Book picks similar to
State of Grace by Everly James


romance
lesbian
rich-girl-poor-girl
politics

Poppy Jenkins


Clare Ashton - 2016
    Poppy Jenkins makes everyone smile. She’s the heart of Wells, a beautiful village in mid-Wales, leaving light and laughter in her wake. She has a doting family, an errant dog and a little sister with a nose for mischief. But she’s the only gay in the village and it’s a long time since she kissed a girl: the chance of romance in sleepy Wells is rarer than a barking sheep. If she doesn’t think too hard, life is cosy, until a smart sports car barrels into town with the last woman Poppy wants to see behind the wheel. Beautiful Rosalyn Thorn was once Poppy’s high school BFF even though she was trouble. Then one day she abandoned Wells and Poppy without explanation. Now the highflier is back and bound to cause fresh havoc in the village and with Poppy’s heart; folk are not happy. Wells needs to wake up to the 21st century and Rosalyn can help, but old prejudices die hard. If they can be friends it could be the chance to make everyone’s happy ever after. Couldn’t it?

A Story of Now


Emily O’Beirne - 2015
    And some new friends.But brittle, beautiful, and just a little bit too sassy for her own good sometimes, she no longer makes friends easily. And she has no clue where to start on the whole finding a life front, either. Not after a confidence-shattering year dogged by bad break-ups, friends who have become strangers, and her constant failure to meet her parents sky-high expectations.When Robbie and Mia walk into Claire’s work they seem the least likely people to help her find a life. But despite Claire’s initial attempts to alienate them, an unexpected new friendship develops.And it’s the warm, brilliant Mia who seems to get Claire like no one has before. Soon, Claire begins to question her feelings for her new friend.The sequel, The Sum of These Things, will be released in late 2015. Paperback available July 15.Length: approx. 140,000Themes: Australia, lesbian, Melbourne, young adult, new adult

Mother of the Bride


Kim Hartfield - 2019
    Things get more complicated when she realizes the groom's mother was her best friend back in high school - the first woman who ever made her heart beat faster, as well as her first kiss. Gloria and Bethany reconnect during the engagement, and Gloria begins to wonder if she could have her own fairytale romance. Is it too late for Gloria to find love? Or could the mother of the bride be the star of her own story?

With a Purpose


Michele L. Rivera - 2014
    She's been trying to move on, and luckily Amber, a local bartender, is more than willing to help Jordan get over her ex-girlfriend. On the verge of pursuing a romance with Amber, a tragedy brings Jordan’s long-lost lover back into town. Only Riley does not arrive alone—she comes bearing secrets. The problem with secrets, though, is eventually they get revealed. As truths begin to surface, nothing is what Jordan thought it was. What impact will Jordan’s newfound knowledge have on her life? Her decisions? Her heart? Who will Jordan choose?

Planning for Love


Erin Dutton - 2017
    So she has no qualms about giving a few brides one last fling on the side before they commit for life.When maid of honor Rachel Union catches her best friend fooling around with the wedding coordinator before her wedding day, she swears she’ll out Faith to everyone if the bride doesn’t make it down the aisle. Against her better judgment, Rachel agrees not to tell the groom, but she vows to keep a close eye on Faith until after the big day. But spending time with Faith challenges Rachel’s opinion of her as shallow and opportunistic.

The Cottage


Caroline Jimenez - 2017
    With plans for renovations dancing in her head, she looks forward to breathing life into her old cottage by the beach and most importantly, herself. Not used to being on her own, she sets out on a new chapter of her life hoping to find friends and happiness. Inspired by some of her favorite books, Nadia discovers adventures are just a wine bottle away, but it's the friendship forming in her neighbor, Laine Montgomery, that has Nadia grateful for the move. With a bit of good-natured Southern meddling from Laine's best friend, Susannah, could more than friendship be on the horizon between Nadia and Laine?

Just for Show


Jae - 2018
    But her perfect world falls apart when her fiancée calls off their engagement. Because of that, even her book deal might be off the table. After all, readers don’t want relationship advice from someone who can’t even make her own relationship work.So Claire sets out to hire herself a fake fiancée.Lana Henderson, the actress who shows up to audition for the role, is not exactly Claire’s ideal woman. Her frankness and the messes she leaves everywhere drive Claire up the wall. At least she won’t fall in love with someone like Lana.But soon, Lana starts to win her over with her big heart, tickle fights, and—gasp!—carbs after six. The longer they pretend to be a love-struck couple, the less fake their kisses feel and the more the lines between reality and role begin to blur.Once the book contract is signed, will they walk away or is their relationship no longer just for show?A lesbian romance where role-playing has never been so irresistible.Themes: actress · fake dating · fake relationship · fauxmance · pretend romance · psychologistWords: 103,000

Back to September


Melissa Brayden - 2019
    She’s never been one to take big risks and would much rather stay in on a Friday night with a warm cup of decaf and her favorite mystery novel, so why do her friends insist she needs more? Plus, Hannah has bigger problems to focus on. She’s in trouble. Well, her bookstore is, and if she doesn’t find a way to bring in some more cash, she’ll be closing the doors of A Likely Story for good. When world famous romance novelist Parker Bristow accepts her request to come in for a signing, Hannah might finally be able to drum up some much-needed attention and save the shop. What she didn’t anticipate was an unexpected evening and a woman she wouldn’t soon forget. A real romance is off the table. Parker is flashy, sought after, and Hannah is just, well, Hannah. But for Parker, it seems like Hannah might be a safe place to fall. The question is, what kind of falling are they doing?

Love Waits


Gerri Hill - 2010
    Gina Granbury hasn’t thought about Calloway High in twenty years, but the arrival of the invitation to the class reunion brings back memories of Ashleigh and the betrayal that drove them apart.With no real choice, Ashleigh has to go the event, hoping that it’s not the one reunion that Gina decides to attend after all these years. Gina had expected to dismiss the possibility as easily as she has during all the years since, but the curiosity is suddenly strong. Her long-broken heart has never mended, but that’s no reason to go back in time…is it?Twenty years seem like yesterday in this latest passionate story from Golden Crown award winner Gerri Hill.

The Road to Her


K.E. Payne - 2013
    Liking what she sees, Holly slowly finds herself falling in love, but can she ignore her growing attraction to Elise when the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur?

Back Talk


Saxon Bennett - 2006
    She is looking for something or someone to rekindle the spark in her life. Hilton Withers is the lesbian lesbian daughter of a senator & heiress to a pickle company fortune. She hates her father & pickles. Anne & Hilton become fast friends.

Being Hers


Anna Stone - 2018
    By day, she studies at law school, and by night, she serves drinks at an exclusive club to afford her tuition. But the hard-working Melanie will never admit her true desire: to escape from her fast-paced, high-pressure life, if only for a moment. When Melanie meets Vanessa, a glamorous executive and a regular at the club, she is drawn to the enigmatic black-haired woman. Vanessa is relentless in pursuing what she wants—and what she wants is Melanie. Soon, Melanie finds herself caught up in Vanessa’s sensual games of submission, power and control. Melanie insists that her affair with Vanessa remains purely physical. But as her limits are tested, so is the line between lust and love. When ghosts from the past reappear, both women must face their deepest fears. Can Melanie surrender her everything to Vanessa, or will old wounds prove too great?

Set the Stage


Karis Walsh - 2017
    She’s vowed never to repeat the mistakes she made the first time: no following her heart, no putting herself second to someone else, no relationship drama. She won’t let any woman keep her from reconnecting with her dreams.Arden Philips has stood on the outskirts of the festival for years, tending the gardens of nearby Lithia Park. She’s seen actresses come and go and only allows herself the occasional dalliance. But when she comes across Emilie rehearsing on a mossy riverbank, Arden realizes her heart might not listen to her head.The stage is set, the house lights dimmed. Is true love merely make-believe or can these two women write it into the script of their lives?

Second Chances


M.E. Tudor - 2014
    It was her eyes. She had the same eyes of a woman Pam had been in love with in college. As Pam gets to know Dorothy she finds out that Dorothy is, in fact, the mother of Casey Durham, the woman Pam had been in love with. Dorothy is also in an abusive relationship with Casey's father, Bob. Pam works for an organization that specializes in getting women like Dorothy out of their abusive relationships and on with their lives. Pam promises to help Dorothy in anyway she can, so when Dorothy calls and asks Pam to come get her after a particularly brutal beating by her husband. Pam rushes to Dorothy's rescue.Pam realizes that by placing Dorothy under her protection, she will be forced to face Casey again. She knows it is not going to be a good meeting because she hurt Casey badly when they were in college. Hopefully, Casey will give her a chance to explain what she was going through at the time. Maybe, Casey will forgive her for all the pain Pam caused her.Casey Durham is retiring from professional basketball after five injury filled years. She is moving back to Nashville to start her residency as an orthopedic surgeon at her alma mater, Vanderbilt University. She is looking forward to being back in Nashville, but she is hoping to avoid Pam Benton Matterson. She had been completely in love with Pam in college, and had even given up her wild ways with women for Pam. But Pam had not given Casey a chance to prove how much she loved her and it had broken Casey's heart into little pieces. Dorothy seemingly disappears sending Casey and her brothers into a panic. They are terrified that their father has done something to her. After seeing a report on the news about her disappearance, Dorothy calls the kids to assure them she is okay.Casey wants to see her mother before she has to return to Memphis, where she had been playing basketball, to get the rest of her stuff. Dorothy's legal advisor, Pam makes arrangements for Casey to meet Dorothy at her office. When Casey arrives at Pam's office and is introduced to Pam by her mother, the temperature drops in the room from the cold stare Casey gives Pam. Even Dorothy notices the difference in the demeanor of the two women.Casey can't believe Pam is her mother's legal advisor. Pam prays Casey will not take her off Dorothy's case. Will the two of them be able to put the past behind them and do what's best for Dorothy? Will Casey listen to Pam's story about the past and forgive her? Is there still any love for Pam left in Casey's heart? Read this story to find out what happens when Casey finds out that things weren't always as they appeared.

Aurora's Angel


Emily Noon - 2019
    Alone since her father’s murder, Aurora has spent years hunting his killers. Battle-weary she’s ready to start over where no one knows who or what she is – she just has one last mission. Everything is going to plan until she discovers the beautiful winged girl caged underground. Her decision to rescue Evie and to help her get home safely, despite avians being infamous for selling out shifters like Aurora to trophy hunters and black-market flesh dealers, will put her on a perilous path. As the women travel together their attraction grows but Aurora is guarding her lonely heart almost as much as her dangerous secrets and Evie is struggling to accept how important Aurora has become to her. When their enemies conspire to kill them, they may be each other’s only hope. Aurora is powerful but she’s also emotionally scarred and it will be up to Evie to save her from herself and fight for them. If she doesn't innocent people will die along with the guilty ones and Aurora will disappear from Evie’s life forever.228,000 words