Encore
In this music-filled queer romcom, ex-bandmates and successful solo artists Amelia and Ramona are forced to reconcile when their indie trio embarks on a reunion tour, five years after their breakout album, tour, and the one night that ruined everything.
In their early twenties, Amelia Wells and Ramona Sloane were once two-thirds of Swanboat, a confessional indie-rock trio that released one perfect, widely acclaimed album, went on one intimate (but sold-out) tour, and reached a cult of fans that continued to rabidly follow their respective solo careers.
Five years later, Amelia is a star: she’s headlining her own world tour, transitioned into poppier music, and she’s somewhat settled down with the greasy-haired, pretentious indie-rocker asshole she’s been on/off with since her late teens. Sure, he’s not completely psyched about her rising star and obsessive fan base of “Wellies,” and fine—she sometimes misses the intimacy of writing and performing music with Ramona and their third bandmate, Beatrix Fink. But Amelia has everything she’s convinced herself she wants. That is, until her label suggests Swanboat reunite for a US tour.
Hyper-independent to a fault, Ramona has been perfectly happy with her life post-Swanboat—despite having been dropped from her own label due to “creative differences.” Back in her hometown of Chicago, she’s a DJ at her local indie radio station, and still plays her own music to her small but devoted fan base at local venues around the midwest. She doesn’t want the kind of attention that would result from reuniting with her old bandmates—two of the only people who have ever been able to knock down her carefully-constructed walls. And she definitely doesn’t want to see Amelia after everything that went down between them on the final night of their first and last tour. It’s enough that she’s forced to hear Amelia’s inescapable single every time she listens to the radio along Lake Shore Drive.
If Amelia’s being honest, she’s been feeling a little uninspired—and her label is losing patience waiting for her third album. Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing to, in her manager’s words, reconnect with her roots. As for Ramona, her refusal to sell out has provided her with more dignity than it has a financial cushion. And they’d both do anything for Beatrix, who seems more than enthusiastic about the idea of reuniting—and who doesn’t know why everything fell apart in the first place. But keeping a secret requires admitting that something happened, and neither Amelia nor Ramona wants to do that. All they have to do is get through two months, playing the songs that made them all fall in love with each other in the first place—and try not to do it all over again.
Fans of Count Your Lucky Stars and music lovers who enjoyed Daisy Jones and The Six will fall head over heels for this second-chance romance.
Cover coming soon!
Here for the Wrong Reasons
In this swoon-filled lesbian romcom, two dating show contestants vying for the affection of the leading man fall head over heels—for each other.
Krystin knows exactly what she wants: a husband, a horse, and a place to hang all her competitive rodeo blue ribbons. But when none of the eligible bachelors in Montana end up being right for her, she turns to reality TV. On Hopelessly Devoted, Krystin will compete against dozens of other women for the heart of this season’s Hopeless Romantic, Josh Rosen. She’s determined to win the perfect life she came here for—if she can just ignore the glossy brunette whose crimson smile gives her goosebumps.
Lauren has never done anything for the right reasons—and she’s definitely not on Hopelessly Devoted to win Josh’s heart. Lauren’s plan is simple: stay on the show long enough to build her social media following, and then gracefully send herself home. With enough followers, she’ll finally have enough influencer clout to do whatever she wants—including come out of the proverbial walk-in closet. But the longer she stays on the show, the more she finds herself tangled up in a certain blonde’s lasso.
But neither contestant expects a heteronormative dating show to challenge their deeply-ingrained ideas of who they are—and what they want.
Fans of The Charm Offensive and The Bachelor will swoon for this sparkling debut romcom.
Alison Cochrun, author of Lambda Literary award-winning Kiss Her Once for Me and The Charm Offensive
“Writing (and romantic) duo Annabel Paulsen and Lydia Wang have crafted a steamy, satirical, sparkling sapphic romp of a debut! Here for the Wrong Reasons is a glorious send-up of The Bachelor franchise, full of nods to the show that will have the most die-hard fans giggling, even as they start to fall for Krystin and Lauren. Packed with reality television drama, queer love, and a lot of heart, this book is perfect for romance readers looking for a fun, frothy escape.”
Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care
“Packed with tension and humor, Here for the Wrong Reasons is a romp of a romance for anyone who has ever been surprised by love. A gorgeous story about identity and the beauty of being seen for who you are.”
T.J. Alexander, author of Chef’s Kiss & Chef’s Choice
“Here for the Wrong Reasons is like the best kind of reality TV: messy, drama-filled, and totally addicting. I couldn’t take my eyes off Lauren and Krystin as they found their way to each other in the middle of a compulsory heterosexual circus.”
Camille Kellogg, author of Just As You Are
“I binge-read this book like it was a season of the best reality show! It’s fun, impossible to put down, and full of juicy behind-the-scenes excitement. This book will win over your heart!”
Ruby Barrett, author of The Romance Recipe