The new year is bringing new LGBTQIA stories for readers to dive into. Whether you’re looking for love, chaos, crime, or a little bit of spice, these authors are delivering exactly that. These characters will take you on a ride of your choice to guarantee that the darkness of the real world stays outside for a little while.
If you have read the books in our LGBTQIA picks for December 2025, we have 7 new titles to add to your TBR list. Isha Raya, Jumata Emill, and Julian Winters are among the authors we highlight this month.
In order of release date, here are 7 LGBTQIA books we are looking forward to reading this January:
1. Playing for Keeps by Alexandria Bellefleur – January 6
Poppy Peterson is finally thriving in her career as a publicist, working for her childhood best friend and a promising NFL quarterback, Cash Curran. However, the waters get choppy when Cash publicly flirts with America’s popstar darling, Lyric Adair. When Lyric’s publicist, Rosaline Sinclair, reaches out to her, Poppy thinks everything is about to go down the drain.
Rosaline announces that Lyric is interested in Cash, and the two publicists face the biggest challenge of their careers as they try to keep their clients out of the public eye amid this new romance. While Poppy thinks Rosaline doesn’t like her, things change when the two spend a night together. Can Poppy and Rosaline navigate two public affairs?
Book Description: Lambda Literary Award winner and national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur returns with a steamy Sapphic rom-com about two rival publicists who are forced to work together when their mega-famous clients—a popstar and a quarterback—begin to date.
Poppy Peterson’s life is finally back on track, and she’s thriving as the publicist of the NFL’s most promising quarterback (and her childhood best friend), Cash Curran. So, she doesn’t appreciate when he makes an impulsive and public pass at America’s popstar darling, Lyric Adair. When Lyric’s notorious publicist, Rosaline Sinclair, reaches out, Poppy is ready to face her wrath, but instead learns that Lyric is equally interested.
As Cash and Lyric embark on their ill-advised whirlwind romance, Poppy and Rosaline are forced together, each determined to protect their own client from the other. Poppy is frustrated by Rosaline’s cool demeanor, while at the same time, as a legend in the industry, she’s determined to impress her. But, no matter what she does, she can’t shake the feeling that Rosaline doesn’t like her.
That is, until one steamy night, when the two women contend with their unexpected feelings and begin a messy romance of their own. But with paparazzi, tabloids, and stalker fans nipping at their heels, Poppy and Rosaline’s loyalties will be tested in ways they could never expect.
A high-energy, Sapphic, and deeply sexy romance, Playing for Keeps has everything readers expect from Alexandria Bellefleur and more!
2. You’ll Never Forget Me by Isha Raya – January 13
Dimple Kapoor’s past would label her a murderer, but she considers herself an opportunist. An opportunist who takes every chance she gets, including one that comes after accidentally killing her Hollywood rival, Irene Singh. Now, Dimple is one step closer to achieving her dream leading role. But Dimple isn’t the only one who knows what happened to Irene, and she is now being blackmailed by a witness in order to keep the secret.
Meanwhile, Irene’s parents hire the best private investigator money can buy, Saffi Mirai Iyer. Saffi believes Dimple killed Irene, and to get closer to her, she invites her onto the case to play bait for the killer. As the two begin to work together, feelings begin to surface. Can Dimple get away with murder? Can Saffi put the murderer behind bars? Or will their undeniable chemistry ruin everything?
Book Description: In this captivating cat-and-mouse thriller, a struggling actress is only just beginning to enjoy the life she’s always wanted after inadvertently killing her rival—but now she must contend with the woman who threatens to take it all away.
Struggling actress Dimple Kapoor wouldn’t call herself a murderer, per se—she’d prefer the term “opportunist.” Years ago, she did what had to be done to get herself out of a bad situation. And now, after accidentally killing her Hollywood rival, Irene Singh, at a party, she’s simply seizing the chance to nab her dream leading role and resuscitate her career in the process. There’s only one someone else at the event who witnessed the crime…and caught it all on camera.
With everything she’s ever wanted within reach, Dimple will stop at nothing to keep stardom in her grasp. But Irene’s parents have hired Saffi Mirai Iyer, one of the best private investigators in the business. Living up to her reputation, Saffi immediately zeroes in on Dimple, who feels she has no choice but to raise the stakes. Playing along with Dimple’s façade, Saffi invites her onto the case, suggesting she act as bait to draw out the killer—and as the two women’s cat-and-mouse game intensifies, Saffi starts to wonder if she may have finally met her match.
With their careers at risk, both women must fight the potent chemistry drawing them closer together. Dimple needs Saffi dead and for her theories to die with her. And Saffi needs Dimple behind bars, but catching her elusive prey won’t be so easy—especially as emotions begin to cloud her judgement. When ambition and desire collide, only the most cunning will survive.
3. For Our Next Song by Jessica James – January 13
Glitter Bats bandmates Jane and Keeley have been secretly fighting feelings for each other for a long time. Not wanting to jeopardize the band or expose their sexuality, they have kept their feelings a secret. But when Jane finds herself without a drummer in the middle of a new solo project, there is only Keeley to turn to. Keeley is more than happy to help, but has a hard time keeping her feelings at bay.
After a big argument about the future of the band pushes them apart, Jane and Keeley are forced to continue playing together. Everything changes when the feelings they have been fighting for so long finally win. However, it gets even more complicated when someone catches their intimate moment on camera. Can they survive the public scrutiny? Can their band survive?
Book Description: The decade-long friendship between two rock goddesses is thrust into the spotlight after their mutual desire strikes a perfect—and very public—chord.
For Glitter Bats key player Jane Mercer, writing music helps tune out her self-doubt from a strict upbringing. Composing also distracts from her longtime feelings for her bandmate and best friend, Keeley, whom Jane can’t pursue if she wants to keep her bisexuality out of the media. But when an incompetent percussionist quits mid–recording session on one of her major solo projects, there’s only one drummer to call to make the deadline.
Keeley Cunningham is determined to do what’s best for the newly-reunited Glitter Bats—including concealing her incurable attraction to Jane by keeping her distance. Still, when Jane asks for her help in the studio, Keeley drops everything to fill in. They collaborate harmoniously… until their repressed feelings crescendo into a massive argument about the band’s future that leaves them barely speaking.
As music forces Jane and Keeley into increasingly close proximity, the lingering tension finally ignites into the romance they’ve both been craving—and it’s hot, emotional, and fundamentally secret. But after an intimate moment is caught on camera, they’ll have to decide if their duet can survive its debut—both on and off stage.
4. I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill – January 20
Pryce Cummings has avoided returning to his hometown of Moss Pointe, Louisiana, since coming to terms with his sexuality in college. However, now that he is working on an investigative podcast, he has decided to take a trip back home and look into the Trojan murders that took the lives of four star players of Moss Pointe High’s football team.
While the killer has been caught, many wonder if the police got it right. As Pryce begins to look into the town’s past and the evidence found in the killings, he suspects the real killer is still out there, and he is going to find him. Can he survive to uncover the truth?
Book Description: A teen investigative podcaster decides to dig into the truth behind a grisly murder spree that rocked his hometown five years ago, but soon discovers that this cold case is still hiding deadly secrets—in this chilling thriller perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
Five years ago, the infamous Trojan murders turned the small town of Moss Pointe, Louisiana, into a living nightmare. Four teen boys—all star players on Moss Pointe High’s football team—were murdered one after the other by a Trojan-mask-wearing killer.
Eventually, the murderer was unmasked. But the community has never forgotten—and some folks in town still wonder whether the police got it right.
Eighteen-year-old Pryce Cummings is one of them. An aspiring journalist, Pryce is pretty sure he just stumbled upon evidence that throws the killer’s guilt into question. It’s the perfect story for his own podcast, and a reason to go back to the hometown he’s avoided since coming to terms with his sexuality while at college.
But in Moss Pointe, digging into the past is anything but welcome. There’s so much more to what happened in there five years ago, and Pryce is ready to crack it all wide open . . . if he lives to tell the tale.
5. If All the Stars Go Dark by S.G. Prince – January 20
Keller Hartman is over the moon when he is recruited into the Legion’s galactic unit. This is something he has worked hard for his entire life, but is afraid might not work out when he discovers his partner, pilot Lament Bringer, wants nothing to do with him. Whether Lament likes it or not, they must work together alongside a group of specialists to investigate a visionary who claims to predict catastrophes.
As the investigation goes on, the duo discovers there is much more to the story than they were first told. The threats and secrets start to take over, and Keller and Lament must trust one another if they want to survive the dangers. By doing so, new feelings begin to surface, pushing them to believe that losing each other might be harder than failing the mission.
Book Description: When eighteen-year-old Keller Hartman is recruited into the Legion’s most prestigious galactic unit, it’s a dream come true. He’s worked hard for this. He’s ready to prove himself. The problem? His new partner—the beautiful, no-nonsense pilot Lament Bringer—wants nothing to do with him.
Forced to work together under Legion orders, Keller and Lament team up with a motley crew of specialists to investigate a mysterious visionary who can predict catastrophes. As they begin to peel back layers, however, they realize there’s more to the story than meets the eye. With threats mounting and secrets unfolding, Keller and Lament will need to trust one another in order to stop the dangers at play. But with trust comes other feelings—ones neither of them is prepared for.
With the fate of the universe hanging in the balance, the only thing worse than failing their mission might just be losing each other.
6. Last First Kiss by Julian Winters – January 27
Jordan Carter kissed Jamie Peters when they were teenagers and a few more times last year, but before they could go any further, Jamie broke his heart by stating he wasn’t the right man for Jordan while he figured himself out. Since then, Jordan has decided to spend all of his time focusing on the family’s event-planning company. But even that focus can’t help him when he is assigned to work a high-profile wedding in which Jamie is the man-of-honor.
As the wedding gets closer, so do Jordan and Jamie. Side remarks and sarcastic comments turn into hook-ups, and Jordan begins to wonder if he should pursue Jamie. While he is still unsure of who he is, he knows exactly who he loves. Shouldn’t that be enough?
Book Description: Sparks fly in this second chance m/m rom-com when an unlucky-in-love event manager realizes the man-of-honor at the high-profile wedding he’s planning is the same man who broke his heart.
They say you never forget your first kiss. But Jordan Carter wishes he could forget the one he shared with Jamie Peters as teens. And the one they almost shared again last year before Jamie made it clear he wasn’t the “right” man for Jordan to be with while he’s figuring himself out.
Now, Jordan’s fully focused on his career at 24 Carter Gold, his family’s event planning company, and ready to move on – until his boss assigns him to plan a new client’s high-profile wedding. The bride’s man-of-honor? None other than Jamie.
As things ramp up, the closer they get to the wedding, so does Jordan’s relationship with Jamie, with sarcastic asides turning into steamy hook-ups. But can Jordan afford to pursue Jamie if he’s still unsure who he is? Or is knowing who he loves enough? Venue shopping, cake-tastings, and dress fittings with the man he can’t forget just might change the man Jordan Carter is meant to become.
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters is a second chance romance about finding yourself–and the love of your life.
7. Freddie and Stella Got Hot by Maggie Horne – January 27
After Levi Preston became queen bee of the school, Freddie and Stella decided to get revenge on their former best friend. The only way to do it is by winning the Beaumont-Gardiner Award, which only the coolest, smartest, and hottest girls win. To do so, Freddie and Stella decide to get hot and join the cool girls.
Their plan seems to be working, as they become more and more popular, and Levi fades more and more into the background. But as the plan moves forward, Freddie begins to realize that the lovable friend she once had is now an unrecognizable evil force. To put an end to this change, Freddie must turn to Levi for help.
Book Description: Jenny Han meets Mean Girls in Freddie and Stella Got Hot, Maggie Horne’s YA rom-com about getting revenge and falling in love.
By the time the Beaumont-Gardiner Award is announced, everyone’s going to hate Levi Preston. And they’re going to love us.
Freddie and Stella are on a mission: take down their former best friend turned queen bee, Levi Preston by depriving her of the one thing she wants more than anything: The Beaumont-Gardiner Award. Only the coolest, smartest, and – let’s face it – hottest girls win . . . so Freddie and Stella are going to have to get a whole lot cooler, smarter, and hotter.
At first, it seems to work – Freddie and Stella slowly manage to worm their way in with the cool girls. With every shopping date, agonizing salon appointment, and hot yoga class, the girls get closer to the in-crowd, and Levi fades more and more into the background. The higher they rise, though, the more uneasy Freddie starts to feel. Stella’s gone from her lovable, goofy best friend to someone she barely recognizes, using her newfound power for evil at every opportunity. Soon, Freddie realizes she’s created a monster – and she needs Levi’s help to put a stop to it.
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What will you be reading in January? Share your picks in the comments below!
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Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature known as a Media Relations Expert. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). In addition to Eulalie Magazine, you can find her work published on Tell-Tale TV, Geek Girl Authority, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.