Exclusive Cover Reveal: Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee

Today on the site I am so thrilled to be sharing the cover for the long-awaited Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee, a cozy Sapphic YA fantasy releasing June 10, 2025 from Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan! Here’s the story:

A geeky overachiever determined to save the world through science and a troublemaking chosen one lashing out against her destiny meet and fall in love in a magical coffeeshop as their two very different universes begin to collide in Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe, C.B. Lee’s fun, sapphic, cozy fantasy YA romance.

When Brenda’s internet goes out right before an important scholarship deadline, she stumbles right into Kat’s family’s coffeeshop. Brenda is swept away by cool, confident Kat, who actually cares about Brenda’s 19-step plan to save the world through science. Meanwhile, Kat can’t stop thinking about Brenda, who is smart, passionate, and doesn’t seem to care that Kat is the prophesized Chosen One.

The only problem? Kat and Brenda are from different universes. Like need-to-find-a-portal-to-go-on-a-second-date different universes.

As their universes collide and things spiral out of control, can a girl who is determined to save the world find love with a girl determined to outrun her destiny?

And here’s the gorgeous cozy cover, illustrated by Lisa Villella and designed by Meg Sayre!

Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon | B&N | BAM

(C) Caroline Tran

C.B. Lee is an author of young adult and middle grade fiction including the NYT Bestseller Minecraft: The Shipwreck. Their works also include the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selected A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix, the Lambda Literary Award nominated Sidekick Squad series, Ben 10 graphic novels, Out Now: Queer We Go Again, and From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Lee’s work has been featured in NPR, Teen Vogue, Wired Magazine, Hypable, Tor’s Best of Fantasy and Sci Fi and the American Library Association’s Rainbow List.

Exclusive Cover Reveal: Superficial by Diane Billas

Today on the site I’m delighted to reveal the cover of Superficial by Diane Billas, a superhero YA for fans of National Treasure releasing September 24, 2024 from Creative James Media! Here’s the story:

Embark on a thrilling adventure with Lea and Jake as they navigate the unexpected twists and turns at the biggest superhero fan convention of the year. When Lea finds herself trapped in an elevator during the event with superstar Jake, also known as The Amazing Boy, they realize something sinister is afoot. With everyone at the convention frozen, including Lea’s friends, Lea and Jake must team up to unravel the mystery behind the villainous acts plaguing Philadelphia. As they race against time, Lea grapples with whom to trust, while Jake uncovers startling truths about his own identity. A pulse-pounding journey filled with friendship, betrayal, and the ultimate quest for justice, will Lea and Jake save the day, or will supervillains prevail? Dive into this gripping tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

And here’s the action-packed cover, designed by Triumph Covers!

Superficial by Diane Billas. Two superheroes, one male with a red cape and one female with a yellow cape and blonde hair, are running down the street. In the background is the city of Philadelphia with William Penn on top of City Hall. The blurb at the top of the cover says, “A narrative pulsing with action, mystery, and heart.” -Robin Alvarez, author of When Oceans Rise

Buy it: Amazon | Books2Read

(c) Sam Rodriguez, S.R.WeddingStory

Diane Billas lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her husband and son. When she’s not writing she can be found reading multiple books at once, performing the French horn or piano, and dreaming of the next country she’s going to visit. She is the author of the young adult sapphic romance Does Love Always Win?, featured in Parents magazine, and the young adult queer superhero book Superficial. You can connect with Diane at dianebillas.com, on Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @dianebillas, and on Instagram and Threads @dianebillaswrites.

 

Happy International Nonbinary Day 2024!

Early Reader

Batcat by Meggie Ramm

First in a full-color graphic novel series for emerging readers about accepting yourself and others from up-and-coming author-illustrator Meggie Ramm, creator of the comic strip The Littlest Dungeon Guard and cohost of the Pop! Whiz! Bang! comics podcast.

Batcat loves being all alone in their home on Spooky Island. Up in their tree house, they pass the time playing video games and watching TV. But when Batcat suddenly finds themself haunted by an annoying, ice cream–stealing ghost, they visit the local Island Witch for a spell to remove their ghastly guest permanently!

With their Ghost-B-Gone spell in hand, Batcat travels across Spooky Island to gather ingredients—to the Cavernous Caves where the bats tell them they’re too round to be a bat, and to the Whispering Cemetery where the cats will help only if they commit to being a true cat. But Batcat is neither and that’s what makes them special, right?

Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon

Continue reading Happy International Nonbinary Day 2024!

Queer Histfic Set in Paris, Part II

For part I, click here.

The Disenchantment by Celia Bell (1670s-80s)

Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak (1790s)

Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis (1866)

The Paris Affair by Maureen Marshall (1886)

An Island Princess Stars a Scandal by Adriana Herrera (1889)

Fave Five: Softball/Baseball Romances

Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan (f/f YA)

The Prospects by KT Hoffman (m/m)

Unwritten Rules by KD Casey (m/m series)

Heart of the Game by Rachel Spangler (f/f)

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian (m/m Histrom)

Bonus: These are all prose novels, but for a graphic novel series, check out Grand Slam Romance by Ollie Hicks and Emma Oosterhouse (f/f)

Fave Five: Gay YA Historical Fiction, Part I

Teach the Torches to Burn by Caleb Roehrig (Medieval)

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa (Regency)

Before We Disappeaby Shaun David Hutchinson (Edwardian)

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros (1890s)

I’ll Take Everything You Have by James Klise (Depression)

New Releases: July 2024

Peregrine Seas by R.C. Ballad (1st)

Prince Peregrine couldn’t be happier to be kidnapped by pirates.

Peregrine wasn’t cut out for the restrictive life of a nobleman – he’s hungry for adventure, prone to duelling, and his family refuse to believe he’s any kind of man at all. Despite his royal origins, he has more in common with the outcasts and rebels aboard the Cygnus that anyone onshore.

He just needs to convince the captain of that before his ransom’s paid.

Captain Alastar Macdara knows better than to trust an English prince. He has his hands full keeping his ragged crew together, and the last thing he needs is to be burdened with some foppish dandy—however charming. This particular hostage is more trouble than Alastar planned for: used to getting his own way, as stubborn as Alastar and not afraid to tell him when he’s wrong. But Alastar knows a thing or two about being an outcast, and his honourable streak refuses to let him send Peregrine back to a life of misery.

The ransom might be off, but that doesn’t mean Peregrine is part of the crew. Now he must prove he’s courageous and quick-witted enough to earn his place on the Cygnus before Alastar dumps him at the next safe harbour.

It won’t be easy for Peregrine to prove himself amidst the many dangers of life at sea: navy patrols, sea serpents—and the grim, handsome Alastar. The more time they spend together the more he fears he’s falling for his captain, and honourable or not … a pirate is a pirate.

Can they chart a course to being together, or will Alastar’s secrets and Peregrine’s reckless drive to prove himself steer the Cygnus into perilous waters?

Buy it: Amazon

Continue reading New Releases: July 2024

Happy Disability Pride Month 2024!

It’s Disability Pride Month, and we’re celebrating with books that have queer disabled main characters! For more books with queer disabled MCs, or to look for specific conditions, check out our Disability/Neurodivergence page, linked here

If you have a visual disability and are looking for more accessible titles, you can find lists on the site of books available in Large Print, Braille, and/or Audio under the Access dropdown.

One Killer Problem by Justine Pucella Winans

When Gianna “Gigi” Ricci lands in detention again, she doesn’t expect the glorified study hall to be her alibi.

But when she and her friends receive a mysterious email directing them to her favorite teacher, Mr. Ford’s room, they find him lying in a pool of blood. But calling the math teacher’s death an accident doesn’t add up, and Gigi needs all the help she can get to find the truth. Luckily, she’s friends with her high school’s “mystery club,” and so with her best friend, Sean, and longtime crush, Mari, Gigi sets out to solve a murder.

But it turns out, murderers are extremely unwilling to be caught, and the deeper Gigi gets in this mystery, the more dangerous things become. Between fending off a murderer, continual flare-ups of her IBS, and her archnemesis turning flirtatious . . . making it out of junior year is going to be one killer problem.

Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon

Continue reading Happy Disability Pride Month 2024!

June 2024 Deal Announcements

Adult Fiction

National Book Award finalist Alejandro Varela‘s MIDDLE SPOON, a humorous exploration of the universal experience of heartbreak, following the disintegration of a queer polyamorous relationship, upending expectations around family life, parenting, and public health, looking at the forces that shape modern romance, to Ibrahim Ahmad at Viking, at auction, by Robert Guinsler at Sterling Lord Literistic (world).

Continue reading June 2024 Deal Announcements

Queering up your shelf, one rec at a time!