7 Best New Romance Books for Summerween 2026—Perfect for ‘Spooky Season’
From haunted houses to witchy small towns, these are the best love stories to celebrate all things fall—early
Key Takeaways
- 'Grim Tidings' by B.K. Borison, out September 15, is book 2 in the Ghosted series.
- 'Practically Magic' by Jen Calonita, follows two witch sisters and spells that go wrong.
- These 7 new romance releases are perfect for summerween, or summer Halloween, reading.
Fall is still months away, and when the weather starts to change, so do book choices for many readers. Some people prefer to use the cooler months to read deeper, often darker stories about family, loss and history, whereas others like to read festive romance books centered around the holiday season. And one of the most popular holiday romance genres is Halloween! This year, there’s a fresh crop of Halloween romances perfect for spooky season—or, if you can’t wait that long, Summerween (yes, summer Halloween is a real thing). Note: A few of these titles are available now, while others won’t hit shelves until later in the fall—but all of them will be out long before the trick or treaters arrive at your door! Keep scrolling for the Summerween books that deserve a spot on your TBR.
Best new romance books for Summerween
From haunted house romances to historical fiction novels, here are the best new romance books for Summerween and beyond.
‘Summerween’ by Joss Wood
Set in Solstice Springs, a town where Halloween never ends, this novel follows Wren Dunlop, who spends her days hiding from an embarrassing video circulating online, which has made her famous for all the wrong reasons. But when her godmother—the town’s part-time witch and full-time Mayor—ropes Wren into teaching dance for the Summerween spectacular in a possibly haunted studio, that all changes. Now, there’s a newcomer in town named Dane Trafford that Wren is desperately trying not to notice, but his good looks are making that incredibly difficult. And soon, as the two spend more and more time together, Wren is forced to confront her feelings for him and her past.
What readers are saying: “Such a fun read and perfect way to kick off Summerween! I’ve already recommended it to all my witchy friends. It had an entertaining storyline, hilarious characters, a cozy atmosphere, a spicy romance and, of course, Halloween vibes.”
‘How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House’ by Jenny L. Howe
If you love a good fixer-upper romance, don’t miss this novel. Amity Callaway is tired of being labeled the weird girl and hopes that moving to Harlow’s Rest, Massachusetts, will give her a fresh start. But when she discovers her new house is supposedly haunted, that fresh start seems impossible. To make matters worse, Theo Hargrave, the town’s charming local ghost hunter, is convinced he can rid Amity’s home of its supernatural residents. Amity is a skeptic, but as unexplainable events keep occurring, her feelings about ghosts—and Theo—begin to shift. A sweet tale filled with ghosts, goblins and love.
What readers are saying: “The perfect book for Summerween. Although I will definitely be rereading in October. I really enjoyed this book and its cozy-spooky theme. I loved the romance and Amity’s constant description of Theo’s eyes. Overall this was an amazing adventure, one I will revisit often.”
‘Fall for Me’ by Camilla Isley
Book 2 of the Blue Crescent Harbor series follows Peyton after she runs out on her wedding and into Liam, the town’s most eligible bachelor—literally. And if that weren’t enough, Liam is irritated that this runaway bride delayed his check-in at the event at his hotel and since everyone saw them together, with Peyton in her wedding dress, everyone is convinced the two are in love. Soon Liam’s father comes to town ready to celebrate the happy couple and Liam begs Peyton to stay and become his fake wife. When they spend their time together partaking in festive fall activities like carving pumpkins and going to corn mazes, they start wondering what happens now that their fake feelings have turned real under the gorgeous fall skies.
What readers are saying: “I absolutely loved it! The marriage of convenience, the banter, the longing, the love shared on the page was a joy to read! There were so many parts where I was giggling, smiling and kicking my feet! The autumnal elements like Friday night high school football, pumpkin carving and a corn maze made it feel just like fall!”
‘Spellstruck’ by Martha Waters
Set in 1920s London, this novel follows Vesper Holloway, a young woman who runs her family’s exclusive club specializing in banned magical cocktails for VIP customers. But when a series of suspicious accidents threaten to destroy everything Vesper’s family has built, everything changes. Now she must rely on Maxwell Ashbridge, her brother’s devastatingly handsome friend who works for the government agency enforcing the magic ban to help her escape her mounting legal troubles. This moody, magical read scratches that early-fall itch well before Halloween arrives (Out September 29, 2026).
What early readers are saying: “I’ve enjoyed all of Martha Waters’ romances thus far, so it was no surprise that I loved this one as well!”
‘Grim Tidings’ by B.K. Borison
From bestselling author B.K. Borison comes another magical tale, the second installment in her Ghosted series. Grim reaper Darcy Moore is tired of death and determined to escape her villain fate. Her plan? Instead of taking her next victim to the underworld, she decides to save him. The only problem? Guardian Angel Gabriel Aetos doesn’t appreciate when people interfere with his plans—and a grim reaper refusing to collect a soul who’s supposed to be dead is the ultimate interference. But as Darcy and Gabriel clash over their conflicting duties, an unexpected bond forms and sparks begin to fly. With its ghostly love story and season-blurring afterlife setting, it’s the ultimate Summerween read to kick off spooky season early! (Out September 15, 2026)
What early readers are saying: “B.K. Borison quite literally never lets me down. This was sweet, funny, hot and cute all at the same time. It’s definitely one of my favorite books of the year.”
‘The Magic We Made’ by Meg Cabot
The second book in Meg Cabot’s Witches of West Harbor series begins when magical skeptic Francesca Giovanni is forced to accept that magic might be real after a string of aspiring teenage witches go missing. Elsewhere, newcomer Ash Merit arrives in town desperate to find the missing girls, but to do so he might have to team up with Francesca, the one person who can’t seem to stand him. With a town overrun by witches and a mystery that gets stranger by the page, it’s the kind of witchy, atmospheric story that makes it a Summerween must-read! (Out August 11, 2026.)
What early readers are saying: “This one had such cozy, witchy small-town vibes and I loved it! Think curling up with a warm drink on a crisp night… a little magic, a little heart, and just enough intrigue to keep you hooked!”
What early readers are saying: “This book is pure comfort reading. The story is clever and engaging, and the cozy atmosphere makes you feel like you’re right there in the small town. A perfect escape!”
‘Practically Magic’ by Jen Calonita
Practically Magic follows Kat Hadley, who comes from a long line of witches but is convinced she’s incapable of love. Then Kat discovers the truth: Years ago, her sister Harriet placed a protection spell on her heart to shield her from heartbreak. Furious at the betrayal, Kat’s anger triggers a magical disaster—suddenly every spell the Hadley sisters cast goes haywire, and every man Kat meets falls madly in love with her. Now Kat must find a way to break her sister’s spell and discover if there’s one man who truly loves her for who she is, not because of magic. With a family of witches, a house full of chaotic spells and love potions gone wrong, this one has all the Halloween-ready charm of a modern-day Practical Magic—perfect for anyone craving witchy romance before the leaves even start to turn. (Out August 25, 2026.)
What early readers are saying: “This was pure Halloween fun. . It made me want to go grab some apple cider donuts, a pumpkin latte, and chill at a bookstore for a while. The ending made me feel giddy and would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick autumn read!”
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