Tu B’Av, often called the Jewish day of love, dates back to ancient times when it marked the beginning of the grape harvest, and evenings of dancing and matchmaking under the full moon. In 2025, it began at sunset on Friday, August 8, and ended in the evening of Saturday, August 9.
Today, it’s become a modern Jewish Valentine’s Day, reclaimed as a holiday to honor all kinds of love: romantic, familial, communal, and even self-love.
In that spirit, we’ve rounded up a list of Jewish romances that are sweet, steamy, and full of heart. Whether you’re in the mood for fake dating, second chances, or enemies-to-lovers, these stories put Jewish characters and culture at the center of the love story.
You don’t need a dance in the vineyard to fall in love this Tu B’Av, just a really good book.
“Battle of the Bookstores” by Ali Brady
Writing duo Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey are back with an instant enemies-to-lovers bestseller.
Josie Klein runs her indie bookstore like she runs her life: with spreadsheets, strong opinions, and a curated shelf of literary fiction. Just down the street, Ryan Lawson’s shop is all pastel covers, steamy romance reads, and chaotic energy — not exactly Josie’s scene. Despite being neighbors on Boston’s bookish block, the two have barely exchanged more than a polite nod. Until now.
When a new owner decides to merge their stores, Josie and Ryan are thrown into a high-stakes competition: whichever store manager brings in more profits over the summer gets to stay. The other is out of a job.
Josie isn’t about to lose her store — or her community’s literary hub — without a fight. Ryan, disorganized but disarmingly charming, isn’t backing down either. Their battle of author events, newsletter wars, and very petty window displays quickly spirals into something a little more… electric.
The only escape from the chaos? An anonymous online book forum, where each of them has found a kindred spirit. Neither of them knows they’re falling for their biggest rival, and possibly their bashert.
“Roommating” by Meredith Schorr
Sabrina has zero time for dating. Between grad school and her job as a library page, she’s just trying to keep her head above water. Thankfully, her living situation, a rent-stabilized two-bedroom in Manhattan with her elderly roommate Marcia, is a rare New York miracle. Marcia offers comfort, wisdom, and the occasional unsolicited nosh. What more could Sabrina want?
Enter Adam, Marcia’s estranged grandson, who suddenly shows up to “find himself,” and finds himself in Sabrina’s apartment. She agrees to the arrangement for Marcia’s sake. After all, if this can help them reconnect, it’s worth the inconvenience.
What she didn’t count on? Adam is gorgeous. And funny. And a fellow bookworm with a soft spot for his grandmother. One too many shirtless midnight encounters later, and the apartment is buzzing with tension—emotional and otherwise.
But just as things heat up between them, Marcia has a health scare. Doctors advise that one of the younger roommates has to go. And just like that, it’s game on.
In a hilarious and increasingly steamy battle for who gets to stay, Sabrina and Adam pull out all the stops. But the real question isn’t who wins the apartment, it’s whether they can find room for each other in something a little bigger: their lives.
Warm, witty, and full of Jewish grandmother realness, Meredith Schorr’s latest is a rom-com about love, loyalty, and learning to share the bathroom and the heart.
“The Rebel Girls of Rome” by Jordyn Taylor
This new historical YA novel jumps between World War II–era Rome and the present day, following two Jewish women separated by generations but connected by family, identity, and resistance.
In 1940s Italy, Bruna — queer, Jewish, and newly orphaned after her family’s deportation — joins the anti-fascist underground, risking everything for love and freedom. In the present, Lilah travels to Rome with her grandfather to uncover long-buried family secrets and reclaim a history nearly lost to time.
With a queer romance at its heart and Jewish survival woven throughout, “The Rebel Girls of Rome” is a powerful reminder that both love and resistance come in many forms.
“Never Planned on You” by Lindsay Hameroff
Ali Rubin has always been the spontaneous one in her tight-knit Jewish family, the kind of girl who books a last-minute flight, switches careers on a whim, and once drunkenly got matching tattoos with a British stranger on a trip to London. Her zest for life is part of her charm… and part of why her family doesn’t always take her seriously.
But Ali’s ready to prove she can follow through. She’s putting her culinary career on pause and heading home to Baltimore for a prestigious wedding planning internship, one that just might lead to a full-time job. She’s determined to make it work, show her family she’s not the flaky one, and maybe even settle down.
What she didn’t plan on? Running into him. Graham — the charming, inked-up stranger from London, the one she’s occasionally daydreamed about (fine, more than occasionally). But now he’s not just a memory or a “what if,” he’s standing in her favorite café in Baltimore… and very engaged.
To complicate things further, Graham’s family owns the Black-Eyed Susan, a once-elegant hotel with major financial problems. Hosting a buzz-worthy wedding could revive the place, and Ali’s boss agrees. The twist? Ali’s the one planning it. Graham’s the groom.
With her dream job on the line and her heart hanging in the balance, Ali has to decide: Is playing it safe what her future needs? Or is love worth getting a little messy for?
Check out Unpacked’s interview with Lindsay Hameroff as she talks about the inspirations for her sophomore novel.
Magical Meet Cute’ by Jean Meltzer
Jean Meltzer, the queen of Jewish romance novels, delivered the fun and mystical with her fourth book, “Magical Meet Cute.”
Faye Kaplan left her life as a lawyer to pursue pottery in upstate New York. Her life is perfect except for one thing: She is not in love.
When antisemitic flyers are posted across her town and she unsuccessfully finds the man of her dreams at a synagogue singles event, Faye drunkenly creates a golem that looks like her perfect husband on her potter’s wheel.
When Greg, a perfect, mysterious, sexy stranger, comes to Woodstock the next day, Faye must question whether his appearance is more than a coincidence.
Read more: Jewish romance writers break down their latest novels and why we need more Jewish stories
“Maine Characters” by Hannah Orenstein
Think “The Parent Trap,” but with wine, secrets, and a lake house in Maine! In Hannah Orenstein’s heartfelt novel, two half-sisters — Vivian, a high-powered NYC sommelier, and Lucy, a small-town Maine teacher — meet for the first time after their father’s unexpected death. The catch? They’ve spent decades spending summers at his lake house, but never together.
When Vivian arrives to scatter his ashes and sell the cabin, she’s shocked to find Lucy already there, refusing to let go of their shared history. Forced into a summer of uneasy cohabitation, the sisters clash over family secrets, betrayals, and whether it’s ever too late to find common ground.
Filled with heart, humor, and plenty of lakeside drama, this is a tender story of grief, sisterhood, and discovering that sometimes the family you need is the one you never knew you had.
‘My Roommate Is a Vampire’ by Jenna Levine
Cassie Greenberg is an artist struggling to make ends meet when she stumbles upon an unbelievably cheap apartment in a charming Chicago neighborhood.
Her new roommate, Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, is strange — he’s only around at night, speaks like he’s from another century, and leaves her sweet, thoughtful notes. Just when she’s starting to warm up to him, Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge, and Frederick reveals his secret: he’s a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.
If you’re looking for Jewish representation, laugh-out-loud dialogue that’ll leave you in stitches, and a cozy night in with a fiction debut, Jenna Levine’s novel will leave you enthralled.
“Funny You Should Ask” by Elissa Sussman
National bestseller “Funny You Should Ask” follows journalist Chani Horowitz as both a 20-something struggling for her big break and after her brutal divorce 10 years later.
As her former MFA classmates are scoring massive book deals, Chani works on writing fluff pieces — until she’s hired to profile A-list actor Gabe Parker. Spending the weekend with Gabe, the new James Bond and Chani’s celebrity crush, the article pulls them closer than she ever expected.
A decade later, Chani returns to Los Angeles after making it as a successful writer. However, her name remains linked to the profile she has been trying to avoid since it was published. As much as she runs, tabloid buzz following her whirlwind time with Gabe Parker follows her.
Chani is comfortable with ignoring her past until Gabe’s PR team requests that they do a follow-up. As much as Chani wants to say no, she knows that she needs to see him one last time — and he’s been waiting to reunite with her too.
This second-chance romance will leave you in stitches and get you clamoring for Elissa Sussman’s other hilarious novels — it’s the perfect summer read.
“Sadie on a Plate” by Amanda Elliot
Sadie discovers the perfect recipe for love as she navigates the Seattle food scene in Amanda Elliot’s “Sadie on a Plate.”
This sweet romantic comedy follows a rising chef as she attempts to create innovative versions of traditional Jewish recipes. Sadie’s career is on the up until she has a very public breakup with her boss — a respected chef — and she’s certain her career is over.
Sadie is given another opportunity to prove herself when she’s offered a slot on her favorite TV show, “Chef Supreme.”
On her plane to New York City, Sadie has steaming chemistry with her seatmate, Luke, but knows that nothing can happen — at least until “Chef Supreme” is over. After telling him that they can’t see each other for the next six weeks, Sadie arrives on set the next morning to a shocking discovery.
Sadie must re-earn her reputation and keep her eyes on the prize, but to do that she’ll need to ignore the sizzling connection between Luke and her.
For more info on real-life chefs modernizing Jewish cooking, check out Unpacked’s profiles of Eitan Bernath and Jake Cohen.
“Dear Eliza” by Andrea Stein
Eliza Levinger’s life fell apart when her mom died of cancer when she was a teen. As an adult, she thinks she has finally gotten it all figured out: A Manhattan apartment, a director job at a non-profit, and the perfect no-strings-attached friends-with-benefits relationship.
However, Eliza’s world is once again turned upside down when her dad dies and her aunt Claude gives her a letter at the shiva that exposes a major family bombshell.
Now, she and her brother aren’t on speaking terms, her best friend doesn’t understand and her stepmom is threatening to disinherit her. In all of the chaos, she finds an unlikely ally in her brother’s best friend and her former crush, Josh, who might be exactly what she’s looking for.
“Dear Eliza” is the perfect fit for Emily Henry and Katherine Center readers who are looking for a novel that poignantly discusses grief, love, and finding beauty in messes.
“Late Night Love” by Chayla Wolfberg
Unpacked contributor Chayla Wolfberg’s debut is full of humor, heart, and chutzpah, and the perfect Jewish love story for television and comedy lovers everywhere.
Emily Beckerman has always dreamed of making people laugh, and now she’s doing it for a living. As a staff writer on “Live From New York,” the iconic late-night sketch show, she’s finally broken into the comedy world. But there’s one spot she really wants: Weekend Update.
When the show’s current head writer (and Weekend Update cohost) refuses to take her seriously, Emily takes a calculated risk: she swaps one of his jokes for her own. The result? A live-TV meltdown, a pink slip for the head writer…and a big, unexpected promotion for Emily.
Related article: I wanted to see myself on the page — so I wrote a Jewish romance novel
Now she’s the new Weekend Update host. And “Live From New York” is on the verge of cancellation.
The only person standing in her way? Chris Galloway, the show’s other Update anchor — brilliant, brooding, and not exactly thrilled to share the spotlight. The two clash instantly over everything from tone to punchlines to who gets final say in the writers’ room. But as sparks fly and insults turn into banter, Emily starts to realize that Chris isn’t the enemy she thought he was. He might even be the cohost and partner she never saw coming.
With the fate of the show on the line and her own future in comedy at stake, Emily will have to decide what matters most: proving herself, keeping her cool… or finally letting someone in.
Because in comedy — and love — timing is everything.
“Unlikely Story” by Ali Rosen
Ali Rosen’s hilarious new book follows Nora, a relationship therapist who helps her clients get honest about their feelings. But when it comes to her own love life? Let’s just say she’s been avoiding the truth. Namely: she’s hopelessly, secretly in love with a man she’s never actually met.
For seven years, Nora has been anonymously writing a popular advice column — and J, her charming British editor, is the only person who knows the real her. Their entire relationship exists in the margins of shared documents and tracked changes. He’s in London. She’s in New York. And when he casually mentions his girlfriend is out of the picture and her boss suddenly sends her to London, Nora can’t help but wonder: Is this bashert?
But fate has a sense of humor.
Back home, her quiet Upper West Side life is upended when a client’s ex, Eli, moves into the apartment below hers. Eli blames Nora for the breakup and retaliates with loud renovations, snarky comments, and passive-aggressive power tools. Still, Nora starts to see something deeper beneath his gruff exterior: an unexpected kindness, a sharp wit, a vulnerability that mirrors her own.
Then a twist of fate — and one very personal revelation — leaves Nora wondering: Can someone be both your nemesis and your maybe-something-more? Can the story you’ve been writing for yourself change when you least expect it?
And is it possible that the love of her life isn’t across the ocean… but right under her feet?
“What Happens in Amsterdam” by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Dani Dorfman has made it to her thirties without quite figuring out what she wants to do with her life. After an office romance implodes and leaves her jobless, she applies for a position in Amsterdam on a whim — never expecting to actually get it.
But a few weeks later, she’s living in a new country, biking through unfamiliar streets, and feeling more unmoored than ever. Then she crashes — literally — into Wouter van Leeuwen, her high school ex and the Dutch exchange student her family once hosted.
Wouter has a problem: he needs to get married to inherit his family’s canal house. Dani has a problem too—her job fell through, and she needs a visa. A marriage of convenience might solve both their problems… if they can survive living together. Especially since the chemistry between them hasn’t cooled—and neither has the complicated history.
As Dani navigates fake vows, real feelings, and the uncertainty of a life she never planned, she has to ask herself: is this another impulsive mistake… or the start of something real?
Rachel Lynn Solomon’s lovely marriage-of-convenience novel shines in its Jewish representation, not shying away from the city’s history of antisemitism and the destruction of Dutch Jewish life during the Holocaust.
“Good Grief” by Sarah Goodman Confino (Aug. 26, 2025)
While Sarah Goodman Confino’s “Good Grief” doesn’t come out until late August, it’s the perfect Jewish rom-com to add to your summer TBR.
It’s 1963, and Barbara Feldman is slowly beginning to move forward. Two years after her husband’s death, she’s raising two kids on her own and trying to step out of the shadow of grief. She’s not quite ready to reinvent her life, but she’s no longer standing still.
Then her mother-in-law, Ruth, shows up unannounced, towing five suitcases and expecting a room of her own. A grieving mother herself and recently widowed, Ruth insists she’s come to help. And how can Barbara say no?
But as Ruth’s brief visit stretches from days to weeks with no end in sight, Barbara begins to suspect her “help” is here to stay. Desperate for space — and her sanity — Barbara comes up with a plan: find Ruth a nice Jewish man and marry her off.
What she doesn’t expect is that Ruth might be thinking the same thing for her.
As two very different women navigate shared loss, unexpected companionship, and the strange territory of second chances, they begin to form a bond neither of them saw coming. Because sometimes, the path forward comes with a little nudging — and a lot of chutzpah.
“An Introvert’s Guide to Life and Love” by Lauren Appelbaum (Sept. 16, 2025)
Mallory Rosen likes her life quiet, contained, and lived mostly through a screen. As a remote tech worker in Seattle, she’s built the perfect bubble: solo apartment, zero commutes, minimal small talk. And honestly? It works.
So when she inherits her late grandmother’s seaside cottage, she’s ready to sell—until she learns there’s one condition: she has to take care of her grandfather first.
Mallory figures she’ll drop in on Gramps at his independent living community, get the cottage listed, and return to her carefully curated solitude.
But suddenly, she’s stuck with spotty internet, a grandfather who keeps crashing her meetings, and a fixer-upper in desperate need of repairs, according to the very charming and very extroverted property manager.
Soon, Mallory finds herself roped into senior aerobics, holiday potlucks, and something even more surprising: real connection. Including the romantic kind.
And just when she’s starting to imagine a life that feels bigger and fuller than anything she planned, the worst email lands in her inbox: all employees must return to the office.
Mallory will have to decide whether love — and a new sense of belonging — is worth stepping outside her comfort zone.
This heartwarming romance might not release in time for Tu B’Av, but it’s perfect for anyone who believes love can bloom in unexpected places (and is the perfect read to add to your High Holidays reading).
Originally Published Aug 6, 2025 12:01PM EDT
