10 Sweet Closed-Door Summer Romance Books

Sometimes what you think you want and what you actually want turn out to be different things…

Rosie Waterman has one to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn’t been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does–puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she’s been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie’s been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?

When she’s offered a job as the director of a regional theatre’s production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance–even though she’s only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she’ll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the “regional theatre” is actually in a retirement community, and the “actors” are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.

Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn’t turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It’s not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?

This is absolutely not how they pictured their summer going.

McKenna Boston is feeling stuck. She’s spent years growing her photography skills, only for her career to hit a wall. She’s ready to move on, and she will, just as soon as she helps her sister’s boyfriend stage the perfect proposal. But when her best laid plans go awry, and a handsome stranger accidentally ends up with the heirloom ring, McKenna hops on a flight to retrieve it. Piece of cake, right?

Nate Lambert was hoping to enjoy a relaxing summer before starting his new job as a literature professor, but he arrives in Tennessee to discover his mom’s bed and breakfast is struggling, and there’s a long list of repairs to be tackled. The last thing he needs is a gorgeous, determined photographer searching for a ring he doesn’t have since the airline lost his luggage somewhere on his route from Nebraska.

With the ring nowhere to be found, all McKenna can do is wait and use the time to build her portfolio and plan her next career move. But she also can’t help getting swept up in Nate’s bed and breakfast renovations and in planning a community concert with the townsfolk. As both await news of Nate’s suitcase, it begins to seem their serendipitous meeting, and the proposal gone wrong, could actually be everything going right… and that this may be their chance at a love neither could have pictured.

If there’s one thing Penelope Mae Dupont prizes most, it’s her composure–her ability to stay calm in the face of stress. It’s a vital trait in her job as a personal assistant to renowned mystery author Hugh Griffin. But when Pip organizes a book cruise featuring The Fabulous Seven–seven celebrated authors from different genres who have supported each other through thick and thin–her famed composure is in danger of sailing away. One boat, hundreds of devoted readers, and seven Big Personalities. What could possibly go wrong?

Disaster strikes when, on the second day of the cruise, Hugh is found murdered. And, in the face of gross incompetence by the on-board security force, Pip realizes she’ll need to be the one to discover who did it. With the ship stranded in the middle of the Atlantic and no help on the horizon, it’s up to her to unravel the mystery. Along with her friend Nash–a dreamy Western author who’s just as rugged as the cowboys he writes about. As Pip’s composure starts to sink faster than a leaky dinghy, Nash becomes her anchor in a storm of clues and red herrings.

With Nash at her side, Penelope dives into the murky depths of the mystery, navigating treacherous waters filled with unexpected twists and turns. No one, not even a desperately hopeful mystery sleuth named Pip, could anticipate the wild ride ahead. Whether she likes it or not, she is on the adventure of a lifetime . . . and maybe, just maybe, she’ll find love along the way.

In this laugh-out-loud funny Clue-meets-Emily-Henry rom-com, Penelope Mae Dupont is about to find out that in the world of mystery and romance, you have to risk going overboard to find the truth.

Lucky Salerno’s dream is to own a bakery. To earn enough money to achieve it, she has secured a lucrative job as chief stewardess on a superyacht cruising the Mediterranean. Aboard the ship, there’s one unbreakable no hookups among the crew. No problem. The last thing Lucky has time for is a man. Then she meets Hunter Smith, the gorgeous new deckhand sharing her cabin. Is the universe trying to test her willpower?

Who needs the drama that comes with a relationship? Not Hunter. Who can ignore a witty, beautiful bunkmate like Lucky? Also not Hunter. There’s something just as enticing for a tantalizing mystery behind Hunter’s piercing blue eyes, she can’t wait to solve. But at what risk?

As they get to know each other, a secret romance buds at sea, and Lucky has to choose. Abide by the rules to make her career dreams come true, or pursue her love for Hunter—another dream that’s just as near to her heart.

Marrying him was supposed to be business… not pleasure.

Liam “Dex” Dexter, the world’s hottest surfer, needs American citizenship to qualify for the Olympics. Britta needs enough cash to leave her small-town life behind and finally open her dream coffee shop in LA. Their plan is get married, fake the happily-ever-after, and go their separate ways once their goals are met.

There’s just one tiny problem.

Living together — and sharing a bed — makes it impossible to ignore the sparks between them. The more time they spend pretending, the harder it is to remember that this is just a business arrangement.

But when their carefully crafted deal threatens to become something real, Britta and Dex will have to decide if their dreams are worth more than the unexpected passion pulling them together.

Britta & the Beach Boy is a swoony, slow-burn marriage-of-convenience romantic comedy with laugh-out-loud moments, hot Australian surfers, and just the right amount of heart. While it’s the first book in the Love in LA series, Britta and her family make their debut in the Love in Paradise Valley series. Each book stands alone, but trust me… you’ll want to read them all.

In the quaint coastal town of Willow Cove, Georgie Carpenter returns to take over a bakery, only to discover that the sweet deal comes with an unexpected twist—a husband.

Royal “King” Kingston, overwhelmed with balancing surf lessons and the responsibility of his late uncle’s struggling bakery, is shocked by Georgie’s return from the big city to his little town. Though she’s renowned as a pastry chef and could save the bakery, King can’t shake the memories of her rejection of his proposal a decade ago. Yet faced with the ultimatum of losing his uncle’s legacy or handing it over to the woman who broke his young heart, King reluctantly agrees to her help.

However, there’s a catch—the bakery can only be passed down to family. Georgie suggests a temporary marriage to facilitate the transfer of ownership. With no strings attached, they can part ways once the paperwork is done. King is reluctant but agrees to the plan out of necessity.

But as their temporary arrangement evolves, both Georgie and King confront unexpected emotions and realize that what they bargained for may be more than they ever imagined. Will their makeshift marriage lead to a second chance at love, or will past insecurities tear them apart once again?

Ten Things I Hate About You meets How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days in this fun story about the special bond between sisters and the often bumpy road of falling in love.

Savannah is determined to reconnect with her two sisters. Her plan? To recreate their epic childhood summers at the beach. She has rented the same beach house, convinced her sisters to clear their calendars for a whole month, and made a bucket list of beach activities they need to relive. A little bit of nostalgia and summer fun will be the perfect antidote to the divide that has been plaguing the Prestley sisters for years. Did the secret she’s hiding have anything to do with her planning the trip? Maybe, but that’s beside the point. The fact is, everyone could use a little vitamin sea in their life. It’s going to be great! What could go wrong?

Bianca has a surprise. She’s getting married! Of course, her sisters aren’t as thrilled at the announcement as they should be, which she probably should’ve expected. Her entire life, she’s been trying to prove that just because she’s the youngest doesn’t mean she’s a baby. So maybe she had some trouble getting her act together in the past, but that’s different now. She’s determined to show her sisters just how together her life is. And if the only way to do that is to find a soulmate for her closed-off sister to prove that the dating site she used to meet her future husband is legit, then Cora better get ready. She’s about to be swept off her feet. Bianca’s going to make sure of it. Who’s the one lacking follow-through now?

Cora knew there was a good reason she does her own thing. It’s because people in general–her sisters specifically–are ridiculous. Bianca needs to give up her delusion that this new relationship will work out perfectly. It won’t. And Savannah needs to let go of her hopes of Cora getting married. It’s not going to happen. She likes being alone. Life is better when she’s alone. Safer. But she’ll go on this date if it will show her sisters just how ludicrous they’re being. And since they set her up with the town’s playboy, who has never been on a second date in his life, proving her point has never been easier. She’s got this all under control.

At least she thinks she has it under control.

Not under control at all.

The perfect match can’t be far–certainly not at a Regency-themed singles retreat–or so podcaster Zoe Dufour believes. After years of creating content for her relationship podcast inspired by Regency etiquette and era-appropriate rules for romance, she knows her listeners have anticipated this retreat. But she also attends with expectations of her finding the ideal modern-day gentleman who can meet every one of the nonnegotiables on her checklist.

Harrison Lundquist, Zoe’s podcast producer and best friend’s brother, reluctantly agrees to attend the retreat to capture footage while seeking a career-advancing promotion. He views the retreat as ridiculous. And Zoe’s methods for finding her real-life Mr. Darcy? Downright absurd! But as he films her whirlwind dates, his growing feelings for her are sidelined by suitors vying for her attention. When Zoe realizes her ideal checklist might be holding her back, she must decide if she’s willing to rewrite her rules and take a chance on the person who has been there all along.

With this Regency-infused spin on a contemporary rom-com, Mollie Rushmeyer’s witty characters, touch of whimsy, and sweet romance will win hearts.

I’ve just been selected to be on the reality show of my dreams, but there’s a catch—my teammate is the man of my nightmares.

Colton Downing—senator’s son, golden boy, and the thorn in my side since high school—has just decided to join me as a contestant on Sunsets and Sabotage—my favorite show. Not his, mine. It’s clear from the get-go that he cares little for the game show and even less about the prize money, which I’m desperate to win. No, for Colton, his sole object in being my partner is just to vex me.

At least, that’s what I thought—but everything changes when we get to Sabotage Island.

Between the grueling competitions, savage competitors, and constant hunger, I quickly learn that Colton has as much to lose in this game as I do, and if we stand a chance of beating the other teams and gaining America’s votes, we’ll need to work together to pull off our crazy plan.

But playing nice with Colton is not something I’m prepared for, especially when his soft glances and heroic actions aren’t just changing the game, they’re melting me like butter on a biscuit.

With each day that passes on the Island, I’m more certain of one thing: winning the show, with my heart intact, will be the greatest challenge of all.

The Enemies’ Island is an enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy filled with adventure, playful banter, endearing characters, and swoony moments that will make your heart squeal with happiness! This is a closed-door romance book with all the chemistry and without any language or explicit scenes (kisses only).