There is something so fun about picking up a debut romance. Whether it's a book you're excited about or one you know nothing about, the excitement can be overwhelming.
Before 2024 ends, I wanted to look back at some of the great romance book debuts released this year. As romance readers, it can feel like we keep going back to the same authors but oddly enough, I did branch out and try some brand-new authors this year.
While some of these debuts were incredibly hyped, others didn't get the love they deserved so this list is going to feature a mixture of the two. Since we're all about showing love to underrated gems though, this list will mostly feature some romance debuts who just haven't found their readers yet.
Of course if there is a romance debut you think we missed, be sure to let us know so we can add it to our TBRs.
These 5 romance debuts are all must-reads in 2025.
1. Maya's Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja
The first romance debut on the list is Maya's Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja. This is a romance I picked up because of the cover and if that's enough to make you pick it up, you should. If you need to know a little more, this story follows Maya who has all these laws for love and she follows them as she's headed to get married, an arranged marriage to be more exact.
While on the way there, everything that can go wrong will go wrong so Maya tries her best to see the bright side. However, things get interesting when she meets Sarfaraz who ends up becoming her friend and traveling companion. From there, this romance has so many twists and turns that you'll be guessing until the very end. Whether you're swayed by the adorable cover or the premise, Maya's Laws of Love is a closed-door romance you won't want to put down.
2. When I Think of You by Myah Ariel
2024 is the year of second-chance romances and one of the most underrated is When I Think of You by Myah Ariel. This story follows Kaliya who is working at a movie studio as a receptionist where she meets her former love, Danny. Danny is now a successful director and he decides to hire her to help with his upcoming project.
When I Think of You follows the present, but we're also learning about the movie-making process, seeing flashbacks of their romance in college and everything in between. This book is so cinematic and honestly, I wish this one was being adapted as it's that good. If you haven't picked up Myah Ariel's debut yet, then what are you waiting for?
3. The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour
Since I've just mentioned two contemporary romances, we're now talking about a historical romance debut which was The Lady He Lost. It truly feels like Bridgerton didn't come out this year but The Lady He Lost felt like the perfect companion to the series. This story follows Eli who was supposedly dead and he's coming back which is a shock to Jane, his friend and former fiancé's cousin. As you might imagine, there are some unresolved feelings between the two.
Coupled with the incredible romance, Jane is also trying to open her own gambling club for women which adds another fun layer to the story. With some great steamy scenes and solid writing, this historical romance debut will have you ready to watch Bridgerton again after finishing.
4. The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton
The next romance debut on the list is The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton. If you're craving a unique romance, then you're going to love this one. This story follows Amerie who is an event planner and Vincent, an astronaut-in-training. The two agree to fake date as a way to help each other, resulting in them getting closer and even, becoming roommates at one point which is something all romance lovers appreciate.
It won't be long before you're in the orbit of The Kiss Countdown and want to scream for Amerie and Vincent to kiss already. Aside from that, Etta Easton made these two feel incredibly real, and seeing everything they have going on in their lives is refreshing. Whether you got sucked in by the cute cover or not, The Kiss Countdown is a stellar romance.
5. The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava
While most of the romance books on this list weren't incredibly hyped, the most hyped has to be The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava. This was hyped for a few reasons with the first being that it's Berkley's first Native romance by a Native author. Then there was the adorable cover and the fact that it was nominated as one of Readers' Favorite Debuts from 2024 on Goodreads.
The story follows Ember who decides to tell a little white lie to get a job and from there, we see how it all unravels. Additionally, we also see the budding romance she has with Danuwoa, the company's IT guy who is also Native. I don't want to give too much away but this romance is so fun and will have you guessing until the very end. If you haven't picked it yet, then don't wait until the end of 2025 to give it a try.
While I've talked about 5 romance debuts, I wanted to share a few others that almost made the cut but are still worth reading. Some of my honorable mentions are Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff, Barely Even Friends by Mae Bennett, Flirty Little Secret by Jessica Lepe, The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez and Cross the Line by Simone Soltani.