Book picks similar to
Taking the Lead by Michele L. Rivera
young-adult
lgbt
ya
f-f
How Sweet the Sound
Evelyn Dar - 2018
After a summer spent connected at the hip, a trauma in Sienna’s home life separates the two. Twelve years later, their lives cross paths again, but the memory of their childhood friendship has long since faded. As the two teens get to know one another, they are struck by an unexplainable familiarity, and as their friendship deepens, something else also begins to blossom…
Marionette
T.B. Markinson - 2013
One day her girlfriend comes home to discover that Paige has slit her wrists. Paige isn't insane, but she acts like she is. Why? After the incident, Paige agrees to go to therapy to appease her girlfriend, Jess. However, Paige doesn't believe that therapy will help her. She believes she’s beyond help. Paige doesn't want to find herself and she doesn't want to relive her painful past in order to come to terms with it. What Paige wants is control over her life, which she hasn't had since her birth. During her childhood, Paige is blamed for a family tragedy, when in fact, her twin sister, Abbie was responsible. Abbie doesn't come forward and Paige becomes the pariah of the family. To add to Paige’s woes, while attending a college in a small town in Colorado, the residents are in the midst of debating whether or not gays and lesbians should have equal rights. Tension is high and there’s a threat of violence. She isn't out of the closet and pretends to be straight at school since she fears what will happen if her parents find out she’s a lesbian. Will she end up dead like her best friend, Alex?
Freshman Year
Annameekee Hesik - 2010
But when she orders French fries from the flirtatious Hot Dog on a Stick Chick, she gets more than deep-fried potatoes. Abbey tries to ignore the weird, happy feeling in her gut, but that proves to be as impossible as avoiding the very insistent (and—rumor has it—very lesbian) players on Gila High’s girls’ basketball team. They want freakishly long-legged Abbey to try out, and Abbey doesn’t hate the idea. But Kate made Abbey pinky swear to avoid basketball and to keep away from the you-know-who girls on the team.Sometimes promises can’t be kept. And sometimes girls in uniform are impossible to resist.
The Matchmaker
Natasha West - 2019
But for many, swiping right has gotten them nowhere. Some people need the human touch. That’s where Cleo Hicks comes in. She’s an expert matchmaker, a woman who can find love for just about anyone. Except herself. As amazing as Cleo is at arranging love for others, somehow, she never gets the girl. But she has her work and she does it extremely well. Enter Scarlett Smith. Her love life is one disaster after another, and Cleo’s help is exactly what she needs. Someone to guide her in the direction of her perfect match. The only problem is, the more time Scarlett spends with her matchmaker, the more she finds that the only direction her heart is taking her is right towards Cleo. However, despite Cleo’s attraction to her gorgeous client, she makes it clear she can never cross the line with Scarlett. But why IS the chronically single Cleo so damn unavailable? Scarlett’s about to find out the crazy truth about her intriguing matchmaker... ‘The Matchmaker’ is another hilarious romantic comedy from the writer of ‘Just Married?’ and ‘The Plus One.’
On the Outside
Siera Maley - 2015
Even after Kayla becomes a cheerleader with a basketball star boyfriend, Riley falls in with the skaters, and Evan loses himself in school, the three remain dedicated to their promise to each other: to remain friends no matter what. But when a disastrous prom ends with Kayla single and her best friends dating, the strength of their bond will be tested. Because, as Kayla soon realizes, her feelings for Riley are more than just friendly. Dating a girl is something that’s never crossed her mind before, but more than that, she can’t bring herself to hurt Evan. As tension between the two girls grows, Kayla is forced to grapple with the fact that she might be bisexual, in love with Riley, and about to break their friendship apart.
Fireflies
Lise Gold - 2018
She doesn’t mind being busy; it provides distraction from painful memories and her daily struggle to stay sober. Captain Ava Alfarsi has just been promoted, carrying more responsibility than she’s ever had before. As a single, young and attractive captain, Ava has no problem meeting women, but her control issues and fear of people finding out she’s far from perfect stand in the way of connecting with others on a deeper level. When the two become aware of each other’s deepest secrets, they find comfort in the knowledge that they’re not alone. The attraction is undeniable as they embark on a healing journey together. Can Ava learn to let go, and can Mia somehow make peace with her past? Both searching for strength to fight their demons, they never expected to find strength in each other. But is passion enough to keep the fire burning?
After The Glitter Fades
Diane Marina - 2018
Film star, Hollywood icon, tabloid darling. To her fans and the media, she appears to be living a dream life. But things aren't always as they seem. The price she pays to maintain her fame is to deny who she is. Siena's number one rule in life - self-preservation at all costs. Admitting the truth could be a career killer.Enter Julia Westbrooke...Julia is soaring to new heights as a nationwide entertainment news anchor. Since coming out, she has been presented with countless opportunities - most recently, entry into a new circle of friends who are among the Hollywood elite - a circle in which Siena Armetta plays a starring role.Unwillingly thrown together, Siena and Julia fight their growing attraction. Will Siena risk it all for Hollywood's most prominent media personality? Will Julia ignore everything she's worked for and step quietly back into the closet?After the Glitter Fades is an irresistibly emotional roller coaster ride.94,000 words
Far From the World We Know
Harper Bliss - 2016
But her chosen isolation is difficult to maintain after she meets Tess Douglas, the charming editor of the town paper. Tess is determined to break down the walls Laura has built up around herself. As their friendship develops, so do their feelings for each other.Will Tess be able to get past Laura’s defenses? And will Laura allow herself to love, and live, again? Find out in this powerful new novel by the chart-topping author of Seasons of Love, Release the Stars and At the Water’s Edge.Word count: 59.000 words
Suddenly
M.E. Tudor - 2012
J. Thomas.Jamie and P. J. have gone to the same school since grade school but, because they ran in different circles, Jamie had never really paid much attention to P. J. She only knew that P. J. had been in a lot of trouble over the past few years and had run with a rough crowd. After seeing P. J. working at McDonald’s, thoughts of P. J. fill Jamie’s mind and she realizes she is developing a crush on this girl.Fate intertwines the girls’ lives and they slowly become friends. Some of the other people in Jamie’s life are not happy about the budding friendship between the two girls, including Jamie’s ex-boyfriend, Todd; the leader of her cheerleading squad, Diane; and Jamie’s mother. The two girls have to deal with friends and family finding out about their relationship. Jamie’s mother is determined to keep the two girls apart. P. J. is determined not to lose Jamie. In the end, the two girls find they have allies in unexpected places. Allies who want to help the girls be together, hopefully forever.
Girl Games
Mia Archer - 2016
We were totally wrong for each other, so why does this feel so right? Lisa was the good girl. Prom queen. Captain of the cheer squad. Geeky games weren't her thing, but she was home from college and bored. And when she heard Kylie was going to be there she knew she had to at least check things out. Kylie was a proud geek who didn't care what the world thought. Kylie figured it was game night as normal until Lisa stepped into the game room reigniting old feelings she never thought she'd nave to deal with again after going to college. Two girls who've spent years hiding who they truly were. Two girls afraid to admit how much they need each other. Two girls who are tired of denying who they really are. Especially to each other. What was supposed to be a simple game quickly becomes a game of love that will change both of their lives! But will they be able to let go and finally let it happen?
The Truth
Erica Lee - 2019
One truth. Carly Foster has spent her twenties dating one mistake after another. When she meets Diana Cox, she thinks she finally chose a good one. Little does Carly know, Diana is hiding a big secret. When Diana admits to what she has been hiding, it’s Carly’s turn to decide whether the possibility of Diana being the one is enough to risk making another mistake. Samantha Phillips is Carly’s best friend, and she has a secret of her own. For years, she has been in love with someone she shouldn’t be. Now she is trying to throw herself back into the dating world and struggling with losing her best friend to a woman who doesn’t seem to deserve her. Hailey Smith should have it all. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and together they have a sweet little girl. Unfortunately, things aren’t always as perfect as they seem, and Hailey worries her wife may be cheating on her. These three are about to find out that their lives are connected in ways they would have never imagined. All three have their own story and their own perspective of the life they are living. Every person they meet also does. That leaves one very important question - what is the truth?
To Have Loved & Lost
Eliza Andrews - 2016
She's number 17, point guard, MVP, all-star, co-captain of the Lady Raiders NCAA Division I women's basketball team. But there's a darkness growing inside of her, a darkness that started the night her beloved died in her arms, and if she doesn't turn things around soon, the darkness just might swallow her whole.Graham Griffin knows a thing or two about darkness. That's been her zip code ever since the car accident that took her boyfriend's life — the car accident she caused. When she meets Alex, she sees a reflection of her own sorrow. And she can't help but want to fix it.About This BookIf this book were a movie, it would be rated "R" for explicit sexual content, mature topics, and strong language. If that's not your cup of tea, you shouldn't buy this book.This is also a lesbian romance. If that's not your cup of tea, you shouldn't buy this book.But if you're in the mood for a lesbian love story, one that's got some dark, gritty moments but ends happily ever after by the final scene, you'll enjoy this.
Feels Like Home
Jo Cox - 2020
Jess has loved Melissa for longer than she can remember and it’s bearable when they’re a hundred miles apart, but what will happen when they’re thrown back together and there’s nowhere to hide?Jess has tried everything to put her feelings aside, but when Melissa comes home from university and becomes a permanent fixture in her office, kitchen, and sometimes even bed, she’s got no chance of making it work.Throw in a best friend who’s taken over the spare bedroom with her toddler daughter, and an extended family who’ll meddle in anything going, and life is about to get complicated.
Live This Love
Jamey Moody - 2020
At least that's what she thought, until in walked Riley James. Her life would never be the same.Riley James was looking forward to her friends’ wedding and the following two week vacation in paradise. She walked into a bar and her eyes locked with the bartender. She couldn’t look away.What can happen in two weeks? Alex and Riley were about to find out.But Alex had a secret. Would it end this love story before it even got started? It’s only two weeks.
The Road to Madison
Elle Spencer - 2019
Falling in love with her childhood friend Ana Perez was not in the cards. As Madison’s father puts it, “A gay daughter? Married to the maid’s daughter? Running my company? Over my dead body.”By the time George Prescott dies, it’s been 15 years since Madison and Ana were ripped apart by his lies. They haven’t spoken since, but Madison has spent every minute waiting for this day to come. Unfortunately, it turns out time doesn’t heal all wounds. Why was Madison willing to give up everything in the face of her father’s threats, and why can she never tell Ana the truth about what really separated them?Caught between a present they can’t trust and a past they can’t forget, Madison and Ana must decide if this is their second chance, or their final heartbreak.Editor: Barbara Ann WrightCover Artist: Tammy SedickGenres: Contemporary / Romance Tags: Financial gap/Class disparity, New York City, Multicultural, Big City, Friends to Lovers Romance, Reunion Romance, Virgins/First Love, Second Chance at Love