## 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!

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### 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? 🫶

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### 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.