It was really just an off-hand comment I made to Charlotte the other day, about how reality TV shows are becoming a pretty popular setting in books and possibly there are enough such books for a rec list. She thought that’s a good idea. And who am I to say no? Especially if it allows me to rec a book by one of my favourite YA authors!
I did cheat a tiny bit and included an upcoming book on the list itself, I know! But to counter-act that, I added one more book. And listed two more upcoming ones at the end. I’m truly bringing all my gifts to y’all here today.
And hey, a lot of those titles are available on Scribd, so if you want to check out that service but don’t have an account yet, use my invite code to get 2 months for free! (This also gives me one free month.)
Related: LGBT Fake Dating
Never Ever Getting Back Together
Sophie Gonzales
Goodreads
Rep: bi mcs, f/f, gay side character
Why Should I Read It?
Yes, of course this whole rec list was inspired by Sophie’s book, I don’t know what else you guys even expect from me! This book truly has it all! A group of amazing characters (even the side ones are great & fleshed out!), a proper villain, jokes that will make you laugh out loud… And most importantly, the overwhelming feeling of the power of teen girls.
The Charm Offensive
Alison Cochrun
Goodreads
Rep: Indian American gay mc with depression, gay mc with generalised anxiety disorder, OCD & a panic disorder, Chinese American bi side character, lesbian side character, Black ace bi side character with anxiety, gay side character, Muslim pan side character, Black bi side character
TW: panic attacks, biphobia, homophobia, vomitting
Why Should I Read It?
This one works so well as a romance because the characters actually grow. They make mistakes & bad choices, and they learn from them – which the narrative shows. They learn by themselves or with a help of a friend or, indeed, the person they love. But The Charm Offensive is very clear that love doesn’t fix a person. It can only make them feel seen & understood.
D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding
Chencia C. Higgins
Goodreads
Rep: fat Black lesbian mc, Afro-Latina butch lesbian mc, lesbian side characters
TW: bigotry, colorism
Why Should I Read It?
A reality show and a fake dating plot? I told you I’m bringing all my gifts! And this is easily one of the sweetest books I know, let alone lesbian books. Apart from the tooth-rotting fluff of the romance, what I love most about this books, is that we’re introduced to families of the main characters, which allows for some beautiful portrayals of family dynamics, and even more specifically Black family dynamics.
Roux for Two
Aurora Rey
Goodreads
Rep:Â bi mc, transmasc mc, f/m
Why Should I Read It?
A cooking show, for a change! This is one of those romance that are low on angst, because sometimes we need them. It’s a sweet friends-to-lovers story, about appreciating what you already have & finding joy in the small things. Dreams do come true, but not always in the way you were hoping for.
Patricia Wants to Cuddle
Samantha Allen
Goodreads
Rep: Black bi mc, lesbian side characters
TW: murder, death, gore, alcoholism, blood, torture, homophobia, animal death, racism, suicidal thoughts, vomit, religious bigotry
Why Should I Read It?
Ii can’t all be cozy! Patricia Wants to Cuddle is a weird book, an unhinged book, one might even say. It’s about a Bachelor-type show, and it focuses just as heavily on the behind the scenes stuff. It’s a wild ride from start to finish (by which I mean at some point is basically shifts into a slasher horror story, with all the gore that implies), a true roller-coaster of emotions that will make you cry both with laughter and the opposite of it.
Space Battle Lunchtime Vol. 1: Lights, Camera, Snacktion
Natalie Riess
Goodreads
Rep: sapphic mc & li
Why Should I Read It?
You should obviously read the other two volumes, as well! This is about a cooking show which is shot in space, and all the aliens taking part are fascinating, design-wise. It’s actually also a very deadly show; really, the contestants are expected to be more gladiators than cooks. Somehow, this all works perfectly together to create a super sweet graphic novel.
Cupid Calling
Viano Oniomoh
Goodreads
Rep: Nigerian bi demi mc, Nigerian British bi mc
Why Should I Read It?
You know when you compete on a show like Bachelorette, but you end up falling for one of your fellow contestants? (Really, it should be happening more often.) Ejiro and Obiora sure do know! If you were only to measure romance novels by their swoony-ness levels, then Cupid Calling absolutely wins it all. And the cherry on top of all that cuteness are the scenes with the POV of the viewers.
Fake It
Lily Seabrooke
Goodreads
Rep:Â bi transfem mc, bi mc, nonbinary side character
Why Should I Read It?
Yes, okay, this one is a bit of a stretch, when it comes to reality tv shows, seeing as the focus is mostly on another things. But before you get mad at me, listen! By other things I mean a fake dating plot! You pretty much get the best of both worlds here. And you also get a spicy relationship that might start out as fake, but ends up being very real & very mature.
Love & Other Disasters
Anita Kelly
Goodreads
Rep: queer mc, pan nonbinary mc, lesbian & trans side characters
TW: misgendering, transphobia
Why Should I Read It?
Two contestants on a cooking show fall in love! It’s a light-hearted romance, with all the obstacles that might entail: some silly arguments, some miscommunication. But at the end of the day, it’s full of love and warmth, and passion.
I’ll Be the One
Lyla Lee
Goodreads
Rep: Korean American fat bi mc, Korean American bi li, Korean American lesbian side characters
TW: fatphobia, biphobia
Why Should I Read It?
Skye is on her way to becoming the next k-pop idol! But despite such a glimmery premise, the book actually tackles (in a very respectful way!) some heavy topics: the truly outrageous beauty standards in Korean culture & the still very present homophobia and biphobia. It balances that perfectly with the sweetness of the romance & the loveliness of the supporting cast.
A&B
J.C. Lillis
Goodreads
Rep: bi mc, Latine lesbian li, achillean side characters, bi side character
TW: parent abuse, past lesbophobia
Why Should I Read It?
A music show for a change! If you’ve read How to Repair a Mechanical Heart, you know what to expect: a book that’s both hilarious & serious, both purely fun & not afraid of hard truths. If anything, it’s a book about learning that happiness doesn’t always come from achieving your dreams and that sometimes there are more important things to run after.
And of course, keep an eye out on those upcoming titles!
- The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar
- Love at 350° by Lisa Peers
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