yolandekleinn | Entries tagged with recommendations

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The Blighted Stars (The Devoured Worlds Book 1) by Megan E. O'Keefe

She's a revolutionary. Humanity is running out of options. Habitable planets are being destroyed as quickly as they're found and Naira Sharp thinks she knows the reason why. The all-powerful Mercator family has been controlling the exploration of the universe for decades, and exploiting any materials they find along the way under the guise of helping humanity's expansion. But Naira knows the truth, and she plans to bring the whole family down from the inside.

He's the heir to the dynasty. Tarquin Mercator never wanted to run a galaxy-spanning business empire. He just wanted to study rocks and read books. But Tarquin's father has tasked him with monitoring the settlement of a new planet, and he doesn't really have a choice in the matter.

Disguised as Tarquin's new bodyguard, Naira plans to destroy the settlement ship before they make land. But neither of them expects to end up stranded on a dead planet. To survive and keep her secret, Naira will have to join forces with the man she's sworn to hate. And together they will uncover a plot that's bigger than both of them.

Why you should read it: I devoured this entire trilogy so quickly I gave myself emotional whiplash, and I regret nothing. It's not often a series hits me this hard or sticks with me so intensely that I want to start reading from the beginning the second I finish. I need everyone to read this trilogy. But also the first book is a really satisfying standalone story, if you want to dip your toe in without committing to an entire series. Fantastic characters, terrific chemistry, and a compelling mystery to tie them all together. The world-building is strange and fascinating and intricate, and the pacing of the book sucked me in from page one. If you're into audiobooks, the narrator for for this series does a brilliant job--I turned around and bought the entire series the second I finished listening to book one from the library.

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All Systems Red (Murderbot Diaries Book 1) by Martha Wells

A murderous android discovers itself in All Systems Red, a tense science fiction adventure by Martha Wells that blends HBO's Westworld with Iain M. Banks' Culture books.

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.

But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn't a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied 'droid -- a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as "Murderbot." Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.

But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

Why you should read it: I knew going in that I was very likely to enjoy these books, but I was not prepared for just how much I would adore Murderbot. What a fantastic narrator, what a fascinating setup of world and characters, what beautiful and understated worldbuilding! I'm fascinated by how well this book works as a novella, while leaving me feeling like I want so much more. Which is fine by me, since the series continues and I can, in fact, have more. All around a fantastic read.

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Liberty's Daughter by Naomi Kritzer

Beck Garrison lives on a seastead — an archipelago of constructed platforms and old cruise ships, assembled by libertarian separatists a generation ago. She’s grown up comfortable and sheltered, but starts doing odd jobs for pocket money.

To her surprise, she finds that she’s the only detective that a debt slave can afford to hire to track down the woman’s missing sister. When she tackles this investigation, she learns things about life on the other side of the waterline — not to mention about herself and her father — that she did not expect. And she finds out that some people will stop at nothing to protect their secrets . . .

Why you should read it: I really loved this book. At no point did I have any idea what was going to happen from scene to scene, but with every pivot into unexpected territory I was happy to be along for the ride. I found the POV character to be incredibly compelling, with a voice that walked a really good line between pragmatism and heart, while she navigated one impossible situation after another. The worldbuilding was fascinating and vivid, the world of the stead itself uncomfortably claustrophobic by design. I'll be thinking about this one for a really long time.

Tags:

recommendations

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When Brooklyn Was Queer by Hugh Ryan

Hugh Ryan’s When Brooklyn Was Queer is a groundbreaking exploration of the LGBT history of Brooklyn, from the early days of Walt Whitman in the 1850s up through the queer women who worked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard during World War II, and beyond. No other book, movie, or exhibition has ever told this sweeping story. Not only has Brooklyn always lived in the shadow of queer Manhattan neighborhoods like Greenwich Village and Harlem, but there has also been a systematic erasure of its queer history―a great forgetting.

Ryan is here to unearth that history for the first time. In intimate, evocative, moving prose he discusses in new light the fundamental questions of what history is, who tells it, and how we can only make sense of ourselves through its retelling; and shows how the formation of the Brooklyn we know today is inextricably linked to the stories of the incredible people who created its diverse neighborhoods and cultures. Through them, When Brooklyn Was Queer brings Brooklyn’s queer past to life, and claims its place as a modern classic.

Why you should read it: This is an incredibly well-researched book of Brooklyn's queer history, and I really appreciated the way it was written. It's incredibly thorough and detailed while still being written in a conversational style that really worked for me. The author is clearly writing and researching a topic he is passionate about, and the result is compellingly personal. There were inevitably portions of this book that made me incredibly sad, or incredibly angry — or both — but the history has its moments of joy too. The last few lines of the book made me cry a little. All-in-all a fantastic read.

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Do I know You by Sadie Dingfelder

Science writer Sadie Dingfelder has always known that she's a little quirky. But while she's made some strange mistakes over the years, it's not until she accosts a stranger in a grocery store (whom she thinks is her husband) that she realizes something is amiss.

With a mixture of curiosity and dread, Dingfelder starts contacting neuroscientists and lands herself in scores of studies. In the course of her nerdy midlife crisis, she discovers that she is emphatically not neurotypical. She has prosopagnosia (face blindness), stereoblindness, aphantasia (an inability to create mental imagery), and a condition called severely deficient autobiographical memory.

As Dingfelder begins to see herself more clearly, she discovers a vast well of hidden neurodiversity in the world at large. There are so many different flavors of human consciousness, and most of us just assume that ours is the norm. Can you visualize? Do you have an inner monologue? Are you always 100 percent sure whether you know someone or not? If you can perform any of these mental feats, you may be surprised to learn that many people—including Dingfelder—can't.

A lively blend of personal narrative and popular science, Do I Know You? is the story of one unusual mind's attempt to understand itself—and a fascinating exploration of the remarkable breadth of human experience.

Why you should read it: Well this was completely fascinating, holy hell. A memoir written in a wildly amusing style, despite the fact that there is some seriously heavy subject matter to be found within the pages — I really, sincerely enjoyed having reality tilted this way and that while I read this book, as Dingfelder's investigation kept messing with things I assumed about my own perceptions of reality. This is fascinating science, mind-boggling in places, and left me with so many new questions to consider.

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Wild Faith by Talia Lavin

All across America, a storm is gathering: from book bans in school libraries to anti-trans laws in state legislatures; firebombings of abortion clinics and protests against gay rights. The Christian Right, a cunning political force in America for more than half a century, has never been more powerful than it is right now—it propelled Donald Trump to power, and it won’t stop until it’s refashioned America in its own image.

In Wild Faith, critically acclaimed author Talia Lavin goes deep into what motivates the Christian Right, from its segregationist past to a future riddled with apocalyptic ideology.

Using primary sources and firsthand accounts, Lavin introduces you to “deliverance ministers” who carry out exorcisms by the hundreds; modern-day, self-proclaimed prophets and apostles; Christian militias, cults, zealots, and showmen; and the people in power who are aiding them to achieve their goals.

Along the way, she explores anti-abortion terrorists, the Christian Patriarchy movement, with its desire to place all women under absolute male control; the twisted theology that leads to rampant child abuse; and the ways conspiracy theorists and extremist Christians influence each other to mutual political benefit.

From school boards to the Supreme Court, Christian theocracy is ascendant in America—and only through exploring its motivations and impacts can we understand the crisis we face. In Wild Faith, Lavin fearlessly confronts whether our democracy can survive an organized, fervent theocratic movement, one that seeks to impose its religious beliefs on American citizens.

Why you should read it: This one is a difficult read. A truly excellent book about some completely terrifying realities of the current social and political landscape of America. A lot of the over-arcing information is stuff that I already knew on some level, yet seeing it spelled out and framed this way — seeing the extra details and explanations and analysis — and reading the words of people with traumatic first-hand experience... This book is incredibly well researched and painful. I'm glad I read it. I think the information and perspectives revealed by this research are incredible important. But also, WUFFdah. Approach with care.

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recommendations

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The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Aiden Bishop knows the rules. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others. With a locked-room mystery that Agatha Christie would envy, Stuart Turton unfurls a breakneck novel of intrigue and suspense.

Why you should read it: This is a delightfully confounding book. The perplexing premise is beautifully and intricately executed, with a skill that keeps the story moving at an increasingly urgent clip. The prose delighted me, as did the vividly crafted locations and characters. I finished the book with unanswered questions about the world, and the technology (or magic?) responsible for the mechanism of the mystery--but those questions didn't temper my enjoyment. I'm not sure they could have been answered without destroying the vibes of the book. All in all, this was a fantastic and fascinating read, and I'm very likely to pick it up again.

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House of Frank by Kay Synclaire

Powerless witch Saika is ready to enact her sister's final request: to plant her remains at the famed Ash Gardens. When Saika arrives at the always-stormy sanctuary, she is welcomed by its owner, an enormous knit-cardiganed mythical beast named Frank, who offers her a role as one of the estate's caretakers.

Overcome with grief, Saika accepts, desperate to put off her final farewell to her sister. But the work requires a witch with intrinsic power, and Saika's been disconnected from her magic since her sister's death two years prior. Saika gets by at the sanctuary using a fragment of a fallen star to cast enchantments--while hiding the embarrassing truth about herself.

As Saika works harder in avoidance of her pain, she learns more about Frank, the decaying house at Ash Gardens, and the lives of the motley staff, including bickering twin cherubs, a mute ghost, a cantankerous elf, and an irritating half witch, among others. Over time, she rediscovers what it means to love and be wholly loved and how to allow her joy and grief to coexist.

Why you should read it: This book is so full of heart, with characters who are all genuine and kind and complicated. I adored the romance that takes place throughout the ebb and flow of this story, alongside so many friendships and challenges. The found family dynamics in this book are delightful, and there is something so cathartic in the way the story engages with grief. I'm glad I read it.

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A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo

Aria Tang West was looking forward to a summer on Martha’s Vineyard with her best friends—one last round of sand and sun before college. But after a graduation party goes wrong, Aria’s parents exile her to California to stay with her grandmother, artist Joan West. Aria expects boredom, but what she finds is Steph Nichols, her grandmother’s gardener.

Soon, Aria is second-guessing who she is and what she wants to be, and a summer that once seemed lost becomes unforgettable—for Aria, her family, and the working-class queer community Steph introduces her to. It’s the kind of summer that changes a life forever.

Why you should read it: While this book is only tenuously a sequel to "Last Night at the Telegraph Club," I enjoyed it enormously. It reads like a standalone novel rather than a continuation, taking place decades later and starring a main character who has never met Lily or Kath, and having a completely different tone from the first book. None of this hampered my enjoyment of this new installment. It's an uncomfortable story, beautifully told, and I remain in awe of Malindo Lo's writing. Be warned that the romantic arc comes with a heavy dose of infidelity, but the author never makes light of this fact, and the guilt and conflict make up a huge portion of Aria's growth as a character throughout the book.

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recommendations

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The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel

It is 1666, one year after plague has devastated England. Young widow Cecilia Thorowgood is a prisoner, trapped and isolated within her older sister’s cavernous London townhouse. Burdened by grief, at the mercy of a legion of impatient doctors, Cecilia shows no sign of improvement. Soon, her sister makes a decision born of desperation: She hires a new physician, someone known for more unusual methods. But he is a foreigner. A Jew.

David Mendes fled Portugal to seek a new life in London, where he could practice his faith openly and leave the past behind. Still reeling from the loss of his beloved friend and struggling with his religion and his past, David is free and safe in this foreign land but incapable of happiness. The security he has found in London threatens to disappear when he meets Cecilia, and he finds himself torn between his duty to medicine and the beating of his own heart. He is the only one who can see her pain; the glimmers of light she emits, even in her gloom, are enough to make him believe once more in love.

Facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, David and Cecilia must endure prejudice, heartbreak, and calamity before they can be together. The Great Fire is coming—and with the city in flames around them, love has never felt so impossible.

Why you should read it: I absolutely adored this book. It strikes a truly overwhelming balance between grief and joy, with characters who find each other and truly see each, other despite a world arranged to keep them apart. The depth of this story left me winded, and made me cry more than once. No spoilers of course, but there's one line that hit me in the chest so hard that I actually said, "Oh my god." Like. Out loud. While crying (good tears.) And then I had to rewind my audiobook, because I missed the next several paragraphs. This might well be the best book I read this year.

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Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles

Will Darling came back from the Great War with a few scars, a lot of medals, and no idea what to do next. Inheriting his uncle’s chaotic second-hand bookshop is a blessing…until strange visitors start making threats. First a criminal gang, then the War Office, both telling Will to give them the information they want, or else.

Will has no idea what that information is, and nobody to turn to, until Kim Secretan—charming, cultured, oddly attractive—steps in to offer help. As Kim and Will try to find answers and outrun trouble, mutual desire grows along with the danger.

And then Will discovers the truth about Kim. His identity, his past, his real intentions. Enraged and betrayed, Will never wants to see him again.

But Will possesses knowledge that could cost thousands of lives. Enemies are closing in on him from all sides—and Kim is the only man who can help.

Why you should read it: Oh this was lovely. I devoured it even faster than I anticipated. It's a marvelous tale of spies and sex and inconvenient feelings, setting up a very fun dynamic to follow, through more books in the series, and I enjoyed it enormously.

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The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley

As a master of disguise, Thomasina Wynchester can be a proper young lady—or a bawdy old man. Anything to solve the case. Her latest assignment unveils a top-secret military cipher covering up an enigma that goes back centuries. But when Tommy’s beautiful new client turns out to be the highborn lady she’s secretly smitten with, more than the mission is at stake…

Bluestocking Miss Philippa York doesn’t believe in love. Her cold heart didn’t pitter-patter when she was betrothed to a duke, nor did it break when he married someone else. All Philippa desires is to rescue her priceless manuscript and decode its clues to defeat a powerful enemy. She hates that she needs a man’s help—and she’s delighted to discover the clever, charming baron at her side is in fact a woman. Her cold heart… did it just pitter-patter?

Why you should read it: Charming and lovely and so incredibly satisfying, this book was a wild ride. I loved the chemistry between Tommy and Philippa, and their mischievous-partners-in-crime dynamic was such a delight to behold. I was also impressed by how well the story incorporates such a wide cast of characters without leaving me remotely confused about Tommy's numerous siblings and their distinct personalities. I didn't realize until I started that I was stepping into a series in progress, but I thought the author did a deft job of getting me up to speed without too much info-dumping. A genuinely fantastic read, I absolutely loved it.

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recommendations

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Death in the Spires by KJ Charles

1905. A decade after the grisly murder of Oxford student Toby Feynsham, the case remains hauntingly unsolved. For Jeremy Kite, the crime not only stole his best friend, it destroyed his whole life. When an anonymous letter lands on his desk, accusing him of having killed Toby, Jem becomes obsessed with finally uncovering the truth.

Jem begins to track down the people who were there the night Toby died – a close circle of friends once known as the ‘Seven Wonders’ for their charm and talent – only to find them as tormented and broken as himself. All of them knew and loved Toby at Oxford. Could one of them really be his killer?

As Jem grows closer to uncovering what happened that night, his pursuer grows bolder, making increasingly terrifying attempts to silence him for good. Will exposing Toby’s killer put to rest the shadows that have darkened Jem’s life for so long? Or will the gruesome truth only put him in more danger?

Some secrets are better left buried…

Why you should read it: Oh this is absolutely glorious. I don't think I can coherently express how impressed I am that this book manages to simultaneously be so full of heart while also conveying all the fucked up toxic social dynamics of a brilliant murder mystery. The POV character is compelling and stubborn and painfully sincere, and his need to find out what really happened is a palpable force all through the story. The way the mystery is paced, the gradual revealing of first the events leading up to the murder, and then the untangling of how much was really going on beneath hose events... Fucking hell. It's just. SO GOOD. And the finale was so satisfying I'm still sitting here stunned. Goddamn beautiful.

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In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

Why you should read it: Melancholy and hopeful and warm and sweet and sad and lovely and just fundamentally GOOD. Honestly, I don't have a lot of coherent things to say about this book. I loved it. It kicked my ass (emotionally speaking) in the best possible way. I recommend it very fiercely.

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Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

As the daughter of a rancher in 1840s Mexico, Nena knows a thing or two about monsters—her home has long been threatened by tensions with Anglo settlers from the north. But something more sinister lurks near the ranch at night, something that drains men of their blood and leaves them for dead.

Something that once attacked Nena nine years ago.

Believing Nena dead, Néstor has been on the run from his grief ever since, moving from ranch to ranch working as a vaquero. But no amount of drink can dispel the night terrors of sharp teeth; no woman can erase his childhood sweetheart from his mind.

When the United States invades Mexico in 1846, the two are brought abruptly together on the road to war: Nena as a curandera, a healer, striving to prove her worth to her father so that he does not marry her off to a stranger, and Néstor as a member of the auxiliary cavalry of ranchers and vaqueros. But the shock of their reunion—and Nena’s rage at Néstor for seemingly abandoning her long ago—is quickly overshadowed by the appearance of a nightmare made flesh.

And unless Nena and Néstor work through their past and face the future together, neither will survive to see the dawn.

Why you should read it: This book is an excellent horror story and romance all wrapped up together, and I enjoyed it enormously. I ached for both Nena and Néstor, as children stumbling into danger they couldn't possibly have anticipated, as adults navigating all the hurt and consequences of what happened while facing that same danger again tenfold. The violence of a tumultuous historical setting works painfully well to frame the supernatural horrors of the narrative, and was vividly depicted besides. Not an easy read, but a terrific one.

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recommendations

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Spear by Nicola Griffith

She grows up in the wild wood, in a cave with her mother, but visions of a faraway lake drift to her on the spring breeze, scented with promise. And when she hears a traveler speak of Artos, king of Caer Leon, she decides her future lies at his court. So, brimming with magic and eager to test her strength, she breaks her covenant with her mother and sets out on her bony gelding for Caer Leon.

With her stolen hunting spear and mended armour, she is an unlikely hero—not a chosen one, but one who chooses. Aflame with determination, she begins a journey of magic and mystery, love, lust and fights to death. On her adventures she will steal the hearts of beautiful women, fight warriors and sorcerers, and make a place to call home.

Why you should read it: A strange and riveting take on Arthurian legends, compelling and gloriously queer. I didn't realize until the author's note at the end that Peretur is an alternate name/spelling for Percival, but this did not at all diminish my enjoyment of the book. The familiar elements of the mythology are beautifully rendered and fit into an incredible story that never once landed where I expected it to go.

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Sword Stone Table by Swapna Krishna & Jenn Northington

From the vast lore surrounding King Arthur, Camelot, and the Knights of the Round Table, comes an anthology of gender-bent, race-bent, LGBTQIA+ inclusive retellings.

Featuring stories by: Alexander Chee • Preeti Chhibber • Roshani Chokshi • Sive Doyle • Maria Dahvana Headley • Ausma Zehanat Khan • Daniel M. Lavery • Ken Liu • Sarah MacLean • Silvia Moreno-Garcia • Jessica Plummer • Anthony Rapp • Waubgeshig Rice • Alex Segura • Nisi Shawl • S. Zainab Williams

Here you’ll find the Lady of the Lake reimagined as an albino Ugandan sorceress and the Lady of Shalott as a wealthy, isolated woman in futuristic Mexico City; you’ll see Excalibur rediscovered as a baseball bat that grants a washed-up minor leaguer a fresh shot at glory and as a lost ceremonial drum that returns to a young First Nations boy the power and the dignity of his people. There are stories set in Gilded Age Chicago, ’80s New York, twenty-first century Singapore, and space; there are lesbian lady knights, Arthur and Merlin reborn in the modern era for a second chance at saving the world and falling in love—even a coffee shop AU.

Brave, bold, and groundbreaking, the stories in Sword Stone Table will bring fresh life to beloved myths and give long-time fans a chance to finally see themselves in their favorite legends.

Why you should read it: This was a fascinating collection with a dizzyingly wide range of stories. Some fantastic Arthuriana retellings that did a fantastic job of hitting the mark while offering up beautiful new perspectives... Some terrific stories that didn't quite understand the assignment but were enjoyable reads nonetheless... Some especially gorgeous gems by writers I will absolutely be seeking out in future. Definitely an anthology worth checking out.

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Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Gwen, the quick-witted Princess of England, and Arthur, future lord and general gadabout, have been betrothed since birth. Unfortunately, the only thing they can agree on is that they hate each other.

When Gwen catches Art kissing a boy and Art discovers where Gwen hides her diary (complete with racy entries about Bridget Leclair, the kingdom's only female knight), they become reluctant allies.

By pretending to fall for each other, their mutual protection will be assured. But how long can they keep up the ruse? With Gwen growing closer to Bridget, and Art becoming unaccountably fond of Gabriel, Gwen's infuriatingly serious, bookish brother, the path to true love is looking far from straight...

Why you should read it: This book was everything I hoped and more. Charming, sweet, sincere, genuinely funny. I love a story that deftly balances a light tone with heavier themes, and this one manages to be an incredibly cheerful read while still doing a beautiful job with the more serious elements in play. The characters are wonderful and complicated, the pacing is excellent, and the ending is wildly satisfying. Even the contemporary tone and dialogue worked perfectly, despite the setting being nebulously medieval, maybe because everything felt so grounded in genuine emotion. I adored this book.

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recommendations

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The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan

Toba Peres can speak but she can’t shout; she can walk but she can’t run; and she can write in five languages… with both hands at the same time.

Naftaly Cresques dreams every night of an orange-eyed stranger; when awake, he sees things that aren’t real; and he carries a book he can never lose and never read.

When the Queen of Sefarad orders all the nation’s Jews to leave or convert, Toba and Naftaly are forced to flee, but an unlucky encounter leaves them both separated from their caravan. Lost in the wilderness, Toba follows an orange-eyed stranger through a mysterious gate in a pomegranate grove, leaving Naftaly behind.

With a single step, Toba enters an ancient world that mirrors her own. There, she finds that her fate—and Naftaly’s—are bound to an ancient conflict threatening to destroy both realms.

Why you should read it: I'm not even sure where to start, I loved this book so much. I can't remember the last time I read a book with this many POV characters handled this brilliantly. They weren't all likable, but I adored them all, and the interweaving of so man intersecting threads was just... I have no idea how to explain how good this was without giving mountains of spoilers. The world-building and magic had me riveted every bit as much as the characters and relationships, and the whole thing felt so grounded and real. An incredible book. I sincerely cannot wait for the sequel, and I'm so glad book two is coming out in less than a month.

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Entreat Me by Grace Draven

Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard’s salvation. …until they confront her elder sister. Determined to rescue her sibling from ruin, Louvaen Duenda pursues her to a decrepit castle and discovers a household imprisoned in time. Dark magic, threatening sorcerers, and a malevolent climbing rose with a thirst for blood won’t deter her, but a proud man disfigured by an undying hatred might. Louvaen must decide if loving him will ultimately save him or destroy him. A tale of vengeance and devotion.

Why you should read it: Oh this was lovely! A terrific historical fantasy that feels so sincere while playing around with folk tale tropes in fun ways. This might be my favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling to date. The characters are so lovely, with a perfect balance between instant attraction/chemistry and a slow burn that really earns it when they finally tumble together. Their relationship is so candid and sassy and earnest all at once, and even the side characters are fleshed out and charming to a degree that it felt like the book would fall apart without them. A beautiful reading experience all around.

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Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

“No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers.” Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill—but she doesn’t care. She’d rather play a monster than a maid.

But in Luli’s world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes—even if that means becoming the monster herself.

Why you should read it: This book is haunting and hopeful, and absolutely gorgeous. Nghi Vo has such a talent for world-building, creating intricate magic in a surprisingly short span. I read "The Chosen and the Beautiful" a while back and it blew me away, so I went in with high hopes for Siren Queen. I was not disappointed, this book is phenomenal. The magic is very different—more old-gods-and-eldritch-horror tinged—but it still hums eerily alongside the vividly crafted historical setting in a way that felt somehow both understated and terrifying. The characters in this book are complicated and earnest and WONDERFUL even if they're not always GOOD, and I absolutely adored it. Please read this book.

Tags:

recommendations

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Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

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…

Why you should read it: This is the charming third installment in a series I adore. Iris is such a fun character, and I enjoyed getting to spend time in her POV after seeing her at the periphery of everyone else's stories. And Stevie is just so sweet and lovely (and very believably riddled with anxiety). Plus, I'm a sucker for a good fake-dating-leads-to-real-feelings plot, and it's so well done here. A delightful read all around.

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D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins

'Instant I Do' could be Kris Zavala’s big break. She’s right on the cusp of really making it as an influencer, so a stint on reality TV is the perfect chance to elevate her brand. And $100,000 wouldn’t hurt, either.

D’Vaughn Miller is just trying to break out of her shell. She’s sort of neglected to come out to her mom for years, so a big splashy fake wedding is just the excuse she needs.

All they have to do is convince their friends and family they’re getting married in six weeks. If anyone guesses they’re not for real, they’re out. Selling their chemistry on camera is surprisingly easy, and it’s still there when no one else is watching, which is an unexpected bonus. Winning this competition is going to be a piece of wedding cake.

But each week of the competition brings new challenges, and soon the prize money’s not the only thing at stake. A reality show isn’t the best place to create a solid foundation, and their fake wedding might just derail their relationship before it even starts.

Why you should read it: This book was so very sweet. I'm not a big fan of reality TV, but I picked the book up anyway and I'm SO GLAD I did. The characters were lovely and complicated, the chemistry was incendiary, and the author delivered on an over-the-top premise in all the best ways. I really appreciated the way the story was paced and structured. I love the way it avoids detouring into a breakup to add extra drama, building momentum and tension in other ways. A lovely read all around.

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Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

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 to feel 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?

Why you should read it: Very sweet, very lovely, and with a wildly satisfying dramatic flourish right at the end. (Seriously, I don't want to say anything specific that might ruin the moment, but it was delightfully cathartic.) The characters in this book have a complicated history between them, of being best friends who crossed some very specific lines before drifting completely apart for over a decade — and I really loved how that shifted the balance of the story, giving us two people who simultaneously know each other SO WELL and also need to spend significant effort learning how to exist together in their current lives. The stubborn miscommunications are incredibly believable, and I'm such a sucker for characters who are doing their best despite fucking up along the way. I enjoyed the hell out of this book.

Tags:

recommendations

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The Marquis Who Mustn't by Courtney Milan

Miss Naomi Kwan has spent years wanting to take ambulance classes so that she can save lives. But when she tries to register, she’s told she needs permission from the man in charge of her. It would be incredibly wrong to claim that the tall, taciturn Chinese nobleman she just met is her fiancé, but Naomi is desperate, and desperate times call for fake engagements. To her unending surprise, Liu Ji Kai goes along with her ruse.

It’s not that Kai is nice. He’s in Wedgeford to practice his family business, and there’s no room for “nice” when you’re out to steal a fortune. It’s not that the engagement is convenient; a fake fiancée winding herself into his life and his heart is suboptimal when he plans to commit fraud and flee the country.

His reason is simple: Kai and Naomi were betrothed as children. He may have disappeared for twenty years, but their engagement isn’t actually fake. It’s the only truth he’s telling.

Why you should read it: I adored this book. The main characters are carrying such complicated and not always compatible baggage, and the ways in which they both grow and change and learn through the book feel SO SATISFYING. The fact that their respective histories of hurt actually help them truly see and resonate with each other is just... I'm not sure I have words for how perfect it felt. Gorgeous and vindicating and completely lovely. (The third book in this series just came out and words cannot convey how excited I am for it.)

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The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K.J. Charles

Robin Loxleigh and his sister Marianne are the hit of the Season, so attractive and delightful that nobody looks behind their pretty faces.

Until Robin sets his sights on Sir John Hartlebury’s heiress niece. The notoriously graceless baronet isn’t impressed by good looks, or fooled by false charm. He’s sure Robin is a liar—a fortune hunter, a card sharp, and a heartless, greedy fraud—and he’ll protect his niece, whatever it takes.

Then, just when Hart thinks he has Robin at his mercy, things take a sharp left turn. And as the grumpy baronet and the glib fortune hunter start to understand each other, they also find themselves starting to care—more than either of them thought possible.

But Robin’s cheated and lied and let people down for money. Can a professional rogue earn an honest happy ever after?

Why you should read it: Delightful. DELIGHTFUL. Oh my god, I loved this book even more than I expected to (and my expectations were high.) The chemistry! The characters at odds in so many ways, doing their best to do right by each other! The mutual protectiveness! The scorching hot sex scenes! I've enjoyed every book I have read to date by K.J. Charles, but this one is definitely in the running for reigning favorite. I cried a bit at the end, when a very good and satisfying and cathartic thing happened. A truly excellent book.

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Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

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.

Gwen, on the other hand, is on her fourth season and counting, with absolutely no intention of finding a husband, possibly ever. She has plenty of security as the only daughter of a rakish earl, from whom she’s inherited her penchant for drinking too much and dancing ‘til dawn.

Beth and Gwen are enchanted with each other on sight. And it doesn’t take long for Gwen to hatch her latest scheme: rather than join the husband hunt, they should set up Gwen’s father and Beth’s newly-widowed mother.

They had a fling years ago, after all...

Why you should read it: This book blew my expectations completely out of the water (and my expectations were pretty high to start with, since it came recommended by some very trusted sources). I loved these characters. I loved the way the author used the complicated and sometimes convoluted world of the historical setting to navigate such a satisfying story of hope and expectations and heartbreak and love. I loved how you could see from the start what shape this happily-ever-after was going to take, and the whole journey is riveting while you wait to find out just how they'll get there. I need book two of this series in my brain immediately.

Tags:

recommendations

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Liar City by Allie Therin

It’s the middle of the night when part-time police consultant and full-time empath Reece gets an anonymous call warning him that his detective sister needs his help. At an out-of-the-way Seattle marina, he discovers that three people have been butchered—including the author of the country’s strictest anti-empathy bill, which is just days from being passed into law.

Soon, Reece’s caller arrives: a shadowy government agent known as The Dead Man, who is rumored to deal exclusively in cases involving empathy. He immediately takes over the investigation, locking out both local PD and the FBI, but, strangely, keeps Reece by his side.

As the two track an ever-growing trail of violence and destruction across Seattle, Reece must navigate a scared and angry city, an irritating attraction to his mysterious agent companion, and a rising fear that perhaps empaths like him aren’t all flight and no fight after all…

Why you should read it: Oh, this is a PHENOMENAL book—a contemporary paranormal mystery with truly excellent world building. The premise is so well executed that I would be impressed even if I hadn't found the story itself riveting, but the characters and pacing had me on the edge of my seat too. I'm so excited that this is the first in a series. I hope book two's tentative release date can be trusted, because I'm gonna need the sequel in my eyeballs as soon as humanly possible. What a ride!

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Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly

Alexei Lebedev’s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail began with a single snake. And it was angling for the hot stranger who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Lex was prepared for rattlesnakes, blisters, and months of solitude. What he wasn’t prepared for was Ben Caravalho. But somehow—on a 2,500-mile trail—Alexei keeps running into the outgoing and charismatic hiker with golden-brown eyes, again and again. It might be coincidence. Then again, maybe there’s a reason the trail keeps bringing them together. . .

Ben has made his fair share of bad decisions, and almost all of them involved beautiful men. And yet there’s something about the gorgeous and quietly nerdy Alexei that Ben can’t just walk away from. Surely a bad decision can’t be this cute and smart. And there are worse things than falling in love during the biggest adventure of your life. But when their plans for the future are turned upside down, Ben and Alexei begin to wonder if it’s possible to hold on to something this wild and wonderful.

Why you should read it: This was such a lovely story, with sweet and earnest characters who fuck up sometimes but are genuinely always doing their best. Lex and Ben spend the book finding themselves just as much as they're finding each other, and seeing them learn to trust each other is a wonderful journey.

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The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

Mossa has returned to Valdegeld on a missing person’s case, for which she’ll once again need Pleiti’s insight. Seventeen students and staff members have disappeared from Valdegeld University—yet no one has noticed. The answers to this case may lie on the moon of Io—Mossa’s home—and the history of Jupiter’s original settlements during humanity's exodus from Earth.

But Pleiti’s faith in her life’s work as a scholar of the past has grown precarious, and this new case threatens to further destabilize her dreams for humanity’s future, as well as her own.

Why you should read it: A second charming installment in a delightful series. I definitely recommend reading the first one—The Mimicking of Known Successes—before diving into this title, so you can really appreciate the depth of the characters and their relationship. But I also feel you could read this one as a standalone just fine, since the mystery is wholly self-contained. It's a quick read, and downright silly in some places, but never in a way that threw me out of the story. Honestly, the sillier references (and I don't want to give any spoilers for them, you'll just have to read and find them for yourself) fit right in with the wry, occasionally cheeky tone of the story. All-in-all a lovely novella with unmistakable Holmes/Watson vibes.

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recommendations

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Never Been Kissed by Timothy Janovsky

Wren Roland has never been kissed, but he wants that movie-perfect ending more than anything. Feeling nostalgic on the eve of his birthday, he sends emails to all the boys he (ahem) loved before he came out. Morning brings the inevitable Oh God What Did I Do?, but he brushes that panic aside. Why stress about it? None of his could-have-beens are actually going to read the emails, much less respond. Right?

Enter Derick Haverford, Wren's #1 pre-coming-out-crush and his drive-in theater's new social media intern. Everyone claims he's coasting on cinematic good looks and his father's connections, but Wren has always known there's much more to Derick than meets the eye. Too bad he doesn't feel the same way about the infamous almost-kiss that once rocked Wren's world.

Whatever. Wren's no longer a closeted teenager; he can survive this. But as their hazy summer becomes consumed with a special project that may just save the struggling drive-in for good, Wren and Derick are drawn ever-closer...and maybe, finally, Wren's dream of a perfect-kiss-before-the-credits is within reach.

Why you should read it: Oh, this was just impossibly sweet and lovely. These characters were agonizingly relatable (I remember being this age, finishing school and having no goddamn idea what I was supposed to do with my life or who I wanted to be). And I'm such a sucker for a good second-chances story, where we see people who are fundamentally GOOD fuck up and then put their whole heart into trying to do better. This book was beautifully satisfying.

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For Never and Always by Helena Greer

Hannah Rosenstein should be happy: 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" Matthews: 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 planned: 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.

Why you should read it: This is a sequel to one of my favorite reads of 2023, exploring two new POV characters with a history even more complicated than the first book let on. It's a compelling story about two people who adore each other but are, in a lot of fundamental ways, poorly matched. Watching them find their way back to each other, while they learn to navigate a different path, was lovely and fascinating — and I had no idea going in that it would include an exploration of one character's demisexuality (which, well-written characters within the ace umbrella will ALWAYS be a particular weakness of mine). Lovely all around.

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That Kind of Guy by Talia Hibbert

If there's one thing Rae can't stand, it's pity. She's forty, frazzled, and fed up--so attending an awards ceremony alone while her ex swans about with his new wife? Not an option. To avoid total humiliation, Rae needs a date of her own. And her young, hot-as-hell new best friend is the perfect candidate...

Zach Davis, king of casual hookups, has a secret: the notorious womaniser craves emotional connection, and anonymous encounters leave him feeling hollow. After years of performance, Zach's desperate to be himself. So why does he agree to play Rae's fake boyfriend? And why does it feel so easy?

When the line between pretence and desire blurs, Zach's forced to face an unexpected truth: there's nothing phoney about his need for Rae. But the jaded divorcée's been hurt by playboy men before. Can a weekend of faking it prove that Zach's for real?

Why you should read it: Talia Hibbert has such an incredible way of crafting stories about people with heavy baggage, finding each other and working together to lighten the load for each other. The road is always gorgeous to read, even when it's not an easy one, and this book is exactly that kind of lovely. Sweet, earnest characters struggling to trust each other and ultimately finding their way together. I enjoyed this enormously.

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recommendations

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Reclaiming Two-Spirits by Gregory D. Smithers

Reclaiming Two-Spirits decolonizes the history of gender and sexuality in Native North America. It honors the generations of Indigenous people who had the foresight to take essential aspects of their cultural life and spiritual beliefs underground in order to save them.

Before 1492, hundreds of Indigenous communities across North America included people who identified as neither male nor female, but both. They went by aakíí’skassi, miati, okitcitakwe or one of hundreds of other tribally specific identities. After European colonizers invaded Indian Country, centuries of violence and systematic persecution followed, imperiling the existence of people who today call themselves Two-Spirits, an umbrella term denoting feminine and masculine qualities in one person.

Drawing on written sources, archaeological evidence, art, and oral storytelling, Reclaiming Two-Spirits spans the centuries from Spanish invasion to the present, tracing massacres and inquisitions and revealing how the authors of colonialism’s written archives used language to both denigrate and erase Two-Spirit people from history. But as Gregory Smithers shows, the colonizers failed—and Indigenous resistance is core to this story. Reclaiming Two-Spirits amplifies their voices, reconnecting their history to Native nations in the 21st century.

Why you should read it: I knew going in that this would be a heavy read, and I also had a feeling it was going to be a really excellent resource. I was right on both counts. This book contains an incredible amount of not just history but contemporary accounts from indigenous communities, and a lot of in-depth analysis in topics that are way outside my scope of knowledge. The author isn't native, but I think does a good job of centering native voices and experiences throughout the book. There's a good balance between the necessary but painful history presented in the earlier chapters, and the fiercely hopeful contemporary conversations in the second half of the book. So many people—in so many different age groups and communities—working to decolonize and reclaim language, culture, history that stand distinct from other kinds of queerness.

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Moby Dyke by Krista Burton

Lesbian bars have always been treasured safe spaces for their customers, providing not only a good time but a shelter from societal alienation and outright persecution. In 1987, there were 206 of them in America. Today, only a couple dozen remain. How and why did this happen? What has been lost--or possibly gained--by such a decline? What transpires when marginalized communities become more accepted and mainstream?

In Moby Dyke, Krista Burton attempts to answer these questions firsthand, venturing on an epic cross-country pilgrimage to the last few remaining dyke bars. Her pilgrimage includes taking in her first drag show since the onset of the pandemic at The Back Door in Bloomington, Indiana; competing in dildo races at Houston's Pearl Bar; and, despite her deep-seated hatred of karaoke, joining a group serenade at Nashville's Lipstick Lounge and enjoying the dreaded pastime for the first time in her life. While Burton sets out on the excursion to assess the current state of lesbian bars, she also winds up examining her own personal journey, from coming out to her Mormon parents to recently marrying her husband, a trans man whose presence on the trip underscores the important conversation about who precisely is welcome in certain queer spaces--and how they and their occupants continue to evolve.

Why you should read it: Travel memoirs are not usually my cup of tea—they tend not to hold my focus—but this one kept me riveted. I love the premise, I love the bits of queer history that sneak in along the way, I love getting to experience these locations and crowds vicariously. The thought of actually participating in a road trip like this (not literally a road trip, but close enough) sounds exhausting and Not For Me, but it was so cool to read about. The author's got a lovely candid writing style, and I legitimately cried (good tears) in the last chapter. Just, all around a fantastic read.

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Disability Intimacy by Alice Wong

What is intimacy? More than sex, more than romantic love, the pieces in this stunning and illuminating new anthology offer broader and more inclusive definitions of what it can mean to be intimate with another person. Explorations of caregiving, community, access, and friendship offer us alternative ways of thinking about the connections we form with others—a vital reimagining in an era when forced physical distance is at times a necessary norm.

But don’t worry: there’s still sex to consider—and the numerous ways sexual liberation intersects with disability justice. Plunge between these pages and you’ll also find disabled sexual discovery, disabled love stories, and disabled joy. These twenty-five stunning original pieces—plus other modern classics on the subject, all carefully curated by acclaimed activist Alice Wong—include essays, photo essays, poetry, drama, and erotica: a full spectrum of the dreams, fantasies, and deeply personal realities of a wide range of beautiful bodies and minds. Disability Intimacy will free your thinking, invigorate your spirit, and delight your desires.

Why you should read it: I've been seeing this title recommended in a lot of places, so I went in with my expectations high, and the book absolutely delivered. It's a fascinating, thoughtful, illuminating collection of essays and articles—and it was incredibly cohesive while covering a much broader range of topics than I expected. There are a lot of areas I'm not very well informed about when it comes to disability advocacy, despite my ongoing efforts to learn more, and I appreciated every insight this collection brought to me. Not always an easy read, given the world we live in and the honesty in all of these writings, but beautiful and worth it every step of the way.

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recommendations

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A Power Unbound by Freya Marske

Secrets! Magic! Enemies to… something more?

Jack Alston, Lord Hawthorn, would love a nice, safe, comfortable life. After the death of his twin sister, he thought he was done with magic for good. But with the threat of a dangerous ritual hanging over every magician in Britain, he’s drawn reluctantly back into that world.

Now Jack is living in a bizarre puzzle-box of a magical London townhouse, helping an unlikely group of friends track down the final piece of the Last Contract before their enemies can do the same. And to make matters worse, they need the help of writer and thief Alan Ross.

Cagey and argumentative, Alan is only in this for the money. The aristocratic Lord Hawthorn, with all his unearned power, is everything that Alan hates. And unfortunately, Alan happens to be everything that Jack wants in one gorgeous, infuriating package.

When a plot to seize unimaginable power comes to a head at Cheetham Hall—Jack’s ancestral family estate, a land so old and bound in oaths that it’s grown a personality as prickly as its owner—Jack, Alan and their allies will become entangled in a night of champagne, secrets, and bloody sacrifice . . . and the foundations of magic in Britain will be torn up by the roots before the end.

Why you should read it: Yes, okay, this is the final book in a trilogy that absolutely without question requires the reading of the first two books. Consider this a fiercely enthusiastic recommendation of the full series (both other books having already ended up on this list, because they are also wonderful). This title stands apart for me though. It is somehow simultaneously one of the best fantasy novels I've ever experienced AND some of the best erotica I've ever read. The chemistry between the main characters is agonizingly palpable, and the games they play are just... I'm not sure I even have words for how brilliantly the author executed one of my favorite kink dynamics. An incredible finale to a fantastic trilogy, everyone should read this series.

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The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

Fetter was raised to kill, honed as a knife to cut down his sainted father. This gave him plenty to talk about in therapy.

He walked among invisible powers: devils and anti-gods that mock the mortal form. He learned a lethal catechism, lost his shadow, and gained a habit for secrecy. After a blood-soaked childhood, Fetter escaped his rural hometown for the big city, and fell into a broader world where divine destinies are a dime a dozen.

Everything in Luriat is more than it seems. Group therapy is recruitment for a revolutionary cadre. Junk email hints at the arrival of a god. Every door is laden with potential, and once closed may never open again. The city is scattered with Bright Doors, looming portals through which a cold wind blows. In this unknowable metropolis, Fetter will discover what kind of man he is, and his discovery will rewrite the world.

Why you should read it: Holy hell this is a good book. Strange and unexpected and completely disorienting, but also full of heart. I honestly have no idea how to describe it. It's a fantasy story unlike anything else I've ever seen. The magic is built into the fabric of the world, but it's scary and uncomfortable and brilliantly written. At no point in this book did I have any idea where the next page would take me, and by the end it had knocked me fully on my ass. A truly excellent experience.

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Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower by Tamsyn Muir

When the witch built the forty-flight tower, she made very sure to do the whole thing properly. Each flight contains a dreadful monster, ranging from a diamond-scaled dragon to a pack of slavering goblins. Should a prince battle his way to the top, he will be rewarded with a golden sword—and the lovely Princess Floralinda.

But no prince has managed to conquer the first flight yet, let alone get to the fortieth.

In fact, the supply of fresh princes seems to have quite dried up.

And winter is closing in on Floralinda…

Why you should read it: This was very strange and very fun. The writing style is wry and irreverent, and I've never read an adventure story OR a love story quite like it. There are places where modern terms and concepts sneak into what is otherwise a vaguely historical knights-and-dragons-and-princesses-in-castles style high fantasy, but these details are placed so deftly that they felt like an inside joke rather than an incongruity. Or maybe they felt like both, but in a charming and genuinely funny way. All around an enjoyable read.

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recommendations

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The Fiancee Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur

Tansy Adams’ greatest love is her family’s bookstore, passed down from her late father. But when it comes to actual romance… Tansy can’t get past the first chapter. Tired of her stepfamily’s questions about her love life, Tansy invents Gemma, a fake girlfriend inspired by the stunning cover model on a bestselling book. They’ll never actually meet, so what’s the harm in a little fib? Yet when real-life Gemma crosses Tansy’s path, her white lie nearly implodes.

Gemma van Dalen is a wild child, the outcast of her wealthy family, and now the latest heir to Van Dalen Publishing. But the title comes with one tiny condition: she must be married in order to inherit. When Gemma discovers a beautiful stranger has been pretending to date her for months, she decides to take the charade one step further—and announces their engagement.

Gemma needs a wife to meet the terms of her grandfather’s will and Tansy needs money to save her struggling bookstore. A marriage could be mutually beneficial, if they can fool everyone into thinking it’s a love match. Unexpected sparks fly as Tansy and Gemma play the role of affectionate fiancées, and suddenly the line between convenient arrangement and real feelings begins to blur. But the scheming Van Dalen family won’t give up the company without a fight, and Gemma and Tansy’s newfound happiness might get caught in the fallout…

Why you should read it: This book is so incredibly satisfying. The villain characters are over-the-top villainous, but not in a way that's badly done. Just, in a way where I want them to face terrible consequences, almost as much as I want the lovely main characters to be together. The chemistry between Tansy and Gemma is smoldering, and I loved watching them fall into each other and learn to trust. I'm such a sucker for characters with trust issues who do their best anyway, and have each other's backs. I enjoyed the hell out of this story and will need to read more by this author.

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Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

For Astrid Parker, failure is unacceptable. Ever since she broke up with her fiancé a year ago, she’s been focused on her career—her friends might say she’s obsessed, but she’s just driven. When Pru Everwood asks her to be the designer for the Everwood Inn’s renovation that will be broadcasted on a popular home improvement show, Innside America, Astrid knows this is the answer to everything that is wrong with her life. It’ll be the perfect distraction from her failed love life, and her perpetually displeased mother might finally give her nod of approval.

However, Astrid never planned on Jordan Everwood, Pru’s granddaughter and lead carpenter for the inn’s renovation, who despises every modern design decision Astrid makes. Jordan is determined to preserve the history of her family’s inn, particularly as the rest of her life is in shambles. When that determination turns into a little light sabotage, ruffling Astrid’s perfect little feathers, the showrunners ask them to play up the tension. But somewhere along the way, their dislike for each other turns into something quite different, and Astrid must decide what success truly means. Is she going to pursue the life that she’s expected to lead, or the one she wants?

Why you should read it: This was very charming, very fun despite some of the heavy subject matter, and an incredibly cathartic read. Astrid is a fascinating character—I loved seeing her as the complicated not-quite-antagonist of the first book in this series—and the chance to read a story from her POV was honestly delightful. Jordan was lovely too. You can absolutely read this book as a standalone if you want to, but I'd recommend reading "Delilah Green Doesn't Care" first for the complete experience.

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Tapping Into Love by Monica McCallan

Lucy Parsons wants absolutely nothing to do with the Westmoore family or the maple syrup they produce. When Sierra Westmoore blows back into town after her father’s death and tries to rent a room at Lucy’s family’s bed-and-breakfast, The Maple Inn, Lucy kicks her out on the spot. It doesn’t matter that Sierra hasn’t set foot in Maple Run in fifteen years—the Westmoores are not allowed.

But small towns don’t leave a lot of room to hide, and Sierra and her brother, Drake, have set their sights on improving the town’s opinion of them now that their father is gone.

Lucy doesn’t believe any Westmoore could have good intentions, and although she may have to play nice with Sierra, it doesn’t mean she’s going to like it.

Why you should read it: This one started out a little rough for me, just because one of the main characters behaves so abysmally. But the story makes room for accountability, and for genuine growth, and in the end I found this romance to be incredibly sweet. Definitely worth a read.

(Sorry the buy link for this one is Amazon only -- this title is a kindle unlimited release -- but I got access to it via my library, so hopefully you can request it that way too if you're not an amazon customer.)

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The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann

Thirty, flirty, and asexual Joy is secretly in love with her best friend Malcolm, but she’s never been brave enough to say so. When he unexpectedly announces that he’s met the love of his life—and no, it’s not Joy—she’s heartbroken. Malcolm invites her on a weekend getaway, and Joy decides it’s her last chance to show him exactly what he’s overlooking. But maybe Joy is the one missing something…or someone…and his name is Fox.

Fox sees a kindred spirit in Joy—and decides to help her. He proposes they pretend to fall for each other on the weekend trip to make Malcolm jealous. But spending time with Fox shows Joy what it’s like to not be the third wheel, and there’s no mistaking the way he makes her feel. Could Fox be the romantic partner she’s always deserved?

Why you should read it: This book caught me completely off guard and knocked me on my ass in the best way. It's a messy, complicated, gorgeous asexual romance that feels achingly authentic. I love Joy. I resonated so much with so many of her frustrations with getting people to understand her ace-ness, and shared her rage every time someone tried to put her in a box. And I also love how stubborn and soft and unapologetic she is. This is definitely an ace experience far different from my own, but it still felt incredibly real, and I loved the way it was written. A lovely romance.

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Perfect Rhythm by Jae

Can a burned-out pop star and an asexual woman find the perfect rhythm together?

Pop star Leontyne Blake might sing about love, but she stopped believing in it a long time ago. What women want is her image, not the real her. When her father has a stroke, she flees the spotlight and returns to her tiny Missouri hometown.

In her childhood home, she meets small-town nurse Holly Drummond, who isn’t impressed by Leo’s fame at all. That isn’t the only thing that makes Holly different from other women. She’s also asexual. For her, dating is a minefield of expectations that she has decided to avoid.

Can the tentative friendship between a burned-out pop star and a woman not interested in sex develop into something more despite their diverse expectations?

A lesbian romance about seeking the perfect rhythm between two very different people—and finding happiness where they least expect it.

Why you should read it: I enjoyed the hell out of this sweet, soft, earnestly asexual sapphic romance. It packs a lot of growth and sincerity into a book that could have easily felt too heavy. Leo is dealing with burnout, unresolved trauma, and a messy (even toxic) relationship with her family. Holly has her own share of baggage to work through. And still throughout the book—through existential crisis and the loss of a loved one—these two women are so soft and good and always doing their best. I thought the asexuality was beautifully depicted, and it was lovely to see Holly learning to trust that Leo won't hurt her the way other people have. A powerful and heartfelt read.

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Being Ace by Madeline Dyer

Discover the infinite realms of asexual love across sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporary stories

From a wheelchair user racing to save her kidnapped girlfriend and a little mermaid who loves her sisters more than suitors, to a slayer whose virgin blood keeps attracting monsters, the stories of this anthology are anything but conventional. Whether adventuring through space, outsmarting a vengeful water spirit, or surviving haunted cemeteries, no two aces are the same in these 14 unique works that highlight asexual romance, aromantic love, and identities across the asexual spectrum.

Full contributor list: Akemi Dawn Bowman, Lara Ameen, Rosiee Thor, Moniza Hossain, Linsey Miller, Kat Yuen, Madeline Dyer, S.E Anderson, S.J. Taylor, K Hart, Cody Daigle-Orians, Anju Imura, Emily Victoria, Jas Brown, and RoAnna Sylver.

Why you should read it: Oh, this is an excellent collection. A few of the stories didn't land for me—whether by narrative style or craft—but on balance there were so many phenomenal narratives that I genuinely didn't mind the ones that weren't my jam. There's an impressive variety of different sub-genres on the one hand, and asexual experiences on the other, and the overall quality of this anthology is terrific.

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Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

A magical detective dives into the affairs of Chicago's divine monsters to secure a future with the love of her life. This sapphic period piece will dazzle anyone looking for mystery, intrigue, romance, magic, or all of the above.

An exiled augur who sold her soul to save her brother's life is offered one last job before serving an eternity in hell. When she turns it down, her client sweetens the pot by offering up the one payment she can't resist--the chance to have a future where she grows old with the woman she loves.

To succeed, she is given three days to track down the White City Vampire, Chicago's most notorious serial killer. If she fails, only hell and heartbreak await.

Why you should read it: What a riveting and bittersweet novella. Polk does a phenomenal job of building a whole world and magic system in an impressively short space, while still giving me characters with depth and history and so much heart. I loved this book. Absolutely wonderful.

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Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

Welcome to Neverton, Montana: home to a God-fearing community with a heart of gold.

Nestled high up in the mountains is Camp Damascus, the self-proclaimed "most effective" gay conversion camp in the country. Here, a life free from sin awaits. But the secret behind that success is anything but holy.

And they'll scare you straight to hell.

Why you should read it: I had a strong inkling that I was going to enjoy this book, but I still can't quite believe just how much I loved it. Spooky, subversive, weirdly charming, and an absolutely vivid horror story. I loved Rose Darling. I laughed in delighted exasperation at all the Peter Pan references. I found the monsters themselves to be nightmare-inducing in a very literal way. Just all around an excellent book, and I look forward to seeing what Chuck Tingle does next.

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Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions--much good it did me.

So begins Kaikeyi's story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on legends of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the devout and the wise. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, listens as her own worth is reduced to how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.

Desperate for some measure of independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With this power, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen, determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her.

But as the evil from her childhood tales threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak--and what legacy she intends to leave behind.

Why you should read it: This was an excellent but very stressful read. Somehow, having the narrator allude repeatedly to HOW MUCH WORSE things are going to get, makes the whole thing even more harrowing. Which I am better equipped to handle sometimes than others. All that being said, this is an absolutely incredible book—a vast fantasy story based on the Ramayana. Since I'm not familiar with the original epic, I didn't recognize any of the key players or traditional story elements, but the author still managed to make the whole book feel like it shared a heartbeat with that solid underlying story. I loved the main character and how she faced a lifetime of impossible choices, and the magic of the world was beautifully conveyed. Bonus points for a main character who reads as both aromantic and asexual, without implying that these things are in any way a character flaw.

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The Sign for Home by Blair Fell

Arlo Dilly is young, handsome, and eager to meet the right girl. He also happens to be DeafBlind, a Jehovah’s Witness, and under the strict guardianship of his controlling uncle. His chances of finding someone to love seem slim to none.

And yet, it happened once before: many years ago, at a boarding school for the Deaf, Arlo met the love of his life—a mysterious girl with onyx eyes and beautifully expressive hands which told him the most amazing stories. But tragedy struck, and their love was lost forever.

Or so Arlo thought.

After years trying to heal his broken heart, Arlo is assigned a college writing assignment which unlocks buried memories of his past. Soon he wonders if the hearing people he was supposed to trust have been lying to him all along, and if his lost love might be found again.

No longer willing to accept what others tell him, Arlo convinces a small band of misfit friends to set off on a journey to learn the truth. After all, who better to bring on this quest than his gay interpreter and wildly inappropriate Belgian best friend? Despite the many forces working against him, Arlo will stop at nothing to find the girl who got away and experience all of life’s joyful possibilities.

Why you should read it: This was an intense ride from start to finish, and it's brilliantly crafted. A lot of the subject matter is so far outside my lived experience that I'm ill-equipped to tell how accurate it is, but it felt incredibly informative (especially about the logistics of tactile and haptic signing) and without ever dropping me out of the narrative. Strong character voices really stand out for me in the two POV's, occasionally getting so realistic as to be downright uncomfortable. It's a powerful story, with difficult subject matter, and it gave me a lot to unpack. My one warning is that the cover design (and to some extent the marketing copy) is incredibly misleading. This is not a fluffy romance novel. There's a love story in there, but it's a relatively small piece of a much larger, heavier narrative, and I would not describe anything about this book as fluffy. Hopefully, if you know this going in, the cognitive dissonance won't ruin the read for you—because it truly is a wonderful book.

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Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

Money can’t buy happiness… but it can buy a decent fake. Ava Wong has always played it safe. As a strait-laced, rule-abiding Chinese American lawyer with a successful surgeon as a husband, a young son, and a beautiful home—she’s built the perfect life. But beneath this façade, Ava’s world is crumbling: her marriage is falling apart, her expensive law degree hasn’t been used in years, and her toddler’s tantrums are pushing her to the breaking point.

Enter Winnie Fang, Ava’s enigmatic college roommate from Mainland China, who abruptly dropped out under mysterious circumstances. Now, twenty years later, Winnie is looking to reconnect with her old friend. But the shy, awkward girl Ava once knew has been replaced with a confident woman of the world, dripping in luxury goods, including a coveted Birkin in classic orange. The secret to her success? Winnie has developed an ingenious counterfeit scheme that involves importing near-exact replicas of luxury handbags and now she needs someone with a U.S. passport to help manage her business—someone who’d never be suspected of wrongdoing, someone like Ava. But when their spectacular success is threatened and Winnie vanishes once again, Ava is left to face the consequences.

Why you should read it: I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It defies genre a bit—it was described to me as a heist story, and I don't think that's right, but I also can't think of what to call it that might be closer—and the way the story is framed is a fascinating exercise in unreliable narrators. The writing was excellent, the pacing tight, the characters fascinating. All-in-all a riveting read.

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One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Cynical twenty-three-year old August doesn’t believe in much. She doesn’t believe in psychics, or easily forged friendships, or finding the kind of love they make movies about. And she certainly doesn’t believe her ragtag band of new roommates, her night shifts at a 24-hour pancake diner, or her daily subway commute full of electrical outages are going to change that.

But then, there’s Jane. Beautiful, impossible Jane.

All hard edges with a soft smile and swoopy hair and saving August’s day when she needed it most. The person August looks forward to seeing on her train every day. The one who makes her forget about the cities she lived in that never seemed to fit, and her fear of what happens when she finally graduates, and even her cold-case obsessed mother who won’t quite let her go. And when August realizes her subway crush is impossible in more ways than one—namely, displaced in time from the 1970s—she thinks maybe it’s time to start believing.

Why you should read it: This was very fun and very sweet, with a wide cast of quirky characters that felt delightful to spend time with. I knew almost nothing going in, beyond a baseline confidence that I would enjoy the author's writing style, so watching this mystery unfold, realizing the whole premise was steeped in magic... I enjoyed it enormously. A lovely read.

(One caveat if you're the type to check content tags before reading a book: the author describes this book as containing a scene with "semi-public" sex, but you should know going in, there's nothing semi-public about it. The sex takes place in a fully public setting. And if that's going to squick you, now you know to brace yourself, you're welcome.)

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Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv the orc barbarian cashes out of the warrior’s life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen.

However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.

A hot cup of fantasy slice-of-life with a dollop of romantic froth.

Why you should read it: Oh, this is very cute and very good. I love a book where you can tell the author had an absolute blast writing the story, and it's clear this is one of those books. A lovely cast of characters and a beautiful story about building community and defying expectations. Honestly, it just felt so good. A wonderful read.

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A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

Magic! Murder! Shipboard romance!

Maud Blyth has always longed for adventure. She expected plenty of it when she volunteered to serve as an old lady’s companion on an ocean liner, in order to help her beloved older brother unravel a magical conspiracy that began generations ago.

What she didn’t expect was for the old lady in question to turn up dead on the first day of the voyage. Now she has to deal with a dead body, a disrespectful parrot, and the lovely, dangerously outrageous Violet Debenham, who’s also returning home to England. Violet is everything that Maud has been trained to distrust yet can’t help but desire: a magician, an actress, and a magnet for scandal.

Surrounded by the open sea and a ship full of suspects, Maud and Violet must first drop the masks that they’ve both learned to wear before they can unmask a murderer and somehow get their hands on a magical object worth killing for—without ending up dead in the water themselves.

Why you should read it: I feel a little weird recommending this book on its own, since it's a second book in a series that really REALLY needs to be read in order. I recommended the first book already, and I definitely suggest reading that one (A Marvelous Light) before diving into this one, but you should absolutely devour both. They're delightful, and I honestly enjoyed the second installment even more than the first. The shipboard mystery shenanigans are so much fun, and the characters are delightful. I even warmed up to Lord Hawthorn by the end, which I'm sure was the author's plan from the start, but I'm still surprised it worked. The romance was lovely and I want to read SO MUCH MORE about Maud Blyth.

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The Scandalous Letters of V and J by Felicia Davin

Paris, 1823. Victor Beauchêne has led a stifling existence, unrecognized for both his cleverness and his gender, except in the pages of his meticulous diary. Abruptly cut off from his family’s fortune, he takes the opportunity to start a new life in a shabby boarding house with his beloved spinster aunt Sophie. There, he stumbles upon two kinds of magic: a pen with eerie powers of persuasion and a reserved, alluring art student named Julien.

Brilliant, unconventional Julien is also Julie, a person whose magical paintings can transform their body or enchant viewers. Haunted by a terrible episode in their past, they’ve come to Paris for artistic success—the ordinary, non-magical kind. Victor, too handsome and far too inquisitive, is a dangerous distraction from their ambitions.

Drawn to each other, Victor and Julie strike up a cautious correspondence of notes slid under doors. It soon unfolds into a passionate romance. Outside the bedroom, their desires clash: Julie wants to distance herself from the world of magic and Victor wants to delve deeper. When the ruthless abuser from Julie’s past resurfaces, he aims to take control of her powers and ruin more lives. Victor and Julie are the only ones who can stop him. Do they trust each other enough to survive the threat to their love and their lives?

The Scandalous Letters of V and J is a historical fantasy romance with two nonbinary main characters, told primarily in letters and diary entries. It is approximately 100,000 words long and sexually explicit.

Why you should read it: What a strange and lovely historical jaunt! I loved the characters in this book, the meandering journey they both take through gender, the yearning and intimacy that run like an undercurrent throughout the entire book. The world building and magic are fascinating. I loved the largely epistolary way the story is told, though it hops back and forth a bit between the letters/journal entries and a more standard third person narrative. All in all, I didn't know what to expect going in, and I enjoyed the experience enormously.

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Sisters of the Vast Black by Lina Rather

Years ago, Old Earth sent forth sisters and brothers into the vast dark of the prodigal colonies armed only with crucifixes and iron faith. Now, the sisters of the Order of Saint Rita are on an interstellar mission of mercy aboard Our Lady of Impossible Constellations, a living, breathing ship which seems determined to develop a will of its own.

When the order receives a distress call from a newly-formed colony, the sisters discover that the bodies and souls in their care—and that of the galactic diaspora—are in danger. And not from void beyond, but from the nascent Central Governance and the Church itself.

Why you should read it: I absolutely adored this novella. It's short and incredibly readable, and I can't remember the last time I devoured a story so quickly. The characters are complex and lovely, the world building is on point, the complications of a LIVING SPACE SHIP are beautifully explored. And all of that is just background to what an amazing job the author does, of creating a wider story that puts the characters in an impossible position and then falls like perfectly planned dominoes. I love when you can see the pieces the author is lining up ahead of time, but you can't tell exactly how those pieces are going to come into play—and then when they finally do, it's glorious and satisfying and perfect.

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The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older

On a remote, gas-wreathed outpost of a human colony on Jupiter, a man goes missing. The enigmatic Investigator Mossa follows his trail to Valdegeld, home to the colony’s erudite university—and Mossa’s former girlfriend, a scholar of Earth’s pre-collapse ecosystems.

Pleiti has dedicated her research and her career to aiding the larger effort towards a possible return to Earth. When Mossa unexpectedly arrives and requests Pleiti’s assistance in her latest investigation, the two of them embark on a twisting path in which the future of life on Earth is at stake—and, perhaps, their futures, together.

Why you should read it: Absolutely delightful. This feels very Sherlock Holmes in a charming and incredibly deliberate way—while also being about lesbians in a far future civilization, in which humanity has survived the destruction of Earth by building platforms in orbit around Jupiter. All-in-all a decent mystery jaunt, that becomes a wonderful read thanks to the characters and the world building of the whole endeavor.

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Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

Claire Kovalik is days away from being unemployed—made obsolete—when her beacon repair crew picks up a strange distress signal. With nothing to lose and no desire to return to Earth, Claire and her team decide to investigate.

What they find is a shock: the Aurora, a famous luxury space-liner that vanished on its maiden tour of the solar system more than twenty years ago. A salvage claim like this could set Claire and her crew up for life. But a quick search of the ship reveals something isn’t right.

Whispers in the dark. Flickers of movement. Messages scrawled in blood. Claire must fight to hold onto her sanity and find out what really happened on the Aurora, before she and her crew meet the same ghastly fate.

Why you should read it: This is an excellent fucked-up-and-spooky read. It had so many of my favorite horror tropes, mingled together in ways that kept me guessing most of the way through. The characters were delightful, the situation completely visceral, and some of the gore so vivid it made me flinch. The atmosphere of dread was brilliantly drawn out and the pacing/structure of the story surprised me in ways I really enjoyed. I would love to see a movie made of this one day, it would work alarmingly well.

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Season of Love by Helena Greer

When Miriam Blum unexpectedly inherits part of her eccentric aunt's Christmas tree farm, she has to team up with the hot butch farm manager to save the farm from developers—and face the past she's been running from for a decade. A queer, Jewish take on classic Hallmark tropes.

Why you should read it: This book choked me up multiple times, and the whole thing is just so sweet and cathartic and satisfying and good. The characters are lovely, the tensions fierce, the found family dynamic my perfect catnip. This is absolutely the first in a series, with half a dozen potential-future-book-protagonists sprinkled throughout the cast of side characters and an ending that leans very deliberately into one of them—but since all of these side characters were completely charming, I didn't mind. Seriously lovely, and I will be looking to get my hands on the next book for sure.

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You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

Feyi Adekola wants to learn how to be alive again.

It’s been five years since the accident that killed the love of her life and she’s almost a new person now—an artist with her own studio, and sharing a brownstone apartment with her ride-or-die best friend, Joy, who insists it’s time for Feyi to ease back into the dating scene. Feyi isn’t ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could have never imagined: a luxury trip to a tropical island, decadent meals in the glamorous home of a celebrity chef, and a major curator who wants to launch her art career.

She’s even started dating the perfect guy, but their new relationship might be sabotaged before it has a chance by the dangerous thrill Feyi feels every time she locks eyes with the one person in the house who is most definitely off-limits. This new life she asked for just got a lot more complicated, and Feyi must begin her search for real answers. Who is she ready to become? Can she release her past and honor her grief while still embracing her future? And, of course, there’s the biggest question of all—how far is she willing to go for a second chance at love?

Why you should read it: Oh, these characters are so messy, and so gorgeous, and so fantastically complicated. I knew very little about the book going in. I had a feeling I would enjoy it based on some inklings from a friend, but otherwise it was very much a blank slate experience. The physicality of the characters feels very raw and real, and the exploration of grief—both solitary and shared—added an intensity to the whole thing that I'm not sure how to put into words. This is a strange and beautiful book.

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Common Goal by Rachel Reid

Veteran goaltender Eric Bennett has faced down some of the toughest shooters on the ice, but nothing prepared him for his latest challenge—life after hockey. It’s time to make some big changes, starting with finally dating men for the first time.

Graduate student Kyle Swift moved to New York nursing a broken heart. He’d sworn to find someone his own age to crush on (for once). Until he meets a gorgeous, distinguished silver fox hockey player. Despite their intense physical attraction, Kyle has no intention of getting emotionally involved. He’ll teach Eric a few tricks, have some mutually consensual fun, then walk away.

Eric is more than happy to learn anything Kyle brings to the table. And Kyle never expected their friends-with-benefits arrangement to leave him wanting more. Happily-ever-after might be staring them in the face, but it won’t happen if they’re too stubborn to come clean about their feelings.

Everything they both want is within reach… They just have to be brave enough to grab it.

Why you should read it: This was honestly delightful. Such fantastic setup of two men, who in fact want the EXACT SAME THING, being completely believable dumbasses and trying to protect each other by pretending not to want those things. A brilliant execution of the "it's just sex, we're not gonna fall in love or anything" trope. Bonus points for a less experienced older man (lol 'older' my ass - dude's only forty-one) having his first gay sexual encounters and unapologetically enjoying himself. Eric very much reads as demisexual to me, and I loved how that played into the way he experiences intimacy and views physical pleasure. EVEN MORE bonus points for a divorced man being on good terms with his ex-wife, which will always be a favorite trope of mine. All around a lovely book, and I'll have to check out more of Rachel Reid's titles.

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Yolande Kleinn

Romance. Erotica. Hijinks.

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