Just as You Are: A Novel
Description
Equal parts witty and steamy, this debut rom-com brings a healthy dose of queerness and a whole lot of spirit to a Pride and Prejudice-inspired enemies-to-lovers romance.
“Brims with heart, spice, and humor.”—Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care
“The L Word, but better.”—TJ Alexander, author of Chef’s Kiss
“A juicy sapphic romp; sweet, sexy, and tender in all the right ways.”—Gabrielle Korn, author of Everybody (Else) Is Perfect
One of Library Journal’s Best Romance Books of the Year (So Far)
The only thing worse than hating your boss? Being attracted to her.
Liz Baker and her three roommates work at the Nether Fields, a queer magazine in New York that’s on the verge of shutting down—until it’s bought at the last minute by two wealthy lesbians. Liz knows she’s lucky to still have a paycheck but it’s hard to feel grateful with minority investor Daria Fitzgerald slashing budgets, cancelling bagel Fridays, and password protecting the color printer to prevent “frivolous use.” When Liz overhears Daria scoffing at her listicles, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before her impulsive mouth gets herself fired.
But as Liz and Daria wind up having to spend more and more time together, Liz starts to see a softer side to Daria—she’s funny, thoughtful, and likes the way Liz’s gender presentation varies between butch and femme. Despite the evidence that Liz can’t trust her, it’s hard to keep hating Daria—and even harder to resist the chemistry between them.
This page-turning, sexy, and delightfully funny rom-com celebrates queer culture, chosen family, and falling in love against your better judgment.
Praise for Just as You Are: A Novel
“So much more than your average rom-com . . . Just as You Are is a full-on enemies-to-lovers romance that exudes queerness at every possible turn. . . . It’s clear this book was written by a queer person, for a queer person. . . . Kellogg has made me feel so seen. . . . Kellogg’s references to queer pop culture feel like a shared language that only exists among queer people. I don’t know if a straight person would enjoy this book the same way that [a] queer person would—and that’s okay. This is for us.”—Autostraddle
“Filled with intriguing characters, relatable gender and identity representation and . . . strong friendship bonds between distinct, engaging queer characters . . . Kellogg expertly delineates why queer media (and especially being represented accurately in it) is so important. . . . Perfect for fans of The Bold Type!”—The Nerd Daily
“There have been plenty of Pride and Prejudice retellings, but nothing quite like this one. . . . Kellogg gives everything a contemporary sapphic twist. . . . This thoughtful and playful reimagining celebrates the unexpected.”—Gay Times
“I’ve never read a book that so honestly and relatably explores being a queer woman in your 20s, from queer community and friendships to exploring gender presentation and so much more. . . . The part that most spoke to my soul, though, was the protagonist grappling with the value of writing and reading queer ‘fluff’ novels and celebrating seeing yourself in joyful books.”—Susie Dumond, author of Queerly Beloved, for BookRiot
“When you tell me it features a ‘butch 4 gender-confused mess’ you know I’m going to drop everything to read it.”—Yashwina Canter for Autostraddle
“Warm, witty, and wonderful! Readers will be utterly smitten by this clever, queer romance that, at its heart, is about embracing yourself—just as you are.”—Alexandria Bellefleur, nationally bestselling author of Written in the Stars
“The world Camille Kellogg has created is both lighthearted and heartfelt, filled with queer characters of every stripe. I felt like I was being told the juiciest gossip by my closest friends. Just as You Are was just what I needed.”—TJ Alexander, author of Chef’s Kiss
“Just as You Are is the queer Pride and Prejudice retelling I’ve been waiting for! This is a story about assumptions, forgiveness, and finding your own path, and a rom-com that blends my needs for sexual tension and sentimentality. Pick this book up—you will be happy you did!”—Alison Cochrun, author of The Charm Offensive
“Just As You Are is one of the most gloriously queer things I've ever read. While their romance is easy to root for, at its heart, this book is a tribute to queer friendships and being young in New York—like if The L Word had been about anxiety-ridden writers in Brooklyn. In other words: a delight.”—Anita Kelly, author of Love & Other Disasters
“A sincere, funny book that successfully uses Jane Austen’s characters and plot as a means to explore queer identity, gender expression, and the intersection of admiration and attraction . . . will charm readers looking for a queer spin on Pride and Prejudice and relatable stories about finding one’s place in the world.”—Library Journal (starred review)
