Hi, Rachel! Thank you so much for joining us! Why don’t you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Happy to be here! I’m a big gay weirdo who loves all kinds of good narratives, no matter where they come from — books, movies, TV, games, you name it! I live in New Jersey with my lovely partner and our pets, Lupe and Lily.

What do you do when you’re not writing? What would readers be stunned to learn about you?

I also do work as a voice actor and audiobook narrator, so I’m working on that a lot of the time. Either that or watching YouTube/playing video games, or walking in the woods nearby. I don’t know if this counts as surprising knowledge about me, but I also have a borderline unhealthy knowledge of both Lord of the Rings trivia and D&D rules, so, you know. There’s that.

And speaking of writing, what has your experience been like querying/publishing a book during a pandemic? Any tips for fellow writers who are in the same situation?

Writing in a pandemic was weird. I’m used to fitting writing in on evenings and days off, but right as I was supposed to start writing Love Somebody, the whole world shut down. My job vanished. Suddenly, writing was the only thing I had to do. It kind of kept me sane but drove me crazy at the same time — how do you step away from a project when you can’t actually go anywhere? But I will say, all that free time is probably the only reason the book got done as quickly as it did. For fellow writers dealing with this, my biggest advice would be not to let writing drain you. It’s supposed to be fun. If it’s hurting you to push yourself, maybe take a step back for a while, if you can.

Now tell us about Love Somebody! What can readers expect?

It’s easy to just expect a rom com, based on the premise, but there’s a little bit more to it than that. At the core, it’s mainly about the three protagonists figuring out what they want — from a relationship, their lives, and themselves. Of course it gets messy (hard not to, when the plot is just some really elaborate catfishing scheme), but that’s all part of the fun!

What inspired you to write this fun and queer spin on a love triangle?

I love anything that lets me include my ridiculous amounts of knowledge about classic and renaissance theater. Since this book was based on Cyrano de Bergerac, it was a match made in heaven. Also, honestly, a lot of love triangles frustrate me. Someone’s always getting hurt, or there’s one clear right choice, and the person who doesn’t get picked in the end is always heartbroken. The original story in Cyrano is certainly like that. I don’t think it always has to be that way, though. There are ways that everyone involved can be happy, or at least content. That’s the kind of story I wanted to put out there.

Speaking of love triangles, there are so many beloved romance tropes out there – which ones are your favorites to read and write about?

I’m such a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers story — the drama! The angst! The yelling confessions at each other mid-fight! But I’m not picky. I love any romance trope that lets the characters do lots of pining. Just buckets and buckets of the stuff.

I love how much teen anxiety, angst and self-discovery is packed into this novel. There are mistakes made, trust broken and tons of regret which made the story feel so authentic! Without spoiling too much, was there a favorite scene for you while writing Sam, Christian and Ros’ story?

I won’t say they were my favorites to write, but the scenes with Christian and his parents are some of my favorite parts of the book when I look back on it now. The writing of them was really stressful, but the words came so easily. On a lighter note, I looked forward to writing Sam’s realization about her feelings for Ros for WEEKS, and getting to finally do it was a blast. I love a good “uh oh” moment in romance.

If Love Somebody were to be adapted into a movie, which three songs would have to be on the soundtrack?

GREAT question. There’s two songs by Orla Gartland that would definitely have to be on there — “More Like You” and “Pretending.” “More Like You” has the same vibes as Sam and Ros quietly falling for each other without realizing it, and “Pretending” is just Sam’s theme song. For Christian, I can imagine some kind of introspective montage to “Don’t Let Me Fall Behind” by Jukebox the Ghost.

With Love Somebody releasing soon, are you already working on another project? If so, can you share a tidbit about it with us?

As a matter of fact, yes! I’ve got a few ideas floating around. One is a second-world fantasy, the other is modern day fantasy based around Celtic/Cornish folklore. Both YA, but I’ve got some adult and middle grade in the pipeline, too.

Last but not least, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

In the YA contemporary world, I have to recommend Who I Was With Her by my very good friend Nita Tyndall. It’s voice-y, it’s super well written, and I LOVE a good angry protagonist. On the more fantastical side of things, I’m a huge fan of the Seraphina duology by Rachel Hartman. The worldbuilding and characterization is incredible, and the other novels set in that universe (Tess of the Road, the upcoming In the Serpent’s Wake) are fantastic as well.

Will you be picking up Love Somebody? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Rachel Roasek, Author of ‘Love Somebody’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

2022 is promising to bring some truly delightful and thematically unheard of queer releases our way and we’re excited to dive right in once it’s January! From a thrilling fairytale retelling that’s pitched as Sleeping Thorns meets Indiana Jones, a 1920s-inspired story in which magic can be consumed like a drink, all the way to countless queer debuts and Casey McQuiston’s highly anticipated YA debut, we’ve compiled all the releases with LGBTQIAP+ representation you won’t want to miss out on in 2022!

Looking for more releases? Check out our Most Anticipated 2022 Releases and our 2022 YA Book Releases lists!

JANUARY

Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Icebreaker is an irresistible YA debut about two hockey players fighting to be the best—and the romance that catches them by surprise along the way. This is a story about falling in love, finding your team (on and off the ice), and choosing your own path.

The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sleeping Beauty meets Indiana Jones in this thrilling fairytale retelling for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and All the Stars and Teeth. Set in a lush world inspired by beloved fairytales, The Bone Spindle is a fast-paced young adult fantasy full of adventure, romance, found family, and snark.

To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara
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From the author of the classic A Little Life, a bold, brilliant novel spanning three centuries and three different versions of the American experiment, about lovers, family, loss and the elusive promise of utopia.

The Temperature of Me and You by Brian Zepka
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Sixteen-year-old Dylan Highmark thought his winter was going to be full of boring shifts at the Dairy Queen, until he finds himself in love with a boy who’s literally too hot to handle.

Love Somebody by Rachel Roasek
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A sparkling YA debut rom-com about a popular high-school girl, her ex-boyfriend-turned-best-friend, and the girl they both fall for—perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli or Casey McQuiston.

Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
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The first openly nonbinary contestant on America’s favorite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut “that is both fantastically fun and crack your heart wide open vulnerable.” (Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate)

FEBRUARY

Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
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A teen girl navigates friendship drama, the end of high school, and discovering her queerness in Ophelia After All.

Forward March by Skye Quinlan
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What’s worse? Someone using your face for catfishing or realizing you actually do have a crush on the catfished girl? Forward March is a love letter to band geeks and figuring out your identity.

Fire Becomes Her by Rosiee Thor
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In Rosiee Thor’s lavish fantasy novel with a Jazz Age spark, a politically savvy teen must weigh her desire to climb the social ladder against her heart in a world where magic buys votes.

No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado
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Twenty one-year-old Max Monroe has it all: beauty, friends, and a glittering life filled with adventure. With tons of followers on Instagram, her picture-perfect existence seems eminently enviable. Except it’s all fake. When one of Max’s posts goes ultra-viral and gets back to the very person she’s been stealing photos from, her entire world – real and fake — comes crashing down around her.

The Alpha’s Son by Penny Jessup
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Max Remus couldn’t care less about finding his mate—unlike the rest of his fate-obsessed pack. Netflix’s Young Royals meets Teen Wolf meets Twilight––the first instalment in a thrilling new series, The Alpha’s Son is a heart-wrenching wolf shifter romance; full of yearning, comedy, and adventure.

Golden Boys by Phil Stamper
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National bestselling author Phil Stamper crafts the perfect summer friendship story, starring four queer boys with big hearts and even bigger dreams. Following four friends who’ve been by each other’s side for most of their lives, the question is whether their summer apart will bring new experiences – or a stop to their seemingly unbreakable bond.

MARCH

This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves
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This fun, irreverent summer romp is Netflix’s Never Have I Ever meets What If It’s Us about a high school senior determined to get over his unrequited feelings for his best friend by getting under someone else.

All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown
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What If It’s Us meets Life as We Knew It in this postapocalyptic, queer YA adventure romance from debut author Erik J. Brown. Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Alex London. When Andrew stumbles upon Jamie’s house, he’s injured, starved, and has nothing left to lose. A deadly pathogen has killed off most of the world’s population, including everyone both boys have ever loved. And if this new world has taught them anything, it’s to be scared of what other desperate people will do . .. so why does it seem so easy for them to trust each other?

One for All by Lillie Lainoff
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An OwnVoices, gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers, in which a girl with a chronic illness trains as a Musketeer and uncovers secrets, sisterhood, and self-love.

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram
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A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye.

Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters
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Kacen Callender meets Becky Albertalli in a deliciously geeky best friends-to lovers romance from award-winning author Julian Winters! Following two best friends who are about to leave for separate colleges and want to get the most out of the limited time they have left together, a crush threatens to shake up their unbreakable relationship.

Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
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In the aftermath of World War I, a naive woman is swept into a glittering world filled with dark magic, romance, and murder in this lush and decadent debut.

So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens
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Carry On meets Arthurian legend in this funny, subversive young adult fantasy about what happens after the chosen one wins the kingdom and has to get married to keep it…and to stay alive.

The Circus Infinite by Khan Wong
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Hunted by those who want to study his gravity powers, Jes makes his way to the best place for a mixed-species fugitive to blend in: the pleasure moon where everyone just wants to be lost in the party. It doesn’t take long for him to catch the attention of the crime boss who owns the resort-casino where he lands a circus job, and when the boss gets wind of the bounty on Jes’ head, he makes an offer: do anything and everything asked of him or face vivisection.

A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow
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A modern love story told in verse, this contemporary YA novel is about two trans boys who write each other letters, inspired by trans soldiers who were in love during the Revolutionary War—perfect for fans of The Poet X, Darius the Great is Not Okay, and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

And they Lived… by Steven Salvatore
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From the author of Can’t Take That Away comes a sex-positive, fairytale-inspired YA novel that celebrates first love and self-acceptance, perfect for fans of What If It’s Us.

The City of Dusk by Tara Sim
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Set in a gorgeous world of bone and shadow magic, of vengeful gods and defiant chosen ones, The City of Dusk is the first in a dark epic fantasy trilogy that follows the four heirs of four noble houses—each gifted with a divine power—as they form a tenuous alliance to keep their kingdom from descending into a realm-shattering war.

Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore
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In this young adult novel by award-winning author Anna-Marie McLemore, two non-binary teens are pulled into a magical world under a lake – but can they keep their worlds above water intact?

APRIL

Blaine for the Win by Robbie Couch
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After being dumped so his boyfriend can pursue more “serious” guys, a teen boy decides to prove he can be serious, too, by running for senior class president in this joyful romp from the author of The Sky Blues.

The Drowning Summer by Christine Lynn Herman
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A gorgeously atmospheric contemporary fantasy by the author of The Devouring Gray and The Deck of Omens. Beautifully written and just the right amount witchy, The Drowning Summer is a deliciously eerie story perfect for reading under a full moon.

She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick
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She’s All That meets What If It’s Us in this swoon-worthy hate-to-love YA romantic comedy from #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Feet Apart Rachael Lippincott and debut writer Alyson Derrick.

In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of For Black Girls Like Me, which received five starred reviews and multiple accolades, comes a middle-grade novel about first love, loss, and letting go. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Andi is grappling with grief following the death of her mother. Zora is exhausted by trying to please her success-oriented parents. Both feel very much alone. Until a summer music camp brings them together.

Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk
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Two girls. One wild and reckless day. Years of a tumultuous history unspooling like thin, fraying string in the hours after they set a fire. It starts with a fire. How will it end? From acclaimed author Ashley Woodfolk comes an impassioned story about queer love, loss, and the complexity of female friendship.

Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this gorgeous, queer standalone fantasy, a young musician sets out to expose her rival for illegal use of magic only to discover the deception goes deeper than she could have imagined—perfect for fans of An Enchantment of Ravens!

MAY

A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy
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Dumplin’ meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this heartfelt and funny LGBTQ+ contemporary romance about two teen boys who fall in love against the backdrop of a fictional Dollywood-esque amusement park. A pitch perfect next read for fans of Phil Stamper, Julie Murphy, and David Levithan.

Out of the Blue by Jason June
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This sophomore novel from Jason June dives into the many definitions of the world home and shows how love can help us find the truest versions of ourselves. Following dual POVs, his romcom asks if romantic love is enough to conquer your way of life and questions everything you’ve grown up believing in.

Milo and Marcos at the End of the World by Kevin Christopher Snipes
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From debut author Kevin Christopher Snipes, Milo and Marcos at the End of the World is a new coming-of-age novel about finding the courage not only to love others but also to love ourselves.

Café con Lychee by Emery Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this delectable enemies-to-lovers YA rom-com from the author of Meet Cute Diary, the sons of two families with rival shops find themselves working together to compete with the new café that opened in town. A perfect fit for fans of Julian Winters and Casey McQuiston.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue comes a debut YA romantic comedy about chasing down what you want, only to find what you need…Fierce, funny, and frank, Casey McQuiston’s I Kissed Shara Wheeler is about breaking the rules, getting messy, and finding love in unexpected places.

Flip the Script by Lyla Lee
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The first rule of watching K-dramas: Never fall in love with the second lead. I’ll Be the One author Lyla Lee delivers a simmering, joyous novel that flips the script on K-drama love triangles. When a Korean American actress is asked by producers to fake date her male costar, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with her female romantic competitor on the show.

If You Change Your Mind by Robby Weber
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For fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, this heartfelt m/m rom-com by bookstagrammer Robby Weber stars a jaded aspiring screenwriter who resists love only to find himself surrounded by suspiciously happy couples, his ex-boyfriend, and an intriguing new boy. In this hilarious debut novel, an aspiring screenwriter learns sometimes love has its own script.

Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster by Andrea Mosqueda
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In this voice-driven young adult debut by Andrea Mosqueda, Maggie Gonzalez needs a date to her sister’s quinceañera – and fast.

The Fae Keeper by H.E. Edgmon
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In the heart-stopping sequel to The Witch King, Wyatt and Emyr attempt to rebuild Asalin despite unexpected new enemies within their kingdom. As Wyatt struggles to learn control of his magic and balance his own needs with the needs of a kingdom, he must finally decide on the future he wants—before he loses the future he and Emyr are building…

The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
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Told in a captivating voice that is by turns hilarious, vulnerable, and searingly honest, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School explores the joys and heartaches of living your full truth out loud.

The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester by Maya MacGregor
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this queer contemporary YA mystery, a nonbinary teen with autism realizes they must not only solve a 30-year-old mystery but also face the demons lurking in their past in order to live a satisfying life.

Melt With You by Jennifer Dugan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of Hot Dog Girl comes a sweet and salty queer YA rom-com about two girls on a summer road trip in an ice cream truck.

JUNE

Epically Earnest by Molly Horan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this delightfully romantic LGBTQ+ comedy-of-errors inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, a high school senior works up the courage to ask her long-time crush to prom all while deciding if she should look for her bio family.

This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron
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How much would you risk to save the ones you love? Would you tempt even the most dangerous fate? Bestselling author Kalynn Bayron continues the story of Briseis and her family’s deadly magic in the sequel to This Poison Heart with more heartache, more death and more magic.

The Loophole by Naz Kutub
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Your wish is granted! This YA debut is equal parts broken-hearted love story, epic myth retelling, and a world-journey romp to find home. A queer Indian-Muslim boy named Syyed travels the world for a second chance at love after a possibly magical heiress grants him three wishes.

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A furious, queer debut novel about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Annihilation. Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him—the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can’t get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with.

Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this sweet and funny new f/f romance from the author of Cool for the Summer, a cheerleader and the school’s newest quarterback are playing to win, but might lose their hearts in the process.

We All Fall Down by Rose Szabo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first book in a dark fantasy YA duology by the author of What Big Teeth, about the power and danger of stories and the untold costs of keeping magic alive, perfect for fans of Aiden Thomas and Marie Rutkoski.

Stay tuned for our July to December round up which will be released around mid-2022!

What queer releases are you looking forward to picking up in 2022? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Must-Have 2022 Queer Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

• The Half of It on Netflix
• Love triangles but make them bisexual

“His smile goes sad. “Not every relationship works out. Not every one should. But that doesn’t mean every connection is destined to hurt you. Sure, some of them might, but isn’t it worth a little hurt to find the ones that make you happy?”

Love Somebody follows Sam Dickson, an ambitious actress who just directed, wrote, and starred in her semi-autobiographical play. When that play gets an abysmal review by none other than Ros, the smartest girl in school, Sam is devastated. The thing that complicates it even more? Her ex-boyfriend-turned-best-friend Christian falls head over heels for Ros. Having trouble communicating his feelings—which was the reason Sam and Christian broke up in the first place—Christian doesn’t know how to make Ros see he’s more than just a jock. Sam, still smarting from the review and seeing a way to get back at Ros, agrees to coach Christian from the sidelines—and unexpectedly ends up falling for Ros in the process.

Truth be told, I had quite a hard time getting into this book at first. It’s always difficult for me to get invested in ships when insta-love happens within the first chapter and it’s literally “I know nothing about you yet I’m unequivocally in love with you”—insta-attraction is fine, insta-love declarations are something else entirely. Once I put my big-girl pants on, though, and realised that Christian actually wanted to get to know Ros, I had a good time with Love Somebody. Roasek has an easy writing style that flows quite well and makes pages fly by.

I loved that we get the POVs from all three protagonists in the book. Each of the characters has their own cross to bear—Christian has a hard time communicating his feelings, Sam is dealing with personal baggage and the fear that people will see behind the façade she’s presenting to everyone, and Ros is hesitant to trust anyone for fear of getting her heart broken. The more you get to know the characters, the more you realise that their issues come from traumatic experiences in their past or from having learnt their lessons when things went wrong before. I quite enjoyed switching back and forth between them, especially as the scheming picked up.

Speaking of scheming, fans of early 2000s teen movies might want to put this book on their TBR because Love Somebody totally gave me the same vibes! It’s quite fun watching Sam “direct” the romance between Ros and Christian and being his coach as he tries to woo Ros—with some initially abysmal, but later on great results. There’s loads of face-palm moments when conversations derail or Christian repeats the wrong thing which had me in stitches. However, I also loved the moments when he “went off script” and you could see Ros realise how much more there is to the darling of the high school soccer team.

By far my favourite part of the entire book was Christian’s character arc. Christian is the definition of a cinnamon roll and he’s definitely not had an easy life so far, even if he pretends nothing affects him. As the chapters progress, the reader learns about Christian’s home life and his brother who left for some very valid reasons. I found myself aching to learn more about Christian’s family and the circumstances that led to Christian’s brother disappearing. That story arc, in my opinion, truly showed how great Roasek is at eliciting emotions from her readers.

The climax of the story is as dramatic as you’d imagine with a bisexual love triangle. There’s a lot of hurt, mistakes and regret and I’m anxious to see how readers will react to the resolution of it all because it’s been weeks since I’ve read the book and I’m still undecided. Nevertheless, this debut makes me excited for more of Roasek’s writing in the future!

Following an ambitious actress, the darling of the high school soccer team and an ice queen, Love Somebody is a fast-paced rom-com, perfect for fans of love triangles with a twist and The Half of It!

Love Somebody is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 11th 2022.

Will you be picking up Love Somebody? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

A sparkling YA debut rom-com about a popular high-school girl, her ex-boyfriend-turned-best-friend, and the girl they both fall for—perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli or Casey McQuiston.

Sam Dickson is a charismatic actress, ambitious and popular with big plans for her future. Ros Shew is one of the smartest people in school—but she’s a loner, and prefers to keep it that way. Then there’s Christian Powell, the darling of the high school soccer team. He’s not the best with communication, which is why he and Sam broke up after dating for six months; but he makes up for it by being genuine, effusive, and kind, which is why they’re still best friends.

When Christian falls for Ros on first sight, their first interaction is a disaster, so he enlists Sam’s help to get through to her. Sam, with motives of her own, agrees to coach Christian from the sidelines on how to soften Ros’s notorious walls. But as Ros starts to suspect Christian is acting differently, and Sam starts to realize the complexity of her own feelings, their fragile relationships threaten to fall apart.

This fresh romantic comedy from debut author Rachel Roasek is a heartfelt story about falling in love—with a partner, with your friends, or just with yourself—and about how maybe, the bravest thing to do in the face of change is just love somebody.

The post #ReadWithPride: Love Somebody by Rachel Roasek appeared first on The Nerd Daily.