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.

The Candidate

The Candidate by Tracey Richardson is a lesbian / bisexual romance.

Presidential candidate Jane Kincaid--gorgeous, dynamic and extremely driven--is taking the country by storm, passionately outlining her blueprint for America. Voters quickly fall in love with her... and so, unwittingly, does Secret Service Agent Alexandria Warner.

Their mutual attraction begins to take on a fiery life of its own, and soon Jane fears that their intense feelings for each other are a tinder box that could destroy the landscape of her career... and alter the history of the country.

Jane had always expected the road to the White House would exact a high personal toll. She just never knew how high... until she's forced to choose between her heart and her political destiny.

Richardson, Tracey. (2008). The Candidate. Florida: Bella Books. 

Hotshot

Hotshot by Clare Lydon is a lesbian sports romance.

Sloane Patterson is the ultimate hotshot: a US soccer sensation whose arrival in the UK causes quite the stir. She’s got the game, the fame, the looks, the fiancée. But looks can be deceiving.

When Sloane’s life starts to unravel, Salchester Rovers’ new hire, Ella Carmichael, helps her pick up the pieces. But as the lines between their professional and personal lives blur, tensions surface. Now, Sloane’s goal of helping the team win the league and FA Cup has a significant addition: win Ella’s heart.

Lydon is a great go-to author for lesbian romance. If you like a British accent, list to the audiobooks.

Lydon, Clare (2023). Hotshot. ?: Custard Books.

My Best Friend's Honeymoon

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner is a queer friends-to-romance novel.

Elsie Hoffman has been engaged to her college boyfriend for a year and a half. Ginny Holtz has been in love with Elsie for almost a decade and a half.

When Elsie discovers her fiancé already planned their wedding and honeymoon as a surprise and she’s expected to be in a white dress in seven days, she swiftly realizes she’s let herself become too comfortable with a future she never wanted. She breaks things off, and a week later is on a plane to the Caribbean for her non-refundable honeymoon with her best friend Ginny instead.

Ginny thinks it’s high time Elsie learned how to speak up for herself. So, they make a deal with her. For the next week, Elsie can have whatever she wants, wherever, however, and whenever she wants it, as long as she asks. They never expected Elsie to want them.

What starts as choosing activities and taking selfies soon turns to toe-curling kisses and much, much more.

Meryl Wilsner writes sexy, fun queer romance. Read one of her books today!

Wilsner, Meryl. (2025). My Best Friend's Honeymoon. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.

Wrong Number, Right Woman

Wrong Number, Right Woman is a sweet queer romance.

A single text message can change everything! Flirting has never been Denny’s strong suit, but so what if she’s too shy to ask women out? She’s content with her simple life, working as a cashier and helping her sister raise her niece. But then she gets a wrong-number text message from a stranger named Eliza, asking her of all people for dating advice! Eliza is Denny’s total opposite: witty, outgoing—and straight. Despite their differences, the accidental text sparks an unlikely friendship. Soon, Eliza—self-proclaimed queen of disastrous first dates—would rather banter back and forth with Denny than to keep trying her luck at online dating. When they meet in person, there’s an instant connection. But what Eliza is feeling can’t be attraction, right? It doesn’t mean a thing that she’s starting to wish the guys she dates would be more like Denny. Or does it? Can the wrong number lead to the right woman after all?

Any book by Jae is a fun, queer read!

Jae. (2020). Wrong Number, Right Woman. Germany: Ylva Verlog.

Just for Show

Just for Show by Jae is a lesbian romance that starts with a role-playing part.

What happens when an overachieving psychologist with OCD tendencies and an impulsive, out-of-work actress start a fake relationship?

Claire Renshaw thought she had it all: a successful career as a couples therapist, a publishing contract for her self-help book, and a happy relationship. But her perfect world falls apart when her fiancée calls off their engagement. Because of that, even her book deal might be off the table. After all, readers don’t want relationship advice from someone who can’t even make her own relationship work.

So Claire sets out to hire herself a fake fiancée.

Lana Henderson, the actress who shows up to audition for the role, is not exactly Claire’s ideal woman. Her frankness and the messes she leaves everywhere drive Claire up the wall. At least she won’t fall in love with someone like Lana.

But soon, Lana starts to win her over with her big heart, tickle fights, and—gasp!—carbs after six. The longer they pretend to be a love-struck couple, the less fake their kisses feel and the more the lines between reality and role begin to blur.

Once the book contract is signed, will they walk away or is their relationship no longer just for show?

Jae is a great queer romance writer. Just for Show is a great read. This is one for the sweeter lesbian romances I have read lately. Take a copy to the beach with you - on paper or audiobook.

Jae. (2018). Just for Show. Germany: Ylva Verlog.

Just Kiss Her

Just Kiss Her by Clare Lydon is a romance where Brook falls for the one person who is off limits.

When Brooke's best friend Noah asks her to pose as his girlfriend for his sister’s resort wedding, she can't refuse. Sure, she’s a lesbian, but it's a free holiday. How hard can it be to fake it for a few days?

Harder than Brooke imagined when she meets Noah's mum, Jen. Sophisticated, confident, and utterly gorgeous, Jen is everything Brooke wants. With each sizzling glance, casual touch, and chance encounter, an irresistible attraction pulls Brooke towards the one woman she can’t have.

As their holiday in paradise unfolds, this scorching love triangle is about to reach its breaking point under the hot Mexican sun. Jen is strictly off-limits, but Brooke's heart doesn't care for rules. Can she keep her feelings buried, or will she just kiss her?

Clare Lydon’s latest is a deliciously tempting age-gap romance where a fake girlfriend falls for the mother she can't have. 

Lydon, Clare. (2024). Just Kiss Her. ?: Custard Books

Chemistry Lessons

Chemistry Lessons by Jae is a lesbian friends to romance story.

Kylie and Regan have been best friends since kindergarten, supporting each other through thick and thin.

While everyone thinks they would be perfect for each other, they insist there’s no chemistry between them—and Regan should know since she’s a chemistry teacher.

To prove it, they agree to a little chemistry experiment: they’ll go on three dates with each other.

So what if their gazes start to linger and accidental touches no longer feel platonic? They chalk it up to the romantic atmosphere—until a friendly good night kiss turns passionate.

Can their friendship go back to the way it was before? Do they even want it to? Or will they risk losing what they have for a chance at love?

Jae is always a good author choice when you are in the mood for a queer romance. Her books are always available on audiobook.

Jae. (2021). Chemistry Lessons. Germany: Ylva Verlog.

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.

One Weekend in Aspen

One Weekend in Aspen by Jaime Clevenger is hot!

Fresh out of a ten-year relationship, Emily Brookstone wants to let loose. But she’s not exactly the let-loose type. When she gets invited to spend a no-strings-attached weekend in Aspen with eight other women, the words ‘good for you’ come to mind. Maybe a fling with a charming stranger is just what she needs.

Alex Murphy travels the world for her job. She has no trouble getting dates wherever she lands and life is full of short-term escapades and fantasy weekends. Yet finding someone to share life with feels impossible. Until she meets Emily.

What happens on one snowy weekend in Aspen could change everything. But is a gamble on love worth all the risk?

Read this.

Clevenger, Jaime. (2021). One Weekend in Aspen. New York: 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.

Skye Falling

Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie is the story of a woman who has built her life around travel, partly as a way to avoid close relationships. 

When she was twenty-six and broke, Skye didn’t think twice before selling her eggs and happily pocketing the cash. Now approaching forty, Skye still moves through life entirely—and unrepentantly—on her own terms, living out of a suitcase and avoiding all manner of serious relationships. Maybe her junior high classmates weren’t wrong when they voted her “Most Likely to Be Single” instead of “Most Ride-or-Die Homie,” but at least she’s always been free to do as she pleases.

Then a twelve-year-old girl tracks Skye down during one of her brief visits to her hometown of Philadelphia and informs Skye that she’s “her egg.” Skye’s life is thrown into sharp relief and she decides that it might be time to actually try to have a meaningful relationship with another human being. Spoiler alert: It’s not easy.

Things get even more complicated when Skye realizes that the woman she tried and failed to pick up the other day is the girl’s aunt, and now it’s awkward. All the while, her brother is trying to get in touch, her mother is being bewilderingly kind, and the West Philly pool halls and hoagie shops of her youth have been replaced by hipster cafés.

With its endearingly prickly narrator and a cast of characters willing to both challenge her and catch her when she falls, this novel is a clever, moving portrait of a woman and the relationships she thought she could live without.

McKenzie has written a smart, fun tale of Skye rethinking her plan to keep running from people, make peace with her past, and maybe building a chosen family. Great views of West Philly and it's past.

McKenzie, Mia. (2021). Skye Falling. New York: Random House.

Wake Up, Nat & Darcy (Puck Struck series #1)

Wake Up with Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochrane is the story of two ice hockey rivals learning to work together. This is the first book in the Puck Struck romance series.

Cut from the US women's hockey team right before her third chance at gold, Natalie Carpenter is scrambling for a plan that'll help her avoid moving back home. The answer: a guest-hosting gig on Wake Up, USA's winter games coverage. Her cohost: Darcy LaCroix, Nat's ex-girlfriend, one-time college teammate turned adversary.

Since leaving Team Canada, Darcy has worked hard to make a name in broadcasting. If her big break requires sharing screen time with the former cocky freshman who turned her world upside down, so be it.

At this point, there's nothing between them except history.

But audiences disagree. #PuckingHotties is trending hard, and Nat and Darcy agree to lean into it – for ratings, obviously. It's not like Nat can forget the way Darcy broke her heart or their bitter team rivalry.

Between working, travelling together and that irresistible spark, it's getting hard to separate what's real and what's for the camera. Because somewhere underneath everything that went wrong is the sneaking suspicion that nothing will ever feel quite this right again.

Cochrane, Kate. (2024). Wake Up, Nat & Darcy. Toronto, Carina Press.

Count Your Lucky Stars (Written in the Stars #3)

Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur is the third book in the Written in the Stars romance series.

Margot Cooper doesn’t do relationships. She tried and it blew up in her face, so she’ll stick with casual hookups, thank you very much. But now her entire crew has found "the one" and she’s beginning tofeel like a fifth wheel. And then fate (the heartless bitch) intervenes. While touring a wedding venue with her engaged friends, Margot comes face-to-face with Olivia Grant—her childhood friend, her first love, her first… well, everything. It’s been ten years, but the moment they lock eyes, Margot’s cold, dead heart thumps in her chest.

Olivia must be hallucinating. In the decade since she last saw Margot, her life hasn’t gone exactly as planned. At almost thirty, she’s been married... and divorced. However, a wedding planner job in Seattle means a fresh start and a chance to follow her dreams. Never in a million years did she expect her important new client’s Best Woman would be the one that got away.

When a series of unfortunate events leaves Olivia without a place to stay, Margot offers up her spare room because she’s a Very Good Person. Obviously. It has nothing to do with the fact that Olivia is as beautiful as ever and the sparks between them still make Margot tingle. As they spend time in close quarters, Margot starts to question her no-strings stance. Olivia is everything she’s ever wanted, but Margot let her in once and it ended in disaster. Will history repeat itself or should she count her lucky stars that she gets a second chance with her first love?

Bellefleur is a great queer romance writer. Read one of her books today.

Bellefleur, Alexandria. (2022). Count Your Lucky Stars. New York: Avon.

Fang Fiction

Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London is a vampire romp between worlds.

Tess Rosenbloom is no stranger to the dark. An assault survivor and grad school dropout, Tess spends her nights managing a chic Brooklyn hotel and her days reading her favorite vampire novels, Blood Feud. She even dabbles in online conspiracies claiming Blood Feud is real—it’s fun to hunt for clues! But deep down, Tess doesn’t believe vampires actually exist . . . until one walks through her door. 
 
It turns out the sexy villain of Blood Feud is trapped, and only Tess can rescue him. Eager to escape her life, Tess agrees to help, and soon she’s on a secret island where the sun never shines, surrounded by deadly vampires—and most terrifying of all, she's falling in love with one of them. (Meanwhile, back in New York, Tess’s estranged best friend is having a sapphic paranormal affair of her own.)
 
Visiting the world of your favorite story is any fan’s dream, but can Tess outrun the demons of her past (and vampires of her present) before it becomes a nightmare? In this darkly glamorous rom-com, Tess will find out if it’s worth risking her neck—and her heart—for a chance to reclaim her future.

Stayman-London has written a fun, campy, sexy vampire novel. 

Stayman-London, Kate. (2024). Fang Fiction. New York: Dial Press.

Cover Story

Cover Story by Celia Laskey is the story of a new Hollywood star and her publicist. 

A hilarious, emotional love story about an extremely anxious publicist who's tasked with keeping an extremely gay starlet in the closet - but who ends up falling for her instead.​

It's 2005, and Ali is a publicist for Hollywood's biggest stars. Part of her job entails keeping gay celebrities in the closet-which is pretty ironic, since she's a lesbian herself.

When Ali is assigned a new client, Cara Bisset, upcoming star of a (hetero) romantic blockbuster, keeping Cara's sexuality under wraps becomes Ali's biggest challenge yet.

Bold, unpredictable Cara hates that she has to hide such an integral aspect of her identity, and after a series of increasingly close calls, Ali is sent on her worldwide promotional tour to help with her image. Instead, she finds herself drawn to Cara's confidence and bravery.

For the past year, Ali has been consumed by grief after unexpectedly losing her partner. But with Cara, Ali's fears about the world subside, and she begins to question the Hollywood closeting system that she contributes to.

Laskey has written an entertaining love story. Great beach read. 

Laskey, Celia. (2025). Cover Story. New York: Grand Central Publishing.

One Last Stop

One Last Stop by Casey McQuistion is the story of falling in love on the subway.

Moving to New York City is supposed to prove cynical twenty-three-year-old August right: magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist.

But then, she meets this gorgeous girl on the train.

Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile.

August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane is displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help Jane. Maybe it’s time to start believing in some things after all . . .

McQuiston has written a great love story wrapped in two mysteries. The audiobook reader is great.

McQuistion, Casey. (2021). One Last Stop. New York: St. Martin's Press.

The Palace of Eros

The Palace of Eros by Caro de Robertis is the story of the Greek god Eros and their bride.

Young, headstrong Psyche has captured the eye of every suitor with her beauty – but also, unfortunately, the jealous gaze of the goddess Aphrodite. As punishment, Psyche is tied to a rock to be sacrificed to a ‘monstrous husband’. And yet, no monster arrives: instead, she is spirited away by Aphrodite’s daughter Eros.

Eros, goddess of desire, can change gender at will. And in her hidden palace, she visits her bride under the cloak of darkness: Psyche is forbidden to gaze upon the face of her lover. But as they explore each other’s bodies and discover new pleasures, Psyche is tempted to break her vow… even if it brings down the wrath of the gods.

De Robertis is one of my favorite authors. Buy this book today, then proceed to read everything they ever publish.

De Robertis, Caro. (2024). The Palace of Eros. New York: Atria Books.