By Carly Bennett, Rhys Wright, Becca Binnie and Rosie Green
As the weather warms up and we look towards summer, we’re turning our attention to light-hearted, feel-good stories. And what is more feel-good than a romantic comedy? They’re like pure sunshine in book form, and we’re here to recommend our favourite queer romcoms that will make you laugh and swoon this summer.
Behind the Scenes by Karelia Stetz-Waters
Behind the Scenes brings readers the burgeoning romance between Rose, a hyper-organised business consultant, and Ash, a creative but jaded filmmaker. Rose is meticulous and in control of every element of her life – with the exception of her chaotic pugs who refuse to be tamed – but finds escape through the wildly successful ASMR channel she runs anonymously. Ash, once a rising star, almost lost everything after a car accident that was the catalyst for the explosive break up that left her career in tatters. The two are brought together through business but, of course, when feelings begin to rear their heads and chemistry runs high, Rose and Ash find themselves at the centre of a love story they never saw coming.
Behind the Scenes is an unapologetically queer story, showing the joy of queer community, healing and love. It’s so refreshing to read a sapphic romance with love interests in their thirties and forties in a genre that is so often confined to younger protagonists.
Laugh-out-loud funny, with chemistry that absolutely radiates off the page, Behind the Scenes is incredibly tender in places and is packed full of heart – the perfect sapphic romcom to leave you with all the warmth you could wish for.
The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur
Picture this: you invent a girlfriend to get your badgering family off your back, showing them pictures of the book cover model you just stalked on Instagram to make the lie more convincing. Then you go with your family to a wedding reception and, of all the people who could walk through the door, you see Gemma West – the very same cover model. Hijinks ensue. As far as meet-cutes go, Tansy, a quiet bookseller who’s given up on the notion of a storybook romance, is in for far more than she was bargained for.
Published in April 2023 by long-time romance publisher Avon Books, The Fiancée Farce is the latest queer romance novel by Alexandria Bellefleur, who won the Lambda Literary Award for her debut novel, Written in the Stars. Bellefleur’s penchant for heartfelt sapphic romance, witty supporting characters and well-crafted comic storytelling will prove to be the perfect type of feel-good romcom to brighten your days.
The Key to You and Me by Jaye Robin Brown
Piper Kitts is scared of driving. Luckily, Piper’s grandmother has hired a girl in town to teach her whilst she stays for the summer. But Piper didn’t intend to face her fear. She would rather focus on training at the barn of a former Olympic horseback rider and, more importantly, getting over her ex-girlfriend.
In her small North Carolina town, Kat Pearson feels as though it is impossible to explore her feelings towards girls. Where she is from, no one colours outside the lines, but, when she is hired to teach Piper how to drive, she begins to find a space where she can open up.
Jaye Robin Brown writes this dual perspective LGBTQIA+ romcom in a witty and wholesome tone, and the reader follows both Piper and Kat as they tread new territory and explore the possibility of a future together.
From the author of Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit, this sweet and funny slow burn is a perfect addition to the bookshelf.
Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales
Avid watcher of Perfect Match or Married at First Sight? Fan of enemies to lovers? Have an awful ex you sort of want revenge on? You’ll love Sophie Gonzales’ new YA romcom, Never Ever Getting Back Together.
With Love Island and summer on the horizon, it’s time to start getting excited for some trash reality TV, and Never Ever Getting Back Together has all the drama, petty squabbles and urges to throw things at supposedly ‘eligible’ bachelors you could want from a dating show. On a show where one man, Jody, gets the chance to rekindle past romances, two of his exes start the show in a bitter feud before gradually realising the other was not the one to blame for imploding their relationships with Jody. Maya and Skye’s enmity gives way to friendship and a blossoming romance as deadly glares turn into covert glances, and outright avoidance shifts to sweet stolen moments.
Never Ever Getting Back Together perfectly captures the highs and lows of young love – its heartbreaks and betrayals, its fears and struggles and the joys of its new beginnings – in a fun and touching story about two bi girls finding love where they least expect it.