Celebrate Valentine’s Day with These New 7 LGBTQIA Books: To the Death, In Her Spotlight, and more

Whether you are in a relationship or spending Valentine’s Day single, it’s always fun to dive into love stories that offer hope and bring joy. This year, you can start the celebration by reading new LGBTQIA books that will bring a world of acceptance into these crazy times.

If you have read the books in our LGBTQIA picks for January, we have 7 new titles to add to your TBR list. Petra Lord, Adeline Kon, and Andrea Tang 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 February:

1. Queen of Faces by Petra Lord – February 3

Anabelle Gage is trapped inside a man’s body with no possibility to afford swapping bodies. In a magical world where the elite can swap designer bodies like clothes, Annabelle is stuck unless she manages to be accepted at Paragon Academy. However, that hope quickly disappears when she fails her exam. Now, she is forced to steal a body to survive.

Ana is caught by Paragon Academy’s headmaster, who makes her choose between death or becoming an assassin. While she chooses to join an impulsive assassin, a bombmaker, and an exile, Ana must make a choice between being the villain or the hero.

Book Description: A desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath.

Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. In Caimor, where the magical elite buy and swap designer bodies like clothes, Ana can’t afford to escape her tattered form. When she fails the entrance exam to the prestigious Paragon Academy, her last hope of earning a new body implodes. As the clock ticks down to her last breath, she’s forced to use her illusion magic to steal a healthy chassis—before her own kills her.

But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor’s smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith.

With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters—and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for.

2. Night Terminus by Ellis Scott – February 3

This narrator takes the reader on a journey that begins in 1985. From a one-night stand in Paris with Louis to finally meeting Frank. He takes us to Montreal as he navigates a very divided Europe. Later on, he navigates an Iranian desert to end in Provence.

The entire journey highlights the crisis and grief that a large community experienced during the age of AIDS.

Book Description: An evocative debut novel reflecting the determination and resilience of a gay diaspora as it faced extinction.

Beginning with a chance encounter in 1985, an unnamed narrator embarks on a physical and spiritual sojourn over forty years. From a one-night stand in Paris with the troubled and enigmatic Louis; to Montreal, through a divided Europe, and into the Iranian desert with the sick yet determined Yuri; and finally to Provence, where he meets the gregarious but wistful Frank, the narrator encounters a cast of exiles, fugitives, rebels, and artists. In a journey across continents and decades, we watch the impacts of one of the greatest health crises of the last hundred years through the eyes of those who survived and must now remember those who didn’t.

At once an odyssey through time and a love story to the narrator’s found family, this haunting, lyrical novel in five parts explores questions of grief, statelessness, and memory and is a meditation on loss in the age of AIDS.

3. To the Death by Andrea Tang – February 10

Samantha Chan’s brother was killed in an illegal magical duel. Now, she is training with champion Lysander Rook to get revenge on the man who killed her brother, Mateus Blackwood. Tasmin Blackwood, Mateus’s daughter, wants to make a name for herself in the dueling circuit, but can’t find a way to detach herself from her father’s name.

When Lysander challenges her with his assistant, Tami jumps at the opportunity. Even though Sam is set on killing Tami, things get a bit complicated when the two grow closer. Can she keep her word?

Book Description: Two teens are pitted against each other in a magical duel for revenge, but they’ll have to fight their growing attraction first, in this YA fantasy thriller from the author of These Deadly Prophecies.

Eighteen-year-old Samantha Chan wants only one revenge for her brother’s death in an illegal magical duel. Ever since that terrible day, she’s been quietly working with legitimate dueling champion Lysander Rook and biding her time until she can take down her brother’s killer, Mateus Blackwood.

Tamsin Blackwood is trapped. She wants to make a name for herself in the magical dueling circuit, but she can’t get away from the legacy of her father—and coach—Mateus Blackwood. When she receives a challenge from the undefeated Lysander and his assistant Sam, she jumps at the chance to earn enough fame and glory to finally escape her father’s influence.

Tamsin has no idea about Sam’s scheming, and Sam plans to keep it that way. Despite herself, though, she can’t help liking Tamsin, and the two girls quickly grow closer to each other than anyone else in their lives. But Sam won’t let anything get in the way of her revenge—not even her heart.

4. Just Between Us: A Graphic Novel by Adeline Kon – February 24

Lydia Chen has been the one to beat on the ice for as long as she can remember. However, after spending so much time training and feeling pressured to appeal to sponsors for funding, she has fallen out of love with the sport she once cared about so deeply. As she sets her mind to fall back in love with it, her rival, Elaine Yee, starts training at the same ice rink.

Witnessing the emotion in Elaine’s routines, Lydia feels herself drawn to her rival. Even though the two are competing for a spot in the Olympics, the attraction is there, and Lydia realizes that a competitor can also be an ally who helps you figure out how to love the ice again.

Book Description: In this gorgeous debut graphic novel, Lydia tries to fall back in love with figure skating without falling for her competition.

Lydia Chen knows how good she is on the ice. Technically perfect, she’s been the one to beat since her debut years ago.

Except now, something is missing in her performances—a spark that’s been gone for a while. Between the constant training, appealing to sponsors to fund her, and the pressure to perform, Lydia’s passion for skating has disappeared.

When her rival Elaine Yee starts training at the same rink, Lydia’s struck by the emotion in Elaine’s routines and unwillingly finds herself getting closer to her as they compete for a spot in the Olympics.

As the tension between them comes to a head, Lydia’s about to find out how a competitor can become an ally and figure out how to feel alive on the ice again.

5. In Her Spotlight by Amy Spalding – February 24

Tess Gardner set out to be a famous actor, but not the kind recognized only for her pretty face and CGI superpowers. She wants to be taken seriously, and to do so she must return to her true love: the theater. When she lands a role in a new play directed by an acclaimed director, Tess thinks she will finally make it. However, things change when the director is forced out by a scandal and is replaced by Rebecca Frisch, a hip director whose heart was broken by a closeted Tess a decade ago.

Tess now finds herself trapped by the guilt she feels for breaking Rebecca’s heart, the attraction that is still there, and her superstar status. Her A-list lifestyle has created a nearly impossible narrative for her to come out. She must choose to follow her heart and accept the love she deserves, or go back into the closet and to a life that might not be all she wants.

Book Description: For fans of Casey McQuiston, Alexis Hall, and Meryl Wilsner, an actually hilarious, sweetly sexy, gloriously relatable, second chance, sapphic rom-com from the acclaimed author of For Her Consideration, starring a franchise Hollywood actress aims to prove her chops in a theatrical production directed by her ex whose heart she broke a decade earlier.

Hollywood actor Tess Gardner is not the kind of famous she set out to be. She’s ready to show she’s more than Princess Platinum of the Vindicators series, a pretty face with CGI superpowers that literally sparkle. Tess wants to prove herself as an actor and that means theatre—the true calling of her thespian heart. But just when Tess lands a part working with an acclaimed stage director, a brewing scandal forces him out. His replacement? None other than hip, buzzy director Rebecca Frisch. The same Rebecca Frisch whose heart a firmly closeted Tess broke over a decade ago during summer stock . . .

As Tess wrestles with her lingering guilt and attraction to Rebecca, she also finds herself struggling to rein in her superstar status backstage. When things unexpectedly reignite with Rebecca, Tess bristles even more against the walls of her A-list life. Since the industry’s made it clear that girl-next-door superheroes can’t also be gay, coming out isn’t realistic for Tess. And ultimately, Rebecca will head back to New York and likely seek out a less complicated relationship anyway.

Will the curtain close on her chance for happiness or will Tess finally take a leading role in her own life?

6. Love a Comeback by Ruthie Knox & Annie Mare – February 24

Bex and Sam have been enjoying the success of the Craven’s Daughter reunion, but sadly this means they have spent several months two thousand miles apart. Now that things are slowing down and they are back in LA, they plan on spending as much time together as possible. However, their plans change when Bex’s sister introduces them to a juicy gossip that catches their attention.

Ramona Watts, a former It Girl, has been trying to ignite her career again by debuting a new series, The Howling. But when Ramona doesn’t show up on set, people begin to wonder if she’s ever coming back. Bex and Sam have the connections to look into it and play real-life detectives…and spend as much time together as possible while solving the case.

Book Description: The latest novel in this sharply witty new Hollywood mystery series delivers behind-the-scenes dish, clever intrigue, and maybe even true love between actresses Bexley Simon and Sam Farmer . . .

Since the hugely successful reunion special for their hit show Craven’s Daughter, TV detectives Bex and Sam find themselves busier than ever—but, unfortunately, two thousand miles apart for long months. So much for quickly coaxing the long-simmering spark between them into flame. Finally back in L.A., though, all bets are off, and Bex and Sam are looking forward to some IRL time by the pool—at least until Bex’s sister Vic brings home a truly juicy bit of gossip garnered from her nepo baby girl squad . . .

Ramona Watts was once the Gen X It Girl—Hollywood darling, household name, muse, and coolest of the cool, until the “Icon with Issues” spectacularly crashed and burned. But now she has a new hit horror series, The Howling, and she’s bringing all her charm and 90s nostalgia to the role. Suddenly, Ramona Watts is a Name again—which makes it surprising when she fails to show up on set.

It’s none of their business, of course, but Bex and Sam are curious. And they both have Hollywood connections left, right, and center stage, some of whom would love to see them sleuthing again. Plus, spending that kind of time together means another chance at a real romance. So what if they’re not actual detectives? In Los Angeles, isn’t everyone playing a role?

7. The Spiral Key by Kelsey Day – February 24

Madison Pembroke is the most popular girl at Lincoln Academy. Once a year, for her birthday, Madison sends out custom spiral keys to invite people to a virtual paradise, Ametrine, to celebrate. Being Madison’s hated ex-BFF, Bree Benson never expected to receive a key. However, this year the key arrives and, against her boyfriend’s warnings, Bree decides to attend.

Taking the key as an olive branch, Bree hopes to rekindle her friendship with Madison. But as the party begins and the games turn violent, Bree begins to wonder if Ametrine is a paradise or a hell. While Madison allowed Bree to enter, she might never let her leave.

Book Description: For fans of Holly Jackson and Jessica Goodman, this high-stakes thriller is set in a virtual-reality paradise turned hellscape, from a celebrated writer making their YA debut.

At the start of each school year, Madison Pembroke, the most popular girl at Lincoln Academy, sends out invitations to her epic birthday party in the form of custom forged spiral keys. For that one night, a few lucky teens get to enter Ametrine, a virtual paradise designed to be the party of the year—an unforgettable celebration that will secure their social status in the real world. As Madison’s hated ex-BFF, Bree Benson never receives a key.

Until this year.

Despite warnings from her boyfriend, Bree sees the invite as an olive branch, the perfect opportunity to rekindle her once-amazing friendship with Madison. But as the party games begin to turn provocative and violent, Bree finds that Ametrine might not be the virtual paradise she was promised. And that Madison may have let Bree enter Ametrine, but she has no intention of ever letting her leave . . .

Kelsey Day’s gripping debut shows that while best friends know each other the best, ex–best friends know how to hurt each other the worst.

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What will you be reading in February? Share your picks in the comments below!

 

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