Jess Harley's Blog - Posts Tagged "2025-reads"

Every year I tell myself “You’re going to read fewer books and focus on your goals.” And every year sapphic authors say “Here’s a beautiful, heart-breaking, slow-burn lesbian love story” and I cave like a cheap lawn chair.

So if you, like me, are hopelessly addicted to WLW fiction, here are my top picks for 2025 (with a mix of new releases, timeless faves, and a cheeky self-plug). Let’s destroy your TBR together.

1. Second Takes – by Jess Harley
Two actresses. One baby. Zero chill.
When exes Tali and Rin are cast in a Hollywood spy film—and unexpectedly tasked with caring for a baby together—things get... complicated. It’s got angst, fake smiles, longing stares across a film set, and that delicious slow-burn second-chance tension. If you like emotional chaos wrapped in professional chaos, this is your next read. (Yes, I wrote it. Yes, I’m biased. Yes, you should still read it.)

2. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care – by Ashley Herring Blake
Delilah doesn’t care. But you will.
This one’s perfect for readers who love messy bisexual energy, a reluctant return to a small town, and falling for your stepsister’s best friend. The banter is razor-sharp, the chemistry sizzles, and the emotional payoff is totally worth the slow build.

3. Mangos and Mistletoe – by Adriana Herrera
Bakers. Competitions. Tension so thick you’ll need a spatula.
A Dominican pastry chef and a Scottish kitchen queen team up for a Christmas baking competition, only to discover their biggest rival might be… their own feelings. Short, sweet, spicy, and packed with festive flavour.

4. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – by Taylor Jenkins Reid
If sapphic slow-burns were an Olympic sport, Evelyn Hugo would take gold.
Okay, so this one’s not strictly “lesbian fiction” by genre, but it’s so iconic, emotional, and steeped in Old Hollywood glamour that it belongs here. A legendary actress looks back on her scandalous past—including the woman she really loved.

5. Something to Talk About – by Meryl Wilsner
Fake dating meets real feelings, with a whole lot of workplace slow burn.
When a red carpet photo sparks romance rumours between a Hollywood powerhouse and her assistant, things start heating up behind the scenes. If you like professional boundaries being gently obliterated, you’ll love this.

6. Legends & Lattes – by Travis Baldree
Okay, it’s technically fantasy—but there’s coffee. And lesbians. So it counts.
A retired orc warrior opens a coffee shop instead of going on more bloody adventures. It’s cozy, gentle, and has all the warm fuzzies you need, along with a subtle sapphic romance that brews slowly, just like the perfect espresso.

Final Thoughts
If 2025 is the year you give your heart fully to queer romance, these books have you covered—from moody actresses to flirtatious baristas, emotional reboots to festive baking disasters.
Add them to your shelf, ignore your responsibilities, and fall in love (again and again).

Have a sapphic favourite I missed?

Drop it in the comments!
My TBR is already unmanageable, what’s one more?

Your next favorite slow-burn, second-chance love story is calling...

Hi readers! I’m Jess Harley—writer of angst, awkwardness, and a good old-fashioned yearning stare across a crowded room.

If you’ve landed here searching for lesbian romance books, welcome. You’re clearly someone of taste. Whether you’re in your cozy-reading era, your emotionally-devastated-by-sapphics phase, or just casually hunting for your next WLW read, I’ve got you.

Let me introduce you to my novel, share a few favorite lesbian romance reads, and offer some recommendations that belong on every queer bookshelf.

💬 What I Write: Lesbian Romance, With a Twist
My sapphic debut, Second Takes, is all about two actresses who once broke each other’s hearts—and now have to fake-smile their way through filming a spy movie together... while co-parenting a baby. Yes, there’s unresolved tension. Yes, there’s a slow-burn. And yes, there’s a dramatic monologue or two.

It’s a lesbian romance for readers who love:

Second chances (but make it painfully emotional)

Found family (with a baby twist)

Longing, banter, and fake professionalism

Queer joy with a side of existential crisis

If you’ve ever wanted to scream "Just kiss already!" at a fictional couple, you’re my people.

📚 Some Favorite Lesbian Romance Books
While you're here, let me be your sapphic book dealer. Here are a few lesbian romance books I love and recommend:

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
Chaotic bisexual meets uptight perfectionist. Banter, heat, and a whole lot of heart.

Mangos and Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera
Dominican pastry chef. Scottish rival. Christmas baking competition. What’s not to love?

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner
The slowest of burns between a Hollywood power player and her assistant.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Not technically romance genre—but a legendary, emotionally rich story about queer love and Hollywood secrets.

And of course the sensational new title in lesbian romance - Second Takes by Jess Harley!

🛒 Searching for Lesbian Romance on Amazon?
If you often search for things like lesbian romance books, sapphic love stories, or WLW slow burn, those are the exact kinds of stories I write and love to read. So if that’s your jam, check out Second Takes and let me know what you think.

You can follow me here on Goodreads or on TikTok @JessHarleyx / Instagram @JessHarleyBooks

Thanks for being here, and happy reading!
Got a favorite lesbian romance? Comment below and wreck my TBR. I dare you

Second Takes: A Slow-Burn Sapphic Romance (Second Chances Collection Book 1)If you love lesbian fiction, angsty sapphic love stories, and second-chance romance with a side of scandal — meet your next two reads.
I'm Jess Harley, author of emotional, steamy LGBTQ+ short stories and lesbian romance packed with drama, love, and chaos.

Unwritten is coming. And if you're into lesbian fiction with angst, heartache, and tension so thick you could scream into it — you're going to love this one.

🎤 Zara, a breakout singer with the voice of a goddess and a guarded heart, once loved Noa — a stunning, closeted Hollywood actress. Their secret romance ended in heartbreak when Noa chose her career over love. Now, years later, Noa is back, bringing with her an indie film based on their story, an invitation to the premiere, and a whole lot of emotional chaos.

And then… she leaks the tape.
Accidentally.
Maybe.

💔 Messy, sexy, emotional — Unwritten is a second chance lesbian romance full of raw tension, unresolved love, jealousy, and the complex push-pull between passion and betrayal. It's coming soon, so keep your eyes (and hearts) open.

While you wait, dive into my current release:
🎬 Second Takes — Out now on Amazon!

Two actresses. One fake dating setup. Zero chill.

Enemies-to-lovers meets forced proximity in a sapphic slow burn with snappy banter, undeniable chemistry, and all the queer longing you crave. This one’s already getting love from readers who adore lesbian romance with depth, humour, and heart.

👉 Read Second Takes now on Amazon
👉 Unwritten is coming soon — follow to get first dibs!

Dear Sapphic readers in the world of sapphic romance,

This week in Lesbian Book News 2025, we spotlight a new sapphic book release that has fans of slow-burn, second-chance love stories positively swooning: Unwritten: A Slow-Burn Lesbian Romance About Secrets, Fame, and Second Chances by Jess Harley.

Book two in the Second Chances: A Lesbian Romance Series, Unwritten serves up everything we secretly crave in a queer romance—longing glances, the heavy weight of unresolved history, and the kind of emotional pull that makes you stay up far too late whispering “just one more chapter.”

The Story

Five years ago, Zara Taylor was just another heartbroken young woman trying to make sense of her shattered world. The woman who left her—Noa Vale, a rising Hollywood actress hiding her truth—walked away without a word. Out of that heartbreak came the music that turned Zara into a global sensation.

Now, fate (and a bold new film project) conspires to bring Zara and Noa back together. Forced into each other’s orbit, the pair must confront the past, the secrets they’ve kept, and the undeniable spark that refuses to fade.

Why Readers Love It

Celebrity & fame collide with intimacy and vulnerability.

Slow-burn romance that makes every moment of tension worth the wait.

Second chances—because who doesn’t secretly hope love can find its way back?

A Special Mention

Unwritten is more than just a sequel—it’s part of a growing collection of sapphic stories by Jess Harley, each one brimming with heart, heat, and that deliciously messy thing called love. If you’re a fan of emotionally charged lesbian romance (think fame meets feelings), this one belongs at the top of your Kindle Unlimited queue.

💡 Where to read: Unwritten is available now on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited: https://a.co/d/bnAiziy

📚 Series Note: Book 2 of Second Chances: A Lesbian Romance Series (Book 3 coming soon!).

Disclaimer: Lesbian Book News 2025 is a reader-driven blog highlighting sapphic fiction. We celebrate the books, the authors, and the community—without claiming to represent publishers, platforms, or creators.

Every January I swear: “This is the year I’ll read fewer books and focus on my goals.”
And every year sapphic authors whisper: “But what if… two women fake date and accidentally fall in love?” And I fold like a cheap deck chair.

If you’re weak for WLW meet-cutes, fake dating shenanigans, celebrity crushes, and slow burns that could toast marshmallows, here’s my 2025 lesbian romantic comedy book list.

Spoiler: My TBR is doomed. Yours is next.

1. The Soft Kind – by Jess Harley

Gym crushes, gay panic, and the softest slow burn.
Jenny Collins (chronically anxious, freshly heartbroken) decides to fix her life one workout class at a time—until serene, stunning Elodie Lane turns “leg day” into full-body butterflies. It’s a tender, funny lesbian romcom about queer awakening, compression tops, and finding the courage to be loved. (Standalone in the Second Chances: A Lesbian Romance world.)

2. The Fiancée Farce – by Alexandria Bellefleur

Fake fiancée, real feelings, and one very inconvenient attraction.
Tansy needs to save her family’s bookstore. Gemma needs to convince her family she’s happily settled. What’s a little fake engagement between strangers—besides swoony chemistry, chaotic wedding planning, and laugh-out-loud banter?

3. Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date – by Ashley Herring Blake

Fake dating after a one-night stand gone spectacularly wrong.
Iris has sworn off love. Stevie just needs a plus-one to save face. Cue a charming, witty romp full of messy feelings, queer community, and genuine warmth. If you loved Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, this spinoff is even funnier.

4. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care – by Ashley Herring Blake

Small-town chaos with big sapphic energy.
Delilah swears she’s over her hometown. Then she gets roped into wedding photography, forced proximity, and a flirtation with her stepsister’s best friend. Sharp banter? Check. Found family feels? Double check. Laugh-out-loud moments? Absolutely.

5. For Her Consideration – by Amy Spalding

Emails, movie stars, and a Hollywood romcom with real heart.
Former screenwriter Nina Rice has sworn off the industry—and dating—until rising star Ari Fox emails her out of the blue. This one’s cozy, charming, and filled with witty, hopeful dialogue.

6. Mangos and Mistletoe – by Adriana Herrera

Christmas baking + rivals-to-lovers = pure sugary perfection.
A Dominican pastry chef and a Scottish baker team up for a holiday competition and discover the sweetest thing on the menu might be each other. Quick, steamy, and guaranteed to make you crave both romance and cake.

Final Thoughts

If 2025 is the year you fall in love with queer romantic comedies, these books have everything: fake dating, celebrity crushes, small-town charm, and banter so sharp it could double as a weapon.

Add them to your shelf, clear your weekend schedule, and prepare to laugh, swoon, and maybe ugly-cry (just a little).

Have a sapphic romcom I missed?
Drop it in the comments—I solemnly swear my TBR can handle it. (It can’t. But that’s the fun.)