Love, lesbians, and literature lead our June romance recommendations.
This month’s rom-com lineup celebrates Pride in style with an assortment of diverse, feminine romances that will keep the girlies and the gays well-read. Whether it’s women going to space, running businesses together, or getting cozy with a royal princess, there’s nothing these love stories can’t accomplish with a bit of girl power.
In order of release date, here are six romance novels to check out this June:
1. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid — June 3
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo author Taylor Jenkins Reid shoots for the stars with her latest release.
This galactic love story follows Joan Goodwin and a group of space-obsessed astronauts in the 1980s as they train for their first mission. While it’s unclear what the love story will be that blossoms from this novel, Reid is known for writing strong sapphic-centric stories in a historical fiction setting. Could this be the Evelyn Hugo victory lap we’ve been waiting for?
Book Description:
Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.
As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant.
2. Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales — June 3
A princess works to redeem her image at a posh boarding school after a royal scandal. Until a beautiful new girl arrives on a music scholarship, threatening to derail her image.
Rose and Danni will have to decide whether a romance is worth going against their classmates and the palace, or if they would be best to keep their feelings for each other out of the tabloids.
Book Description:
Princess Rosemary of Henland can’t afford distractions. She’s working tirelessly to repair her image following a scandal that lost the trust of both her country and her best friend. Unfortunately, when a beautiful and funny new student joins her boarding school, Rose finds herself quite distracted indeed.
Attending Bramppath College on a music scholarship, talented pianist Danni expects to be an outcast amongst the wealthy children of the elite, but she is pleasantly surprised to be taken in by the ex-best friend of the princess. The more Danni gets to know her new classmates, the more intrigued she becomes by Rose.
When somebody sees something they shouldn’t, and rumors circulate throughout Henland, Rose and Danni must either find a way to deflect the ever-increasing eyes on their relationship, or end it altogether. Because one thing is clear: if Rose’s fragile reputation takes any more hits, the palace will do whatever they must to separate Rose and Danni.
3. Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter — June 3
Jade and Francesca are both at the heart of the southern small town football culture, hustling to obtain the new coaching position at any cost.
But when the two rival candidates fall hard for each other, the women have to do everything they can to keep the game civil and their romantic feelings at a simmer. To give in to their desires could cost more than a job promotion.
Book Description:
Jade Dunn has spent years trying to climb her way to the top of the southern high school football food chain. Now, the only thing standing between her and that future head coach spot is years of small-town good ‘ol boy politics. When she scores an invite to a highly coveted monthly poker game perfect for networking, she jumps at the chance for a seat at the table. Only to find the one person with the ability to shake her there. An infuriatingly sexy art teacher who plays her cards like she’s gunning for Jade’s deserved spot.
Francesca Lim never thought she’d be happy in a small town, not after living and breathing hardcore Texas football her whole life. But two years ago, the promise of forever love had her leaving behind a burgeoning coaching career for a new life – only for it to burst into flames. Now, she has a chance to gain back a piece of her life she thought she’d left in Houston. The only one standing in the way? The prickly assistant coach that Francesca can’t keep her mind or hands off of.
Not wanting to risk losing out on a dream job, Jade and Francesca can’t afford to give in to the iron hot attraction that simmers beneath their biting interactions, so they try desperately to ignore it. Too bad their hearts don’t seem to be as on board with the game plan.
4. Backhanded Compliments by Katie Chandler — June 10
Two professional tennis players must take each other down if they ever want to be number one in the world. Juliette and Luca spend weeks roasting each other in press conferences leading up to their Australian Open match.
However, when the aftermath of their game leads to late-night massages and drinks, the two women contemplate whether their passion for the game should have stayed on the court. Or will they risk their coveted ranking to explore the love they both yearn for off the court?
Book Description:
Juliette Ricci dreams of only one being the best women’s tennis player in the world. She’s worked nonstop with her strict father/coach to prepare for her big chance in the Australian Open. Unfortunately, she’ll be playing Lucky Luca Kacic, an aloof player whose unorthodox style and reigning popularity deeply irritate Juliette.
For months, they’ve traded sly insults in their press conferences leading up to their showdown on the court, and their first-ever match is the most anticipated of the season. But Juliette refuses to let her nerves—or Luca’s annoyingly perfect abs—get the best of her.
Meanwhile, Luca seemingly has everything Juliette desires, but there’s one thing missing from her love. When she shakes hands with Juliette after an agonizing match and sees her rival’s name appear on her wrist, it feels like a cruel joke. Juliette is a spoiled, arrogant brat who wants absolutely nothing to do with Luca or a soulmate.
But despite their personal and professional clashes, the two grow closer after late-night massages and one too many shots of limoncello. Their chemistry is tangible, but Luca’s anxiety tells her that Juliette is just messing with her head to throw her off her game, and Juliette can’t understand why Luca is so hot and cold. With the pressure of the world scrutinizing their every move, they will have to decide what’s more important—being together or being number one.
5. The Next Chapter by Camille Kellogg — June 10
Arriving on shelves the same month as Battle of the Bookstores, The Next Chapter offers a sapphic alternative for literary lovers.
A butch bookseller runnings the bookstore of her dreams is stuck in a dating rut. Until former child star Katrina stops by her store with a desire to reinvent herself. What starts as a publicity stunt on Katrina’s part to come out as Queer with Jude as her fake girlfriend, quickly escalates into something far more real and dangerous.
Book Description:
Katrina Kelly is a former child star with five blockbuster movies under her belt and a face that’s instantly recognizable to most of America. Unfortunately, her career ended with her teens. Now she’s twenty-four, running out of money, and spends most of her nights alone Googling things like ‘how do I know if I’m bi or gay?’ She’s desperate to rebrand herself as a Serious Adult Actress and restart her career — at any cost.
Jude Thacker, a butch bookseller at The Next Chapter, doesn’t want to admit she might be stuck. After all, she’s running the queer feminist bookstore of her dreams with a staff of chosen family. Sure, she hasn’t even tried to go on a first date in two years. And she may have a tiny problem with panic attacks. But as long as her life stays small and tidy, she’s fine.
When Kat and Jude meet in the bookstore, Kat realizes that coming out as queer is the perfect way to transform her image. She and Jude can date for a few weeks, cause a media firestorm, and then Kat will move on. But what’s meant as a temporary publicity stunt quickly turns into real feelings for both women. As the media scrutiny intensifies, each must decide what’s real, what’s not, and if true love is worth losing everything they believe is keeping them safe.
6. Bed and Breakup by Susie Dumond — June 24
A bed and breakfast for Queer travellers quickly turns into a living nightmare for newlyweds Molly and Robin.
Seven years and a separation later, the successful career women return to the inn to settle their property dispute. Instead, they stumble into a second chance at restoring the inn and their relationship to their former glory in this fixer-upper romance.
Book Description:
As newlyweds, Molly and Robin made the Hummingbird Inn into a trendy destination for queer travelers in the quirky mountain town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. But when their career ambitions drove them apart, the young couple separated, handed over the property’s upkeep to a management firm, and never looked back.
Seven years later, Molly and Robin return to the Hummingbird Inn for very different reasons. Molly is an artist on the rise who has been commissioned to create pieces in Eureka Springs; Robin is a celebrity chef whose restaurants have gone belly up. Both feel entitled to their shared property, furious that the other refuses to leave, and resort to a series of escalating pranks in the hopes of scaring the other off. When neither woman budges, they resolve to renovate the bed and breakfast, sell it, and at last go their separate ways. But their work to restore the inn’s vintage charm reignites memories — and chemistry — that make it hard to say goodbye.
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What will you be reading in June? Share your picks in the comments below!
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Alicia Gilstorf
Alicia is a writer from Canada. She credits her passion for TV and film to superheroes, workplace comedies, cheesy holiday movies, and coming-of-age stories.
