The Best Romance Books About Heat Waves That Are HOT AF
When it's too hot to go outside, these novels are the perfect escape
Key Takeaways
- A heat dome can push temperatures well above normal, raising heat-related health risks.
- 'Blackout' is a YA anthology from six bestselling authors, set during an NYC heat wave.
- 'The Heatwave' is a Gothic suspense novel set under the scorching 1990s French sun.
If you’ve stepped outside lately, you already know: this summer’s heat is no joke. Scientists say a “heat dome” is trapping hot air over much of the country, pushing temperatures up by 15 to 30 degrees and putting everyone at risk for heat stroke, dehydration and exhaustion. To avoid the heat and health risks, the smartest move may be to stay inside and get cozy with a good book. That’s why we’ve rounded up 5 irresistible reads guaranteed to keep you cool, entertained and turning pages until the temperature breaks.
Best romance books featuring heat waves
From coming-of-age tales to swoon worthy love stories, here are the best romances featuring a heatwave:
‘Heat Wave’ by Nancy Thayer
When Elin Hilderbrand, the queen of beach reads, calls a book “a deep and masterly understanding of love and friendship” you know it’s going to be good. In Heat Wave, widow Carley Winsted is determined to keep her two daughters in their beloved Nantucket home. To do so, she decides to turn their estate into a bed-and-breakfast, despite the fact that most people around her think it’s a bad idea. And if all of that weren’t enough, a friend forces Carley to keep a secret and her late husband’s former law partner is causing Carley to feel feelings she never thought possible. Soon, a heat wave comes and she must face all her feelings.
What readers are saying: “Nancy Thayer’s Heat Wave was a most enjoyable book for easy summer reading! I thoroughly enjoyed it and have passed it on to others who have likewise enjoyed the escapism offered by it.”
‘Blackout’ by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon
Bestselling young adult authors Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon team up in this once-in-a-lifetime tale that is sure to delight. Told in different short stories, Blackout is set during a New York City heat wave and follows six couples, all of whom have a story to tell and all of whom are trying to beat the heat. It’s got humor, heart and steam—pun intended.
What readers are saying: “When a book is written by this many literary heavy hitters you know it’s not going to disappoint. And this one doesn’t. You’ll want to carve out a day or two to read because this book is a page turner and you’re not going to want to stop reading. It’s funny and witty and there’s just so much heart.”
Other books featuring heat waves
Not into romance? No worries! Dive into these historical fiction and thrillers featuring heat waves.
‘Instructions for a Heatwave’ by Maggie O’Farrell
Set in 1976 during one of Londons’s biggest heat waves, this novel follows Gretta Riordan after her husband abandons her. Desperate for company, Gretta invites her adult children home: Michael Francis is a history teacher with a failing marriage, Monica is the middle child with a troubled past and strained sibling relationships and Aoife, who is living in Manhattan in the hopes that it can help her escape a devastating secret. As reunions take place, new things come to light and soon, no one is safe from the secrets and mistakes they have made.
What readers are saying: “Maggie O’Farrell has a knack of capturing people in all their wonderful complexity. I love The Hand That First Held Mine, and was nervous that Instructions for a Heatwave wouldn’t hold up to her previous work. I was wrong. It’s a great read about a family in crisis and is very funny for all its seriousness. I’ve already recommended it to a few friends.”
‘Outline’ by Rachel Cusk
The first book in Rachel Cusk’s Folio Prize-nominated Outline trilogy follows a novelist teaching a course in creative writing during an unusually hot summer in Athens, Greece. While there, she meets a variety of students, who have different personalities, lives, hobbies and secrets. But as the temperatures begin to rise, so does the drama and soon no one knows what’s real and who they can trust.
What readers are saying: “This book is bursting at the seams with ideas, insights and observations and with real or ghostly emotion— there is a haunting haunted quality to the book – as it is with people (I don’t want to call them characters!) and stories.”
‘The Heatwave’ by Kate Riordan
Set under the 1990s scorching French sun, this Gothic suspense novel follows Sylvie Durand after she receives a letter asking her to return to her family home in the South of France. Reluctantly she goes, with her daughter Emma in tow, but as they begin to explore, Sylvie is forced to remember her first child, Elodie, who died at age 14. But that’s not the only thing she must confront—there’s something mysterious that happened at the home and only Sylvie can understand what’s happening.
What readers are saying: “The Heatwave is an atmospheric Gothic suspense with an amazing and unique setting. The characters and their conflicts are memorable, the writing and descriptions are gorgeous (I enjoyed the French mixed in), and the reveal at the end was perfect.”
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