Where There’s Room for Us
With ball gowns, mistaken identities, and even a couple of orphans thrown into the mix, Where There’s Room for Us has all the trappings of a good Victorian-era romance. Author Hayley Kiyoko stays true to the genre but takes it a step further by imagining a world where queer marriages are accepted and, in some cases, even celebrated.
This reimagining of the late Victorian era captivates through its romance and its connection to the women’s rights movement of 19th-century England. Kiyoko’s characters navigate a society where they cannot inherit land or titles; a world in which fathers, husbands, and brothers wield enormous control over a woman’s destiny. It is in this world that we meet our main characters, Ivy, a successful American author, and Freya, the “incomparable” of the season.
Freya and her four sisters are enchanted by newcomer Ivy’s vibrant energy and bold words, which spark Freya’s curiosity. Inspired by Ivy’s fearlessness, Freya begins to question everything about her world, liberating herself from her life as a “good girl,” but this journey also costs her a life she cherished. Freya’s story explores the connection between authentic self and true love as she learns the value of self-discovery, community, and sisterhood.
This novel is excellent for folks who love all things Bridgerton and Jane Eyre but are longing for those worlds to include LGBTQAI+ romance. And while that love is well represented in this novel, it is also perfect for younger readers, as the stolen kisses by the waterfall aren’t too spicy; all the good stuff is implied. I highly recommend it for readers 12 and up!
