A teen librarian by day, Anita Kelly writes romance that celebrates queer love in all its infinite possibilities. Originally from a small town in the Pocono Mountains, Kelly now lives in the Pacific Northwest, the perfect setting for wandering the woods, drinking too much tea, and dreaming of stories.
Rules for Ghosting (2024) Shelly Jay Shore "Fully immersive from the first page, Shore's writing grabbed me by the throat and never let go. Part ghost story, part Jewish family epic, part romance, Rules for Ghosting is a meditation on life, death, and healing, told through a queer and trans lens that is at turns bitingly funny and deeply moving. Shore is an immense talent. Ezra's world will live in my heart for a long time."
Barely Even Friends (2024) Mae Bennett "A delightful tribute to romance in so many ways: trope-filled and steamy, vulnerable and swoony. But most of all, it is fun, a Beauty & the Beast retelling that adds the kind of quirkiness to a classic tale that only a romance novel can."
Wild About You (2024) Kaitlyn Hill "Kaitlyn Hill only gets funnier--and swoonier!--with each book. I lost track of how many times this book made me laugh out loud, while also making me fall fully in love with both Natalie and Finn and their messy, anxiety- and grief-filled hearts. #TeamFinnatalie forever."
The Prospects (2024) KT Hoffman "A gorgeously written tale of queer joy and trans possibility, a heart-stealing romance and a loving tribute to the art of baseball - particularly the beauty, struggle, and camaraderie of the minor leagues . . ."
Thank You for Sharing (2023) Rachel Runya Katz "Thank You for Sharing is one of those books where someone will get to see themselves reflected on the page for the first time, whether in the complications of being a Jew of color, or the validation of a prickly, proud woman being fully loved for, not in spite of, her prickliness. Daniel and Liyah are both so fully drawn, and their story will stick with me for a long time. I'm so glad it exists."
You, with a View (2023) Jessica Joyce "You, with a View is a sexy-as-hell romance that I couldn't put down, a heartfelt tribute to the love of grandparents, and an achingly relatable exploration of the search for 'success' in your twenties. Noelle and Theo's road trip is as epic as their emotional journey, leaving my heart a happy, mushy mess by the end. I love this book."
Mrs. Nash's Ashes (2023) Sarah Adler "Mrs. Nash's Ashes is at turns both zany and heart wrenching, a layered road trip romance with equally fascinating characters who will sink their teeth into your brain and not let go long after you've finished the final page. This is a treasure of a story that lived and breathed inside my heart."
Just as You Are (2023) Camille Kellogg "Just As You Are is one of the most gloriously queer things I've ever read. Watching Liz messily navigate questions of gender, presentation, and identity was almost painfully relatable (and frequently hilarious), while prickly Daria is a lesbian love interest dreamboat. While their romance is easy to root for, at its heart, this book is a tribute to queer friendships and being young in New York--like if The L Word had been about anxiety-ridden writers in Brooklyn. In other words: a delight."
Kiss Her Once for Me (2022) Alison Cochrun "Cochrun's writing is by turns whip-smart, hilarious, and deeply vulnerable. Kiss Her Once For Me is both a queer celebration and subversion of romance tropes, along with being a love letter to Portland and an incisive exploration of family, art, and failure. Jack and Elle's swooningly romantic love story will make even the most cynical among us believe in the magic of snow days."
Season of Love (2022) (Carrigan's Christmasland, book 1) Helena Greer "One of the most unique and uniquely queer things I've ever read, SEASON OF LOVE is more a place than a book: Carrigan's Christmasland's heart beats just as strongly in these pages as all of its loving, messy, large cast of characters, all of whom are looking for home in their own ways, even if they're already there. By the last page, readers will feel as if they're part of this special family, too."
Mistakes Were Made (2022) Meryl Wilsner "In Mistakes Were Made, Wilsner somehow deftly depicts both the messy, exuberant confusion of college life and the messy, bewildering confusion of middle age. Cassie and Erin's journey is taboo and sexy, but ultimately, it is deeply sweet: a story of how love can, and should, transcend societal expectations."
Bend Toward the Sun (2022) Jen Devon "Sweeping and lush, Bend Toward the Sun is one of my favorite kinds of books, where the setting is just as integral to the story as the main characters. Getting to know the warm, lovable Brady family feels like a hug, and I am thoroughly annoyed I can't visit their vineyard in real life. Harry and Rowen's road to happily-ever-after as they each battle their own demons is deeply emotional and hard-won."
Never Been Kissed (2022) (Boy Meets Boy, book 1) Timothy Janovsky "A tribute to movies, drive-ins, and figuring out who you truly are, NEVER BEEN KISSED is a pitch-perfect second-chance summer romance. Watching Wren and Derick navigate their past and their present while fighting for their community and what they believe in will make you want to cheer. This book made my queer heart so very full and deeply happy: everything a rom-com should be."
