Romantasy Book Recommendations 2025 and More: Book Chat with Amanda
There’s nothing better than sitting down with a bookish bestie to catch up on all the reads that are making us laugh, swoon, and spiral. In this post, I’m sharing romantasy book recommendations for 2025 (plus some messy tropes we’re loving right now) straight from my latest book chat with Amanda.
We went down memory lane to RT 2012, relived our Black Dagger Brotherhood obsession (yes, there are strong feelings about the Passionflix casting), and bonded all over again on our mutual love for messy tropes, spicy romantasy, and a new contemporary romance favorite.
If you’re wondering what to read after Fourth Wing or just want something spicy, dramatic, or flat-out fun, there’s something on this list for you.
Prefer to watch instead?
This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.
Tropes Amanda is Loving Right Now
Amanda confessed she’s been leaning into messy tropes lately, especially cheating romances. Not everyone loves them, but there’s something undeniably compelling about the emotional fallout, the groveling, and watching characters work through seriously complicated dynamics. If you’ve been curious about books that go there (and maybe don’t shy away from pain), this one’s for you. What she’s currently reading is:
Traitor by Himera Ink
This one’s for the girlies who like their angst feral. Traitor brings it all: a brutal betrayal, a heroine who refuses to stay broken, and a hero who wants her back, but might have burned that bridge to the ground. It’s gritty, violent, and deliciously dramatic.
What to Read If You Loved Fourth Wing?
Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen
Tropes: Bonded mates, academy trials, enemies to lovers (kind of), powerful heroine
Amanda pitched this as Fourth Wing with wolves, and honestly, that was enough to get me interested. There’s a brutal training academy, a prickly direwolf bond, and a heroine trying to survive long enough to save her sister. Oh, and a maybe-love triangle that’s not really a triangle… yet. Spice is light but present. This is only book one, but Amanda’s already invested.
A New Contemporary Romance Obsession
Christmas in Coconut Creek by Karissa Kinword
Tropes: Holiday fling, opposites attract, friends with benefits, sunshine setting
This one is pure fun. Ophelia ditches her family drama for a Florida Christmas and ends up in a holiday fling with a cocky ex-pilot. There’s banter, beach vibes, and a surprisingly sweet undercurrent to the relationship. It’s book one in a series, but you can totally read it as a standalone.
Grab Christmas in Coconut Creek on Amazon
For Pleasure or Worse by Karissa Kinword
Tropes: Secret identity, forced proximity, sex work, family meddling
Amanda’s favorite book of the year so far. This romcom follows a cam couple trying to plan their wedding while hiding their side hustle from their nosy families. It’s steamy, chaotic, and so hilarious that Amanda couldn’t stop quoting it. If you like romcoms with real heat and messy-but-loving families, add this to your list.
Grab For Pleasure or Worse on Amazon
Recent Releases That Amanda Recommends
Realm of Thieves by Karina Halle
Tropes: Forced alliance, criminal underworld, slow burn, dragons
A romantasy about a dragon egg thief and the morally gray lord who drags her into a dangerous power play. There’s slow-burn tension, cool worldbuilding, and a crime-meets-magic vibe that gives this a different flavor from your usual romantasy fare. Bonus: a teleporting dog.
Grab Realm of Thieves on Amazon
Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, hidden magic, chosen one, bodyguard romance
This one’s got big epic fantasy energy. Lyra has magic she’s hiding, Roark is the king’s assassin, and together they may be the kingdom’s last shot at survival. It’s a bit of a slow start with detailed worldbuilding, but the payoff is worth it—especially if you love slow-burn romantasy with real stakes.
Grab Broken Souls and Bones on Amazon
Nostalgic Re-Reads & New Surprises
Wildest Dreams by Kristen Ashley
Tropes: Parallel universe, arranged marriage, alpha hero, adventure romance
Finnie wants an adventure and ends up married to a frosty warrior in a magical world. Think old-school fantasy romance with lots of rich details, wild plot turns, and a heroine who just keeps going. Amanda loves this one for its alpha-swoony hero.
Wild Side by Elsie Silver
Tropes: Marriage of convenience, single aunt, secret softie hero
Amanda wasn’t sold on Elsie Silver until this book, and now she’s hooked. It’s got a grumpy hero who’s secretly a marshmallow and a fake marriage that turns very real. Set in a small town with tension, heart, and steam, this one turned out to be a total win.
Most Anticipated Books for the Rest of 2025
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Tropes: Found family, space race, sapphic romance, women in STEM
Set during the 1980s NASA shuttle program, this upcoming novel follows a physics professor turned astronaut as she trains for space and discovers a life she never expected. Amanda is hyped for this one, especially since she’s a Daisy Jones stan. It’s not out yet, but it’s already on her must-read list.
Alchemised by SenLinYu
Tropes: Amnesia, enemies to lovers, necromancer captor, slow-burn
Amanda and I are both planning to go into this one blind, but it’s giving dark academia romantasy meets post-war trauma. The heroine’s memory is missing, the necromancer hero might be more than he seems, and the vibes are dark and dangerous. Think high stakes, high spice, and a plot full of secrets.
Now it’s your turn
Let me know in the comments—are you a Fourth Wing lover? Do you secretly enjoy a cheating trope like Amanda? What’s your top romantasy read so far this year?
Read More
- Tune into the Reading Under the Covers Podcast for more episodes
- More 2025 book recommendations
Pin It for Later
Join the Under the Covers Community
- Book Release Calendar
- Book Tropes Book Database
- Reading Under the Covers: Extra Bite – Exclusive Bonus Podcast Feed
- Additional recommendation lists
- Reading wrap-ups and our Bookish Brunch weekly behind the scenes newsletter
- Free downloads (activities, templates and more)
- And much more!