New Books with Lesbian Romances
Contemporary love stories that should be brought into the spotlight
There have never been so many mainstream books about queer romance available as there are right now! The lesbian literature subgenre includes a lot of themes and tropes, so readers can pick up a rom com, a historical fiction title, or anything in between. Queer folks are not a monolith, so neither should be the range of titles available. Here is a list of our favorite recent lesbian romances!
Kiss Me, Maybe – Gabriella Gamez
Angela Gutierrez has never been kissed, but she is ready to change that. After going viral for a video discussing her “late bloomer” status, she finds that she has enough influencer credit to promote her big idea! She’s going to create a scavenger hunt, in which one winner gets to be the person who gives Angela her first kiss.
She can’t believe it when Krystal Ramierz, bartender and object of Anna’s unrequited five-year crush, offers her assistance. Krystal breezily says that romantic love just isn’t her thing, but she seems very interested in helping Angela pull the whole thing off.
As the two spend more and more time together, meticulously planning every step of the scavenger hunt, Angela feels their connection and attraction growing stronger and stronger. Eventually, it reaches a point where her feelings for Krystal make her second guess the whole plan.
But Krystal has thoroughly convinced herself that she is not capable of romantic love. How will Angela deal with falling for a woman who may never love her back?
Reviews for Kiss Me, Maybe:
“A fizzy and fun follow-up to Gamez’s debut.”―Library Journal, starred review
“A surprisingly high-heat exploration of gray-asexual desire, complete with a realistic approach to the rewards and difficulties of being queer in the age of social media and a loving focus on the lives of queer Latinx Texans. Gamez’s fans will be pleased.”―Publishers Weekly
“Funny, smart, and spicy!” ―Abby Jimenez, New York Times bestselling author, on The Next Best Fling
If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You – Mae Marvel
As soon as I read the comps for this novel, I knew I was going to love it: Ms. and Ms. Smith meets The Pairing. How could I not pick it up immediately?!
Yardley “the Unicorn” Whitmer is a legend in the area of spy craft. She’s also in an LTR, but living a full-time cover story isn’t easy. Soon, the relationship has fizzled. Turns out that rappelling off the Eiffel Tower is EASIER than breaking up.
KC “Tabasco” Nolan is a hacker of unparalleled skill and prides herself on being able to solve any puzzle and crack any code. She can’t figure out how to save a relationship, however, when she’s told her partner so many lies as a result of her undercover work.
When an undercover operation goes wrong, Yardley and KC discover the truth. As impossible as it sounds, BOTH of them had been working at the agency for years, unbeknownst to either of them. To salvage an important mission, they agree to put the shock behind them, partner up, and get plane tickets. They also give in to their physical attraction while hiding in a linen closet.
Even knowing what they know, both KC and Yardley wonder if they should try again. With everything out in the open, perhaps they will love each other’s true selves. But lying is a hard habit to break. And they might not even LIKE each other. Is giving their relationship another chance a risk that either of them wants to take?
Reviews for If I Told You, I’d Have To Kiss You:
“A whirlwind of spies and lies and sexy fun, Mae Marvel always understands the assignment to the highest possible degree. Absolutely loved.” ―Charlotte Stein, author of When Grumpy Met Sunshine
“Fast-paced and fun.” ―Kirkus
“Engrossing and highly unique… This slow-burn, fascinating lesbian romance novel reads like a spy thriller that is laced with angst and sexual tension… an exciting addition to the sapphic genre.” ―Booklist
Here for the Wrong Reasons –Annabel Paulsen & Lydia Wang
Krystin would consider herself to be a relatively traditional person. She knows exactly what she wants, and those things are a husband, a horse, and a place to display all of her competitive rodeo prizes. Not necessarily in that order. When no local men quite measure up to her expectations, she turns to the next obvious route: reality TV!
Krystin and dozens of other women will compete on Hopelessly Devoted, vying for the heart of handsome Josh Rosen. Lauren will certainly throw her hat in the ring, but definitely not for the husband. She wants to stay on the show long enough to build a decent social media following and bowing out gracefully when she is inevitably eliminated. With a big enough audience, Lauren is sure that she will have enough support to do exactly and whatever she wants to do, which is to finally come out.
Neither woman on a dating show where lots of women fight for one man expects to fall for another woman instead. How will the producers and the audience of Hopelessly Devoted react to this unexpected romance?
Reviews for Here For The Wrong Reasons:
“This debut contributes bold new aspects to the romance genre while embracing that all-important happily-ever-after.”
—Kirkus
“An intriguing premise that is fulfilled with skillful worldbuilding and witty, humorous writing. Fans of Alexandria Bellefleur and reality TV will clamor for this debut novel by real-life partners Paulsen and Wang.”
—Library Journal
“A delightful sapphic romance . . . Not to be missed.”
—The Lesbian Review
“A wonderful mix of sweet and steamy . . . This proves as deliciously addictive as the most bingeable reality show.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
I’ll Get Back to You – Becca Grischow
Things are not going well for Murphy. She should be settling into her junior year at college with her best friend, Kat. Instead, she lives with her parents, makes minimum wage, and is again failing the class that kept her from graduating the first time around. She’s also unimpressed by the dating scene in her hometown. There aren’t really a lot of lesbians in her area.
Things are awkward when Murphy and Kat are reunited. Instead of enjoying instant connection, they are having stilted conversations and a string of uninvited guests. But suddenly, a miracle appears right in front of her eyes. Ellie Meyers is a former classmate of Murphy and Kat’s, gorgeous, and she is not nearly as straight as Murphy ever thought. The flirting is hot and heavy, the air is full of promise. It all comes screeching to a halt when Murphy discovers that Ellie’s mom is the very professor who is getting ready to flunk her for the second semester in a row.
The two realize that they just might be able to help each other out. Maybe Ellie is the key to getting Professor Meyers’ good side. And maybe Murphy is Ellie’s opportunity to get her mother on board with her Big Plans. They decide to fake a romantic relationship on a family weekend at the Meyers’ house and dazzle the professor with how awesome both of them are.
Murphy has got to get her head in the game. She should stop thinking about Ellie, her lips in particular. When do they get to stop acting? A lovely story about opening your heart to possibility.
Reviews for I’ll Get Back To You:
“Grischow’s debut is as self-assured and charming as her protagonist desperately wishes she herself were…Grischow’s take on fake dating is compulsively readable, funny, and full of heart. Readers will fall for this as fast as Murphy falls for Ellie.” —Publishers Weekly *starred review*
“Sweet and swift.” —Vulture
“With compassion and heart, Grischow masterfully touches on the growing pains–emphasis on pain–and self discovery associated with those early years of adulthood ” —Iman Hariri-Kia, author of A Hundred Other Girls
Experienced – Kate Young
Bette thought that she had everything figured out as her 30th birthday marches relentlessly toward her. But Bette is into women, and she has just realized that.
She falls immediately for Mei, and is ecstatically happy until Mei suddenly ends their relationship. She doesn’t think that Bette has enough experience being queer, and she wants her to explore the dating scene before they officially commit to each other.
Bette’s mission is to date a lot of hot women and have a lot of hot, casual, no-strings-attached sex. When it is out of her system, she will return to Mei, sure about what she wants out of life.
Bette is going on an adventure that is going to take her to a lot of unexpected places. She has a new friend, though, and a queer dating guide. With her new Ruth by her side, Bette can’t possibly fail!
Reviews for Experienced:
“This is the sexy, slow-burn queer love story we’ve been waiting for….Delightful through and through…Experienced beings together a winning cast and a series of romcom-worthy setups for a love story as heartfelt as it is fun. It’s a no-holds-barred celebration that shows following your heart, despite the risks, offers great reward.”
—Booklist starred review
“Young’s exuberant debut novel follows the bumbling erotic adventures of a newly out lesbian…. Hilarity, secondhand embarrassment, and some sensual love scenes follow.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A wholehearted, fun exploration of dating and love in the 21st century….Young’s charming British English pairs with a young millennial’s quirky, anxious interiority for a fun, surprisingly profound read. Romantics, if you’re lonely or even if you’re happily in love, this novel will be a treat.”
—Bookpage
If you are new to the genre, we hope that this list gives you a great jumping-off point! If you have been reading in this space for a while, make sure that you are recommending these books to friends and family so that we can keep demand alive in the marketplace!
