Evelyn Hugo’s real love story is with Celia St. James. Our evidence-led review weighs a 4.39 Goodreads average against the Celia, race and representation arguments readers keep having.
Shamim Sarif’s London love story between a Palestinian bride-to-be and a shy British Indian writer is funny and warm, carried by its families, but head-hopping prose and a thin romance hold it back.
Is The Girl from the Sea by Lee Knox Ostertag worth reading? Our review of the sapphic selkie graphic novel — the 1/5 heat, the rushed romance, and the bittersweet ending.
Verdict: An aching, beautifully observed retelling of Ask, Tell from the closeted commanding officer’s side, and the highest-rated book in its series — limited only by the fact that it is a companion, not a starting point. Best for: Readers who have already loved Ask, Tell, who want pining, restraint and military-medical angst, and who … Read more
Verdict: A sex-positive, tension-heavy college romance with a pansexual narrator and a genuinely clever abstinence-pact hook, held back by a thinly drawn love interest and a contrived late breakup. Best for: New adult readers who want an out, unapologetic queer heroine, a bad-girl/good-girl pairing built on slow-burning tension, and a short, fast campus romance. Heat … Read more
Verdict: A sweet, poignant first love under military secrecy: in 1998, introverted Marine Cameron Warren, autistic but not yet diagnosed, meets gregarious military kid Sharon Rodriguez, and the two fall hard while hiding their relationship under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Readers adore Cam and call the portrayal of DADT unforgettable; knowing Sharon’s fate from Dal … Read more
Verdict: A warm, funny Melissa Brayden workplace romance: new San Diego reporter Skyler Ruiz finally works alongside her longtime TV crush, anchor Carolyn McNamara — until the network pits them against each other. Readers love the chemistry and Skyler’s quirky voice; a sizeable group felt the late conflict soured an otherwise lovely book. Best for: … Read more
Verdict: A funny, very Australian debut: hapless electorate office manager Emma Ives falls for her polished, presumed-straight MP boss, and a political scandal lands them in bed. Readers love Emma’s voice and the humour; the single point of view leaves Bridget a mystery, and the closeted-boss dynamic won’t convince everyone. Best for: Readers who like … Read more
Verdict: An emotional, angst-heavy queer YA debut about an out teen swimmer and the closeted ex-best friend who gave her a first kiss. Readers find it raw and realistic about first love and coming out, but it is messy by design, frank for YA, and ends openly. Best for: Older teen and adult readers who … Read more
Verdict: A warm, low-angst age-gap romance between a WNBA star and a veteran commentator, with a memorable meet-cute and convincingly researched basketball. Moody’s fans loved it; critics found it overlong, repetitive in the middle and short on spark between the leads. Best for: Readers who want kindness, communication and an HEA, with an older heroine. … Read more