YA Romantasy Titles Coming in the Second-Half of 2025
More books for your summer reading and beyond ❤
Since I posted last week’s list of adult romantasy titles, summer has arrived. This has definitely put me in the mood for an ice coffee paired with a hot romance.
The past few books I’ve read have been in the adult sphere and rather long, so I’m looking forward to picking up a book that won’t take 25 hours or more to listen to, in part so I can earn more points for finishing books in the summer reading program at my library.
I’m not cheating. It’s strategizing.
But I digress, because you are here for the next batch of must-reads for your TBR. As in the past, I’ve featured my most anticipated reads at the top. There are Goodreads links to access descriptions for the rest.
Happy Reading!
Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray
September 30, 2025
For as much romantasy and paranormal fiction as I’ve consumed, it’s a bit embarrassing to admit that I can’t think of any stories featuring a female werewolf that I’ve read (Mercy Thompson runs with weres, but she’s a coyote shifter). So I’m adding this one to my TBR for this and the gorgeous cover. I adore that shade of violet.
From the Publisher:
After a vicious werewolf attack on the night of her seventeenth birthday party, Vanessa Hart loses everything she loves in a split second. Her best friend, her father, and even her home.
Bitten and imprisoned without explanation, Vanessa endures an agonizing transformation into the very beast that maimed her, and her captors make it clear she cannot escape: she will either swear her life to the Wolf Queen’s Court, or she will die.
With no other choice, Vanessa joins their enchanted Castle Severi—where flowering vines grow through the walls, gifts are bestowed by the stars, and a claw can break through skin as easily as silk—but she hasn’t forgotten what they stole from her.
Vanessa still seeks vengeance, scheming in the shadows even as she finds herself mesmerized by the golden prince Sinclair Severi, who threatens to steal her heart though he is promised to her nemesis. And by his brooding, disgraced cousin, Calix, whose smoldering gaze hides even darker secrets. Immersed in the magic of their whimsical yet cruel society, Vanessa soon learns not all is as it seems.
Moth Dark by Kika Hatzopoulou
October 28, 2025
The tagline for this book is “The dark has come alive”. DANG. Enemies-to-lover. Twisted timelines. A war between humans and elves. And a 4.6 average review from ARC readers. Keep an eye on this one. I have a feeling it will be a 2025 favorite.
From the Publisher:
Six years ago, vicious creatures began to crawl out of the dark crevices of the world, and with it Sascia’s fascination with the darkness was born. Now eighteen, that fascination has become an obsession, and while exploring an area known for its connection to the Darkworld, Sascia sees a person climb out of the darkness. But Nugau is no ordinary person, they’re a genderfluid elf prince with one mission . . . to kill Sascia.
Except, the second time they meet, Nugau is younger and doesn’t recognise Sascia. And the third time, Nugau stumbles out of the darkness with poison running through their veins, expressing their undying love for her.
Piecing together the puzzle, Sascia makes two shocking the timelines of her world and Nugau’s are not linear, and she is inexplicably enmeshed in a war between humanity and elves. But with their worlds at battle, is it worth fighting for each other . . . ?
The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer
November 4, 2025
Marissa Meyer of Lunar Chronicles fame is back with another fairytale retelling!!! Staying true to the Bluebeard tale, it sound dark with an element of mystery. While this is a bit different from the vibe I’m used to from Meyer (though I still haven’t read her retelling of Rumpelstiltskin), I have no doubts that this is going to be among my favorite books of 2025.
From the publisher:
Mallory Fontaine is a fraud. Though she comes from a long line of witches, the only magic she possesses is the ability to see ghosts, which is rarely as useful as one would think. She and her sister have maintained the family business, eking out a paltry living by selling fraudulent spells to gullible buyers and conducting tours of the infamous mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.
Mallory is a self-proclaimed expert on Count Bastien Saphir - otherwise known as Monsieur Le Bleu - who brutally killed three of his wives more than a century ago. But she never expected to meet Bastien's great-grandson and heir to the Saphir estate. Armand is handsome, wealthy, and convinced that the Fontaine Sisters are as talented as they claim. The perfect mark. When he offers Mallory a large sum of money to rid his ancestral home of Le Bleu's ghost, she can’t resist. A paid vacation at Armand’s country manor? It’s practically a dream come true, never mind the ghosts of murdered wives and the monsters that are as common as household pests.
But when murder again comes to the House Saphir, Mallory finds herself at the center of the investigation—and she is almost certain the killer is mortal. If she has any hope of cashing in on the payment she was promised, she’ll have to solve the murder and banish the ghost, all while upholding the illusion of witchcraft.
But that all sounds relatively easy compared to her biggest learning to trust her heart. Especially when the person her heart wants the most might be a murderer himself.
Other romantasy titles of note are listed below along with links to their Goodreads page.
Bad Boys, Fae, and Monsters
Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge. From the publisher: Seventeen-year-old Kel Varra and her team of underdogs, the Crimson Howlers, are desperate to win the annual races. But the Howlers need a new rider, which leads Kel to join forces with Warren “Coup” Coupers – an arrogant rival. As tensions rise on and off the track, Kel's home is mistakenly burned down, and she’s forced to take a job from a mysterious tech mogul with an unsettling interest in her phoenix, Savita. This sets in motion a conspiracy that threatens everyone Kel cares for, especially Coup, for whom her embers of resentment are quickly igniting into something dangerously new. July 15, 2025
The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni. When her sister disappears into the woods, Sabrina goes after her and finds herself among monster and fae. When a handsome fairy prince offers her a bargain, Sabrina puts her freedom on the line in an effort to save her sister. October 23, 2025
Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton. The Huntsman is given seven days to shadow-magic wielder Viola, but unbeknownst to the queen, he needs her help. He spares Viola’s life in exchange for a bargain. November 4, 2025
Break Wide the Sea by Sara Holland. Readers looking for a romantasy outside of dragons and fae will love this tale of Annie, a half-cursed heiress to a whaling operation. Heartbroken to discover her finance want to take over the company. Annie teams up with a finfolk captain in an effort to save her company and avoid becoming a fully cursed monster. November 11, 2025
Dark Academia and Witchy Vibes
A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid. The second book in the Study of Drowning duology is out this summer. Find out how Effy and Preston’s romance concludes. July 29, 2025 An illustrated bonus novella called An Archive of Romance is also releasing just before Christmas!
An Embroidery of Souls by Ruby Martinez. From the publisher: Jade can manipulate souls with the tug of a thread--it's up to her, and a boy with a soul as bright as the universe to stop a creature on the loose before it claims its next victim in this lush, Mexican & German inspired romantasy. September 9, 2025
A Fate So Cold by Amanda Foody and C. L. Herman. The wielder of the Summer Wand, Domenic, must team up with the ieilder of the Winter Wand, Ellery, to stave off a storm that would destroy their home. Yet they discover they only way to achieve this is through a fight to the death. Hoping that the romance is warmer than the title implies. November 4, 2025
Dragons and Serpents
Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara. From the publisher: In this sweeping romantic fantasy, a dangerous deal binds a young jeweler's apprentice to the mysterious Serpent King in a marriage of convenience, thrusting her into a deadly game between the cunning, fearsome ruler and his rebellious huntsman. Perfect for fans of The Wrath & the Dawn and Once Upon a Broken Heart. June 24, 2025
Lady Dragon by A.M. Strickland. A sapphic story of two princesses destined to rule enemy queendoms—one human and one a dragon shifter—forced to grapple with the truth about their nations AND their growing feelings. August 26, 2025
I'll Find You Where the Timeline Ends by Kylie Lee Baker. From the publisher: A teen descendant of a Japanese dragon god must team up with a cute rogue agent to subvert a corrupt time travel organization and find out the truth of what happened to her missing sister. November 18, 2025
Final Thoughts
I am really impressed by the variety of titles being offered in the YA space. Yes, they are all romantasy, but I’m loving some of the time-twisty tales and female monesters represented here.
What are you looking forward to on this list? Let me know in the comments! Like and share if you found this article interesting. You can also click the buy me a coffee button below 😘
Love these recs mainly because I've never heard of a lot of them! 🖤 Adding a fate so cold to my tbr