‘Tis the month we celebrate love in all its forms, and what better Valentine’s gift to yourself than a box of queer Romance novels?
Lover Birds
Author: Leanne Egan
Released: February 4, 2025 by Scholastic Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, Romance, Young AdultThis UK import promises my favorite trope, enemies-to-lovers, plus oh-so-necessary ADHD rep, and maybe some Pride & Prejudice nods happening in there? Plus, with rom-coms becoming fewer and further between in YA, I’ll gladly snatch up every one I can get, especially of the Sapphic variety.
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!Where Shadows Bloom
Author: Catherine Bakewell
Released: February 11, 2025 by HarperCollins
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, LGBTQIA, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young AdultFans of Allison Saft and Margaret Rogerson will be swept away into this lush and beguiling sapphic romantasy from the bestselling author of Flowerheart, Catherine Bakewell.
Ofelia has lived her life dreaming of entering Le Château Enchanté—the mysterious court of the gods-blessed King Léo, where the shadow monsters that roam Ofelia’s home never trespass.
Lope has lived her life as a knight, defending Ofelia and her home from Shadows even as she dreams of escaping with Ofelia by her side.
When the Shadows venture too close, Lope and Ofelia are thrust into a journey that will lead them to the heart of the darkness haunting their home: the dazzling and deceptive Château Enchanté itself.
A mesmerizing daydream with a subtle edge of darkness that will leave you utterly unable to put it down, Where Shadows Bloom pits terrifying monsters, chilling secrets, capricious gods, immortal kings, and death itself against the unstoppable love between two girls.
This YA Romantasy looks so romantic and lovely and French, and who doesn’t love a good Sapphic knight?? (Spoiler: Everyone loves a good Sapphic knight. It is literally one of the most comment book rec requests I get.)
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!The Prince’s Heart
Author: Ben Chalfin
Released: February 25, 2025 by Rising Action
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, LGBTQIA, Romance, Science Fiction/FantasyRed White and Royal Blue meets The Goblin Emperor in this enchanting slow-burn LGBTQIA+ Romantasy set in the mystical realm of Soeria, where a prince must choose between duty and heart.
In the heart of Soeria, where royal bloodlines carve the paths of destiny, Prince Darien Garros, the kingdom’s beloved second son, faces the age-old clash between duty and desire. For years, Darien has dodged the court’s expectations to find a suitable match, yearning instead for a love that values the man behind the crown. His longing seems answered in Tag Leara, whose charm and genuine affection ignite a hope Darien dared not admit.
Yet, fate is a fickle master. A sudden tragedy propels Darien into a role he never sought, challenging his deepest convictions. As the weight of legacy and the whispers of power threaten to suffocate him, Darien confronts the ultimate test. Torn between the call of his blood and the pull of his heart, he stands at a crossroads that could reshape the future of Soeria itself.
With every choice comes a price, and Darien must Will he follow the stringent demands of royalty, or will he choose the perilous path of love? In a world where allegiance and affection collide, Prince Darien’s story is a testament to the enduring battle between the crowns we bear and the hearts we hold dear.
Lovers of slow-burn royal Romantasy, you are in luck! It’s the age-old battle of “Crown vs. Heart,” but, you know, super gay, as all the best love stories are. Plus, it’s always exciting to find new authors writing in this space, and this is Chaflin’s debut, with a contemporary called Marooned (Survivor meets The Charm Offensive!) already slated for next year.
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!Big Name Fan
Author: Ruthie Knox
Released: February 25, 2025 by Kensington Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, Mystery/Thriller, RomanceBexley Simon and Sam Farmer aren’t detectives, but they play them on TV. Well, played, past tense. The iconic cult hit that was Craven’s Daughter ended five years ago, and their friendship died along with it. Fans were disappointed that the pair’s legendary chemistry went unfulfilled—and other fans were crushed that the actual spark between actresses Bex and Sam didn’t pay off, either. The network never intended for two women to get romantic, in life or onscreen, despite the fans. But the bigger tragedy was the loss of their dear friend, makeup artist Jen Arnot, whose accidental death cast a pall over the series’ last episodes.
Now the network has decided on a reunion special, and Bex and Sam are thrust together once more as hosts of a rewatch podcast that will feature favorite episodes. Their first guest—a megawatt star who played a murder victim early on—drops a bombshell. Among the millions of pixels of fanfic written about the show online, one truly prolific author, known in the fiction world as the show’s Big Name Fan, was an insider, almost certainly someone from the cast or crew.
As the podcast moves along—and the spark between Bex and Sam threatens to burn down the studio—the pair realize they’re faced with two actual Who is their Big Name Fan? And was Jen’s death an accident, or did someone want her dead? Sifting through clues as they question cast and crew, the duo will need to separate fact from fiction as they make their personal partnership into an unmistakable canon . . .
Following this real-life author couple is a lot of fun, because not only are they wildly prolific, but they’ve got these coauthored books under these names (this one’s the first in a series, and they kick off another series in July), plus coauthored books under the name Mae Marvel (check out Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous if you haven’t yet!), plus solo books under these names (Mare’s solo debut, Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon, releases in June, while Ruthie Knox has an extensive backlist and happens to have authored one my all-time favorite cishet New Adult duology, Deeper and Harder, under the pen name Robin York). Whew! Anyway, this one is blatantly for the Rizzoli and Isles shippers who never got to see it happen for those characters, and really what more do I need to say.
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!On Her Terms
Author: Amy Spalding
Released: February 25, 2025 by Kensington Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, Romance
Series: Out in Hollywood #3A fresh, funny contemporary romance about being true to yourself and your desires, even if it means plunging into uncharted territory . . .
Fresh off breaking up with her boyfriend and swerving away from the conventional, TikTok-ready married life she never wanted, Clementine is ready to explore the alternatives. Not that she wants to be single forever, much less die alone. But at thirty-six, it’s time for her to experience new things—including in her love life. And though an invitation to a fake relationship to appease family sounds like a recipe for disaster, Clem finds herself saying yes to smart, spirited dog groomer Chloe Lee anyway . . .
Chloe is long past her own baby gay era, but even before they’ve tackled Clem’s parents’ anniversary party and Chloe’s friend’s wedding, the two of them end up spending a lot of time together. As the attraction between them grows stronger, it all begins to feel pretty real to Clem. Chloe, however, is fine as just friends—plus she’s convinced Clem is just eager for “someone” to take her off the singles list. How to persuade her otherwise? After all, Clem is starting to realize her life is wonderfully full and being “alone” doesn’t scare her a bit. Still, being without the tiny powerhouse that is Chloe, specifically? That’s a whole other story . . .Wise, witty, and full of heart, here is an uplifting love story with an ending worth waiting for.
The third but hopefully not final book in the Out in Hollywood series has Spalding continuing to gay up LA in the best way, with bonus points for a lead in her (gasp!) late thirties. Body positivity and bi affirmation are always much-appreciated Spalding staples, and throw in the promise of puppies with a dog groomer protagonist? Absolutely sold.
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!
I have three queer romances on my tbr thus month. I’ve already grabbed (but haven’t yet started) the first one:
TEXTBOOK DEFENSE by Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James (February 4) is the next book in their Hockey Ever After series of m/m hockey romances. In this outing, a professional hockey player hires an unemployed children’s librarian to be the manny for his young daughter. A fake relationship ensues.
Willow Dixon’s IN PLAIN SIGHT (February 20) is the third book in her Legacy Mechanics series featuring the Millennial & Gen Z employees of the title business. In this book, two co-workers start texting/sexting each other on an app, each unaware of the identity of the other.
Briar Prescott’s JUST FOREVER (February 20) is a sequel to last year’s JUST A TASTE. The MCs from that book are now married, but apparently they’ve been keeping things secret because of one of them is a professional athlete.
I liked Big Name Fan! The rest are on my TBR
@DiscoDollyDeb, I’m also excited for TEXTBOOK DEFENSE.
Lucy Lennox and May Archer’s lighthearted and steamy MM series Lickin’ Thicket just released a new novella (Peacocks) that I gobbled up in a day.