The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren
Published by Gallery Books on July 14, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Sci-fi, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
An unforgettable novel in which one fateful accident erases a troubled marriage from memory—and love gets one extraordinary do-over.
Three years ago, Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.
But now, Emery is consumed by her top-secret job, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge research comes to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.
Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule to bring him back. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together...all of it is gone.
It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.
Their whirlwind romance led to a quick marriage, but after three years, cracks were beginning to form. Emery knows her workaholic tendencies are wearing thin on her husband and missing their anniversary may be the last straw. When Luca is involved in an accident, Emery uses her scientific research to help him but finds he has lost his memory. Seeing this as a second chance, Emery vows to do things differently and to win her husband's heart for the second time.
This was definitely different from the authors' more recent releases. CLo dip their toes in the sci-fi pool this time around for a rather interesting approach to a marriage-in-crisis romance. I won't lie and pretend I didn't miss all their rom-com goodness, but the science was very interesting to me (as a STEM girl). I was also very invested in the romance between Luca and Emery, and the ending was wonderful.
I found the supporting characters quite delightful. Crash and Annie were wonderful best friends, and the nosy neighbor, Betty, was a hoot. Obviously, I loved Honey the doggo, and I think they all brought a lot to the story.
Overall, this was a somewhat unexpected CLo experience for me, but I still found myself flipping the pages, rooting for the couple, and left with a big smile on my face in the end. An absolutely fresh twist on the marriage-in-crisis for sure.
Polo Fever by Katherine Reilly
Published by Aria on July 21, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
She ran from the spotlight . . . straight into his stable.
As the assistant to one of fashion's most powerful designers, Ashley has always stayed out of frame - until her secret romance with the face of his latest menswear line, tennis star Chris Courtney, is exposed in a single, perfectly-timed paparazzi shot. In the space of a day, Ashley's career, reputation, and privacy are torn apart by the press.
With nowhere to turn, she escapes to the countryside to stay with family, hoping to disappear. But solace comes in an unexpected a quiet stable and a beautiful horse. That is, until she's caught trespassing by none other than international polo icon, tabloid regular, and infuriatingly charming Mateo.
Horses? Zero experience. Polo players? Definitely off-limits.
As Ashley's thrust into a world of high-stakes games and elite scandal, she finds herself at the centre of a yet another storm, one where passion and power collide, and her heart might just be the biggest risk of all.
After her scandalous relationship is exposed, Ash loses her job and heads to the countryside to lie low. There she meets and connects with a feisty mare which earns her an invite into the world of professional polo.
Even though this book is written under a pen name, it's an author I love, and I was curious to read something she penned in one of my favorite sub-genres. I am pleased to report that I enjoyed Polo Fever.
One of the things I like to see in my sports romances is sports. I want to see the characters engaging in play. I want to feel the exhilaration of the competition and the agony of defeat, and there was plenty of sport featured in this book. I can honestly say this is the first book featuring polo that I have read, and I knew almost nothing about the sport. Now, I feel as though I know a bit more, and Reilly made it interesting.
Learning about polo was a bonus, but the main attraction was the romance. I was very leery of Mateo given the fallout from Ash's most recent romantic relationship. He had to work hard to earn my trust. He was so super focused on his career, he sometimes frustrated me, but he did show when it really mattered.
And Ash showed she had a lot of resilience. It wasn't just about coming back from a public scandal, she also worked hard to prove herself as a groom. She showed that she had the drive to hone her natural ability, and it was really wonderful seeing her excel at something she actually had a passion for.
Polo Fever delivered exactly what I needed when I picked it up. It made me smile and laugh, and everyone (including me) was happy at the end.
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
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