Book Recs

People often ask me what my favourite books are. Here are some lesfic favs of mine, along with a few memoir, general fiction & writing books. I hope you enjoy!

Latest Read

  • Stars Collide

    Stars Collide

    by Rachel Lacey
    This is my first Rachel Lacey book, and now I understand why she's such a fan favourite. Set in the world of music mega-stardom, Anna and Eden's romance is a slow-burn that's so worth the wait, and the celebrity aspect felt super-authentic. It reminded me of And Playing The Role of Herself, and that book is stellar. If you want a captivating story with equal amounts of sweetness and sexy - and one where everyone communicates *impeccably* - you've come to the right place.

Lesbian/Bi/Queer Fiction

  • The Fiancee Farce

    The Fiancee Farce

    by Alexandra Bellefleur
    A punchy rom-com that struts its stuff from page one, this romance is guaranteed to leave you satisfied. Why? Because it mixes classic tropes in a delicious way, puts snark to the top of the class, and is fresh and crisp enough to make it stand out from the pack. It claims to be steamy, but I wouldn't say that's its key accolade. Rather, the top takeaway is you can try to run from these endearing characters, but they'll reel you in. You want all the feels? This one has the lot, with a cherry on top.
  • Our Wives Under The Sea

    Our Wives Under The Sea

    by Julia Armfield
    The blurb for this describes it as "deeply romantic and fabulously strange" and for once, I have to agree. This is the story of Miri and Leah, their relationship, and Leah's relationship with the sea. The bones of it are that Leah has just come back from a submarine trip where nothing will ever be the same again. It's the story of how they both cope, and then, don't. The writing is stunning. The topic is weird. It's not a romance, there is no happy ending, but this is a book that will stay with me for a long time. If you fancy something different that focuses on the nitty-gritty of love, grief and letting go, I can't recommended it enough.
  • Love & Other Disasters

    Love & Other Disasters

    by Anita Kelly
    I watch cookery reality shows by the dozen, so this made me sit up. Make it queer, and have two characters falling in love on-screen and off? I'm in. Anita Kelly shows a skilled pair of hands in mixing this story: a pinch of rich/poor trope, a teaspoon of family strife, a sprinkle of non-binary, and a splash of coming out. Yes, there's a solid story with competition, lust, and drama. But what stopped me in my tracks was the feels. All of them. When Dahlia and London come together, I was giddy with excitement. It starts slow, but stick around. This one is so worth it.
  • Destination You

    Destination You

    by JJ Arias
    Spoiler alert: you will fall in love with this story, because JJ Arias has a way with words that makes it impossible not to. An age-gap romance between Taylor Lopez and her former history teacher Raquel Alonso, the story builds, wraps itself around you, crushes you with love and leaves you breathless. Will they end up together? I was totally invested and wanted it for this fictional couple more than I have for a very long time. A steamy, dreamy romance, it's funny, sexy, and kinda perfect.
  • And Playing The Role Of Herself

    And Playing The Role Of Herself

    by KE Lane
    And Playing The Role Of Herself can be summed up in four words: terrible cover, brilliant book. My all-time favourite lesfic novel, it’s romantic, sexy and chock-full of Hollywood dazzle. Plus, the audiobook adds a whole new level of emotion.
  • Perks Of Office

    Perks Of Office

    by Liz Rain
    Perks Of Office is a bonkers-good debut by Liz Rain, shot through with Aussie wit, two brilliant leads, and side characters you'll want to be mates with. The writing is smooth, the sex scenes are hot, and you feel every beat as Emma & Bridget navigate and then blow up their relationship. It'll make you laugh, break your heart, and then put you back together again. Can't wait for book two.
  • Meeting Millie

    Meeting Millie

    by Clare Ashton
    Clare Ashton writes like a dream, and in Meeting Millie, she's never been more seamless. The story ebbs and flows with real flair, with the eponymous Millie and trusty Charlotte getting on with life while trying to ignore the fact they've fallen for each other. For me, the side characters were a particular highlight, with Olivia and the city of Oxford the standouts. The pool scene is also worth the cover price alone. It's perhaps a little too slow burn if I have a complaint. However, it's also a second-chance romance you can't fail to fall in love with.
  • Delilah Green Doesn't Care

    Delilah Green Doesn't Care

    by Ashley Herring Blake
    Delilah Green Doesn't Care is a great title. That it's backed up by an ace cover and an even better story makes this a stellar book to kick off your 2023. A romance about second chances, along with the pleasure and pain of going home, this is a deep, funny, heart-warming tale that runs the gamut of emotions. Your heart will break for Delilah, your face will hurt from the snarky, smart dialogue, and you'll be rooting for the titular heroine and Claire from the start. It's a book that will stay with you long after you close the last page.
  • The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo

    The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo

    by Taylor Jenkins-Reid
    This book is quite simply one of the best I've ever read. Heart-breaking and sensual, it depicts a Hollywood machine that will eat you up and spit you out, not leaving any space for who you truly are. In Evelyn Hugo's case, she was a woman in love with another woman, but she covered it up with a string of marriages to men. This book sees her bearing all as she approaches death, finally wanting to tell the truth. The story is richly told, the characters jump off the page, and the forbidden love will scorch your soul. I've still got a book hangover.
  • Tell Me Everything

    Tell Me Everything

    by Laura Kay
    This is the second book I've read from Laura Kay, and you know what I love about her writing? The simplicity. The detail. The warmth. This one presses all of those buttons and then some, with an endearingly flawed lead in Natasha, who's surrounded by a cast of hilarious, gorgeous friends & family you'll want to adopt as your own. Funny & life-affirming, it's a very British rom-com bursting with queer characters. I turned the final page with a huge smile on my face. I think you will, too.
  • The Number 94 Project

    The Number 94 Project

    by Cheyenne Blue
    This book is that rare gem in the sapphic cannon: a feel-good, low-angst, gorgeously satisfying romance, with swoony leads and a stellar secondary cast that will have you howling for more. Yes, we feel all the delicious desire between Jorgie & Marta, but just as important are the found family who live right beside them. This is a book about love, friendship and community, and by the end, you'll want to live in a house renovated by Jorgie and Leo on Gaylord Street, too. And that giddily romantic final scene? *Chef's kiss!*
  • Those Who Wait

    Those Who Wait

    by Haley Cass
    I resisted reading this for ages because of its length, clocking in at 180k words. If you're doing the same, get over it. This is the stand-up-and-applaud story of Sutton and Charlotte, both immersed in the political world, both resisting their feelings to the end. It's got drama, feels, romance & raunch. It will pull you in and leave you breathless. It reminded me of And Playing The Role of Herself. There is no greater compliment.
  • Cow Girl

    Cow Girl

    by Kirsty Eyre
    Mainstream publishers are finally realising that lesbian fiction has an audience, and this book is a brilliant example of a classic rom-com with a lesbian lead. Think Sophie Kinsella, but with added rainbow sparkles. Bursting with 3D characters, it's both touching & funny, stamped through with British wit and heart. A lesbian fiction novel that will make you fall in love with cows? It's the book you never knew you needed.
  • One Last Stop

    One Last Stop

    by Casey McQuiston
    One Last Stop is a fantastic, astonishing, completely bonkers read. It's got magical realism & time travel, but beyond that, it's a warm, funny, crazily touching tale of that time in your twenties when you're finding your place in the world, your chosen family, and your first love. August and Jane are two heroines that will stay with you long after you finish. I didn't want it to end. I want to move to New York and work in a pancake house. McQuiston crushed this, and I fell head over heels.
  • The Secret Of You And Me

    The Secret Of You And Me

    by Melissa Lenhardt
    No, you're not seeing things - Mills & Boon have just published their first ever lesbian romance. So what's it like? Pretty darn good. The Secret Of You And Me kept me gripped from first page to last, and I stayed up so late reading it, I was useless the next day. A second-chance romance, it's got heart, soul, and everything in between. Read it!
  • Back In Your Arms

    Back In Your Arms

    by Monica McCallan
    Back In Your Arms is a delicious second-chance romance that ticks every box of my favourite genre. Realistic, flawed characters? Tick. Set in a Stars Hollow-esque small town? Tick. Family drama with cute kids? Tick. A romance that ebbs, flows, and eventually soars? Tick, tickety tick! You feel every step of Quinn and Sawyer's second shot at love, and I finished the book with a satisfied sigh. More please!
  • Night Tide

    Night Tide

    by Anna Burke
    Anna Burke is an author who gets plenty of plaudits, but she's always written in genres that haven't floated my boat. However, in the past year, she's released her first two romances, and now I'm totally on-board! The writing in this small-town romance is exquisite, and the depth of emotion pulses from the pages. It features a group of friends you want to be part of, plus lashings of craft beer and coffee. This is enemies to lovers on steroids, with cracking bantz all the way through.
  • In At The Deep End

    In At The Deep End

    by Kate Davies
    It's not often a novel makes me stay up all night and wish it would never end. This book did just that. In At The Deep End is an updated Bridget Jones with a lesbian lead, a tale of real-life queer London. It'll make you laugh, tense up and hide behind your hands. Plus it includes enough fisting to make your eyes water. I can't recommend it highly enough.
  • Curious Wine

    Curious Wine

    by Katherine V Forrest
    Set in a cabin in the woods, this is the story of two women coming together in a time when being gay really was the love that dare not speak its name. Widely touted as the first true lesbian romance novel, it still stands up nearly 40 years later and has sold 100,000 copies in its lifetime. Erotic, remarkable and beautiful, it's a book that should be read by every queer woman alive. Clear your schedule and enjoy!
  • Just Juliet

    Just Juliet

    by Charlotte Reagan
    A perfect YA novel that deals with one teenage girl’s coming out. It’s fun, hopeful and will keep you on the edge of your seat hoping for a happy ending. It's also the book I wish I'd read when I was 17.
  • All the Little Moments

    All the Little Moments

    by G Benson
    This book will make you cry. There, I said it. It features cute kids, an adorable leading couple and so much emotion packed into its pages it’ll leave you in a heap. Plus, it introduced me to the term “eye-fucking”. Still unsure how I feel.
  • XX

    XX

    by Angela Chadwick
    XX is the story of Jules and Rosie, and their dream to have a baby. When scientists put them on a trial to do so without the aid of a man, a baby that’s a mix of both of them, all hell breaks loose. Compelling, topical and emotional, this is a story that covers so much ground, yet retains its heart & humanity.
  • Don’t Call Me Hero

    Don’t Call Me Hero

    by Eliza Lentzski
    If you're after an ice queen-meets-military cocktail, served with extra salt on the rim, this is the perfect book for you. It’s a story that engages, and one that will stay with you long after you close the final page. She's also recently written another must-read - The Woman In 3B.
  • Damn Straight

    Damn Straight

    by Elizabeth Sims
    I'll let you in on a secret: I don't read many crime-thrillers. However, if they're all like this, I might start reading more. Damn Straight is a novel full of smarts, witty dialogue and plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. Add in a golf tournament, lesbian jokes galore, a hapless but well-meaning heroine and some awesome side characters, and you have a hole in one.
  • Patience & Sarah

    Patience & Sarah

    by Isabel Miller
    This is historical lesfic at its finest. Written in the late 1960s and sold on street corners, Patience & Sarah was a word-of-mouth hit, and keeps hitting all these years later. Listen to the audiobook for added wow. Janis Ian's narration is spellbinding.
  • Venus Envy

    Venus Envy

    by Rita Mae Brown
    Venus Envy is a step on from the classic Rubyfruit Jungle (also brilliant). This book is the story of a woman who gets a wrong terminal cancer diagnosis, comes out, then learns she's fine and has to deal with the fallout. Hilarious, tender & true, it's Brown all over.
  • Fireflies

    Fireflies

    by Lise Gold
    Fireflies is a tale of airplanes and recovering alcoholics, set amidst the heat of Dubai. Real, honest and unflinching in its portrayal of the struggle to stay sober, it's refreshingly different and one of my surprise picks of 2018.

LGBTQ+ Memoir

  • Logical Family

    Logical Family

    by Armistead Maupin
    A memoir so beautifully written, it feels likes slipping on your very favourite sweatshirt and sitting back with a glass of red. Armistead Maupin knows how to spin a story and once you're in, you never want to leave.
  • The Breakup Monologues

    The Breakup Monologues

    by Rosie Wilby
    In her latest book, Rosie shuffles heartache, humour and science in her quest to understand and lay bare the psychology of breakups. Part-memoir, part-Ted talk, it's a funny and honest delve into the human psyche and asks what we can learn about ourselves through endings, and what it takes to stay in a relationship for all the *right* reasons. The accidental relationship guru pulls no punches, and this is a gutsy, hilarious, corker of a book.
  • A Life In Stitches

    A Life In Stitches

    by Rachael Herron
    A masterful account of her life as seen through the knits she was creating at the time. Stories that weave seamlessly in and out of her life, it's a gorgeous example of how rich non-fiction storytelling can be.
  • Undivided

    Undivided

    by Vicky Beeching
    Undivided is a gripping and unflinching memoir. It details the hurt and horror extreme religion can inflict, while also offering hope for those who turn it around.

General Fiction

  • Lessons In Chemistry

    Lessons In Chemistry

    by Bonnie Garmus
    What to say about this million-selling novel, except that I've never read one more worthy. This might not be queer, but it's a feminist work of some distinction, bursting with brilliant writing, all packed into an original, clever, gem of a story. The heroine, Elizabeth Zott, might provide lessons in chemistry, but the author, Bonnie Garmus, provides lessons in the art of drawing you into a story and holding you there forever. This is one of those novels that will stay with you for weeks after. I'm still a little bereft.
  • One Summer Sunrise

    One Summer Sunrise

    by Shari Low
    This book follows four characters from sunset to sunrise, and how their lives change over the course of one important day. Shari Low is my new fav rom-com author: her dialogue is spot-on, and the situations she puts her characters in are realistic and hysterical. I don't know how I survived without Shari in my life.
  • It's Not Me, It's You

    It's Not Me, It's You

    by Mhairi McFarlane
    I'm making it a rule that I read one mainstream book followed by one lesfic book throughout 2021. Don't blame me if my next few mainstream choices are by this author. This is an all-out British rom-com brimming with lovable characters, sharp plot and zingy dialogue. It also has situations so cringe-worthy, you'll be reading through your fingers. Read it & try not to fall in love.
  • The Midnight Library

    The Midnight Library

    by Matt Haig
    I wasn't sure what to expect from this new-to-me author, but honestly, this book blew me away. Original storyline, beautiful writing, and the lead character (a woman, hurrah!) goes on the ultimate, epic journey, ending with the one thing everyone wants: hope. It'll give you hope, too. It'll also teach you to be kind.
  • Rachel's Holiday

    Rachel's Holiday

    by Marian Keyes
    I'm kinda at a loss for words to say about Rachel's Holiday. Just take my advice: it'll change your life. Keyes is a word wrangler, and this story cuts to the core. A must-read.
  • The Girl You Left Behind

    The Girl You Left Behind

    by Jojo Moyes
    This is one of those novels that stays with you long after you put it down. Set between modern-day and WWI, it tells the story of a painting's journey back to its owner, and is heartfelt and simply stunning.
  • The Cows

    The Cows

    by Dawn O'Porter
    I spent my birthday reading this in the sunshine, and it's refreshingly different. The tale of three women, it follows Tara who's propelled to sudden, unwanted fame; Cam, an online feminist blogger; and Stella, who's quietly but devastatingly falling apart. Clever, modern and feisty, it focuses on female sisterhood and always steps over the line. Read it.

Writing Books

  • On Writing

    On Writing

    by Stephen King
    On Writing is the best in the business, just like its author. Part-memoir, part writing manual, it's entertaining, witty and informative. The very best kind of writing, then.