This Week in Romance — Week of May 25, 2026

Biggest Gainers

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

Published: May 5, 2026

This new contemporary romance rocketed to the top with an impressive gain of 19,511 ratings this week, bringing its total to 64,041. As a new release, it showcases strong market appeal, possibly driven by its relatable theme of friendship and unrequited feelings, especially during significant life events like weddings. The title's growth is indicative of a rising trend for books involving friends-to-lovers narratives, suggesting that readers are gravitating toward emotionally anchored stories.

Stats: 44,530 → 64,041 (+19,511)

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

Published: March 24, 2026

Adding 12,645 ratings this week, this title stands out as a solid performer in 2026's romance offerings, bringing its current total to 187,389. The 7.2% growth indicates steady interest, particularly as it engages with themes of unexpected connections and the moral dilemmas of relationships—elements that strongly resonate with contemporary readers. This consistent engagement reflects the book's ability to sustain relevance in a crowded genre.

Stats: 174,744 → 187,389 (+12,645)

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published: June 3, 2025

Despite being published recently, Atmosphere showed respectable growth with an increase of 10,256 ratings, bringing its total to 877,084. This steady rise of 1.2% is notable, especially given its blend of speculative fiction and romance, appealing to a diverse reader base. Reid's deft storytelling likely continues to leverage her strong backlist appeal, drawing in new readers curious about her latest work while maintaining traction among long-time fans.

Stats: 866,828 → 877,084 (+10,256)

Surprise of the Week

The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker

Published: May 19, 2026

With an astonishing growth of 4,561 ratings, this book soared to a remarkable 403% increase, reaching a total of 5,692 ratings. This dramatic surge is striking for a new release, indicating that strong word-of-mouth or targeted marketing strategies are effectively driving interest. As a sequel to a bestselling title, it appears expectations are high, and the book is capturing attention swiftly, possibly hinting at a well-developed fan base eagerly awaiting its continuation of the story.

Stats: 1,131 → 5,692 (+4,561)

Quick Hits

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff

This title gained 3,551 new ratings this week, reflecting its appeal as it brings family dynamics and secrets into a romance-focused narrative. Stats: 4,145 → 7,696 (86%)

The Midnight Train by Matt Haig

With 874 new ratings this week, the book captures reader interest with its blend of magical realism and romance, indicating a growing fascination with time travel themes. Stats: 987 → 1,861 (89%)

Broken Dove by Dani Francis

This sequel gained 4,785 ratings, showing strong engagement with its blend of dystopian elements and romance, reflecting persistent reader interest in continuing storylines. Stats: 8,159 → 12,944 (59%)

The Shippers by Katherine Center

Adding 4,431 ratings, this charming romance about a cruise ship wedding showcases strong momentum with its enticing premise of rekindled childhood love. Stats: 8,284 → 12,715 (53%)