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.
