ofpagesandprint | Pride Month Must-Read: And They Were ...

Pride Month Must-Read: And They Were Roommates!

As Pride Month approaches, I wanted to share one of my all-time favorite YA romances that’s perfect for Pride Month: And They Were Roommates by Page Powars. I finished ATWR in 2025, and it remains one of the funniest, most delightful, and most welcoming stories I’ve read. 🥰

The paperback of ATWR just released on May 26, and Page’s next YA romcom, But I Hate Him, releases in August. It’s the perfect time to pick up ATWR for your Pride Month TBR (and preorder But I Hate Him!). 🥳

Thank you to Fierce Reads and Ro Romanello PR for sending me free copies of And They Were Roommates and But I Hate Him!

Second-chance or academic rivals-to-lovers romance?

• Second-chance!
• Academic rivals-to-lovers!
• Both!

Happy Disability Pride Month! To celebrate, I've gathered some stories I adore written by and/or featuring disabled authors and characters:

• Inheritance of Scars by Crystal Seitz - A twisty, atmospheric YA contemporary fantasy brimming with Norse mythology and enemies-to-lovers romance.
• One for All by Lillie Lainoff - An empowering, sweeping YA retelling of The Three Musketeers with sisterhood and swordfights.
• The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko - A spellbinding, tender YA cozy fantasy perfect for fans of Howl's Moving Castle.
• The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew - A haunting, gripping YA dark academia novel with mystery, horror, and romance.
• This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede - A charming, laugh-out-loud funny YA fantasy with a bodyguard romance, found family, and magic.
• Behooved by M. Stevenson - An adventurous, enchanting cozy fantasy perfect for fans of My Lady Jane.
• Tarnished by Erica Rose Eberhart - A lush, cinematic fantasy with magic, sapphic romance, and an action-packed plot.
• Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman - An immersive, twisty YA fantasy with found family, faerie lore, and twin bonds.
• To a Darker Shore by Leanne Schwartz - A captivating, beautifully monstrous YA fantasy with a friends-to-lovers romance, perfect for fans of Hadestown.
• The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs - A heartfelt, addictive medieval cozy fantasy brimming with adventure, romance, mythical beasts, and magic.

What are you reading this Disability Pride Month? 🫶

Interview with Sara from Judging By The Cover

Q: What inspired you to open Judging By The Cover?
A: The catalyst was hearing that San Dimas Cake Co. might be closing. I began to think about what would happen to the space. I've always loved books, and I started looking into what it would take to open a bookstore. I realized a bookstore could create opportunities for connection.

Q: What has been one of your favorite and one of the most unexpected moments as a new bookstore owner?
A: Watching customers become friends with one another has been incredibly gratifying. We have customers who stop in every week, bring visiting friends, or just want to see what’s new.

Q: What books have your customers been most excited about?
A: Our romantasy readers are a force of nature; authors like Callie Hart and Jennifer L. Armentrout are always generating excitement.

Q: What are some of your go-to book recommendations?
A: My favorite recommendation isn't a specific book, but the process of figuring out what someone is looking for. I enjoy recommending What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of Judging By The Cover?
A: I hope we continue to grow into a bigger part of the community. I want to create a space where people feel they belong.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone looking to expand their bookish community?
A: Take a chance on attending something by yourself, like a book club or an author event. You might just form a meaningful connection.

Q: How do you approach curating your bookstore's selection?
A: I pay attention to customer requests and what my booksellers are recommending. I aim to create opportunities for discovery in our selection.

Q: Would you share more about connecting your community through your bookstore's events?
A: Events like book clubs and author readings have become a huge part of what makes Judging By The Cover special. It's all about creating connections between people.