Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Before yesterdaySmart Bitches, Trashy BooksSmart Bitches, Trashy Books

May 2024 Queer Romances

Bookshelves everywhere are getting ready for Pride Month, and these are just five of the glorious May Flowers that’ll get your spring blooming, if you know what I mean. (You know what I mean.)

Lavash at First Sight

Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni

Author: Taleen Voskuni
Released: May 7, 2024 by Berkley
Genre: , ,

Sparks fly between two women pitted against each other in this delectable new romantic comedy by Taleen Voskuni, author of Sorry, Bro.

Twenty-seven-year-old Nazeli “Ellie” Gregorian enjoys the prestige of her tech marketing job but is sick of the condescending Patagonia-clad tech bros, her micromanaging boss, and her ex-boyfriend, who she’s forced to work with every day. When Ellie’s lovingly overbearing parents ask her to attend PakCon—a food packaging conference in Chicago—to help promote their company and vie to win an ad slot in the Superbowl (no big deal), she’s eager for a brief change and a delicious distraction.

At the conference, she meets witty, devil-may-care Vanya Simonian. Ellie can’t believe how easy it is to talk to Vanya and how much they have in common—both Armenian! From the Bay Area! Whose families are into food! Their meet-cute is cut short, however, when Ellie’s parents recognize Vanya as the daughter of the owners of their greatest rival, whose mission (according to Ellie’s mother) is to whitewash and package Armenian food for the American health-food crowd.

Sworn as enemies, Ellie and Vanya must compete against each other under their suspicious parents’ scrutiny, all while their feelings for each other heat to sizzling temps.

Voskuni won me over with her witty, chemistry-filled debut and its unique homage to Armenian culture, so I’ve been anxiously awaiting the follow-up, and am delighted to see it promising many of the same vibes.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

You Should Be So Lucky

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian

Author: Cat Sebastian
Released: May 7, 2024 by Avon
Genre: , ,

An emotional, slow-burn, grumpy/sunshine, queer mid-century romance about grief and found family, between the new star shortstop stuck in a batting slump and the reporter assigned to (reluctantly) cover his first season—set in the same universe as We Could Be So Good.

The 1960 baseball season is shaping up to be the worst year of Eddie O’Leary’s life. He can’t manage to hit the ball, his new teammates hate him, he’s living out of a suitcase, and he’s homesick. When the team’s owner orders him to give a bunch of interviews to some snobby reporter, he’s ready to call it quits. He can barely manage to behave himself for the length of a game, let alone an entire season. But he’s already on thin ice, so he has no choice but to agree.

Mark Bailey is not a sports reporter. He writes for the arts page, and these days he’s barely even managing to do that much. He’s had a rough year and just wants to be left alone in his too-empty apartment, mourning a partner he’d never been able to be public about. The last thing he needs is to spend a season writing about New York’s obnoxious new shortstop in a stunt to get the struggling newspaper more readers.

Isolated together within the crush of an anonymous city, these two lonely souls orbit each other as they slowly give in to the inevitable gravity of their attraction. But Mark has vowed that he’ll never be someone’s secret ever again, and Eddie can’t be out as a professional athlete. It’s just them against the world, and they’ll both have to decide if that’s enough.

Cat Sebastian, man. She is just so good at what she does. You cannot forget for a moment exactly what era you’re in when reading, to the extent I swear sometimes I feel like I’m on a movie set when I’m reading her work, it’s so immersive and consuming. This was a great followup to We Could Be So Good (with some lovely cameos!); I loved experiencing the ways both protagonists moved forward to forge a new future in the wake of unforeseen circumstances, wrapped up in a story of grief, journalism, and of course, baseball. Another home run from Sebastian, for sure.

 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Second Night Stand

Second Night Stand by Karelia Stetz-Waters

Author: Karelia Stetz-Waters
Released: May 21, 2024 by Forever
Genre: , ,

One hook-up is about to become one seriously hilarious situationship in this vibrant and lively romantic comedy about taking chances . . . and breaking the rules.

Prima ballet dancer Lillian Jackson is all about control—on stage and in bed. Which is precisely why she keeps her hook-ups to one night, and one night only. No strings. No phone numbers. No scones in the morning. There’s no room for mistakes, especially now that her dance company’s survival depends entirely on winning a million-dollar cash prize in one of America’s biggest reality competitions. That is, until one night with a certain curvy, blue-haired siren changes everything . . .

As burlesque dancer “Blue Lenox,” Izzy Wells is the queen of on-stage seduction. Almost no one knows that she’s close to losing everything—her theater, her home, and her troupe—unless she wins this competition. Now she’s going toe-to-toe with a gorgeous ballerina in front of the world. The chemistry between them is hot, but even more distracting are the feelings they’re starting to develop. There’s no way Lillian can fit Izzy into her life, and Izzy knows better than to fall for someone who can’t put her first. But if they can make it through the show with their hearts and dreams intact, they just might win the biggest prize of all.

I have such a soft spot for real-life couples writing together, but I’m not sure I’ve ever felt the actual love bleeding from the pages the way I did reading this first collaboration between the Stetz-Waters duo. The pairing of Lillian and Izzy is Opposites Attract to the max, but in the most “You complete me” way imaginable that has you knowing that when one of them has a bad day, she’s going to sink into the other’s arms and it’ll make it all better. Yes, this book made me sappy, and I am not ashamed.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Nearlywed

Nearlywed by Nicolas DiDomizio

Author: Nicolas DiDomizio
Released: May 21, 2024 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: , ,

An engaged couple’s compatibility is put to the test during their ill-fated early honeymoon in this smart, dazzling, and provocative summer comedy perfect for fans of People We Meet on Vacation.

5 Signs You and Your Fiancé Might Be Secretly Incompatible…and #3 Will Shock You!

Ray Bruno and Kip Hayes are horrible on paper. Ray is a chaotic millennial ex-clickbait-writer who’s been oversharing his every thought online since he was a teenager, and Kip is a pragmatic Gen X doctor who values privacy above all else.

But somehow it all manages to work…until Ray convinces Kip to join him for an early honeymoon at a famous lux resort in Ray’s coastal New England hometown, eschewing the tradition of bachelor parties and hoping to recharge before their end-of-August wedding. When a surprising encounter with another couple at the resort leads to a series of escalating mishaps and miscommunications, Ray and Kip are forced to look at their many differences in a stark new light, turning the trip into less of a vacation and more of a test: will they be able to work through their issues in time for the big day? Or is this marriage over before it begins?

You generally know a book by Nicolas DiDomizio is going to result in some literal LOLs (and this one definitely did), but I think this is also the first standalone romance I’ve ever read where the couple is committed to each other before the book begins. I’ll admit I went in a little skeptical; it’s hard to make readers care about a couple when you didn’t see them get together, and harder to have a plot that doesn’t revolve around wild, unbelievable miscommunications. But DiDomizio handles both with aplomb, centering communication issues on the characters themselves, and the way both their pasts and their respective generations’ (Millennial and Gen X, in this case) experiences of queerness have shaped them.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

A Little Kissing Between Friends

A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia Higgins

Author: Chencia Higgins
Released: May 28, 2024 by Carina Adores
Genre: , ,

Music producer on the rise Cyn Tha Starr knows what she likes, from her sickening beats in the studio to the flirty femmes she fools around with. Her ever-rotating roster has never been a problem until her latest fling clashes with Jucee, her best friend and the most popular dancer at strip club Sanity.

It makes Cyn see Jucee in a different light. One with far fewer boundaries and a lot more kissing.

Juleesa Jones makes great money dancing the early shift and spends most evenings with her son, her Sanity family or at Cyn’s house. Relationships are not high on the priority list—until she’s forced to admit that maybe friendship isn’t the only thing she wants from her bestie.

But hooking up with your ride-or-die is risky. Jucee isn’t just Cyn’s best friend—Jucee is her muse. When Cyn lays down her beats, it’s Jucee she imagines in the club throwing it back to every note. If they aren’t careful, this could crash and burn…but isn’t real love worth it?

Higgins’ followup to the much-beloved D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding looks absolutely delightful. Best friends with benefits turned best friends to lovers between a music producer and a dancing single mom? The stakes are real, and so’s the potential for something serious. Something tells me this is gonna be the kind of romance novel that makes you do that little squeal with your legs kicking in the air.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

April 2024 Queer Romances

April showers bring May just end up reading in bed all day, because why not? Especially when the fare is as fantastic as these romances are!

Here We Go Again

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

Author: Alison Cochrun
Released: April 2, 2024 by Atria Books
Genre: , ,

A long time ago, Logan Maletis and Rosemary Hale used to be friends. They spent their childhood summers running through the woods, rebelling against their conservative small town, and dreaming of escaping. But then an incident the summer before high school turned them into bitter rivals. After graduation, they went ten years without speaking.

Now in their thirties, Logan and Rosemary find they aren’t quite living the lives of adventure they imagined for themselves. Still in their small town and working as teachers at their alma mater, they’re both stuck in old patterns. Uptight Rosemary chooses security and stability over all else, working constantly, and her most stable relationship is with her label maker. Chaotic and impulsive Logan has a long list of misguided ex-lovers and an apathetic shrug she uses to protect herself from anything real. And as hard as they try to avoid each other—and their complicated past—they keep crashing into each other. Including with their cars.

But when their beloved former English teacher and lifelong mentor tells them he has only a few months to live, they’re forced together once and for all to fulfill his last wish: a cross-country road trip. Stuffed into the gayest van west of the Mississippi, the three embark on a life-changing summer trip—from Washington state to the Grand Canyon, from the Gulf Coast to coastal Maine—that will chart a new future and perhaps lead them back to one another.

Cochrun’s debut, The Charm Offensive, was so good, it’s put her on my autobuy list, and I’m so glad it did, because this book is a delight. It’s deeply heartfelt and sharply witty and will absolutely make you shed a few tears. You really just can’t go wrong with a good road trip; this made me want to pack my bags for the Grand Canyon immediately. Add some resonant ADHD rep and Cochrun has another winner.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

The Prospects

The Prospects by KT Hoffman

Author: KT Hoffman
Released: April 9, 2024 by The Dial Press
Genre: , ,

The pressure cooker of minor league baseball leads to major chemistry in this exhilarating, sexy, and triumphant rivals to lovers debut romance.

Hope is familiar territory for Gene Ionescu. He has always loved baseball, a sport made for underdogs and optimists like him. He also loves his team, the minor league Beaverton Beavers, and, for the most part, he loves the career he’s built. As the first openly trans player in professional baseball, Gene has nearly everything he’s ever let himself dream of—that is, until Luis Estrada, Gene’s former teammate and current rival, gets traded to the Beavers, destroying the careful equilibrium of Gene’s life.

Gene and Luis can’t manage a civil conversation off the field or a competent play on it, but in the close confines of dugout benches and roadie buses, they begrudgingly rediscover a comfortable rhythm. As the two grow closer, the tension between them turns electric, and their chemistry spills past the confines of the stadium. For every tight double play they execute, there’s also a glance at summer-tan shoulders or a secret shared, each one a breathless moment of possibility that ignites in Gene the visceral, terrifying kind of desire he’s never allowed himself. Soon, Gene has to reconcile the quiet, minor-league-sized life he used to find fulfilling with the major-league dreams Luis makes feel possible.

A joyful, heartfelt debut rom-com revealing what’s possible when we allow ourselves to want something enough to swing for the fences.

This book is simply joy. Trans joy, baseball joy, romantic joy…I dare you not to hug this one. There’s just so much to cheer for (pun only partially intended), it’s definitely gonna be a comfort read people go to again and again. It made me want to hug every player on my closest minor league team, and that’s about the highest praise I can give anything.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Late Bloomer

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

Author: Mazey Eddings
Released: April 16, 2024 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre:

Winning the lottery has ruined Opal Devlin’s life. After quitting her dead-end job where she’d earned minimum wage and even less respect, she’s bombarded by people knocking at her door for a handout the second they found out her bank account was overflowing with cash. And Opal can’t seem to stop saying yes.

With her tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her new money to buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to let the flowers live out their plant destiny while she uses the cabin on the property to start her painting business.

But her plans for isolation and self-preservation go hopelessly awry when an angry (albeit gorgeous) Pepper Boden is waiting for her at her new farm. Pepper states she’s the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms, and isn’t moving out. The unlikely pair strike up an agreement of co-habitation, and butt heads at every turn. Can these opposites both live out their dreams and plant roots? Or will their combustible arguing (and growing attraction) burn the whole place down?

I was sold the minute Mazey Eddings jumped into Sapphic lit, before I even saw this stunning Jenifer Prince cover, but then I cracked it open and was hit with one of my favorite voices I’ve read in a long while. Opal’s kind heart, impulse control, and self-awareness regarding her desperation to please people made me want to squeeze her for hours, and watching her thaw Pepper over the course of their forced proximity partnership made me smile nonstop. There’s also a solid setup for companions featuring Opal’s sisters, who are also bi, and I would just like to go on the record to say “Yes, please!” if that’s potentially in the works.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Playing for Keeps

Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan

Author: Jennifer Dugan
Released: April 30, 2024 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Genre: , , ,

From the author of Some Girls Do comes another heartfelt YA sapphic romance—starring a baseball pitcher and a student umpire who are definitely not supposed to fall for one another.

“Sapphic sports romance perfection. Swoony and romantic, but unafraid to tackle grief, family expectations, and fighting for your dreams, this is a home run of a book.” —Rachael Lippincott, coauthor of the #1 New York Times Bestsellers Five Feet Apart and She Gets the Girl

June is the star pitcher of her elite club baseball team—with an ego to match—and she’s a shoo-in to be recruited at the college level, like her parents have always envisioned. That is, if she can play through an overuse injury that has recently gone from bad to worse.

Ivy isn’t just reffing to pay off her athletic fees or make some extra cash on the side. She wants to someday officiate at the professional level, even if her parents would rather she go to college instead.

The first time they cross paths, Ivy throws June out of a game for grandstanding. Still, they quickly grow from enemies to begrudging friends . . . and then something more. But the rules state that players and umpires are prohibited from dating.

As June’s shoulder worsens, and a rival discovers the girls’ secret and threatens to expose them, everything the two have worked so hard for is at risk. Now both must choose: follow their dreams . . . or follow their hearts?

I’ve been a huge Jennifer Dugan since Hot Dog Girl (which is actually being rereleased this month in a new cheaper paperback format, now that Some Girls Do has blown up so hugely), so whether her new releases are YA (as this one is) or Adult (see: next month’s The Ride of Her Life), I am absolutely on board. But what’s uniquely cool about this newest is that one of the protagonists aspires to be a professional ref, something I’ve never seen in a romance protagonist of any age or gender.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Truly, Madly, Deeply

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur

Author: Alexandria Bellefleur
Released: April 30, 2024 by Avon
Genre: , ,

Sparks fly when a lovelorn romance novelist and a divorce lawyer who has sworn off relationships agree to cohost a podcast series offering dating advice to viewers, in Truly, Madly, Deeply, the next steamy queer rom-com from Lambda Literary Award winner and national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.

As a bestselling romance novelist, everyone thinks Truly Livingston is an expert on happily-ever-afters. She’s even signed on to record a podcast sharing relationship advice. Little do they know she feels like an imposter—her parents just announced they’re separating, she caught her fiancé cheating, and her entire view on love has been shaken to the core. Truly hopes the podcast will distract her… until she meets her cohost.

Her first impression of Colin McCory is…hot. But then he opens his extremely kissable mouth. Colin’s view on love just pisses Truly off, even if he does have an annoyingly attractive face. Bickering with a cynical divorce lawyer is the last thing she needs—so she walks out, with no plans to return.

A few days later, Truly is surprised when Colin tracks her down, asking for a fresh start. Truly can’t deny the little thrill she gets from Colin begging, so she reluctantly agrees. As they go from enemies to friends to something else entirely, Truly discovers they have more in common than she ever imagined, including their shared queerness. He’s a genuinely good guy—charming, sweet, and equally as unlucky in love as herself—and there’s something about Colin that drives Truly a little wild. When their attraction reaches a fever pitch, Truly is happy for the first time in years. Yet she can’t help but wonder… is Colin truly, madly, deeply in love with her? Or is it all too good to be true?

Is this book heavier on sex and chemistry than plot? Yes. Did I mind for a minute? You better believe I did not. These two bi disasters are so horny for each other, and Bellefleur puts it allll on the page, making for an absolutely electric and banterrific pairing. I could definitely see picking this one up again and again whenever you need a pick me up.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

March 2024 Queer Romances

Shake off the cold and usher in the springtime with these delightful new queer romances!

Really Cute People

Really Cute People by Markus Harwood-Jones

Author: Markus Harwood-Jones
Released: March 12, 2024 by Carina Adores
Genre: , ,

A little domestic bliss never hurt anyone…right?

Charlie Dee is headed for burnout. They’ve been burned before, both by their bio family and the now-defunct queer collective they once called home. So when they’re asked to take a work trip outside the city, they jump at the chance. Sure, it’s additional work with no additional pay, but it’s also an excuse to get out of town—and out of their own head.

That dream is shattered when Charlie opens the door to their supposedly private rental. There’s a bird on the loose, circling the living room as it’s chased by a cat, who is chased by a small child. The girl’s parents, Hayden and Buffy, only manage to add to the chaos. They promise to leave first thing in the morning, but when a massive snowstorm rolls in, this overnight trip becomes a weeklong affair.

Reluctantly charmed by this unfiltered—if forced—look at a loving, healthy family, Charlie begins to develop feelings for both Hayden and Buffy. And they both seem to be flirting back. But when a potential promotion lures Charlie back to the city, all three will have to decide where they go from here—and what it means to truly feel at home.

I was drawn in by the title, because who doesn’t like really cute people?? But the premise! A nonbinary cutie in forced proximity for a week with a family and everyone is Deeply Into It? Definitely not like anything I’ve seen before, and I must know how this all goes down.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

London Fog

London Fog by E.M. Lindsey

Author: E.M. Lindsey
Released: March 14, 2024
Genre: , ,
Series: BrewBiz #2

Part owner of the BrewBiz Deaf Café, Wren might not be the most self-aware man, but he does know a few important things he won’t compromise on.

No relationships.
No commitments.
No complications.

Then Percy shows up fresh from the UK and stumbles right into Wren’s path. Literally.

Percy is obscenely good looking, and since Wren never denies himself, he pursues Percy, and that one night rocks his world.

Now Wren doesn’t want to let Percy go, and that feeling threatens to upend the very core of his identity. So, Wren does what he does best.

He panics.
He ruins things.
And leaves Percy in shambles.

But he’s immediately filled with regret. Chasing Percy away is the last thing he wants, so he turns to his found family who show him that he doesn’t have to fit inside a box to be who he is. He can have what he wants and not lose everything he’s come to accept about himself.

If only he didn’t realize that after hurting Percy. His only hope now is a big apology, and praying that it wasn’t too little too late.

London Fog is the second book in the BrewBiz series. It contains a one-night-stand to lovers romance with disasters in babysitting, grey-aromantic acceptance, planetarium dates, the merits of a good cuddle, panic kissing, and a steamy, swoony happily ever after.

Coffee shops are just one of my fave Romance settings, and characters who are dead-set against relationships but oh noooo here comes a charmer who proves them all wrong (especially if they do it with a British accent) are just the best. Put them both together? Yes, I’ll have what they’re having!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Cover Story

Cover Story by Rachel Lacey

Author: Rachel Lacey
Released: March 26, 2024 by Montlake
Genre: , ,

Natalie Keane is one of Hollywood’s top leading ladies, but she’s paid a steep price for her fame. After she was stalked eight years ago, the ensuing media frenzy almost broke her. So when a new threat arises, Natalie agrees to extra security, but she wants to keep it under wraps. The last thing she needs is another tabloid spectacle, especially during awards season.

Taylor Vaughn has made a career as a bodyguard to the stars, but an injury has kept her sidelined for the past three months, jeopardizing her future in the job she loves. When an opportunity arises to work for Natalie Keane, Taylor jumps at the chance—even before knowing the details of the assignment.

From the moment they meet, Natalie knows this could Taylor, the bodyguard, masquerading as her girlfriend. The perfect cover story. But as circumstances push the two women closer, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

The Boyfriend Subscription

The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore

Author: Steven Salvatore
Released: March 26, 2024 by Afterglow Books by Harlequin
Genre: , ,

What happens when a simple deal gets… complicated?

After losing his marriage and his beloved retail plant business, Teddy Hughes is ready to drown his sorrows—or would be, if he could afford another beer in his favorite dive bar. He has no choice but to uproot his dreams and leave New York for good. And then a gorgeous stranger walks in with cheekbones that could cut glass and a confidence that leaves Teddy panting.

Like the leather harness he wears under his designer suit, Cole Vivien is a mass of contradictions. He’s a successful entrepreneur whose app, VERSTL, allows consumers and sex workers to form real—if temporary—connections. But now Cole is in the unfamiliar position of needing something from someone else. A fake boyfriend can help Cole project a more traditional image for a potential investor. And Teddy—shy, smart and so much hotter than he knows—is perfect for the part. Maybe too perfect.

Cole just has two no kissing and no falling in love. In exchange for one week together, Teddy will get enough money to get back on his feet, and no messy feelings will be in the mix.

But some rules are made to be broken…

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

The Fireman and the Flirt

The Fireman and the Flirt by A.J. Truman

Author: A.J. Truman
Released: March 27, 2024 by Truman Books
Genre: , ,
Series: Single Dads Club #4

Is it in bad taste to sleep with a client? Asking for a friend…

In high school, Derek ruled the school with his fellow hockey players, while I fantasized from afar. He only knew me as his little brother’s shy friend who, thanks to one vicious rumor from a former flame, had garnered a reputation as the school freak.

Twenty years later, I’m a successful real estate agent who’s put my embarrassing past behind me and smartly stayed away from love. I have things under control…until Derek suddenly returns to Sourwood sans wedding ring, and in dire need of a house for him and his daughter.

Clinching this sale will cement my hard-earned status as a top agent and distance me from my embarrassing past. If only I can stop shamelessly flirting with my new client. If only I can stop dreaming about him bending me over newly updated marble countertops and stainless steel appliances. Old habits die hard.

Soon though, my fantasy version of Derek fades away as I learn the truth about his return. Maybe I can get him to no longer see me as his little brother’s weird friend. Maybe he can get me to let down my guard and trust a guy again.

Or maybe those dreams are as unrealistic as the housing budget for a couple on House Hunters.

The Fireman and the Flirt is the fourth book in the Single Dads Club series, but can be read as a standalone. It will give you all the brother’s best friend, businessman/client, nerd/jock vibes you can handle without charging a commission.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

February 2024 Queer Romances

‘Tis the month for Romance, nothing makes a better Valentine to yourself or a loved one than a brand-new book of guaranteed swoons!

Infinity Alchemist

Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender

Author: Kacen Callender
Released: February 6, 2024 by Tor Teen
Genre: , , ,
Series: Infinity Alchemist #1

Infinity Alchemist is a spellbinding novel about a quest that leads three young alchemists toward unexpected love and unimaginable power.

For Ash Woods, practicing alchemy is a crime.

Only an elite few are legally permitted to study the science of magic―so when Ash is rejected by the Lancaster Mage’s College, he takes a job as the school’s groundskeeper instead, forced to learn alchemy in secret.

When he’s discovered by the condescending and brilliant apprentice Ramsay Thorne, Ash is sure he’s about to be arrested―but instead of calling the reds, Ramsay surprises Ash by making him an offer: Ramsay will keep Ash’s secret if he helps her find the legendary Book of Source, a sacred text that gives its reader extraordinary power.

As Ash and Ramsay work together and their feelings for each other grow, Ash discovers their mission is more dangerous than he imagined, pitting them against influential and powerful alchemists―Ash’s estranged father included. Ash’s journey takes him through the cities and wilds across New Anglia, forcing him to discover his own definition of true power and how far he and other alchemists will go to seize it.

Featuring trans, queer, and polyamorous characters of color, Infinity Alchemist is the hugely anticipated young adult fantasy debut from the extraordinary author of Felix Ever AfterKing and the DragonfliesQueen of the Conquered and more.

I am wildly inclined to simply add anything Kacen Callender ever does to my TBR. There are few authors with the range to make me cry my face off with one book and make my heart swoop with the next, and to bounce between contemporary and fantasy so seamlessly, but there’s a reason Callender is an award-winner, and it’s hard to get more intriguing than with a polyam YA fantasy revolving around alchemy and a magic school that promises to be considerably more diverse than Hogwarts.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Skater Boy

Skater Boy by Anthony Nerada

Author: Anthony Nerada
Released: February 6, 2024 by Soho Teen
Genre: , , ,

In this YA pop punk debut about queer romance and destroying labels, a teen risks everything to write his own story.

Stonebridge High’s resident bad boy, seventeen-year-old Wesley “Big Mac” Mackenzie, is failing senior year—thanks to his unchecked anger, rowdy friends, and a tendency to ditch his homework for skateboarding and a secret photography habit. So when his mom drags him to a production of The Nutcracker, Wes isn’t interested at all . . . until he sees Tristan Monroe. Mr. Nutcracker himself.

Wes knows he shouldn’t like Tristan; after all, he’s a ballet dancer, and Wes is as closeted as they come. But when they start spending time together, Wes can’t seem to get Tristan out of his head. Driven by a new sense of purpose, Wes begins to think that—despite every authority figure telling him otherwise—maybe he can change for the better and graduate on time.

As a falling out with his friends becomes inevitable, Wes realizes that being himself means taking a stand—if only he can blow up the bad-boy reputation he never wanted in the first place.

From a debut author to watch, Skater Boy delivers a heart-wrenching, validating, and honest story about what it means to be gay in a world where you don’t fit in.

If you grew up on Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8r Boi,” you simply cannot miss this one. The callout to the original is *chef’s kiss*, the book itself is described as a “pop punk debut,” and we can all hail a book whose message is “There’s no one right way to be gay.”

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

How You Get the Girl

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly

Author: Anita Kelly
Released: February 13, 2024 by Forever
Genre: , ,

Chemistry sizzles in this workplace rom-com set in the world of high school basketball from the author of  Love & Other Disasters , named a “must-read” by  USA Today , PopSugar, SheReads, and Harper Bazaar.

When smart-mouthed Vanessa Lerner joins the high school basketball team Julie Parker coaches, Julie’s ready for the challenge. What she’s not ready for is Vanessa’s new foster parent, Elle Cochrane—former University of Tennessee basketball star. While star-struck at first, soon Julie persuades Elle to step into the unfilled position of assistant coach for the year.

Even though Elle has stayed out of the basketball world since an injury ended her short-lived WNBA career, the gig might be a way to become closer to Vanessa—and to spend more time with Julie, who makes Elle laugh. As the coaches grow closer, Elle has a hard time understanding how Julie is single. When Julie reveals her lifelong insecurity about dating and how she wishes it was more like sports—being able to practice first—it sparks an intriguing idea. While Elle still doubts her abilities as a basketball coach, helping Julie figure out dating is definitely something she can do. But as the basketball season progresses, and lines grow increasingly blurred, Julie and Elle must decide to join the game—or retreat to the sidelines.

Authors who come out (heh) with a new pairing each book are among my absolute faves writing queer romance, so I’m extra-psyched to see the ever-reliable Anita Kelly’s first f/f novel after having already crushed it with f/nb and m/m. Plus, sports, a foster parent, dating practice… consider all my boxes ticked.

 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

The Friendship Study

The Friendship Study by Ruby Barrett

Author: Ruby Barrett
Released: February 13, 2024 by Carina Adores
Genre: , ,

Jesse Logan doesn’t want a fresh start. He wants his old life back—before an injury made his career as a firefighter impossible, before his grandfather’s Alzheimer’s got so bad he doesn’t recognize Jesse anymore. When a friend tells him about a paid psychological study, Jesse sees it as a chance to get back to the man he was while making a little extra cash.

All Lulu Banks is asking for is a fresh start. Back home after a devastating breakup, she’s struggling to find her place. She’s always been a lot—too loud, too eager, too obvious about her feelings. The friendship study seems like a great idea…until she’s paired with Jesse Logan, who recently ghosted her after a blind date that led to a steamy make-out session.

Now that old familiar tension is back. Despite the program’s strict “no romance” rule, Jesse and Lulu are quick to find a work-around that allows them to explore their tenuous connection. And soon they’re on their way to total self-improvement…

As long as they don’t get caught.

That thumb. On her throat. Even if I didn’t love bi m/f almost as a rule, and even if I didn’t know Ruby Barrett would guarantee hotness, and even if it wasn’t blurbed by three of my absolute favorite Romance authors, and even if the hero weren’t a former firefighter, and even if the premise didn’t promise a sexy, forbidden vibe… that thumb, man.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Love and Hot Chicken

Love and Hot Chicken by Mary Liza Hartong

Author: Mary Liza Hartong
Released: February 20, 2024 by William Morrow
Genre: , ,

The debut of a dynamite new voice from the South, Love and Hot Chicken is a spicy and hilarious Tennessee story about family, friendship, fried chicken, and two girls in love.

The Chickie Shak is something of a historical landmark. Red clapboard walls, thriving wasp population, yard-toilets resplendent with sunflowers. My best friend Lee Ray and I used to come after our softball games and snag a picnic table while our mammas ordered the home team special. Truth is, most people around here order the same thing until the day somebody throws their ashes off a roller coaster at Dollywood. The line snaked around the building far as you could see, a real parade of diversity hobnobbing in the parking lot from noon until night.

When PJ Spoon returns home for her beloved daddy’s funeral, she doesn’t expect to stick around. Why abandon her PhD program at Vanderbilt for the humble charms of her hometown, Pennywhistle, Tennessee? She tells herself it’s to help her brokenhearted Mamma, but PJ’s own heart’s not doing too good either. She impulsively takes a job as a fry cook at Pennywhistle’s beloved Chickie Shak, where locals gather for Nashville-style hot chicken.

Then fate shakes up PJ’s life again. While the town rallies around the terribly retro and terribly fun Hot Chicken Pageant, PJ finally notices her cute redheaded coworker Boof, a singer-songwriter with a talent as striking as her curly hair.

While PJ and Boof fall for each other, Boof’s search for her birth mother—a Pennywhistle native—catapults the budding couple into a mystery that might be better left unsolved. When the Chickie Shak pageant takes off, old rivalries and new friendships in Pennywhistle lead to unexpected fireworks, and new beginnings.

Premise-wise, this is admittedly more “contemporary fiction” than capital-R romance, but it’s rare to see a book quite so southern about women falling in love, and I am definitely here for both southern Sapphics and, frankly, hot chicken, especially when there’s both a mystery and a pageant involved.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

January 2024 Queer Romances

Don’t you just love it when the new year kicks off with a bang? These delightful titles will get your 2024 off to an excellent start.

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma Alban

Author: Emma Alban
Released: January 9, 2024 by Avon
Genre: , ,
Series: Mischief & Matchmaking #1

Gwen has a brilliant beyond brilliant idea.

It’s 1857, and anxious debutante Beth has just one season to snag a wealthy husband, or she and her mother will be out on the street. But playing the blushing ingenue makes Beth’s skin crawl and she’d rather be anywhere but here.

Gwen, on the other hand, is on her fourth season and counting, with absolutely no intention of finding a husband, possibly ever. She figures she has plenty of security as the only daughter of a rakish earl, from whom she’s gotten all her flair, fun, and less-than-proper party games.

“Let’s get them together,” she says.

It doesn’t take long for Gwen to hatch her latest scheme: rather than surrender Beth to courtship, they should set up Gwen’s father and Beth’s newly widowed mother. Let them get married instead.

“It’ll be easy” she says.

There’s just…one, teeny, tiny problem. Their parents kind of seem to hate each other.

But no worries. Beth and Gwen are more than up to the challenge of a little twenty-year-old heartbreak. How hard can parent-trapping widowed ex-lovers be?

Of course, just as their plan begins to unfold, a handsome, wealthy viscount starts calling on Beth, offering up the perfect, secure marriage.

Beth’s not mature enough for this…

Now Gwen must face the prospect of sharing Beth with someone else, forever. And Beth must reckon with the fact that she’s caught feelings, hard, and they’re definitely not for her potential fiancé.

That’s the trouble with matchmaking: sometimes you accidentally fall in love with your best friend in the process.

This debut is like a fun, frisky hug, warm and funny and sexy and just brimming with the rare kind of chemistry between the two leads that makes watching them become friends almost as fun as watching them realize, “Whoops, I am so gay,” and you get double the banter fun with the parents they’re trying to set up.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Most Ardently

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa

Author: Gabe Cole Novoa
Released: January 16, 2024 by Feiwel & Friends
Genre: , , ,
Series: Remixed Classics #9

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. This bittersweet Pride & Prejudice remix follows a trans boy yearning for the freedom to live openly, centering queerness in a well-known story of longing and subverting society’s patriarchal and cisheteronormative expectations.

London, 1812 . Oliver Bennet feels trapped. Not just by the endless corsets, petticoats and skirts he’s forced to wear on a daily basis, but also by society’s expectations. The world—and the vast majority of his family and friends—think Oliver is a girl named Elizabeth. He is therefore expected to mingle at balls wearing a pretty dress, entertain suitors regardless of his interest in them, and ultimately become someone’s wife.

But Oliver can’t bear the thought of such a fate. He finds solace in the few times he can sneak out of his family’s home and explore the city rightfully dressed as a young gentleman. It’s during one such excursion when Oliver becomes acquainted with Darcy, a sulky young man who had been rude to “Elizabeth” at a recent social function. But in the comfort of being out of the public eye, Oliver comes to find that Darcy is actually a sweet, intelligent boy with a warm heart. And not to mention incredibly attractive.

As Oliver is able to spend more time as his true self, often with Darcy, part of him dares begin to hope that his dream of love and life as a man to be possible. But suitors are growing bolder—and even threatening—and his mother is growing more desperate to see him settled into an engagement. Oliver will have to choose: Settle for safety, security, and a life of pretending to be something he’s not, or risk it all for a slim chance at freedom, love, and a life that can be truly, honestly his own.

Even if I weren’t already a fan of the author, I’m not gonna not buy a gay trans historical Pride & Prejudice; that’s just bananas. Also, everything in the Remixed Classics series is a gem, and I’d be stunned if Novoa doesn’t knock this one out of the park.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Escaping Mr. Rochester

Escaping Mr. Rochester by L.L. McKinney

Author: L.L. McKinney
Released: January 16, 2024 by HarperTeen
Genre: , , , ,

In this fresh reimagining of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel by acclaimed author L. L. McKinney, Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason must save each other from the horrifying machinations of Mr. Rochester in this intrigue-filled, empowering young adult romance.

Jane Eyre has no interest in a husband. Eager to make her own way in the world, she accepts the governess position at Thornfield Hall.

Though her new employer, Edward Rochester, has a charming air—not to mention a handsome face—Jane discovers that his smile can sharpen in an instant. Plagued by Edward’s mercurial mood and the strange wails that echo through the corridors, Jane grows suspicious of the secrets hidden within Thornfield Hall—unaware of the true horrors lurking above her very head.

On the topmost floor, Bertha Mason is trapped in more ways than one. After her whirlwind marriage to Edward turned into a nightmare, he locked her away as revenge for withholding her inheritance. Now his patience grows thin in the face of Bertha’s resilience and Jane’s persistent questions, and both young women are in more danger than they realize.

When their only chance at safety—and perhaps something more—is in each other’s arms, can they find and keep one another safe before Edward’s dark machinations close in around them?

It’s always fascinating to see the different ways authors take on Jane Eyre, and this definitely marks the first time I’ve seen it as a Black, Sapphic historical romance, which is just way too intriguing, especially by the author of the Nightmare-verse trilogy.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

The (Fake) Dating Game

The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky

Author: Timothy Janovsky
Released: January 23, 2024 by Afterglow Books by Harlequin
Genre: , ,

“Game show antics, idiots in love, and a healthy dose of steam…this book is everything I want in a romance novel!” —Alison Cochrun, author of The Charm Offensive and Kiss Her Once for Me

Ready. Set.  Faux .

Holden James picked the  worst  time to have a meltdown. His chance to audition for his favorite game show,  Madcap Market, should have been a moment of triumph—a glorious, loving homage to his adored mom, who died six years ago. Instead, he’s destroying the minibar in a grim Los Angeles hotel room…recently dumped, partnerless and sliding into misery.

But at least the hotel service is sublime. It even comes with an unfairly fit and sexy (smart-ass) concierge who arrives at the door with pizza, Monopoly and deliciously distracting forearms.

All Holden knows about Leo Min is that he’s beautiful and unexpectedly sympathetic, and the chemistry between them is  beyond . Maybe it’s even enough to convince everyone, including the show’s casting directors, that they’re a real couple. All they’d have to do is crush the competition, win the huge cash prize and all of Holden’s problems—his broken heart, his buried grief, his complete lack of money and direction—will be fixed.

Of course, reality doesn’t quite work out that way. But love is an entirely  different  game…

Everything Janovsky writes is just a delight, and I love a good fake romance when you can totally buy the reasons behind doing it. Plus, starting off with a meet cute already in a hotel is just so promising…

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Keep This Off the Record

Keep This Off the Record by Arden Joy

Author: Arden Joy
Released: January 30, 2024 by Rising Action Publishing
Genre: , ,

Abigail Meyer and Freya Jonsson can’t stand one another. But could their severe hatred be masking something else entirely?

From the moment they locked eyes in high school, Abby and Freya have been at each other’s throats. Ten years later, when Abby and Freya cross paths again, their old rivalry doesn’t take more than a few minutes to begin anew.

And now Naomi, Abby’s best friend, is falling for Freya’s producer and close pal, Will. Both women are thrilled to see their friends in a happy relationship—except they are now only a few degrees of separation from the person they claim to despise … and they can’t seem to avoid seeing one another.

Keep This off the Record is a fun and fresh LGBTQIA+ story about the freedom to be who you are, even if that means falling for the person you hate.

The rivalry is real, the hijinks are ridiculous (in a good way), the side characters are bursting with personality, and I’m always here for Jewish rep!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

December 2023 Queer Romances

Winter holiday romances seem to release earlier and earlier, but December’s definitely got a few choice reads to keep you warm and toasty! And what better time of year to treat yourself?

Second Chances in New Port Stephen

Second Chances in New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander

Author: TJ Alexander
Released: December 5, 2023 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Genre: , ,

A trans man returns to his Florida hometown for Christmas after his career goes up in flames, only to cross paths with his high school ex in this charming rom-com about family and second chances from the author of the “delectable” ( Time ) Chef’s Kiss .

Eli Ward hasn’t been back to his suffocating hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida, in ages. Post-transition and sober, he’s a completely different person from the one who left years ago. But when a scandal threatens his career as a TV writer and comedian, he has no choice but to return home for the holidays. He can only hope he’ll survive his boisterous, loving, but often misguided family and hide the fact that his dream of comedy success has become a nightmare.

Just when he thinks this trip couldn’t get any worse, Eli bumps into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who’s somehow hotter than ever. Divorced and in his forties, Nick’s world revolves around his father, his daughter, and his job. But even a busy life can’t keep him from being intrigued by the reappearance of Eli.

Against the backdrop of one weird Floridian Christmas, the two must decide whether to leave the past in the past…or move on together.

Alexander’s already the author of my one of my favorite romances of the year with Chef’s Choice, and this was another delight, mashing up the familiar feel small-town holiday love with a nuanced take on the second chance trope: this pair were high school sweethearts, and are reconnecting now that Eli has transitioned, and Nick is supposedly straight. But is he? (Spoiler: no, and his lack of angst at figuring that out adds yet another dose of warmth to this perfect-for-December read.)

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

A River of Golden Bones

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford

Author: A.K. Mulford
Released: December 5, 2023 by Harper Voyager
Genre: , , ,
Series: The Golden Court #1

A sleeping curse. A fallen court. A secret twin.

Twins Calla and Briar have spent their entire lives hiding from the powerful sorceress who destroyed their kingdom…and from the humans who don’t know they are Wolves. Each twin has their own purpose in life: Briar’s is to marry the prince of an ally pack and save the Golden Court. Calla’s purpose is to remain a secret, her twin’s shadow . . . the backup plan.

No one knows who Calla truly is except for her childhood friend—and sister’s betrothed—the distractingly handsome Prince Grae. But when Calla and Briar journey out of hiding for Briar’s wedding, all of their well-made plans go awry. The evil sorceress is back with another sleeping curse for the last heir to the Golden Court.

Calla must step out of the shadows to save their sister, their kingdom, and their own legacy. Continuing to hide as a human and denying who she truly is, Calla embarks on a quest across the realm, discovering a whole world she never knew existed. Outside the confines of rigid Wolf society, Calla begins to wonder: who could she be if she dared to try?

Full of adventure, love, gender exploration, and self-discovery, A River of Golden Bones follows Calla’s journey through treacherous Wolf kingdoms, monster-filled realms, and the depths of their own heart in this thrilling romantic fantasy.

Romantasy is all the current rage, but you know what we don’t see a lot of? Genderfluid Romantasy. So I’m all sorts of intrigued by Mulford’s newest, which plays on Sleeping Beauty in exactly this way for a romantic fairytale that sounds completely magical. Bonus for audiobook fans: Vico Ortiz is narrating.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Caught in a Bad Fauxmance

Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose

Author: Elle Gonzalez Rose
Released: December 5, 2023 by Joy Revolution
Genre: , , ,

A fresh, fun contemporary rom-com from debut author Elle Gonzalez Rose, about an aspiring artist who agrees to fake date one of his family’s longtime enemies in the hopes of gathering intel good enough to take down their rivals once and for all.

Devin Baez is ready for a relaxing winter break at Lake Andreas. That is, until he runs into his obnoxious next-door neighbors the Seo-Cookes, undefeated champions of the lake’s annual Winter Games. In the hope of finally taking down these long-time rivals, the Baezes offer up their beloved cabin in a bet. Reckless? Definitely.

So when annoyingly handsome Julian Seo-Cooke finds himself in need of a fake boyfriend, Devin sees an opportunity to get behind enemy lines and prove the family plays dirty.

As long as Devin and Julian’s families are at war, there’s only room for loathing between them. Which is a problem because, for Devin, this faux game of love is feeling very real.

I mean, the title is perfection, so this debut bi m/m YA has been on my radar since minute one. Tropey rom-coms are basically all I want in this world, and this one sounds delightful.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Playing with Matches

Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers

Author: Georgia Beers
Released: December 12, 2023 by Bold Strokes Books
Genre: , ,

Cori Stratton’s a small-town girl. She loves making candles, and her little gift shop is her pride and joy. But when the shop’s building goes up for sale, she might lose her home and everything that makes her happy. The worst timing of all? Her landlord’s daughter Elizabeth Brennan—popular, smart, and oblivious to Cori’s existence in high school—has breezed back into town.

Life has not gone according to plan for Elizabeth. Laid off from her job in the city, she’s forced back home to help her mom run the family’s B and B during a week-long wedding celebration…for Liz’s ex. Not wanting the groom to know the shambles her life is, she grabs the nearest person—Cori—and tells him how happy they are together.

A chance to live out her high school fantasy of Liz as her girlfriend is unexpected, but it keeps Cori playing along. And helping her one-time crush survive this wedding? Just for the week? She can do that. Besides, there’s no way this fake relationship will turn into the real deal.

I admit it: I am judging a book by its cover, and this one for the newest Sapphic romance by the extremely prolific Beers is just so damn cute. It’s also packed full of glorious tropes–small town! Fake dating! Wedding! Childhood…well, not enemies to lovers, but not exactly friends, either! Win win win.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Just Like Her

Just Like Her by Fiona Zedde

Author: Fiona Zedde
Released: December 23, 2023 by Red Hills Publishing
Genre: , ,

Delphine’s life is made up of secrets. About her job, her sexual identity, and even her past.

She coasts along on a tide of half-truths until a familiar “straight” woman pushes into her world, threatening her tenuous peace of mind. This woman wants to be everything Delphine has never had before – a confidant, a seductress, a lover. Delphine is terrified of taking the risk, yet she’s oh so tempted…

By giving in to this siren, is she setting herself up for heartbreak, or worse?

Zedde’s sexy Like Her series gets its third installment, and there is just something about “straight” in those extremely loaded quotation marks that piques allll my interest. Is there anything better than when the queer lead discovers the person they’ve been lusting over is potentially on the table after all? Not for me, there isn’t!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

November 2023 Queer Romances

November’s got a little something for everyone, as we head deeper into autumn and closer to the holidays, and we’re all looking for the perfect read to cuddle up with in front of a fire. (Real or otherwise.)

From Austen-inspired YA to Medieval mlm, this month’s got it all.

Emmett

Emmett by L.C. Rosen

Author: L.C. Rosen
Released: November 7, 2023 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre: , , ,

A modern-day gay YA  Emma , with the spikey social critique of Austen plus the lush over-the-top romance of  Bridgerton.

Emmett Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence and had lived nearly eighteen years in the world with very little to distress or vex him.

Emmett knows he’s blessed. And because of that, he tries to give from charity work to letting the often irritating Georgia sit at his table at lunch, he knows it’s important to be nice. And recently, he’s found a new way of giving matchmaking. He set up his best friend Taylor with her new boyfriend and it’s gone perfectly. So when his occasional friend-with-benefits Harrison starts saying he wants a boyfriend (something Emmett definitely does NOT want to be), he decides to try and find Harrison the perfect man at Highbury Academy, the candy-colored private school they attend just outside Los Angeles.

Emmett’s childhood friend, Miles, thinks finding a boyfriend for a guy you sleep with is a bad idea. But Miles is straight, and Emmett says this is gay life – your friends, your lovers, your boyfriends – they all come from the same very small pool. That’s why Emmett doesn’t date – to keep things clean. He knows the human brain isn’t done developing until twenty-five, so any relationship he enters into before then would inevitably end in a breakup, in loss. And he’s seen what loss can do. His mother died four years ago and his Dad hasn’t been the same since.

But the lines Emmett tries to draw are more porous than he thinks, and as he tries to find Harrison the perfect match, he learns that gifted as he may be, maybe he has no idea what he’s doing when it comes to love.

Modern and very gay, with a charmingly conceited lead who is convinced he knows it all, and the occasional reference to the classic movie  Clueless, Emmett  brings you lush romance all while exploring the complexities of queer culture—where your lovers and friends are sometimes the same person, but the person you fall in love with might be a total surprise.

If there’s one author who wildly mixes it up and yet always delivers for me, it’s L.C. Rosen, aka Lev A.C. Rosen, author of the fantastic historical mystery Lavender House. From sex ed YA to Indiana Jones-inspired adventure to gay life in the 1950s, he nails everything he touches, so when he brings Austen into queer contemporary with a gay YA retelling, yeah, that’s gonna shoot to the top of my TBR.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

One Night in Hartswood

One Night in Hartswood by Emma Denny

Author: Emma Denny
Released: November 7, 2023 by Mills & Boon
Genre: , ,

’A soul-satisfying love story that is both sublimely romantic and splendidly sexy.’ Booklist (starred review)

‘Road trips and secret identities…a beautifully thoughtful and deliciously sweet romance about getting lost in order to find oneself. I loved every moment spent with Penn and Raff.’ – Freya Marske, International bestselling author of A Marvellous Light

Oxford 1360

When his sister’s betrothed vanishes the night before her politically arranged marriage, Raff Barden must track and return the elusive groom to restore his family’s honour.

William de Foucart — known to his friends as Penn — had no choice but to abandon his fiancé, and with it his own earldom, when he fled the night before his enforced marriage. But ill-equipped to survive on the run he must trust the kindness of a stranger, Raff, to help him escape.

Unaware their fates are already entwined, their unexpected bond deepens into a far more precious relationship, one that will test all that they hold dear. And when secrets are finally revealed, both men must decide what they will risk for the one they love…

Denny’s m/m debut is the perfect combo of cozy and high-stakes for the chilly season, bringing sweet instalust into Medieval England with a woodsy setting and a charming pair you can’t help rooting for, no matter how messy their meet-cute.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Hunt on Dark Waters

Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert

Author: Katee Robert
Released: November 7, 2023 by Berkley
Genre: , ,
Series: Crimson Sails #1

Evelyn is a witch with a perfect storm of impulses: terrible taste in bed partners, sticky fingers, and a lust for danger. After she steals from her vampire ex and falls through a portal to another realm, she’s fished out of the waters by a band of seafarers and their telekinetic captain. She’s immediately given a choice—join their ship’s crew or die.

Bowen has no memory of his life before he became one of the Cŵn Annwn. He and his band of pirates are bound by vow to patrol through Threshold, the magical sea in between realms, keeping the portals to other worlds safe. When he rescues Evelyn, he doesn’t expect to be attracted to the unflappably brassy pickpocket. The longer he spends in her presence, the more he begins to question if his heart is the next thing she’ll steal.

But as tension heats up between Bowen and Evelyn, the danger at sea escalates as well. Because Evelyn has no intention of keeping her vows to the Cŵn Annwn, and if she betrays the crew, both she and Bowen will pay the ultimate price…

Robert is always reliable for steam in any setting, and if the idea of fanning yourself on the high seas floats your boat, you need to meet this sexy pair of a bisexual witch and the gruff captain totally beguiled by her when she inadvertently joins his crew. (Bonus queer note: There’s also a nonbinary pirate in the crew who uses neopronouns.) Let’s just say the captain knows how to use his hands, but his telekinesis means he’s got moves to spare without them…

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

For Never & Always

For Never & Always by Helena Greer

Author: Helena Greer
Released: November 28, 2023 by Forever
Genre: , ,

One surprise inheritance, two best friends (now bitter exes), and three months to prove he loves her, forever and always, in this swoony second-chance romance for fans of Alexandria Bellefleur and Ashley Herring Blake.

Hannah Rosenstein should be after a lonely childhood of traipsing all over the world, she finally has a home as the co-owner of destination inn Carrigan’s All Year. But her thoughts keep coming back to Levi “Blue” her first love, worst heartbreak, and now, thanks to her great-aunt’s meddling will, absentee business partner.

When Levi left Carrigan’s, he had good intentions. As the queer son of the inn’s cook and groundskeeper, he never quite fit in their small town and desperately wanted to prove himself. Now that he’s a celebrity chef, he’s ready to come home and make amends. Only his return goes nothing like he his family’s angry with him, his best friend is dating his nemesis, and Hannah just wants him to leave. Again .

Levi sees his chance when a VIP bride agrees to book Carrigan’s—if he’s the chef. He’ll happily cook for the wedding, and in exchange, Hannah will give him five dates to win her back. Only Hannah doesn’t trust this new Levi, and Levi’s coming to realize Hannah’s grown too. But if they find the courage to learn from the past . . . they just might discover the love of your life is worth waiting for.

Season of Love author Greer brings readers back to Carrigan’s for a pansexual and demisexual Jewish second-chance m/f romance begging to be read during the holiday season. There’s just nothing like a hard-won Happily Ever After between people who’ve been planning one since they were kids, especially when it’s filled with food, fun, flashbacks, and a little bit ‘o feistiness.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Consort of Fire

Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha

Author: Kit Rocha
Released: November 28, 2023 by Montlake
Genre: , ,
Series: Bound to Fire and Steel #1

From cult-favorite writing duo Kit Rocha comes a fiery novel set in a lush fantasy world brimming with ancient magic, dangerous secrets, and erotic connections.

For three thousand years, an ancient dragon god has protected the borders of the Sheltered Lands. In return, he makes only one demand: every one hundred years, the mortal ruler must send their heir to serve as his consort…for as long as they can survive.

Sachielle of House Roquebarre is the thirty-first consort to be sacrificed to the monster who guards the mountain passes. She is young, beautiful—and she has three secrets.

First: she’s a disposable orphan trained in seduction.

Second: her handmaid, Zanya, is an assassin and the only person she has ever loved.

Third—and most dangerous: she’s cursed. Sachi and Zanya have five weeks to murder the Dragon in his bed. If they fail, the mortal king’s curse will steal not just Sachi’s life, but her very soul.

The Dragon has only one secret: he is nothing like what they have been told. And he will do whatever it takes to possess them both.

Even if you weren’t already planning to read the first book in Kit Rocha’s new Bound to Fire and Steel series, with its gloriously bi-colored cover, a Katee Robert blurb calling it “A primal scream of queer joy” should probably do it, no? I mean, it’s literally a triad between a consort trained in seduction, an assassin in disguise, and a dragon god, so yes, I will be devouring this, and not in public.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

October 2023 Queer Romances

It may be getting chillier outside for many of us, but it’s been scientifically proven* that nothing keeps us cozier than a great queer romance novel. Which means that medically speaking**, you should really pick up one or two or all five of these books, right? That’s just the laws of physics*** right there.

*Note that asterisked statements may not be entire factual, but they sure feel factual, and isn’t that what matters?

Stars in Your Eyes

Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender

Author: Kacen Callender
Released: October 10, 2023 by Forever
Genre: , ,

The National Book Award-winning author of  Felix Ever After  delivers a beautifully tender story of two grumpy/sunshine, fake-dating actors navigating their love story both on and offscreen—perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alexis Hall.

Logan Gray is Hollywood’s bad boy—a talented but troubled actor who the public loves to hate. Mattie Cole is an up‑and‑coming golden boy, adored by all but plagued by insecurities.

When Logan and Mattie are cast as leads in a new romantic film, Logan claims that Matt has “zero talent,” sending the film’s publicity into a nosedive. To create positive buzz, the two are persuaded into a fake‑dating scheme—but as the two actors get to know their new characters, real feelings start to develop.

As public scrutiny intensifies and old wounds resurface, the two must fight for their relationship and their love.

Callender is an absolute master of…well, pretty much everything, considering their catalog includes massively critically acclaimed Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult Fantasy, much of which I’ve read and loved. I have no doubt that they’ll nail romance as well, especially one with a strong mental health (specifically cPTSD) focus and healing arc.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Mistletoe & Mishigas

Mistletoe & Mishigas by M.A. Wardell

Author: M.A. Wardell
Released: October 10, 2023 by M.A. Wardell
Genre: , ,
Series: Teachers in Love #2

Sheldon Soleskin should be having a horrible day. Even though he’s been unexpectedly transferred to a new school right before the holidays, has only one day to set up his new classroom, and just discovered his twin sister’s been hiding an invitation to his ex-boyfriend’s Christmas Eve wedding, he’s still ready to take on the world with a smile on his face and a skip in his step.

Theo Berenson just wants to be left alone to his custodial duties. But when the chipper new first-grade teacher needs help moving furniture the Sunday after Thanksgiving, he’s forced to do something he detests. Help. To make matters worse, Theo’s overbearing parents are coming for Hanukah in a few weeks, and he’s told them he has a boyfriend. Except he doesn’t. Because who would want to date an oaf like Theo?

Working together, these opposites discover they might be able to help each other out. Agreeing to be each other’s dates, they become friends as they practice for their upcoming events. But when all the rehearsing starts feeling a little too real, and both men’s pasts come roaring back to haunt them, will they be able to pull off the ultimate holiday masquerade?

I mean. With that title, even if you hadn’t already read and adored Wardell’s previous sexy and heartwearming Teachers in Love title, you’d need to snatch it up in time for the holidays, wouldn’t you? Add in a host of glorious tropes, like fake dating and opposites attract, and combine multiple winter holidays (honestly, I was sold by the dreidel on the cover), and this promises to be another delight.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

It’s a Fabulous Life

It’s a Fabulous Life by Kelly Farmer

Author: Kelly Farmer
Released: October 17, 2023 by Alcove Press
Genre: , ,

Perfect for fans of Alison Cochrun and Ashley Herring Blake, this sapphic retelling of It’s a Wonderful Life will make the yuletide gay.

After years of putting aside her dreams of travel and adventure, Bailey George is ready to leave Lanford Falls and her responsibilities behind on a long-awaited vacation to New York City. But when the volunteer who took over her leadership position for the town’s Winter Wonderfest has a medical emergency, Bailey finds herself stuck in Lanford Falls. She gets roped into reassuming her old role, not wanting to let the town or her friends and family down.

Staying home seems slightly less terrible when Bailey runs into her high school crush, Maria Hatcher. A kiss they shared years ago in the town’s mistletoe grove was a life-defining moment for them both. Maria quickly offers to pitch in and help with Winter Wonderfest. Her sunny disposition and holiday cheer perk up Bailey’s grinchy feelings about everything.

However, one disaster after another snowball on the day of the festival. Bailey’s frustration boils over, and she ends up on the town’s old wooden bridge. There, she meets fabulous drag queen Clara Angel. Bailey declares that she wishes she hadn’t been born in this Christmas-obsessed, suffocating small town. With a little of the magic Clara possesses, she shows Bailey how wrong she is about Lanford Falls and her place in it. And that with a little hope and some true holiday spirit, there is a way to attain all her dreams.

The marketing copy has already used the excellent “make the Yuletide gay” pun for Farmer’s first step outside Sapphic sports romance, an It’s a Wonderful Life retelling done as a small-town Christmas rom-com full of sweetness and drag queens, so I’ll just suggest you don ye now your gay wallet and treat yourself for the holidays!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date

Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake

Author: Ashley Herring Blake
Released: October 24, 2023 by Berkley
Genre: , ,
Series: Bright Falls #3

Everyone around Iris Kelly is in love. Her best friends are all coupled up, her siblings have partners that are perfect for them, her parents are still in marital bliss. And she’s happy for all of them, truly. So what if she usually cries in her Lyft on the way home. So what if she misses her friends, who are so busy with their own wonderful love lives, they don’t really notice Iris is spiraling. At least she has a brand-new career writing romance novels (yes, she realizes the irony of it). She is now working on her second book but has one problem: she is completely out of ideas after having spent all of her romantic energy on her debut.

Perfectly happy to ignore her problems as per usual, Iris goes to a bar in Portland and meets a sexy stranger, Stefania, and a night of dancing and making out turns into the worst one-night stand Iris has had in her life (vomit and crying are regretfully involved). To get her mind off everything and overcome her writer’s block, Iris tries out for a local play, but comes face-to-face with Stefania—or, Stevie, her real name. When Stevie desperately asks Iris to play along as her girlfriend, Iris is shocked, but goes along with it because maybe this fake relationship will actually get her creative juices flowing and she can get her book written. As the two women play the part of a couple, they turn into a constant state of hot-and-bothered and soon it just comes down to who will make the real first move…

More like Ashley Herring Blake Doesn’t Miss, amirite? Loved Delilah, loved Astrid, and loved the utterly charming Iris, from its atrocious failed one-night stand to its sizzling chemistry, and of course the cameos from the entire Bright Falls gang never hurt. Whether you loved the rest of the series or just particularly vibe with this tropetastic premise, don’t hesitate for a minute to pick this one up.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Tempted by the Bollywood Star

Tempted by the Bollywood Star by Sophia Singh Sasson

Author: Sophia Singh Sasson
Released: October 24, 2023 by Harlequin Desire
Genre: , ,

Being famous was her dream…until it cost her a chance at love. Years later, will a Hollywood reunion give her the comeback she’s craving? Find out in this emotional romance by  Sophia Singh Sasson .

She once turned her back on love…

Now she’s risking everything for a second chance.

During one perfect holiday, Bollywood star Saira Sethi fell hard for producer Mia Strome. Ending their fling to protect her public image is her biggest regret. Now, years later, she’s in Hollywood and Mia is a producer on Saira’s new show!

Mia never forgot their intense connection—nor her heartbreak when Saira walked away. Their chemistry still sizzles, but lingering frustrations cause clashes that threaten the show…and their future.

This one’s been on my radar for almost a year and I’m still finding it wonderfully miraculous that a Sapphic second-chance, opposites attract romance featuring a Bollywood star and her producer is a thing. (And with this cute a cover, no less!) Even better? You can buy it solo or paired together by Harlequin with another queer romance, the m/m Secret Heir for Christmas by LaQuette.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

September 2023 Queer Romances

Whether you’re riding out the last days of warmth or jumping straight into curling up under a cozy blanket, there’s no greater September accessory than a great romance novel, and this month runneth over with excellent queer options. Treat yourself!

A Shot in the Dark

A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Lee

Author: Victoria Lee
Released: September 5, 2023 by Dell
Genre: , ,

Elisheva Cohen has just returned to New York after almost a decade away. The wounds of her past haven’t fully healed, but four years of sobriety and a scholarship to study photography with art legend Wyatt Cole are signs of good things to come, right? They could be, as long as Ely resists self-sabotage. She’s lucky enough to hit it off with a handsome himbo her first night out in the city. But the morning after their mind-blowing hookup, reality comes knocking. When Wyatt Cole walks into the classroom, Ely realizes the man she just spent the night with, the man whose name she couldn’t hear over the loud club music, is her teacher.

Everyone in the art world is obsessed with Wyatt Cole. He’s immensely talented and his notoriously reclusive personal life makes him even more compelling. But behind closed doors, Wyatt’s past is a painful memory. After coming out as transgender, Wyatt was dishonorably discharged from the military and disowned by his family. Since these traumatic experiences, Wyatt has worked hard for his sobriety and his flourishing art career. He can’t risk it all for Ely, no matter how attracted to her he is or how bad he feels about insisting she drop his class in exchange for a strictly professional mentorship. Wyatt can help with her capstone photography project, but he cannot, under any circumstances, fall in love with her in the process.

Through the lens of her camera, Ely must confront the reason she left New York in the first the Orthodox community that raised her, then shunned her because of her substance abuse. Along the way, Wyatt’s walls begin to break down, and each artist fights for what’s right in front of them—a person who sees them for all that they are and a love that could mean more than they ever imagined possible.

I was excited about this one for so many reasons, from the female lead being a queer ex-Orthodox Jew to the male lead being a sexy trans man to the teacher-student dynamic (don’t worry if that trope is not your thing, as they’re both significantly into adulthood and it’s dealt with in the most responsible way possible), but the layers go deeper and deeper in Lee’s adult debut, grappling with addiction, recovery, and revisiting the past with a different lens as the person you’ve become in the present. Plus, the chemistry is *chef’s kiss*.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Fly with Me

Fly with Me by Andie Burke

Author: Andie Burke
Released: September 5, 2023 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: , ,

A one-way ticket to love or a bumpy ride ahead?

Flying-phobic ER nurse Olive Murphy is still gripping the armrest from her first-ever take-off when the pilot announces an in-flight medical emergency. Olive leaps into action and saves a life, but ends up getting stuck in the airport hours away from the marathon she’s running in honor of her brother. Luckily for her, Stella Soriano, the stunning type A copilot, offers to give her a ride.

After the two spend a magical day together, Stella makes a surprising Will Olive be her fake girlfriend?

A video of Olive saving a life has gone viral and started generating big sales for Stella’s airline. Stella sees their union as the perfect opportunity to get to the boys’ club executives at her company who keep overlooking her for a long-deserved promotion. Realizing this arrangement could help her too, Olive dives into memorizing Stella’s comically comprehensive three-ring-binder guide to fake dating. As the two grow closer, what’s supposed to be a ruse feels more and more real. Could this be the romantic ride of their lives, or an epic crash and burn?

It doesn’t take a whole lot to get me excited by a new voice in Sapphic romance, especially where steam and banter are promised. But there are so many glorious tropes in this debut, from forced proximity to fake dating to opposites attract, and let’s just say a protagonist with a fear of flying definitely resonates, as does a…whatever the furthest thing from a “meet cute” is. And a pilot! Definitely a new-to-me heroine profession and I can’t wait to keep reading.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Thank You for Sharing

Thank You for Sharing by Rachel Runya Katz

Author: Rachel Runya Katz
Released: September 12, 2023 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: , ,

Daniel Rosenberg and Liyah Cohen-Jackson’s last conversation—fourteen years ago at summer camp—ended their friendship. Until they find themselves seated next to each other on a plane, and bitterly pick up right where they left off. At least they can go their separate ways again after landing…

That is, until Daniel’s marketing firm gets hired by the Chicago museum where Liyah works as a junior curator, and they’re forced to collaborate with potential career changing promotions on the line.

With every meeting and post-work social gathering with colleagues, the tension (and chemistry) between Daniel and Liyah builds until they’re forced to confront why they broke apart years ago at camp. But as they find comfort in their shared experiences as Jews of color and fumble towards friendship, can they ignore their growing feelings for each other?

With sexy charm and undeniable wit, Rachel Runya Katz’s sparkling debut, Thank You For Sharing, proves that if you’re open to love, anything is possible.

Queer Jewish romance is having a serious moment right now, much to my delight (see: A Shot in the Dark, but also KD Casey’s m/m baseball series, Unwritten Rules; The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie DananSeason of Love by Helena Greer, and Roz Alexander’s Hot for the Holidays series, among others), but Katz’s debut stands out considerably by pairing up two Jews of color, one of whom is bi. Not only does the book feature some great banter and chemistry, but it’s also got a lot of great conversations about existing in that intersectional space and the difficulties (particularly microaggressions) that come with it. The summer camp throwback is just the icing on the cake.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Salt Kiss

Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone

Author: Sierra Simone
Released: September 12, 2023 by Bloom Books
Genre: , ,
Series: Lyonesse #1

From TikTok sensation Sierra Simone comes the first in the Lyonesse series, a spin-off of her bestselling New Camelot books.

Tristan Thomas is lost.

After leaving the army, the young former soldier is in limbo. Until, that is, he’s hired by Mark Trevena, the owner of Lyonesse―DC’s ultra-secret club―to be Mark’s new bodyguard. He’s drawn into Mark’s dark, seductive world of power and desire, and slowly drawn to Mark himself, even though Mark is everything Tristan knows he shouldn’t want: cruel and wicked and shamelessly amoral. But protecting Mark isn’t Tristan’s only duty: soon, Mark asks him to guard his soon-to-be bride as she travels home from Ireland on Mark’s yacht. Tristan is jealous―and hurt to learn that the object of his obsession is engaged―but the former soldier in him is made to obey orders, and he goes to fetch Mark’s bride for him. Isolde Laurence is nothing like Tristan expected, however. Young, quiet, and sharp, she’s being pushed into this marriage by her family, and as the two travel back to America, Tristan finds himself fascinated with Isolde and the glimpses he gets of the lonely but determined woman behind her reserve. And the fascination is mutual: one night, while sailing under the cold stars, they share a searing kiss. From there, it’s a fast fall into the forbidden for all three of them.

So here’s where I admit that I’m new to the Church of Sierra Simone, but as someone who’s interrupted her TBR to devour Priest, Sinner, Saint, and A Lesson in Thorns in the last couple of months, I am definitely a devoted member. I still have to catch up on her New Camelot books, but I definitely plan to be ready for this spinoff series, Lyonesse, inspired by Tristan and Isolde and similarly MMF. Bring on the queer nautical heat!

 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Cleat Cute

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

Author: Meryl Wilsner
Released: September 19, 2023 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: , ,

Grace Henderson has been a star of the US Women’s National Team for ten years, even though she’s only 26. But when she’s sidelined with an injury, a bold new upstart, Phoebe Matthews, takes her spot. Phoebe is everything Grace isn’t—a gregarious jokester who plays with a joy that Grace lost somewhere along the way. The last thing Grace expects is to become friends with benefits with this class clown she sees as her rival.

Phoebe Matthews has always admired Grace’s skill and was star struck to be training alongside her idol. But she quickly finds herself looking at Grace as more than a mere teammate. After one daring kiss, she’s hooked. Grace is everything she has been waiting to find.

As the World Cup approaches, and Grace works her way back from injury, the women decide to find a way they can play together instead of vying for the same position. Except, when they are off the field, Grace is worried she’s catching feelings while Phoebe thinks they are dating. As the tension between them grows, will both players realize they care more about their relationship than making the roster?

Wilsner is such a fun author to follow, because their debut was the slowest of the slow burns, and then bam, their followup was the spiciest of the spicy (within trad pub contemporary romance), and so Cleat Cute really could’ve gone either way… and gives a great compromise by making you think it’s gonna be the former and then. Whew. You will know it when you see it, and you will like it. Plus, sports romance is always a good time, and there’s a fun mentor/student dynamic between the lesbian protags who are only actually four years apart. The neurodivergence rep is great as well, and the way the characters handle each other’s personalities and quirks is one of the best parts of the whole shebang. (The other part is the…shebanging. I mean. Come on.)

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

August 2023 Queer Romances

There’s nothing that celebrates summer quite like finding the perfect beach read, especially if that book happens to be a queer romance. This month’s post is heavy on romantic reimaginings, which are a personal favorite, but  Slather on that SPF, get an extra twist of lime in your drink of choice, and treat yourself to one of these romantic rainbow delights!

 

With Love, from Cold World

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson

Author: Alicia Thompson
Released: August 1, 2023 by Berkley
Genre: , ,

She has a to-do list a mile long and falling for her coworker isn’t on it–yet somehow he’s become her top priority in this romantic comedy from the national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers.

Lauren Fox is the bookkeeper for Cold World, a tourist destination that’s always a winter wonderland despite being located in humid Orlando, Florida. Sure, it’s ranked way below any of the trademarked amusement parks and maybe foot traffic could be better. But it’s a fun place to work, even if “fun” isn’t exactly Lauren’s middle name.

Her coworker Asa Williamson, on the other hand, is all about finding ways to enliven his days at Cold World–whether that means organizing the Secret Santa or teasing Lauren. When the owner asks Lauren and Asa to propose something (anything, really) to raise more revenue, their rivalry heats up as they compete to come up with the best idea. But the situation is more dire than they thought, and it might take these polar opposites working together to save the day. If Asa thought Lauren didn’t know how to enjoy herself, he’s surprised by how much he enjoys spending time together. And if Lauren thought Asa wasn’t serious about anything, she’s surprised by how seriously he seems to take her.

As Lauren and Asa work to save their beloved wintery spot, they realize the real attraction might be the heat generating between them.

I loved Thompson’s romance debut (and her gymnastics YA, by the way – OG fan over here), Love in the Time of Serial Killers, so this shot to the top of my reading list immediately, and boy was I on target with my excitement. Thompson just has a knack for writing unique prickly heroines and the softer men who bring them out of their shells, and within a few pages of reading about straitlaced former foster kid Lauren and her bisexual prankster coworker Asa, who has his own tough past, this immediately shot to my list of all-time favorites.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Cruel Seduction

Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert

Author: Katee Robert
Released: August 8, 2023 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: , , ,
Series: Dark Olympus #5

He was my enemy. My lover. My husband. And the one man I swore by all Olympus I would destroy.

*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Aphrodite and Hephaestus (and Pandora and Adonis).*

Aphrodite has never flinched at getting her perfectly manicured hands dirty, and she’s not about to start now—even if that means marrying Olympus’s enemy number one, the new Hephaestus. She has a wicked plan to keep her deadly new husband off-balance, seducing the one person he seems to care about most in this world: Pandora, a woman as beautiful as she is sweet.

Two can play the seduction game, however, and Hephaestus is all too happy to put his new wife in her place. Her ex, Adonis, seems like he’ll do the trick. It doesn’t hurt that he’s gorgeous in the way of fallen angels, either.

The only problem with using seduction as a weapon? Hearts are all too quick to get involved. With Hephaestus and Aphrodite trading venomous strikes that feel a whole lot like foreplay, lines become blurred and emotions entangled. But a broken heart may be the least of their worries. With unrest in Olympus reaching new heights, these bedroom games may have deadly consequences for themselves, their city, and everyone they’ve come to love.

“Deliciously inventive…Red-hot.”—Publishers Weekly STARRED Review for Neon Gods

“I get shivers just thinking of their interactions. SHIVERS.”—Mimi Koehler for The Nerd Daily for Neon Gods

Robert is always a safe bet for seriously steamy, and even the premise of the fifth book in her Dark Olympus series positively sizzles. This Greek mythology reimagining as a polyam romance takes on Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Pandora, and Adonis, using seduction, revenge, and all manner of unholy acts among the gods, just the way we like it.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

New Adult

New Adult by Timothy Janovsky

Author: Timothy Janovsky
Released: August 15, 2023 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: , , ,
Series: Boy Meets Boy #3

Nolan Baker longs to be “thirty, flirty and thriving” in this charmingly quirky LGBTQIA+ romance that’s one part 13 Going on 30 and one part One Last Stop.

WHY CAN’T WE SKIP TO THE GOOD PART?

Twenty-three-year-old Nolan Baker wants it all by the time he’s thirty. Too bad he’s single, barely able to cover his own expenses, and still paying his dues at a prominent NYC comedy club. When faced with his perfect sister’s wedding, Nolan takes it as a wakeup call. It’s time to quit comedy and make good on his practical dreams—most importantly, asking Drew Techler, his best friend, to be his date.

But right as Nolan is about to give it all up, he’s asked to fill a last-minute spot for a famous comedian. Score! He crushes his set, but stands Drew up, misses his sister’s big day, and disappoints his entire family. After major blowouts with everyone he loves, Nolan desperately wishes on a set of gift “magical healing crystals” to skip to the good part of life. When he wakes the next morning, it’s seven years later, he’s a successful comedian, and he has everything he always thought he wanted. Everything, that is, except his friends and family, none of whom are taking his future self’s calls.

With nowhere else to turn, Nolan sets out to find the only person he trusts to help. Except Drew is all grown up now, too. He’s hot, successful…and hates Nolan’s guts. As Nolan works to get back to his younger self—and the life he so carelessly threw away—he’ll have to prove he’s not the man everyone thinks they know in order to regain Drew’s trust, friendship, and maybe, ultimately, his heart.

While part of a series, this book stands alone.

New Adult as an official category in traditional publishing may not have had legs, but that isn’t stopping Janovsky from becoming its unofficial new king in gay romance.

And what better way to cement your crown than with a book actually called New Adult? No doubt this one will be as sweet, funny, and romantic as his others, but this one gets bonus points for taking on a totally underadapted work in 13 Going on 30.

 

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Teach the Torches to Burn

Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig

Author: Caleb Roehrig
Released: August 22, 2023 by Feiwel & Friends
Genre: , , ,
Series: Remixed Classics #7

Verona, Italy. Seventeen-year-old aspiring artist Romeo dreams of a quiet life with someone who loves him just as he is. But as the heir to the Montague family, he is expected to give up his womanly artistic pursuits and uphold the family honor–particularly in their centuries-old blood feud with a rival family, the Capulets. Worse still, he is also expected to marry a well-bred girl approved by his parents and produce heirs. But the more Romeo is forced to mingle with eligible maidens, the harder it is to keep his deepest secret: He only feels attracted to other boys.

In an attempt to forget his troubles for just one night, Romeo joins his cousin in sneaking into a Capulet party. During a fateful encounter in the garden, he meets the kindest, most beautiful boy he’s ever encountered, and is shocked to learn he’s Valentine, the younger brother of one of his closest friends. He is even more shocked to discover that Valentine is just as enamored with Romeo as Romeo is with him.

So begins a tender romance that the boys must hide from their families and friends, each of them longing for a world where they could be together without fear. And as the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets escalates out of control, Romeo and Valentine find themselves in danger of losing each other forever–if not by society’s scorn, then by the edge of a blade.

If you haven’t read anything in the Remixed Classics series yet, you’re missing out on some of the most interesting and innovative YA in the game right now, but you definitely don’t want to sleep on this thrilling gay historical Romeo & Juliet retelling that eschews the tragic ending.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

In Charm’s Way

In Charm’s Way by Lana Harper

Author: Lana Harper
Released: August 22, 2023 by Berkley
Genre: , ,
Series: The Witches of Thistle Grove #4

A witch struggling to regain what she has lost casts a forbidden spell—only to discover much more than she expected, in this enchanting new rom-com by New York Times bestselling author Lana Harper.

Six months after having been hit by a power surge that nearly obliterated her memory, Delilah Harlow is still picking up the pieces. Her once diamond-sharp mind has become shaky and unreliable, and bristly, self-sufficient Delilah is forced to rely on friends, family, and her raven familiar for help. In an effort to reclaim her wits and former independence, she casts a dangerous blood spell meant to harness power with healing capacities.

While the spell does restore clarity, it also unexpectedly turns Delilah into an irresistible beacon for the kind of malevolent supernatural creatures that have never before ventured into Thistle Grove. One night—just as things are about to go terribly sideways with a rogue succubus—a mysterious stranger appears in the nick of time to save Delilah’s soul.

Gorgeous, sultry, and as dangerous as the knives she carries, Catriona Quinn is a hunter of monsters—and half-human, half-fae herself, she is the kind of sly and morally gray creature Delilah would normally find horrifying. Though Delilah balks at the idea of a partnership, she has no choice but to roll the dice on their collaboration. As the two delve deeper into the power that underlies Thistle Grove, they uncover not only the town’s hidden history but also a risky attraction that could upend Delilah’s entire life.

Fans of Lana Harper‘s bestselling Witches of Thistle Grove series rejoice!

Book four lands this month and brings the series back to f/f romance by featuring the newly injured Delilah and a love interest who’s neither witch nor fully human. Magic, chemistry, and cozy small town vibes abound!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

July 2023 Queer Romances

Coming down off Pride month, you might think shelves would be lacking in new LGBTQ+ releases, but I’ve done some digging to make sure the queer kissing keeps on coming! From historical to SFF YA to bi m/f to a new pairing in an old setting, here’s what to make sure is on your rainbow radar for July!

Stars, Hide Your Fires

Stars, Hide Your Fires by Jessica Mary Best

Author: Jessica Mary Best
Released: July 11, 2023 by Quirk Books
Genre: , ,

A wanted thief. A murdered emperor. A killer loose on the station.

Knives Out goes sci-fi in this gripping YA mystery set in space.

As an expert thief from a minor moon, Cass knows a good mark when she sees one. The emperor’s ball is her chance to steal a fortune for herself, her ailing father, and her scrappy crew of thieves and market vendors.

Her plan is
1. Hitch a ride to the planet of Ouris, the dazzling heart of the empire.
2. Sneak onto the imperial palace station to attend the emperor’s ball.
3. Steal from the rich, the royal, and the insufferable.

But on the station, things quickly go awry. When the emperor is found dead, everyone in the palace is a suspect—and someone is setting Cass up to take the fall. To clear her name, Cass must work with an unlikely a gorgeous and mysterious rebel with her own reasons for being on the station. Together, they unravel a secret that could change the fate of the empire.

This delightful genre-mashup combines a fun space adventure, compelling mystery, and Sapphic romance laced with intrigue, betrayal, and banter. If a queer sci-fi romp where you have no idea who to trust but you do know whose faces you want to smush together and scream “Kiss!!!!” sounds like your jam, this is definitely the new release for you.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

A Rulebook for Restless Rogues

A Rulebook for Restless Rogues by Jess Everlee

Author: Jess Everlee
Released: July 11, 2023 by Carina Adores
Genre: , ,
Series: Lucky Lovers of London #2

London, 1885

David Forester and Noah Clarke have been best friends since boarding school. All grown up now, clever, eccentric Noah is Savile Row’s most promising young tailor, while former socialite David runs an underground queer club, The Curious Fox.

Nothing makes David happier than to keep the incense lit, the pianist playing and all his people comfortable, happy and safe until they stumble out into the dawn. But when the unscrupulous baron who owns the Fox moves to close it, David’s world comes crashing down.

Noah’s never feared a little high-stakes gambling, but as he risks his own career in hopes of helping David, he realizes two things:

One: David has not been honest about how he ended up at The Curious Fox in the first place

Two: Noah’s feelings for David have become far more than friendly

What future lies beyond those first furtive kisses? Noah and David can hardly wait to find out…if they can untangle David from his web of deception without losing everything Noah has worked for.

The second book in the Lucky Lovers of London series brings best friends-to-lovers to historical Europe, the perfect move to adult romance for fans of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. I absolutely love the idea of an underground queer club in the Victorian era as a setting, and the promise of one of the characters having a secret past is just the olive in the martini.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

The Third Daughter

The Third Daughter by Adrienne Tooley

Author: Adrienne Tooley
Released: July 18, 2023 by Christy Ottaviano Books
Genre: , ,

Book 1 in a sweeping YA duology about legacy, betrayal, sisterhood, and politicizing emotion in the quest for power—all balanced by a slow-burn LGBTQ romance.

For centuries, the citizens of Velle have waited for their New Maiden to return. The prophecy states she will appear as the third daughter of a third daughter. When the fabled child is finally born to Velle’s reigning queen all rejoice except for Elodie, the queen’s eldest child, who has lost her claim to the crown. The only way for Elodie to protect Velle is to retake the throne. To do so, she must debilitate the Third Daughter—her youngest sister, Brianne.

Desperate, Elodie purchases a sleeping potion from Sabine, who sells sadness. But the apothecary mistakenly sends the princess away with a vial of tears instead of a harmless sleeping brew. Sabine’s sadness is dangerously powerful, and Brianne slips into a slumber from which she will not wake. With the fates of their families and country hanging in the balance, Sabine and Elodie hurry to revive the Third Daughter while a slow-burning attraction between the two girls erupts in full force.

A must-read for fans of the BookTok sensations ​Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson, and These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Tooley’s one of YA’s most prolific new authors of Sapphic fantasy, though this is a slight departure from her earlier standalones, being a duology-opener. It’s got magic, it’s got royalty, and, most importantly, it’s got a slow-burn romance between a lesbian princess and a bisexual apothecary I can’t wait to see spark.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review

Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Author: Tehlor Kay Mejia
Released: July 18, 2023 by Dell
Genre: , ,

A music critic stuck in a spiral of epic proportions targets her teenage crush for a career comeback and a chance at revenge. What could possibly go wrong?

Sammy Espinoza’s life is a raging dumpster fire. Her desperate attempt to win back her singer ex-girlfriend has landed her in hot water at work, and she has one last chance before her editor cuts her column. Luckily, Sammy has a plan to redeem herself, but it won’t be easy.

Rumor has it that Max Ryan, the former rock god, is secretly recording his first-ever solo album years after he dramatically quit performing. And it just so happens that he and Sammy have Right before Max got his big break, he and Sammy spent an unforgettable night together.

Exclusive access to Max’s new music would guarantee Sammy’s professional comeback and, even better, give her the opportunity to serve some long-awaited revenge for his traumatic ghosting.

But Max lives in Ridley Falls, Washington, and Sammy has history there as a family that never wanted her and a million unanswered questions. Going back would mean confronting it all—but what else does she have to lose?

Contemporary adult romance is a new frontier for MG and YA fantasy author Mejia, but I’m always down for a bi m/f, and always down for enemies-to-lovers, especially where a revenge element is involved. And the main character is a music critic? Threaten me with an excellent time, why don’t you!

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

In the Case of Heartbreak

In the Case of Heartbreak by Courtney Kae

Author: Courtney Kae
Released: July 25, 2023 by Kensington Books
Genre: , ,
Series: Fern Falls #2

With a gorgeous beachfront mansion, salty ocean breeze, steamy nights, and ALL the summertime feels, this funny, sexy queer rom-com is a celebration of summer love, as a cinnamon roll of a pastry chef finds his indie rocker crush suddenly within reach. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston, Roan Parrish, Alexandria Bellefleur, Ruby Barrett, and Alexis Hall!

Ben has been baking his mother’s cinnamon rolls at the family café for years. He’s been quietly in love with Adam Reed, his musician-slash-mechanic neighbor, for just as long. But Ben’s done waiting behind the pastry case. Despite his fear of failure, he’s entered a make-or-break competition to build his recipes into a national brand. He’s going to take charge of his business instead of nearly tanking the café—again. And he’s going to finally confess his feelings for Adam. ON LIVE TV.

Except his big plans get punched down before they even half-rise. Soon Ben is dashing down the coast to his grandma’s 80th birthday party on the beach, hiding his broken heart in Maywell Bay, California. Sun, sea, and fresh breezes should blow in something new—except they don’t. They blow in Adam Reed, grinning like a pirate and stealing the show as the musical entertainment hired by Grandma for her big bash. Grandma’s signature Heartbreak Tea is the only remedy, and Grandma’s tea could take the paint off a fence.

But there’s a burn of truth along with the booze in his bottle, and Ben has a decision to make. Can he take the sweetness in front of him, and brave the bitterness that comes after? Or is a little sea salt just what this cinnamon roll needs?

Salty cinnamon rolls? Ew. Ben would never .

I loved In the Event of Love, the f/f Christmas romance that first kicked off the Fern Falls series, so picking up another book in the same universe (albeit its presumable polar opposite, being an m/m literal beach read) is a no-brainer. I’m a sucker for both boys who bake and musicians, so I have a feeling I will absolutely go down with this ship.

Add to Goodreads To-Read List →

❌
❌