🎶Mixtape Monday

Volume 4: Summer Reading Edition

We’re back with another set of book recs inspired by the emotional punch and thematic fire of your favorite tracks. Whether you’re craving fantasy destiny, messy second chances, or heroes who’d burn down the world for their girl—we’ve got your next great read queued up.

Mood: set. Tropes: locked. Let’s get into it.

🎵 "Castle" by Halsey

Tropes: Romantasy · Chosen One · Power Awakening

It’s giving throne-worthy magic, dangerous destiny, and heroines rising. These romantasy recs are packed with high stakes, powerful women, and worlds where the chosen one doesn’t wait for permission—she takes her crown.

Book Pairings:

• Deliciously Dark Fairytales by K.F. Breene

• A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride

• Curse of Shadows and Thorns by LJ Andrews

• Saga of the Unfated by Danielle L. Jensen

• The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy

• A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark

• Inked in Ashes by Shannon Mayer

• Ancient Retribution by Katie Reus

• Crimson Kiss by Samantha Whiskey

• Vampire Towers by Kelly St. Clare

🎵 "Sorry I'm Here for Someone Else" by Benson Boone

Tropes: Second Chance · Runaway Bride · What-If Love

The one that got away… until she didn’t. These romances dig into old flames and unfinished business—where timing was once wrong but the feelings never faded. Sometimes it takes walking away to realize who you were always meant to run back to.

Book Pairings:

• Mr. Swoony by Piper Rayne

• The Wrong Bride by Catharina Maura

• Faked by Karla Sorensen

• The Wrong/Right Man by Aurora Rose Reynolds

• Grace Note by J. Bengtsson

• Truly, Madly, Deeply by Erika Kelly

• What I Should've Said by Max Monroe

• Three Reasons to Run by Jackie Lau

• The Wrong Kind of Love by Lexi Ryan

• Dirty by Kylie Scott

🎵 "Surefire" by Wilderado

Tropes: Sports Romance · Grumpy/Reclusive Hero

There’s something about a man who’d rather be left alone—until she crashes into his world and reminds him what it means to feel again. These books feature grumpy athletes, guarded loners, and quiet heroes with hearts worth fighting for.

Book Pairings:

• Revive Me by Nikki Castle

• Home Run by Lulu Moore

• Wylde by Sawyer Bennett

• Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

• Made for You by Natasha Madison

• Hold Me Forever by Layla Hagen

• Man Candy by Vanessa Vale

• Pick Six by Maggie Rawdon

• Him / Us by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

• Egotistical Puckboy by Eden Finley & Saxon James

🎵 "Il Most Wanted" by Beyoncé & Miley Cyrus

Tropes: Ride or Die · Girl Gang Energy · Powerful Women

Loyal to the bone and fierce as hell—these stories feature heroines who show up for their people and heroes who would burn the world down for them. Expect tough women, deep friendships, and couples who face everything side by side.

Book Pairings:

• The Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts

• A Cowboy in the Streets by Elizabeth Bright

• A League of Extraordinary Women by Evie Dunmore

• The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy

• Cowboy Classifieds by Janice Whiteaker

• A Little Luck by Tia Louise

• Love Me Today by A.L. Jackson

• Should Have Been Me by Jessica Prince

• My One Night by Carrie Ann Ryan

• Alpha’s Moon by Renee Rose and Lee Savino

💬 What would you pair with these tracks?
Drop your own book recs in the comments or tag us with #BuzzingAboutRomance and #MixtapeMonday—we’re always down to expand the playlist and the TBR.

See you next week for Volume 5. Happy reading, happy listening. 💿📚

Until then—read on and press play ▶️

🌞Join the Summer Reading Challenge here.

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