Being the nosy person that I am, "Where's There's Room for Us" gave me the fictionalized details I've been longing for as a fan of both Hayley and her girlfriend, Becca. This young-adult romance is clearly inspired by their real-life romance, down to inclusion of Becca's fictional counterpart, Freya, attempting to set up Ivy with her younger sister. It has been so beautiful to watch Becca, who was previously known for her stints on the Bachelor, find her place in the queer community and find the bravery to share her relationship and her journey with an audience that skewed largely straight, conservative, and Christian. Freya's parallel journey was, to me, the most compelling part of this book. Despite her world being largely queer-norm, heteronormativity is a hard thing to break from, especially with the burden of outside expectations.

I do sometimes struggle with these sort of alternate-universe regency romances where queerness is accepted (for the most part), but sexism reigns supreme. There is a lot of suspension of disbelief required to make sure the societal conventions of the regency period remain intact. Love queer people getting to lead largely happy, uncomplicated lives, but I tend to prefer stories that more closely align with what queer people at the time may have experienced (which doesn't always work inside the conventions of the romance genre).

this novel was set in the 1880s, and it's a reimagining of the Victorian era, yes, but unfortunately I don't think this writing style helps create that atmosphere.

i honestly don't know how it could've been better executed. syntax-wise, maybe a restriction on the use of certain words would've worked. settings-wise maybe if this was set in an alternate universe altogether, or in the modern setting, if the prose style were to remain the same. the vibe just screams too 2025 for me to remember that we're actually in the 1880s here.

i say this because i like the story, though. i was immediately enamored by both freya and ivy!!

all of that said, i wish this novel found me at a better time, as in when i was a teenager who has just come out of the closet. i find myself enjoying a lot of novels that are written for middle grade or young adult audience even now deep into my adulthood, but this one for some reason simply did not make the cut for me. this doesn't speak of its potential for making other readers happy; i can attest to the fact that this will truly be a fun time for someone younger, or otherwise has been in a long reading slump. just not for me (or maybe not for me <i>right now</i>)

thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC!

the big question that plagues every young girl: the choice between their duty and their heart.

a slightly unusual variance on what we know of the history in england, where homophobia does not exist, but somehow sexism is just as rampant. but oh to be a lesbian running around victorian era london without shame, more or less. dani was absolutely my favourite character and I love her energy, constantly running around getting drunk and flirting with everyone especially all the women, and just generally not caring about what anyone else thinks.

I loved the ending that freya got, no spoilers, but seeing her get the life that she chose for herself without anyone else's voice in her head was so, so special to me.


thanks to netgalley and wednesday books for the arc

This book was SO cute. I loved the interactions between Ivy and Freya, I love how *cozy* the book felt, and I loved reading these two fall in love against a backdrop of a gorgeous Regency-era setting. Will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Kiyoko's books!

Where there's Room for Us was so cute! Queer Bridgerton vibes, similar to Want you Like a Best Friend! I have been impressed with Hayley Kiyoko's writing, especially knowing that she has mostly pursued acting and singing in the past. The characters felt real, and the romance was satisfyingly built. Freya and Ivy are adorable, but I would have liked a bit more of a slow burn. Additionally, having a satisfying conflict outside of simply the romance could allow the universe to feel a bit more fleshed out. Excited to see more from this author!

Where There’s Room for Us was the best season of Bridgerton yet!

In Kiyoko’s regency-era romance where queer relationships are celebrated, but misogyny still runs rampant, the season’s incomparable, Freya, falls for the infamous sapphic Japanese-American poet, Ivy, in a family where she is expected to carry on the family legacy and estate through a husband and son.

This whole book is like a warm hug of queer joy, from the main romance to the sisterhood of Freya and her sisters. The tenderness, angst, and love between Freya and Ivy not only made sense in terms of their characters but also in their current circumstances of the regency era and everything that’s expected of women at the time. It was such a treat to watch them fall for each other, grow and blossom on their own, but always find their way back to each other. I also ADORED the bridge scene with Freya and her sisters, and felt that it’s such a universal experience to find belonging once you find your queer community.

I thought the whole book was very well written, from the exposition to the establishment of all the relationships, and especially the sapphic tension between the MCs, it truly felt like a movie I was watching. The third act was unexpected but was needed for the MCs to grow as people, figure out their path, and come back to each other on their own terms when they’re ready.

I wish we had gotten a bit more about the secret rebellion for women’s rights, but I do acknowledge that the MCs had a limited connection to it. Overall, it was a delightful romance full of growth and fighting for what you want, both in life and in love. Highly recommend for any sapphic reader, especially those with a knack for historical romance.

LOVE!! This was such a fun YA Regency romance and I devoured it in one sitting. Give me all the wlw stories, pls 😍✨ The banter? Chef’s kiss. The pining?? Off the charts. I want to time travel and wear a ballgown immediately. If you're into queer historical romance with heart and humor, this one is a win.

Gorgeous cover--I hope this is enough to get it some attention on bookshelves.

This was not the book for me. While I love a good romance, the time period didn't work for me in this book. I just couldn't get into it. I love Hayley Kiyoko as an artist and really liked her book "Girls Like Girls" but this book didn't do it for me.

I was really hoping to love this book more than I did. After Girls Like Girls, I was excited for Kiyoko's next release and I was left feeling neutral. It took me forever to fully get into reading this as is.

I think the big change and differences between her two novels are the eras. It was easier for me, personally, to get into Girls Like Girls, but as a period piece, this left a lot to be desired.

That being said, I still did love the journey of love between one another as well as self love and discovery.

Unfortunately, I think this book was just not for me. I read to the 50% mark and ultimately did not care enough about the characters to continue reading. The concept of this book is very cute and I know there will be readers who absolutely love it but it just isn’t my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me. The main characters were basically cartoons of wlw stereotypes and while the book eliminated homophobia from the equation it had to remind readers of sexism at what felt like every turn. Personally, I think if the goal was to make a story about an alternative universe where queer people aren’t ostracized for being queer, there should’ve been more effort put into writing a scenario where two women could live without any issues tied to sexism. I dnfed at 25% because every time I picked it up, I felt disappointed.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the arc! Minor spoilers ahead

I unfortunately did not enjoy this as much as I wanted to. I love Hayley Kiyoko and I adored Girls Like Girls (in the song, music video, and book form!!) but I think I'm realizing I don't enjoy historical fiction.

This was perhaps my longest read of the year. It took me almost 2 months to finish which is unlike me. I also haven't been reading very much at all (end of the semester is always brutal!!), so most of the blame for that is on me!

However, this book just didn't really capture my attention like I wanted it to.

We follow Ivy and Freya -- Ivy, who is from New York and moves to England with her brother when they inherit an estate there, and Freya, who is a socialite from a high-status family. Ivy is a poet, and one who has been making waves even across the pond. She catches the attention of Freya and the two fall into a whirlwind romance that they have to keep hidden.

While this is a reimagined 19th century where women can marry women and men can marry men, only male children are eligible to be heirs. Freya is one of four daughters. Her oldest sister is married to a man and has a daughter, her next sister is married to a woman, and her youngest sister is wild, not interested in settling down.

Freya's father, Lord Tallon, expects Freya to marry a suitable husband and have a male child to whom he can pass on his legacy. However, as Freya realizes she likes men AND women, her relationship with Ivy threatens the plans her father has created for her.

I just think overall the pacing was too slow for me. Towards the end I was more engrossed and felt the pacing was better, but then it became several (significant) time jumps which makes it feel like the resolution is very abrupt.

I think that if you really like historical fiction or shows like Bridgerton, you would really like this book too, but for me I just need a little more action.

I also felt that the conflict of women (or the adopted children of two women) not being able to inherit land fell flat. In the 1880s, when gay marriage is acceptable, I just didn't understand why they were so strict on inheritance. I understand that's the point, but I just found myself more frustrated than anything.

Working directly against Lord Tallon is The Ridings Society, which seeks to give women the right to vote and to inherit land/titles. Ivy becomes somewhat entangled with them when she helps her cousin to deliver packages to people involved. As a result of that, there are posters distributed that call out Freya's family and Freya finding out Ivy was involved causes tension between them and she calls off their relationship.

This was another plot point I was annoyed about for two reasons: first, Ivy barely had any involvement and didn't know what they were planning. Second, I wish they had either had Ivy be fully involved or not. It would've been more interesting if she was actually involved and we got to see her working with them.

Other than that argument, I did enjoy Freya and Ivy's relationship. I thought they were cute together and they had some swoon worthy moments. I was glad they got their happy ending.

There were some other side characters that I enjoyed, but I think there were too many which resulted in some not getting fleshed out enough. I did really like Prescott and Nadine and was happy they ended up together too.

While this was a cute, fluffy read, it just unfortunately wasn't my favorite.

2.5 stars rounded up

Sapphic period piece!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!

3.25 (?) stars bc it was cute and sweet but I felt like it was lacking something. I also have been on more of a literary fiction kick so I think the romantic happily ever afters that happen so wildly unrealistically can be frustrating to read after reading 100+ pages of somewhat irresolvable conflict between characters.

I wish we had gotten to see Freyas relationship with her father change a bit more and get some resolution on that end. One of my favorite parts of the book was Lord Tallon grappling with the love he has for his daughters versus his traditional views and I feel like it could’ve been expanded upon. It feels like that part of the story was built up only for it to be abandoned at the end??

I also think the world building in this left something to be desired—we as readers know it’s a slightly reimagined world but only a slight part of the world is reimagined.

Overall, I enjoyed reading it but parts of it felt rushed and forced.

For what it was, I really enjoyed this novel—It offered a refreshing take on the regency-era drama by placing it in an alternate universe that was both imaginative and engaging. One of the standout aspects for me was how it managed to deliver all the charm and intrigue of the period without the usual undercurrent of homophobia, well, for the most part. It was a welcome and much-needed variation in the genre.
The writing was strong, and while not every character was fully fleshed out, most were well developed and genuinely enjoyable to follow. The romance, which was central to the book, was one I wanted to root for.

This is not a slow burn by any means, in fact, it’s basically love at first sight. Their relationship felt like it was speeding along quite quickly, but when you think about that time period, I can definitely see how those feelings would come along faster. I didn’t mind. It was heartwarming, Ivy and Freya were a good couple and their connection was sweet and satisfying.

That being said, it wasn’t perfect. I agree with others when they mention that the ending felt rushed. I also think that if the book hadn’t been written in a duel POV, it would have been stronger. I wish Hayley would have just focused on one of the FMC, particularly Freya Tallon. I wanted to see more of her journey. I wanted to see more of Freya’s personal growth, away from her family. I wanted her to get involved in politics and maybe see her relationship with her father evolve. I wanted her to talk to her previous suitor and let him down gently instead of never hearing from him again.

The book was enjoyable, but it left me wanting.

This was also my first Hayley Kiyoko, and I guess her sophomore novel? Just based on that, I’m definitely excited to see how much she’ll improve in her next venture.

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Always enjoy an alternative history book! In this one, in Victorian England, it’s legal for people in the LGBTQIAP+ community to get married. However women still have little rights. Including not being able to inherit a title. In Freya’s family the are all girls. One is married to a woman and another could be with a man or woman. Freya is one of two sisters that are interested in me. There’s pressure for her to find a man to settle down with so they can inherit. Ivy is an American who’s brother inherited a title. They now live in England and are trying to learn the ways. When the two meet there is an instant connection. But with Freya needing to marry a man can she give her heart to Ivy? A beautifully told sapphic romance! Hayley Kiyoko tells a story of love and excepting yourself! Heartwarming and heartbreaking! A sweet and charming story that I couldn’t put down!

This was a very sweet, light hearted read that didn’t give off the YA energy like Kiyoko’s first book did. I didn’t think I would enjoy a period piece but this was a pleasant surprise.

Rated 3.5 stars on storygraph. Where There's Room For Us is a dual-POV YA alternative history sapphic romance. In this Victorian England past, gay marriage is allowed, but women still have little rights, leading to sapphic marriages facing great oppression due to the misogyny they both face. Even if a sapphic couple has a son, he cannot inherit a title (and women cannot inherit titles at all). Freya is the second oldest of four sisters; her oldest sister is married to a woman, another sister is pregnant with her second child her first being a girl, and the youngest sister is a wild child who may end up with either a man or a woman. Being one of the two daughters who only "favor men" Freya feels great pressure to make a good match and pass on her family's title. This is her third season being out and a duke is courting her; her life is on track until she meets Ivy. Ivy is a brash American and a scandalous poet. When her brother inherits a title, the two of them make their way to England and try to learn the ways of British upper-class life. Freya and Ivy have an instant connection and truly see each other, but there is a lot standing in their way.
I instantly wanted to give up on this book and thought reading the whole thing would be painful, however the more I read the more I liked it. I think the writing did get better, but I also just got used to the not great writing. I have two main issues with the book, which are connected. The first is, I found the world building very clunky. It was heavy handed and clumsy, I felt like I was being force fed information but at the same time it was a lot more confusing and unclear than it needed to be. The second issue I had was that it wasn't rooted in real history enough. I love alternative histories and I think exploring the intersection of queerness and misogyny, specifically the lesbophobia that would create is highly interesting. However, alternative histories have to be done with a lot of research that I felt was missing here. A good alternative history understands and accurately portrays the history they keep and has a good understanding of what they've changed and how that would impact things. If an alternative history is not rooted enough in real history, the book is better off being set in a fictional world. There were thigs I liked about the book, I really loved the characters and I found the romanced between the two main characters very compelling. Overall, this book isn't that bad, but it isn't that good either.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This Is Where There’s Room for Us, is a heartfelt and empowering story that beautifully captures the complexities of identity, love, and self-acceptance. Drawing from her own experiences as a queer woman navigating fame and vulnerability, Kiyoko crafts a narrative that feels both intimate and universal.

This was such a cute read!! I love the premise of taking a historical event but normalizing LGBTQ+ relationships in a historical setting. Really appreciated that in this historical world, the relationships were allowed to exist without the secrecy or power dynamic issues that typically exist in historical romances.

The characters felt real and well-developed, although the dialogue between the leads sometimes felt a bit too youthful for their presumed ages. It didn’t ruin the dynamic, but it occasionally made moments that should have felt more mature come across a little flat.

Also, the pacing was inconsistent. The beginning was a slow build, and the ending felt so rushed. Also, I'm not taking a star away because I still really enjoyed this book, but I hate the third act break up/miscommuncation.

Overall, I really liked this book. It's romantic, whimsical, fun, and fresh. If you're interested, you should definitely read it!

God this was amazing and I had a fantastic time with this! It hit in all the right places and in all the right emotions!