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Trans Rights Readathon Romance Recommendations
Plus 30+ free books, 10+ freelance opportunities,
Kaitlyn Arford
March 25, 2025
The Trans Rights Readathon encourages readers to read works by and about trans, nonbinary, 2Spirit, and gender non-conforming authors and characters now through March 31! These books have very few ratings available, so please leave a rating if you give one a read. Share your recommendations in the comments of this post!
💃 Trans Rights Readathon Romance Recommendations
 | A Gentleman’s GentlemanLord Christopher Eden prefers to be on his own, but must move to London and acquire a staff when he learns that he must marry to keep his fortune and estate. He hires the handsome James Harding as his valet, leading to a friendship that may shatter his impending nuptials. This is the first historical romance novel by this contemporary romance author. |
 | Venom & VowA transgender prince and a bigender assassin from enemy kingdoms must work together to break a curse. If you’re not into fantasy, then try this Great Gatsby retelling by the same author. |
 | They Ain’t ProperLou’s delivered a housewife instead of the home-building materials they expected. Clementine’s immediately charmed by the quiet rancher who wants nothing to do with her. |
 | SplinterDr. Drusilla Van Tassel is a medical examiner investigating the headless bodies of women in her small town. Drusilla comes face-to-face with the Headless Horseman, who is back to settle old scores. Drusilla has no choice but to turn to her former lover Ichabod Crane for help when her sister goes missing. |
 | Really Cute PeopleCharlie Dee’s excited to get out of town on a work trip. But when Charlie discovers that their private rental is filled with a child, a cat, and the girl’s two parents, Charlie gets gets a taste of domestic bliss. |
 | Across a Field of StarlightLu and Fassen have become friends across different worlds and planet systems. They secretly stay in contact even as the empire starts to attack Fassen’s people. This is a standalone graphic novel romance between two nonbinary characters. |
🎉 Romance Releases
Contemporary | ||
|---|---|---|
Just Drive by Devyn Sinclair | Summer in the City by Alex Aster | Possessive Puckboy by Eden Finley, Saxon James |
Mountain Boss by S.J. Tilly | Just Our Luck by Denise Williams | Finding Lord Landry by Lucy Lennox |
You Know I Love You by Lucy Darling | Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner | The Girlfriend Zone by Lauren Blakely |
Fantasy | ||
|---|---|---|
Marked By The Grouchy Grizzly by Olivia T. Turner | Blood on Her Tongue by Johanna van Veen | The Shadow Bride by Shelby Mahurin |
The Sacred and the Tormented by J.E. Reed | Kept by the Kraken by Sirena Song | Tideborn by Eliza Chan |
Her Tortured Beasts by E.P. Bali | Kin of the Wolf by Lindsay Buroker | Rebel Witch by Kristen Cicarelli |
Historical | ||
|---|---|---|
Mercy Fletcher Meets Her Match by Aydra Richards | A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander | The Duke’s Absolutely Audacious Debutante by Eva Devon |
Method of Revenge by Cara Devlin | The Bone King and the Starling by Elizabeth Stephens | The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett |
Marriage and Murder by Stephanie Laurens | Duke with a Debt by Scarlett Scott | Diamond of the Season by Tamara Gill |
💌 Romancelandia News
Romance editor Vivian Stephens, who pioneered the romance industry and helped Black and POC writers, needs donations for medical expenses. If you’re not familiar with who Vivian Stephens is, I recommend this Texas Monthly profile.
Sophie Lark’s new book, Sparrow and Vine, has been pulled from publication by Bloom Books, following the perpetuation of racist stereotypes in it. Several social media users shared snippets of the book. Lark wrote the book in 2024 and shared a since-deleted statement saying: “a lot has changed in the world since then, particularly in regard to the fate of immigrants worldwide and certain public figures.”
Meta used pirated books to train its AI, including works by Katee Robert, Alyssa Cole, Beverly Jenkins, Lorraine Heath, Amalie Howard, Jessica Cage, and many other authors. The Authors Guild notes that authors are automatically included in the Kadrey v. Meta class action lawsuit that’s currently underway.
Romance and Co. interviewed nine historical romance authors about their publishing experiences. The piece removed the remarks by author Caitlin Riegel about “diversity in an appropriate manner.” Riegel issued a short statement on Threads.
The Trump administration targets the Insitute for Museum and Library Services. The ALA issued a statement on the executive order. IMLS funds are especially important to rural libraries.
Some Rina Kent fans are upset that the author is writing a book featuring a same-sex relationship.
A beta reader ran a manuscript through AI to get feedback. Don’t do that!
Australian author Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa is facing child abuse material charges for a book she wrote featuring a character who had desired a teen since she was 3 years old.
Did you know that Vivian Jenna Wilson’s mom, Justine Musk, is a writer of supernatural romance fiction?
The third book in the Legendborn series, Oathbound, was released this week without much fanfare at Barnes and Noble locations across the U.S.
Author of the Vampire Diaries series L.J. Smith died on March 8.
💾 Romancelandia Jobs
Kat Bray needs a cover for a dark romance musician novel Ilana Kaplan needs a new literary agent Business Insider needs essays on “adolescence” including pitches on dating someone like the character Jamie in the TV show (generally $250+) Kenzie Kelly needs an East Indian sensitivity reader for a sci-fi romance Bright Side Candles needs an illustrator to make character cards and a NSFW scene illustration Darby Rand needs a book trailer creator | Lilian T James needs an artist for two characters in a fantasy romance Laurel needs artists for character commissions Kimberly Nicolle needs an artist for character art Ashish Rastogi needs an Indian/South Asian LGBTQ freelance editor Laura Harley Rose needs dark gothic artwork for a book in progress Roxane Gay Books needs nonfiction literary essays and memoir from emerging writers ($1,500) |
🥰 Free Books
Alpha Unbound by Eve Langlais (MF) Fresh Start by Rhys Everly (MM) May Day Flowers by Faeri Sami Caged by Reba Bale (FF) The Duke’s Absolutely Mad Marriage by Eva Devon (MF) My Secret Savage by Mia Black What New Beginnings Are Made Of by Debra Clopton (MF) To Kill a Fae by Jamie A. Waters (MF) Love Language by Jax Calder (MM) Wrong Places by Teralyn Mitchell (MF) Wicked Designs by Lauren Smith (MF) Set the Night on Fire by Jennifer Bernard (MF) Sophie and the Sea by Cassidy Langue (FF) Champagne Problems by Addison Clarke (FF) The Duke’s Match by Tiffany Baton (MF) Bad Habits by Skyler Snow and Brea Alepou (MM) | Filthy Rich by Ava Ryan (MF) Perfect Night by Oliver Takely (MM) Just One Night by Chelsea M. Cameron Mystic Matchmaker by Linda Winstead Jones (MF) Her Beloved Dragon Mate by Arizona Tape (FF) My Viking Vampire by Krystal Shanan (MF) Fine Line by E.M. Lindsey A Glamour of Smoke and Shadow by Heather Hildenbrand (MF) Want, Need, Love by Niobia Bryant Passionate Hearts by Jenn Bridges (FF) Betrothal or Breakaway by Leah Brunner (MF) Poolside Love by Shannon O’Connor (FF) The Consorts by Melissa Addey (FF) Grumpily Ever After by Addison Moore (MF) Glimpses of Him by A.E. Jensen (MM) |
🛍️ eBook Sales
At First Spite by Olivia Dade $1.99 Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks $1.99 Remedial Magic by Melissa Marr $2.99 The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn $2.49 Something Like Love by Beverly Jenkins $1.99 The Elgin Conspiracy by Julia Golding $0.99 | Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert $1.99 Chef’s Kiss by TJ Alexander $1.99 Truth, Lies, and Second Dates by MaryJanice Davidson $0.99 Seduction in the City by Michelle Windsor $0.99 In Want of a Viscount by Lorraine Heath $1.99 |
How do you feel about today’s issue?You can add more detailed feedback after you get this party started! |
I include affiliate links to Bookshop.org and Amazon in these editions and can make a commission off your purchases.
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