Hey folks! It’s that time of year again and I am jumping on the “Best of” bandwagon. As this is my first foray in “Best of’s”, I decided that I would start with just five books. I chose these books because although they are all very different, the one thing they share is a break from the mold. In one way or another, they breathed fresh life to lesbian fiction this year. My list includes an original mystery with the most diverse characters I have seen in one book, a hilarious fantasy, a love story between sexy older women, a love story between women who rang incredibly authentic, and finally a love story which was written so incredibly well that it deserves all the praise it got this year. Here they are in no particular rank. Or, if you’d rather, these are the five books that I think tied for first place this year!
1 The Tell Tale by Clare Ashton
Published by: Breezy Tree Press
Synopsis
The Tell Tale is a novel based in the Welsh village of Foel in the 1970’s. Foel, like many small towns, is rife with secrets. Everyone has long memories and a scandal that happened twenty years ago is still casting a shadow over the town. Beth Griffiths, with her daughter in tow, has recently returned to Foel to care for her ailing mother, at least that’s the reason she’s telling everyone. Lady Melling, recently returned herself, is forced to interact with the people she has learned to despise when she surprisingly inherits her father’s estate and has to deal with all the obligations that go along with her inheritance.
Both women are barely coping with their own demons and the complications of living in their childhood home, when suddenly the town is in an uproar after someone starts dispersing nasty revealing notes. Secrets are being exposed, and everyone is looking over their shoulders and pointing fingers. Hostility rears its ugly head and the whole town is on edge. Beth herself is a victim of these nasty notes, but when another one arrives with instructions rather than gossip, she finds herself searching for long hidden answers. Will Beth find the truth she so desperately seeks? What actually happened in Foel twenty years ago?
Why I love it
This has got to be one of the best mysteries I have ever read! Like everyone else, when I read a mystery, I immediately try to figure out “who done it”. When it’s too obvious, I get disappointed. Well, there was absolutely no disappointment with this book. It had me guessing until the end. Plus there’s an amazing love story, a very diverse cast of characters (trans, lesbian, asexual, non-binary) and Clare Ashton’s writing is just the best. A wonderful read!
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2 Worthy of Love by Quinn Ivins
Published by: Ylva Publishing
Synopsis
What’s it like to be the most hated person in America? Nadine Bayani is out of prison after serving two years for orchestrating a campaign finance scam to ensure that her candidate wins the presidential election. When the crime is discovered, she’s convicted, her candidate loses, and the “wrong” person becomes president, Nadine faces the backlash from all sides of the political spectrum. Now she’s left to pick up the pieces of her life. All Nadine can do is focus on the next steps: find a job, find a place to live, survive. It’s a lonely existence, but Nadine believes she only has herself to blame.
Bella Clarke lives in a small town and has worked for 10 years at the same retail store. She knows she can do better but doesn’t have the courage to try. She’s a talented artist and a very kind and loving person, but she doesn’t believe she deserves better out of life. She’s disappointed in herself for being a college drop-out and she can’t understand why she struggles so much with everyday tasks.
When Bella sees Nadine Bayani entering the store, she can’t believe her eyes! Why would a former high-powered lawyer want to work at Overstock Oasis? She finds herself drawn to the woman she knows she’s supposed to hate. Time and again, she feels it necessary to defend the woman and realizes very quickly that she has more than just friends feelings for her.
Can Natalie learn to trust Bella and let her know who she truly is? And can Bella find the courage to believe in herself and go for what and who she really wants?
Why I love it
The characters and the storyline. The MC’s were refreshingly real. Ivins did such a good job at writing Bella and Nadine as regular people that you felt like you knew them. Plus, I loved that there was an Asian main character, which I hardly ever see. The storyline was fresh and original and the chemistry between the two main characters was amazing. It was not your cookie cutter love story and for that, I am giving it top props.
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3 About That Kiss by Harper Bliss
Published by: Ladylit Publishing
Audiobook: Yes!!! Narrated by the amazing Abby Craden!
Synopsis
About that Kiss is a low angst contemporary, celebrity romance perfect for light summer reading. The book is about two Hollywood actresses at the height of their careers who meet when they are both cast in a new romantic comedy with a catch. The catch? The movie romance is between the two women.
Faye Fleming is eager to work with her idol, Ida Burton. She sees doing this movie as a no-brainer. She doesn’t mind being a trendsetter and hopes making the film will encourage other mainstream producers and directors to tackle queer themes in film. Ida Burton is just as excited to be working with Faye, however, she also has an ulterior motive for making this film. When the two A-listers get together to rehearse their first on screen kiss, sparks immediately fly. Will life imitate art?
Why I love it
Light, sexy, fluffy romance is just what I needed during the summer of Covid. Harper Bliss is the queen of writing sexy older women and I love that representation.
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4 Elemental Attraction by K. Aten
Published by: Flashpoint Publications
Synopsis
Elemental Attraction is a hilarious fantasy novel with great world building and lots of romance. The novel takes place in Mythworld where elves and shapeshifters and other mythical beings live amongst regular humans.
Ellys DeEnsis is a half-elf making her way in the world by her wit and her swords. She’s accompanied on her multiple adventures by her trusted “steed” Roccotári, and together, they have traveled Mythworld together getting in and out of scrapes, always searching for the next paid quest.
Like any world, there is conflict and danger, and Ellys, a follower of a deity whose main tenet is balance, makes her living by contracting her skills as a swordswoman to those who can pay for her services. When Ellys, low in coin and in need of supplies, walks into a tavern for a well deserved meal, she has no idea her life as she knows it is about to change.
At the tavern she meets Aderri, a crimson haired, dark skinned beauty who offers Ellys a job she can’t refuse. The mysterious Aderri needs Ellys not only to escort her to her home in a far off city, but also pretend to be her mate.
Aderri hasn’t been to her home in a very long time, choosing to stay away in order to pursue her life’s work of gathering knowledge. Aderri, a very powerful shape-shifter, has been called home to attend a not to be missed family event. She knows if she goes without the mate she was supposed to be seeking when she left her homeland, she will be coerced into staying and taking on family duties. So she comes up with a plan to be escorted by a faux-mate from another land so that she can leave and return to her studies after the event is over.
Ellys can’t refuse the amount of coin offered by Aderri and takes the job, at least that’s what she tells herself as to why she agrees to be a fake-mate and escort to the beautiful shapeshifter.
Together, Ellys, Roccotári, and Aderri embark on a fabulous adventure, full of danger and intrigue, as they make their way to Aderri’s homeland. Will Ellys overcome her past to find true happiness again? Will Aderri breakdown Ellys’ defenses and capture the swordwoman’s heart? And will everyone finally stop calling Roccotári a horse?
Why I love it
I have never laughed so hard reading a fantasy novel! It was brilliant, endearing, and just so well written. Aten’s world building was phenomenal. In spite of all of the fantasy and mythological creatures, the story rang true, and you wanted to pack your bags and move to Mythworld. The love story was wonderful and steamy, and I fell in love with the two main characters. Just a great read!
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5 The Headmistress by Milena McKay
Published by: Indie Author
Audiobook: coming out on February 22, 2022, and narrated by the legend, Abby Craden!
Synopsis
A chance encounter. An unforgettable night.
And back home, trouble is brewing on the remote island of Three Dragons, where nothing feels like it used to. Alone and lonely, Sam Threadneedle wishes upon a star, hoping for change. But when said change comes, it’s with a roar and not a whimper.
Torn between loyalty and lust, Sam is forced to re-evaluate everything.
Can she and the Home of Dragons withstand the storm that is Magdalene Nox, or will any and all crumble?
Not everything is as it seems, and as she slowly unravels the mysteries behind the centuries-old walls, Sam realizes that home is much more than oak and stone.
Why I love it
This book made many best of lists this year, and every accolade is absolute well-deserved. This was only McKay’s second novel (third, if you count her novella) and she just hit it out of the park! My two favorite types of lesbian romance are age-gaps and Ice Queens, and with The Headmistress you get both. Magdalene Nox will go down in history as one of the legendary sexy Ice Queens. The chemistry between Sam and Magdalene was incredible, and please, never ever forget Willoughby, the coolest character ever!
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If you enjoyed PJ’s Top 5 Books of 2021 list then you may also want to see what other books we have that PJ has tagged as a favourite
