#BATTLE ROYAL BY LUCY PARKER

[gloucci]

battle royal - lucy parker

me when cuteness overload:

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🇺🇸 What to Read After Watching Red, White, and Royal Blue 🇬🇧

🇺🇸 What to Read After Watching Red, White, and Royal Blue 🇬🇧

❤️ Have you watched the complete cuteness that is Red, White, and Royal Blue (based on the book by @casey.mcquiston) yet? If you haven't, this is your sign to make some popcorn, cozy up on the couch, and enjoy!

💙 If you HAVE watched it and want to keep the cute vibes thriving, here are a few books to consider adding to your TBR if you loved Red, White, and Royal Blue!

🇺🇸 American Royalty by Tracey Livesay 🇬🇧 Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall 🇺🇸 Battle Royal by Lucy Parker 🇬🇧 American Royals by Katherine McGee 🇺🇸 The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun 🇬🇧 Everything for You by Chloe Liese 🇺🇸 If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich 🇬🇧 They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody 🇺🇸 Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels 🇬🇧 Playing the Palace by Paul Rudnick 🇺🇸 Love, Hate & Clickbait by Liz Bowery 🇬🇧 Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins 🇺🇸 The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 🇬🇧 The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

[greenconverses]

Recently read: Welcome to a round-up of books that (mostly) made me weepy! Thank you for that, PMS and hangover brain.

I adored the first in Lucy Parker's Palace Insiders series, the super cute baking themed Battle Royal, but the follow-up, Codename Charming, was such a slog. Which sucks, because I love a good story with a bodyguard and fake dating! Alas, the pacing for the romance was just off. I hit the 150 page mark and was like, "Oh, we're still in the same 48 hour period? How?" You gotta drag your fake dating scheme out for a lot longer to make me believe it. (★★.75)

Ashley Poston is very good at writing about different types of grief and I love that about her books, especially this trio of contemporary romances. I also love that she's incorporated light fantastical elements into each of her contemps; it scratches all my romance reader itches! I adored the concept of A Novel Love Story, though the romance itself could've used some more development. For fellow Swifties, this book embodied all the emotions from right where you left me and how a relationship ending can keep you frozen in time, unwilling to move on so you don't lose even more. (Writers, this is how you bring TSwift vibes to your book without beating your readers over the head with it!!! Take notes!!!) (★★★★)

The Seven Year Slip gave me my beloved time travel romance. I will always be a sucker for right person, wrong timing angst. It's the good shit and Poston delivers. I loved the themes of struggling with grief and how it changes your place in the world, recognizing when you're stuck and just going through the motions of your career and life in general. I cried several times and books that make me cry get an extra bump in a rating haha (★★★★★)

Speaking of authors who specialize in certain themes... Emma Lord, why do you always have to get me with absent parental angst? Begin Again is a cute early college coming of age story. Not my favorite of her books, but still a solid read! (★★★.75)

[sword-and-stars]

I've been arguing with myself for some time whether to ask you this.... This year's (2023) Book Riot Read Harder challenge includes a challenge to "Read one of your favorite author's favorite books." Since you are one of my favorite authors, would you be willing to share with the internet some of your favorite books, please? (I also plan to ask muffinlance, so don't be alarmed if you see this on their feed, please.)

Aight bestie so fun fact I’m supposed to be in bed so I can’t scour the bookshelves so these are gonna be off the top of my head. You asked the queer librarian about books so uh. You’re getting jeopardy categories, babey.

I will be accepting no criticism on my absolutely flawless taste in reading material, thank you.

Comfort reads

1. The Phantom Tollbooth (Norton Juster)

2. A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine l’Engle)

3. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (Sangu Mandanna)

4. Howl’s Moving Castle (Diana Wynne Jones)

5. Brave Story (Miyuki Miyabe)

Books I think are genuinely good that say “i like books but I’m not a pretentious fuckwit”

1. Kafka on the Shore (Haruki Murakami)

2. Neverwhere (Neil Gaiman)

3. Under the Whispering Door (TJ Klune)

4. Call Us What We Carry (Amanda Gorman)

5. The Circle of Magic Quartet (Tamora Pierce) and I don’t care that sticking four books in one slot is a cop out. Suck my nuts.

Fun books of dubious quality that I will nevertheless defend to the death

1. Battle Royal (Lucy Parker)

2. Golden Spoon (Jessa Maxwell)

3. Moorewood Family Rules (HelenKay Dimon)

4. How to Bite Your Neighbor (and win a wager) (D.N. Bryn)

5. The Honey Don’t List (Christina Lauren)

Literary equivalent of my AO3 history

1. The Rake Gets Ravished (Sophie Jordan)

2. Love & Other Disasters (Anita Kelly)

3. A Soul to Keep (Opal Reyne)

4. King of Immortal Tithe (Ben Alderson)

5. Dead Romantics (Ashley Poston)

[magicalrocketships]

i'm used to reading fanfic and i was so blessed to be in fandoms very prolific with really good stories.. lately i'm trying to read more books but all the ones that i'm attracted to are written with the first person, not my favourite thing unfortunately.. did you read lately something that is like, everyday life, maybe a relationship here and there, nothing too heavy, modern setting, lots of dynamics from protagonist and others characters? Just a simple novel, without the first person structure.. sorry for this weird ask, btw.. honestly, i know the vibe i want from a book but i don't know how to explain it (eng not my first language definitely a problem too lol).. if you have something in mind and want to share it with me, much appreciated <3 have a good day/ night, and thanks!!

I haven't read a lot of modern setting books recently but I will always recommend Battle Royal by Lucy Parker which I tend to describe as being a Great British Bake Off AU but starring Patrick from Sewing Bee instead of Paul Hollywood. If that has no relevance for you then it's just a good romance. I also like books by Lucy Dillon, who has a selection of books set in a fictional small town, and are usually about a woman figuring out who she is after some upheaval, and always co-stars a dog making things better.

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb: Following Battle Royal, beloved author Lucy Parker pens another delicious romantic comedy about a fake relationship between a grumpy royal bodyguard and the charming, sunny assistant who melts his cold, hard exterior.Petunia De Vere enjoys being the personal assistant to lovable, bumbling Johnny Marchmont. But the job has its share of challenges, including the royal’s giant, intimidating bodyguard, Matthias. Pet and Matthias are polar opposites—she’s spontaneous and enthusiastic, he’s rigid and stoic—but she can sense there’s something softer underneath that tough exterior…For Matthias Vaughn, protecting others is the name of the game. But keeping his royal charge out of trouble is more difficult than he imagined because everywhere Johnny goes, calamity ensues, and his petite, bubbly assistant is often caught in the fray. Matthias hates the idea of Pet getting hurt and he’s determined to keep everyone safe, even if it means clashing with his adorable new coworker.When a clumsy moment leads to a questionable tabloid photo, the press begins to speculate that Pet is romantically involved with Johnny. To put an end to the rumors, the royal PR team asks Pet and Matthias to stage a fake relationship and the two reluctantly agree. But as they spend more time together outside of work, they begin to wonder what real emotions this pretend connection might uncover. Especially when a passionate kiss leaves both of their heads spinning… 

Review:

She’s the sunny personal assistant to the new Royal and he’s the grumpy bodyguard, when a scandal threatens their favorite royals what better way to divert attention then to fake date...but it’s starting to feel very real. Petunia De Vere or “Pet” is the bubbly and sweet personal assistant to Johnny Marchmont, the new husband of the princess. Pet loves her job but there are definitely challenges but thankfully theres Matthias, a intimidating and strict bodyguard who just somehow always seems to catch Pet when she’s in danger. Matthias might seem scary but Pet knows that underneath that exterior is a very sweet and caring person. Matthias has made it his life’s duty to protect Johnny, and he can’t help but want to make sure Pet is protected and happy too. While Pet and Matthias might be polar opposites both of them just want to protect the people they care about. When the media starts spreading rumors that Pet is Johnny’s mistress ( which couldn’t be further from the truth) The Royal team decides to come up with a plan to squash the rumors once and for all, have Matthias and Pet stage a fake relationship, which they both agree too. Yet the more time Pet and Matthias spend together and “pretend” to be in love the more they are falling for one another. Can they take this relationship from fake to real? This was a really cute and sweet fake dating romance with a grumpy x sunshine and a tall x small trope. Pet and Matthias were both so sweet and caring for each other and their romance was just so cute. I had a blast with this one and would definitely recommend it for fans of fake dating romances!

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[dankzombiereviews]

Book thoughts: Battle Royal

4.5 ✰

I really wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did! The beginning was giving ali hazelwood vibes but this author, lucy parker, is actually good at writing. Who knew?

My biggest worry is that they got together so early (40% mark) but the sexual tension.... kinda worked? I got super worried that they fucked at the 60% mark because I'm really not a fan of a random third act drama that threatens to tear the couple apart (Ex: The Soulmate Equation) but this author did an excellent job at adding external drama, similar to Red, White, and Royal Blue.

This just hit my tropes; grumpy-sunshine touch starved for the win

gif from towards tomorrow on tumblr

[brisownworld]

In 2022, starting largely by accident, I read 356 romance novels (and 3 non-romance novels). I started a spreadsheet to keep track of my ratings of each (out of 5), how many featured queer, autistic, or POC protagonists, and how many sex scenes there were per book. Find those final stats above, then my 5/5 books of the year in the photos below!

I recommend 3 new romance novels a week over on my free newsletter, Forced Proximity, so definitely sign up if you want to read reviews and get curated recommendations every Friday afternoon!

Full list behind the cut!

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez

Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Josh and Hazel's Guide To Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Roomies by Christina Lauren

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

It's Been A Pleasure, Noni Blake by Claire Christian

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Beginner's Luck by Kate Clayborn

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath

Battle Royale by Lucy Parker

Seducing Mr. Knightly by Maya Rodale

Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle

Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake by Sarah MacLean

The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean

Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean

Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean

The Duke Buys A Bride by Sophie Jordan

The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan

Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey

A Night To Surrender by Tessa Dare

A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

Get full reviews and more on my weekly free romance novel newsletter!

[the-book-queen]

Hide your wallets, it's that time again! Your daily thread of romance deals is ready, FREE to $1.99!

FREE ✦ Manor for Sale, Baron Included by Esther Hatch

Impoverished lord has to sell his late mother's beloved manor to an heiress, and figures surely a marriage of convenience will give them both what they want.

Historical Romance (MF) | https://amzn.to/49Pj0Iw

$0.99 ✦ One Tiny On Dit Later by Sandra Sookoo

She was falsely accused of being a jewel thief after a society event, and needs the help of a war hero Duke (and former thief) to find the real culprit and clear her name.

Historical Romance (MF) | https://amzn.to/4aUmkmY

$0.99 ✦ New Orleans Nocturnes Collection by Carrie Pulkinen

3 books, including:

~ Governor's daughter is bitten by a vampire

~ Witch + wolf shifter

~ Witch + demon

Paranormal Romance (MF) | https://amzn.to/4bh81sB

$1.99 ✦ Battle Royal by Lucy Parker

Grumpy/sunshine + rivals to lovers. She owns a bakery, he's a famous pastry chef, and they're competing to bake for the royal wedding.

Contemporary Romance (MF) | https://amzn.to/3UzubR2

$1.99 ✦ The Prince and I by Karen Hawkins

A prince on the way to a party gets robbed by a group of ruffians led by The Scottish Robin Hood, who is a young widow out for revenge on the earl who killed her husband.

Historical Romance (MF) | https://amzn.to/3UxtOGO

Putting these lists together takes time. If you appreciate this content, please consider buying me a Ko-Fi. http://ko-fi.com/danielletbq

[slightlyti]

So I decided I wanted to actually be active in updating my reading this year.. so far I haven't done well as I didn't get around to do January - perhaps I will a some point.

The books i enjoyed most are marked with ⭐️

The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab. I read this as a buddy read, which was a lot of fun. It's been a few years since I read the Shades of London series, so I had forgotten so much. I struggled a bit with that. But once I read a few recaps I was all good and reading this book was great. It felt really good getting back into a world I loved reading about in the original series. The characters are a bit older which I enjoyed, and as always I got really wrapped up in the story. Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban Lesbian Victorian ladies? Sign me up. This was really fun and really sweet. I liked the main characters, and the parent-trapping was delightful. I saw that the sequel is coming out later this year, so I will be looking forward to that. ⭐️ Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo This has been on my TBR for years, and I finally got around to it. I loved it. Beautiful story with great characterization. Following Lily as she grows up and starts to learn and explore her sexuality and finding her own identity this book did a great job of transporting me to San Fransisco in the 50s.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker A cute romance for people with a sweet tooth. The chemistry was nice enough and I did like that the characters were like real adult with established careers and slightly greying hair. It was nothing special but did it's job as a romance book.

⭐️ A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers I loved this so much. There’s something about this little book that just hits. A delightful a moving read that I’ll definitely return to. Dex’s yearning for something unknown and unspecified was so relatable and the book made me yearn for a world and a way of living - together with, and part of nature - that I’ll never see except in this book. Also I wanna be a tea monk so bad! ⭐️ A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers The follow-up lived up the A Psalm.. I loved it. I loved the character interactions and the world of this series. I can't wait for more of these books and recommend everyone to read them right now!

Dark Heir by C. S. Pacat This series is stressing me out! Argh. I am looking forward to the next book. The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish This was a cute queer romance inspired by the basis of The Holiday. A lesbian and a gay man swap homes for the holiday, trying to get away from their home lives and each find love and a home in the new place. Both story-lines were sweet. It didn't excite me that much but enough to keep my attention. Very easy to get through and perfect if you need something short and sweet without having to spend too much mental capacity Witch King by Martha Wells I do really like Martha Wells and this didn't disappoint. It was great reading some of her fantasy writing. The characters were great - I adore Kai and the people around him. The world-building is rich and the novel does not talk down to you. There was not really any exposition that would not make narrative sense, and this meant that it could be a bit hard to wrap my head around everything going on, but it was a great book and I look forward to seeing these characters again

Captive Prince series by C.S Pacat Reading Dark Rising and Dark Heir made me wanna revisit the Captive Prince books as well. I can't believe it's been like 7 years since I read them! I still really enjoy them. The political intrigue in especially the last two books is great, and returning to them was wonderful.

[somewherelostinbooks]

Codename Charming-Review

Codename Charming By Lucy Parker Genre: Contemporary Romance Series: Palace Insiders #2 Publisher: Avon Source: Received a finalized copy in exchange for an honest review Rating: 4.75 Stars Amazon Indiebound Description: Following Battle Royal, beloved author Lucy Parker pens another delicious romantic comedy about a fake relationship between a grumpy royal bodyguard and the charming,…

[storyxonline]

A Thriller, a Freebie, & More

Battle Royal RECOMMENDED: Battle Royal by Lucy Parker is $1.99! Catherine gave this one an A-: I loved Battle Royal. While it did have minor flaws, it more than made up for them with humour, tenderness, and food porn. Beloved author Lucy Parker pens a delicious new romantic comedy that is a battle of whisks and wits. Ready… Four years ago, Sylvie Fairchild charmed the world as a contestant on…

[betterbooksandthings]

“Looking for loaves, loves, and laughter? Do I have the books for you! Culinary romances feed the stomach and soul with their delicious mix of hot food and even hotter relationships. You come to them to read about the trials and tribulations of the restaurant industry. From opening bakeries and restaurants to maintaining them, making money and food is objectively hard. Add in the complications of celebrity chefs, reality baking competitions, and other famous employees and you have a blend of messy but delectable romances. After all, food is the gateway to the soul.

Now, culinary romances are not a new invention. I have, however, noticed an uptick in the number of culinary romances published, and I am not alone. Bettina Makalintal’s Eater article even noted, “Move over, bodice rippers. It’s all about apron tuggers now.” I cannot argue with her point that there are more and more culinary romances hitting the shelves, and many of them are queer or racially diverse.

Culinary romances give authors the ability to showcase food culture and the ways food is sold to the public. From celebrity chefs, to cooking contestants, to chefs that run businesses, part of a character’s success relies on the way they market themselves and their food to their intended customers or audience. Then throw cultural identities and work-love life balance into the mix and you have yourself a compelling romance. Given the size of the sub-genre, I only included a selection that are sure to leave you hungry for more.”

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Book Review: Battle Royal (Palace Insiders #1) by Lucy Parker

Battle Royal has sealed my love for Lucy Parker's writing with a *pastry chef's kiss.* Already a fan of her London Celebrities series, I was excited to spear a fork into this book to sample the mouth-watering decadence a rival bakers-to-lovers romance by her could produce, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. This was scrumptious! A delectable Grumpy/Sunshine treat, honestly. It's a bon appétit feast for romcom lovers like myself everywhere! The story takes some time to find its pulse, but once it does, everything unfolds with the creaminess of whipped icing. It's funny, it's sweet. It's even emotionally stirring in ways that adds denser flavor to the plot as well as to the characters' backstories. Sylvie Fairchild and Dominic De Vere are a delight. Opposites, they approach the art of baking in diametric fashion. Where she's all glitter, color, and unicorns, which makes her unafraid to push the decorative envelope, he pushes more for classic design, technical skill, and neutral tones. They're different in personality as well. Sylvie's more of the free-spirited, sweet-tempered, I want to paint the world in sunshine type who does whatever she can to make everyone feel comfortable, loved, whereas Dominic comes across as gruff and stoic. He's an unforgiving perfectionist who is always fair, always honest, but brutally so. Their "difference in artistic aesthetic" is the major reason for their contentiousness with one another at the beginning. (Well, that and because Sylvie shoots a unicorn hoof at Dominic's head during her stint as a contestant on Operation Cake, smattering his face with an explosion of vibrant glitter and embarrassing him on TV. Hilarious!) Not long thereafter, four years to be precise, they are business rivals. Now they not only have rival bakeries open on the same street but they're also competing to win commission of the royal wedding cake for Princess Rose and Johnny. In other words, it's aprons on, spatulas up, and hearts out on the table! The side characters are great, too. Distinctive. Engaging. It was wonderful getting to see so many members of the staff from both Sugar Fair and De Vere's. Mabel is terrifying in a lovable way and a true scene-stealer. (She has one particular moment near the end that just radiates chaotic good energy, and I love it so much.) Rosie and Johnny are lovely. They have unconventional tastes considering the "prim and proper" life they're supposed to lead. Their relationship has a forbidden element to it, since she's royal and he's not, which gives things between them weight. His nervous stutter is so endearing, too! Jay is Sylvie's business partner and best friend of twenty years. And Pet is stylish, infectious, yearning. She comes to work for Dominic, hoping to cultivate a relationship with the brother she barely knows. I'm particularly looking forward to her story in the future. This had everything I wanted from a baking romance - the cuteness, the competitiveness, the battle of wit and whisks that, of course, ended up mixing in feelings that started sour but became oh, so, sweet. There was tension and development. There were good characters. The love story was believable, without "drama for the sake of drama." This also managed to go beyond aesthetics, beyond surface level attractions, to explore the concept of family in both the biological and found sense, which was something I wasn't anticipating. I liked that so many different characters were able to bond over meaningful experiences they'd had like loss, like regret, like emotional distance and feelings of abandonment. The gravitas that added to the plot was a nice surprise. It made this feel like more than just a contemporary romance. Trust me, you'll want to eat this up until you reach the last drop. It's too delicious to leave untouched! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

4/5 stars

**Follow me on Goodreads

[mydarlinginej]

read my full review of battle royal by lucy parker here.

Beloved author Lucy Parker pens a delicious new romantic comedy that is a battle of whisks and wits.

Ready…

Four years ago, Sylvie Fairchild charmed the world as a contestant on the hit baking show, Operation Cake. Her ingenious, colorful creations captivated viewers and intrigued all but one of the judges, Dominic De Vere, the hottest pastry chef in London. When her glittery unicorn cake went spectacularly sideways, Dominic was quick to vote her off the show. Since then, Sylvie has managed to use her fame to help fulfill her dream of opening a bakery, Sugar Fair. The toast of Instagram, Sugar Fair has captured the attention of the Operation Cake producers…and a princess.

Set…

Dominic is His Majesty the King’s favorite baker, the go-to for sweet-toothed A-List celebrities, and a veritable British institution. He’s brilliant, talented, hard-working. And an icy, starchy grouch. Learning that the irksome Sylvie will be joining him on the Operation Cake judging panel is enough to make the famously dour baker even more grim. Her fantastical baking is only slightly more troublesome than the fact that he can’t stop thinking about her pink-streaked hair and irrepressible dimple.

Match…

When Dominic and Sylvie learn they will be fighting for the once in a lifetime opportunity to bake a cake for the upcoming wedding of Princess Rose, the flour begins to fly as they’re both determined to come out on top.

The bride adores Sylvie’s quirky style. The palace wants Dominic’s classic perfection.

In this royal battle, can there be room for two?

my review:

I’m a huge fan of Lucy Parker’s books! Her books are always a source of joy for me, and this one was no exception. Battle Royal featured a grumpy/sunshine romance amidst the chaos of judging a baking competition and competing for an exclusive contract.

Four years ago, Sylvie starred on a baking competition show, Operation Cake, until she was kicked off due to an exploding unicorn cake mishap. It was Dominic‘s tie-breaking vote that booted her off the show, and four years later, she owns a bakery across the street from his. Now, she’s returning to the show as a judge alongside Dominic. Not only are they in close quarters, but they’re also competing for a contract to bake the cake for the next royal wedding.

Lucy Parker never fails me with a grumpy/sunshine romance. Dominic is notorious for being blunt to the point of tears, and he is still remembered for disliking Sylvie’s glittery and bright style. They have opposite baking aesthetics. Despite this, though, they find themselves growing closer and closer over the course of the book.

read my full review here.

[magicalrocketships]

I'm in awe of the amount of books you read this year.. i'm kinda jealous because my number is like less then 10, and all books that i have already read.. i would *love* to read more (i used to read so much when i was younger) but since reading fanfiction, is really difficult for me to find something to read.. it's depressing, i know, but browsing for a book is not enough for me to understand if is the right one or not to purchase.. also, the mood i'm in 'dictate' what i want to read and with fanfic is so easy to find something in a matter of minutes.. what genre do you usually read (in books)? anything you would like to recommend? Have a great day/ night!

It IS difficult to find a way back in to reading if you've been away from it for a while, and your tastes might have changed, and you've only got limited funds and don't want to waste them.

You could try your local library, because then you can get a selection and you're not financially out if you don't like them. But I get it! It can be daunting to just walk into a room full of books and not know where to start. My current library doesn't separate out its queer fiction and I 100% get why they might not want to Other it, but it does mean that it's really hard to find books with queer themes in rows upon rows of fiction. Most libraries allow you to get ebooks out - mine I can only read on my iPad, which I hate reading on, but again, you can have a selection of books and see if any catch you.

(Most) librarians love to recommend books, and the same with booksellers if there's a book you used to really like and you want to try something similar. But I get it! None of us are who we were the last time we picked up a book. We've all changed! Sometimes it can seem like too much energy to expend to get back into something we used to like.

I read a variety of stuff and it goes in phases but at the moment it's mostly queer romance. I have a BIG pile of queer history and queer non fiction I'm gently working through. Sometimes it's just a lot of books about spies (non fiction and fiction), or regency romance novels, or old children's fantasy or books about medieval history.

I'm pretty sure we can find some romances based on tropes you like in fic, though. Here are five books I've read or re-read this year that I've loved:

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid - enemies to lovers, secret relationship, falling in love, hockey boys. I know fuck all about hockey and have read this about six times.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker - sort-of-enemies/rivals-to-lovers, great british bake off au, imagine Paul Hollywood played by Patrick from Sewing Bee, rival cake shop owners, bake off judges, uptight dude and quirky girl. I've read this at least twice this year.

Wolfsong by TJ Klune - werewolves, chosen family, queer. I don't care about werewolves in general but I did really like this one, and I LOVE TJ Klune in general for writing queer comfort blanket stories. My favourite of his is definitely The House by the Cerulean Sea, though.

The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard (and its sequel At the Feet of the Sun, which I am reading oh-so slowly because I don't want it to end). These are LONG books, extreme slow burn, power of friendship, changing the world, wooooh admin

The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley - time shifts, queer, apparently one of the main characters is based on Toby Stephens in Black Sails if this is an incentive, napoleonic wars.