Aside from the certainty of a happily ever after, one of the joys of reading romance novels is the expectation—and anticipation—of the familiar, instantly recognizable tropes that have become a hallmark of the genre. Second-chance romance? Check. Forced proximity? Yes, please. Opposites attracting? Absolutely. They might seem like predictable plot devices, but in the hands of a skilled writer, these tried-and-true recipes draw the reader in and keep them turning those pages. The latest round of contemporary-romance novels promises plenty of pining, swooning and everything in between—all wrapped up in our favourite tropes.

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THE YEAR OF CECILY BY LISA LIN

San Francisco attorney Cecily Chang is determined to live her best life after making her Lunar New Year resolutions—which she plans to put into practice right after her trip home to Brooklyn, N.Y. She knows what to expect from her chaotic family, but what she doesn’t anticipate is running into Jeffrey Lee, the man who broke her heart 10 years earlier. Jeffrey sees his encounter with Cecily as a sign and is determined to win her back. Lisa Lin’s debut novel is the first in a trilogy featuring heroines set in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park.

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GEORGIE, ALL ALONG BY KATE CLAYBORN

This tender and heartfelt romance from Love Lettering author Kate Clayborn follows Georgie Mulcahy, who goes back to her hometown after losing her job. There, she discovers a “friendfic” diary she wrote in high school, which becomes the key to getting her life back in order. Her only roadblock? Former bad boy and temporary roommate Levi Fanning, who offers to help her on her quest.

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BEHIND THE SCENES BY KARELIA STETZ-WATERS

Rose is a successful business consultant with a secret side hustle creating mindfulness videos, and Ash is a filmmaker who’s been struggling to make it in Hollywood. Ash finally has a shot at making her movie dreams a reality, with the help of an important producer, and wants Rose’s business expertise to get her film financed—as long as they don’t mix business with pleasure. Karelia Stetz-Waters’ sapphic romance crackles with witty banter and sizzling chemistry.

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THE NEIGHBOR FAVOR BY KRISTINA FOREST

Lily Greene works in the non-fiction division of a publishing house but dreams of becoming an editor of children’s books. She finds solace in corresponding with her favourite fantasy author until he ghosts her. Months later, Lily needs a date to her sister’s wedding and enlists the help of her hot new neighbour, Nick Brown, who, unbeknownst to her, happens to be the same guy who jilted her. Kristina Forest’s winsome romcom is a book lover’s delight.

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SECRETLY YOURS BY TESSA BAILEY

Fans of BookTok favourite Tessa Bailey will love her latest sizzler, which turns up the heat in Napa Valley. When she was 14, Hallie Welch almost kissed Julian Vos in his family’s vineyard. Years later, Julian, now a professor, returns home to work on his novel. When Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on his family’s estate, the two end up spending a lot more time together than they ever anticipated.

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YOURS TRULY BY ABBY JIMENEZ (APRIL 11)

After a divorce and with a career that seems to be headed in the same disastrous direction as her love life, the last thing Dr. Briana Ortiz needs is for Dr. Jacob Maddox to show up vying for the job she wants. But then he surprises her by becoming her brother’s kidney donor, so when he calls in a favour of his own, Briana just can’t refuse. Abby Jimenez once again flexes her ability to tackle big feelings and sensitive topics in this slow-burn romance.

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JASMINE AND JAKE ROCK THE BOAT BY SONYA LALLI (APRIL 18)

Jasmine Randhawa finds herself suddenly single and third-wheeling on her parents’ cruise vacation to Alaska. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, she realizes that not only is she trapped on a seniors cruise but the only person remotely close to her age is an arrogant acquaintance, Jake Dhillon. This is Vancouver-based Sonya Lalli’s fifth contemporary-romance offering.

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