups. When bright, bubbly Ensley and her longtime crush Drew are kicked out of a wedding, they spend one unforgettable night together. And then it’s time for Drew’s confession – he doesn’t ever spend more than one night with anyone. Ensley dares him to give her another chance: three date nights, and he can see how he feel. Will he take her up on it, and even if he does, will it make a difference? You know you want to find out.
6. The Do-Over by Suzanne Park
Lily Lee never technically finished college – a fact that’s brought to light when it stops her from getting her dream job. Now in her thirties, she returns to her alma mater to finally finish her senior year of college – and who does she see? None other than Jake Cho, her old college boyfriend. Park’s romance novel came out a few months ago, and we love its love story – not to mention how hopeful it makes us feel. We all deserve a second chance – or a do-over – and we might just get our shot.
7. The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
You may have heard of The Seven Year Slip, which was one of the most anticipated new books of the summer. And it lives up to all expectations. Clementine is living at her late aunt’s apartment, and one day she finds a strange man in the kitchen. Mysterious. Even more mysterious is the fact that he’s exactly her type – but there’s one problem. He’s from seven years in the past… and she’s from his future. We adore romance novels that have a fabulist spin, and this one was like a dream come true.
8. Play to Win by Jodie Slaughter
When Miriam Butler wins the lottery, she thinks her life is about to change. And it does – just not in the way she expects. Her estranged husband is entitled to part of the money, and she calls him with a proposition: he can take his share, and finally agree to sign their divorce papers. Only, he has a proposition of his own – give him enough time to try and win her back. Romance novels are all about fantasy and happily ever after, and we love the way Play to Win takes it all the way.
9. Jana Goes Wild by Farah Heron
We love all of Farah Heron’s novels, and this early-May release was no exception. This one is about a woman who finds herself a bridesmaid at a destination wedding – along with her mom, her five-year-old daughter, and her ex, who just so happens to be her daughter’s father. Will all this, plus a weekend of wedding activities, be enough to bring Jana out of her shell? There aren’t enough romance novels centered around parents, and we were delighted by this perfect summertime romance.
10. The Long Game by Elena Armas
Of course, summer doesn’t end until the middle of September – and we want to make sure we keep reading romance until the season’s over. That’s why we’re looking forward to The Long Game, which comes out on September 5th. This one seems made for fans of Ted Lasso – aka, all of us. It’s all about a soccer team’s executive who is sent away to a small town after she makes a major error… and who must ask for the help of a retired player in order to help her with her new job: coaching the children’s team. Adorable. Sign us up.
romance bookstore, The Ripped Bodice, is now in Brooklyn.
Those are our picks for the best new romance novels to buy and read this Summer 2023 at our favorite bookstore, The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, New York. See you there!
