Love at First Set

Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan is a fun queer romance with someone off limits.

The gym is Lizzie’s life—it’s her passion, her job, and the only place that’s ever felt like home. Unfortunately, her bosses consider her a glorified check-in girl at best, and the gym punching bag at worst.

When their son, Lizzie’s best friend, James, begs her to be his plus one at his perfect sister Cara’s wedding, things go wrong immediately, and culminate in Lizzie giving a drunken pep talk to a hot stranger in the women’s bathroom—except that stranger is actually the bride-to-be, and Lizzie has accidentally convinced her to ditch her groom.

Now, newly directionless Cara is on a quest to find herself, and Lizzie—desperate to make sure her bosses never find out her role in this fiasco—gets strong-armed by James into “entertaining” her. Cara doesn’t have to know it’s a setup; it’ll just be a quick fling before she sobers up and goes back to her real life. After all, how could someone like Cara fall for someone like Lizzie, with no career and no future?

But the more Lizzie gets to know Cara, the more she likes her, and the bigger the potential disaster if any of her rapidly multiplying secrets get out. Because now it’s not just Lizzie’s job and entire future on the line, but also the girl of her dreams.

Dugan has written another fun, sexy romance. Once you read her, you will go back and read the rest of her books—or listen to them on audiobook.

Dugan, Jennifer. (2023). Love at First Set. New York: Avon.

Playing for Keeps

Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan is a young adult lesbian romance between a baseball pitcher and an umpire.

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?

Jennifer Dugan writes great lesbian romance novels for adults and young adults. Read one today.

Dugan, Jennifer. (2024). Playing for Keeps. New York: Putnam.

Melt With You

Fallon and Chloe were best friends, until a year ago when they hooked up. They have not spoken since. Unfortunately, their moms co-own a business where they work in the summer.

Love At First Bite is a popular ice cream truck, both in their upstate New York town, and on the summer food festival circuit. Fallon and her mom were going to drive the truck to Memphis and them Dallas, but now her mom must fly out for a meeting with potential investors.

Chloe is back after her first year of college. She tried to text Fallon a couple of times, but never heard back. Now they are going to be in a truck together for four days.

Dugan has written a YA romance in a unique setting. It is unlikely that things will not be delt with, one way or another.

Dugan, Jennifer. (2022). Melt With You. New York: GP Putnam’s Sons.

Hot Dog Girl

Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan is the story of an epic summer spent working at an amusement park. 

Elouise "Lou" Parker is hopeful for an amazing summer. It is her second summer working at Magic Castle Playland with her best friend Seeley - a place that is also nostalgic because it is where her parent met.

Lou is hoping for a good costume this year, not the hot dog she had to wear last year. If she is really lucky, it will be something that puts her near the diving pirates - Nick in particular. 

Seeley is an artist who is happy this is her last summer in town before leaving for college. She is usually up for anything, but trying to help Lou get together with Nick is not on her list. Nor is Lou trying to set her up with someone when she is still getting over her ex-girlfriend.

Dugan has written a fun, summer read. It is sweet, humorous and heartfelt. 

Dugan, Jennifer. (2019). Hot Dog Girl. New York: Putnam. 

Some Girls Do

Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan is a young adult romance where opposites attract.

Morgan is changing high schools. Kicked out of her private school for being lesbian, she is suing her former school to make it easier for others to come out. 

Ruby has been in the same town her whole life. She is a beauty pageant contestant who wants to become a mechanic. Really the pageant thing is her mother's dream.

Morgan and Ruby meet when Ruby almost runs over Morgan as she sprints across the parking lot to catch her brother before he drives off with her backpack. 

Dugan has written a sweet tale of falling in love with someone who seems like your opposite. This is a great YA romance.

Dugan, Jennifer. (2021). Some Girls Do. New York: Putnam.