Fated Mates S08.28: Spring 2026 Preview
Podcast Date: April 1, 2026
Co-hosts: Sarah MacLean & Jennifer Prokop

Episode Overview

In this lively quarterly preview episode, bestselling author Sarah MacLean and romance critic Jen Prokop present a comprehensive guide to the most exciting romance novels releasing in April, May, and June 2026. With their signature banter and deep knowledge of the genre, they spotlight lesser-known gems, highlight debut authors, and offer detailed descriptions of each pick—intended to boost discoverability for books and authors who might not receive mainstream attention. This is a pre-order bonanza for romance fans; the hosts have not yet read these books, but their anticipation is infectious.

Key Points & Discussion Highlights

1. Episode Structure and Discoverability Mission

• No time for banter! The focus is on getting straight into the “discoverability” picks—books the hosts are excited about but haven’t read yet. (00:00)
• "These are purely like, we think these look cool and fun. We're interested in them. We think you will be too." – Jen (02:44)
• Books are organized by month for easy tracking, and all picks are available for pre-order (physically or digitally). Full booklists and links are on the podcast’s website. (03:32)

2. Selection Criteria & Community Participation

• The list skews toward traditionally published novels, simply because those are easier to hear about in advance.
• Focus is on boosting under-the-radar authors—not major bestsellers.
• Authors (and listeners!) are invited to submit upcoming and debut books via Google forms in show notes for future consideration. (04:31)

3. April 2026 Highlights

Kate Clayborne – Paris Match (07:16)

• Long-awaited novel about a woman attending her ex-husband’s sister’s wedding in Paris, only to find herself drawn to the gruff, perfect best man.
• “Plan to take the day off work right now.” – Jen (07:47)

Natasha Bishop – The Art of Loving You (07:52)

• Road trip romance with a forced proximity twist; model/influencer and an artist-ex are brought together by their late mentor’s last wish.

Lenora Bell – Can’t Get Enough of the Duke (09:19)

• Historical marriage-of-convenience/guardian-and-ward romance, with a grumpy, combat-scarred duke and his sunshiny ward.

Lucy Smoke – Married to the Mafia (11:14)

• Mafia romcom: A server accidentally becomes the bride in a crime family wedding after the real bride is found dead. “The or die is implied…” – Jen (11:39)

Claire Contreras – Isle of Wrath (12:51)

• First in a fantasy series; asylum through lost memories, magical bargains, a soul-bound partnership, and high stakes in an enchanted realm. “There are forbidden prophecies, there are buried secrets, and a devastating truth…” – Sarah (14:19)

Jimin Han – Dreamt I Found You (16:47)

• Contemporary retelling of a classic Korean Romeo & Juliet myth, with magic and fate intertwined.

Samara Parrish – The Duke’s Got Mail (18:59)

• Epistolary (letter-writing) love story; a compositor and a duke are unknowingly writing to each other as rivals and potential lovers. “They are going to have to figure out whether their love is mightier than their printing press.” – Sarah (20:47)

Caitlin Alice Gilbert – La Dolce Vito (20:59)

• U.S. Congresswoman escapes to an Italian village post-scandal and meets a grumpy mayor. Small town, politics, and slow-burning romance.

Katherine Dyson – Love at First Bite (22:15)

• Vampire romcom set at a goth weekend by the seaside; only one bed, only one vampire. Tagline: “He’s a pain in the neck.” – Sarah (23:17)

Stephanie Hope – More Like an Amiga (26:55)

• Sapphic romance with family secrets, wedding sabotage, and food at its heart.

Danielle Allen – Big Girl Blitz (28:32)

• Plus-size heroine returns home to care for her beloved aunt, finds romance with a sports bar stranger.

Cara McDowell – The Write Off (30:17)

• Second-chance, dual timeline romance between former college best friends turned authors.

Shiloh Walker – I Choose the Bear (31:41)

• Bear shifter romance: traumatized heroine finds protection and unexpected love with the new alpha.

Payton Corinne – Unbound (33:47)

• Messy, angsty second-chance romance between a prickly, traumatized heroine and her neurodivergent, goalie hero.

4. May 2026 Highlights

Michaela Coyle – Mothman is My Boyfriend (38:05)

• “10 tales of cryptid love, love and lust.” Short-story collection of cozy romance and queer cryptids. “Welcome to Cryptid Creek.” – Sarah (38:23)

S.A. Barnes – Death’s Daughter (39:47)

• Mythology/Buffy vibes: the daughter of Death struggles with supernatural hunger and new powers on campus. “She’s dying to get a life.” – Jen (41:20)

Gloria Duke – There’s Something Fishy About My Boyfriend (41:27)

• Jersey Shore merman romcom; heroine runs a B&B, hero literally washes up on the shore.

Dahlia Adler – Soon By You (43:34)

• Modern-Orthodox NYC romcom: a serial bridesmaid and a wedding singer butt heads and catch feelings. “I cannot get enough of it.” – Jen (45:06)

Heather Ang – Double Happiness (45:17)

• Tech-world love triangle; heroine must choose between stable fiancé and the enticing “one that got away.”

Lulu Morris – The Dating Pact (47:23)

• Tabloid fake-dating between a nurse and notorious actor in the Bahamas; plus-size rep.

Swati Hedge – Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt (49:58)

• Indian contemporary romance; one-night stand in Goa reemerges as law-firm rival.

Ben Chalfin – Marooned (52:55)

• Gay Survivor-style reality show: forbidden romance between two contestants.

Edward Underhill – The House of Now and Then (54:01)

• Trans man rents a mysterious Cape Cod cottage haunted by living “ghosts” from his past.

Kate Baxter – The Last True Vampire (56:16)

• Fated mates; street thief meets the world’s last vampire king in L.A.

Hannah Doyle – The Long Haul (57:49)

• Time-loop rom-com: enemies/possible lovers are trapped on a never-ending long-haul flight to Australia.

Sarah Bennett – Second Chance Prince (59:31)

• Historical royal romance: Fake engagement for political protection rekindles childhood love.

Samantha Saldivar – Running Home to You (60:57)

• Sapphic sports (softball) romance spanning a decade, featuring deep character growth and family themes.

Monica Murphy – When Sparks Fly (62:58)

• Lakehouse-antics: heroine hides from scandal, meets a hot fire captain, hijinks ensue.

5. June 2026 Highlights

Julianne Long – Game of Rogues (64:27)

• Regency: King of underworld’s gaming hell bargains with a desperate lady—her brother’s debt, her night in his bed.

Elise Lynn – Samantha Spook, Paranormal Wedding Planner (66:28)

• Cozy paranormal rom-com in Salem; heroine juggles magic, weddings, and maybe love.

Tia Williams – The Missed Connection (68:13)

• Casting agent sparks with a stranger on a Paris flight, accidentally spams the world seeking him, and is torn between two men.

Jennifer Moffat – Bump Set Sparks (70:11)

• Sapphic volleyball romance: rivals-to-lovers quest for pro-league glory and self-acceptance.

Sophia Benoit – The Very Definition of Love (71:54)

• Regency debut: word-obsessed heroine kidnaps notorious rake, finds love through a dictionary of dirty words.

Samantha Allen – Puck (73:40)

• Queer A Midsummer Night’s Dream–inspired reality TV chaos; non-binary mastermind disrupts a wedding for love.

Heather Francis – Chase Me If You Can (75:40)

• Storm chaser rivals, a contest for a prestigious photo, and “gravity-defying romance hair.”

Samantha Silva – Sometime This Century (78:00)

• Contemporary woman time-travels to Regency England after a humiliating author rejection.

Edward Schmidt – The Open Era (79:45)

• Tennis romance: first openly gay Grand Slam contender faces fame, anxiety, and a maybe-more-than-friends rival.

Kayla Olson – The Great Outdoors (81:32)

• High-maintenance heroine signs up for a wilderness trek to win back her ex, falls for the outdoorsy guide.

Emily Martin – Winner Takes All (83:12)

• Waking up married in Vegas; competing music scouts must untangle their relationship and professional ambitions.

Kirsty Greenwood – Romantic Hero (85:06)

• Novelist’s cowboy villain comes to life, turns into her real-life romantic prospect.

Shayna Galen – A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord (86:10)

• Regency class difference: desperate shop girl turns thief, discovers love with an earl’s son.

Lavanya Lakshmi – Leave and Come Back (88:05)

• Indian-American heroine’s fake romance at a family wedding brings closure and new love.

Christina Forrest – The Summer Girlfriend (90:07)

• Fake-dating/fake girlfriend rom-com with a stand-in bridesmaid and a family legacy at stake.

Sophie Kim – The Winged Game (92:16)

• Sports fantasy: rugby on flying beasts, fake relationship, and mysterious illness threatening the whole league.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “If you have not pre-ordered Kate Clayborne’s Paris Match, you would just do yourself a favor. Do that now. And then on April 7th, you’ll be so happy that past you gave you a delicious gift.” — Sarah MacLean (07:32)
• "It is funny when you move to a new place and you have to, like, get used to all of their weirdo jingles about, like, buying carpet or windows or whatever, furniture, couches." — Sarah (00:42)
• "We try to dig deep and let you know about stuff that isn’t gonna be plastered all over everything." – Jen (04:01)
• "You cannot stay away from an epistolary." — Jen about Sarah (20:47)
• "She knows she should run the other way. But he's very handsome and very compelling and the reporter instinct in her says there’s more to him than his fangs." — Sarah on Love at First Bite by Katherine Dyson (23:17)
• "Honestly, I wish there were more billionaires with tool belts building actual stuff." — Sarah (26:14)
• "Game of Rogues by Julianne Long. And just a little plug. If you love Historical, buy Historical." — Sarah (66:28)
• “We talked about 50 books. You’re welcome.” – Jen (94:21)

Notable Reading Trends

• Genre Diversity: Substantial inclusion of Sapphic, queer, and nonbinary romance; a wide range of sub-genres—historical, contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and sports.
• Romantasy and Speculative: Multiple picks feature magical worlds, supernatural heroes (vampires, bear-shifters, mermen), and time travel.
• Wedding Central: Several wedding-centric plots, from wedding sabotage to fake dates.
• Reality TV: Emerging as a theme (Marooned, Puck, and more).
• Fake Relationships, Second Chance, and Forced Proximity: Enduring romance favorites.
• Sports Romance: Expansion into new sports (volleyball, tennis, softball, and even rugby-on-beasts).

How to Access & Participate

• Every book discussed is listed chronologically by month on fatedmates.net.
• Authors: Submit your book for consideration for future discoverability episodes or the annual debut round-up via linked forms.
• Listeners: Engage with the community—Patreon members get Discord access and extra episodes. (96:27)

Conclusion

This preview episode is a vibrant, funny, and comprehensive tour through the upcoming season in romance fiction—balancing in-depth teasers, witty commentary, and broader reflections on the genre’s evolving landscape. Whether you’re a fan of cozy cryptids, LGBTQIA+ stories, wedding drama, storm-chaser heroines, or just want a handy booklist for Spring 2026, Sarah and Jen have you covered.

For full show notes and linked booklists, visit fatedmates.net.