At Her Service

November 1, 2023

Max Van Doren thought her adult life and queer found family would come together like one of her favorite shows after moving from Kentucky to Los Angeles. While Max is killing it at her administrative job at a Hollywood talent agency, she still hasn't settled into a friend group, worked on advancing her career, or even found the perfect woman. Max has found a comfortable queer bar, though, with one of the cutest bartenders she's ever crushed on. When Sadie, the bartender, asks Max for help figuring out some financial contracts, Max jumps at the chance, despite her own insecurity. And when Max's roommate, a plus-size queer influencer, asks Max to be the subject of her new "sponcon" opportunity with a self-actualization app, Max says yes. Gaining self-confidence seems to be getting Max everything she's hoped for, but it may cost her Sadie once she realizes their relationship is being shared to the world. VERDICT Spalding (For Her Consideration) brings her twentysomething protagonists to life in this romance that delivers on both the heroine's self-actualization journey and her happily-ever-after. A must buy for libraries looking for more fresh, queer contemporary romance to recommend to fans of Meryl Wilsner or Alexis Hall.--Elizabeth Gabriel

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January 15, 2024
Spalding follows For Her Consideration with another hot and sunny lesbian romance set in Los Angeles. Max is the assistant to a top talent agent, but she’s struggling to prove to her boss that she’s worthy of a promotion to junior agent. She also can’t figure out what to do with the truly embarrassing crush she’s developed on Sadie, the bartender at her local, who’s gorgeous, friendly, funny, and, in Max’s mind, totally out of Max’s league. Enter Max’s roommate, Chelsey, a plus-size queer influencer with a huge following. Chelsey’s been offered a deal with a self-actualization app, and just needs a willing subject who’s ready to try to level up to the best possible version of themself. Max is initially reluctant, but with the help of the app, she’s soon making moves she never would have dared. Success—and Sadie—seem within reach, but is the new Max the real thing or will her newfound confidence fall apart once Chelsey’s cameras are off and she has to be herself? Spalding’s wonderfully messy characters are easy to cheer on, and the romance is sexy and satisfying. Fun and flirty but still grounded in reality, this is sure to delight. Agent: Kate Testerman, KT Literary.