Published by Penguin on July 14, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
What my eyes are showing me can’t be possible. Can’t be real. Because if they are, then I have to accept that Julian Conrad has been alive for a very long time.
Too long to be human.
A stay-up-all-night, smart, spicy romance following a doctor who finds herself falling for an alluring, much-younger man with a deadly secret
Sean’s not in the market for love. The only female, let alone Black, interventional cardiologist at her hospital, she’s watched too many of her male colleagues divorce their first wives to marry younger models—and then there’s the abusive relationship she’s spent the better part of her early 30s healing from. Her passions are reserved for her best friend, her goddaughter, and her job.
Then she meets Julian. Brooding, beautiful and eleven years her junior. In short: A bad idea.
Julian pursues her in a way that sets off alarm bells in her mind, but she finds herself unable to resist their undeniable chemistry—even starts fantasizing about him in dreams that feel altogether too real. They also have a lot in common despite their age gap. So, to hell with it: If men can date younger, why can’t she? But the more Sean gets to know him, the more impossible Julian seems: He has a depth and sorrow to him that’s beyond his years, and sometimes there’s a look in his eyes that’s less than human, and leaves her feeling more like prey. Plus, Sean herself has been exhibiting odd symptoms—memory lapses, a lack of restraint that's unlike her, persistent exhaustion—that all trace back to Julian, making Sean feeling more than a little afraid. Who—or what—is she falling, irrevocably, in love with?
Extraordinarily transfixing, suspenseful, and addictive, Die for Me is nothing short of a seduction.
When I saw this book was blurbed by Ali Hazelwood (my fave), I knew I had to read it. A paranormal fantasy lover, I was excited to dive into Die for Me.
Shirlene Obuobi masterfully creates a suspenseful and thrilling story - my heart was pounding with the sense of foreboding throughout the book. From the very beginning, the FMC Sean knows there's something off, but she simply can't get enough of MMC Julian. I couldn't get enough, couldn't wait to find out what was in store.
Sean is a career-focused, single woman - fiercely independent and determined. I found her backstory very relatable and appreciated the way it was fleshed out and how it impacted her other relationships. Every connection of Sean's, from the romantic partners to friendships to colleagues, had a fully developed point of view and created a clear picture of who she was and how she got there.
Julian was definitely a swoon-worthy romantic interest. Deeply passionate, considerate, and attentive, he exemplified the female gaze. He took interest and noticed things, often surprising Sean with how he remembered little details or anticipated her needs. I absolutely adored the way their romance built, Sean letting down her walls to trust and rely on someone.
There's something so satisfying about the exploration of how women experience the world in this book. I once saw someone reflect that only male characters are seen as morally gray because if a woman did the same thing, she would be branded evil. Shirlene Obuobi counters this with thoughtful reflection on the backgrounds and motivations of all the women in the story, allowing readers to empathize with the characters despite their wrongdoings. I think this aspect of the story will stay with me most of all.
Die for Me was everything I could have asked for in a dark paranormal romance. Reminiscent in tone to my favorite paranormal CW shows from back in the day like The Vampire Diaries, it was absolutely thrilling from start to finish. I can't wait to read more from Shirlene Obuobi, and I anticipate that this will have been one of my favorite reads of 2026.
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on July 21, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A trope-filled delight of a rom com about two strangers who enter into a marriage of convenience that becomes anything but convenient.
For better or worse is just the beginning.
Lainey Davis can't wait for the day she'll be able to escape her tiny Wisconsin town. But she’s not even close to covering her health insurance premiums and pricey migraine medication, let alone saving up enough to start over some place new. That is, until Lainey learns that through the archaic legal doctrine of adverse possession, she’s inadvertently squatted her way into owning a marvel of modern architecture.
But Lainey owns only the house. The surrounding property, a lakeside money pit the previous owner used as a front to deal illegal reptiles, has been willed to Elliot Hodges, a D.C. architect who wants to rent out the place to fellow architecture lovers. Their assets are tied together, but neither can move forward without the other.
Desperate, Elliot proposes an unconventional arrangement: marry him for health insurance and in exchange, Lainey will allow him to buy her out. Win-win: Lainey will finally have a way out of town, and he’ll own the house designed by his idol. Married in name only and living together while fixing up the property, Lainey and Elliot find themselves unable to keep their hopes, dreams, or bedsheets from getting entwined. And as their connection grows, Lainey’s no longer sure what’s more terrifying: leaving Elliot behind or letting him in.
There are many benefits to being married, and for Lainey, that would be health insurance. Lainey and Elliot came to an agreement - she would get health care coverage, and he would have the option to buy her home. It was just business until feelings were involved.
This is not my first marriage of convenience romance that was driven by the heroine's need for health insurance, but I throughly enjoyed Palmer's take on it. I don't think many fully understand how debilitating migraines can be. Lainey had a good job and was doing well until she could no longer keep her condition under control. Now, she was just getting by as a gig worker. Health insurance would allow her to properly treat her condition and perhaps, get back on her feet. I know I wanted her to get the proper care, and I really appreciated the attention given to this condition.
But what I really loved was this couple. Elliot and Lainey were two of the most untrusting people who now had to try to trust each other. This was no easy task for them, but valiant attempts were made. I thought Lainey struggled a bit more than Elliot here, but she had good reason given her past. It was sweet the way they slowly opened up and shared parts of themselves. I thought they made a great team, and I was definitely rooting for them.
There were plenty of tender and touching moments, but the humor was what I really loved. The banter and exchanges were so smart and witty, and I laughed loudly and often. I always like when a rom-com lives up to its label, and this book understood the assignment.
I also found myself very invested in this pair. Lainey was one of those characters who could not catch a break. She got knocked down time again. But you know what? She got back up. She had grit, and that made me want this for her. I wanted to see her healthy and thriving and in love.
Overall: I adored this marriage of convenience romance which was both heartfelt and hilarious.
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
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