Never Say Never

Never Say Never by Rachael Sommers is a slow burn, age-gap romance that highlights how we should allow ourselves to be happy, especially when happiness comes so rarely.

Camila Evans has finalized her divorce. But it’s okay because she doesn’t need love to build a television empire and raise her son, Jaime, alone. What she needs is a nanny, someone who will care for Jaime as if he was their own. But finding someone who is competent, nurturing, and can elevate to her standards has proven difficult. 

Emily Walker is fresh out of college, bright, a little naive, and new to New York City. She’s charming, caring, and has been completely infatuated with Camila long before she walked into her office to interview for the nanny position. It’s a little unsettling to be working for the woman she’s had a crush on for years. 

The more time they spend together, the more the sparks of desire threaten to ignite. Professional lines start to blur, but Camila is steadfast in resisting temptation. 

Rachael Sommers is a great writer of lesbian romance. 

Sommers, Rachael. (2021). Never Say Never. Germany: Ylva Publishing. 

Houseswap 101

Houseswap 101 by Jaime Clevenger is a fun lesbian romance novel.

When Devyn Lancaster comes home from a busy shift at the hospital, the last thing she expects to find is a woman weed-whacking her garden. It gets worse when she learns her ex-husband invited the woman to trade houses with him—all without telling her a thing about the plan.

Robbie Price was looking forward to a month-long vacation in San Diego. A break from the Seattle rain in exchange for doing a few home repair projects and taking a cute dog to the beach seemed well worth a house swap. Then she meets her coworker’s ex-wife.

For Robbie and Devyn, even tolerating each other feels impossible at first. And neither expect to learn to like each other. But at the end of the month, parting ways is what feels impossible.

Jaime Clevenger is a great go-to writer when looking for a great queer romance. 

Clevenger, Jaime. (2024). Houseswap 101. FL: Bella Books.

Overtime

Overtime by Tracey Richardson is a great lesbian-bi romance.

Professional hockey star Sarah Brennan can handle brutal body checks and playoff pressure, but studying Irish literature under the sharp-eyed Professor Claire Joyce might be her toughest challenge yet. Claire’s disdain for athletes is legendary—and personal, thanks to a failed marriage to a pro athlete. The only catch? Her hockey-obsessed ten-year-old daughter worships the ice Sarah Brennan skates on.

As Sarah contemplates life after her final season, she finds herself drawn into the warm orbit of Claire’s small family. But with Claire’s walls built as solid as center ice, it’ll take more than a hat trick to prove that sometimes the best plays happen after the final whistle.

Richardson has written a great romance set around sports and literature. 

Richardson, Tracey. (2025). Overtime. New York: Bella Books.

Love Next Door

Love Next Door by Rachael Sommer all stars when a gorgeous, tattooed woman moves in next door to a baker and her son.

Reserved tattoo artist Riley Foster has just moved apartments and can’t take her eyes off the single mom who lives next door. Riley is trying very hard not to succumb to the cliché of falling for the straight girl as she gets to know Kim Jackson, an outgoing baker with an adorable nine-year-old son.

A friendship forms and Riley even finds herself roped into playing Kim’s fake girlfriend to get her meddling family off her back.

What could go wrong…except for Kim suddenly questioning whether she’s not as straight as she thought! As the sexual tension slowly builds, it’s hard not to wonder whether they’d be good together for real. But is it worth risking a great friendship if Riley doesn’t feel the same way?

Sommers has written a beautiful friendship to romance story with two fully formed characters with whom you will want to be friends. 

Sommers, Rachael. (2024). Love Next Door. Germany: Ylva Publishing.

What You Want to See (Roxane Weary #2)

What You Want to See by Kristen Lepionka is the second book in her mystery series featuring Roxane Weary, PI.

Weary is hired by Arthur Ungless to follow his fiancé. He is sure she is having an affair. After a week of following Marin with no sign of infidelity, Arthur's check bounces.

The first night Roxane is not following her, Marin is killed on the street. The police think it is an open and shut case - the fiancé must have done it.

Weary is sure that Arthur is innocent. He promises to get her the money if she will help him find out who killed Marin.

Digging into Marin's past, Weary is sucked into the underworld of the city, Roxane is told to drop the case - both by the police and a man she has never seen before. A man with an armed body guard.

Lepionka is a great story teller. Read this wonderful series.

Lepionka, Kristen. (2018). What You Want to See. New York: Minotaur.

The Last Place You Look (Roxane Weary #1)

The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka is the first book in her mystery series featuring private eye Roxane Weary.

Roxane is a PI whose father was a cop. He died recently and she has not been doing well since. But she is still taking on jobs - she always had a knack for finding things.

Sarah Cook has been missing for years. Her high school boyfriend, Brad Stockton, is on death row for killing her parents and her. He has maintained his innocence.

As Brad is scheduled for execution, his sister is sure she has seen Sarah in Belmont, a neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio. She hires Roxane to find out if the woman was really Sarah.

Lepionka has created a wonderful, flawed character readers will love. They story is well crafted with twists no one will see coming. This is a great series - perfect for a summer read.

Lepionka, Kristen. (2017). The Last Place You Look. New York: Minotaur.

My Year Zero

My Year Zero by Rachel Gold is the story of one young woman finding her place.

Lauren lives with her father in Duluth, Minnesota. She is one of three out lesbians at her high school and she is hoping she doesn't have to wait for college to find her first girlfriend.

A visitor to her school will change everything. Sierra is in town from the Twin Cities visiting a friend. She is much cooler than the people in the school. And Lauren is drawn to her. After a conversation, Sierra invites Lauren to join her story group. They are writing an epic science fiction story online. Lauren can take over one of the characters already in the story - she just has to stick with is already know about her.

Convincing her father to let her travel to Minneapolis to stay with Sierra over break, Lauren joins the group. She tries to spend time with them, but lives three hours away. The distance between herself and the life she wants is more obvious than ever. And her life at home is not great. Her father pays no attention to her except to criticize. Her only outlet is the story and other people writing with her.

Gold is quickly becoming one of my favorite YA authors. I loved this book. The characters, both the ones I like and the ones I don't, are compelling and real. The story within the story was great - and a great idea. And two people coming together who understand each other - at a time in their lives when not many do - was beautiful.

Gold, Rachel. (2016). My Year Zero. Tallahassee, FL: Bella Books.

Geography Club

Geography Club by Brent Hartinger is the story of a secret gay club.

Russel is sure he is the only gay kid at his high school. Okay, he knows that with 800 students there must be others, be he feels alone. When he meets someone in a chat room who goes to his school they decide to meet.

Who would have thought that the school's star baseball player was gay? Russel wants to tell his best friend Min. When he comes out to her he is shocked to find that she is bisexual and has had a girlfriend for two years.

The four get together at an out of the way pizza place. There they create a plan to have a group where they can meet after school. But how can they make the club work without letting anyone know what it really is? They pick a name they think no one else would want to join...the Geography Club.

Hartinger, Brent. (2003). Geography Club. New York: Harper Tempest.