12 rom-com books to fall in love with this summer

Looking for a good summer read? Fall in love with these rom-com fiction titles by Canadian and international authors.

The Stand-In by Lily Chu

InThe Stand-In, Gracie Reed's world is turned upside down when a mysterious vehiclepulls up beside her on the street, revealing its occupants to beChinese cinema's famous couple, Wei Fangli and Sam Yao. Fangli asks Gracie to be her stand-in, due to how much they look alike, and attend public events with theincredibly attractive yet infuriating Sam.Gracie, who needs the money to get her mother into a newnursing home,agrees, and isthrown into a world of luxury, glitz and glamour.

• Toronto novelist Lily Chu's The Stand-In puts representation at the heart of her debut rom-com

The Stand-In is Lily Chu'sdebut rom-comnovel.Chuwrites romantic comediesset in Toronto with strong Asian characters. The audiobook of her second rom-com, The Comeback,will be out in summer 2022 and in print in spring 2023.

Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh

InSari, Not Sari, Manny Dogra is the CEO of a highly successful company that helps people manage their breakups.She's planning her wedding to a handsome architect, while in the midst of grieving the deaths of her parents.Her parents, who were both born in India, wanted Manny to become an 'All-American girl,'so that's what she did. Knowing next to nothing about her South Asian heritage, Manny meets an irritating client who agrees to give her a crash course in being Indian at his brother's wedding.

• 25 books to celebrate Asian Heritage Month in Canada

Sonya Singh is a writer, producer and former entertainment reporter.Sari, Not Sariis her first novel. Singh lives in Toronto.

Book Loversby Emily Henry

In Book Lovers, Nora Stephens is a literary agent who loves books and works hard to get the best deals for her author clients. Charlie Lastra is a book editor who is a bit bookish and brooding at times. When the two meet up in North Carolina one summer, the pair realize that they just might be made for each other.

• The CBC Books summer reading list: 45 cool books to read while the weather heats up

Emily Henry is a New York Times bestselling American author who is best known for her romance novelsBeach ReadandPeople We Meet on Vacation.

Made in Korea by Sarah Suk

Made in Korea is a YA rom-comabout two teenagers who are running competing Korean beauty businesses at their high school.Valerie Kwon and her cousin Charlie run a successful student-run enterprise called V&C K-BEAUTY. Wes Jung is the new kid at their schoolafter seeing the enthusiasm from his new classmates for the K-pop-branded beauty products that his mother gave him to help him make new friends, he comes up with an entrepreneurial idea that could help him pay for the music school he hopes to attend after graduation. Valerie and Wes try and resist their growing attraction toone another, while competing to be the most successful business in school.

• Writers' Trust of Canada launches program to support books by BIPOC writers launched during pandemic

Sarah Suk is a YA writer living in Vancouver.Made in Korea is her debut novel. Suk'snext book, The Space Between Here and Now, will be published in fall 2023.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

In The Charm Offensive,Dev Deshpandeis the producer of the long-running reality dating show Ever After. When the show decides to castCharlie Winshaw, who has only agreed to be on Ever After to try andrehabilitate his image, Dev struggles to get him to connect with the contestants. As they embark on a worldwide tour, Charlie begins to realise he connects better with Dev than with any of his co-stars.

Alison Cochrunwrites queer love stories and is a former high school English teacher. The Charm Offensive is her debut novel. She lives outside of Portland, Oregon with her giant dog and a vast collection of brightly coloured books.

Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn

Yinka is a single, British-Nigerian womanin her early 30s whose mother and aunties areconstantly asking her when she is going to find a husband. Her friends think she needs to get over her ex-boyfriend and her work friends think she's too traditional. Afterhercousin Rachel gets engaged, Yinkais determined to find a date for her wedding.

Lizzie Damilola Blackburnis a British-Nigerian writer wholives with her husband in Milton Keynes, England.Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? is her debut novel.

The Dachshund Wears Prada by Stefanie London

After social media consultant Isla Thomson accidentally becomes the mostunemployable influencer in New York City, she decides to accept the first job she can get looking after Camilla the dachshund in order to ensure that sheand herteenage sister, whose guardian she is, don't lose their home. Islastarts to get closer to Camilla's owner, the recluse Theo Garrison, and their bond begins to grow.

Stefanie London is a contemporary romance writer who lives in Toronto.The Dachshund Wears Prada is the first in a new series by London called Paws in the City. The second volume in the series,Pets of Park Avenue, will be published in December 2022.

The Romance Recipe by Ruby Barrett

In The Romance Recipe, restaurant owner Amy Chambers hiresSophie Brunet, a formerreality-show finalist, to work as head chef in her restaurant.Sophie and Amy explore their feelings for one another, while trying to save the restaurant by signing up for a new foodie reality TV show.

Ruby Barrett is a writer based inOttawa whowritesromances about big feelings. Her previous novel,Hot Copy, was published in 2021.

Kamila Knows Bestby Farah Heron

Kamila has a nearly perfect life. While she keeps herselfbusy by throwing Bollywood movie parties, hanging out with her endless array of friends and running her dog's wildly successful Instagram account, her love life is lagging behind. So Kamila decides to start flirting with a handsome family friend named Rohan and eventually develops a crush. When Kamila's secret nemesis returns to town with an eye for Rohan, things start to unravel and Kamila's life gets turned upside down.

• Farah Heron on why conflict is key when writing a romantic comedy

Farah Heron is a writer from Toronto. She is also the author of the rom-com novelsThe Chai Factor,Accidentally Engagedandthe YA novelTahira in Bloom.

Starry-Eyed Love by Helena Hunting

In Starry-Eyed Love, London Spark is the business administrator for Spark House, her family's event hotel. A large company is interested in a partnership, and London is determined to win them over until she discovers that the company's CEO,Jackson Holt,is the same person she turned down at a bar a few months prior. Jackson and London soon find themselves throwing an event together at Spark House and their working relationship begins to blossom into something more.

Helena Hunting is a writer who lives outside of Toronto with her family and two cats.Herprevious books include Love Next DoorandMeet Cute.

DonutFall in Loveby Jackie Lau

Donut Fall in Lovefollows actor Ryan Kwok, who is back in Toronto after promoting his latest movie, a rom-com that's being slammed by critics.The sudden death of his mother prompts Ryan to takehis first break in years and spend more time with his family though his father would rather troll him on Twitter than meet for dim sum.Ryan's fatetakes a turn when he knocks over a bunch of specialty donuts byan innovative baker namedLindsay McLeod. When he signs up for a celebrity episode of a baking show, he enlists Lindsay to help him prepare.

• 14 books about love for Valentine's Day

Jackie Lauis a Toronto-based author of over a dozen romantic comedies, includingtheHolidays with the Wongsseries and theThere's Only One Bed at Christmasnovella anthology. She went to school forengineering and worked as a geophysicist before writing romance novels.

She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

In the YA rom-comShe Gets the Girl, the night before their college classes begin, headstrong Alex Blackwood meets Molly Parker. Alex, who was recently dumped, offers to help Alex get her dream girl to fall for her, in the hope it will help Alex prove to her ex thatshe's not selfish and is ready for a committed relationship. The two embark on a plan to get their girls to fall in love with them, but start to wonder if they are falling for each other instead.

Rachael Lippincott is the co-author ofFive Feet Apart and She Gets the Girl, andthe author of The Lucky List.She lives in Pennsylvania with her wife Alyson and their dog, Hank.

Alyson Derrick is the co-author ofShe Gets the Girland the author ofForget Me Not. She also lives in Pennsylvania with Rachael and Hank.