January 2026 Romance Book Releases
January 2026 Romance Book Releases
A new year means fresh obsessions, darker romances, and some seriously unputdownable reads. January 2026 is bringing a stacked lineup across dark romance, mafia, sports romance, gothic historical, and thrillers, and honestly, our TBRs are already screaming.
If you’re planning your first reads of the year (or your next blind date with a book), here are the romance and dark romance releases you need on your radar for January 2026.
Dove by Paisley Hope
Publication Date: 1 January 2026
Series: Soldiers of Bedlam #2
Edgy, dangerous, and addictive, Dove delivers a gritty motorcycle club romance filled with secrets, obsession, and found family. After her parents are killed under suspicious circumstances, Layla Monroe is pulled into the violent world of the Hounds of Hell MC. What starts as a search for answers quickly turns into a ride-or-die romance where loyalty, desire, and danger collide.
Woman Down by Colleen Hoover
Publication Date: 13 January 2026
Standalone
In this twisty thriller, a disgraced author retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin in hopes of reigniting her creativity. When a detective enters her life, inspiration turns into obsession, and the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur. Dark, unsettling, and emotionally charged, Woman Down explores fame, control, and the cost of being seen.
A Hateful Negotiation by Tijan
Publication Date: 13 January 2026
Standalone
A slow-burn mafia romance centred on a dangerous crime boss and the one woman he has always protected. When Blake tries to build a life away from Creighton, he follows — determined to keep her safe at any cost. Their relationship evolves into a high-stakes negotiation fuelled by obsession, power, and undeniable chemistry.
Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone
Publication Date: 13 January 2026
Standalone
New to town and freshly single, rookie lecturer Maddie isn’t looking for trouble — until she spends her first night in bed with Bram, a sexy, grumpy single dad. What starts as an impulsive hookup quickly turns complicated when Maddie realises Bram isn’t just a one-night mistake. He’s her new boss at home, needing a nanny, and her colleague at work, a fellow professor.
Determined to keep things professional, they set strict ground rules to keep temptation at bay. But rules are made to be broken, and Maddie has never been very good at being the good girl everyone expects. Steamy, playful, and irresistibly fun, Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl is a spicy college-town romance packed with banter, tension, and undeniable chemistry.
Chaotic by Shantel Tessier
Publication Date: 17 January 2026
Series: L.O.R.D.S. World
Dark, brutal, and emotionally devastating, Chaotic dives deeper into the Lords world. Kashton Landon Pierce is controlling, obsessive, and relentless. What begins as survival turns into something far more dangerous as boundaries blur and possession masquerades as devotion. This is pitch-black dark romance at its finest.
Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey
Publication Date: 20 January 2026
Series: Big Shots #5
A marriage-of-convenience sports romance featuring a baseball catcher hopelessly in love with his best friend. When circumstances push them into a private arrangement, sparks fly fast. Funny, spicy, and heartfelt, this is a swoony friends-to-lovers romance with plenty of heat and heart.
Fruit of the Flesh by I.V. Ophelia
Publication Date: 20 January 2026
Standalone
Set in early 1900s New York, this gothic historical romance follows a marriage of convenience between a disgraced ballerina and a struggling sculptor. Beneath their union lies shared darkness, revenge, and a hunger that mirrors the era’s most dangerous secrets. Lush, eerie, and beautifully macabre.
Come What May by Corinne Michaels
Publication Date: 20 January 2026
Series: Ember Falls #4
When a PR crisis sends her to Ember Falls, the last thing she expects is to fall into bed with her rugged, older client. Killian Thorn is everything she knows she should resist, a brooding rancher with a wicked smile and a reputation to protect. As they’re forced to work closely together, stolen moments turn into something far more dangerous, especially as the scandal surrounding his ranch continues to grow.
What starts as a forbidden workplace romance quickly spirals into something much more complicated when one devastating truth comes to light. Emotional, swoony, and layered with small-town charm, Come What May delivers heart, heat, and found family in true Corinne Michaels fashion.
Ready or Not by Sheridan Anne
Publication Date: 27 January 2026
Series: Hide and Seek Duet #2
The explosive conclusion to Harper and Knight’s story delivers a pitch-black stalker romance filled with obsession, manipulation, and forbidden desire. As a masked threat closes in, Harper must confront her past while risking everything — including a love that should never exist.
January is setting the tone for an intense reading year ahead. Whether you’re craving dark and twisted romances, emotionally charged thrillers, or swoony sports love stories, this month’s releases have something for every romance reader. Make sure these titles are on your radar, and keep an eye on our store for preorders, stock updates, and curated recommendations tailored to your reading tastes.
Which January release are you most excited for?
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Happy reading, book lovers — and remember, the darker the romance, the hotter the burn. ❤️🔥
