The last thing Maya would ever want to do is date this loser again. When she is invited to join Second Chance Romance, a new reality show in which Jordy will revisit past relationships to find “the one that got away,” Maya has revenge on her mind. All she has to do is pretend to be interested in Jordy for a few short weeks, and if she can make it to the end, she can reject Jordy and expose him for the jerk he is. There’s only one problem with Maya’s plan: Skye. Jordy’s ex Skye is gorgeous, charismatic… and she just so happens to be the girl Jordy cheated on Maya with. How is Maya supposed to live with this girl for six weeks?
This enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance shows us just how good we could have it if these women on The Bachelor would stop chasing after a bland straight man and instead fell in love with each other. Why can’t rom-coms be real life?
Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
Are you more of a Top Chef person than a Bachelor person? Did you know there’s a whole slew of rom-com books set on reality cooking shows? The best (and queerest) of those is Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly.
Dahlia Woodson is recovering from her recent divorce and she’s ready to do something daringly out-of-character, so she signs up to compete on the reality TV competition show Chef’s Special. Dahlia has her heart set on winning to prove herself, but then she meets nonbinary contestant London. London Parker knows their journey on Chef’s Special won’t be an easy one after they announce their pronouns on national television. But they’re here to prove the trolls (and their father) wrong. Falling in love with a fellow contestant wasn’t part of the plan, but Dahlia is hard to resist.
Love & Other Disasters is a steamy romantic debut that will get your pulse racing. And if you love it (why wouldn’t you?), look out for Anita Kelly’s M/M romance novel Something Wild and Wonderful, coming out in March.
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Raise your hand if you love gay romance and fake dating! In Boyfriend Material, Luc O’Donnell is looking for a nice, normal boyfriend now that his rock star father’s comeback has put Luc in the public eye. A relationship with scandal-free barrister Oliver Blackwood would do wonders for Luc’s image. Unfortunately, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. The two decide to fake date — at least until Luc gets the press on his side. But we all know how these fake dating things go: Fake dating can start to feel a whole lot like real dating. The relationship between Luc and Oliver, with all of its ups and downs, is endlessly charming and makes for a hilarious read.
D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins
Forget fake dating. This sapphic romance takes it a step further with a whole fake wedding. In D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding, two women plan a fake wedding for a reality TV show. Both have their own reasons for going through with the lie. Influencer Kris thinks a televised wedding is the perfect way to elevate her brand. Meanwhile, D’Vaughn sees the public event as a chance to come out to her family. But as D’Vaughn and Kris both get more involved in the fake marriage charade, they also come to realize the value of living life authentically. D’Vaughn and Kris’s love story is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. These two women end up bringing out the best in each other, and their chemistry is undeniable.
Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond
What’s more rom-com-esque than a main character who works at a bakery? A baker protagonist who attends weddings professionally. After Amy is forced out of the closet, the Christian bakery where she works fires her on the spot. Thankfully, Amy is resourceful and finds a way to turn her people-pleasing skills into a full-on job: a professional bridesmaid for hire. Between her baking experience and years of watching Say Yes to the Dress, Amy is the perfect person to assist brides on their big day. But will she be able to juggle her job working at straight weddings and a budding romantic relationship with attractive engineer Charley? All while still being semi-closeted?
