Here’s your weekly round-up of brand new, progressive-leaning romances that you may not have seen on your Instagram feed. If I’ve omitted a title you feel passionate about and think this community will enjoy, please do share it in the comments. Reminder that I haven't read any of these titles yet, so this isn't an official endorsement unless noted. Click through to read the post on Bindery for my full commentary.

The Two Wills by Blair Fell (Alcove) — A queer historical, romantic novel by the author of Disco Witches of Fire Island about a young actor named Willy who becomes smitten with William Shakespeare. [I’m not sure if there is an HEA, but Blair is extremely cool and was a featured author at our recent fundraiser for Authors Against Book Bans.]

Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas (Avon) — KLEYPAS IS BACK, BABY. Her new novel is marketed as historical fiction, but rest assured this is a romance by one of the titans of hist-rom. There’s an interesting debate among early readers about how progressive this story about a heroine starting a women’s bank in Victorian England actually is, for reasons I won’t spoil. I understand the criticisms but really enjoyed reading it, and the appearances by previous Kleypas characters. If you love Kleypas and found family novels, pick it up. 

Falling Back to You by Kasha Thompson (Honey Blossom Press) — A Black second chance romance with fall vibes about exes who are coparenting their daughter. I love this section from the marketing copy: “Dial and Ozzie have been a part of each other’s story for so long that neither one knows how to write a version of themselves without the other in it. But wanting someone back and being ready for them are two different things.”

First to Finish by Rebecca J. Caffery (One More Chapter) — Gay Formula 1 romance about a race car driver and his team’s race engineer. Vroom vroom.

Scorpio Season by Maisie Bell (LYX) — Lesbian rock band romance with ADHD rep! I love the cover art and sprayed edges on this paperback.

Now That We Don't Talk by Rachel Pologe (Berkley) — A childhood friends to enemies to lovers Hanukkah romance. [No shade to Pologe, but is anyone else curious if we'll see the Taylor Swift lyric titles go out of fashion?]

Succubus: A Love Story by Kate Fox (St. Martin's Griffin) — Finally a paranormal romance about a succubus! Immediately added it to my TBR. The heroine also happens to be a doula, which rocks. This debut received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly.